We had honor of apprenticing to Milk Thistle, inviting ki into balance at Sogorea Te’s site in El Sobrante. Huge gratitude to Rob and Elias for hosting us on the land you steward, and to all the rad folks at Sogorea Te’ living the sacred work of rematriation.

It was an extra treat being there during a full group work day including Agroecology Commons and Planting Justice, the other collectives who share space in El Sobrante. It’s so rare in this world of private property to witness collectively tended land, especially stewarded by badass BIPOC farmers. This site has been through a lot in the past year, including a fire in the nursery, so it was nourishing seeing the regeneration in progress.

When we first arrived, Robert and Elias directed us to some rows that had thick volunteer plant polycultures as tall as us. Guangping led us in a meditation to honor the thistles and weeds for their role in stabilizing and covering the soil. It was a chance to pause for a moment of earth connection before some hardcore hacking. The energy then shifted towards some cathartic release and intense uprooting amidst the spikes.

We realized that the thistles we were working with were not milky, which have white speckles and wide dark green leaves. These thistles are called bull thistles that are less commonly used for medicinal purposes. We had planned to harvest some leaves for cooking and medicine but the bull thistles are much more spikey and small so we decided to focus our energy elsewhere. After a brief moment of disappointment (at least from Robin) some medicinal magicians in the crowd redirected our energy towards the milky oats, which were ready at the perfect time for harvesting. Oona gathered a big bundle as we weeded and Jacob conjured an oxymel - just the nervous system nourishment many of us were needing amidst the chaotic bustling energy of spring bloom.

We didn’t process the specific medicine we were expecting, but we still received the energetic medicine of interacting with a plant who has a lot to teach us about boundaries and self-protection.

Here are the creative research findings from the thistle:

🎶

I Go to bed at ten o’clock

Got some good a⏰⏰ boundaries

Don’t always feel the need to talk

Got some good a😶😶 boundaries

When I’m goin to the doc

Got some good a🩺🩺 boundaries

Know when to stop, stop, stop

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

I take lotsa naps

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

I do lotsa crafts

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

I eat an abundant amount of snacks

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

I got my multivitamin pack

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

I cannot give out what i myself lack

Got some good a🛑🛑 boundaries

#facts #facts #facts

Yea, got some good a** boundaries

A tribute from Jacob:

It feels so official.

Getting to know this Milk Thistle.

A wish that is simple to provide a sample

of intrinsic sips from Earth's nipple.

Take a sip from the whistling winds beneath.

And feel the current begin to cleanse.

Chilling with some milk thistle with some friends.

Let this thistle deliver a sliver of love to your liver.

This plant holds some boundaries but it is also a generous giver

if you're ready to receive through interwoven whispers.

Whispers of letting our sharpest sides meet one another

to ease into the softness of our most inner center.

That connects us all towards a way of life that allows us to listen better.

thistle

wild lettuce

Cleavers & wild radish