Plant healings and ancient lands

Plants have been working their magic!

It is eight glorious moons since I even thought to write here. In that time, I hope nature and her gentle wisdom has been with you, as with me.

I last wrote on the cusp of travel north, to the Western Isles of the Scottish Hebrides, for work in summer at AS Apothecary on the Isle of Harris. Since then, I have broken my own heart by leaving the Isle and returning south to the shires of England: to my therapeutic and garden work alongside continuing Herbal studies.

All the while, I have felt beautifully supported by my beloved and something else...

..the magic at work has been in the plants, they have held me so tenderly.

Harris (Na Hearradh) forms the southern part of the largest Outer Hebridean Island.

I travelled over two days, the most beautiful of journeys to arrive on its shores by Ferry.

On through the breathtaking mountainous landscapes by bus, to western and southern Harris.

Arriving in late July, the black faced sheep who's wool is the living craft of the Islands Harris Tweed, stood on soft swaying grass verges. The many grasses grow sublime, amidst frothy tall whites of wild achillea, meadowsweet, yellow buttercup, blue harebells and burgeoning pompom drifts of red clover. 'Wild flowered lands' and scattered everywhere, like a beautiful dream from my childhood. These are also some of the first flowers I meet in the country lanes of Dorset, my Osbourne book of Wildflowers in hand over 45 years ago. I especially remember red clover and meadowsweet.

The unique habitat of coastal Harris is the Machair.

Nothing prepared me for the landscape of this Isle. I was moved to tears of joy so many times.

Beach sands, grassland and cattle all converge in coastal mist below the mountains, where up to 40 western isle wildflowers can thrive, pure and true. I walked, barefoot and awash with awe at the beauty and simplicity of an ancient habitat protected and respected.

A wild and ancient habitat shares great abundance for the respectful forager.

This gentle forager balance is a requisite ethos and truly the essence of everything founder: Amanda, weaves into each plant she grows and harvests from the smallholding, croft, ocean and Machair of her organic Apothecary. www.asapoth.com

Her craft approach and organic skincare is as rare as the land it grows from. Incredible in every way.

During the summer, I hand picked wild red clover (Trifolium Pratense). Foraging amidst a veritable sea of flowers, I was on tiptoe, to avoid any imagined plant damage. The sweet scent and pink hues bought such a swell of inner peace (and a runny nose!) A bumble bee or two buzzed by (though they actually prefer the white clover) and out beyond the grassland, I watched the light change as the Machair sparkled in hues of green, turquoise and purest beauty.

The same afternoon, I was inspired to blend Clover flowers with other wild botanicals for a relieving womb tea- soft and comforting during bleed time. I had not planned this. Infact, it was my first time, a virgin tea blend! I was surprised, delighted, moved and inspired, by the quiet, intuitive mix that emerged. It is delicious!

I can still recall every part of my time working out on the Machair that day.

There was a silent, irrefutable shift in my heart knowledge of Clover. I deepened my connection to her magical healing, through time spent on the place she lives. This knowledge is bound with reverence for the land she grows in, amidst the tides and light that bring her to thrive every summer. Clover, I see you and love you. I could not learn this in my books.

I feel deep in my bones, that plants and lands want to share their ancient wisdom and healing.

This bone deep knowing has changed me forever. A heart opening, a softening, a homecoming.

The language and wisdom of ancestors, my great grandmothers, the wise women.