• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Dandelion Herbal Center

Connecting Plants and People for health, healing, and happiness since 1987

  • Home
  • Classes
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter
  • My account
    • Cart
    • Checkout
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Sprouting Spring Surprises

You always take me by surprise, Spring. And it is always Elderberry who is the first to catch my breath with your announcement: pair of fresh, day-glow green leaves bursting forth from a gray skeleton of a shrub.

In the moment it seems so unexpected. Weren’t we just playing in the snow up on the mountain? Aren’t we still in get-cozy-and-hibernate mode? Half of my being shouts “Wait! Slow down. I’m not ready!” while the other is tugged joyfully towards garden daydreams.

Red-flowering currant springing to life

If you are feeling the energy of this in-between time as well, then you are right on schedule. The halfway point between Winter Solstice and Spring Equinox falls on (roughly) February 1st.

Getting Ready

In the ancient Celtic or Gaelic tradition of Imbolc, which begins sundown on the first of February and ends at sundown on the second, it is customary to welcome the first signs of Spring by clearing out the last bits of winter from your home.

Gather any remaining evergreen bits that adorned your home for the Winter holidays and toss them in your fire or compost. Recycle the flurry of paper snowflakes that may still cling to your windows. Wind up the twinkle lights. And, if your home is like ours, clear out the cache of Hanukkah gelt that your kids have tucked away like little squirrels. Spring is a rising tide that will soon carry us to blissful heights scented with lilac and Trillium blossoms, and we want to get ready for the ride.

Sprouting Our Potential

As vibrant energy rises upwards from the roots of our plant allies and their shoots begin to grow with fervor, we can infuse this energy into our own lives as well. I invite you to try this simple, meditative sprouting ritual…

Gather these items:

  1. a clean wide-mouth glass quart-sized jar
  2. a 2 Tbs to a 1/4 cup of seeds to sprout of your choice (alfalfa, clover, lentil, sunflower, etc.)
  3. a piece of cheesecloth and a rubber band
  • Pour your seeds into your palm. Look at them closely, feeling how smooth and hard they are. Seeds are such a wonder. Little miracles. How is it that something so tiny and non-alive can grow into a full-fledged plant? All the information is in there. It’s just dormant. Seeds are sleepy. They just need a little nurturing to reach their potential — and the same it true for all of us.
  • What would you like to come alive in your own life? What do want to grow in yourself, in your home, and in your community? Which of your gifts and qualities would you like to expand in the months ahead? Infuse your seeds with these intentions and dreams as you pour your handful into your jar.
  • Cover your seeds with 2″ of warm water and allow them to sit overnight.
  • The next day secure a piece of clean cheesecloth over the top of your jar with a rubber band.
  • Strain the water from your seeds. Fill with cool, fresh water. Swirl your seeds around a few times and strain again. Set jar on a quiet spot of your counter. I like to invert the jar in a bowl to catch any free water.
  • Continue watering, swirling, and straining your seeds once or twice daily for a few days. Each time you do, look closely to see how your seeds are changing and G R O W I N G!
  • Once your seeds have sprouted, allow them to grow for another day or two, then place them in a sunny spot (but keep them cool if you can) where their tiny leaves will become a vibrant green.
  • Choose an individual sprout to hold. You have a little newborn plant! At what point did the seed actually become A L I V E ?!? Where was all this life-force hiding? Look at how much it has changed from the seed of potential you held just a few days earlier. Examine the colors, textures, and fragrance. If this little seed can grow towards its potential with a little nurturing so can you! Thank your sprout for its inspiration. Take a moment to center yourself and reconnect with the intentions you infused these seeds with. Eat your sprout, enjoy its flavor, embody its lively energy, and feel your own vibrant growth towards your intentions.
  • Line a glass storage container with a paper towel or small clean cloth, place your beautiful, lively sprouts inside, and store in your fridge. Enjoy eating them all up within 3 days.

Now go ahead stretch those dormant parts of yourself that want to grow, and heal, and blossom. Your first new leaves may be tender, but wow are they vibrant. Remember: Not only do you have the Earth’s permission, you have her blessing.

Written by:
Allison Poklemba
Published on:
February 1, 2022
Thoughts:
5 Comments

Categories: Uncategorized

Cart

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ramona

    February 1, 2022 at 1:11 pm

    INSPIRATION TO SPROUT GROW THRIVE!

    Reply
  2. Lorraine Carolan

    February 2, 2022 at 9:33 am

    This is wonderful…simple, lovely …and keeps the intention (s) going.

    Reply
  3. Megan

    February 2, 2022 at 12:05 pm

    What a great thing to share, what a great idea for a group of kids that have something to take home with them and grow

    Reply
  4. Susan Leroy

    February 3, 2022 at 5:11 am

    What lovely inspiring words! Thank you

    Reply
  5. Jane Bothwell

    March 31, 2022 at 2:46 am

    I feel brighter and more alive just reading this ritual ! On to the sprouting! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Join our newsletter

* indicates required

dandelionherbalcenter

⚡️G I V E A W A Y ⚡️ for Herbalists and He ⚡️G I V E A W A Y ⚡️ for Herbalists and Healers!

