Category: Plant Craft and Distillation

Blossoms and Blooms in the Fassi Spring

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Credit: Maaria/Barakah’s Womb

I sometimes feel that in all the grief and sorrow of these times, it might slowly be becoming impossible to connect back into older and wiser ways of being, I wonder if without knowing it, the possibilities of a bigger and deeper world might be slipping away from me, one short year at a time. I know that like many, but also in my own ways, the times are heavy, and I feel the weight of it pass, whilst sensing the unknowability of it all, or indeed, the lack of barakah in it. It had been two springs since I had spent a full distillation season in Fes with the flowers, and whilst I have been distilling other plants since, a part of me wondered if their secrets were slipping away from me too.

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Mugwort Magic with Radical Plant Folk

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Dear friends,

Some moons ago now, I was blessed to join a beautiful group of plant-lovers at the Radical Plant Folk community garden in Dartington, Devon. After some months of planning with Mariam, the day begun in the autumn dew as we set the alembic up and spent considered time with the plants. Through thought and heart-ful meetings across the garden, supported by Mariam’s deep knowledge of the plants, the group decided to distill mugwort, renowned for its effects on sleep and wider mystical encounters, and in ceremony around the pots we held and carried its essence forth into a delicate mugwort water. Since then, I have been carefully meeting with it, as a pillow mist in particular, and have found it a wonderful companion through an intense period of transition. Some photos captured from the day are below, kindly shared by Mariam.

I will be distilling in Fes in April, and will return for more distillations in Devon (including with Radical Plant Folk) in the spring and summer months, to be shared here when details are ready.

Blessed January, I hope you are fairing well through the depths of the year.

Journeying with Orange Blossom and Rose

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Dear ones,

I write from a stormy Devon, still deep in the midst of transition timings and the dark necessity of timelessness that a northern winter demands. However, like the buds on the trees, little shoots are stirring that I thought I should break my silence to share.

In spring, we will be gathering to distill once again, this time opening up the process to more friends and travellers who would like to journey with us as we distill quintessential orange blossom and rose in the spring sunshine (we hope!) of the Fes medina. This has been arranged over a weekend to facilitate travel for as many as possible, with accessible flights for international travellers.

Do be in touch with me if you feel inclined to join us, I am sensing that it will be a special one. And for those who can’t join us in Morocco this time, I will be sharing soon some UK-based offerings that may be more accessible for some.

Bookings and further information at the link here.

a few little treasures for sale

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Hello friends,

I am just popping a note here to let you know that I have a few little bottles of orange blossom and rose water for sale, and I would be very happy to share them with you if you would like! This is a very tiny batch from the spring, and I found this year’s distillate particularly special.

Each one is 100ml and bottled in amber glass. Any questions give me a shout, you can find plenty of other information about orange blossom and rose here on the blog!

Each bottle is £10, I am happy to offer a little discount if you would like more than one. Shipping is on top, preferably UK shipping only but I am happy to discuss international too.

Get in touch with me at miriam.hicklin@gmail.com.

Lessons from Orange Blossom and Rose

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Dear ones, I write from the mists of orange blossom and rose. These two friends have walked with me the strange pathways of my adult years, from my early days in Morocco as a young woman, to motherhood, and through many changes. Their medicines are of the heart, of ease and of a special feminine power and magic.

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Distilling Lemon Balm

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It was my first distillation for months, and the most welcome return to heart. The day started early with our journey to Phytology, a magical nature reserve in the heart of urban London. After a reluctant start, as if I were waking up my herbalist bones after a long sleep, I tingled with excitement as I carried my smallest alembic across central London on a clear, cold spring morning.

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On the Sacred Loci of the Henna Souq, Fes.

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A Homecoming

The Henna Souq has a determinable atmosphere, defined by the wind in the leaves of its two plane trees and the towering building of the 13th Century Maristan at its heart. Lining the small square are little shops, some of them no bigger than three metre square, of which around half are cosmetic herbalists. There is also the old weighing scales, which are still used today when large quantities of herbs are brought here by merchants. It is the home to Simohammed, a friend to many in the city, who operates one of the shops alongside his brother. Always inviting visitors to sit and drink tea with him, it easily becomes a rest-stop on a day of earnest wanderings up and down the hills of the medina. The chance you get to sit in the presence of the square is often enough to reveal just a hint of its magic. 

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The Red Cauldron

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The thick red copper cauldron (sṭal – سطل) is rounded perfectly to the base, mottled with spots, it shows years of work, even though to me it is new. Its handles are also perfectly rotund, nailed to the sides with two handmade splints. An arm’s length in diameter, it sits plump on the stove. I fire it up. 

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