LEO

July 24 – August 23     

The symbol for Leo is The Lion – king of the beasts, and there certainly is a regal air to Leos living even in the most humble of circumstances. They usually retain an air of dignity under the most trying of circumstances; even domestic cats display this trait, quickly covering any faux pas or embarrassment with nonchalance and a rapid return to their usual elegance.

Charismatic is a key word to describe Leos – you can’t help but look at them, and they love to bask in the attention. Be it for their artistic ability, dramatic flair, leadership skills (or occasional outrageous behaviour if all else fails). Many love to make ostentatious displays or be entertained with them. They love shine their light on the rest of us.Rejection is very hard for them to cope with, for which we can give Illawarra Flame Tree.

The animals are physically strong and graceful (as are the humans); they hunt co-operatively and share the spoils with their extended family. In the humans this translates to people who are loyal, family orientated, good providers and community minded. A key value instilled into royalty and the aristocracy down through the ages was “Noblesse Oblige” – the obligation of the nobility – to “help those less fortunate”. Our modern “royalty” increasingly consists of creative celebrities, and one of the first things they do upon becoming rich and famous is to nominate a charity they will be assisting; they are immediately initiated into the importance of giving back, and are expected to do so. Many Leos head up or are key individuals within community and charitable organisations. Bluebell is a good flower to bring out this sense of generosity, and Sydney Rose helps to realise that we are all One, and that when we help others, we are helping another aspect of ourself.

If you displease a Leo, even the most benevolent of them may roar at you. Just to show you who is really in charge. If you really upset them (or worse still, betray them) they will most likely ignore you – they won’t dignify you with a response. You will find yourself frozen out, and the castle door firmly barricaded against you. Banished. Count yourself lucky they didn’t rake you with their claws or chop off your head. Dagger Hakea and Bluebell can be good for these Leos – to help them forgive.

Speaking of castles, Leos aren’t averse to a bit of luxury, they do like quality over quantity and their home is their safe haven from the world. It is probably has a view of the surrounding landscape. Don’t drop in – wait for an invitation.

Don’t fooled though – there are forest lions who prefer to live quiet, private, solitary lives with just their mate, preferring to roam in the dappled light beneath the trees, away from prying eyes. Sometimes this can be a phase the more extraverted Leos go through, to recharge. This is healthy.

What ‘Out of Balance’ Leo energy looks like

Arrogant, domineering, vain, impatient, drama queen, narcissistic, egocentric, selfish, superior, rejected, jealous, egotistical, self doubting, overly ambitious

What ‘Balanced’ Leo energy looks like

Courageous, strong, confident, creative, artistic, magnetic, charismatic, natural leaders, entertaining, enthusiastic, inspirational, optimistic, magnaminous, loyal, affectionate, cheerful, dignified and fun.

Leo is ruled by the Sun, considered a masculine energy by most cultures both ancient and modern. Without the Sun there would be no life. Ancient cultures had many different belief systems around this with a common them being the need to honour the Sun as the giver of life; with the king (queen) or emperor (empress) as the creator’s earthly representative. The Sun in astrology is regarded as the ruler of our identity, our sense of self and self esteem – the Ego. To strengthen and balance these we have Five Corners, also very good for confidence.

Leos can often be found in leadership roles. Sometimes the power goes to their head and they become arrogant, for which we can use Gymea Lily. It is also good for vanity and pride, which Leos have been accused of. Whenever anyone raises their head up above the crowd, it is possible someone will want to cut them down. Gymea Lily enables those to whom this happens to have the strength to stand tall and carry on regardless. Lastly, Gymea Lily balances the back and spine, one of the vulnerable parts of the body for a Leo under stress.

The other part of the body ruled by Leo is the heart. Waratah is a wonderful Essence for strengthening the physical heart (as is Bluebell) and is also very good for helping to enhance courage, one of the natural traits of Leo. Lions hunt, kings used to lead their soldiers into battle, Leos lead, encourage and inspire us, to come up with new ideas and light the way towards them.

Should they become overly ambitious, or jealous of another’s success, Mountain Devil is very useful.

