A Cup of Tea & Jams

Anchoring Our Joy with Calendula ft Brittaney Whitenhill

Welcome to A Cup of Tea & Jams, a podcast and publication that is full of life musings, plant medicine, and music. If this is your first time listening or even if you’ve listened to previous episodes [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/podcast/archive?sort=new] — thank you for tuning in. We made it to season 2! We made it to season 2! This season, I am highlighting different practices that helped ground, nourish, and fortify me during seasons of transformation. To kick us off, I invited my dear friend & fellow herbalist, Brittaney Whitenhill [https://www.our-backyard.org/our-soil] to chat about sustaining our joy practices during a time of upheaval. This conversation was such a balm for my spirit and I’m excited to share with you. It is also a glimpse into a workshop that Brittaney and I are co-hosting on Wednesday March 4th about joy practices. We still have tickets available! Purchase here: https://joyinthemidst.eventbrite.com [https://joyinthemidst.eventbrite.com] Our Backyard: https://www.our-backyard.org/ [https://www.our-backyard.org/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Slowing Down to Witness

During this month of April, I am celebrating the first anniversary of the launching of my newsletter, A Cup of Tea & Jams! Today, I am returning to a previous reflection from my newsletter titled Freedom in the Quiet. To Read: https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/p/freedom-in-the-quiet [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/p/freedom-in-the-quiet] Playlist Referenced: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02hYVtOFkX7xobllxA8Sbp?si=LEk8WFLnRmer6O03uPVHYg [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/02hYVtOFkX7xobllxA8Sbp?si=LEk8WFLnRmer6O03uPVHYg] Subscribe to A Cup of Tea & Jams newsletter: https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/ [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Sweet Like Honey Groove

This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit acupofteaandjams.substack.com [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_7] I had no intention to send an offering today and yet here I am. I've learned that when my spirit and creativity decide to move and flow, listen to it. I'm realizing that I was inspired by the power of music today, so shout out to all of the musicians and artists that create beautiful love songs and stories that capture our experiences. Let me back up. Today is Friday, February 14th, 2025, known to everyone around the world as Valentine's Day. There are all types of hearts and love and roses and chocolates and conversations about love and all the forms of love. As the day went on, I thought about a particular playlist that I created nearly eight years ago. Now, it is one of my favorite playlists and it's timeless, at least to me. I was inspired by a couple songs that really captured the sweetness of love, the joy of love ,and the romance of a budding relationship. And so that inspired me to create Sweet Like Honey Groove [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/2eUhOpYU7EKQ4JSc9ELHux?si=7c8275f595374275] because your girl loves a good groove. I hope you enjoy. Subscribe to A Cup of Tea & Jams [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/] and read the rest of this post to retrieve the Damiana Delights recipe.

Garden Talk 04: Tending to A Courageous Heart with Motherwort featuring Erika Parker-Smith

A Cup of Tea & Jams [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/] is a reader-supported publication and podcast. If this offering blesses you, consider upgrading to a paid subscription or buy me a cup of tea [http://buymeacoffee.com/KhaylaD]. On the last new moon of 2024, I thought it would be fitting to share today’s offering, which is about the beautiful and powerful plant motherwort. It’s interesting that this episode is premiering at the start of winter yet the plant itself flourishes during the hot summer months of Leo season. While there are definitely some folks who know what motherwort is, there are quite a few folks who are not familiar. I was definitely one of the latter. In early spring, I decided to try my hand in growing motherwort, which is very easy to do because it is part of the mint family. As a result, it grows abundantly. After spending some time with the flowering herb and receiving support during a year that was full of grief and heartache, I decided to bring it forward in my Garden Talk series to lift up how it has bolstered me through this time. I am joined by a wonderful woman and fellow herbalist, Erika Parker-Smith who also has a deep relationship with motherwort and has so much knowledge & wisdom to share. In our conversation, we talk about how motherwort is supportive for the womb and heart. We also discuss navigating life transitions, cycling through grief, and how a walk with motherwort has led Erika to become a death doula. To learn more about Erika and her work as an herbalist check her out at Rebelmancy [https://rebelmancy.com/] and on IG via @rebelmancy [https://www.instagram.com/rebelmancy/] and @the_eccentriccousin [https://www.instagram.com/the_eccentriccousin/]. Other gems shared in this episode: * Black Grief Practitioners Are Protecting Black Life In Death [https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/black-death-doulas-grief-practitioners-history] * Alua Arthur Ted Talk: Why thinking about death helps you live a better life [https://www.ted.com/talks/alua_arthur_why_thinking_about_death_helps_you_live_a_better_life?subtitle=en] * Going With Grace [https://goingwithgrace.com/] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]

Garden Talk 03: Remember Yourself with Rosemary featuring Marasia Simone

A Cup of Tea & Jams is a reader-supported publication and podcast. If this offering blesses you, consider upgrading to a paid subscription or buy me a cup of tea [https://buymeacoffee.com/khaylad]. To receive exclusive posts and support my work, consider becoming a paid subscriber. In today’s episode, I will be talking about this beautiful plant and I'm not alone. I invited my good friend and fellow herbalist Marasia Simone [https://substack.com/profile/221169870-marasia-simone] to discuss all of the great ways that Rosemary is currently impacting our lives. Marasia describes herself as a soul care herbalist, who provides herbal support for the heart & soul. She is the founder of Center Sage Herbal Remedies [https://centersageremedies.com/] and creator of A Sage Named Simone [https://marasiasimone.substack.com/], a publication where she shares about her own self love affair & spiritual journey. In this conversation, we talk about the origins of this body oil, what Rosemary is teaching us in this season, and the journey to reclaim the inner wise and wild one within us. We also shared four songs that embody the energy and lessons that Rosemary brings to each of us. The songs are also embedded below in a short playlist I created. I am deeply grateful for Marasia sitting down and sharing space to talk about this sacred medicine. This soulful conversation left me so full. I hope you enjoy! Let me know in the comments how you partner with Rosemary and if there is a song that reminds you about its energy and power. To stay in touch with Marasia be sure to subscribe to her publication, a sage named simone [https://marasiasimone.substack.com/about] and follow her on socials via @asagenamedsimone [https://www.instagram.com/asagenamedsimone/] & @centersageremedies [https://www.instagram.com/centersageremedies/]. Other gems shared in this episode: * Dirt Gems Plant Oracle Deck [https://thedirtgems.com/] * Women Who Run with the Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype by Dr. Clarissa Pinkola Estés [https://bookshop.org/a/104347/9780345396815] This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe [https://acupofteaandjams.substack.com/subscribe?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_2]