edgetheSyilxOkanaganpeopleswhoarethecustodians ofthelandonwhichIliveandwork.
IhonourtheFourFoodChiefs, ethreefoundrightoutsidemydoorwhichin
ronouncedSHEE-ah),akaSaskatoonBerry m(pronouncedSPEET-lum),akaBitterroot (pronouncedSKEM-hr-eest),akaBlackBear alongwith pronouncedN-dee-dee-hr),akaKingSalmon whosepopulationisatrisk.
centermthatroughlytranslatesto“tocausetocomeback”.
TheOkanaganNationAlliancehasreceivednationalrecognitionfortheireffortstowards rehabilitationofsockeyesalmonstocks.
rmthau
chosenf solidarityautonomychosenfamilywellbeing pro p e fire solidarity autonomy self-rulestea sperity seofpower sovereigntyascend eequilib ilywellbeingprosperity ereignt tonomy ysover
hosen f ht use solidar g prosp ce fire rightu
nce sov elf-rule ngprosp briums brium as ascenda r steadfa gprospe mily we ce solida gprospe lidaritya hosen righ gnty as
Seethisscholarlypaperfortheresearchonthispageandforlittlegemslikethis:
•pre-datethefoundingofRome VestalVirgins:
•wereinitiatedbetween6-10yearsold
•spent30yearsasaVestal
(thoughfosteredbyawolf,RomulusandRemus’mother wasactuallyRheaSilva, aVestalVirginimpregnatedbythegod,Mars)
10yrslearningtherolesandritualsofthepriestess 10yrsperformingtherituals 10yrsmentoringnewinitiates
•numberedonly6atanygiventime
•couldcontinueinresidenceaftertheirtermwasup(manydid)
•woretheirhairinsixbraids,styledasabridewedtothestate
•cleansedtheirsecretsacredobjectseveryday
•heldsocialprivilegeandpoliticalinfluence
(representinganintrinsicbondbetween society, thedivineandthestate)
•dailyfetchedwater,groundflourandmadesaltfor sacrificialbreadcakescalled‘molasalsa’
A highly aromatic nectar for butterflies that presents in a wide range of colours from white to pale pink, hot pink, deep ruby, and bright yellows. Yarrow has been used since ancient times as a treatment for almost everything! Stomach aches, irritable bowels, gassiness, UTIs, eczema, and wound healing – you name it, yarrowisprobablygoodforit!TheSyilxpeoplesplacedthefoliageonhotcoalsto keepmosquitoesatbay.
Spiritually, yarrow is a protector that offers clear perception, strong intuition, courage and well bonded relationships. Dried yarrow stalks have been used in divination, similar to ‘throwing the bones’. Place yarrow on your altar to call on Freya, Thor, Chiron the Healer, or to summon the fighting prowess of Achilles (justwatchoutforthatheel!)
Waxcurrants,nativetotheOkanagan,growalloverourproperty.
Currantsareusuallycookedwithalargequantityofsugartomakejamsandjellies, butfolksinterestedinthefolklore/herbalismaspectmayenjoythispage.
Kidsthesedaysarere-creatingthevintageinternetofthe‘90s,calling it“Webcore”, completewithtilingbackgrounds,animatedclipart, andblinkies.
Atfirst,that’swhatIthoughtthatpagewas.ThenIcheckedtheWaybackMachine (anorganizationtowhichIdonateregularly),anddiscoveredthatthispagegoes backtoatleast2004! Turnsout,beingadecadebehindthestyleandstayingput broughtthemallwayroundtobeingcurrantagain. (SeewhatIdidthere?Current/currant?��)
“Thereareacoupleofcautionstokeepinmind whenworkingwithSt John’sWort First,St John’sworthasthepotentialtocause photosensitivity(Hoffmann,2003). Photosensitivereactionsvaryamong individualsusingSt John’swortandare typicallyseenwhenlargeinternaldosesofthe plantareused;however,itisgenerally suggestedthatanyoneusingSt John’swortuse cautioninthesun(Hoffmann,2003) Secondly, it’simportanttoavoidusingSt John’swort whentakingSSRIantidepressantsandsome othermedicationsthataremetabolized throughtheliver(Easley&Horne,2016)asSt John’swort,especiallyasaconcentrated extract,suchasatincture,maydecreasethe efficacyofsuchmedicationsbecauseofthe increasedspeedinwhichthemedications wouldbepassedthroughthebody”
This plant often blooms on or near summer solstice so do harvest some on this spiritually powerful portal day, if you can! St.John’s wort helps restore the nervous system when it shows signs of burnout from long term stress, tension, insomnia or anxiety, and is especially good for a “stagnant depression” which is markedmorebyirritabilityandfrustrationthansadness.
