The moon, in all her changing phases, offers a rhythm we can root ourselves into—an ancient mirror for our inner terrain. Just as she waxes and wanes, we too move through cycles of nestling, emergence, release, and renewal. Working with herbs attuned to each moon phase can help us deepen our connection to the Moon. Moon carries wisdom and offers fertile grounds for rest, action, healing, or insight depending on where we are in the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle can serve as a visual guide to the seasons of our lives. What follows is a soft guide to working with plant allies through each moon phase—an invitation to align your intentions and energy with the moon’s path. To walk alongside the moon is to internalize what it means to move with nature and live in its flow. It is also a radical act—one that reconnects us with ourselves, with community (especially when shared with a friend or two), and with the natural world.

For many neurodivergent folks, balancing the nervous system between hyper and hypo arousal can be a challenge. Getting overstimulated is very common, and can lead to shutdown and hypo (or under) arousal in the nervous system. Folks can also overcorrect in trying to get out of a hypo-arousal state and then become overstimulated. I believe in the potential for aphrodisiac herbs to be supportive outside the bedroom, and specifically for this nervous system pattern. 

What adaptogens are and aren’t, how they work, and why we love them—though not more than any other classification of herbs, of course—is the single most common topic I’ve been asked to speak about in my career as an herbalist. To be an adaptogen, a substance must be nontoxic in therapeutic doses, nonspecific, and systemically normalizing. The ingredients must also work through the sympathetic nervous system and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis—the sort of master-control system that regulates the body’s response to stress, comprised of the hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands. Adaptogens also coordinate the release of hormones such as cortisol to mobilize energy reserves and enable us to adapt to stressors.

Just outside Salem, Oregon, Elderberry Wisdom Farm is a small, Indigenous-owned nonprofit organization doing inspiring work. They're focused on native plant cultivation, ecological restoration, and, most importantly, passing on Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to future generations. TEK combines centuries of Indigenous understanding of the land with modern conservation practices, and it's at the heart of everything they do.  

Summer is full effect right now and that means our gardens are overflowing with the season’s generous bounty of herbs, flowers, and early vegetables. Mint and lemon balm cascade over into the garden paths and our oregano patch has grown far beyond its designated borders. It’s time to harvest these wonderful herbs and enjoy their flavors and aromas in myriad culinary creations.

Creativity is one of the most powerful attributes we have as humans. The ability to invent and create is something that sets us apart from almost all other mammals on Earth. It’s fascinating to think that the human brain’s ability to create has been responsible for so many advancements of our species. But creativity is not only about necessity or evolutionary advancement—it’s also about art and pleasure.

While practical inventions undoubtedly play their part, I believe that artistic creativity is, arguably, more important. A small percentage of people go on to create things that change the course of human history, but all humans have effects on others day-to-day, and if they are able to express themselves healthfully through the arts, I believe that can have a massive impact.

Here are a couple of universal truths about being friends with foodies. The first is that there will never be a gathering that you will leave not absolutely stuffed with a variety of delicious dishes. And the second, is that you will always be looking for unique recipe inspiration for your own creations. Because while I know my friends will love classic potluck faire, there is something deeply satisfying when I’m able to surprise them with something new and exciting. With barbecue and picnic season in full swing I went searching for a new take on a very familiar favorite, deviled eggs.

The Waning Moon is a time for decluttering and making space for the potential that the New Moon will soon bring. Tidying up, going through paperwork, and clearing out our inboxes—these are all gentle activities that I have found incredibly helpful to move (or remove) the sometimes unseen burden of accumulated to-dos. 

Since its inception, Mountain Rose Herbs has put plants, people, and planet before profit. Led by these values, we’ve been a longtime leader on the list of green companies, helping to positively shape the herbal industry with environmentally focused initiatives. Our core values revolve around sustainability and as such, we’ve implemented innovative programs in energy efficiency, zero waste, and alternative commuting incentives.

Humans are forever seeking ways to capture the essence of memories. Beyond simple recollection, we seek avenues to bring us back to the feelings that bloomed within us during special moments. Out of all the methods of creating those pathways of memory, harnessing the olfactory system is perhaps one of the most powerful. How many times have you caught a whiff of something and been instantly transported? Pass an off-brand breath mint my way and I am suddenly 8 years old, riding in the backseat of my grandparent’s car, reaching up for one of the mints that were always in the glove box.

I was first introduced to self-heal (Prunella vulgaris) while walking through a field many years ago. Once I got a good look at her, she stopped me in my tracks, and I spent a lot of time sitting on the ground admiring her magnificent flowers. I was inspired to get to know my new (then) friend, Prunella, on a deeper level, so I went home and hit the books. It's been a part of my herbalism practice ever since.