Birch to Beat the Heat
The days are getting longer, temperatures are climbing, and mother nature is showing off her freshest, greenest garb! I love spending time in the garden, watching my friends “branch out” and express themselves without shame or judgment. Each plant seems to wave at me with rapturous joy, in communion with the sun, the wind, the rain, the insects, and each other.
Plants inspire me to be present, to stay grounded, and to give thanks for whatever I am currently experiencing. Last week, on one particularly hot day, I was inspired (by my plant-friends, no doubt) to make myself a refreshing drink of pineapple juice and black birch twig infusion. It is so cooling for the body and tastes incredible!
A Cool and Juicy Recipe to stay Chill and Hydrated
Mix together in a glass:
1 part 100% pure pineapple juice
2 parts black birch twig infusion**
(I used room temp black birch infusion and chilled pineapple juice. If you prefer, pour the mixture over ice for an extra cooling effect!)
**To make the infusion: Pour boiling water over ¼ cup or more of fresh or dried black birch twigs in a quart jar. Steep overnight. Don’t decant the twigs…after you finish drinking the infusion, add boiling water to make one more delicious jar-full!
The following are a few excerpts about black birch from my books - more info on White and Black Birch can be found on pages 289-295 of “The Gift of Healing Herbs”.
Among the various birch species, the one I know best is the black birch, also known as cherry birch or sweet birch. It’s easy to mix up actual black cherry trees with cherry (black) birch trees because the leaf shapes are not that different at first look, and the bark of each has a relatively smooth, dark appearance that gleams with a red undertone. Both species have horizontal lenticels, small vents or breathing pores, all along their trunks. However, though you may easily confuse these trees by sight, you won’t forget how birch smells when you learn to “scratch and sniff ” the twigs, and black birch’s unmistakable, delicious fragrance reveals itself.
The distinctive aroma comes from methyl salicylate, or wintergreen oil. This is one of the constituents that make black birch as medicinal as it is delicious—it is rich in salicylic acid, making it pain-relieving and useful for sprains, aches, and arthritic pains.
Generally, black birch bark and leaves help things “flow.” It is one of the first fresh plants I harvest for infusions every spring and these infusions are almost universally loved. Fresh birch twig tea gets vital energy flowing through the body, akin to the way sap begins to flow through the tree again as the light and warmth revive its circulation, calling it back to an active phase of growth after its winter’s rest.
If you harvest them for tea in the spring or early summer, be careful to harvest only small twigs; otherwise birch may give you more sap than is good for her—such is her giving nature.
My personal experience with black birch mostly involves using the tree’s twigs as tea, tincture, and infused oil for healing skin conditions, especially eczema. Whenever possible, help skin heal by using herbs both inside and outside the body. Birch is also frequently used to stimulate healing of the liver and lymph system, and the leaves are used to bring anti-inflammatory and other healing energies to the kidneys.
Magically speaking, black birch can be used for generosity magic. If you are cultivating your own generosity or looking to call forth the generosity of an organization to fund your event or petitioning a grant committee to grant you start-up money, black birch is a wonderful ally to ask for help. Or perhaps you are asking for a well-deserved raise and your boss is notoriously stingy. Either way, black birch, also called cherry birch, is your tree.
(Both tree trunks below are black birch!)
Use her leaves and/or twigs. Drink fresh twig infusion while imagining yourself gratefully receiving exactly what you are asking for. If you know where a black birch tree is growing, you can write down exactly what you are asking for, and bury your paper under the tree. Water is a wonderful give-away for your thank-you to the tree.
For more rituals and magical herbal allies, check out my book “Healing Magic”.
Ready to learn and play? Here’s a few of my upcoming learning opportunities in June and July, and a weekend conference in August (featuring Plantain and so much more)!
Tuesday, June 21 from 7 - 9pm:
Summer Solstice with Robin Rose Bennett
Private Residence in Kinnelon, NJ
I am so looking forward to celebrating the Wheel of the Year in-person again! This event will take place OUTDOORS at a private residence (with two lovely dog guardians) in Kinnelon, NJ.
Come celebrate the Zenith of Light, the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere! We will invoke sacred space, gather round the Midsummer fire, and turn the Wheel of the Year with movement, story, drumming, song, and chant. This is a perfect opportunity for summer wishes and intentions for the rest of the year!
Cost is $30 for adults, $15 for 12 and under. Space is limited!
Friday, June 25 from 2 - 4pm:
Weed Walk with Robin Rose Bennett
Nyquist-Harcourt Wildlife Sanctuary in New Paltz, NY
Come delight in the discovery that wild food and herbal medicine is all around us wherever we live. Enjoy an uplifting and sensory educational experience identifying, sniffing, and tasting the wild local plants that are often dismissed as mere weeds. This will be a relaxing stroll and fun for all ages. Please understand that for the safety of everyone, attendance caps at ~12! If more than that sign up, an additional date will be announced. Please reach out with any questions or concerns.
The Weed Walk itself is $35 for adults, $17 for humans 12-18 or students, and children under 12 are free! Email my assistant Christiana for how to purchase tickets for 12-18s.
July 6 & 13:
Green Witch Guide to Spiritual Activism
Zoom AND In-Person at Transcending Roots Apothecary in Philadelphia, PA
Can’t make it in real time? Classes will be recorded and available online to attend at your convenience.
A two-part class, both online and in person, where we’ll learn to “Turn the World Around” from the Inside out. What does a magical response to the heartlessness of the current paradigm that passes for reality look like? And what are the wise and unwise ways to do this work?
10% of the proceeds from the course will be donated to an organization devoted to the ongoing support of the people we are seeking to aid with our ritual.
Sliding scale from $45 - $90 for both classes.
August 12-14:
Black Walnut Botanical Conference
Innabah, in the beautiful Philadelphia countryside of Chester County, PA.
I am thrilled to be a Keynote Speaker at this conference, and to be sharing my love and knowledge of the mighty plantain! The center of focus for the Black Walnut Botanical Conference is on the plants and herbal education, but there will be so much more. A variety of classes, wild weed walks and activities will take place throughout the weekend. You are invited to participate in as many as you wish, or to use this time and space as your personal retreat. There are camping options and cabin rentals, and food passes as well.
Green Blessings and love,
Robin Rose
~*~