Forest & Fjord Co.

Botanical Alchemy ❈ Ancestral Folk Skills ❈ Sacred Activism 

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Starry Spring Nights & the Aurora's Glow | . . With the daylight increasing everyday the sun grows stronger, and our time with the Stars begins to fade. Soon the Moon shall rise fall, all while sharing the sky with the midnight Sun. . The Aurora still glows in summer, but it's pastel pale dance becomes harder and harder to see. . Lately our Northern Lights have been aflame, and it's been fun to watch without the super cold temps. Check out my stories for more pictures from the last few nights, for some reason, probably my constant roaming status of my phone, I can't post multiple pictures. #thatrurallife . This shot was my favorite of the evening, it's not full of crazy swirling lights, but feels so deep and magical, a tribute to the soon departing night sky full of stars and mystery... ✨ . . #sharingalaska #night_shots #rsa_folknature #auroraborealis #northernlights #alaskaisdream #thegreatnorthcollective #nightsky (at Gustavus, Alaska) https://www.instagram.com/forestandfjordco/p/BvpSzPVhU9D/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=uqzwfjputhv6

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I've been distilling last summers' dried golden yellow Calendula blooms in the warm winter sun. Sitting on the west facing porch off the house, waiting for the water to get to temp. . Before the hydrosol came out of the condenser a sweet floral breeze blew threw the air and for a minute I forgot that it was 10° last night, and that snow and ice still coat the ground. I was transported to the warm nights of late summer and the pheromones of flowers everywhere. . Bottling memories, spirit stories of my plant friends long asleep in their winter slumber takes on many forms. Cordials, tinctures, infused oils, hydrosols. It's part of my draw to this art. A record keeper of sorts, of times and moments past, held in spirit in a bottle. . That's why I call hydrosols spirit waters. More so than any form the magic ability they have to transmute the moment and drop you in is a deep and profound experience. . Water as an element is so changable, taking shape to the vessel that surrounds it, imparting the colors, smell, temperature or taste of what it interacts with. A safe and ephemeral medicine, spirit waters are one of the most synergistic ways of interacting with our plant world. . I'm really excited to be sharing the water based medicines/elixirs I've been formulating from my past distillations. I'm planning on it by the end of the month! . . #distillation #spiritwaters #botanicalalchemy #archaicalchemy #herbalism #wintervibes #distilling #artisan #alaskanmade https://www.instagram.com/forestandfjordco/p/BuunJLBFY-S/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1oknusz6p326u

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The Snow Moon Emerging | Mid Winter . She's been illuminating the sleeping earth in her glow. The cold clear days have followed these freezing nights, and yet, the Sun's climb also continues to reach a little higher each day. In these winter nights that faraway reflection of our personal star, that cold round form settled in our orbital embrace, emits a soft light, one I can see, one I can stare at until an out of focus picture sends beams dancing out from it's center... Did you know she holds water? In the form of ice. Capping both north and south poles. Our Luna, the frozen glowing lady. . . Lately, I've felt the warmth on my face each morning, as the floating fire sweeps over the trees. Like emerging from a cave, all I can do is just keep my eyes closed, and remember what that peachy pink dance behind my eyelids looks like. . . Witnessing the dance of our cosmos I'm always reminded...We live in an absolutely magic world 🌬️ https://www.instagram.com/forestandfjordco/p/Bt6aADGlHfo/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=eeecbchx3kuf

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The Sacred Scenes of Cræft | 2019 . Cræft, origin Old English, meaning 'power, force, strength, cunning of a skill', and the holistic wisdom connected to it. "A hand-eye-head-heart-body coordination that furnishes us with a meaningful understanding of the materiality of our world." - Alexander Langlands, from Cræft: An Inquiry Into the Origins and True Meaning of Traditional Crafts. . "Attempts to trace [the word] witch to it's Indo-European roots have been inconclusive.. two separate roots have been reconstructed as *weik, meaning to bend, turn, move. From it came the Anglo-Saxon, wik-, meaning to bend, twine, twist and turn. The root associated with spinning, twining and plaiting. Women's cræft of spinning, weaving, plaiting, wickerwork and knitting reflected a central sacrament of tribal European religion. It was the image of the Fates' transformative power, under whatever names they were known... . In spinning and weaving and knitting, weirding women partook of the Fates' power to shape and transform reality. They were literally witches, bending and twining and binding the fibers of being." - Max Dashu, from Witches and Pagans . . #woolwitch #sacredarts #crafter #wool #sheep #wildwoman #witchcraft #theoldways #goddessworship #ancientcraft #storyasmedicine #winterwonderland #sharingalaska #thealaskalife #seasonspoetry #ancestors #spinning #wisewomen #handcrafts #wip https://www.instagram.com/p/BtjsrQjBAlH/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1qn9xdnuw5vth

