Every so often, my family gets slammed with a particularly bad illness. One Sunday morning, about a year ago, I happened to click on a YouTube video recommended by my friend. She insisted I would swoon at this video, and she was absolutely correct. More than creating an emotional response, though, the video changed my life.
The video was, Juliette of the Herbs.
The old video of Juliette de Bairacli Levy changed my life in a way that felt something like an enchantment. There is something centering, grounding, and deeply moving about watching this little, wise old woman. I love hearing her talk about rosemary and southernwood, watching her eat nasturtiums (a plant particularly dear to my heart)... I love the way she loved gypsies, animals, and plants. I love the way she saw the world, through a truly unique lens that was founded on learning from others with compassion and openness.
How often are you inspired by someone else's life? How often does that introduction spur you toward better life choices?
With any luck, Juliette has made me a better, more tenderhearted person. My relationship with nature has changed. I have started to see the natural world with more gentleness and more sensitivity. She awakened me to something...to seeing, hearing...to loving that same world. Children are naturally fascinated by and drawn to the natural world. But our adult selves are often too busy, too hurried, doing "important" stuff. Juliette didn't fall into that trap, that delusion.
The world was always there for me- it never went anywhere. The world never grew up or became cynical. The natural world, created by God, has always been full of marvelous things, of enchantment and wonder, of secrets and the power to heal.
When I was a child, I would look up at the underbellies of trees and marvel at the way sunlight filtered through the leaves, creating moving patterns, different shades of green. I collected bean pods and fanned them about, showing off my wealth. That magical world of textures and smells, of layers and constant movement...that world didn't grow up and leave. It is still there, waiting for us to return. And yet, it is always changing. Today's world won't be the same tomorrow. Tomorrow's sunrise won't be the same as today's.
When my household gets hit with an illness, I am immediately reawakened to the joy of necessity, the calm and necessary art of seeking healing from the elements. I roll up my sleeves and go to my reserves. I inventory my herbs, my teas, and my essential oils. I "touch base" anew with the old healing arts, though my own experience and knowledge remain woefully shallow. I am at the beginning of something yet. I'm at the brink, the precipice, still. But I am marveling at my view of the path ahead.
Now that resolutions are delightfully out of vogue, I feel more invigorated than ever to take this quiet month to reevaluate and re-calibrate my focus and energy, to re-center. No stranger to failing to achieve my own goals, I delight in setting in view new ideals, summoning new energy for a challenging task. After all, missing the mark usually means making progress- and that is always the real goal, isn't it? Even slow progress is progress. Even disappointed hopes involve learning something new.
This year, I've set for myself the intention (dare I say "goal"?) of completing an herbal course each month, growing something, and trying out new remedies.
Rather than waiting for the next medical event to occur before spurring into action, I'd like to make herbalism a more constant part of my lifestyle. Rather than getting sudden bouts of “herb fever” and wishing I’d learned more throughout the year, I’m planning to cure myself with slow and steady herbal education.
It's my delight to share with you Juliette's video below.
Swoon away.
Sincerely,
Natasha
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL3AB9CB55FC33B536
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