Circé + Medée

03/23/2026

The glamorous life of an herbalist…

Today’s highlight reel: Cassandra, knee-deep in the freezer, negotiating with bags of herbs like they might reorganize themselves if she stares long enough. Prior to that, she conquered the sink (yes, even herbalists do dishes), and then moved on to the real work… stock rotation, labeling, sorting, and asking the eternal question: “Why do we have three half-open bags of the same plant?”

This is the part nobody puts on the label. Not the dreamy jars. Not the beautiful teas. Just two women, in full pajama glory, trying to outsmart a storage system that has officially reached its limit.

For those wondering, yes… PJ pants are the uniform of the day. It’s Monday. It’s catch-up day. No clients, no pretense, just real work behind the scenes. I’m behind the camera, equally underdressed and fully committed to not being seen.

Also, quick reminder to self: first in, first out. In theory. In practice… we do our best and laugh about it.

Anyway, if your idea of herbalism is IG curated, slow, TikTok aesthetic, and serene… you’re not wrong. Just… not today.

03/21/2026

Sometimes products don’t start as products. They start as moments.

A compliment here, a laugh there… and then one day it clicks.

For the longest time, every time I saw Jillian Popplow at The Lumberjack's Daughter, she would lean in and say, “You smell so good.” And I’d laugh it off, because it was just my “forest” blend. Something I had made for myself, something grounding, something that felt like walking through evergreens after rain.

And then it hit me. Why not make something just for her space?

That’s how Lumberjill’s Evergreen was born.

Not from a trend. Not from a marketing plan. From a friendship.

Today, that same scent lives inside our refillable deodorant line. We use a simple cartridge system that fits into a KIIMA holder, so once you have the base, you just refill. Less waste, more intention.

We now carry three scents:

Acadian Shore — fresh, mineral, a little wild, like standing at the edge of the ocean
Grand Pré — soft, open, inspired by fields and meadows
Lumberjill’s Evergreen — deep, forested, grounding… and yes, the one Jill kept complimenting

We offer three products with these profiles:

Foaming Hand Soap
Deodorant
Room and Linen Spray

You’ll find them here at Circé + Medée, and many of our products are also available at Lumberjack’s Daughter.

It’s funny how things come together. A scent you wear for yourself becomes something shared. A small moment becomes a product on a shelf.

And honestly… that’s the kind of business I want to build.

03/21/2026

I need to pause for a moment and say this out loud.

The last little while, we’ve been receiving the most thoughtful, unexpected gifts. Homemade macarons and mousse that somehow always arrive exactly when we need a lift. Fresh tulips to welcome spring into the space. A handmade doll, crafted with such care, reflecting the colours and spirit of the centre itself.

And it’s not about the things.

It’s the intention behind them. The kindness. The fact that you think of us when you’re out in your day, and you choose to bring a little piece of that here.

We’ve only been open for a year. Just one year. And somehow, what’s growing here feels so much bigger than a business.

It’s a community.

There are days where I get caught up in the admin, the labels, the endless dishes, the sheer weight of building something from the ground up. And then moments like this stop me in my tracks.

Because this… this is the point.

The hugs. The conversations. The laughter. Sometimes the tears. The trust you place in us, and the connection we get to share in return.

This place fills my cup in a way I didn’t fully understand when we started. It brings me back to what matters, again and again.

So today, I’m calling it.

Happy “We Appreciate Our Clients More Than We Can Say” Day.

And also… we just realized we quietly passed our one year mark. That deserves to be celebrated properly.

Tell us. What would you love to see for our one year anniversary celebration?

We’re listening.

03/21/2026

There are moments in this work where you simply know someone is meant to be here.

We are deeply proud to welcome Dana to the Circé + Medée team as a permanent member of our space and community.

Dana brings a rare kind of presence. Grounded, gentle, and quietly powerful. Many of you already experienced this during our recent gathering, where she guided the meditation with such ease and care. It was something special to witness.

