Field Notes 4 | 24
Lately, I've been reflecting deeply on the concept of attunement – the interplay of connection echoing within ourselves, others, and the world around us. Attunement creates that magical feeling of resonance, when everything seems to fall into perfect harmony with the universe. In those moments, life seems to flow effortlessly, connections deepen, and suddenly, the world seems to sparkle with new meaning.
I firmly believe that rituals play a vital role in nurturing our ability to attune. When we infuse our actions with intention, our lives transcend mere routine, becoming sacred pathways toward transformation, capable of nurturing, inspiring, and infusing every day with a profound sense of reverence.
ON THE LAND | 4.24
The incredible quantity of rain this past season brought has ushered in a phase of growth and maturity in our medicine gardens. Plants that just last season were in the first stages of germination have grown exponentially and are spreading in our gardens in a way that is making them feel lush and established.
It brings me great joy to apply the knowledge I have acquired over the years studying native plants, particularly those introduced to me by my esteemed teacher, Chumash Medicine Woman, Cecilia Garcia. I am deeply honored to have received much of my understanding about the plants in my local area from her. The bond I formed with these plants through Cecilia is invaluable, and I encourage those intrigued by such connections to seek out elders native to their own regions.
Cecilia was not only a knowledgeable healer but also a strong woman who spoke with raw and utter candor. She introduced me and my circle of friends—primarily young mothers and health practitioners at the time—to the medicinal properties of the plants indigenous to the Santa Monica Mountain region. For years, we were so fortunate to learn from this wise elder. She would visit my home with generous bundles of herbs for use in steams, poultices, and teas. Additionally, she guided us on foraging walks through the hills, imparting knowledge on how these plants grow and when and how to harvest them.
Cecilia also instilled in us the importance of ethical harvesting, emphasizing the need to assess the health and abundance of each plant before gathering anything. Furthermore, she taught us to commune with the plants during harvests, whether through humming, singing melodies, or offering prayers, gratitude, and blessings for their growth and vitality.
RITUEL SPRING BATH | 4.24
Spring is a beautiful season to luxuriate in the healing practice of taking herbal and floral baths. Bathing with medicinal plants is one of the most gentle and safe ways to come to know a plant’s healing properties. As you are not ingesting the plant, and the pores of your skin are quite discerning filters, adding plants to your bath is a lovely way to begin to connect with a plant. There are many plants that are safe to bathe with and infinite combinations you can create for a myriad of effects. I love composing bath mixtures at different times of year, and lunar phases, as well as using them as a part of personal life passage ceremonies.
Cultures throughout the ages have recognized the therapeutic value of bathing and have created healing practices and used ingredients to enhance the potency of this simple self-care practice. At Rituel we love concocting customized therapeutic baths for our visitors and allowing them to luxuriate in our outdoor tub, absorbing all of the healing benefits of this tranquil experience, as well as the medicinal properties of the plants infused in the water, as they gaze out at the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean.
Here is a Rituel Bath recipe composed for this Spring:
Garden Roses
Sagebrush
White Sage
Mugwort
Lisianthus
Sweet Peas