If you would like to know more, we run a One Day Seminar on Astrology and Australian Bush Flower Essences.

The Schedule is available here.

Flower Essences can be purchased here.

Copyright Linn Wiggins.

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CANCER

June 22 – July 23

The symbol for Cancer is the Crab and it depicts very well many of the qualities of those born under its sign. Crabs have a very hard shell to protect their soft interior; this is true of both the animal and Cancerian sun signs.

Sensitive is a key word to bear in mind for these folk. Cancerians will pick up subtleties of mood, body language and tone of voice not always evident to the more boisterous signs. They are intuitive and easily hurt. Hence the need for a protective shell around them.

Another physical characteristic of the crab is their claws. If a crab grabs hold of you it is not an easy task to shake them loose – their grip is both strong and tenacious. Possessiveness, hoarding and living in the past can be a negative expressions of Cancerian energy, but on the positive this same energy is steadiness and wise husbandry of resources. It is all about balance, and letting of the old is a major spiritual lesson for this sign. Hopefully without the need to lose a ‘nipper’ in the process!

Crabs are quite shy, and scurry back into their shell or into their hole when they feel threatened. It is where they feel most comfortable and safe. Some crabs are quite adventurous – hermit crabs enjoy travelling across long distances and exploring new places – but they carry their home right along with them… Home is very important to crabs and Cancerians and a lack of a secure home will be a source of major stress.

Finally, crabs live in water – the element of the emotions – and in Cancer we see an exploration of the emotional life for the first time in the zodiac. Cancerians are in touch with their emotions and the emotions of others and make wonderful confidantes, counsellors and listeners. They will become the emotional touchstone for all their family, which will include treasured friends, neighbours and co-workers. Cancerians are the nurturers of the zodiac – often natural mothers and very comfortable keeping the home fires burning. If they reject a traditional wife / stay at home mother role, they will often choose a career that involves caring for others – nursing, hospitality, personal assistant, interior design, feng shui or counselling; something which enables them to make the living spaces of others ‘feel good’ or which entails the assisting others with their emotional or personal care. Of all the sun signs, this is the one which will find the men most comfortable with being a stay-at-home Dad.

What ‘Out of Balance’ Cancerian energy looks like

Moody, difficulty letting go, hypersensitive, worry, insecure, anxious, abandonment issues, rejection issues, living in the past, continuing negative family patterns, emotional burnout, hoarding, manipulative, pining, taking on others’ emotions, guilt, obsession,

giving too much to others.

What ‘Balanced’ Cancerian energy looks like

Nurturing, understanding, sensitive, considerate, kind, patient, intuitive, in touch with feelings, emotionally strong, secure, husband resources well, ‘earth mother’.

Cancer is ruled by the Moon, considered a feminine energy by most cultures both ancient and modern. The Moon in astrology is regarded as the ruler of our emotions, and the Moon is never the same two days running. For two weeks it is waxing from dark to full, then for two weeks it is waning from full back down to dark. It changes zodiac signs every two and a half days (the sun changes signs every 30 days or so). It is the moon that controls the tides on earth, exerting a force strong enough to pull massive amounts of water around the globe every six hours. Putting all of this together, this emotionally sensitive sign has its ruling planet in a constant state of change. Cancerians are often accused of being ‘moody’. Is it any wonder with such a potent and ever changing ruling planet? The solution – Peach-flowered Tea-tree – perfect for mood swings. It’s Doctrine of Signatures is of a flower constantly changing too, so it is a really case of like curing like.

Cancerians will often be drawn to roles which entail caring for others in some way, it is just part of their nature. It is therefore very important that they take care to nurture themselves (not just others). Alpine Mint Bush is the perfect flower to remind them to do so, and it is also the most appropriate remedy should they forget to and end up suffering from emotional burnout. It is a very nurturing, restorative essence on an emotional level.

Their emotional and psychic sensitivity can be both their greatest strength and their greatest weakness and there are some very good flowers to help ensure this remains a blessings rather than a curse. Regular doses of both Fringed Violet and Angelsword will cleanse unwanted and old psychic energies, and help maintain the integrity of the aura. In practical terms, this means Cancerians can be assured that what they are feeling is their own emotions, not that of others.