Very shortly, Dana will be offering relaxation massage and energy work while continuing her training and deepening her practice through apprenticeship and mentorship. We take that process seriously, and she is stepping into it with integrity and dedication.

Behind the scenes, you will also find her in the greenhouse, hands in the soil, helping prepare the work that sustains everything we do. It feels fitting, in many ways, that she steps into the role of Airmid within our trio.

Cassandra holds Circe.
I hold Medea.
And Dana now completes the Triquetra with Airmid's archetype.

Maiden -- Mother -- Crone

What stands out most, beyond any modality or certification, is her kindness. It is steady, real, and felt immediately.

We are honoured to have her with us, and we are genuinely excited for you to meet her.

Please join us in welcoming Dana.

03/20/2026

We’ve got something new in the apothecary, and I’m genuinely excited about this one.

Please meet Leo's Littles, created by Giselle, one of our own members. She’s just getting started, and like many talented people, she was about to price her work far too low. We’re not doing that here. We value you. We value your time. We value your talent.

These are handmade crochet plants, carefully crafted, sturdy, and honestly… just plain adorable. The kind of piece that makes you smile when you walk past it. She also designs and 3D prints her own display stands, because apparently just being talented wasn’t enough, she had to go full creative nerd on us.

We now have, priced fairly:

Small hanging plants – $20
Large hanging plants – $35
Display stands – $10
Large plant + stand bundle – $40
Bookmarks – $5

The bookmarks have that soft botanical, slightly witchy vibe we all quietly love, and they make the perfect little add-on.

This is exactly the kind of work we want to support. Local. Handmade. Thoughtful. And made by someone brave enough to put their creativity out into the world.

Come by, take a look, and give her some love. You’ll see very quickly why we said yes.

And Giselle… if you’re reading this, you’re not underselling yourself on our watch. So mote it be. ;)

03/19/2026

Check-ez ça! Au musée en bas.

La Société de Presse Acadienne a le plaisir d’annoncer le lancement d’une tournée provinciale pour présenter deux vidéos de la série « L’Autre Acadie : à la découverte des coins méconnus de l’Acadie néo‑écossaise ».
Accompagnés de Ryan Doucette, partez à la rencontre de la communauté acadienne de Truro, tandis que Hughie Batherson vous guide à Sydney, sur les traces de ses racines. Deux perspectives, deux territoires, une quête commune : celle de l’Acadie d’aujourd’hui.
Ces deux vidéos vous permettront de découvrir leurs habitants, leurs artistes, leurs organisations, ainsi que des lieux emblématiques ou méconnus, à travers une approche à la fois ludique, éducative et teintée d’humour.
📍 Pour Sydney, nous vous attendons nombreux le 29 avril à 18 h au CCÉA.

03/19/2026

There is something deeply satisfying about having your hands in the soil. Mud, sap, resin, life. It is part of the work. It is part of the joy.

But sometimes, you just need clean hands.

We have created a simple, practical hand sanitizer designed for real gardeners. Keep it in your apron, your tool bag, or on a nearby shelf. It is there when you need it. No fuss, no overthinking.

What matters most is this: 100 percent of proceeds from this product go directly to the Pubnico Garden Club. Not profits. Not a portion. Everything.

The 30 mL is priced at $10. Yes, it is a bit cheeky. This is a fundraiser first and a product second. If $10 feels like too much but you would still like one, contribute what you can. If that is $5, that is perfectly fine. The goal is support, not exclusion.

This is my way of giving back to a group that keeps our local growing culture alive, rooted, and shared.

If you have ideas for other small, useful products that would support gardeners, I want to hear them. Think muddy hands, thirsty days, long hours outside. We will build a small line together that serves both the gardener and the garden club.

Let’s make something meaningful, practical, and local.

