Circé + Medée

02/07/2026

Sometimes old-school cash really is best.

Our website and point-of-sale system are having a bit of a moment, so for now we’re accepting cash or e-transfer only while things get sorted behind the scenes. We were told this could take up to 7 business days.

This is one of those “another day in the life of a smol biz" situations. We make herbal stuff, not software, and tech is definitely not our superpower. Still, our website provider has been working with us, even though this hiccup came from their own policy changes after our site was already up and running.

If you pop by, bring your loonies, toonies, or your e-transfer app.
We’ll bring the tea, the salves, and our best smiles.

Thank you for your patience and for supporting a truly tiny local shop. 💛

02/07/2026

LOVE BEFORE CHOCOLATE

Before heart shaped chocolates and standardized bouquets, there were love philtres.

Not potions to force feelings. That belongs to the movies. But thoughtful herbal preparations meant to open the heart, soothe old wounds, warm the soul, and remind the body that it deserves care.

The kind made by herbalists. 🥰

Not to manipulate hearts. That is for fairy tales.
But to soften, to steady, to rekindle, and sometimes to help us mend.

Valentine’s Day is not only about couples.
Yes, it is about connection with others.

But more deeply, it is about connection with yourself.

Rose sits at the center of this tradition.
A plant of the heart, of tenderness, of vulnerability claimed rather than hidden. And she works best in good company.

Hawthorn, the quiet guardian of the emotional heart, offering support after heartbreak, after storms, after long silences.

Damiana, subtle and warming, rekindling vitality and the simple pleasure of being embodied.

A touch of cardamom and vanilla, to remember that love is also felt through the senses.

Here is a simple and beautiful love philtre infusion for Valentine’s Day, or for honoring love any day of the year.

Philtre means a magical drink intended to inspire love.

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For one large cup, about 250 to 300 ml

Dried rose petals
1 rounded teaspoon, roughly 0.5 to 1 g
This is the heart of the blend.

Hawthorn flowering tops
1 level teaspoon, about 1 g
Gentle support for emotional steadiness.

Damiana
Half a teaspoon, about 0.5 g
Warmth, presence, and embodied vitality without excess.

Cardamom
One lightly crushed pod

and

Vanilla
A small piece, about 1 to 2 cm
For a soft, enveloping aromatic note.

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Preparation

Place the plants in a cup or teapot.
Pour just simmering water over them.
Cover the vessel to protect the aroma.
Infuse for 10 to 12 minutes.
Strain and sip slowly.

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Optional sweetness

Add a small drizzle of light honey, such as acacia or clover, not to sweeten, but to round the edges.

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Herbalist note

This infusion is ideal at the end of the day, or as an evening ritual.
You can drink it alone, or share it with someone you care about.
And above all, drink it slowly. Love philtres dislike rushing.

This tea does not promise eternal love.
It will not guarantee a thunderbolt moment or a passionate confession.

It offers something steadier and deeper.
A pause to breathe.
A moment to set down your armor.
A gentle reminder that your heart is alive, sensitive, and worthy of care.

This year, for Valentine’s Day, I choose a potion.
To love more gently.
And to begin with myself.

It is also a beautiful gift for someone you cherish.

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A little extra for you all

Hydrosol Cœur and Présence
Self love mist for Valentine’s Day, and for every other day

Why hydrosol works so well here

It acts through touch, breath, and sensation.
It speaks to the nervous system as much as to the symbolic heart.
It asks nothing of you. You simply receive.

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Ideal plants

Rose hydrosol, *Rosa damascena* or *Rosa centifolia*
The hydrosol of the heart par excellence.
Soothing, softening, reconciling.
Perfect for sensitive skin and sensitive hearts.

Hawthorn hydrosol, Crataegus species
Rare, but deeply precious when available.
It brings a felt sense of inner calm and safety.

If hawthorn hydrosol is not available, which is often the case
Use Melissa hydrosol for gentle support of heart and nervous system.
Or choose orange blossom, neroli, for a more sensual and enveloping version.

