When thinking about making a cup of tea, let’s invoke the tarot card that could be most associated with taking care: the Queen of Cups! This court card is the wateriest card in the deck- as court cards in the tarot are associated with two elements, and both Queens and Cups represent water. Many think of the Queen of Cups as the quintessential mother, the divine goddess archetype of beauty and love, but this Queen’s waters run deep (no pun intended).
The Queen of Cups is emotional intelligence- they are in touch with their emotions, so much so that they can recognize the emotions in others who haven’t yet learned to navigate the seas of their feelings. In traditional, precolonial times, the Queen of Cups would be the community healer, the space holder- her leadership in the realm of compassion and empathy looks easy on the outside, but what lies underneath is the depth that we speak of. But the world looks much different now- the systems we live under are overwhelming at best. Taking care of others in a community or a world such as the one we live in is no easy task. Raising children, organizing resource distribution, being a medic or a first responder, a therapist or a counselor, part of these roles is that we must show up to them level headed and well rested.
So that’s the challenge and the journey of the Queen of Cups. To give himself back enough care that he can care for others. To nurture herself through burn out, and the feelings that come with it- compassion fatigue, resentment, isolation, melancholy.
Working with plants has been a way for me personally to address burn out when I notice it coming up. As a shop owner, learning to go with the ebbs and flows of both business and life has been challenging for me as a person with chronic illness and emotional/sensory sensitivity. So I lean on the archetype of the Queen of Cups to remind myself that as a space holder, it is our responsibility to show up with care and love for ourselves, as well as others.
Herbs for Burn Out Prevention and Recovery
The first thing is to learn to recognize early signs up burn out and how they show up for you. One reason that cultivating a practice with herbs is important is that it can help you to better be in touch with your unique self and cycles. No one experiences any situation or emotion the exact same way in their own body, so getting to ourselves is key. For me personally, I tend to experience burn out the way I might experience depression or an autoimmune flare up- lethargy and fatigue, body aches and pains, lack of focus, and feelings of irritability or resentment. It becomes more difficult to generate the energy to smile and engage with those around me, which then makes me feel worse, more isolated, and thus experience feelings of resentment or bitterness about things not going the way I wished they would. I pull away, lose excitement, the quality of my work, my relationships and self esteem suffers. Without intervention at this point, these early days of burn out run the risk of becoming weeks or months of depression and chronic exhaustion.
Nettle
If you’ve been an herbalism student at Milk Thistle, you’ve already heard me tout the benefits of Nettle (Utica Dioica). As an adaptogenic herb, Nettle helps to tone the adrenal glands and boost the immune system, which helps us to maintain energy and a balanced state of mind during stressful times. Nettle is also anti-inflammatory, a natural antihistamine, and promotes grow of health hair and nails. A quintessential friend for preventing burn out- it can be taken as a daily supplement in tincture form or made as a delicious tea/infusion (add some creamer and it tastes like a matcha latte!) You can also also try it in our made-in-house Nettle Chocolate mix for a coffee alternative and dessert.
Oatstraw
When I think of oatstraw (avena sativa), I think of slow, sustainable growth. Something so simple and so nutritive, to replenish us in a simple way- so much of commercialized “alternative” health is about big, fast results, which often don’t stick around. Oatstraw is for the long haul- both an adaptogen and a nerving, this plant relaxes us but helps replenish the burn out energy. I also think of Maude, the old revolutionary who helps Harold fall in love with life, telling him that she keeps her energy from drinking a cup of oatstraw tea each morning.
Milky Oats
Another part of the oat plant are the oat tops- and during one special moment each year, oat tops are fresh and green and secreting a milky fluid that can only be taken as a tincture- once the oat heads are dried they become oat tops, which are great for anxiety and restlessness. But Milky Oats specifically are great for combating feelings of irritability that might come up during burn out. Especially good for overwhelmed folks trying to care give or hold space for others, taking a tincture as needed will calm intrusive or unwanted thoughts, and calm agitated thinking or speech. When I notice the feelings of burn out manifesting at irritation at small inconveniences, leading to a sense of hopelessness, or lack of patience with those around me, I turn towards Milky Oats.
Blue Butterfly Pea
This flower has become popular because of it’s beautiful blue color, and the magical way it changes hue when lemon is added to a liquid preparation. But besides being a delicious and beautiful drink, this herb holds many important medicinal qualities that are perfect for long term use. In a time where chronic stress is the number one risk factor for developing a chronic health condition such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes, blue butterfly pea helps regulate both the blood sugar and cholesterol levels of the body. Clearing the skin, easing the nervous system and supporting the metabolism are other functions of this flower. Preparing it in the evening with lemon balm and rose is a delicious practice to coming back to yourself, offering yourself the love you need to keep going.
There are a million ways that plants can support you when you don’t feel like you have the systems of support you need to keep going. These are just a few of my favorites! Do you have your own practices for working through feelings of compassion fatigue and burn out? Feel free to share them in the comments below!