NumiZine 2: Vestalia

Vestalia ~ Summer 2025 NumiZine

Vestalia Altar Card

Composting Toilets Six Weeks of Sunday Dinners

Plant Medicine for Summer

HORSES!

Lymphatic Drainage 101

I respectfully acknowledge the Syilx Okanagan peoples who are the custodians of the land on which I live and work.

I honour the Four Food Chiefs, in particular the three found right outside my door which include siyaʔ (pronounced SHEE-ah), aka Saskatoon Berry spʼiƛʼm (pronounced SPEET-lum), aka Bitterroot skmʼxist (pronounced SKEM-hr-eest), aka Black Bear along with ntytyix (pronounced N-dee-dee-hr), aka King Salmon whose population is at risk. kł cp̓ əlk̓ stim̓ is an nsyilxcen term that roughly translates to “to cause to come back”.

The Okanagan Nation Alliance has received national recognition for their efforts towards rehabilitation of sockeye salmon stocks.

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3 Vestalia Blessings Altar Card 4 Cool Facts About Vestal Virgins 5 Plant Medicine for Summer 11 Horses!

15 Intro to Composting Toilets 17 TikTok Taught Me Lymphatic Drainage 18 Six Weeks of Sunday Dinners

B l e a s i l s a ing t s e

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e e fa m s p d a s y f a o e r m n p e o st s n e l o g o u n t h n i r e c u e c f a l b s l e l y a s e it r w ty y a n y d l m g i i i l o e it m n r r so a e o e f t v p u s o en a s o s r o y p r t h s c solidari of powe ellbeing omy e w e on s t r y i u l u f i t a a e m h gh a i t y f r t i m n r e y ar s a t d i o i l w r h e o c s y e t sp s i m r e u u i c a t n id br h l a i l g o d i i s n u r p s e eq y asce ndance perity o r p e t g s c n n o i s r g erei eignty a eing p e wellbe ight u r l r llb u e e r v s f w o le y sel u le l ys i r u y f r m l f e a m f s o el s n y n o y e m t o s m n o hos rity au m o n t u o i t r au u b i a a y l i d t i i y u l it q ar a r e so d d a i l p n d i o e r l s c e s so w e a r o i y y f p t t f n n o g g ce i sp i e e e s o r r r u e e p t v h ov g o g s s i n i r e e e l a y c b u l t d l n r i i l e r f l o e w e s s sp e e o ily c c r n m n p a a a g f y n nd nd n t e i e e c r c s s a s o a d a i h l c o m s s y a briu fastnes osperit ndance y t n r g e d i c p a e s e r t a g e v y in pr t rs o e n s g b l g l n i i e e e r r b w e l e l v e y w l o e w so s p mi y y o l t i f i h o c m er a e e p l f s s u n u o r fse l w t e o o h g pr s h g p i c e f r r s o i

See this scholarly paper for the research on this page and for little gems like this: “In sum, all human sacrifice is ritual murder, but not all ritual murder is human sacrifice.”

Vestal Virgins: • pre-date the founding of Rome

(though fostered by a wolf, Romulus and Remus’ mother was actually Rhea Silva, a Vestal Virgin impregnated by the god, Mars)

• were initiated between 6-10 years old • spent 30 years as a Vestal

10 yrs learning the roles and rituals of the priestess 10 yrs performing the rituals 10 yrs mentoring new initiates

• numbered only 6 at any given time • could continue in residence after their term was up (many did) • wore their hair in six braids, styled as a bride wed to the state • cleansed their secret sacred objects everyday (representing an intrinsic bond between

• held social privilege and political influence society, the divine and the state) • daily fetched water, ground flour and made salt for sacrificial bread cakes called ‘mola salsa’

Protect Us Now and Always

Yarrow achillea millefolium medicinal 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, yarrow is probably good for it! The Syilx peoples placed the foliage on hot coals to keep mosquitoes at bay.

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 (just watch out for that heel!)

Plant M edi c for Summer ine

thi sp lan tb rin gs hu mm joy ing in c bir dm ov halle erc ng edi e o cin op min s! e! eni g a ng dv to ers new ity exp ! eri enc es!

Wax Currant ribes cereum edible Wax currants, native to the Okanagan, grow all over our property.

Currants are usually cooked with a large quantity of sugar to make jams and jellies, but folks interested in the folklore/herbalism aspect may enjoy this page.

