It’s been quite the build up to today. My husband and I have been working hard to prep the garden for the hourdes of visitors that descended on the farm for the 5 hours that the gates were open to the public. The weather gods smiled on us, and we had lovely warm weather all day. It’s been an interesting experience showcasing all the preparations that I’ve been making towards having a productive and attractive garden. The thistles and rye grass have been an endless battle to remove, and it feels like as soon as you clear a bed, they just start growing again.
I took a breath the day before and questioned why the thistles were such a problem for me. They smother the young plants that I’ve planted, dry out the ground and take all the light. And you can see the seedlings take a deep breath and grow in strength when the grass and thistles are removed. But it’s hard work. Every square inch of ground is covered by pasture that has been bred and designed to grow and grow and grow, and to respond to being cut down by growing some more. And thistles hide all their tenderness behind a barrage of spiky spiny leaves that jab and poke if you are careless with your grasping fingers.
I have a herbal deck of herbal astrology, and the message of thistle was one of letting go of negativity, melancholy, and the cycle of depressing thoughts that can lead to frustration and self-sabotage. A timely message, and a good explanation for why the thistles irk me so and taunt me with feelings of inadequacy and ‘this is all too much’. Thistle medicine is badger medicine according to my oracle deck, and as such is strong, powerful, and immediate. It is associated with the strong medicine women of the Earth, who keep their boundaries, take action, and protect what’s right.
Prompted by my meditations on the message of thistle, I brewed a strong dark tea of fresh thistle and nettle, with a tiny bit of alfalfa for its harmonising influence. I strained and diluted it with fresh water into bottles, and added capfuls to 10l watering cans that I sprinkled over each of the 24 beds that I plan to grow plants in. I must have looked like a madwoman furiously watering beds crowded with weeds as the rain lashed down on my head. There are superstitions abound about how to rid the land of thistles – treat with lacking minerals of iron and copper, remove 3 times, or make a homeopathic brew and they won’t return. I’m not sure what my tea will do, but I’ve learned to pay attention to the messages I get in that delicate semi-lucid state between dreaming and waking. This is when I am most aware of the work that my subconscious is doing – retrieving information, solving problems, and connecting me to knowledge that goes far beyond my waking state.
I’m not sure if the open day went well or not. I spoke to quite a few people, explained the ethos of the garden, and shared some remedies that I had prepared for the day. I didn’t sell as much as I had hoped, but it was a reminder for me to be clear about what I’m doing this for. The energetic loop must close as I often feel that I am offering so much of myself for not much reward, but there are different ways of attracting abundance. I have a pile of salves and creams that I am keen to sell, but as always the nudge of Spirit is telling me that my path is not one of a commercial enterprise. It is one of abundance – having what I need when I need it, and not to excess. And the garden is happy. When I walk along the paths and run my hands along the tall grassy fronds as they wave in the breeze, I see butterflies and ladybirds, moths and beetles, and I hear birdsong in the trees. It is such a peaceful and joyful space, and I am glad that it is here. I will find a use for my surplus of jars – I always do. Sometimes life provides an abundance of what you’ll need a little ways further down the track..so I’ll have to wait and see what I’ve been preparing for and hold on to the belief that I’ll have enough of what I need when I get there.
Thistle Medicine
(modified from The Wild Wisdom of Weeds, by Katrina Blair)
Ingredients:
Whole thistle plant (leaves, stem, and root)
3 cups water
Juice of half a lemon
Honey to taste
Method:
Blend well and strain out the pulp to remove the spines and debris.
Pour into a glass and enjoy the lessons that thistle has to offer.
Thistle roots can also be cleaned and dried, and added to homemade nut milks with dried ginger and popped amaranth for an energy-boosting kick.
Thistle teaches us about clear boundaries. As a caretaker of the Earth it pops up where there has been neglect and damage. It helps to regenerate the soil’s natural fertility, anchoring in beneficial minerals. They are also highly beneficial for our bodies; mineralising, alkalising, and providing support for the liver.