R – The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook

By Jodi Lee
Originally Published 2002
(see author/copyright info below)

Author: James Green
Publisher: Crossing Press
Pages: 384
ISBN: 0-89594-990-3
Release/Copyright: © 2000 James Green

On a regular basis, I am checking this book to find remedies for the rashes, scrapes and bruises that children often get when living in the country. This is one of the many books sent to me for review that I will cherish always, as a constant companion rather than just pages between a cover.

James Green has quite obviously spent a great deal of his life in the study of herbalism – not only the often complicated blending and testing of various remedies, but also in the ground work – the growing of the herbs needed to produce the final product.

The book he has chosen to bring forth is an amazing combination of practices both modern and past, including the harvesting of, drying of and wildcrafting of many native North American herbs. But he doesn’t stop there, he goes on to detail the kitchen items the hopeful herbalist will need, and those that are nice, but not entirely necessary. Juicers, blenders, mortars and pestles – even the odd product is narrowed down to yes or no in the needful department. Finally – the storage of herbs, salves, oils and more are discussed (which I was particularly interested in!)

Honestly – my only complaint with this book is the size. It’s quite large, and as it’s paperback, it’s difficult to keep in position when reading and taking notes, or working with the herbs etc. That doesn’t seem like much of a complaint though does it? *grin*

Quote from Prologue:

“The ever-engaging green-melodies of herbal medicine-making are sung by the seductive voices of your neighboring leaves, roots, barks, rhizomes, flowers, and seeds, while the rhythm you move to is composed entirely within yourself, by the cadence of your creative enjoyment. You’ll find yourself swinging to the pleasures of simple fun, personal independence, and a renewed connection with Earth’s natural beauty an perpetual abundance. And that’s feelin’ good, which is the essence of health. The making is the taking of herbal medicine.”

Once again, I am delighted to present this book to my readers. As the Earth renews her life in green perhaps we all can take a moment and reflect on her offerings of plant and tree, and the possibilities they carry inside.

‘Til next time, be blessed with health and warm weather!
–
Jodi Lee – is a freelance writer/editor living in southern Manitoba, Canada.
© 2002 – present All Rights Reserved; Republish notice excluded.

This article can be republished elsewhere in its entirety so long as the author is notified (see contact information), a link is provided to the website, and this notice is left intact.

R – Healing Spirits

By Jodi Lee
Originally Published 2002
(see author/copyright info below)

Author: Judith Joslow-Rodewald & Patricia West-Barker
Photographs: Susan Mills
Publisher: Crossing Press
Pages: 295
ISBN: 1-58091-064-5
Release/Copyright: © 2001 Patricia West-Barker & Judith Joslow-Rodewald

Although I received this book quite some time ago, I hadn’t been able to sit down with it until recently. I’d pick it up, take it to my chair – but then set it down again and look at it. It just wasn’t time for me to read about the lives of other healers. After a recent experience which brought months of stress to a culmination of larger proportions than I’m used to, it definitely was time. I needed to see what the others did at this point in their lives, if they had such a point.

The authors travelled all over the United States to visit with and interview many spiritual and energetic healers. Some of the names are familiar to me, others sound as though they should be, when I speak them out loud. Perhaps there is a connection farther into Astral than I thought, but nevertheless, the familiarity is there.

The beginning of each chapter is a brief prologue of the healer’s life, methods or how he or she came to the path. Following this is an extensive look at the life and practice of the healer, in his or her own words. It’s a cross-cultural, cross-spiritual adventure, all leading to the same point – healing. From Native practices to buddhist to Reiki to other forms of energetic and spiritual healing, these ladies have provided a wonderful resource for the new and adept healer.

Quote from page: 186 ‘Jonathon Goldman’; para. 2

“In 1986, Tibetan monks from the Dalai Lama’s Gyume Monastery came to the United States for their first historic visit. During this tour, it was my honor to assist in making their first recording in a modern studio. The was in Boston, where I was living at the time.

I took the tape of their chanting home with me and put it in my crystal grid – a deep-meditation energy field which utilized 12 very large crystals in a specific geometric pattern designed to enhance higher dimensional consciousness. I listened to the tape all night and fell asleep with it running.

When I awoke the next morning, this deep, frowl-like tone emerged from me. It was the same “Deep Voice” that the monks chanted with. The sound is extremely deep and bass-like and feels like an aspect of one of the original creational sounds – a very, very long wave that seems almost inhumanly low. Included in this Voice is another sound, a harmonic that is quite high, almost like a soprano voice. It is an extraordinary sound and somehow I had received it.”

There are many more such anecdotal stories in this book, and I for one am glad to have read of the lives of others, their excitement, their achievements on the path. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I!
–
Jodi Lee – is a freelance writer/editor living in southern Manitoba, Canada.
© 2002 – present All Rights Reserved; Republish notice excluded.

This article can be republished elsewhere in its entirety so long as the author is notified (see contact information), a link is provided to the website, and this notice is left intact.

R – CD: Sounds for Healing 1

By Jodi Lee
Originally Published 2002
(see author/copyright info below)

Product: CD – Sounds for Healing/1
Composer/Performer: Rainer Tillman
Publisher/Producer: Binkey Kok
Distributed by: Binkey Kok (Red Wheel Weiser)

The CD is composed of two tracks, the first running just under 20 minutes, and the second runs just under 45. The music is comprised of the sounds from Tibetan singing bowls, bells, crystal singing bowls, cymbals, Thailand soundplates and chimes. My first reaction was one of irritation in the back of my head, as though I was again listening to a brain wave generator with only one speaker.

However, after some adjustments with balance, bass and treble, I found a working situation, and the experience became enjoyable. After checking this on both my portable CD player, our stereo system as well as the computer stereo system – I found it needed to be adjusted on all of these, to varying degrees.

Never the less, once I was settled and began listening with my inner self, I found this CD to be quite helpful in bringing about the relaxation desperately needed by me, in order to meditate. I haven’t been meditating as often as I should, because I can’t seem to shake my responsibilities long enough to sit still for a few minutes. Quieting the inner voice telling me I’m missing a deadline, laundry is waiting, dinner hour is well past does not come easy. Sounds for Healing helped here – something in the music caught my inner self attention, and distracted her from bugging me with mundane details.

Within no time I was well into my sacred space, relaxing under the trees of my own world – having a wonderful, peaceful rest. All too quickly, I began to slip back into my physical self and the mundane world.

An hour and a half had passed! The CD had long since stopped, and I felt like I’d had a nights sleep, refreshed and ready to go on. Whatever it is that catches my inner self attention is something I’ll have to keep investigating – or maybe I shouldn’t, and just leave well enough alone.

Despite the rocky start – I highly recommend this CD to those who have difficulty with meditation. If you get a discomforting feeling within your head, try adjusting the stereo. Or, you may not get that at all, depending on your own state of health and mind. The sounds will capture you eventually – and take you to your sacred space. Never doubt the healing power meditation has one stress relief, once one can get past the mundania.

Check your local bookstore or new age store for this one folks – it’s well worth the money!
–
Jodi Lee – is a freelance writer/editor living in southern Manitoba, Canada.
© 2002 – present All Rights Reserved; Republish notice excluded.

This article can be republished elsewhere in its entirety so long as the author is notified (see contact information), a link is provided to the website, and this notice is left intact.