Kids these days are re-creating the vintage internet of the ‘90s, calling it “Webcore”, complete with tiling backgrounds, animated clip art, and blinkies.

At first, that’s what I thought that page was. Then I checked the Wayback Machine (an organization to which I donate regularly), and discovered that this page goes back to at least 2004! Turns out, being a decade behind the style and staying put brought them all way round to being currant again.

(See what I did there? Current/currant? )

😅

grea exo t for rcis ms “There are a couple of cautions to keep in mind when working with St. John’s Wort. First, St. John’s wort has the potential to cause photosensitivity (Hoffmann, 2003).

Photosensitive reactions vary among individuals using St. John’s wort and are typically seen when large internal doses of the plant are used; however, it is generally suggested that anyone using St. John’s wort use caution in the sun (Hoffmann, 2003). Secondly, it’s important to avoid using St. John’s wort when taking SSRI antidepressants and some other medications that are metabolized through the liver (Easley & Horne, 2016) as St. John’s wort, especially as a concentrated extract, such as a tincture, may decrease the efficacy of such medications because of the increased speed in which the medications would be passed through the body”.

m ts fro c e t o pr s from d n u wo bjects o p r sha

St.John’s Wort hypericum perforatum medicinal

wards off evil

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 marked more by irritability and frustration than sadness.

It also detoxifies the liver and helps the body metabolize cortisol, a hormone released during the fight-or-flight state.

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 moral injury and spiritual wounds.

Praise Aste ria er of Hekat e oth ,M

Queen of Falling Stars Goddess of Nighttime Patroness of Astrology Deliverer of Prophetic Dreams Embodiment of Refuge Champion of the Higher Self

connect r with you Star Self

Showy Aster eurybia conspicua Indigenous medicinal

Where I live, the Syilx people would boil the aster plant and use the liquid to wash sores on horses. They also drank infusions for a variety of ailments including STIs, and applied poultices to haemorrhoids.

“The Aster is one of the flower essences that seems particularly capable of stimulating the dream life, and the consciousness of the Self beyond physical form.

Its is also (...) one of the important emerging flower essences that practitioners have found very helpful for the soul when in the process of dying.”

Pineapple Weed matricaria discoidea tisane 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 add it to dried nettle teas for that bright, joyful quality.

How to Lose a Bunch of Money and Nearly Your Mind Trying to Get More Horses in Your Life

I Befriend and interview Canada’s foremost wild horse biologist. Feel your ancestors nudging you to take action.

II 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.

III 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.

IV

Come across a movie about Okanagan wild horses. Set out to find the wild horse tamer featured to help make your dreams come true.

V 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.

(Mars is the planet and god that rules large beasts.

And also happens to govern my sun sign, Scorpio.

And also happens to be my Time Lord this year.

Asking Mars to restrain one from buying horses right now is like asking Thor to stop the thunder.)

VI 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?

VII Go to the auction.

VIII

Start building fences.

New name: Reverie

New name: Skaha

Beau

Midnight

Learn more about Jane Stelkia, Stelkia Ranch, and the Ride for the Children

Intro to Composting Toilet Systems!

Press Play to Watch

Resources The Humanure Handbook, by Joseph Jenkins Essential Composting Toilets: A Guide to Options, Design, Installation, and Use, by Gord and Ann Baird Portable camp toilet seat with lid, from Canadian Tire ( or REI Marisa the same bu cke ’s p

t li elvic st eam w d I used for orksho p in Ma rch!)

Here are some non-affiliate links to some of my favourite skin care

TikTok Taught Me Lymphatic Drainage Part II: Skin Care

Part I: Shower What is Lymphatic Drainage? Why is it Important?

Six Weeks of Sunday Dinners Huevos Rancheros with Mexican Rice and Honey Butter Cornbread Chicken Caesar Salad with Home Smoked Bacon and New Potatoes Turkish Lamb Meatballs with Tangy Yogurt Sauce, Rice, and Braised Leeks

We ar rec e testin ipes g la a m get ting head o b f she ep!

Moroccan Lamb and Chickpea Tagine with Garlicky Green Beans

and Naan Japanese Curry and Pork Ramen Ruben’s No Regrets Lasagne with Green Salad and Roast Asparagus plus Simple Toaster Oven Dacquoise Cake Two Ways: Lemon Raspberry or Mango (Use any extra Lemon Curd for these cookies!)