Sagittarius At Ease Tea Mandala

At Ease Tea 

2 parts Calendula Calendula officinalis
2 parts Peppermint  Mentha x piperita
2 parts Lemon Balm Melissa officinalis
1 part Red Clover Trifolium pratense
1 part Catnip Nepeta cataria
1 part Chamomile Matricaria recutita or Anthemis nobilis
1 part Skullcap Scutellaria lateriflora
1 part Lavender Lavandula

This tea is inspired by the Fairytale Tea blend that I have been buying from Mountain Rose Herbs for years!  I have given it to my children countless times and have enjoyed it myself many times too!  A wonderful bedtime tea, this blend can also ease stomach upset and calm jittery nerves and tension.   

Prepare as an infusion:  Place herb mix in a glass jar
or tea pot and fill with boiling water (1-2 Tablespoons of herbs per 1 cup water)
Cover and steep for 15-30 minutes, strain, and enjoy!

FDA Disclaimer:  This formula has not been evaluated by the FDA, is not intended to substitute advise from a physician, and is not meant to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease.  If you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications, please consult with your physician before starting new supplements or herbs.    
  

Welcome Sagittarius season! 

Sagittarius is the mutable fire sign of the zodiac that bridges Autumn and Winter.  If Aries is the spark that begins the Zodiac cycle and spring, and Leo is the dancing flame of the bonfires of summer, then Sagittarius can be understood as the burning embers in our hearths that gather us around during the colder months for drinking tea, reading, and sharing knowledge.

​ Sagittarius is ruled by Jupiter, which is the largest of all the planets in our solar system (in fact it is 2x larger than all the other planets combined!).  Jupiter is gaseous and expansive by nature and thus in astrology is commonly known as the Greater Benefic, or bringer of good luck and fortune.  Thus the Sagittarius archetype is often characterized by optimism, good cheer,  and light-heartedness.   

The Sagittarius archetype can also be understood through the image of the centaur, Chiron, with his bow and arrow.  Half horse and half human, Chiron represents the merging of animal instinct and intuition with human intellect and reason.  Not just primal gut reactions, and not just logic and reason, but the embodied intelligence of merging both.  Chiron mastered and taught an eclectic body of knowledge, including music, astronomy, and philosophy.  He also developed the healing arts and because of an injury even he himself could not heal, has become the archetype of the wounded healer and the namesake of the Comet/minor planet discovered in 1977.  

Sagittarius and Chiron both embody the quest for knowledge and the expansion of one's mind though new experiences and learnings.  This is why travel is so often associated with Sagittarius, for when we experience a culture and way of living outside of our own, we naturally expand and gain new awareness.  Studying is of course another avenue of expansion, as is befriending someone whose life experience is radically different than our own.  

Honestly, I cannot think of a more appropriate archetype and message for here and now (and always!)  During a time when people feel isolated and frustrated, on top of  polarized by politics or opinions on current events, now would be an appropriate time  to open our minds to the 'other' point of view, even and especially if it is hard to do.    Instead of immediately closing, or contracting our minds as soon as we hear or read something that opposes our own opinions and beliefs, perhaps we can take a deep breath and try, I mean REALLY try to understand where the other person is coming from.  That doesn't mean we have to agree or change our own belief, just that we are willing to listen and consider that our perspective is limited to our own experience.    

As the days grow darker and colder (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), Sagittarius season is a perfect time to expand our minds through entertaining diverse opinions, reading, study, and quiet contemplation.  Hopefully we will all have more down time, and my prayer is that we all (myself included) take the time to grow our minds outside of their normal confines, in whatever way we are inclined, whether that is reading, watching documentaries, or studying that subject we want to know more about. 

Of course, expansion cannot go on forever, and we naturally and eventually bump up against boundaries and limitations, but that discussion is for another time.  Stay tuned for next month's article on Capricorn and Saturn, and my Melancholy Tea Blend for the winter blahs.  

But for now, brew a cup of At Ease Tea and enjoy the natural expansion and good cheer of Sagittarius season!  

Special Thanks for the following authors and teachers for sharing their knowledge that expanded my knowledge of astrology and Chiron and helped inform this article:
Inner Sky Steven Forrest
Way of the Horse Linda Kohanov
Tyler Penor www.thechironium.com