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It is November 22, 2022 and it is that time of the year.   It always happens, year after year after year and it is just apart of our lives.     

Solar flares can cause it, 5G can cause it, EMF's can cause it, sugar definitely causes it, lack of nature causes it, lack of wearing the right winter clothes causes it, lack of sleep can do it, staying inside in stuffy houses will do it, no exercise will do it, high heat in the house causes it, stress causes it, fast food causes it, lack of community causes it, video games can do it, to much screen time can do it,  and more.   

One might ask "What Is She Talking About?".  I am talking about what happens every year usually after Halloween/Samhain and again in the spring.   It happens after the great sugar fest which seems to continue all the way to Easter.    A few days before Halloween/Samhain, I told someone just watch after Halloween, you will see people getting sick.  It is nothing new and I have been able to time it almost like clock work every year, year after year and yes way before the 2019...... 

What is it?  It's all things Respiratory, tis the Season.   Colds, flus, sinusitis, aches, pains, coughs, congestion, stomach bugs, running noses,  and unfortunately for some bronchitis and pneumonia.  It is all things Respiratory tis the Season.    I personally understand what it is like to have a respiratory issue, plus sinusitis and then get pneumonia.  It happened to me about 23 years ago, twice!  For me what caused it was a multitude of factors, such as emotional stress, environmental stress, and most likely spiritual stress.   I have had my kids get some of the worst sinus issues while they were growing up.  I am talking blowing out brown and orange. 

My dad (non-biological) was sick and stressed and it turned into pneumonia while he was in the hospital.  He died at the age of 65 years old.  As much as it broke my heart at the age of 13, as an adult I realize death is a part of our lives and it is not going to go away.  I also realized that my dad did everything wrong, pharmaceutical drugs, super bad diet, world war 2 depression, and his job had environmental toxins involved.  We as a society should start to understand death better, embrace it when it is time for those to leave and not fear it.   That is a whole other subject so more on that a different time. 

This season happens because we go back inside too much, people sit too much, they stay in over heated houses too much, people eat sugar way too much,  people begin to eat out too much, people stay up late too much, people surround themselves with toxic synthetic fragrances too much all of this and more makes the immune system take a dive.  This dive happens from all the physical, mental, emotional and environmental stress that comes with this time of the year. 

It is not going away and that is OK.  It truly is OK.  One needs to look at it like what did I do wrong, meaning why do I have a toxic build up?  And truly be thankful that your body is willing to get sick and purge out the toxins. 

Plus too many people watch a lot of fear porn and most of it is not worthy of your attention.   It is one thing to be informed, but to the point that you have burned out your adrenal glands from fear, worry and disgust, is too much,  It is just plain super toxic.   

Letting your phone control your life is toxic.  Living with your phone like it is a part of your body is super toxic.   Learn to only pull it out when needed.  Learn to not use it for entertainment.    You don't need to look at it walking through the parking lot and you really don't need to look at it from one store to the other.   Cellphone stress is very real you don't need to hold it in your hand all the time.  This cellphone stress causes severe burn out.   Look up more and visit the world.   

Minds and Phones: Who is Your Master:  Video by Paul Chek

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/video/mind-and-phones-who-is-your-master

 It is the year 2022, and it seems a large part of the population likes to complain.   Remember not only you are what we eat, but the other saying is You Are What You Think.   Your world is not only created by your actions but it is also created by how you think and it is your choice to have a good life, bad life, sick life, or healthy life.  

Are You Digesting Life:  Video by Phoenix (aka Sue)

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/video/are-you-digesting-life

Digestive System:  Are You Digesting Life: Blog by Phoenix (aka Sue)

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/studying-the-digestive-system-emotions

Benefits of Bitters:  Aiding Your Digestion:

https://www.evolutionaryherbalism.com/2021/04/28/the-benefits-and-dangers-of-bitters/

Hopefully I have established that it is nothing new to deal with respiratory illnesses.  Each year they are different, and can affect people different ways, every year.  Some years are super bad, some years are mild, some years are moderate.  When you add the above factors to this time of the year it really depends on ones life style, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually how their body will deal with what ever is being shared among them.  

This is not the time of year, to stay up late, live on a screen, eat sugar, eat fast food and/or processed food, take drugs, drink to much alcohol, and it is not the time of year to live off of too much caffeine.   Winter is here but it does not mean stay inside.  Inside air is toxic, humans need nature and fresh air.  

