Active Hope, an elixir to inspire (r)evolution rooted in nourishment, embodied activism, and emotional intelligence. This elixir soothes the nervous system, calms the digestive system, and uplifts the heart, spirit, and mind.
 
This carefully curated formula of organic plant extracts and essences brings us into the body. Taken daily over time, these plants soothe, ground, and restore us, transmuting fear, anger and overwhelm into inspiration and action. They center our thoughts and emotions, nourish our imaginations, all while helping us tap into deeper time scales, have important conversations with clarity and grace, and channel the collective.
 
This elixir is for you if you feel burned out, disembodied, disillusioned, exhausted, anxious, have empathy fatigue or are frayed with fear or overwhelm. This is an elixir to help you return safely to your body, restore your sense of Earthen belonging, find your sense of meaning and purpose during uncertain times, and infuse your being with nourishment and inspiration so you can dream and work toward a present and future you believe in. 
 
Meet the plants of Active Hope:
 
Wood Betony extract (Stachys officinalis):  this bitter nervine bring us into the body and helps us cultivate a meaningful connection with Earth. This grounding and calming herb nurtures connection between the nervous and gastrointestinal systems, helping our mind, heart, and gut act in alignment. Wood Betony also improves blood circulation to the brain; an ally for those who get stress or tension headaches or brain fog.  
 
Milky Oats extract (Avena sativa):  a deeply nutritive nervine to nourish, repair, and strengthen the nervous and adrenal systems, systems that help us respond to and makes sense of our inner and outer worlds. 
 
Sea Rose extract (Rosa rugosa):  an aromatic nervine to soothe the cardiovascular, digestive, and nervous systems, ease sadness and grief, and infuse the heart with harmony. Roses cool emotional heat, ease feelings of despair and agitation, and bring peace and buoyancy to the spirit.
 
Tulsi extract (Ocimum tenuiflorum):  a powerhouse adaptogen and aromatic nervine to support the health of the nervous, immune, respiratory, and endocrine systems. Deeply balancing, Tulsi uplifts the mind, helps clear brain fog, supports mood and digestion, and brings a sense of overall peace to our systems.
 
Borage flower essence (Borago officinalis spectabilis): for heart-courage, optimism, and playfulness in the face of profound heartbreak and sorrow. 
 
Calendula flower essence (Calendula stellata): for cultivating receptivity & empathy. Calendula gifts the art of communicating across difference. 
 
Rosemary essence (Rosmarinus officinalis): to cast a sacred circle. For healthy embodiment and clear articulation of intuition. 
 
Rose Ochre flower + mineral essence (Rosa rugosa + Red ochre mineral): for remembering the sacred cave of our bodies, rekindling our heart’s bloom, reconnecting with the resonance of Earth’s heart, and magnetizing creative & multi-conscious responses to these revolutionary times.
 
Blackberry flower essence (Rubus allegheniensis): for manifestation and activating our thoughts and intentions into action.
 
And a touch of local, organic Raw Honey to sweeten and unify.
 
. . .
 
Origin Story—
In the spring of 2019, I taught an Ecopoetics workshop at the university where I work. To help us hold and process our climate grief, we began the course by reading selections from Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone’s incredible book, Active Hope: How to Face the Mess We’re in with Unexpected Resilience and Creative Power. Of Active Hope, Joanna Macy has written:
 
“Active Hope helps us to discover new strengths, open to a wider network of allies and experience a deepening of our aliveness. When our responses are guided by the intention to act for the healing of our world, the mess we’re in not only becomes easier to face, our lives also become more meaningful and satisfying.”
 
With this book as our guide, we worked to deepen our aliveness by honoring our grief and letting our fear act as an organizing force as we composed our ecopoems. The first week, I also introduced some medicinal herbs to the class who could help us in this work. We blended them together in an organic vegetable glycerin and took turns taking the jar home as they infused for one moon cycle. We named our blend: Active Hope elixir. Over the years, I’ve perfected the recipe but kept the name in homage to Macy and that first ecopoetics cohort. 
 
. . .
 
As with all tonic and restorative herbs, this elixir is meant to be taken daily for 3 or more months to revitalize the body.
 
May this elixir soothe, inspire, and restore.
 
 
 
* These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This product does not intend to treat, diagnose, cure, or prevent any disease. Before using any herbs, check for appropriate dosage, drug interactions, and contraindications. Please consult your primary care physician regarding your specific health concerns.