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Recipe
Heart and face mist

Option 1, the most practical

In a 50 ml spray bottle
30 ml rose hydrosol
20 ml hawthorn hydrosol
or Melissa or orange blossom if hawthorn is unavailable

No preservative is needed when working with high quality hydrosols.
For personal use, keep refrigerated and use within three to four weeks.

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Option 2, Valentine ritual version

In the same 50 ml bottle
30 ml rose hydrosol
18 ml Melissa hydrosol
2 ml hawthorn mother tincture

This remains a very gentle dilution, more energetic than pharmacological.
For external use only.

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How to use it, where the magic happens

Mist gently over your chest.
Inhale deeply.
Take three slow breaths.

You can also use it as a facial mist after cleansing, or anytime during the day when you need to return to yourself.

Adapted and translated from a text by a teacher, Veronique Pare.

02/06/2026

Many of my perspectives on mind–body health were influenced early on by writers who popularized meditation, stress science, and Ayurveda in the West from as early as the 90s.

However, after reviewing credible reporting about Deepak Chopra’s relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, I no longer feel comfortable citing or aligning my work with his.

I believe we all have a responsibility to call out behavior like this. Those of us working in health and healing carry an even greater duty, because the public places real trust in us. When that trust is compromised, especially in ways that intersect with exploitation or abuse, silence is not neutral. It is complicity.

If others in the wellness or medical world choose to look away, I will not.

My clinical and philosophical framework remains rooted in holistic medicine, nervous system care, and plant-based healing. What changes is my choice of mentors, references, and intellectual lineage, guided by both evidence and ethics.

02/05/2026

NEW HOURS

Sunday and Monday are closed.
Wednesday and Thursday are open 11–5, Friday 11–8, and Saturday 12–4.

Tuesday is currently by appointment only. This is temporary. We are moving toward being fully open five days a week, and we will confirm that change soon. Stay tuned.

Right now, this schedule is working well for our team. It gives us space to serve clients properly, keep the apothecary running smoothly, and protect our capacity as we grow.

If you feel strongly that these hours don’t meet your needs, we genuinely want to hear from you. Thoughtful feedback helps us plan better.

In the meantime, Tuesday appointments can be booked through our website or by messaging us directly.

Thank you for your patience, your support, and your trust as we build something steady and sustainable.

In care,
Cassandra + Andrée

02/01/2026

No, it’s not custard. And no, it’s not pancake batter either, although we’ll admit it does look suspiciously edible. What you’re seeing here is something Cassandra has been quietly and meticulously working on behind the scenes, based on a formulation I developed with a very clear purpose in mind. This is one of those moments where process matters as much as outcome, and where restraint is just as important as creativity.

It smells remarkable, but not because we set out to make it smell “divine” or indulgent. We did not add anything for the sake of fragrance, effect, or marketing appeal. The aroma is simply the natural result of ingredients that make sense together, both functionally and sensorially. When materials are well chosen and treated with respect, they tend to take care of that part on their own.

This is a small batch, hand-poured product, made slowly and with intention from start to finish. We are keeping things deliberately vague for now, because half the fun is seeing what people notice and what they imagine it might be.

If you think you know what this is, feel free to speculate.

It will be available later this week.

02/01/2026

🌿

02/01/2026

Putting this out there, because building something meaningful sometimes means asking for help out loud.

Our very own Airmid’s Healing Gardens is at a turning point this season, and we’re looking for the right humans.
A gardener.
A collaborator.
A partner.
An investor.
Or yes, if you happen to have a spare million dollars tucked under a mattress, we would not say no.

Jokes aside, this is about land, plants, education, and community. It’s about sharing space, skills, and vision while we grow something that’s bigger than just us.

If this speaks to you, or if you know someone who would light up at the idea of working with the land in a purposeful way, please take a moment to read and share the post below.

Thank you for being part of this ecosystem.

Help Wanted

This is not an easy post to write, but it is a necessary one.

Airmid’s Healing Gardens is the farming and non-profit arm of Circé + Medée. It exists to support our clinical practice, our educational work, and our long-term vision of a living, breathing sanctuary rooted in plants, learning, and community.

This summer, our steward is no longer able to continue the intensive physical work he has been carrying, and we find ourselves at a crossroads.

