The end of the harvest season brings to mind the art of appreciation. Offering thanks to a higher power and being appreciative of gifts bestowed to us by nature is an important activity. Every culture on the planet has some sort of thanksgiving ritual that has been passed down from generation to generation. The art of appreciation is one that can bring a feeling of light and love into one’s life. I make it a daily practice to look around and notice all of the things that I am grateful for. Good friends, loving family, good health and the beauty of nature are just a few of the things that I appreciate each and every day. It’s a good month to create a thanksgiving celebration with those you love. It can be as elaborate as a potluck dinner with several savory dishes and homemade pumpkin, pecan and apple pies for dessert. It can be as simple as a light tea ceremony after a brisk hike in the park. A nice pot of tea with a few cookies or tiny sandwiches adds a nice flair to a gathering. Add a heartfelt prayer, intention or meditation and your celebration is complete.

It’s a good time to get outdoors to appreciate nature. The conifers and evergreens are fragrant and alive this time of year. Find a park that has abundant pine, spruce, fir or cedar trees. Take in the scent, so refreshing and invigorating. The aroma of pine, spruce, cedar and fir gives us a feeling of comfort and peace. Coniferous aromas cleanse as well, so you feel balanced after you’ve been in contact with these majestic trees. A good heart-pumping hike with loved ones is a great way to appreciate the outdoors in November. Create some memories worth celebrating. Appreciating special times and relationships make us feel joy.

The art of blending tea for ceremonies and simple gatherings is interesting and economical. Many local herb shops sell a wide variety of tea ingredients to formulate your own blends. In the cold months I love teas scented with warming spices like cinnamon bark, ginger root, anise seed and cardamom seed. Spicy scents like these tend to make you feel warm, comfortable and content. They also happen to stimulate and aid digestion as well (great for after a large meal). Try the tea blend that follows. Its scent is sweet and spicy with an uplifting hint of citrus. A cup of warm, aromatic tea is such pleasant aromatherapy. It can warm the heart and lift the spirit.

Rose hips with their high vitamin C content make a good addition to fall and winter teas. That extra vitamin C during the cold and flu season can help you to fight off the viruses that cause these upper respiratory infections. Most of us do not get enough vitamin C in our daily diets. Rose hips, the seed receptacle of various species of rose, in tea or capsule form may help your body resist infection. Vitamin C is also helpful for arthritis.

Citrus Spice Tea Blend

One half cup loose orange pekoe tea, green tea or decaffeinated tea

One tablespoon dried rose hips

One tablespoon dried lemon peel

One tablespoon star anise

Six one-half inch pieces of cinnamon bark

Two teaspoons diced dried ginger root

12 Cardamom seed pods

Combine the above ingredients in a glass jar. Be sure that the blend is well mixed prior to adding to your teapot. For each cup of boiling water use one or two teaspoons of tea, depending on personal taste. Allow infusion to steep for five minutes before serving. Enjoy this brew while you take the time to appreciate and be thankful for all of the wonderful abundance in your life. This little ritual will make you feel good. Namasté.

Karen Stokes is a Holistic Nurse and Herbalist. She can be reached at (248) 651-8636 or via email at newwisdom1@aol.com.