by Judith Stafford | Mar 29, 2021 | Into the Woods, Recipes
Spring Tonics I love this time of year. Leaves are in bud on the trees and the woodland and meadow plants are just starting to come up. Before long the floor will be overgrown with ivy, brambles and ferns but, for just a few weeks, spring flowers are in bloom and the countryside looks fresh and renewed. Many of the plants that are around this time of year can be used as a spring tonic. Nature has provided just what we need after winter. Before we imported food from around the world plants like stinging nettles, wild garlic, cleavers and dandelions have been enjoyed as cleansing herbs helping eliminate toxins from out body. Much cheaper and pleasant to eat or drink than some of the health shop detox products, these plants all contain lots of nutrients. They are rich in iron and other vitamins and minerals which we can use to give our immune system a boost. The plants mentioned below can be used fresh, which is best when possible, or can be frozen or dried. The exception is cleavers which should be used fresh. Nettles Nettles have more protein than any other native plant as well as many of the minerals our body needs to stay healthy. They can be added to soups and stews, made into tea or beer. You probably don’t want to eat them raw though as the sting is only neutralised after cooking! There is a knack to picking them without getting stung, but I find rubber gloves help. Nettle soup This soup is delicious and fresh tasting and full of vitamins. Pick a...
by Judith Stafford | Mar 2, 2021 | Becoming a Wise Woman
Why Life is great as you get older - Part 1 Now is the best time to take a good, hard look at who you are and begin healing those old emotional wounds. By the time you reach midlife, you will have had many experiences, some good, some bad and many, many in-between. You will have run the whole gamut of emotions, including joy, sorrow, anger, fear, hope, gratitude, contentment, anxiety, guilt, inspiration, and indifference, to name but a few. Some of these negative feelings and the experiences that created them may need processing in order to live a satisfying, fulfilling life without regrets. Midlife is the perfect time to examine the experiences that have had the most significant adverse effect on our lives. By now, we should have the skills and the maturity to see what happened more objectively and accept and forgive ourselves and others for the pain caused. Many events in our lives can upset us, and if repeated, they can lead to destructive behaviour and bad habits. If we want to have the best possible time during the second half of our lives, we must process some of the bad habits and limiting beliefs we have accumulated that are holding us back. This might seem daunting, and I do not suggest you try to deal with everything simultaneously. But there will almost certainly be particular behavioural patterns that you recognise in yourself that you would like to change. The most frequent include: Self-sabotage Feeling unloved or unlovable Procrastination and perfectionism People pleasing Negative self-talk Refusing to ask for or accept help Blaming others Not feeling...
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