hellolittlehippie

Excitement is building for the upcoming harvesting season!

In the meantime I have a limited supply of oil available. I recommend stocking up if you anticipate running out soon, once I am out of this batch it will be a little while until the next is ready.

*Juniper
*Rosehips
*Oregon Grape root bark

Gathered with reverence, processed with care, and shared gladly ✨

“The truth is that as a man's real power grows and his knowledge widens, ever the way he can follow grows narrower: until at last he chooses nothing but does only and wholly what he must do.”
Ursula K. Le Guin, A Wizard of Earthsea

Thoroughly enamoured by everything she writes

Small pleasures

Prepping a new batch this week, busy hands and calm heart, I like this sort of methodical work pc:

Just a little note to say thank you for keeping me busy and motivated with your continued love and support of Four Shrubs!

Whilst I’m no longer selling individual bags of tea I’m working on making the blends available in a refillable format.

I have no intention of growing this little business as I’m happy with where it is at now.

It’s a real pleasure to focus on creating for my local community without having to make any of the compromises that scaling would entail.

Keeping things on this scale also leaves me room to pursue other creative interests and that’s fun.

Hope you’re enjoying these spring days and other fine things too

Do Not Adjourn

By Giannina Wedde, unofficial translation from German to English by Nirmala Wer

Life does not being
when you have come to full bloom,
When you have collected sunny days
and happiness
and beautiful things
that belong only to you,
under a roof that protects you.

It does not begin
when you are healthy,
when you are at peace
with yourself;
and your dreams
have become reality.
When an answer lies warmly
on every question,
or with a friendly touch
on your cheek.

It doesn’t begin
when you have closed
that one wound;
healed your sadness,
pacified you anger,
and exchanged the sea of fear
for lasting peace of heart.
And not even when someone
you have always been waiting for
comes and gives you the good news
that there is a deep meaning to every day.

Life is already here,
it has never asked you if you are ready.
Unlike you,
It has never doubted you.

It has greeted you out of every temporary situation,
out of every question
and also out of the sadness
and the days that felt
as if they were lost.

Life has smiled at you
from every struggle,
and every incompleteness;
from doubt and
not knowing what to do.

And also from the ordinary things
that you have overlooked
many times.

It has scattered signs
like flowers on your paths
so that you do not forget
how precious every sensation
and every encounter is,
every venture and
every departure
in this world that is becoming -
like you.

Don’t postpone anything,
dont wait for a distant day.
Don’t wait for permission
to be alive.
You yourself are changing,
vulnerable,
contradictory,
life.
And every breath tells of it.

pc:

Over the past year I’ve been studying druidry with The Order of Bards Ovates & Druids.

In their words: “The Order of Bards, Ovates & Druids works with Druidry as a spiritual way and practice that speaks to three of our greatest yearnings: to be fully creative in our lives, to commune deeply with the world of Nature, and to gain access to a source of profound wisdom.”

The word druid originates from the proto Indo- European term deru meaning tree, and wid meaning wisdom. Essentially the word druid means knowledge of trees.

For me the study and practice of druidry has been calming and insightful. The teachings are comforting and affirming and I appreciate the gentle and invitational approach of the gwersu (lessons); there is no strict dogma within druidry, it’s very much up to you to interpret the material and develop your own understanding of what druidry means.

I also love how there is a practicality about druidry that seems very relevant to our time; how in the establishing of a more attuned and intimate connection with nature we can understand ourselves better and find solutions to some of the larger issues we face collectively.

Ok enough from me. Have a lovely weekend everyone 🌀 😊 🌀

This time of year is when skin can start to feel quite dry and even become irritated.

“A balance of oil and moisture is crucial for healthy skin. Oil is secreted by the sebaceous glands and lubricate the surface of the skin. Moisture is the water present inside the skin cells and comes to the cells through the bloodstream. It is the water in the skin cells that keeps them pumped up healthy and useful looking. Oil and moisture work together; there must be enough moisture in the skin cells, but there must also be enough oil to act as a shield, preventing excessive evaporation of moisture from the skin’s top layers.”
From Prescription for Nutritional Healing, P.A Balch

Four Shrubs acts as shield against environmental factors that can contribute to dry or irritated skin such as exposure to the elements and cold temperatures. Apply it before heading out into the cold - I always add an extra layer before I venture out on cold days - and a little extra after showering to help lock in the skin’s moisture.

I have bottles available now! Stock up for the winter season - send me a message to order 💌

pc:

𝒆𝒑𝒉𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 - 𝒍𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒂 𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒓𝒕 𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆

Before and after:

The first image is raw Organic Golden Jojoba Oil 🟡

The second is the colour of Four Shrubs after the jojoba has been infused with Rosehips, Oregon Grape and Juniper 🟠

I’m in love with the transformation 😍

Bottles will be available again soon. I’ll share here when I have more ready 💛