Illawarra Flame is very good for any feelings of rejection (which Cancerians will feel very deeply), while Tall Yellow Top is almost a constitutional remedy for any feelings of isolation, abandonment, disconnection from their ‘tribe’ or depression. As for the tendency to pine and brood, especially when separated from loved ones, Boronia is wonderful.

On a physical level, Cancer rules the stomach, breasts, uterus and ovaries. Crowea is a good supporting remedy for both stomach and uterus, She Oak for the ovaries, and Bottlebrush for the breasts.

Bottlebrush is a flower essence Cancerians can almost live on, because it helps one to let go – the spiritual lesson for this sign. Apart from that it is very good for facilitating the mother-child bond – crucial for this sign, to whom family is so important.

An out-of-balance Cancerian is prone to anxiety and worry, with Crowea the remedy of choice. If these emotions are left unaddressed over a period of time they filter down to create stomach problems. The mind –body connection is very evident with this sign, and illustrate really well how flower essences can be used very effectively as preventative medicines.

If you would like to know more, we run a One Day Seminar on Astrology and Australian Bush Flower Essences.

The Schedule is available here.

Flower Essences can be purchased here.

Copyright Linn Wiggins.

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Coughs are sometimes viral in origin in which case you can use the information in Colds with good effect.

However most common coughs are the result of a bacterial infection, often from the Staphlococcal family of bacteria. Garlic has been used for thousands of years for chest infections and its beneficial action is thought to be due to the large amount of Sulphur it contains. Sulphur is the bit that makes it smell, so odourless garlic (which has the sulphur removed) is not necessarily going to work on infections. Pharmaceutical companies know all about Sulphur there is a whole class of antibiotics based on it the Sulphonamides.

Honey helps make Garlic more palatable and is very soothing to a throat made sore from too much coughing, so Garlic Honey has been on the herbalist’s shelf for many thousands of years. My home always has a big jar of unheated honey and organic garlic sitting by the window in the sun, steeping all through spring and summer, so it it is ready for the coughs that many of my clients experience with the change of season in Autumn.

Coughs can occur by themselves as a bacterial infection, or as a secondary infection following a cold or flu. There are generally two types of cough dry and moist. They can also be a symptom of a more serious underlying condition including whooping cough, tuberculosis, pneumonia, emphysema or lung cancer, so if a cough persists or rapidly worsens you need to seek urgent medical advice.

Dry coughs are usually rasping and tickly and paroxysmal, so that one cough sparks yet more coughing. There are a number of herbs which are excellent for this sort of cough Pulsatilla and Mullein are two of my favourites. For the dryness in the airways, herbs such as marshmallow root can also bring relief. All of these can be taken as teas. If this sort of cough persists or is accompaned by shortness of breathe it is very important to seek immediate medical aid as it may be a sign of a serious condition such as asthma or choking.

Wet coughs are when phlegm is produced. Hopefully you are able to bring this up if not you would benefit form some expectorant herbs. These assist your lungs with their natural healing process of eliminating the phlegm. Liqourice tea is a good home remedy for milder coughs of this nature. It is very important to cough the phlegm out otherwise it can become hardened and stuck and can cause a longer term, deeper infection – including bronchitis, pleurisy and pneumonia, all of which are potentially very serious and sometimes fatal. A qualified herbalist can assist you with expectorant herbs, which loosen and soften the phlegm and give your lungs the energy they need to cough it out.

As with colds, other supportive measures include:

• Vitamin C either in tablet or powder form as per the recommended dosage or in the form of Rosehips tea, freshly squeezed orange juice, or a hot lemon drink (add some honey to soothe your throat and for its antiseptic effect).
• Keep warm, especially if its windy, paying particular attention to your chest and feet.
• Rest. Winter is a time of slowing down, going within, and restinganimals hibernate and plants go dormantthere is a good reason for this. Copy them.
• Slow cooked soups and casseroles, hot teas and warm lemon and honey drinks are perfect comfort and soul food to keep you healthy during winter.
• Eat orange foods. Mother Earth colour codes her plants so you can know at a glance what nutrition they contain. Orange indicates beta carotene and/or vitamin A both tonics for the mucous membranes. Vitamin A is also present in high quantities in fish and fish oilespecially Cod Liver & Halibut Oils.

