If we surrendered to earth’s intelligence
we could rise up, rooted, like trees.
Rainer Maria Rilke
Lucinda Warner- Herbalist, naturopath and nature lover.
I live and work in East Sussex and love to spend time on the Downs with the plants that grow there. I can often be found in my kitchen blending, brewing, bottling and batching any number of strange and wonderful potions and elixirs.
I love sharing my experience of the many gifts that the natural world has to offer and empowering others to know and use some of the common plants that grow freely around us.
A long time Buddhist student, you will no doubt find my musings on meditation and ponderings on philosophy interwoven with the herb recipes and plant ramblings of this blog.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Consultations: If you are in the Sussex area and are interested in seeing me for a herbal consultation please see my professional website www.lucindawarner.co.uk or you may contact me at whisperingearth@gmail.com
I am also a member of The Herbarium, a wonderful and wise group of traditional herbalists.
N.B. Please be aware that the information contained within this blog is intended to educate, entertain and inspire only. If you have any specific health complaints then please visit your local herbalist or healthcare provider for the appropriate guidance and support.
Oooh what a wonderful blog, I was gathering nettles in my garden only yesterday, and those dandelion leaves for salads, look forward to more updates.
Emma x
Hi Lucinda, am really enjoying reading on all the useful and wonderful info you are posting here. Keep it going.
mxxx
Hello Lucinda..Ive found you!! what a magical site…you have so much to offer….Thank you for such a great read… I am going to share this with all the new herbwalk folks who are so eager to learn ( in the right way!!) sarahxx
What a delightful site! I feel like I’ve found my English counterpart:) I will be back often to bask in your gentle words and knowledge.
From a fellow herbalist,
Danielle
Was looking for posts about herbal infusions and stumbled upon this beautiful site. Many thanks! It’s lovely to find someone with similar ideas not so far from here. Looking forward to visiting the blog again.
Tulsi is an inspiration!
Did you do the artwork in your lovely header? Have a bee-autiful day Lucinda
Thanks Leslie!
Yes I did the artwork, though I did it from my head which is why the Hawthorn berries look more like Rosehips
Oh I think you did just a lovely job of it Lucinda. So very pretty:)
You’re welcome Lucinda:) Beautiful regarless if hawthorn or rosehips:) xx
What a wonderful and informative blog – I will be checking back frequently! Thanks for the great information!
Hi Lucinda
I read on the internet that using too much beeswax can clog the pores. What is the maximum I can use in a face moisturizer without clogging my pores.?
Thank you
Rohini
Hi Rohini,
If you have oiler skin I would avoid beeswax altogether, if the skin is drier then 5g in 100 would be a good amount. I sometimes use up to 10g in 100 and I haven’t found a problem with it increasing the pore size but I don’t tend to put moisturiser on oilier bits of my skin like my nose.
The best thing to do is experiment and see. Some people do recommend avoiding it but different things work for different skins in my experience. If someone had acne or blackheads I’d definitely avoid it. It could be a bit clogging but it also protects from the elements and pollution and without it you might have to use more thickeners/ emulsifiers etc that are not so natural. Shea butter is also meant to clog pores if used at more than 5%.
Hope that’s helpful!
All the best,
Lucinda x
Hi Lucinda,
After attending the Lotions and Potions Workshop last week, I thought I’d log in to see what your blog/website was like. What a fab blog! I am loving Zen Kitty for he is truly wise!
Wonderful to meet you
Louise x
Thanks Louise, it was lovely to meet you too! Take care x
Your site is very lovely and informative…thanks for sharing your knowledge
I notice you said you had classes. Where are you located? Thanks
Hi Sue, I’m in East Sussex. I do some things in Brighton and the surrounding areas.
Hi Lucinda
I can’t say enought about your site! Extremely informative and helpful and beautiful photos!! My favourite is the clarification of salves, balms and ointments. In one of your blogs you mentioned using emulsifying wax for a lighter lotion. I would be grateful for any tips on how to use it alone or a combination of e-wax and beeswax. I know I can use more water with e-wax and I still find using beeswax alone tricky!. Guess i have to practice somemore.
Thank you and keep up the great work
Rohini
Hi Rohini,
Don’t dispair with the beeswax only cream, it’s taken me a while to get the technique right and I had various disasters when I first tried. They actually come out more consistently well mixed when you have left the oil part to cool a little before adding the waters. I have just changed one of my recipes, the hand and foot cream, to make it easier. Wait till the oils are starting to go opaque but are still warmish so they haven’t set completely, then mix in the slightly warm water part in a drizzle.
If you want to increase the water part then you need to use emulsifiers. I prefer the VE, MF emulsifying combination as taught by Aromantic and used by various natural skincare companies and practitioners. Emulsifying wax leaves a bit of a sticky consistency I think so it’s not my favourite, but it still does the job.