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FEBRUARY | moon of wind and ice . . The light returns & patches of forest and field once shadowed in the darkness feel the quick licks of sunrays once again. The crystalizing of the land continues, being fed by the artic winds ripping through the fjords. The muskegs continue to feel fragile and abstract, growing ever changing forms... the ice is alive. Probably one of the more inspiring times of year for me, I love this seasonal foreplay of light building yet the world is still 🌬️❄️ . . #seasonspoetry #alaska #thegreatnorthcollective #earthmedicine #asongoficeandfire #icemagic https://www.instagram.com/p/BthM932FTXg/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1hqp0mfeugj6d

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Last night's very cold adventure into the backyard! This is our sweet little cabin under the Aurora ushering in the icy month of February ✨🏔️ . . . #auroraborealis #nightphotography #sharealaska #humbleabode #thegreatnorthcollective #thealaskalife #visualscollective #stayandwonder #wildernessculture #cabinvibes #slowliving_explore #alaskaisdream https://www.instagram.com/p/BtWsW9_hnXx/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1ly5yxmjeosv5

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THE QUICKENING | it has begun The loss of sunlight in the far north...It's hard to describe. It's kinda like, when you're taking a bath and the stopper keeps the water from escaping down the drain. But then you pull out the plug and there's an instant before the swirl takes shape on the surface of the water. The tension holds the world in place for a moment, before the luke warm (or cold if you stay in the tub as long as me) starts to really drain away. This is what it's like during the darkest time of the year. Like the world's on pause, utterly dormant, only broken up by the guttural tongue of Ravens in the nearby Spruce. When people refer to the north in winter it's always as if the darkness is like a light switch, and one day it just flips. But it's not. Its like ocean swell, full of peaks and pauses. The equinoxes mark the pauses, and the solstices marks the peaks. Now is like the end of the pause of winter solstice. The light comes back in ever increasing frequency, 3 minutes a day now and in a few months it'll be up to 5 minutes more. Each day the spiral of time, quickening. I can feel it in my bones, I can feel it in my belly. Literally I am eating more in the last week than I have in months. I feel it in my womb as if I've been 'turned on'. Imbolc, the returning of light, of milk, of fertility is upon us. The festival of my ancestral lands honors this quickening of the Earth. Traditionally it's celebrated on the night of January 31st, but archiacally is observed on a lunar timeline. On the Gregorian calendar it falls just near Groundhogs Day. But rather than a den creature it was the Callieach, the crone of winter emerging from her cave. If it was a clear day she would collect more firewood and keep the winter going, but if all remained gloomy and the land shadowless, prepare for a shorter winter. Given that our Harvest Moon was later in the fall this year because the Moon moves in three year cycles, the lunar Imbolc also falls later in Feb, as for me full moon celebrations are what speak to my heart. It's my favorite, this festival of light, the halfway point of winter and the sowing of the spark of life back into the earth ✨🕯️ https://www.instagram.com/p/BtRbw9EBorG/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19u0zvcb981mb

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The year has changed, yet physically not much has. I travelled and came home. And now I find myself still walking down the winding path that leads to the sea, and starts at the edge of Same Old Road...our literal address. In a town I'm not sure I see a big future in for me. The big hoop-la of News Years, to make resolutions and change all these things that need changing...Well, I think its the opposite for me. For some people change is the crutch, growth, movement, it's a mirror of the infinite progress mindset. 'If it aint the material gain in life, then we constantly need to be bettering ourselves.' And we will walk away from anything that doesn't immediately make sense, 'seem to fit', or f e e l right. For me this has been dangerous. I've walked away from things, while craving change that in truth, where asking more of me. The deeper lesson would've been to just practice being. To really lean in, sit with it, look deeper. To continue, even if I'm not immediately a natural. Don't get me wrong, for challenging that which is stagnant is important, integral, especially with the rampant mindsets that are currently in power positions around the world... But for me? Any New Years resolution could be whittled down to the bare bones of, I'm still just getting comfortable with who I am, a human being living in a four season world. I've been planting seeds, then I nurtured their growth, but it's mid winter now. It aint the time for big moves. It's time to be. To prepare for rebirth. More light is coming, but slowly. Living within in a cosmic rhythm in this modern age can be challenging. There is a lot to have to learn to say no to, to schedule differently, and customs to rethink. All the power to you if you've made your resolution list and are doing what you deem needs to be done. Good luck! Rather than resolutions and a commitment to deep change in a trying time of the year. My aim has been to spend this long Alaskan winter taking my time to firmly set an intention, to honor my future by aligning with the magic of this season, to give it that much more oomph! Anyway, Happy New Years, to exactly who you are, right now ♡ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsdzkn5n-Uc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=ci9cv5adkg82