With abundant healing herbs, applications, and modalities in our toolkits it can be hard to know what to choose!

This fun class teaches you how to RECOGNIZE & TRUST YOUR INTUITION so that you can use it automatically in your healing practice. 

You’ll learn practical, foundational tools to use for the rest of your life that bring more EASE & EFFICACY to your work with plants.

We are so excited to team up with Dawn Lianna for this 3-Part online class!

She is an incredible intuitive who has been trading Hypnotherapy sessions with Jane Bothwell for the last FOUR DECADES!

DETAILS
• 39 if registered by Aug.1st 
• Class meets online Thursdays, Sept. 15, 22, & 29
• 6:00-7:30pm PT
• Each session will be recorded in case you can't join us in real time.

OUR AGENDA
Part 1 | Your Intuitive Signature
Part 2 | Trusting Your Intuition
Part 3 | Meet Your Spirit Guides

⚡️W I N ⚡️ a spot for you AND a buddy!
1. Like this post
2. Tag a buddy you’d like to take this class with—each comment is an entry!
3. Share in your stories for an extra entry
4. Be sure to follow @dandelionherbalcenter
5. The winning entry will be randomly chosen at 9pm PT on July 28th!

Tap Link In Profile to learn more and register if you just can’t wait 😆

#herbalist #intuition #healingplants #herbschool #plantmedicine #herbalism #plantspiritmedicine 

https://dandelionherb.com/product/intuition/
💧Love-in-a-mist, in a mist💧 Hi! How’ve yo 💧Love-in-a-mist, in a mist💧

Hi! How’ve you been? We’ve been busy as 🐝s in the garden, in the classroom, traveling, and reveling in the beauty of the season.

We’ll be sharing out all sorts of updates with you soon on our:

~ Sublime herbal adventure to the Greek island of Ikaria

~ Seaweed Weekend on the Lost Coast

~ Class experience crafting exquisite flower essences

~ Brilliant students and their inspiring endeavors

~ Upcoming 3-part online class: DEEPENING YOUR INTUITION for Herbalists + Healers (details at link in profile)

~ Next series of in-person classes begins in September!

Stay tuned and be well! 💚

#loveinamist #nigella #herbschool

https://dandelionherb.com/product/intuition/
Seaweed is fun! Hear all about it in this new podc Seaweed is fun! Hear all about it in this new podcast episode of @marinebio.life

Great for:
• Eating
• Foraging
• Sharing with friends
• and even Knitting & Jumping Rope! 🤣

(Learn all about it in our online class SEA VEGETABLES OF THE PACIFIC COAST — which begins 5/3!)

In this podcast Kara Muzia, an ocean enthusiast and marine biologist interviews Allison Poklemba. They dive into the wonderful world of seaweeds! Allison shares how plants have fascinated her from a young age, why her move across the country for university was the financially responsible choice, and how she incorporated both botany and herbalism into her career. Allison puts a few different species of kelp on highlight including bull kelp and wakame. She shares how kelp can actually devour cancer tumors, how a walk on the beach can also be a walk in a medicine cabinet, and some fun ways to cook with sea vegetables.

Listen and save your spot in class our at LINK IN PROFILE

#seaweed #seavegetables #bullkelp #nereocystisluetkeana #youcanknitwiththat #knittersofinstagram #herbschool #herbalist #coastlife #pnwlife

https://backcountrypress.com/2022/04/marinebio-life-features-allison-poklemba/
80 women. If each generation is about 25 years ap 80 women.

If each generation is about 25 years apart, there are only 80 moms between you and your ancestor who walked this earth, tending children, in the year zero. 

That’s not very many, right?! I imagine my lineage of moms and am so curious about them.

This photo is of my beloved Grandma Sandra (right) her sister (Joan) and their mom, my Great Grandma Fanny.

Sandra was a “Dispenser” in England in the late 30’s/early 40’s, which was really like being a licensed Herbalist!

I love them and am so grateful for all my 80 women have been through to get me and mine here! Reflecting on this as my eldest celebrates is 10th trip around the sun today. 🎂☀️🎉

🌟 Do you know the name of your grandmother’s grandmother?

~ Allison
Are you Seaweed Curious? Wondering if you can EAT Are you Seaweed Curious? Wondering if you can EAT THEM ALL?!?

Join us for class to learn this and much more… how to:

Identify

Find

Ethically + Legally

Harvest your own tasty edible seaweed!

Join our 2-part LIVE webinar: SEA VEGETABLES OF THE PACIFIC COAST

May 3 and 10, 7-8:30pm PT — or catch the recording anytime!

$35, which includes loads of class resources and a laminated sea vegetable ID card 🌊

Save your spot at our Link In Profile

#seaweed #seavegetables #wildfood #biodiversity

https://dandelionherb.com/product/sea-vegetables-of-the-pacific-coast/
Wild Ginger flower party! 🥳 Wild Ginger flower party! 🥳
Load More... Follow DHC on Instagram

Explore more

STAY IN TOUCH

Join our newsletter

Footer

Dandelion Herbal Center

4803 Greenwood Heights Dr., Kneeland, CA 95549
707-407-5617

Copyright © 2022 · Navigation Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in