Autumn Alchemy

Connecting with the Wisdom of Plants is something I have been dabbling in for most of my life, yet in the last couple of years, perhaps with more determination and more eager to remember.

I have turned to plant secrets, for the natural calmness that they bring to my sometimes overwhelmed senses, as well as for the balance that is found within them; as elements and life givers.

These Elders, for they have been here for much longer than us, have adapted as well as sustained all life around us. I consider them to be a bridge between the physical body and the energy space.

When I experience plants, in the form of nature , such as outings or walks, I also get to experience the restorative balance that comes over the nervous system .

There is a natural creation of space and time that is allowed to happen, as I observe the ever-changing environment of a falling leaf or a drop of water on moss. Minutes disappear , and all that is left is the attention given to something that is alive and real - now.

Here, in the northern hemisphere where autumn is in full swing, I automatically seem to enter into a sort-of-squirrel-mode, combined with the growing patience of a fungus .

I forage, pick apples where I can, and collect fallen nuts to then continue the alchemy and magic of transformation; through making compotes, sauces, or drying the late summer harvests, which I always find so abundant. This is of so much value for me as it gently prepares my mind and body for the change, and  I personally enjoy sharing and gifting to others the outcome- even if it doesnt always taste that great :)

Sometimes, I do indulge in the temptation of that last fresh taste that brings me absolute joy in the moment; and that, in itself, is another alchemy that repairs and protects me overall.

All of this is a remembering ;

that each plant cares. That it has its own vibrations and its own intelligence ; and that it is very willing to share and to communicate it within our body by restoring harmony and wellness.

With the fall - of an hour, which happens by the setback of time, I experience an unsettling period of my biological and nature-oriented system.

To prepare for the shorter days, colder mornings, and evenings, I naturally turn to a different sort of nourishment that supports me during this time of the year.

Spices

* Cinnamon - Cozy and warming; lovely for circulation and gentle digestion on cold days.

* Ginger - A classic helper: warms me from the inside, settles the tummy, and feels especially good in tea (with some slices of orange).

* Cloves - Small but powerful; warming and oh so aromatic. I use them also in stews or soups to help with that cold, heavy feeling in the stomach.

* Chillies - Great for getting things moving and creating inner warmth - just a little goes a long way...

* Pepper - Helps wake up my digestion and adds a nice bit of heat to heavier autumn meals when I don't feel like having chilies.

* Cardamom - Gentle, fragrant, and soothing; and not too bad in brownies.

* Nutmeg - Warm and comforting, like Christmas, in tiny amounts; lovely in cacao.

Rich snacks

* Nuts - Crunchy, fatty, and grounding .

* Cream - Well... sometimes, just rich and comforting is enough of a reason.

* Butter / ghee - Ghee feels especially nourishing and gentle; and I love cooking with it.

* Honey - Sweet, soothing, and super nutritious as well - not in boiling drinks or cooking.

Foods

* Cooked goji berries - A traditional Chinese medicine favorite of mine, for nourishing yin and blood; eyes, liver, and kidneys.

* Pears - Juicy and cooling; lovely when your throat feels dry or when you've had lots of rich, spicy food.

* Savory oats - Simple, warm, and grounding - such a good breakfast for chilly mornings with a sprinkle of cacao nibs or chunks of pure cacao.

* Broths / soups - Gentle, hydrating, and so comforting for my nervous system.

* Roasted root vegetables - Earthy and simple; cooking roots makes them easier to digest in autumn and winter.

* Wild meat - Dense, pure, and strengthening; lovely in small portions, balanced with lots of sauce and warming spices.

* Stews / curries - The ultimate easy-on- digestion cold-weather food, I pair it with any side dish.

* Pickles - I love them as they work on my gut flora and support my digestion -

Warm drinks

* Chai tea - Lots of comfort.

* Cacao - Basically a hug in a cup: warming spices, gentle stimulation, rich , grounding, and mood-lifting; especially nice with spices or even mixed with chai tea.

* Fennel seeds - A tiny helper that settles my digestion; try them as a tea.

* Vanilla - Aromatic, sweet, and calming; it makes warm milk, cacao, or chai feel extra comforting.

I sometimes find that the more I want to `learn it` , the more the intuition gets pushed aside.

Most of the time, I intuitively used the herbs and plants which I would later discover served the purpose I needed at that specific moment. When I actively seek the learned, academic part of my memory, I seem to choose the wrong plants for the usage.

There is space in my life,  in understanding the balance between the energies of learning and the intuitive- as well as how to harmonize them together; as with everything, there is never really only one answer and ballance is a bit like playing with the old scales, that required weights.