Here is a list of things to do, not to do, herbal remedies etc.  To Stay Healthy

At night turn off the Wi-Fi to your house for the night

Sleep in a dark room

Try a Black Out Sleep Mask

Put EMF protection devices on you, on your phone and in your house

Never put a TV screen or computer screen in the bedroom

Never sleep in your bedroom with your cell phone in the room

Turn all screens off by 7:00 pm 

Eat dinner no later than 7:00 pm

Go to bed by 10:00 pm 

Have a little bit of fresh air come through the house, crack a window open.  Tiny opening. 

Don't over heat your house

Go for hikes 

Do Forest Bathing

Add Meditation To Your Daily Life 

Laugh more

Play more

Hydrotherapy a few times a week or more.

Avoid toxic hand sanitizers.  I personally have never ever used hand sanitizer ever in my life.   I carry a mini Dr. Bronners travel soap in my purse. 

 If you really feel you need hand sanitizer then make a homemade herbal one: 

Keep in mind a lot of places use Rubbing Alcohol.  Rubbing alcohol is petroleum based and toxic.  

2/3 cup Everclear

3 tablespoons organic aloe vera

1/2 teaspoon organic vegetable glycerin

20 drops of Organic Germ Destroyer 

https://www.planttherapy.com/organic-germ-destroyer-kidsafe-essential-oil-10-ml

OR

10 drops  organic tea tree oil essential oil

5 drops  organic lavender essential oil

5 drops organic Rosemary essential oil

Avoid dryer sheets and synthetic fragrances that are used in laundry soap

Avoid all synthetic fragrances, they are toxic for the environment and you (your lungs).  That means no candles, perfumes, lotions and many more products.  If  they say fragrance don't buy.  The word fragrance means toxic synthetic.  Use products that say essential oils.  Not fragrance essential oils. 

Avoid synthetic air fresheners such as Fabreeze, plug in air fresheners and glade etc.   

Synthetic fragrances will harm your lungs, liver and immune system avoid them all the time. 

Take the proper amount of Vitamin D

Drink bone broth daily or at least 3 times a week

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/bone-broth

Eat a variety of whole organic foods daily

Avoid soy, gmo corn and no canola

Avoid food intolerances.  Meaning avoid foods that cause inflammation in your body.  Follow a Anti-Inflammatory Diet, there's plenty of information out there, such as books and cookbooks. 

https://draxe.com/nutrition/anti-inflammatory-foods/

Do not drink dairy unless it is raw

Only eat raw cheese

Eat soaked and dehydrated pumpkin seeds daily

Eat fermented food

Add prebiotic foods to your daily diet

Take a probiotic supplement 

Eat organic vegetables daily

Eat organic berries, apples  daily

Avoid oranges, they are a mucous forming food. 

Drink chick pea miso a few times a week

Daily dose of seaweed

Fish oil that has been tested for heavy metals

NO WHITE SUGAR

AVOID ALL SWEETS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE

Eat more warming soups and stews

Winter time is not the time to drink cold drinks or eat cold foods

No fast food, no junk food, no drive through

Eat with family

Eat at the table with no screens

Eat slow and enjoy your food

Dress according to the weather.  If it is winter then keep your body warm.  I see way to many people not dressing properly.  You can't expect your immune system to work if it is having a hard time keeping you warm.  

Drink a variety of herbal nourishing teas, such as oat top, oat straw, nettle, dandelion leaf, mullein, peppermint, rosehips, horsetail etc. 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/kick-start-your-heart-tea-recipe-high-vitamin-c

Drink a variety of herbal roots and berries made by decoction method, such as burdock root, dandelion root, hawthorn berries, and more.  

Herbal Nervines are important.  Nourishing your nervous system is vitally important.  Drink relaxing cups of tea in the evening (a few hours before bed).  Drink chamomile, lemon balm, passion flower, valerian, skullcap, etc. 

Tension Tamer:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/tension-tamer

The World of Tea:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/teas-tonics-and-infusions

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/rejuvenating-teas

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-world-of-tea-rejuvenating-teas-and-herbal-cocoa-s

Mushroom cocoa is a great drink to have throughout the winter.   Great for a treat and great for when one is not feeling well. 

