Swine Flu

Some really good information and advice regarding our newest pandemic:
http://www.areturntohealing.com/blog/node/6

Don't worry, here are the recommendations:

SWINE FLU PREVENTIVE MEASURES FOR CHILDREN AND ADULTS
Dr. Lansman has had excellent results in preventing and managing flu symptoms with a range of vitamins, supplements, herbs, and homeopathic preparations. Her basic recommendations include 1000 IUs of vitamin D each day for infants and toddlers, 1 teaspon of cod liver oil/day for all kids, and 2500 IU daily for older children. She also recommends Elderberry once daily and one dose of homeopathic Oscillococinnum each month.

Dr. Saputo’s recommendations for adults include the following:
• Adopt a healthy lifestyle: adequate sleep, good diet, regular exercise, avoid stress
• Get plenty of sunshine, or supplement to keep vitamin D levels adequate
• Wash your hands frequently with water
• Consider boosting immunity with vitamin C, beta glucans, echinacea, vitamin A, maitake and shitake mushroom extracts, minerals such as selenium and zinc, certain herbs such as olive leaf extract and garlic, and homeopathic remedies.

"Resistance to Tyranny is Obedience to God"

*from Susan B. Anthony at the close of the court case caused by her attempt to vote

a gentle southern rain

What better way to spend a Sunday morning than quietly appreciating the almost silent falling of rain from the seldom darkened sky. This may be one of the last warm rains this region gets before the autumn air sets in. At least, this is what I imagine, though in reality the cold could linger north and west of here into October. Winter is coming, and it makes my heart ache just a little, especially considering there is no solid space assigned it for the coming months. Mk and I are driving back to North Carolina from Illinois next weekend, approximately one week from today. I need to be in Asheville for the herb conference I've been mentioning. I'll leave my hopes and fears up in the air as much as possible until that day gets here.

Springfield is a spiritually moving place for me. I almost without fail find myself depressed after a short time in this place. First I'm bored, then irritable, then sort of empty feeling. It's not that there aren't wonderful people here with whom I'm bonded and for whom I care greatly. Somehow there is just not enough for me to do here. I pretty actively avoid taking buses or walking around cars/barking dogs, and I don't know where exactly I'd go or what I'd enjoy on those walks. My body tells me to do nothing because there's nothing exciting for it to do. I feel very connected with a general American feeling when I'm here. Anyway, I think this is somehow a good thing for me to experience, accept, and from which to generate some new feelings. It helps to appreciate more the beauty of where I live the rest of the time to come here and drown in corn and cars. I'm experiencing what I absolutely do not like in hopes that those things I do like will surface and be genuinely recognizable. This is in general how it's always happened. Thank momma god for her wild and chaotic sense of reason. :)

One more thing, I wanted to talk about coming to know a little better what my mission/purpose/career path could be. Whatever is in the future, I hope it involves keeping stock of something dynamic, something that changes with inter-action. I hope it keeps my body occupied most of the time, 'cause movement is what a body craves. I see these benefits in herbalism, or in growing, tending, harvesting, and preparing plants. Working with plants opens me to the dynamic and intense nature of life on this planet. It helps me to better see all that is sick or dying in my parts of the world. It also gives me a much more cohesive understanding of how what is sick and dying interacts with and forms every new life. I think I'll work and live with plants for my life, considering they are everywhere, even in this urban center- decay is bringing new life to every part of this place.

with love,
Abby

red clover, red clover, send it right over

I am a really lucky gal. It's hard to explain, but it's true and pretty unbelievable.

Turns out that 95% of the bras in department stores are shaped like perfect round things with strange squashy bottoms that are more than a little disingenuous. 80% have hard plastic curves inside that push up the body they are "supporting." I had trouble finding a camisole with a piece of elastic inside for use in lieu of the bra. It was almost impossible to find anything not unspeakably tight and nylon. It's over now; I'm 3 pairs of half-bamboo underwear richer and about 3 1/2 hours older.

Just 3 weeks, now, until the Southeast Women's Herb Conference. I'm psyched to try to go to the session on Uterine Massage. I've been really interested in this Mayan uterine ligament massage that Rosita Arvigo has sort of made re-popular since she moved to Belize and studied with an old Indio down abouts. She wrote a book called Sastun about her apprenticeship and homesteading in the rainforest that's pretty danged good. I almost went to visit while I was down there! But I didn't. Also, Susun Weed's supposed to keynote the weekend, and I'm really happy about work trading the whole cost of the event and getting to know the ladies who run it a little bit. Also, my good good lady friend's herb school teacher is giving a workshop on medicinal herb gardening that I'm Really excited to attend. Those classes and being surrounded by beautiful, intense, brilliant women make me feel really good about going. I'm also trying to go to herb school with my gal-buddy for a coupla days after the conference. I'm redirecting my energy into dreaming about these events until they happen. Work is pretty un-stimulating to my brain, but o so needed for my body. I kinda have muscles now!

I also miss my home in the mountains. I just feel better down there. The air is different, the water is cleaner, the people think a little more, the trees grow a little more. I'm recognizing how things feel different and what helps guide my body to rest. It's difficult to figure what's worth commitment in this transient land. Even sedentary folk are able to go anywhere at all over their televisions and computers. That's what I do, too, and it doesn't help my brain make any decisions! I think perhaps our options are unlimited in theory, and it's our job to realize what's truly possible for ourselves in our own lives.

More on that at an earlier hour.

Love and enjoy,
Abby