03/18/2026

Keep this one handy... ;)

A WILD SPRING DRINK THAT CAPTURES A LITTLE SUNLIGHT IN EVERY GLASS

It grows everywhere, along the roadside, in gardens, between stones.

Dandelion does not wait for permission. It arrives, it blooms, it brightens everything in its path.

For generations, people have known how to transform it into something quietly remarkable. A light, floral, living fizz, sometimes called meadow champagne.

One sip, and it feels like drinking early May sunlight.

Dandelion is one of the defining plants of spring. Even in this gentle fermented form, it still carries some of its traditional benefits.

It helps support liver function and seasonal elimination, encourages digestive activity, and offers a subtle mineral lift after winter. It is also, quite simply, a plant of renewal.

Dandelion reminds us that what we overlook often holds real value.

DANDELION FIZZ RECIPE

INGREDIENTS FOR ABOUT 4 LITRES
Two generous handfuls of fully open dandelion flowers
4 litres of water
400 to 500 grams of sugar
2 organic lemons, zest and juice
1 handful of raisins

PREPARATION

1️⃣ Harvest the flowers on a dry day, away from roads and treated areas.

2️⃣ Bring the water to a boil and pour it over the flowers. Add the lemon zest and juice. Let this infuse for 24 hours.

3️⃣ Strain, then add the sugar and raisins. Cover with a cloth and allow to ferment for 2 to 3 days.

4️⃣ When small bubbles begin to form, strain again and transfer to sturdy bottles. Let it continue for another 3 to 7 days until lightly sparkling.

5️⃣ Chill before serving.

A SMALL SPRING RITUAL

When you gather the flowers, pause for a moment.

Take a breath and look at that vivid yellow.

Set a simple intention:

"I release what no longer serves me and welcome what is returning".

Because dandelion teaches something important, which is that what we often call a w**d is, more often than not, a generous and resilient ally.

And sometimes, a simple homemade fizz becomes a quiet celebration of being alive.

Inspired and adapted from original text by Maryse Guirriec

03/17/2026

OSTARA: SPRING EQUINOX AND THE RETURN OF BALANCE

Ostara marks the spring equinox, that precise moment in the year when day and night stand in equal measure. It is one of the few points in the seasonal cycle where balance is not something we seek, but something that is simply there, tangible, observable, and brief.

From this point forward, the light begins to take the lead. Not abruptly, but steadily. The shift is subtle at first, but unmistakable if you are paying attention. The ground softens, the air changes, and something begins to move again after the long stillness of winter.

The name Ostara is often linked to a Germanic figure, sometimes described as a goddess associated with spring, dawn, and renewal. Historical evidence is, at best, partial and debated, and I think that is worth saying plainly. What we are working with here is not a fixed religious structure, but an evolving framework shaped by fragments of history, folklore, and modern interpretation.

For me, Ostara is less about a deity in a literal sense and more about an archetype. A way of naming a pattern we see every year. The return of movement, of fertility, of possibility, after a period of contraction.

If you’ve read American Gods or watched the series, you might remember how Ostara is portrayed. A figure tied to renewal, but also one that has been diluted, repackaged, and in many ways misunderstood over time. It is a sharp reminder of how easily meaning can shift depending on how something is carried forward.

Many people today are more familiar with Easter, which sits at roughly the same time of year and carries some of the same symbols. Eggs, rebirth, the return of life. Different framework, different theology, but the seasonal reality underneath remains the same.

What interests me is not choosing one over the other, but understanding what is being marked. The land does not follow doctrine. It follows cycles. And this point in the cycle is about emergence, adjustment, and the first real invitation to step forward again.

Ostara, as it is used today within the Wheel of the Year, is part of a structure that was formalized relatively recently, largely in the twentieth century through modern pagan and witchcraft traditions. It was never meant to recreate the past perfectly. It was meant to give rhythm back to practice, to anchor people into something seasonal, repeatable, and grounded.

And that, to me, is where its value lies.