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/mushroom-cocoa

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/building-up-your-immunity-with-mushroom-cocoa

Strengthening The Immune System:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/strengthening-the-immune-system

Boosting Your Immune System:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/boosting-your-immunity-with-herbs

Curried Onions:  For prevention or at the first sign

https://kamimcbride.com/kitchen-spice-medicine-turmeric-curried-onions/

When Respiratory Problems Happen
http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/elder-elder-flower-elderberry

Herbal Syrups:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/herbal-syrups

Cough Syrup:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/elecampane-and-hawthorn-cough-syrup-november-2022

When my family in 2015 was hit with Sinus and Congestion Issues:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/acute-sinus-issues

Vapor Balm

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/pine-vapor-balm-2022

Thoughts In 2013 on Lung Congestion:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/different-remedies-for-cold-flu

Gypsy Cold Care:

http://mcminnvillehealthdefense.ning.com/profiles/blogs/gypsy-cold-care-1

One last thing: 

Take this advise from me, I can speak from experience.  This comes from a very recent experience that I had.  

1. Never get dehydrated, it is easy to do if you are ill. 

2.  If you are the care taker and you get sick, make sure your family is monitoring your water and liquid intake.  Make sure they know what to do and what to give you.  

If you don't do this you could end up in the hospital. And some times hospitals do more harm then good.  

I wanted to end on something positive.  I personally love watching a sunset.  I love watching a sunrise, but for me something about sunset really speaks to me.   I wrote this back in 2015:

The sunset is a reminder to find the light in life at your most saddest, darkest times. The light brings peace, beauty, love, forgiveness, urges you to open your heart, let go of ego, and bring down those walls. A heart with walls, eventually stops beating.. For the light reminds us that being in the dark is OK, as long as we remember to rise.

A Gift from the Wind

Over the last few days or more I have not been in town. When I am at home it is as if time does not exist. There is no time and these winter days, the days and nights go by fast. There is no time at home and on the land, it is just life. Time itself keeps us boxed in  and it keeps one from not paying attention to the natural rhythms of the day.

This is how my granddaughter Satinka describes our day.

"Go To Sleep"

"Sleep"

"Waked Up"

"Ya Ya Stay Here"

"Satinka Drink Hot Cocoa"

"Work in Garden"

"Make Medicine"

"Dance"

"Eat "

"Sleep"

Life is so beautiful and simple as a toddler

I have been at home taking in the feeling of nature, trees, herbs and family. I spent the weekend at home deep with the plants, and making medicine with my beautiful granddaughter Satinka. My daughter Raquel also worked on her own recipes and projects. At times the music would come on, deep drumming and chanting sounds vibrating through the house. As the music flowed Satinka would get dressed up, get her drum and her shakers, she is already learning the ways of mother earth, her energy and movements of grounding oneself. We all moved, connecting and grounding ourselves with Mother Earth. When we start it is as if something wants us to keep going......... More so lately The world at this moment seems so dark for so many, but yet there is a bright light out there waiting. One just has to stop, slow down, put the screen down and one can feel or see it. Just grab it and pull it in. It is there whispering in the wind.... Speaking the words of find your soul path.... Yesterday it was time to head into town as I drove slowly through the mountains of Oregon with every curve the trees and leaves looked beautiful, I was in awe. It was as if the golden glow was trying to say something as they twirled and swirled. I was focusing on being heart centered as I head back into the world. Breathing deep I noticed something was feeling different, looking different, my heart was being wrapped with love and joy. I was enjoying the beauty of it all that I was seeing. I put some hard core Viking music on, as the throat singing started and I listened deeply to the beautiful sound of the woman vocals, and all of a sudden I was in this magical moment, time felt slow.

Song: Heilung | LIFA - Fylgija Ear

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJvcN41H3Is

I understand this song is a bit hard core, but to me it speaks of life and energy.

