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Taurus season!

The Sun is in Taurus, as you probably know. And it’s not just the Sun— there are other planets who are holding a Taurus party! Venus and Jupiter are both in the sign of the bull, and Luna will join, for the upcoming New Moon on May 8th. Mercury will be the latecomer to the party, entering Taurus on May 16. We have a lot of Taurus energy this month!

To celebrate, I recommend watching this ADORABLE collection of videos showing cows responding to music. It’s going to make you smile! 🐄

In medical astrology, the sign of Taurus rules the area of the throat. At this time of year, many people suffer from allergies or colds, causing the throat to be irritated, so I thought I would send a recipe that can bring some relief! But first, a little about the herbs and ingredients used.

Violet (viola odorata or viola spp.)

It is around this time of year when wild violets pop up everywhere in this part of the world, with their delightful charm. Herbalists like to work with the scented variety, viola odorata, but the wild violets around my house are a different variety, viola soroia. I have tested them, and they still have the same medicinal qualities, even though they don’t taste as delicious. And since they are freely available, I used the wild ones by my house instead of purchasing dried herb from a store.

If you can’t find the sweet-tasting viola odorata and need to use v. soroia instead, simply add a bit of cinnamon to the recipe, to improve the flavor.

Violet is a moisturizing, anti-inflammatory herb that gently supports the immune system. Culpeper said that Violet is ruled by Venus. The sign of Taurus is also ruled by Venus. Read my monograph on Violet for more details!

Marshmallow root

Also ruled by Venus, Marshmallow is strongly moisturizing. It is also antimicrobial, nutritive, and supportive of the immune system.

For this recipe, you will want to purchase powdered marshmallow root. A good herbal shop will probably have it, otherwise you can purchase it at Mountain Rose, if you are in the US.

Honey

Did you know honey is extremely good for you? It is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant. It promotes wound healing, boosts metabolism, and contains beneficial nutrients and minerals. You can use the fancy Manuka honey if you wish (although I think Manuka is hyped, myself.) But all honey has the same medicinal properties, so you are fine using any kind!

Warning! Up to 80% of the honey sold at grocery stores has been adulterated with substances like corn syrup, a chemical called “inverted sucrose,” or other adulterants. These reduce the healthful properties of honey. We do not have adequate regulation of this industry yet, so unfortunately you can’t really trust what’s on the label. For now, the only safe option is to purchase directly from a local beekeeper near you! Buying local has the added benefit of reducing seasonal allergies, since the pollen in the honey will be the same pollen you breathe in locally. This creates a response that immunizes you from future pollen exposure!

Here’s the recipe!

• 1/4 cup dried violet leaves and flowers

• 1 tsp cinnamon powder (optional—if your violet does not have a sweet flavor)

• 1/4 cup water

• 3/4 cup (plus extra) marshmallow root powder

• 1 tblsp honey

• 1 tblsp beet root powder, for color. (optional)

• 1/2 tsp citric acid, for longer preservation (optional)

Add the dried violet herb to a small glass measuring cup, and pour 1/4 cup of boiling water over it. Stir in the cinnamon, if you are using it. Let the blend sit overnight, to extract the minerals fully and get a super strong infusion.

Strain the liquid into another mixing cup or small bowl. I use a potato ricer for this, to squeeze everything out thoroughly. I put a fine mesh strainer below the ricer to catch any small pieces that slip through the holes.

Add the honey, beet root powder, and 3/4 cup of marshmallow root powder. Stir well. It should be a very thick paste. You are going to form it into lozenges that need to hold their shape, so make it nice and thick. Add more marshmallow powder until you get the right consistency.

Form it into lozenges! There are a few ways you could do this. One fun way is to use a candy mold (see below). Be sure to sprinkle marshmallow root powder into the mold first, to prevent sticking.

You could also roll the dough into a “snake” shape, then chop it up into small pieces. Again, sprinkle your board with MM powder first, to prevent sticking.

Store your lozenges in the fridge. They should be good for about a month. If you add citric acid, it extends the shelf life by a few weeks.

Whenever you have a sore throat or if your voice is dried out, simply enjoy one of your lozenges, to give yourself a nourishing boost of moisture. Enjoy!