Peony Pioneer

We bought our little house in October. The whole process was a bit rushed, my partner and I were living separately at the time and nearing the end of our leases; ready to move on from our current homes. The market was a mess and we couldn't find anything that checked all the boxes. We stumbled on a listing for a tiny blue house with a deck and a decent enough yard right in town. We jumped in the car, just planning on taking a ride over to check it out, and ended up meeting the owners and taking a peek inside. The place needed some work, but had solid bones - hardwood floors and ceramic tile, a giant bay window, 2 bedrooms and a clean basement. In two months time, it was ours. As the snow melted and led into our first spring, I was shocked to discover so many hidden gems on the property. Our mere quarter acre of a yard borders the woods, giving me access to acres of City property to explore. There's a large chestnut tree that stands tall over our home and dandelions, violets and plantain freckle the yard. The woods are rich with cleavers, garlic mustard, chickweed, and ramps and our hill is home to two pear trees, red clover and my dearest teacher, elder. It's paradise, nestled high on a hill, overlooking a rundown town in good ole' West Virginia. It's home.

Shortly into the season, my partner was mowing the lawn when he came upon some funny-looking shoots in the yard. Bless his heart for knowing me so well (even in those early years of our relationship) because he knew better than to cut down a unique plant. Low and behold, the strange reddish shoots he discovered grew taller, sprouted leaves and bulbs and bloomed into the most wonderful thing - PEONIES.

To this day, Justin is quite proud of his discovery and pins to his chest his "Peony Pioneer" badge with just a tinge of smugness over the fact that he discovered the peonies and not myself. It's a title that I'll humbly allow because for the last 5 years they have touched my heart each time they bloom. Their giant blossoms, delicate and downy soft in the prettiest shade of pink soothe me in a way only nature knows how.

This year, my daughter and I have been making rounds of the property each morning, noting all the changes our sweet plant-friends have undergone since we saw them last. We start by greeting the morning sun with a stretch on the porch and then venture down the steps, admiring the mint and the new growth on the Camellia bush that we planted just last year. We peek at the baby birds in their nest under the deck and check out the blueberry bushes. Each day there's a new bud or leaf to discover and each day she's a little more surefooted and independent in her quest to unearth something new. Witnessing the land and my darling girl grow in unison was a joy I never quite anticipated. Her little legs, quick as they are now, would lead us to the shoots and I'd point and say "flower", more as a desperate plea than a teaching, as her wild fingers would grab and pull at them. Each day they took on a little abuse, but they kept on growing. Until one beautiful sunny day when a single bud, among all the others, decided to unfurl into the most beautiful bloom. Alas, I could say "flower" and she understood. We breathed deep and with her hand wrapped around my finger, she pulled me on to other treasures. Day after day we watched those peonies grow inch by inch and in just over a week, they were gone. A straggler or two was all that was left on the bush with a ring of petal confetti in the grass, the other buds shriveled and brown. I knew I had to find a way to keep my beloved peonies around just a little longer, so for the very first time I tried my hand at peony syrup...

PEONY SYRUP

Ingredients:

3 cups of water

3 cups of sugar

4-5 flowers

1 tbls. lemon juice

Directions:

• Greet your peony with kind reverence, introduce yourself and ask if you may harvest it. Leave an offering of water, a strand of hair, your energy or pull weeds/prune. You may also enter a meditative state and ask the plant what it prefers as an offering, trust that what comes to mind is right (I leave fresh garlic).

• Pick 4-5 large blooms, being mindful of the older one's as the petals will fall off quite easily.

• Remove the petals from the stem, discarding all the green bits and pollen stamens, and place into a bowl.

• Bring the water to a boil, pour it over the petals, cover and leave overnight. Strain your peony "tea" and add it to a saucepot along with the sugar.

• Cook on medium heat, while stirring regularly, until it reaches a rolling boil.

• Reduce the heat and allow the mixture to simmer on low for 10 minutes.

• Pour the syrup into a glass jar, preferably a Mason jar as they can withstand high heat. *Wait for the syrup to cool if you plan to store it in a decorative jar.

• Once cool, add the lemon juice and store it in the fridge.

* Mix 1 part syrup with 2 parts sparkling soda for a floral mocktail or add the syrup to icing or cake batter for a fun floral touch.

"It is believed that Peony is named after Paeon (also known as Paean), a healing deity, who had healed Hades’ and Ares’ wounds. The related flower myth says that Paeon was a student of Asclepius, the god of medicine and healing. He was once instructed by Leto (Apollo's mother and goddess of fertility) to obtain a magical root growing on Mount Olympus that would soothe the pain of women in childbirth. Asclepius became jealous and threatened to kill his pupil. Zeus saved Paeon from the wrath of Asclepius by turning him into the peony flower. Peony seeds were used by pregnant women in ancient times."

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Magickal Properties

Energy: Masculine Element: Fire Planet: Sun Day of the Week: Sunday Zodiac: Leo Chakra: Crown Deities: Paeon Tarot: The Sun + Strength Best for: Balancing the ego, Soothing hot + fiery dispositions, When your irritable and prone to yelling, Charity work/Helping one commit to serving others, Protection from harmful entities (with an emphasis on mischievous Fae), Banishing, Stopping nightmares, Guardianship from storms, Longevity

Use a fresh bloom, a drawing or a photo of a peony on your altar to connect with this Plant Spirit. Breathe it in, hold it in your hands or gaze upon it in a meditative state - allow it to teach you or ask it for assistance in a ritual. Alternatively, take it into your body by means of the aforementioned syrup or a flower essence - meditate or try free-writing to engage with it deeper.

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References: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - by Scott Cunningham

It is my intention that this post inspire you to see the land and the plants around you in a new light. To see the ancient Spirit living in the tree and the flower. To stop and sit with these Beings and ask how you may be of service. To appreciate their beauty and, in turn, refill your internal energy stores. For it is nature that replenishes us and our guardianship that protects them. May we be an ally for eachother, always.