I’ll get round to doing a proper cream post soon with some recipe variations with and without emulsifiers. In the meantime there are recipes on Aromatic’s site for using the VE/ MF combo which produces a nice light cream. This is the link:
http://www.aromantic.co.uk/
Take care and happy cream making.
Lovely to meet you at the Springfield Sanctuary Herb Festival this last week end. Thank you for such an interesting and informing talk. I look forward to producing some of your recipes. Love & Light,
Thankyou for your Whispering Earth posts they add such light and magic to my life!
I just love learning all things plants and healing and the newsletters help keep my focus.
It was serendipidous meeting you on the Souls and Soles Foraging walk!
Do let me know of any events or workshops you are doing. I live in Glynde. suethesmith@hotmail.com
Hi Susan, Thanks for your lovely comment. I will let you know of anything local that I am doing as we are very close!
It was a lovely walk wasn’t it, and lovely to meet you too. xx
Dear Lucinda,
I would like to create herbal infused massage oils for my practice. What book(s) would you recommend?
Love your blog, I’ve started reading through it. It’s very informative! I just joined your email list.
Jennifer
Thank you for your lovely comment Jennifer. I have a few books that cover the basics but nothing that really goes into any details. James Green’s The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook is quite good though and covers lots of different herbal preparations.
Did you see the post I wrote on infused oils? If not you can read it here.
http://whisperingearth.wordpress.com/2010/04/26/potions-group-making-herb-infused-oils/
Other ones to try might be the Neal’s Yard book, I don’t have it myself but I’ve heard that it’s very good. Sorry I can’t be more help!
All the best,
Lucinda
Hi Lucinda
This is an admirabe site and philosophy and a source of endless information. You’ve come along way from our school days, many congratulations. I will read with interest.
Etosha
Congratulations! You have been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award by Cathy from http://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com.
For details see Cathy’s post on 26th January:
http://wordsandherbs.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/versatile-blogger-award/
I’m really enjoying reading your blog, so played along with this award thing… feel free to do with it what you will!
Thanks for the beautiful Rose oil Lucinda!
Maggie x
Hello Lucinda, I just happened upon your lovely site by accident. I was looking up how to make macerated oils and found you.
I’m interested in making my own skin care products for myself and family and the occasional pressie for my friends. I look forward to more interesting articles in the future.
Angela
Your writing is beautiful and I am looking forward to following your blog. – Jenn
Dear Lucinda,
Just wanted to say Thank you, what a wonderful post to read re The South Downs. Living exactly opposite, on top of the North Downs I understood & became, knowing every description, view & sense of awe & wonderment you so beautifully describe. I did not know there was an ‘Earth Day’ nor what it is but the love emanating from her Soul last night filled me from tip to toe as I drove back from Bournemouth to Kent. The views seemed so much more vibrant, the energy emanating like a haze of white light & purity, courage & strength .. the love sensed almost moved me to tears as I gasped at such nourishing beauty hi-lighted by the setting sun. As if the Earth was basking in the enriching elements being shared by the sunshine & rain. Everything for a moment stood still, although my car was travelling about 70 miles an hour. All became one – moments like the ones you share so beautifully in your post. Last night from the front windscreen to the side mirrors, the weather in each were the extreme opposites, blue skies, luminous rich colours from the setting sunshine to smouldering black skies & torrential rain. Observing such natural wonders filled me & the 2 & a half hour journey became timeless. Reading your post filled me with a similar sense of respect, love & gratitude. Thank you. I will read further on Earth Day, although I do share prayers & Love daily but maybe if we all do on the same day, maybe we could have Earth Healing Day .
Thank you Lucinda, its such a heart warming pleasure to read your posts.
Abundant Blessings
How wonderful, it sounds truly magical.
Lovely to know you are across the way in the North Downs, we are lucky to live amidst such beauty aren’t we.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful experience and lovely comment.
Much love x
Lovely blog!! I red about you at Pinterest and I just had to check your blog. Glad I did!
Thanks Nonia, hope you enjoy it!
Dear Lucinda,
I am following your recipes from Greece.
As i was just starting to think about making my own series of oils and creams with my own essential oil recipes added, i thought i should at least try to make my own cream (i feel much better knowing exactly what is in the base creams i give to people)…and i came upon your site! I am so glad and greatful for your information.
Thank you and keep up this inspiring work!
Lovely blog
will follow it!
What a beautiful site, I feel calm just reading through the pages. Thank you!
I want to buy calendula and camomile cream for my skin. Do you sell products? Also the pics of calendula look very much like the flowers in my garden which I call English Marigolds. Are they one and the same?
Hi Avril,
Yes they are English or pot marigold, Calendula officinalis. (Different from the French marigold or Tagetes.)
Unfortunately I don’t sell products at this time but it should be relatively easy to get something.
Thank you for your lovely comment.
Wonderful website..came across it while searching on how to make wild violet honey. Just signed up to follow your posts. Look forward to learning more.. Thanks!
What a beautiful site! I might not get to bed tonight as I *might* be on here instead!