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b e a n . s í d h e - Old Irish, "banshee" . Bean meaning, 'women', and sídhe meaning 'mounds' refers to the banshee as 'the woman of the mounds'. She belongs to the aos sí, "ees shee", the people of mounds, or the fae. . She is known as the keening, or wailing woman, warning those who hear her cries in the still of night of an immenient death. . In the southern hills of county Kerry, where my Great Grandmother lived, her keening was said to float through the mist rolling in the from the sea, eerie and sweet. Whereas in the northeast where my Great Great Grandfather lived, her cries were said to be shrill and piercing enough to break glass. . The aos sí, were the original inhabitants of the land of Éire, or Ireland. When the Milesians came from the Iberian Penninsula, the fae retreated to the Sacred sites, the stone circles, the mounds in the heath, and into the depths of the forest. Today we now know that these 'mounds' are actually neolithic grave sites. The Fianna or the Mil, tracked their encounters with the fae in many a folk tale, and learned how to connect with these otherworldly ancestors through their earthly portals. . As like most ancient messengers of the otherworld, their contenance was not always sweet. Instead they also had a certain type of fierceness when it came to honoring the land. They worshipped Danu, the ancient Vedic Goddess of the Sea, and were also called the Tuatha de Duanna, literally 'the worshippers of Danu'. . The Tongass Forest banshee is sounding her keen, like a fog, it creeps through the moss carpeted forest, warning of what could come. • There are 2 days left to make your voice heard regarding the Roadless Rule within the Tongass National Forest. For more info read the Support Forests Highlight in my profile, and to submit your comment follow the link in my bio. • For the Fae. For the Forest. For our Ancestors & for the Future. https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo4rCESnc-e/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1pqybwj8v9g8v

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Wandering through the forest on the edge of a fjord catching glimpses of the hanging glaciers in between the blackening alder leaves and the liquid laden spruce boughs. . This is my ancestral bioregion. Circumpolarly connected to the Scottish isles, the Irish seas and the Norse fjords. This salty air, the mossy ground, and the slate blue seas reflecting the ever darkening sky of this time of year speak to me of home. . I'm so grateful to live in a place that sings a song to my soul everday. Here, unlike my true ancestral lands, the forests are still intact. The Tongass National Forest is one of the largest stands of old growth in the world. In large part this is due to the remote nature of this northern zone, and also to the Roadless Rule. For 17 years this state has fought the Roadless Rule, to try and open this land up to timber harvesting and create easier access for other industry like highly toxic mines. . As a citizen of America, as a citizen of this planet, and a steward to this earth, as an ancestral resident to this bioregion, it is my responsibility to honor these lands. And yours too. The state fought the Roadless Rule in court and lost, but now under the current administration they have submitted a petition & the Roadless Rule is now up for amendment. . The public comment period is almost over. There 5 more days for your voice to be heard, before the draft revisions are made. This is not about supporting or not supporting the Roadless Rule, this comment period is a time of gathering information. Lend your voice to protect the forest, to protect salmon nation, to honor our role on this land, rather than continuing the trend of industrialize and colonize. . To be heard PLEASE follow the link in my bio. It will lead you to sitka conservation society's ( @sitkawild ) website, which will help you submit your formal comment (as this can not be just adding your name into a form letter). . * You DO NOT need to be Alaskan to be heard. This is a National Park, OUR public lands. This comment period is open to all. So, share this with friends, family, everyone. Add this post to your stories! Let's protect the last few wild places left! https://www.instagram.com/p/BoxUABtn3tp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=vkndhtib3aak

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Some mystic and magic evenings have been happening in this otherworldly autumn in Southeast Alaska. The clear skies and deepening nights have allowed the pulse of the universe to dance with the stars across the sky. We're gaining 5 minutes of night each day from now until the winter solstice. More canvas for the colors of the northern lights. . We cannot let the current political climate, outshine the magic of the one we live in right now. So here's a little reminder ♡ . #thealaskalife #thewildnesstonic #littlethingsinlife #northernlights #thegreatnorthcollective https://www.instagram.com/p/BomfYpPnZMf/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=13f5y9tna2vn9

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Northern Lights season has begun! We've had a super clear fall so far and the most recent solar storm brought the colors, and a little bit of frost last night. Thank you to all of you for the beautiful comments & messages after my last post, it feels so good to feel supported in following my dreams ♡ #aurora #northernlights #fallinalaska https://www.instagram.com/p/BnpiD3rHO7r/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1gru4pty3ciue

