Arthurs Seat

These are pictures from Arthur's Seat which is an extinct volcano located on one side of town. In some of the photos you will see parts of the city through sort of saddles in the hills. All the yellow on the hillside is the gorse in full bloom. It is such a rich beautiful yellow and smells strongly of coconut and apricot. There is also a picture of Holyrood Palace which is where the Queen stays when she comes to town and some lads enjoying a game of football on a lovely sunny day.






I had these in order but the blogger program doesn't seem to care. So sorry about the willy nillyness of the photos. Hopefully by next post I'll have it worked out better.

Next stop Findhorn.

Edinburgh #2

Next is a picture of a beautiful Iris blooming in her front garden and of Lulu her rescued greyhound who has been a gentle companion on many of my wanderings about Arthur's Seat and town.

Edingburgh Scotland 2010

Aloha from Edinburgh.
I arrived a few days ago and have been having a wonderful time wandering about, eating great food and enjoying the company of Jeanne my mother in law, and her dog Lulu. At left is a picture of the front of her house which is in a tucked away little lane in the midst of Edinburgh. On the right is her front gate which I think is lovely.

The only way I can see to do this is to make several separate posts because I can't seem to upload the pictures in the context of my words. It always wants to put them up top at the beginning. If anyone knows a better way to do this please let me know.

Walking with Ghosts

I find myself currently in a place I once was long ago. I am visiting a friend who lives in Ashland, Oregon where I also used to live off and on when I was first on my own. It was a pivotal time as it is for all of us when we first leave home to try on life on our own terms. I bonded deeply here with a few friends who have been my intimate companions through the many inconstancies of life. I look at us now, two old friends who have been through many trials and tribulations within and between ourselves and I look out the window remembering how things felt then, when we were 19 and 20.

When I walk these streets I see both what is here now and how it was then. I feel both how I am now and how I was then. It is like walking beside a ghost of myself, two dimensions overlaying each other. I can feel the feelings so clearly of what I hoped for myself and the world at that point of beginning. I had such deep passion and intense longing to right the injustices and to facilitate humans' connection to the world of Nature.

I can say from my position now, some 33 years later that nothing has changed and everything has changed. I still have the same passions and longings though the intensity has receded somewhat. In the youthful times the incredible awareness of potential and possibility lit my days in brightness stoked by an urgency to stave off the disasters that lay dormant in unsustainable choices and misused political power. Today I have more experience and a broader vision of the world, of humanity, the universe and of my own place in the spectrum. I have a much better sense of my own strengths, weaknesses and what is possible for me in this lifetime. I have been through both the light of my potential and the darkness of my fear's and have finally come to a place peace with it all.

Ironically, or perhaps incredibly, I feel like I am now come to a place very similar to where I was in those youthful days long ago filled with the magic of inspiration and passion about how beautiful this world can be. After traveling the long journey through the ills of politics, economics, environmental disaster after disaster, of lives tried and changed, loves found and loves lost, fortunes sought and re-evaluated, I have finally come out the other side where I can once again see the best in things. When I look out at these hills that once so enchanted me and see the magnificent beauty of the spring bloom of color and texture in plant, tree and flower I am once again touched by that sense of magic and possibility. I once again feel like we can't have come this far, in an evolutionary sense, only to destroy ourselves and take a good portion of the other beings with us. I believe now, as I did then, that true transformation of humanity and the planet is happening.

What I was seeking then is happening now, it just took much longer than I had expected. And I didn't end up playing the role I imagined I would play which is very likely what made it so hard to see along the way. I suppose what I see now is that is was always happening it just didn't look like what I thought it would so I didn't recognize it. That is the biggest difference between then and now, besides the fact I no longer have the body of a 19 or 20 yr old, but now I understand that things happen slowly, subtly over time, day by day. When change happens like this in such small increments it is very hard to see it. I also know now that it is the subtle changes within me that make the world around me appear differently.

Ultimately, the role I have played is not as grand or important as I had imagined it would be, at least not as measured by standard social measures. The role has shown itself to be that I follow my own conscience and my own heart. This path has led me to the learnings and changes I have made within my self and that have eventually brought me to this place where I can once again feel the existence of the magnificence of what humanity can be in its interrelationship with the living systems of the planet. As humanity slowly but surely begins to find it's place within the larger context of the living systems that nurture, support and interact with us, all that sense of passion and excitement reinvigorate me as they did in the days of my youth. So, as I walk these streets today I feel a strong presence, the ghosts of my past self, and my future self walking with me side by side. I feel humanity's past and current existence, it's possible non-existence, and it's possible transformed existence in harmony and resonance with all of life. It's like seeing in the distance something glimpsed out of the corner of your eye or listening deeply into the darkness for something beautiful you are sure you heard, something not quite grasped but deeply felt. There is a presence I know exists even if I can't quite touch it like a diaphanous vision coming into form and for the first time, in a very long time, I can feel the magic and wonder of it.

