She Survived

Once, I drove through the narrow country roads of west Cornwall to find a sacred well. It was autumn and the sea looked Caribbean turquoise. The map wasn’t very good, but my friend and I found the well, partially overgrown with ivy, but not forgotten. One of the old places, where women’s water wisdom once offered healing and insight. A nearly obscured heritage. ⠀

herbalism, natural beekeepingAri DalyNovember 24, 2020feminist beekeeping, witch, womenswisdom, cornwall, bees, beewitch Comment

Apple: Fruit of the Otherworld

It’s apple season here in Sebastopol. I grew up in a land of cedars and pine, but moved to the soft, apple hills of this small town, which used to be the Gravenstein capital of the world. Some of the old orchards have resisted the encroaching vineyards and every spring they are ablaze with white blossoms and memories of Avalon.

herbalismAri DalyAugust 19, 2019Apple, fey folk, harvestComment

Lavender: Giddy Calm

I will never forget the way it hit me. Like a physical bath of scent. We arrived in Sainte-Croix-à-Lauze just as dusk descended. The crickets were declaring the glories of summer, while fireflies emerged to secret the sun away into the night. It was heaven. I got high.