Do you celebrate Valentine’s Day?
Some see this holiday as a purely commercial event, a “Hallmark moment”, focusing only on romantic love and partnerships, flowers and chocolate, and candlelit dinners. For some that will be a challenge in 2021, due to all that is happening with the pandemic.
But for me, I look at Valentine’s Day as a soul work prompt, an opportunity to raise my awareness to ALL the relationships in my life, including my relationships with my loved ones — friends, family, partner — and with my Self.
I’m sure you have your own unique way to celebrate and honour the relationships in your life. However you celebrate, be sure to include honouring your Self at Valentine’s Day. Begin a love affair with YOU and the Divine Feminine and Divine Masculine within you. This has been a challenging year and you deserve to recognize and celebrate your journey and your magnificent self. Celebrate you!
If you need some ideas, click here to read our blog post on how to celebrate with a goddess bath ritual (including some formulations for making your own bath salts). And be sure to scroll down to see the related articles.
Of course, I always like to celebrate most things with a nice cup of tea!
This year, I am sharing a couple of herbal teas inspired by the heart, the symbol of Valentine’s Day: a rose-based tea (roses are a Valentine’s Day staple for many) from herbalist Rosalee de la Forêt —who you may know from both Herbal Remedies Advice and from Learning Herbs— and a Coeur-age Tea (coeur means “heart” in French) inspired by Magic Lessons.
Click here or the image above for Rosalee’s Rosebud Tea recipe. And do consider personalizing your rosebud tea blend by adding a pinch of a favourite herb. Tulsi, Ocimum sanctum aka Holy Basil, is a lovely complement to rose tea.
Courage Tea
My recipe for “Coeur-age” Tea was inspired by a passage in Alice Hoffman’s new book Magic Lessons:
They sat in the light of a lantern and drank cups of Courage Tea, a blend of currants, spices, and thyme, made for protection and healing, a mixture that needed to steep for a long time. It was an elixir that made it clear one should never hide who one was. That was the first step toward courage. In this way, magic began.
The currants were likely black currants, but they can be challenging to find and sometimes are heavily sugared, which many cannot tolerate. If you can find freeze-dried black currants, great! If not, consider using any dried berries or fruit you have on hand or can easily find locally. Rose hips and hawthorn are both associated with the heart, and would be a great choice. You might also consider dried/freeze-dried fruits and berries such as elderberries, cranberries, apples, citrus peel, cherries, strawberries, and/or golden berries (Physalis peruviana also known as Inca berry, Peruvian groundcherry, pichuberry, cape gooseberry), etc.
Invite this elixir to protect and heal you, and inspire you to shine your light, not “hide” from who you are.
Courage Tea Recipe (serves 2)
- 3 cups of water (one cup = 8 fluid ounces / 235 ml)
- fresh thyme (lemon thyme would also be good!), about 6 or more sprigs to taste OR 3 teaspoons of dried thyme (roughly 15 grams).
- 3 teaspoons chopped cinnamon chips or a couple of cinnamon sticks
- 3 teaspoons or more, to taste, dried black currants or any dried fruit or berries you have on hand
- OPTIONAL: for those who like a little more spice, Martha Stewart recommends adding a 1/2 teaspoon each of lightly crushed whole coriander seeds and whole fennel seeds to a thyme-based tea
Start by boiling the water in a saucepan. Add all other ingredients, and allow to steep covered for a minimum of 10 minutes. Taste your brew at that point. If you like it a little stronger, steep for an additional 5 minutes. Too strong? Dilute with a little boiled water, to taste.
Strain and serve. Sweeten if necessary and/or add a slice of lemon. If there is any remaining tea, store in a mason jar and keep in the fridge for up to 3-5 days maximum. This tea can be consumed hot or cold.
Caution: Select your ingredients wisely for any herbal preparation you ingest or use topically. If you have any pre-existing conditions (including pregnancy) or take any prescription drugs, do check to see that the ingredients are safe for you.