Earth, with her plants, water, dirt, trees, and creatures is truly the mother of all of us. The living beings we share this thin skin of a biosphere with are our brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins. We have no life without them, literally. Let us learn this simple fact deeply and completely. We are Nature and Nature is us. There is no out there, out there. There is no separation. We are all connected. We are all born of the same elements.

Aloha, Happy Springtime and awareness of new life to us all.

Herbal Allies #2 Basil

(Basil ( Ocimum basilicum)

Basil is one of our most common garden herbs. Who would suspect that it offers us so many healing benefits along with it's delicious addition to our pasta sauce? In old herbal lore basil is said to give courage and strength. Even today it is well known for its mood-enhancing properties. Pick up a bunch of fresh basil at the grocery store and breath in it's potent and amazing aroma. It's almost euphoric! You can enjoy basil's benefits by including it in your food, by using a few drop of the essential oil mixed with some olive oil in your bath, or just by having a potted plant in a sunny window in your house. For an easy way to add basil into your life try this simple recipe for basil infused olive oil. There are so many healing properties and uses for basil that many of us have never thought about. Some of these are listed below.

Basil has sedative and calming qualities.

Basil will help relieve the pain of tired and aching feet.

Basil is an antiseptic and antibacterial herb. Its healing properties can be used as a digestive aid to relieve nausea and an upset stomach.

Basil is antispasmodic, so aids in the healing and relief of headaches and migraines, vertigo and even colic.

As a culinary herb, basil is one of the most cleansing and helps with healing kidney and urinary problems.

Basil provides a source of beta-carotene, estragole, eugenol, borneol and Vitamin C.

Recently, there has been a lot of research regarding the health benefits of the aromatic oils found in basil. Scientific studies have established that compounds in basil oil have significant antioxidant, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory, and anti-microbial properties. This supports the traditional uses of basil for the treatment of stress, asthma and diabetes in India. The volatile oils in basil that have been shown to provide protection against unwanted bacterial growth are estragole, linalool, cineole, eugenol, sabinene, myrcene, and limonene.

The eugenol component of basil's volatile oils has been the subject of extensive study, since this substance can block the activity of an enzyme in the body called cyclooxygenase. Several over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, and acetaminophen, work by inhibiting this same enzyme. These anti-inflammatory effects of basil can offer symptomatic relief for individuals with inflammatory health problems like rheumatoid arthritis or inflammatory bowel conditions.

Just for fun some of the magical aspects have been attributed to basil are:

The scent can be used to soothe tempers, especially between lovers.

Basil is often used in many love divinations.

To attract wealth, carry basil leaves in your pocket. For a prosperous business, place basil on the window sill or place some leaves in the cash register.

Basil is used to keep evil at bay. The basil plant offers good luck to the new home owners or renters.

So, as you can see Basil is truly a useful ally to have in your kitchen. Enjoy it in salads by tossing in a few shredded leaves, in pesto which makes a wonderful spread for wraps and sandwiches, in salad dressings or on pasta, we even love it blended into orange juice (strain out the pulp) for a delicious and refreshing beverage. Let your imagination run wild.

Herbal Allies #1 Yarrow

As an outflow from my Herbal Allies classes I decided I would post a weekly ally here for everyone. In the second class we were learning about various herbs that were first aid kits in themselves like plantain, ginger, turmeric and yarrow. Since these are such useful and easily available herbs I thought I would begin with them. So here is the first of many friends you will meet here:

Yarrow - Achillea millefolium
also known as woundwort

Part used: flowers, leaf and roots. The dried stalks are used in I Ching divination

Preparations: tea, tincture, externally as wash, poultice, suppository, powder

The story goes that Achilles, taught by Chiron, found this herb so useful that he had all of his soldiers carry it with them into battle hence the first part of it's name. It is true that yarrow has been used on battlefields to heal soldiers’ wounds as far back as we have stories of war. The millefolium part of the name refers to the flower which is a flat head cluster of many little white flowers. Other color flower varieties have been cultivated but it is generally accepted that the best medicinal qualities come from the white flowers.