Not in hierarchy. Not in rules. But in having a moment to pause and notice that something has shifted, both outside and, often, within.

Whether you mark it formally or simply take a walk and notice what is beginning to grow again, the invitation is the same. Pay attention to what is returning. Notice what is ready to move. And be honest about whether you are ready to move with it.

03/17/2026

LINDEN

Botanical names
Tilia species, most commonly Tilia cordata, Tilia americana, and Tilia platyphyllos

Plant family: Malvaceae

Linden is, without hesitation, one of my favorite plants to work with.

Not because it is flashy or trendy. Quite the opposite. It is steady, generous, and deeply reliable. The kind of plant that does its work quietly and consistently, which is exactly why it has earned a place in so many of our formulations at Circé + Medée.

When you start working with it regularly, you begin to understand why it has been used across so many traditions. It brings cohesion to a formula. It softens edges. It rounds things out in a way that is difficult to replicate with anything else.

WHAT IS LINDEN

Linden is a large deciduous tree recognized by its heart shaped leaves and its delicate pale yellow flowers.

When in bloom, the tree releases a soft, honey like fragrance that draws in bees in impressive numbers. You often hear a linden tree before you see it.

Depending on the species, these trees can grow tall and live for decades, sometimes centuries.

WHAT THE TREE LOOKS LIKE

You can recognize linden by a few key features:

- Heart shaped leaves with finely serrated edges
- Small clusters of pale yellow flowers
- A long, narrow, leaf like bract attached to the flower stem
- Small round fruit that develop after flowering
- Smooth bark when young that becomes more textured with age

During flowering season, the canopy can be filled with pollinators, which tells you everything you need to know about its ecological value.

WHERE IT GROWS

Different species of linden are native to Europe, Asia, and North America.

Tilia americana is native to North America and is the one most of us will encounter locally. Others, like Tilia cordata and Tilia platyphyllos, are more commonly associated with European landscapes.

Linden prefers temperate climates, moist and well drained soil, and grows well in full sun to partial shade. It is often planted in parks, along streets, and in large gardens.

TRADITIONALLY USED PARTS

Flowers

The flowers are the primary part used in herbal preparations.

They are commonly prepared as tea, tincture, syrup, or infused honey. The taste is gently floral, slightly sweet, and very approachable, which makes it an excellent plant for formulations meant for daily use.

Leaves

Young leaves are edible and have occasionally been used fresh in salads or simple preparations.

Wood

Basswood is soft and easy to carve. It has a long history of use in woodworking, musical instruments, and traditional crafts, including beekeeping equipment.

WHY WE USE IT SO OFTEN

There is a reason linden shows up again and again in our products.

It is not just what it does on its own, but what it allows other plants to do.

It helps create balance in a blend. It brings a certain gentleness without diluting effectiveness. It supports formulations designed for daily rituals, especially those meant to be taken consistently over time.

It is one of those plants that makes a formula feel complete.

TRADITIONAL AND FOLK USES

Linden flowers have a long history of use in traditional herbal practices.

They are often included in:

- Evening herbal teas that encourage a sense of ease and unwinding
- Seasonal blends used during times of transition
- Topical preparations such as baths, washes, and infused oils

Across cultures, it has been associated with comfort, rest, and simple, consistent care.

A FEW DETAILS WORTH NOTICING

Linden produces highly valued honey because of how attractive its nectar is to bees

In many European villages, linden trees were planted in central squares as places of gathering and community

The heart shaped leaves have long linked the tree to themes of connection and care in folklore

Some trees in Europe are several hundred years old

When in bloom, the sound of pollinators is often the first sign you are near one

HARVESTING

Linden flowers are best harvested just as they open, while still fragrant.

They are typically collected with the pale green bract attached. They can be used fresh or dried for later use in teas and other preparations.

SAFETY NOTE

Linden has a long history of traditional use. As with any plant, proper identification and appropriate use matter.