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This 150 year old cabin is nestled in the birch & spruce forest of Telkhini Valley in the Yukon, home to elk and the ancestral lands of the Southern Tutchone tribe. #cabinvibes . Home to Mida, founder and caretaker of the Long Ago Peoples Place. A traditional First Nations village setting that acts as a backdrop for her wilderness education courses. She and others teach and train the youth of their tribe how to be certified and safe guides in their ancestral lands, amongst many other projects. . She inherited this cabin, it was built by her family as their winter home many years ago. Since then she has replaced the roof and repairs the thatch and rechinks as needed, but much of these trees were stripped and placed by her forefathers & ¡nside the wood is almost polished in places by many hands that have graced it. . I thought I'd share some cabin insipiration in light of having secured a home for winter. We are filling the woodshed daily, the time of gathering has come; mushrooms, berries, meat. The nights grow longer, and I'm so excited to cozy up for the dark half of the year in our new place. . #folkandstory #ig_naturelovers #aseasonalshift https://www.instagram.com/p/BnMisHrH15F/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=tqs8dt3xxsr0

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The rains have come. The fjords are streaked with waterfalls, the once dry rocky stream banks are now full of sweet, fresh water. I literally watched it happen overnight. :: About a week ago I was camping on Chichagof Island, looking out over Icy Strait as the wind that brought the rain swelled the seas, and from the shore I watched the occasional boat plow nose first into wave after wave. The salt spray, thick, white, and foamy launching from bow to stern. I watched as the dry creek bed behind me became wet, then engorged; I watched as it grew and ran to kiss the sea. :: I'd be lying if I said I was scared, or that this weather was too much for me, these elements fluidly speak to my blood. Water and Wind. I feel my pulse quicken in the best of ways when the sea picks up. Even more so with the knowing that this land was thirsty. I had spent late nights during the last month calling in this storm, and now as luck would have it, I was asleep in my tent listening to the rain and wind as it unleashed upon this earth. Breathing this damp air, the thick spruce scented mist that rolls through the trees, is like going home. :: It's been overcast ever since, the rain still coming in bursts. A perfect end to eclipse season, a total 180 from the biggest drought on record, to 6 1/2" of rain in two days. :: Forever in eternal love with water, this most tempestuous element of life. . #heathenatheart https://www.instagram.com/p/Bmhg0CEnF8w/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1misb5no3g610

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Elder flower harvests are one of my favorites. To some the smell is odd and strange, but to me it is the characteristic musky scent of late spring. . Not all flowers smell sweet and not all acts of resilience look the same. Elder can be found growing along waterways, under the forest canopy, or on dangerously steep slopes. The long leggy branches reaching towards the sun seem to sprout off nearly dead trunks. Yet this perceived fragility is one of their great strengths, as new life can form from their hollow, easy to break branches if only just placed within the ground. . Elder carries strong medicine throughout the seasons, in the form of leaves, flowers, bark and berries. And with the gentle reminder to lean in to the hard to reach places, ground ourselves, and allow the time and space for continued growth. . Elder speaks of life and death, where resilience meets grit & grace... . #sambucusracemosa #bioregionalmedicine #herbariumcollection

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Usnea, an ancient ancestor of the plant kingdom, a living relative of primal forests and truly amazing medicine for the air & us.

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* The Alchemical Art of Distillation . Is making the invisible, visible. :: Through the use of fire, the earthly bodies of various Botanicals are distilled with wild water to transfer their Etheric energies from steam into the unique energetic essences of botanical waters & essential oils. . These hydrosols are most anciently referred to as Water of ____ . && are used in many different applications. Topically, internally, spagyricly; this alchemical rite has been practiced for thousands of years. The earliest botanical distillation records are from the ancient home of us all, Africa. :: There the herbs were boiled within ceramic urns, while acolytes held sheepskin above the brew to catch the steam within the woolen fibers. This was then wrung out, and the precious magical liquids were collected. . Over the years the styles have changed as materials and adaptions allowed for higher quality and better efficiency for the alchemist. :: The alembic style still is characterized by a boiler, and dome hat collecting steam, with some sort of neck directing the vapors into a cooler compartment. The oldest one discovered is dated at almost 4000 years old. It was ceramic rather than copper, and did not get cooled by cold water upon exiting the neck, however to think that not much has changed is fascinating. . There's a beauty in the simple yet utterly complex art of distillation, and I'm truly honored to be able to interact with the etheric realm of the plant kingdom and continue the role in our modern world as Alchemist. :: #makingmagicandmedicine