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Echos
Resonating glass echos Silent steps on the old mossy stones Angels of the ancient treesWrestling leaves in the meadows Unicorn drinking fresh water From a trickling stream. Fishes, flipping their tails, Splashing the water on your beautiful face. Soft silent breeze Caressing your hair Lifting your heart to the purity of your voice Heard and cherished Like jewels spilling out Of an emerald cave Tickling like rain drops Bells of love spilling From your mouth Traveling like a thousand butterflies In the cups of my ears.
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I had a dream…a book half empty
I had a dream, a few days ago…I was in Fairfax, bars and restaurants were open, people hanging outside, just a sweet summer day filled with the buzz of a vibrant small Cali town. In my dream I suddenly realized, I was thirsty, and as the minutes went by I became more and more alert of a sense of deep dehydration…I felt hot, uncomfortable, so I naturally took my clothes off, as a child would do in front of a summer stream, or to taste the wind on its skin, so it could breathe again…but the feeling got worse, I stood up, panicked, looking for help, looking for water… despite my nudity, nobody seemed to have noticed me…I looked around, to seek for it, and as I stood up, my vision started to blur. I was losing sight! Very slowly, and unsure of where I was placing my steps, I crossed the plaza, hands out. I saw a stone bench through my struggling eyes and went to sit on its steps. I realized, but too late, that I had sat on somebody. It was a young man, pretty and beautiful, laying in the sun, arms stretched above him. He stared at me with surprise. Startled, I rapidly stood up and looked for a blanket or towel to cover my body. I wrapped myself up, to hide my nudity, in shame, and went off to another side of the town. I finally found water, to my greatest relief, and drank big gulps to satiate my thirst. Suddenly a young woman appeared, she was angry, and the intensity of her emotion appeared through her eyes as a cold heart. She picked up a stone from the dusty ground and threw it at me. Other members of the scene started doing the same. I protected myself with my arms and curled up in a corner to avoid the pain. Suddenly, a change of scene. I am sitting in front of an old book. It is laying in front of me, with its yellow musky pages, open right in the middle. On one side, the book is filled with words, a story is written. On the other side of the old relic, the pages, white and virgin, stand in silence with no words to be seen. A voice then comes to be, and says: "can you feel it in your heart? Humanity is walking with only one leg. The half of the story is not written and not yet realized". I ask "what is the other part"? The voice explains as I feel a deep sense of warmth in my heart "it is the feminine part of the world that has been lost", therefor humanity is only walking on one leg". I then imagine a person or an animal walking with only one leg, it naturally turns in circles, on itself. I wake up. What was this dream about??? During the day I contemplated and felt the feminine in me, the quiet, vulnerable nudity and vulnerability of its presence. The unseen, the silent, the soft, the one that does not fight back, adapts to all obstacles of life, and forgives. I thought of her, in me. It was not the woman I was feeling, but really the feminine power, the one that stands and allows things to unfold and that lives into every human being. I called that part in me, as I called the story, for humanity. The one where the thirsty and the blind are seen, nourished, cared for. The one where women do not stand against each other, competing with each other for men and resources, but the one that stands strong in the face of adversity. I call the feminine to serve the masculine and the masculine to serve the feminine, so the book can finally be completed. When coming back from Europe a few weeks ago, I felt the heat of the fires, I felt the buzz of survival and stress that inhabits this country. I felt the need to protect myself from the stones. I felt the thirst. It occurred to me that it was my choice to nurture the feminine in me. To take the time to rest, to trust the future despite the chaos, to embrace the pain and the tears in myself and others, and to be strong and stay hydrated, in every way you can imagine. I took time to breathe, observe nature and do nothing...nothing but listen and love unconditionally. Dreams are strange, aren't they?
