“She deserves to be understood as what she actually is — someone who survived by paying close attention, and who turned that attention, eventually, into a kind of quiet mastery.”
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Virgo season herbalism has arrived, and it’s time for the craft of putting by. This episode covers calendula’s uses in tea, skincare, and a step-by-step calendula-infused almond oil recipe for your fall and winter apothecary.
As the sun crosses from Leo into Virgo, the wheel turns from gathering toward keeping. We explore the old mythology behind Virgo — the maiden with the sheaf, her roots in the stories of Demeter and Persephone, and why she and Scorpio are so often called the zodiac’s most misunderstood signs — alongside this week’s moon phase and what it asks of us as the season shifts.
Virgo Season Herbalism: Calendula Three Ways
Then we turn to calendula, still blooming bright even as summer leans toward autumn, and hold her three ways: as a gentle tea, in bath and body preparations including a simple facial toner, and — this week’s featured craft — steeped slowly into sweet almond oil for a golden, all-purpose infusion you’ll use for months to come. The full recipe, with measurements, is available as a free downloadable PDF in the show notes below. This is where Virgo season herbalism gets practical — starting with a plant already blooming in your own garden.
We also talk about starting small this season — no bushel baskets required — whether that’s firecider, herbs drying from a few pots on the deck, or a fruit shrub made one piece at a time, inspired in part by herbalist Judith Berger’s writing in Herbal Rituals on the industrious rhythm of an herbalist’s August. That’s the heart of Virgo season herbalism — not the reaching for more, but the careful keeping of what you already have.
If this episode speaks to you, you’ll find the companion piece on YouTube and this week’s reflection in the newsletter — and if a fellow gardener comes to mind, we’d love for you to share it with them.
Download Infused Calendula Oil Recipe Here!
Book Attribution
This episode draws inspiration from Judith Berger’s Herbal Rituals: A Guide to Living Seasonally (specifically her reflections on August, decanting spring infusions, and the cyclical rhythm of an herbalist’s year). We highly recommend her book for anyone looking to deepen their own seasonal practice.
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If you’d like to know me a little more personally, a letter arrives from the garden each Friday — seasonal stories, herbal wisdom, the quiet rhythms of the Celtic year, and personal videos from the Herbary I’m building by hand.
You’ll be the first to hear about new offerings, upcoming classes, and hands-on workshops. And each month, subscribers receive the topic and the link for our free Zoom circle, where we gather to learn and linger together.
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🌿 Herbs & Favorite Tools
(affiliate links — thank you for supporting this work)
Herbs featured in this Show:
1. Dried Calendula Flowers
2. Calendula Flower Seeds (My favorite seeds to grow flowers!!)
3. Lavender Journal: Notebook – by Brenda J. Sullivan
My favorite tea-making tools:
BAYKA French Press Coffee Maker
Cold Brew Coffee Filter for Wide Mouth Mason Jar,
Heat-proof wide-mouth mason jars
📚Bookstore – Brenda J. Sullivan Books
https://www.brendajsullivanbooks.com
🌱My Garden Journal – A How-To Garden Book for Kids
Because every gardener starts with a single seed — and a little curiosity.
My Garden Journal is part how-to guide, part creative keepsake, designed to help children (and their grown-ups) learn the basics of growing food and flowers while documenting their journey.
Inside you’ll find:
- Simple planting guidance
- Space for drawings, photos, and notes
- Imaginative themed gardens (Harry Potter Herb Garden, Young Chef’s Garden, Monarch Butterfly Garden)
Perfect for homeschooling families, budding herbalists, and anyone who wants to grow confidence by growing plants.
✨ You’ll be amazed at how much you — and your garden — grow when you take time to journal the journey.
🌿 Work With Me
🌙 Herbal Consultations (Now Open)
Root your wellness in the wisdom of the plants — and the stars.
My one-on-one consultations offer gentle, grounded guidance rooted in traditional herbalism, vitalist principles, and (if you wish) astrology. Each session begins with listening.
👉 Learn more here:
https://mailchi.mp/351efb18cd6b/one-on-one-consultations-landing-page
☕ Buy Me a Cup of Tea
If this story brought you comfort, you can support the channel here:
https://buymeacoffee.com/thompsonstg
🎶 Music Credits
A heartfelt thank you to Alexander Nakarada for the music featured in this story.
I am a Patreon supporter of Alexander’s work.
🎼 Song: Planning – 320bit – September 5, 2021
🔗 https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/
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The New England Herbary is a project of Thompson Street Farm LLC.
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