Dark Times Apothecary

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-/

20/08/2020

New Tinctures for dark times over in the store, sweet friends. . . LOVE & COURAGE 🕯️ Rose & Borage, for when you are weary of heart and tired of soul. A daily reminder to love, and have courage. You got this! . . NASTURTIUM ☀️ The joyful trumpets of the garden infused in pisco, a spicy wee drop in your morning hydrations to rebalance when you're feeling the fatigue, off kilter, need a bit of the old vitality back. . . Both in store now in limited numbers. Link in profile! — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEGoZMiHjEo/

19/08/2020

Did you know I have been know to make one of a kind, hand painted Oracle Decks? I don't mention them here often, I keep things compartmentalised I guess. . . You can tune in at the🕯️ Dark Times Art Department 👄 👀 if you like painted spells and oracles, moon magic, and other rainy day activities. Requests are welcome, once I made a good one out of teeth for a friend, that was fun 🦷 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEEvFh4nSBD/

18/08/2020

Remember the Nasturtiums I put in pisco to tincture a few weeks ago? Look at the colour on it!!! Absolutely beautiful. I'll be popping a few bottles along with other treats in the store tomorrow, head to the link you know where and sign up to the mailing list for first dibs on this joyful, spicy, uplifting wee drop. . . ☀️ — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CEBkFlPH64v/

17/08/2020

There is a great feeling of winding down here at the moment as Summer slows down and the herbal store cupboard fills up. . . Normally I would be harvesting, drying, infusing, storing a lot more at this stage of the year, but I'm trying to be sensible with a move to work around, harvesting only what I need to take with us to keep things going and what I can use right now. The garden has gone a bit wild as I let things go to seed so I can gather seeds to take with me. . . This week I'll be sending a mailing list with the last new product update for a while. Make sure you're on the list, link in profile. . . Most of yesterday's harvest is drying for tea, sage bundles, rosemary cuttings to propagate, flowers for my altar and plenty of tomatoes for lunch later on 😍 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CD_B6CknsYp/

16/08/2020

🌳 Slow Sundays 🕯️ the secret to a chill week. A sleepy walk in the woods, lots of tea and gathering strength for the week ahead. Hope you're all enjoying a restful, lazy day. You deserve it! — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CD8u9HsnrJ0/

15/08/2020

I happened to find this photograph (one of my favourites from the old DT 35mm archives) as I was listening to read the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, which is very good. . . A small moment of synchronicity that felt like a prod from the delicious Goddess of the Harvest this morning 🕯️ I think she knows I haven't checked on the garden all week 😳 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CD6N76XHP1x/

14/08/2020

Hey Team! Not much is going on in the Apothecary this week so thought it might be time to do a wee intro 🤗 . 👆🏻 It me and a bunch of mugwort, I'm Dianne, she's Artemisia 🌞 I do all the Apothecary bits you see here, when I'm not out looking for a river to nymph in or napping. I grew up in rural New Zealand where this kind of thing was just how we did things (in my vaguely Pagan family at least) and fell back into it all a few years ago after rediscovering that being a witch is my chosen way of dealing with a lifetime of depression / anxiety / not fitting in a lot of other places. . I have a small allotment where I grow as much as I can to use in oils and tinctures to help make life a bit easier for myself and fellow humans who need it. Lots of nervines and soothing herbs for anxiety, sadness, boundaries and protection. . I also paint spells, moon meditations and oracles as part of my general practice, they're over 🕯️ . You can check out all of these things in the store, see other snippets in the journal and join the bi-weekly mailing list through the linktree in my profile 🌳 . One day I hope this will be a real life shop somewhere selling cool witchy things and art made by other humans, a place to build community and support fellow weirdos and sweethearts. Introduce yourself, let's be pals! — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CD31h21nG0e/

12/08/2020

I absolutely could not cope with this heat-wave without these two dreamy concoctions of lavender, hops & valerian. . . Rest/Sleep Balm massaged into my feet, chest, shoulders, temples, and a dropper of Sleepy Drops in a glass of cold chamomile tea before bed are the only things that have helped me get any sleep while it's 32° in our flat this week. Seems like overkill and I would not normally double down in such a manner but seriously, neither me nor the Victorian house I live in were built for this nonsense. . . Sleepy Drops (Lavender, Hops & Valerian infused in gin) available in 10ml dropper bottle, Sleep Balm (Lavender, Hops & Valerian infused oil with beeswax) available in 15ml tin in store via link in profile if you need some help getting A MOMENTS REST. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDyO4i-HmJ4/

10/08/2020

This is your heatwave reminder to 🌊 H Y D R A T E 🌊 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDt1RNQHz6B/

08/08/2020

Feeling pretty stoked to have this little pot of relief on hand today after a lovely evening sat outdoors enjoying some beer and bat watching with my fave witch last night has resulted in some pretty sensational mosquito bites! . . I react badly to all insect bites (and I'm delicious) so made this blend of chamomile, plantain and calendula infused oils to take the sting and itch out of bites, to calm things down and make a nice barrier to stop anything else getting in and interfering with the healing process. It's working a treat! . . Also great on sunburn and other skin irritations that pop up and ruin everything 😭 . . 10ml pots in the store now, link in profile. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDoxOW7gJyN/

07/08/2020

Speaking of Sage 🌝 The oil I infused with some super resinous, dank sage flowers and leaves a while back is now listed in the store in roller bottles so that you might anoint yourself lovingly with its dusky, earthy scent. . . For use in meditation or ritual when you're doing your thing, or to ground and support your vibe when you're living your life. . . Sage builds emotional strength, clears away and protects against negative energies, offers wisdom and promotes luck. When you’re feeling a bit spaced out, a bit lost, a bit down in the old dumpos – reach for this little bottle of sage magic. . . Available in store in 10ml roller bottles 💕 Link in the you know what. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDlKOUwA6jz/

05/08/2020

Finally starting to feel the tidal wave of this week's full moon pull away so we can look at the little things it washed up on the shore. It's a real feeling, right? This week has been a slog but we're here and can do things so let's crack on. . . The mailing list went out yesterday, like a bi-weekly blog in your inbox. If you got it you would have seen that we raised £25 for .uk in the month of July, which is added to their fundraiser now. I'm so grateful to everyone for your purchases, which allow me to make these donations this every month. You're all great. . . For August we're raising funds for - don't forget you can boost your donation by adding the An Extra Offering product to your basket before you check out. It'll pop up like a twix at the checkout counter. . . You can sign up for the mailing list via the link in my profile, do it! ☀️ — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDgTHbLHHZi/

04/08/2020

Mugwort, Rose & Yarrow tea got me through the full moon weepies yesterday like an earthy, sweet liquid cuddle. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDdpMP2HAwS/

03/08/2020

Greetings from this corner of organised chaos and herbs and oils in a small room in North London. A busy admin day here, the mailing list should be out later today, with a couple of new products for you to enjoy. . . Jump on it via the link in profile if you aren't already signed up. . . ✌🏻💕 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDbDnHcHlvm/

02/08/2020

Lammas blessed us with two potatoes, our first few ripe goth tomatoes, and the thyme got a proper haircut. What a day. — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDZdP8uH2lt/

31/07/2020

Another heat-wave 32° day here in London, the perfect excuse to pop a lavender eye pillow in the freezer to enjoy after work. . . Handmade and filled with buckwheat and home-grown lavender, perfectly weighted to calm things down at the end of a long hot day. . . Just going to day-dream about this cooling weight on my tired face all day, brb. . . Available in store 💕 — view on Instagram https://instagr.am/p/CDTXuUNnkxB/