It is wild crafting time. We have a very short growing season here and a year’s worth of herbs to gather in a short time, sustainably, and respectfully.
I love wild crafting. I am in my element when outdoors. Even now, I am on my balcony surrounded by plants. I am outside every moment I can and being around plants is even better. I gather wherever I go, friends’ houses, great aunt’s house, sides of barely trodden roads. (Never in polluted areas and never on private property without permission.)
There is a special way to properly wild craft. When I was younger I foolishly thought that you could just gather what was in the yard and put them in alcohol and make a medicine. There is so much more to that including the plants choosing to help you, full moon cycles, various transports, and intuition. Wild crafting requires patience, quiet, and listening.
One must approach the plant humbly. Ask permission of the plant spirits. If a twig or leaf or root or flower will not come off easily it is saying no. You can also see parts of the plants moving. That is where they are agreeing to be taken. It is really quite enchanting and I am afraid that we have been lost in our modern world and have forgotten these things. We do not take roots if we do not need to. The Oregon Grape Root, dalonigei, has a large underground network of roots and will be alright if one harvests the roots. Echinacea, sochani, is not so easy or prolific and the leaves and flowers contain as much of the medicine within them as the root. Always leave tobacco to thank the plant spirits.
Only take a third. A third each for nature, for regrowth, and for your medicine. It should look as if the area has been undisturbed. No one should notice that you have wild crafted there. Having gratitude for the plants and the availability of the medicines is important and humbly taking only what you need is to be remembered.
There are few true medicine keepers today and it is imperative for the average herbalist (and large herb companies) to understand the importance of maintaining a respectful and ceremonial way of gathering in order to get the plants’ help in making medicines as well as keeping the energy of the medicine.
These things really cannot be adequately explained in print but it should be noted so that we can take care of our natural medicines (including dandelions!) and Mother Earth, Etsia Eloheno.
Today I was blessed to gather sumac, spruce, cedar, mullein, calendula, Echinacea, and Oregon grape root from Aunt Donna’s. Yesterday I gathered maple and dandelion from Rodney and Pat’s. Tomorrow I gather roses, yucca, purslane, and lady sage. I do love this time of year.
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