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The Divine Feminine
For a long time, I believed that the feminine energy was fragile and malleable and that it’s opposite, the masculine, was much stronger; I believed that one dominated the other, and to obtain visible results and safety in this world, it was the male expressions that I had to adopt. That model was also the one that the world showed me and that I was taught to believe was the way. It is through the incredible experience of life that I realized that the feminine energy was equally powerful. That it is through her that I could find a true expression of myself and the deepening my relationship with nature, listening, receiving, in gratitude…all her expressions went from outwards to inwards, from the above to the bellow. The freedom of an open hand, the power of forgiveness, the energy of silence, the deep sense of empowerment through the act of letting go. The divine feminine became in me more than a potential, it grew wings from my shoulders so I could soar. As one would think it is the woman incarnation, but the divine feminine exists in all beings, male and female. It is a principal of abundance, adaptability and the ebb of all possibles. Like water, it flows from the darkness of the earth to the face of the new moon, into the subconscious, our historical records and the patterns waiting to be revealed. Often, she is referred to as the chaos, the molten rock, milk of the earth’s breast, from which everything can grow. The divine feminine is connected to emotion, E “energy” in: Motion… It is the river of our soul, the expression of our dreams, it is the word before the action, the thought before manifestation. The divine feminine is like an apple tree, it does not judge whom you are to offer arms wide its abundance and sweetness. That is why we can give thanks to Eve for biting in the fruit of knowledge and opening the connection we are here to express. We are light and light reflects the shadow of mater in which we live. We are shadow so we can find the light. We are matter so we can experience the freedom. Among, in, bellow and above what we "think" is. It is when you bight in the apple of life that you may find the deep connection of your soul with the greatness of the connection between us and all living creatures, plants and rocks. And that is why Eve giving the apple to Adam was not a sign of weakness but an invitation for him to look within and know thyself through the spiritual and emotional path of life, that is where compassion and true love can be born. The divine feminine goes downwards like water falling from a mountain. It goes inwards like a meditation or a silent song, one that invites us to look within. It is connected to the elements of water and earth and to the power of abundance and sharing. The divine feminine invites us to see deeper and to find balance and forgiveness in our heart and actions. The divine feminine was designed to collaborate deeply with the divine masculine. Without one another they are lost. They exist to balance each other, not to dominate or restrain one another. Just like the Yin and Yang, or day and night. Opening to the feminine power is opening to receiving, opening hands to let go of control of others and allowing each and every one to be in their own emotional and spiritual path. Accepting what is and not trying to change it. It is the silence you offer a friend when they need to share things that you cannot resolve. It is that space, that cup, that opening that creates a sense of belonging, even in absence of words. I call all my women sisters to bring your power in the world whatever it means to you...I call all my brothers to invite your divine feminine to help you find peace, stillness and acceptance when needed. We can thrive in unity, man and woman, child and elder, black and white all every one between. Let's put our strengths together for the future of this beautiful paradise...called planet earth...We are one!
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The secret powers of Hydrosols
When observing the distillation of a plant, may it be done from fresh flower petals, crushed roots or seeds, dried leaves or twigs, the alchemical process create two very distinct products: The essential oil and the hydrosol also called the distillate or hydrolat (hydro=water/ lat=milk). This precious water is very distinct from the essential oil yet contains similar properties. The essential oil droplets are the heavier and more hydrophilic (water loving) compounds of the plant. Some of the molecules are also unique from the hydrosols especially when distilled from fresh material. These precious waters contain the genetic signature of the plant as well as the 5 alchemical elements, Water- Fire- Earth- Air and Ether. These 5 elements are combined in the process in the three alchemical principals The interaction of water and earth is the process of MATERIALIZATION, also known as the Kapha dosha in Ayurveda or the SALT principal in ancient alchemy. This is connected to the BODY. The interaction between Water and fire finds expression in the TRANSFORMATION, also known as Pitta in Ayurveda and represents the SOUL or SULFUR among the three alchemical principals. The last principal lies in the dance between Air and Ether and is symbolized by the movement of DISPERSION that is the Vata principal in Ayurveda and represents the SPIRIT or MERCURY in ancient alchemy. Essential oils are by nature more related to the principal of Vata, as the terpene and volatile molecules are light in weight and travel through the air and aromas that themselves that can invisibly enter the body and reach some of our deepest emotions and memories. The hydrosol is mainly connected to the EARTH principal, or SALT as it is essentially composed of water that is the universal cleansing and regenerating element. Nevertheless, hydrosols also contain the Sulfur element through its aroma as well as the Sulfur element with their power to change emotions and move chronic health issues with repetitive usage. These essential waters, because of their H2O like nature do not contain the dangerous side effects that essential oils can present, they are easily assimilable by the body and the skin. They are mostly safe and can be used daily for health, skin conditions and emotional balance. Many of them can also be allies during pregnancy, lactation and to help babies and children, making them a great alternative to aromatherapy. Hydrosols are slightly acidic and mimic perfectly the skin’s natural PH, therefor they are an ingredient of choice to heal and regenerate any skin types and problems. If you have any questions regarding a specific skin type or condition in regards to what hydrosols to pick, feel free to "ask Alice"on the top bar of this page! You can also join us for thsi incredible online upcoming workshop featuring 10 of Alice's favorites (that you will receive at home before class), to sign up, click here
