Hearth & Heather

We’re bringing just-woke-up bear energy to a conversation about our intentions for the months ahead. As we think about what we want for ourselves this winter, the conversation takes us into vulnerability in play, being [un]comfortable with letting silence play out, the idea of “coolness,” and risk and authenticity in friendship. Can we use play to reach for deeper community, while still honoring our fears around being vulnerable? We also share what’s on the stove in our winter kitchens, and swear a bit. Mentioned in episode:Scorched Earth tarot readings on YouTubeTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin“What Adults Forget About Friendship,” by Rhaina Cohen in The Atlantic“Nurturing your community through the winter” cartoon by Sophie Lucido JohnsonLester BangsThe Morale Department“I don’t take compliments well” cartoon by Asher Perlman

In the Northern Hemisphere, the leaves are turning, flowers are going to seed, and we’re very excited to be unpacking our cozy-times decor and blankets. Here on H&H, fall is our favorite season, and this episode is a whole snuggling vibe. Both of us did some hard work field-testing various soft products that physically and emotionally support us; we bought the stuffies and squishmallows so we could bring you the hard data. (We do it all for you, dear listeners!) As the year winds down, it’s natural to be thinking about rest, so we explore some ideas that support rest as resistance. We’re also talking about the hacks we use to lean into blanket life when it’s colder outside, how our autumn nesting is different from our spring nesting, and the foods we’re excited to be cooking and eating this season. Put the kettle on, and settle in with us.Mentioned in this episode:Through the Woods Candle - R. RebellionOphidia Rosa Tarot Deck by Leila & OliveLune Innate  on YouTubeKathy’s personal-sized 6-ring plannerKathy’s fav pens: Zebra Sarasa Clip 05 and WRITECH 0.5mm Fine Point TipKateri’s fav pens: Pilot G-2 .38 and Pentel SparklePop Goose plushie and Beet [knockoff] SquishmallowYoga NidraKindle page-turner remote Fair Folk Podcast, Episode “The Twelve Days: December Almanac”Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny OdellJoy Marie Clarkson, poet

This quarter, we’re both experiencing what it’s like to grow passively - to learn about what springs up when we leave empty space. As we explore the feeling of liminal spaces, we talk about being (recovering) people-pleasers, how we’re learning to be curious about ourselves, some tools we’re using to keep those spaces of possibility open, and the growth that happens accidentally along the way. We also talk a bit about how we met, and some ways that we’ve changed over the years. And of course, it wouldn’t be Hearth & Heather if we didn’t talk about our favorite mysteries.Mentioned in episode:Real Self Care: A Transformative Program for Redefining Wellness by Pooja LakshminSaving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny OdellRadical Remedies: An Herbalist’s Guide to Empowered Self-Care by Brittany Ducham“I said yes” and “I said no” punchcards from Shanalee Hampton Manoj Dias on  InsightTimer and InstagramComfort TV: Midnight Diner (Netflix), Columbo (Peacock TV), and Poker Face (Peacock TV)Annika Hansteen-IzoraCook as You Are: Recipes for Real Life, Hungry Cooks, and Messy Kitchens by Ruby Tandoh

We’re still very much in conversation with time this spring. On this episode of Hearth & Heather, we’re looking at time through the lens of our hobbies. We talk about the living nature of the spoken word, and the way that boating on a river can shift a small slice of landscape into a big, slow, and contemplative world. Kathy shares what she’s been experiencing recently in her experiments with art; Kateri gives an update on her #AnnWoodStitchBook 100 Day sewing project. And we talk about the hobbies that we share, and how feeding your joy can spread joy to other people. Mentioned in this episode: Underland: A Deep Time Journey and Landmarks, both by Robert Macfarlane The People of the Sea by David ThomsonPoetry readings by Anis Mojgani, the current Poet Laureate of Oregon Normal Gossip podcast @farmandfolk on Instagram Negative Painting with watercolor tutorial from Harinder SahotaKateri’s birding binoculars: Vortex 8x42 Diamondback HD Binoculars Kathy’s birding camera and telephoto lens: Canon EOS Rebel SL3 DSLR + Canon EF-S 55-250mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens The Narrowboat Summer by Anne Youngson @folk_hattie on Instagram Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock by Jenny Odell Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Orwell’s Roses by Rebecca Solnit Getting to Center by Marlee Grace Murder She Drank and the  Murder Buddies Book Club  Murder in G Major by Alexia Gordon The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St James“The Watering” by Sameen Affaf 