It also detoxifies the liver and helps the body metabolize cortisol, a hormone releasedduringthefight-or-flightstate.
Spiritually, this herb embodies the procreative spirit of the earth in partnership with the land; it brings life-giving energy, a sense of awakening, and is a balm for moralinjuryandspiritualwounds.
QueenofFallingStars
GoddessofNighttime
PatronessofAstrology
DelivererofPropheticDreams
EmbodimentofRefuge
ChampionoftheHigherSelf
WhereIlive,theSyilxpeoplewouldboiltheasterplantandusetheliquidtowash soresonhorses.TheyalsodrankinfusionsforavarietyofailmentsincludingSTIs, andappliedpoulticestohaemorrhoids.
“TheAsterisoneofthefloweressencesthatseemsparticularlycapableof stimulatingthedreamlife,andtheconsciousnessoftheSelfbeyondphysicalform. Itsisalso(...)oneoftheimportantemergingfloweressencesthatpractitioners havefoundveryhelpfulforthesoulwhenintheprocessofdying.”
Much like it’s cousin, German chamomile, the part you want to use from pineapple weed is just the flower head. It has a sedating quality that makes it great for anxiety or insomnia. Yet, I find its genuinely fruity aroma to be quite uplifting, so I addittodriednettleteasforthatbright,joyfulquality.
Fall in love with a domesticated wild horse based only off an Instagram reel. Purchase that horse before you have land or fences. Board it ten hours away. Stare off in the distance wistfully with a single tear falling down your cheek as you think about them.
Befriend and interview
Canada’s foremost wild horse biologist. Feel your ancestors nudging you to take action.
Begin a courtship with a local herd of wild horses that traverse the land to which you’ve relocated. Pray they will magically follow you home.
Come across a movie about Okanagan wild horses. Set out to find the wild horse tamer featured to help make your dreams come true.
VI
Become the wild horse tamer’s best customer at their trail riding operation. Get the inside scoop on the upcoming annual wild horse auction. Promise your husband you will not buy more horses before you have fences. Pray to Mars for the strength to control yourself. (Marsistheplanetandgodthatruleslargebeasts. Andalsohappenstogovernmysunsign,Scorpio. AndalsohappenstobemyTimeLordthisyear. AskingMarstorestrainonefrombuyinghorses rightnow islikeaskingThortostopthethunder.)
Get depressed and irritable that the auction is coming soon and you promised not to buy more horses but your kid has fallen in love with one and you think another will be perfect for your husband.
Ask him, What would it take for this to be a yes?
PartI: Shower
PartII: SkinCare
WhatisLymphaticDrainage?WhyisitImportant?
HuevosRancheroswithMexicanRiceandHoneyButterCornbread
ChickenCaesarSaladwithHomeSmokedBaconandNewPotatoes
TurkishLambMeatballswithTangyYogurtSauce,Rice andBraisedLeeks
MoroccanLambandChickpeaTaginewithGarlickyGreenBeans andNaan
Ruben’sNoRegretsLasagnewithGreenSaladandRoastAsparagus JapaneseCurryandPorkRamen
SimpleToasterOvenDacquoiseCakeTwoWays:LemonRaspberryorMango (UseanyextraLemonCurdforthesecookies!) plus