Yarrow is considered to be warming and dry in Eastern traditions. It is primarily known for it's ability to stop bleeding and to bring on sweating which can be useful for cleansing the bod or for reducing a hot, dry, fever. It is also anti- bacterial, anti-inflammatory and repels insects.

Yarrow can be useful for digestion. It is an aromatic bitter which makes it ideal for mild stomach indigestion. It relieves that bloated feeling, flatulence, and nausea, which are symptoms of excessive eating of heavy foods. Take one dropper of tincture or cup of tea as needed to alleviate the discomfort.

Yarrow is a diaphoretic which means it makes you sweat. This can be useful for cleaning your skin, and unclogging your pores. This can also be useful in beginning stages of colds and flus. For colds and flus begin drinking hot yarrow tea 3-4 cups per day as soon as you think you feel something coming on. This can often stop the symptoms from progressing any further.

For your skin, yarrow is used for its astringent, healing and soothing effects. The astringency strengthens skin tone. It can be used for oily skin, acne, large pores, wrinkles and eczema. To make a Facial Toner, add .5 oz of yarrow tincture to 2 oz of hydrosol, distilled water for normal skin or witchazel for oily skin. If you don't have any of these simply splash your face with cooled yarrow tea.

Yarrow is a good thing to have around in your yard and in your first aid kit. It can be picked fresh and placed directly on a bleeding wound even a deep one in an emergency situation. It will help to stop the bleeding and has antibacterial properties to help stop infection from occurring. It can also be used in the powdered form sprinkled on wounds. It will not only stop the bleeding but also dull pain, and prevent infection. Or, you can spray yarrow tincture on the skin several times per day where ever there is a bacterial infection. This can sting due to the alcohol in the tincture so you may want to heat it first to evaporate the alcohol or dilute it with a bit of distilled water before using it this way.

The tincture or tea can be used for bladder infections and to regulate menstrual cycles. It can be useful for women in menopause to ease symptoms and bring create a feeling of well-being.

Yarrow extract (tincture) has been said to repel mosquitoes. As an insect repellent you can spray the tincture directly on your skin or mix it with some distilled water, witchazel and/ or a few drops of essential oils - lavender, catnip, holy basil, lemongrass, or geranium are all good choices.

So, as you can see Achillea millefolium or Yarrow is truly an herb to make friends with. Luckily it grows almost everywhere very easily on it's own and is easy to cultivate as a member of your backyard medicine cabinet.

The information here comes from:
Susan Weed - http://www.susunweed.com
Ryan Drum - http://www.ryandrum.com
Howie Brounstein - http://www.botanicalstudies.net
Colette Gardiner - Blue Iris School of Herbal Studies
learningherbs.com
and wikipedia

Secret Underground Superclub Strikes Again!

We had such a great experience with the first Supperclub. Thank you all for that. So, we decided to do it again. The occasion this time is the presence of one of the most amazing chefs we know, Patrick Bremser, for a time on the island. Patrick was chef at the Lotus for the first couple of years where his food was compared to that at Millenium in San Francisco. He has been private cheffing in California this last year, among other things, and has returned to Kauai for a brief visit. We were so excited when he said he'd like to do a Supperclub with us. We know it will be completely amazing so be sure to reserve soon if you haven't already done so.

Here's the menu…

Secret Underground Supperclub
January 17, 2010

Amuse Bouche
Roasted Beet with Truffle Oil and Chèvre
wrapped in filo & drizzled with a fresh basil sauce on a few piquant sprigs of arugula.

La Deuxième
Kauai Mixed Greens with Fresh Herbs and Flowers
served with a liliko'i vinaigrette

La Troisième
Warming Winter Cioppino
with fresh catch, Kauai shrimp & local harvest vegetables
served with crostini and shaved Reggiano parmesan
(a vegetarian version will also be available)

Le Fin
Chocolate Nero d'Avola Gateau
with a bittersweet chocolate balsamic reduction and
wild waiwi (strawberry guava) coulis

Harmonious coco-water beverages will be available.
Please feel free to bring your own bottle if you so desire:
a Chianti or Montepulciano is suggested.

Sunday January 17, 2010

One seating only: 7 pm
Reservations Essential
$35 suggested donation

5956 Lokelani Road, Kapaa
822-1748
lokelaniranch@hawaiiantel.net