The wind was speaking to me, the leaves moved with the vibration of my heart center, dancing slowly, floating up and twirling around. At one point the leaves and one in particular moved like an animal moving across the road. It was as if it was dancing in slow motion. My husband giggled, because I was driving and I slowed down like one would to avoid hitting an animal. It was magical and surreal. I was given a gift, a gift of floating in time while the wind swirled around me releasing its joy and playful spirit into me. This moment left me floating all day, as time moved on, the feeling of a slow dance stayed with me. The dancing leaves, which were the voice of the wind twirled around me and penetrated deep into my heart. This moment was so surreal, that one would have thought drugs were involved but they were not, just pure spirit coming to me. It was a reminder to stay heart centered, to let the wind carry you and breath deep. Let the wind tickle you and fill you with joy The world is changing fast, its spinning, its twirling and we have no control, but we do have control over what we let in our hearts. Let the wind carry you, hold beauty in your heart and stay heart centered. The spinning and twirling of life will be more enjoyable if you let the wind carry it instead of you. Today I am still spinning and twirling, the gift is incredible, it was like the gift of a spinning baby coming into this world. It was a gift that presented itself as the Rebirth of Joy. Open heart center, feeling the wind carry my body and I am still floating. As I worked through my day, a song came to me I just found it, like I usually do. The spirit knows what I need and brings sacred musical joys to me. The goddesses of dance have called upon me for many years and I have not listened. It is time..

A song that touches my soul deeply: Jon Henrik Fjällgren · Aerpie https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpShGnT55Ms

The video link below is me doing a little bit of shadow dancing: I just heard the song today and decided to do some energetic movement.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-Ah9zgWahE

Phoenix Rising is coming, rebirth through dance classes. Including shadow dance and the veil womb dance, which is done to encourage one to be reborn.... Watch for upcoming classes:

Phoenix Rising

Come Dance with Me

Come dance and learn to move to the energetics of the energy that surrounds you and that is in you. Most people think of dance as going to a dance class and learning certain moves, such as ballet, jazz, hip hop etc. These types of trainings are super and great, but most don’t teach you to feel, to feel the music and where this music and the energy of it teaches your body to go. Most teach their students certain moves and then take these certain moves and create a choreographed dance. Most of the time the music that is used is music that is not healthy for your energy field and at times very inappropriate. Then there are those that think of dance as something that you go out to a club and do. For entertainment, we can go and watch beautiful shows that show the skills of a highly trained individual. But have you ever thought about using dance as a means of doing energy work, such as Tai Chi? Well I am here to tell you that you can and that you just need to follow your bodily instincts. Most will say what bodily instincts, I can’t dance or I have two left feet. But we all have bodily instincts that would allow us to move in a way that our bodies would like to move. Have you ever put a song on and just felt it to your core or anything else in life that all of a sudden it reached deep into you soul so much so that you felt lighter after the experience. Not only that, there are times dance should feel playful. Most people have a hard time remembering to play and dance gives you permission. Are your ready to step outside your comfort zone and find a new way of expressing movement and energetically clear the stagnation that is in your mind, body and spirit? Isn’t it time to allow play into your life and bring some joy into your energy field? If so then come dance with me.

No skills required other then bringing yourself and be ready to let go.

Shadow Dance Class Veil Dance –Rebirthing Class and more

Pine Vapor Balm 2022

This particular vapor balm has ponderosa pine resin in it.  The resin was collected in the high mountains or near central Oregon.  It was harvested in a way that does not hurt the tree. 

I highly respect this beautiful tree, just as I do all plants and tree life.   

If you plan to go out and harvest tree resin, such as the ponderosa pine, I ask that you respect the tree by making sure you do not take all the resin nor leave it bare underneath...  

Give thanks and an offering to the tree.  

What You Will Need:

1 quart jar

Corning ware pan

Towel

Oil of choice:  Such as olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil

4 tablespoons eucalyptus leaf

2 tablespoons thyme leaf

2 tablespoons peppermint leaf

Several Big chucks of pine resin.  About 7, 1 x 2 inch pieces. 

Clean containers to store your salve, such as tins or jars. 

Now it is time to infuse the herbs and pine resin in the oil.

Put the herbs and resin in the jar.  Now add just enough oil to cover it. 

Put the towel in the corning ware pan.  This keeps the jar from breaking.  It is my version (for this day) of a double boiler.  

Now add just enough water that when you put the jar in the pan  the water will not overflow.  

Infuse all day on low heat.  

Turn off and let sit over night

Next day turn it on and infuse for a few more hours.  Now it is ready to strain. 

To strain you will need a strainer and a cheesecloth.   Because you are using dried herbs and resin it is ok to squeeze it and get ever bit of oil that you can out of it.  

