Susan Goldsmith :: Medical Herbalist

19/07/2024

The healing power of Nature...

03/06/2024

28/05/2024

13/05/2024

In the sun surrounded by the magic of sage, baby gingko, lemon balm and lily of the valley 🌱🌿🍃

25/12/2023

:: Mistletoe :: 🎄❤️🌿😘 Have you ever wondered why there’s a tradition to kiss someone beneath a twig of Mistletoe?

One of the earlier stories of this plant relates to the ancient times of Celtic Druids, who valued Mistletoe for its ability to bloom in the winter. The Mistletoe shrub would still flourish with its green leaves while the other trees were bare; to them, this represented everlasting life.

The Druids would remove Mistletoe from Oaks, which were considered sacred trees, with a golden sickle in a ceremony on the 6th day after the new moon. Mistletoe was valued as a remedy that ensured fertility, which might be the origin of the romantic tradition of kissing beneath the Mistletoe that has formed over the years.

Another story of Mistletoe comes to us from Norse mythology. F***g, the Goddess of Love, had a son, Baldur. Because he was prophesied to die, F***g secured an oath from all of the animals and plants that they would not harm him. Unfortunately, she forgot to consult with Mistletoe.

Loki, the God of Mischief, used an arrow made from the Mistletoe to kill Baldur. In one variation of the story, Baldur was resurrected from the dead. In celebration, F***g made Mistletoe into a symbol of love and gave all those who passed beneath it a kiss.💋

Even now, kissing underneath the Mistletoe is a popular tradition in many European countries and North America, and carries the promise of marriage, happiness, and long life. In the Middle Ages, there was a custom where one would pluck a berry beneath the Mistletoe for each kiss taken and finish once all the berries were gone. ❤️🌿🎄🌿❤️

𝑨𝒓𝒕: “𝑫𝒓𝒖𝒊𝒅𝒔 𝑩𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑴𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒍𝒆𝒕𝒐𝒆,” 𝒃𝒚 𝑬𝒅𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝑯𝒐𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒍 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑮𝒆𝒐𝒓𝒈𝒆 𝑯𝒆𝒏𝒓𝒚 1890

10/10/2023

Today is ! 🧠

Celebrated on 10 October each year, this year's theme is ‘mental health is a universal human right’.

This incredibly important day is all about raising awareness and driving positive change for everyone’s . It’s also a chance to talk about mental health, how we need to look after it, and how important it is to get help if you are struggling.

Earlier this year, we supported Mental Health Awareness Week by sharing some tips across our social channels and we also held a free webinar which focused on the importance of a for a . We are passionate about this cause and never has it been more important to start a conversation about mental health.

Find out more...

Mental Health Foundation have a really useful 'Tea and Talk' pack which can be downloaded for free - simply visit their page for more information. There are also plenty of helpful resources. Why not check in with family, friends or colleagues today and start a conversation over a cup of tea? 🍵

How are you getting involved with the day? Tell us below... 💚

23/01/2023

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"Nature is the source of all true knowledge." – Leonardo da Vinci

Geometric analysis of a Dandelion by Giovanni - Florence, Italy