Dark Times Apothecary

22/09/2024

Harvested a load of Rosemary from a neighbour's garden a few weeks ago, spending the Equinox prepping it for winter storage / incense making while I drink tea, eat biscuits, make soup and watch Gilmore Girls. A very blesséd Equinox to you all 🌬️🌰🍁🍂🍃

17/09/2024

I planted 3 Motherwort plants in the garden when we moved in last Summer and they absolutely flourished, becoming a jungle my cat used as a bird hide. Yesterday it was time to cut them back for the winter, harvest their seeds and dry their leaves for tea. I don't really know much about Motherwort other than the bees love it and it's leaves are soft and seedpods are spiky - but it's the only thing that did well in the garden so I must need it in my life.

11/09/2024

Planning to spend the winter getting arms of iron grinding herbs to make incense. My carefully packed away store of kit has survived being abandoned in our damp cellar for over a year, which is a miracle. Big rosemary, lavender and lemon balm feelings ahead, which I will dispense amongst folks as they need - watch this space.

06/09/2024

Hi all, it has been an absolute minute since I even logged in to this account but I live laugh and love by the rule that if something comes up organically in a conversation three times, it is time to do that thing and today at .within that happened, so here I am thinking about herbs and summer and magic and cycles again ✌🏻🌀🌿 I put cinnamon in my coffee today, blessings to you.

06/11/2023

Winter prep mode / the return to kitchen witching. This Hawthorn brandy has moved between three houses and smelt incredible when I finally filtered it down today. I've already drunk most of the ginger syrup 🙏🏻

13/12/2021

Monday Water Meditation 🌊 Just checking in amongst the ebb and flow of December to remind you to stop and take a breath.

02/09/2020

Full Moon in Pisces* hit me this morning with a surprising burst of motivation and a deliciously encouraging tarot reading. When my boy the Knight of Pentacles shows up I know I'm on the right path, and this little spread is very much exactly what the next few weeks holds for me personally, and Dark Times. . . Ya Full Moon mailer will be in your inboxes later this afternoon pals, first I need to get this year's Fire Cider on 🌕🔥 and probably have a cry, let's be honest. . . * I can't spell Pisces, and don't care. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEoUstTnPNc/

01/09/2020

🥳 September First 🥳 It's my favourite day of the year. We are tilted at the exact perfect angle away from the sun for it to be cool enough for a jacket, but sunny, crisp, refreshing. The light is different, it's cleaner somehow. It smells of optimism and a fresh start. . . Last year I went out and picked a buddle of late Summer flowers. Wild rose, anise hyssop, nasturtium, strawberry flower, mint, thyme - all bright, hopeful flowers still out for a final go at the warm months. They all went in to a tincture I call LIQUID SUNSHINE, to use in grey days where you need to feel like it could be September First. . . There are just two bottles left of this in the store, then it will be gone forever. . . Hope you're all enjoying a walk out doors, in the sun, fresh air and crisp breeze today 🍂🌻 Autumn is near! — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEmG4O-H0h1/

31/08/2020

Happy Monday sweet friends ☀️ Just a reminder I'll be shipping orders TOMORROW. Check out the stories to see what I've got left for you to nab. . . Mailing list will be heading out 🌕 Weds 🌕 so jump on via the link in profile if you want to stay up to date with things. I'll be sharing some plans for the month ahead, in summary tho I'm not making or bottling anything new so if there is something you want, grab it! . . All orders that come through today will be contributing to this month's donation to ❤️🧡💛💚💙💜🖤 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEjaelxnqHp/

30/08/2020

2020's Lucky Acorn has been selected for the pocket 🌳 Competition was tough this year but I think I got a good one. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEhCC3jHsm0/

29/08/2020

Enthusiastically waiting for the like rose hips at the allotment to ripen 😍 . . These roses are my absolute favourite, perfume, colour, hips, the lot. I have been carefully tending to them all Summer - gently removing petals as they fade to let the hips grow nice and far so I can take some with me when I leave to make vitamin C rich syrup for winter, and save some seeds to grow a new patch in the new garden once we get settled. . . PS why is it Autumn already! — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEeJjSOn6h8/

28/08/2020

The joy that is waking up naturally at 6am and having time to sit and read before heading to work. Yesterday I was feeling sad that I don't seem to have time to make art these days, and normally I would use an unexpected three hours in the morning to try and 'hustle' but what good is that really? . . I'm chillin with a copy of and a cup of warm nasturtium vinegar, elderberry and honey to give me a boost before I step out into the world today. . . By the way, wrote a great post about Nasturtium vinegar you should head over and read to find out more about the benefits and what not ✌🏻 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEbSFzNHR-0/

27/08/2020

I couldn't not take a moment to enjoy this parcel of tinctures I just packed up to ship to a repeat customer this morning. It made me so happy! . . I started making herbal nonsense to give myself and my sweet friends a way to cope with *gesticulates at world* so when someone I don't even know tries something from the store, and it works for them so well that they come back again, its magic. . . When you support a small store or business you really are buying more than just a product. You're getting one on one customer service, hand written thank you cards, and you're giving someone a bright sunny day feeling like what they do matters. Do it more. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEYpDj5n91a/

26/08/2020

Planting, growing, waiting, watching, harvesting, drying, waiting, infusing, waiting, filtering, waiting, bottling, using, enjoying, learning . . A lot of slow, methodical tasks go in to growing herbs and making tinctures and oils, and a lot of waiting. It's a very soothing, ritualistic practice that keeps me grounded and teaches me patience. . . Right now, I've wound down all of the infusing and making side of things in preparation to relocate and regroup. This means everything in the store now is all that there will be for a while, so if you've hovered for a while on something, now is the time to pounce. . . Shop via the link in profile, all orders this week will ship tomorrow 💗 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEWQ83Hn5pQ/

25/08/2020

Reviews are nice, this one especially because it resonates with why I started working with herbs so strongly. I too had run out of options for dealing with my anxiety, so I made Calm Juice ✌🏻✌🏻✌🏻 . . Couple of bottles left ready to go in the store, shipping THURSDAY this week ✨ — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CET6JCenoV5/

23/08/2020

✨ Hard Week / Soft Sunday💗 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEOkrDAnBK4/

22/08/2020

Hey Guys - Wanted to swing by to share an article (you have probably already read but just in case) that has put a lot of what we're dealing with recently on a mental health level into perspective for me.

In case it helps with the pandemic fatigue etc, pop the kettle on and have a read.

https://elemental.medium.com/your-surge-capacity-is-depleted-it-s-why-you-feel-awful-de285d542f4c

Here’s how to pull yourself out of despair and live your life

22/08/2020

Just adding my pile of mugwort to all of the glorious piles of mugwort I am seeing all over instagram this week! . . This potent pile has been drying and making the whole house smell dreamy ✨ Half is now infusing in oil to top up supplies of Ritual / Dream oil in the shop, and the rest has been put aside for day 27 cramp busting tea (if you know, you know) and hot chocolates when I need some comfort. Maybe with rose petals. Such decadence. . . Mugwort can be found growing in parks, on roadsides, hedgerows and edges around glorious Britain right now, if you see her say hello and don't take too much, a few flowering branches from each plant maybe, wash and hang to dry, and have fun in the mugwort dreamscape with your fave witches ✨ — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEMDnHZHa4-/