Solstice Blessings
How do you celebrate the highest point of the sun & the longest day of the year?
Some of my favorite ways are swimming, baseball games, concerts, picnics, moonlit bonfires and herbal alchemy.
Summer Solstice asks us to embrace expansiveness and let our wild creativity flourish. Rose is our Solstice messenger plant ( read the monograph & accompanying recipe below).
Seasonal Wellness Packages
Functional Herbal Medicine Intensives can be in-person, virtual or hybrid. During this 3-month period, we’ll dive into your health history, health concerns + goals and work with herbs, nutrition, supplements and lifestyle practices that support your goals. This is a beautiful opportunity to get the one on one support you crave. Common reasons people choose this package are weight loss resistance, mood swings, lack of energy and trouble sleeping. If you are curious and want more info you can book an intro session or discovery call here.
Summer Classes (Free through Sacred Reciprocity)
Working with the Plants of Summer for Basic Health Care Needs
- July 14th at 11:45- 1:15 People’s Place Wellness Center Kingston NY
Herbal Infusions in the Summer Garden
- August 20th at 3:30-5:30 YMCA Farm Project Kingston NY
Join me on Instagram or Facebook @dreamkeeperbotanicals for links and updates
Herbal Monograph: Rose
Common Names: Rose, Wild Rose, Garden Rose, Beach Rose
Botanical Name and Family: Rosa spp., Rosaceae Family
Energetics and Properties:
- Cooling and slightly drying (petals), slightly moistening (hips), astringent, anti-inflammatory, nervine, uplifting, vulnerary, antimicrobial, antioxidant, heart tonic
Description:
Rose has deep historical roots in herbalism, with an affinity for both physical and emotional healing. The plant grows as a thorny shrub or climber, bearing fragrant blooms and fruit (rose hips) rich in vitamin C. Rosa rugosa happens to be my favorite, perhaps because it loves to grow on the dunes of the beach-my happy place.
Medicinally, rose petals soothe inflammation and calm the nervous system. Their astringent quality helps tone tissue, making them ideal for skin care and wound healing. Rose is also renowned for its emotional and spiritual support—offering comfort during grief, heartbreak, and stress.
Rose hips are nutrient-rich and support immune function and healthy skin. Internally, rose helps reduce heat and irritation, making it a gentle ally in digestive and respiratory issues, especially when tied to emotional tension.
Preparation Recommendations: Rose elixir and rose honey are my absolute favorite ways to capture the medicine of this beautiful plant ally. Simply collect unsprayed roses (mostly flowers, with a bit of leaf and thorn too) and let them sit in a basket in the shade for an hour so any insects can fly away. Cut them and put them in a jar, cover the roses with honey. If you are making rose honey then you cap the jar at this point. If you are making elixir you pour in your favorite spirit (vodka and brandy are great options) to cover the honey covered roses and then cap the jar. Let this jar sit in a cabinet, with a daily shaking, for about a month. You will then strain and bottle this liquid magic. If it is hard to separate the honey from the plant matter you can make a warm water double boiler to help it flow.