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A peak in the winter garden: Violets
Violet ~Viola Odorata~ Violets always call to me in the garden, they remind me to watch what is hidden in myself, and to notice the small joys of life…These discreet yet abundantly aromatic flowers have so many secret virtues…. After the rain, you can find them growing wild in the forest canopy, mixed with wild strawberries and nettle bushes. Their leaves and petals exude a smell of sweetness, freshly cut grass with undertones of earth and underwood moss. Flowers start showing their noses in the winter months as they love the cool and damp air of the season. Beware of where you walk you might have never noticed them before! Violets have been used in folk medicine for centuries and seem to be ready to take a place in our medicine cabinet during the challenging times of the pandemic. Their first property is to sooth saw through, cough and bronchitis; a small handful of the leaves and flowers can be steeped in hot water for 10 minutes and sipped slowly for a calming effect. Violet is also a sudorific, meaning it helps lower temperature by helping the body to perspire and release toxins due to virus or bacteria. They also can help tremendously with headaches, constipation and insomnia. Women have made poultices by grinding the herb and roots and applying compresses of the plant directly on the breast to help alleviate pain and crevice’s experienced during lactation. For the skin, violet is purifying and clearing to skin conditions such as acne and eczema. It also is a great ally for aging or damaged skin types, healing dryness, soothing redness and the extract mixed in formulas has a mattifying effect. How to Make Violet Oil What you will need: A pint (16 oz) glass jar (preferable mason with a double separable lid) A pint of organic carrier oil (jojoba, sesame, olive or sunflower) A clean kitchen cloth A few paper towels A wooden stick or tool for mixing Pick 2 handfuls of violets leaves and flowers, lay them flat on the kitchen towel for 24 to 48 hours, this process allows the flowers and leaves to slightly dry and help the oil not have water content, therefor extending its shelf life. Once the herbs has been “choked”, place them in the glass jar and cover with the carrier oil of your choice (jojoba being the lightest to olive oil being the richest). Makes sure the leaves and flowers are completely covered, not leaving any plant matter sticking out. Place a half paper towel over the mouth of the jar and use the ring of the Masson jar to screw the paper towel in place. Place in the sun or in a warm place of the house. After five days of maceration, remove the paper towel and close the mason jar completely with the lid. Shake everyday with gratitude and love, sending your intention to the plant. After 15 days filter the oil through a fine mech, cheese cloth or strainer. Add 15 drops of vitamin E tocopherol for better preservation. Place in a dark container (if possible) away from direct sunlight. Label, and use! The violet oil can be used as massage oil for arthritis, as well as for damaged skin on face body and hands. You can mix it with other oils and essential oils depending on your goal. This oil is also very potent to remove bumps and redness after hair removal. It is soothing, cooling and restorative. Enjoy!
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Biophilia in New York Times Magazine!
So honored to be a pioneer of the clean beauty Cali movement, this lovely article features 5 botanical-based beauty companies that are all doing beautiful work, and Biophilia is a part of it! I feel that my start as a cosmetic teacher at the Nova studio 13 years ago was part of the roots of this movement that needed to unfold...I was so blessed along the way with incredible cultural signatures that helped me become who I am today, as well as share knowledge abundantly to women owned emerging companies...France with its ancient alchemical knowledge and herb based pharmacy then Brazil and its incredible untamed wilderness and botanical kingdom...all that brought me then here, in California, the perfect place to create a skincare company that is based on ecolonomy, a new way to be in connection to abundance and our growing love relationship with her, our mother earth, that provides us with everything, from water to food and air... One of my biggest new year's resolutions: start actively teaching again to women and men and all genders and colors on how to make incredible skincare and botanical extracts, connect to our mother, and serve the planet with beautiful beauty rituals that are embedded into our mission to be one with each other and the planet again. Happy new year 2021, the journey is only beginning and every one of you is an important part of what is unfolding! https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/t-magazine/northern-california-skin-care-beauty.html?searchResultPosition=1&fbclid=IwAR3rspyIgVivIuV6eF4Lj4T6zEl-bA_IC66zjbdiWISU9hK0CZTmZiVQZ_k
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Harvesting white sage sustainably
White sage is a sacred herb that has been used by the Native American tribes for centuries to cleanse and purify during ceremonial rituals. Many of us have already experienced the power of white sage smudging and its incredible capacity to relieve negative emotions, lighten emotional baggage and clean up homes and spaces to reset energy anew. This beautiful herb has unfortunately been over-havested throughout the years and many natural habitats have been exploited to make sage buddies that are then sold in our stores. It is important that we all create a wonderful and respectful relationship too Mother Nature. There are ways to harvest that are respectful and that see the plant as a living beings that is as important as an animal or a human, In these short videos, I share the methods I use to wild harvest white sage. What to do and what to avoid. I hope you enjoy! If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact me through the Ask Alice bar on the top bar of the website. https://youtu.be/chWaFW40Qd4 https://youtu.be/dpAOrgHgl4c
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The Rose Garden
Today is rose day. Picking the heart open. Shades of pink, magenta, white and purple, fuchsia, yellow and pure light. Rose, mother, queen of the garden. Rose mysterious, feminine, drop by drop, falling in the amber bottle, drip, drip, drip.
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