Boldness & Magic

Step Up!

     “Until one is committed, there is hesitancy, the chance to draw back. Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth, the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then Providence moves too. All sorts of things occur to help one that would never otherwise have occurred. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents and meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamed would have come his way. I learned a deep respect for one of Goethe's couplets:




Whatever you can do, or dream you can do, begin it.

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it!”

-William Hutchinson Murray (1913-1996), from his 1951 book entitled The Scottish Himalayan.

http://german.about.com/library/blgermyth12.htm



     I learned this as one of the belt creeds in my Martial arts training. (Even with the wrong attribution.) But the point for me wasn't the person who said it. It was this "stop living for everyone and everything else" mentality. Stop waiting to live your life. Grab life by the balls and do something with it.  

     When in my teens a dear friend once said to me,"If you're bored, you are boring."  I have lived my life since that moment, to never be bored again.

With all of the Garden Planning going on

With all of the Garden Planning that should be going on, I thought I'd mention one of the staples of topical healing. Comfrey Salve.





Comfrey is used externally for psoriasis, eczema, sores, varicose veins and skin ulcers, arthritis, sprains, bunions, hemorrhoids, sore breasts during lactation, and injuries, including fractures. It is particularly effective in slow healing wounds and to help repair tissue damage. If used topically, do not use it on deep wounds, as healing on the surface will initiate and so cause an abscess to form below. Comfrey contains an excellent cell proliferant and is used to stimulate growth of new skin cells.


This is the recipe I give my Herb Crafting students.

Easy Comfrey Salve

Comfrey Salve Here's a super simple recipe for comfrey salve recipe to utilize all that Comfrey in your garden!

This salve also makes great gifts for friends and family.

I like to put up big batches in the summer and give them out at the holidays.

2 cups good quality olive oil

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh comfrey leaves (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh lavender flowers (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1 ounce (about two tablespoons) fresh calendula flowers (or 1/2 ounce dried)

~ 1/2 cup beeswax

~ Gently warm the olive oil and the herbs in the top of a double boiler for about 30 minutes. Stir frequently. It should bubble a bit at the edges, but not throughout the mixture.

~ Strain out the oil by pouring through a strainer.

~ Compost herbs and reserve oil.

~ Melt your beeswax in the top of the double boiler

~ Add the strained oil and stir until completely blended.

~ Pour the mixture into jars or salve tins.

~ Once it is cool, label and date your creation.