Our business is growing. Every dollar coming in is currently being reinvested into equipment, product development, client care, and the ongoing expansion of the Wellness Centre and movement studio. We are actively pursuing grants, loans, and other funding avenues, but the reality is simple. Right now, we cannot afford to hire paid farm staff.

So we are reaching out.

We are looking for one or more people who love gardening, working with plants, and being in relationship with the land. Someone who would find meaning in using a professional-grade greenhouse and cultivated land in a beautiful, quiet setting. Someone who may be building their own farming or plant-based project and would benefit from shared space, shared resources, and shared vision.

This would be an **energy exchange**, not a paid position. In return, we can offer access to land and infrastructure, use of the greenhouse, shared harvests where appropriate, mentorship, learning opportunities, and integration into a growing herbal and educational ecosystem. We are open to creative arrangements, including long-term collaboration or business partnership, as long as core plants essential to our clinical and educational work are respected and prioritized.

Our deeper vision is to grow this space into an educational platform. Think community workshops, local schools, 4-H style programming, and hands-on herbal literacy rooted in care for the land. We believe deeply in this work, but we also recognize that Cassandra and I cannot do it alone. We are at capacity, and asking for help is part of building something sustainable.

If you are someone who finds peace in the soil, who believes in community-based wellness, education, and stewardship, and who would like to be part of building something meaningful rather than transactional, we would love to hear from you.

If you know someone who might be a good fit, please share this post.

With gratitude,
Andrée & Cassandra
Circé + Medée
Airmid’s Healing Gardens

01/31/2026

Please be advised that we are closed today for a personal matter. We appreciate your understanding at this time. Back to regular schedule, Tuesday by appointment and Wednesday 11-5.

01/30/2026

Quick update from the apothecary.

You’ll start seeing a new name on one of our longtime formulas. Our former migraine tincture is now officially part of the HeadKind line, with two versions:

• HeadKind Balance
• HeadKind Rescue

Today I’m featuring HeadKind Rescue.

Why the change? Simple and important. Labeling rules in Canada are tightening, and small producers like herbalists, wellness centres, and naturopaths are very much on the radar. Product names and labels can no longer read like medical claims. Even when the traditional use is clear, the wording has to stay within compliant boundaries.

This is not panic mode. It is professionalism mode.

If you make or sell herbal products, now is the time to review your labels, product names, and taglines. Move away from disease claims. Use structure and function language. Keep your tradition, keep your craft, but update your wording. Future you will be very relieved you did.

We are doing the legwork now so when the Natural Health Product framework tightens further, we are already aligned and ready.

Herbalism is not being shut down. But the paperwork era has arrived. Sharpen your pencils and your Latin binomials.

01/30/2026

CANDLE MAGIC
Workshop: Intention, Color, and Living Flame

This upcoming Candle Magic workshop is practical, hands on, and rooted in real craft. You will not be sitting and listening the whole time. You will be working with wax, flame, herbs, and intention from start to finish.

We will explore candle color correspondences and how to match color with purpose and timing. You will learn how to select candles with intention, how to anoint and dress them properly, and how to build simple, effective candle workings you can repeat at home.

Each participant will also create a poured intention candle. We will melt wax together and make a custom pour candle using selected herbs and crystals aligned with your goal. This becomes your personal working candle to take home and use.

We will also cover:

• How to dress and anoint candles with oils and botanicals
• Several simple candle spells drawn from my own practice
• Candle meditation and flame gazing for focus and inner clarity
• Using the flame as a doorway into a calm, liminal mental state
• Symbolic and practical uses of herbs and crystals in candle work

This is not fortune telling. No prediction work. No performance. Just skill, symbolism, and grounded ritual practice in a relaxed setting.

The atmosphere is welcoming, low pressure, and interactive. You can ask questions, experiment, and build confidence with the tools.

WORKSHOPS PERKS

Participants receive 10 percent off all in store purchases on the day of the workshop.

If you attend/plan to attend more than one workshop this year, bundle pricing is available. It's the equivalent of a punch card... buy four workshops and receive 20 dollars off the total price. That brings each session to about 50 dollars instead of the regular rate.

Come ready to focus, create, and play with fire in the most constructive way possible. Controlled flame. Clear intention. Good magic.