47 Litha An Herbalists Threshold

It's the longest day of the year — and at the edge of every hedgerow in New England, an old guardian is blooming right on schedule.

This week, we sit with elderflower: the threshold tree, the doorkeeper, the one plant in the old hedgerow lore you never cut without asking first. We talk about her folklore — the Elder Mother who watches over her own wood, the fairy king said to ride past on Midsummer's Eve, the doorway she's long been said to keep between this world and the next. We talk about her medicine, her cordial, and the old custom of "liquid light." And we talk about a small, true story of loss and rediscovery — an elder tree once grown and unexpectedly lost, and a small patch found this very week again, on land that was never mine.

Tonight's First Quarter Moon in Virgo asks something quieter than celebration: not to manifest something new, but to check the map on what's already begun.

There's no homework here. Only an old doorkeeper in white bloom, a moon asking you to look honestly at where you are, and a seat that's always saved for you, right here, beside the hearth.

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🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools

(affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work)

Herbs featured in this Show:

1. Dried Elder Flowers

https://amzn.to/3SyHgLW

2. (Book) Elderberries: The Beginner's Guide to Foraging, Preserving and Using Elderberries for Health Remedies, Recipes, Drinks & More

https://amzn.to/4xDXrI1

3. Fever-Tree Elderflower Tonic Water – Premium Mixer for Cocktails and Mocktails, 6.8 fl oz Bottles,

https://amzn.to/4eBh4Yy

My favorite tea-making tools:

BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker,

https://amzn.to/4r4LYNH

Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar,

https://amzn.to/4qWQr4L

Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars

https://amzn.to/4pNflmq

📚Bookstore - Brenda J. Sullivan Books

https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com/

🌱 My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids

Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity.

My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey.

Inside you'll find:

• Simple planting guidance
• Space for drawings, photos, and notes
• Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef's Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden)

Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants.

✨ You'll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey.

🌿 Work With Me

🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open)

Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars.

My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening.

👉 Learn more here:
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🎶 Music Credits

A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the music featured in this story.
I am a Patreon supporter of Alexander's work.

🎼 Song: Planning - 320bit - September 5, 2021

🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/

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