Locally made essences from the Sonoran Desert.

A Note about defining an Essence: It's a bit funny to attempt to define or put words to an essence. When we work with an essence we are speaking about subtle energy and the way energy moves through a plant and our own bodies and creates subtle changes. 

These sharings around each essence are observations others and I have made about how the essence of the plant has moved through and affected us. They are working understandings that are in process and subject to change and grow as each person explores their own unique experience of each essence. 

Cholla Cactus     

Made spring of 2024 in the Tucson Mountains

Soothing, relaxing, preservation of resources. Like many desert plants Cholla is excellent at supporting the adaptation of our own resources. The interplay between extreme heat, the pricklyness of the external protectiveness- all Yang in nature… against the inner tissues, their suppleness, the way we nourish ourselves- tending to sleep, a nourishing diet, down time…YIN. Finding the balance between this interplay.

Ironwood Tree     

              Made spring of 2023 & includes a light rain storm and a rainbow at sunset. 

Grandma Energy. Supports softening and lightening our energy. For when things (the heart, the body, the mind) have become hardened, ridgid, and calcified.  Supports the Metal element in boundaries-the dance between flexible and firm with our boundaries.  A keystone species of the SD- provides nourishment to many species as well as a primary nurse plant to many species of plants. Some Ironwoods can be 100’s of years old. Its heart wood is one of the hardest in the world.

Queen of the Night Cactus (aka Night Blooming Cereus) 

Made May of 2022 on the full moon)

A place where imagination and mystery can be held and shared in community and with family.  High Priestess,  Mother Child relationships (especially mother daughter), speaking from the heart, support through passages of darkness: the night, transitions in life both big and small, moving through discomfort, Autumn/ Winter energies of any cycle. Supporting us to lean into the darkness and harvest the strength and power we gain from it. Community and kinship with others: This cactus has many blooms that occur with the full moon all together at once.  Full moon energy and magic. Moon cycle exploration and support: for the transitions of bleeding and or ovulation. Exploring and deepening our relationship with the night and dreamtime.

Mica Mineral Essence 

                                    Made at Marshall Gulch on Mt Lemmon Summer of 2023

• Staying focused and centered on what you are doing instead of someone else's wants and needs (people pleasing)

• Amplifies our ability to tune in and stay with your self care  (especially during times of transition and difficulty) 

• Highlights the solar plexus- 3rd Chakra, and the seat of our personal power

• Attracts empowerment and confidence

• Sparkly energy- calling in joyfulness and fun

• Reflective- energetic armor- Protection- Amplification

• Reflections between the Dark and the Light. (Mica’s ability to look bright silver/white and then turn it a bit and it looks dark murky brown/ black.

Asia Suller, fromMirror’s of the Earth:

• During the 19th century Mica was used as a material in stoves due to its unique chemical makeup to insulate and keep in heat as well as to conduct letting it pass though.  

• A Cheerleader for the Soul- the earth wants us to see (reflection) of our own goodness, and to heal harsh self judgment. A mirror that shows our true value.

• May have been used for divination- Mirror gazing