Small moments of fables, stories, and poems with Kathy and Kateri, sprinkled among our quarterly podcast episodes. In this mini-episode, Kathy tells her variation of the folk tale of Baba Yaga and Vasilisa, mainly based on how her grandmother told it to her, with a few dashes of the feminist re-tellings she read as an adult.This story does not tell a neat tale of bending all things to our will just by trying hard enough. It is more a tale of trusting yourself and knowing that some seemingly impossible tasks may just need faith and thought around them. With this trust, the unknown does not have to be walked into with fear; it can become an ally. Approach with a willingness to embrace mystery.

As we’re in the year-long month of January, it seems like the perfect opportunity to dig into the subjective nature of time. We talk about how time has slowed for both of us recently, and we reflect on some of the ways we’re experiencing that and what it means for us. We also explore creative projects we’ve encountered about how to mark time. There’s also some casual chat about perfectionism and how we’re letting arbitrary expectations slip away from us, so look out for that. And Kathy has some really, really good tips on kid stuff that is super fun for the self-parenting grownup.Mentioned in episode:Ezra Klein Show,“ Time is Way Weirder Than You Think ” Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience  by Mihaly CsikszentmihalyiCyanotypes and phenology wheels 6 of Pentacles/Diamonds  Sleep Baseball  podcast “How black pepper sedates marijuana paranoia,” Chicago Tribune Sophie Wood Brinker  (heron bumper sticker) adrienne maree brown’s Instagram  Bella Luna Toys  Ann Wood 100 day stitch project  Fair Folk podcast 

Small moments of fables, stories, and poems with Kathy and Kateri, sprinkled among our quarterly podcast episodes. In this mini-episode, Kateri reads two poems for Winter Solstice: "Burning the Old Year" by Naomi Shihab Nye and "To Know the Dark" by Wendell Berry.

Our favorite season is beckoning, and we’re talking about the slow-down of the year. As we get excited about tea, sweaters, golden light, and liminal spaces, we also dig into the ways that social media can create a false sense of urgency, preventing us from integrating our experiences in deeper ways. Of course, no episode of Hearth & Heather is complete without a lot of laughing, so we also talk about our squash preferences, and a book that was so good we got mad. Bonus Download: Along with this episode, we’re posting a PDF of a Winter Solstice Spell Jar ritual that we mentioned in Episode 5.Mentioned in episode:The Art of Simple Food by Alice WatersHow to Cook Everything by Mark BittmanAcorn Squash Lasagna by Martha StewartHow to do Nothing by Jenny OdellLalah Delia and sacred experiences“on being off social media,” Emily McDowell’s newsletter“Take a step back: Notes from a social media break,” Lisa Olivera’s newsletterWe Were Made for These Times by Kaira Jewel LingoSacred Harp SingingCocaine and Rhinestones podcastMirrors in the Earth by Asia SulerPatton Oswalt, The Birthday Clown From HellDigital Minimalism by Cal NewportHow a photo and video-sharing social networking service gave me my best friends, true love, a beautiful career, and made me want to die by Marlee GraceDigital Wellbeing app for AndroidA Deadly Education by Naomi NovikWinter Solstice candle ritual (PDF), by Shanalee Hampton

It turns out, murder plays a very large role in our relaxing times. Not committing it, of course; we would never…We compare favorite series, scoff at silly titles, and ponder the origins of the genre known as “cozy.” We take a breath to acknowledge the heavy forces that are threatening us and demanding our attention at this moment in time, and we talk about some ways that we rest and refresh our energies. Sweetly soothed by mayhem, we also find our way into talking about some more purposeful reading and the habits that sustain our hearts. Mentioned in episode:“It’s Time to Stop Living the American Scam” by Tim KreiderThe Art of Simple Food by Alice Waters Tender by Nigel SlaterWartime and ration cookingThe Secret, Book and Scone Society series by Ellery AdamsThe Maine Clambake Mysteries by Barbara RossTrauma Stewardship by Laura Van Dernoot LipskyHow We Show Up by Mia BirdsongOriginal Plum Torte recipe from NYTimes CookingWindowSwapWalking in the Rain, Tokyo on YouTube

