Ireland is a heart centric island.  One can tell by the people, culture and landscape. Plants know this of Ireland.  Every May-ish the Hawthorne trees begin to bloom.  A diverse range of colours from pure white to magenta reds explode through the ever present emerald green.  During this time, taking a mucky turn down a lane was a tonic.  My heart sang when crossed with the visual candy and scent of the Hawthorne.  Warming my chilled bones of winter fast.
 
Turns out that Hawthorne as an aromatic or tincture is one of the best remedies for heart imbalances.  Heart function, blood vessels, chest pain, low/high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, high cholesterol and irregular heartbeat. 
 
Living in California where life tends to steer us into finding the fastest way to get through traffic rather than an unmarked path is how we roll.  Experiencing Hawthorne in bloom spells the heart to slow down.  The scent hits the brain as a huge fizzy ball of relaxation and any tension that may be lingering from the day sieves through One's neurotransmitters and Yes....dopamine pervades. Uh-huh... Hawthorne Addict. Now, in California at my Apothycaria lab, I use Hawthorne in my formulations.  As a relaxant in my tinctures, oxygenator for my facial tonics and mender of broken hearts. 

The soil of Ireland has a way of getting under and in everything.  My mucky boots from adventures down an unmarked path are easily cleaned.  For this Californian the scent of Hawthorne and earth of Eire remains in her heart.....and my remedies.

Take a turn down my well traveled modern day apothecary; Apothycaria....where time and space suspends and in it's place is the eternal wisdom from our Earth.

For Beloveds,

in honor of Saint Valentine who was executed and martyred because he married Roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry due to Christian doctrines.  Saint Valentine died 14 February 269AD and was buried Whitefriar Street Church Dublin Ireland.....uh-huh heart centric saints know too. 

Ode to Craters

presence to impermanence
determined seed
craters of the heart emerge
asking for our nature
to bring together
to take up the lead
unite what vastness our mind separates
Doubt casts
Faith invades
Surrender cements
us to our heart's oracle

love love love