The Herbal Alchemy Journal

This is where I keep the notes from my ongoing herbal journey, where my love of plants, nature, old wisdom, and asking entirely too many questions all grow together. I have always wanted to know the stories behind the plants around us. How did people traditionally work with them? What folklore and symbolism grew around them? What energetic associations were connected to them? And what knowledge has been carried through generations? The more I learn about one plant, the more questions I have about another. Before I know it, I have several books open, herbs spread across my table, and a brand-new section being added to one of my binders. I am still learning, exploring, and figuring things out as I go. The Herbal Alchemy Journal is not about me pretending to have every answer. It is my herbal notebook left open so we can learn from the plants together. Brew yourself a cup of tea, wander through the garden with me, and let’s see what grows from here.

One plant at a time, I am learning about the traditional uses, folklore, symbolism, energetic associations, and fascinating history of the herbs growing all around us.

Here you will find Herbal Spotlights, tea blends, botanical creations, and traditional preparations such as tinctures, infused oils, and salves. You will also find plenty of experiments inspired by whatever I am currently studying, creating, or trying to understand.

I am just as curious about the mystical side of herbal traditions. I explore planetary correspondences, lunar cycles, ritual uses, and the ways different cultures and spiritual practices have connected plants with emotion, energy, protection, healing, and symbolism.

Some of my notes will be practical. Some will be spiritual. Others will take me somewhere I was not expecting to go.

Basically, if it grows and makes me curious, there is a very good chance we are going to talk about it.

The moon has been woven into spiritual practices, folklore, gardening traditions, and rituals for generations. This is where I explore those connections, learn where they came from, and experiment with how they may fit into my own life. We will explore New Moon intentions, Full Moon release rituals, moon water, herbal and crystal pairings, lunar gardening traditions, aromatherapy, and journaling prompts inspired by the changing phases. I will share what I am learning about traditional lunar correspondences, along with ideas for creating rituals that feel personal instead of simply following a list of rules because someone said we were supposed to. Some traditions say to plant during one phase, harvest during another, create during another, and release during another. I say learn the traditions, try what interests you, pay attention to your own experience, and decide what actually deserves a place in your practice. The moon gives us a beautiful cycle to observe and explore. What we choose to do with that cycle is where the alchemy begins.

This is where two of my favorite interests come together: Astrology and herbs. Because apparently, I could not just be curious about them separately. Here I explore the traditional connections between plants, zodiac signs, planets, and the four elements. We will look at herbs associated with different signs, planetary plants, elemental aromatherapy blends, and ways your birth chart may inspire botanical rituals and personal self-care practices. Think Venus and her roses, the Sun and its bright solar herbs, Saturn and the plants traditionally connected with grounding and boundaries, plus Earth, Air, Fire, and Water and the herbs associated with each. These correspondences come from different astrological, herbal, spiritual, and magical traditions. I do not treat them like cosmic rules carved into stone. I want to know where the associations came from, what they meant to the people who used them, and whether they hold any meaning in my own practice. When the stars and the garden start speaking the same language, I am absolutely going to investigate.

I have always learned best when I become curious enough to stop reading for a minute and actually try something. That is what The Herbal Alchemy Journal is for. This is where I document what I am researching, growing, creating, and learning about herbs, traditional plant wisdom, folklore, astrology, lunar practices, gardening, and the many ways plants have found their way into human lives and traditions. I will share what I am working on, what I want to try next, what surprised me, and probably the occasional experiment that teaches me exactly what not to do the next time. I am not an expert, teaching from a pedestal. I am someone who loves plants, loves learning, and believes sharing what we discover makes the whole experience more interesting. So grab a cup of tea, bring your curiosity, and have a look around. There is always something new growing here.