Virgos navigating somatics! Habit-soothed people realizing none of our practices feel authentic right now. We’re in exploration mode, our feelings are itchy, and we’re talking about tarot fatigue, changing spiritual practices, honoring our bodies when we have low energy, letting go, trauma-sensitive yoga, breathwork, and polyvagal theory. Shoutouts to our therapists and to anchoring our bodies in bright, visceral joys. We also share an oracle card reading for the energy to bring into this Spring [cleaning] season.Mentioned in episode:Tarot folks we like: Zeta Zuri, Sarah Vrba, and Corina DrossWTF is Tarot? by Bakara WintnerDecks used: Brady Tarot and Urban Crow OracleAnchored: How to Befriend Your Nervous System Using Polyvagal Theory by Deb DanaThe Power of Breathwork by Jennifer PattersonMarshmallow root infusionRise Up Remedies Organic Herb FarmDiana Rose’s tarot insightsLater this year, we’ll be posting a downloadable description of the solstice candle practice that Kateri describes in this episode. This practice was created by Shanalee Hampton. 

We talk about our adoration of Mole and Rat’s friendship in Kenneth Grahame’s classic, The Wind in the Willows, and why Toad can just eat a bag of *****. We also lust after Mr. Badger’s cellars and general domestic situation, dream about fictional food, and revel in how this book is a love letter to bioregion.Mentioned in episode:The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth GrahameChris Dunn’s illustrations for Wind in the WillowsVesper Flights by Helen MacdonaldSarah Andersen comicsEvergreen Chase (part of the Shady Hollow series) by Juneau BlackFir needle shortbread

It’s death season, we’re leaning in! Don’t worry, there’s still swearing. We start out with goddesses, take a long walk through our altar habits, and their connections to the dark moon. We discuss the intersectional practices of deathwork and herbalism, dig into grief and where it lives in our bodies, talk about our favorite ritual oils, and using oracle decks for clarification. Finding meaning is at the heart of this episode: where do we look for it? How can we uphold it for each other, and make more room to honor it?Mentioned in episode:Intro to Thanabotony class from Cole ImperiPiñon Pine Sacred Resin Oil from DeschampsiaArtemisia Trinity Oil from With/In HerbalsRadical Remedies: An Herbalist's Guide to Empowered Self-Care by Brittany DuchamLune Innate and Whispers of the Wolf Reiki ASMR on YouTubeThe lungs are associated with grief in traditional Chinese medicineBeing Mortal: Medicine and What Matters in the End by Atul GawandeAccompanying the Dying: Practical, Heart-Centered Wisdom for End-Of-Life Doulas and Health Care Advocates by Deanna Cochran

Pickled Scottish birds, Street Art and it’s ephemeral nature, bird song, holly for protection and boundary magic, cheese in Spain, fertility rocks, chalk path in England.We begin by comparing notes on two books by naturalist and wanderer Robert MacFarlane, and we end by making a pact to eat pickled birds in Scotland. Along the way, we get into the reasons why we’re drawn to street art, ways to use holly in your magic practice, how bad we are at identifying bird songs, and what Kathy’s grandmother has to do with both Spanish cheese and fertility stones. We talk about friends we love, and we swear a bunch. It’s all pretty enjoyable.Mentioned in the episode:Landmarks and The Old Ways, both by Robert MacFarlaneLandscape artist Andy GoldsworthyCarolee, a California artistDonovan Beeson, a Chicago artistStreet artists Jason Kofke, Shepard Fairey, Banksy, Jim Bachor, David Zinn, and our friend Shana Hampton Alexis Nikole, BlackForager on InstagramThe Salt Path by Raynor WinnDark Skies: A Journey Into the Wild Night  by Tiffany FrancisA Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert HopmanCeltic Tree Rituals by Sharlyn HidalgoPerfect Chocolate Chip Cookie recipe by Christina Tosi

We talk about urban foraging and how that relates to focusing on small details and slowly gaining confidence in plant identification. We also explore how murder mysteries have influenced our herbalism education, the fear and allure of poison plant gardens, and the ever-relevant question of how to survive a zombie apocalypse. Lastly, Kateri talks about how she harvests and creates her conifer herbal oil.Mentioned in episode:Miss Polly, a Portland herbalistLeafsnap appPacific Northwest Medicinal Plants: Identify, Harvest, and Use 120 Wild Herbs for Health and Wellness by Scott KloosCarolee, a California artistRosemary & Thyme, BBC murder mystery and gardening showRebecca Altman's conifer infused oil recipeIntro & outro music: "Veracruz" by Quincas Moreira