A good herbal extract for a broad spectrum of coughs is available through my clinic if you live locally to me. THis is good to have on hand through the cough season so you can take it at the first sign. As with all natural remedies, the sooner you start using them after the onset of symptoms, the better and more rapid the result. I can also customise a mixture to suit you individual needs if you already have a cough.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine the lungs are associated with grief. Take some time to ponder whether you are holding any sadness or grief either from recently or from the past. Flower Essences can help balance your emotions. Sturt Desert Pea is used for long held grief and sadness. Red Suva Frangipani is more for fresh grief, while Illawarra Flame Tree helps to energetically support immunity.

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It is only recently that western medicine has had drugs effective against viruses, but herbalists have been effectively treating viral infections for thousands of years with a wide variety of plants. There is an old saying amongst doctors that a cold will last 7 days with treatment or a week without as a herbalist I would beg to differ.

Colds and Influenza (flu – including swine flu) are caused by viruses, so antibiotics dont work what is needed is anti viral agents.You probably have more than one of these natural remedies in your kitchen right now and can easily grow several more in your vege garden or in a pot on your verandah.

Vinegar is a fabulous anti-viral any vinegar will work, but the best is Apple Cider vinegar. Viruses are quite nasty things they invade one of your cells, devour it from the inside to feed themselves them migrate to another cell, where they repeat the process, breeding as they go. They are tough and hardy but are vulnerable when they are in your blood, looking for a new cell to invade. This is where vinegar comes in. Vinegar is believed to work by very slightly changed the pH in your blood not enough to harm you, but enough to make your blood hostile to a virus. So hostile that the virus dies before it can find a new cell. A tablespoon of vinegar in a glass of water 2-3 times a day for an adult is usually effective within several days. If this sounds vile, just try it. If you have a cold (or any virus) you may be surprised at how much your body is craving it. When you go to have a dose and cant bear the thought of it, youve
had enough.

Antiviral herbs include Olive Leaf, Astragalas and Elder Flower.

Astragalas is also regarded in Chinese Medicine as being as good immune booster, as is Echinacea. Both these herbs need to be taken only in short sharp doses when they are needed – and then stopped. Neither is meant to be taken all the time. In fact research in Germany has suggested taking Echinacea over a long period of time will eventually weaken your immune system.

The flower essence Illawarra Flame Tree is also said to be useful for enhancing natural immunity.

Thyme and Sage are very good for a sore throat. You can take them as a tea. The flower essence Bush Fuchsia also balances the throat from an energetic perpective.

Vitamin C is also good either in tablet or powder form as per the recommended dosage or in the form of Rosehips tea, freshly squeezed orange juice, or a hot lemon drink (add some honey to soothe your throat and for its antiseptic effect).

Other things you can do to prevent colds and to hasten your recovery include:

• Keep warm, especially if its windy, paying particular attention to your chest and feet.
• Pace yourself. According to Louise Hay, rushing around and doing too much are the emotional triggers that can leave you susceptible to a cold.
• Rest. Winter is a time of slowing down, going within, and restinganimals hibernate and plants go dormantthere is a good reason for this. Copy them.
• Slow cooked soups and casseroles, hot teas and warm lemon and honey drinks are perfect comfort and soul food to keep you healthy during winter.
• Eat orange foods. Mother Earth colour codes her plants so you can know at a glance what nutrition they contain. Orange indicates beta carotene and/or vitamin A both tonics for the mucous membranes. Vitamin A is also present in high quantities in fish and fish oilespecially Cod Liver & Halibut Oils. .

Many of my clients also swear by my Cold and Flu Formula, which contains all of the herbs mentioned (and more). This is suitable for both adults and children. Take it at the first sign of a cold, or even if a cold has taken hold, and follow the advice above.

Kids also love the old fashioned remedy Garlic Honey.

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