Now it is ready to make the balm, which is basically a salve.   

1/4 cup beeswax per 1 cup of infused oil.

I ended up adding about 1/3 cup beeswax to 1 1/2 cups infused oil.

When making salves., balms or ointments you want to add little bits of beeswax at a time.  Better to add little bits at a time then to much.  Test it as you go.  

I tested it by dropping a few drops of the oil with the beeswax on a spoon and I wait for it to cool off.  Then test it to see if you like the consistency.

1 1/2 cups infused oil

1/3 cup beeswax 

Now add: 

28 drops of orange essential oil

28 drops of pine essential oil

28 drops of eucalyptus

Now pour into containers of choice.  Cover but do not move until it has hardened.  

To Use: 

Rub on the tip of your noses and upper lip

Rub on chest

Have someone rub on your back

Put on your feet then put on a sock

Enjoy

Right before Cold/Flu and Respiratory Season I like to make many different types of herbal medicine.  

One of the herbal medicines I love making is syrups.  I make a lot of  syrups and I especially like making syrups for coughs and lung congestion.   I make all my syrups in big batches and this way I can have it ready when the time comes.  By making a big batch of Cough Syrup I will have enough if the whole household comes down with a cough/cold/flu. 

 Always make sure the herbs you are using are organic and sustainably grown and harvested.

Never use plastic, aluminum, copper or microwaves when making herbal medicine.  

Here is the recipe that I created for this year, the year 2022. 

1/2 cup Hawthorn

1/2 cup elderberry

1 cup elecampane

1/2 cup wild cherry bark

1/2 cup echinacea augustifolia root 

1/2 cup rose hips

1/2 cup licorice root 

14 reishi mushroom slices

1/2 cup cinnamon chips

14 cloves 

Love

16 cups of filtered, or spring water.  

A big stainless steel pot

Basically you are going to make a decoction and at one point you will cook it down by half. 

Put all the above herbs in the pot.  Now add 14 cups of cold water. 

Bring to boil.  

Turn down to a very lower simmer, such as 1 or a 2.  Cover. 

Simmer for 8 hours covered on a very low (super low heat) make sure you are not losing your liquid.

Turn off and let sit overnight

Next Day

Turn the decoction on and simmer down to almost the half way point. Right before the halfway point add these herbs: 

1/2 cup mullein leaf

1/2 cup marshmallow root

1/4 cup lemon balm  

Love

 Cover, turn off the stove and let steep covered for 4 hours. 

Now it is time to strain the herbs and you will need a big strainer and cheesecloth.  You will have to squeeze a lot! Over and over again to get every bit of liquid out. 

Keep track of how much liquid you have.  This will help give you an idea of how much honey you would like to add.  If you are adding Brandy to preserve it then it is also important to know how much liquid you have. 

I had about 6ish cups of liquid left.

Now add 16 ounces of Lakewood Organic Black Cherry CONCENTRATE. 

This gave me a total of 8 cups of liquid. 

Add honey to taste.  I  added about 2 to 3 cups of honey

If you are planning to use this for children, tweens and teens then it is best to leave the alcohol out.  My suggestion is to put a little at a time in the refrigerator and the rest in the freezer.  Pull it out of the freezer when needed.   It can last in the refrigerator for a couple of months without alcohol.  Dispose if it has mold or a fermented smell

To preserve with Alcohol: 1/4 cup brandy (or alcohol of choice, or tincture of choice) to 1 cup syrup

I used 2 cups of hawthorn leaf, flower and berry tincture that I made.  The alcohol when help preserve the syrup.  

Store in a jars and label

Store in the refrigerator.  

If you did not add alcohol store some in the refrigerator and the rest in the freezer. 

When The Cough Hits -Syrup Dosage: 

Adults: Depending on how acute the situation is take 1/2 shot glass to a full shot glass every hour or so.  Or take 3 times a day. 

Children: It is best to not give your child a syrup with alcohol in it. 

Remember if you sweetened it with honey do not give it to a child that is under one years old.  

younger than 2 years -- 1/2 to 1 teaspoon
2 to 4 years -- 2 teaspoons
4 to 7 years -- 1 tablespoon
7 to 11 years -- 2 tablespoons

Every few hours to 3 times a day.