If you have underlying health conditions, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are taking medication, take the time to do your research or consult a qualified practitioner before use.

📷 Folk Medicine and Remedy

03/15/2026

COMFREY (Symphytum officinale) 💜

A plant long associated with restoration.

Comfrey has been part of Western herbal traditions for centuries. Its Latin name comes from consolidare, meaning to bring together, to strengthen, or to restore. Herbalists historically turned to this plant when the body needed support after strain, impact, or irritation.

It is a tall perennial that thrives in rich soils, along streams, and in many traditional gardens. Its large, rough leaves and clusters of small bell shaped purple flowers make it easy to recognize once you know it.

In herbal practice today, comfrey is mainly valued for topical preparations that support skin comfort and physical recovery after everyday bumps, tension, or overexertion.

A plant traditionally linked with skin care and restoration

Comfrey root contains a natural compound called allantoin, which has drawn attention from herbalists and formulators for its association with skin renewal and comfort. Because of this, comfrey preparations have long been used in traditional herbal care for skin that feels irritated, dry, or stressed.

Herbalists have historically prepared comfrey oils, salves, and poultices to support:

• areas of skin that feel dry or rough
• minor surface irritation
• skin that has been exposed to friction or weather
• the appearance of marks left by everyday life

Rather than forcing the body to change, comfrey is traditionally seen as a plant that encourages the body’s own natural rebuilding processes.

Support for muscles and joints after effort

Both the leaves and roots contain tannins and mucilage. These plant compounds contribute to the soothing, protective feel that many people experience when comfrey preparations are applied to the skin.

Because of this, herbalists have often used comfrey oils and balms in massage after:

• physical exertion
• sports or outdoor activity
• long days of manual work
• areas of general muscular tension

The goal is not to treat a condition but simply to support comfort and recovery.

A traditional ally for skin care

The mucilage found in comfrey also gives it a naturally softening quality. When infused in oils or incorporated into balms, it can help leave the skin feeling protected, nourished, and supple.

In traditional herbal care it is often chosen for:

• dry or weather exposed skin
• areas that feel irritated
• general skin support after minor everyday stress

Traditional ways of using comfrey:

Poultice

Fresh leaves can be lightly bruised or warmed and placed over the skin. This traditional preparation was widely used in folk herbalism after physical strain or minor knocks.

Herbal oil or balm

Leaves or roots are infused into a carrier oil. The resulting oil is then used in massage blends or skin care preparations designed to support comfort and resilience in the skin.

Garden ally

Comfrey is also famous among gardeners. When fermented in water, it produces a nutrient rich liquid feed containing potassium, nitrogen, phosphorus, and trace minerals. This traditional garden preparation is used to nourish soil and support strong plant growth.

Important precautions

Comfrey contains compounds known as pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Because of this, modern herbal practice limits its use to external applications only.

It should not be consumed internally.

Additional precautions commonly recommended by herbalists include:

• avoid applying on deep or infected wounds
• avoid prolonged use over very large areas of skin
• not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding
• avoid use with very young children
• apply only to intact or lightly irritated skin

When used respectfully and appropriately, comfrey remains a valued plant in traditional topical herbal care.

Harvesting

Leaves are typically harvested from spring through summer, while roots are most often collected in autumn when the plant’s energy has returned underground.

Leaves may be used fresh or dried depending on the preparation.

The symbolism of comfrey

In many folk traditions, comfrey represents:

• restoration
• reconciliation
• rebuilding after disruption

People once said that comfrey could help bring together what had been broken, both in the body and in life. The symbolism may be poetic, but it reflects a long held respect for this remarkable plant.

A note from Circé + Medée

Comfrey root is one of the central botanicals used in our RELIEFKIND therapeutic oil. In this preparation, the root is slowly infused into plant oils to capture its traditional role in supporting areas of the body that feel strained, tender, or overworked.

The formula was designed for topical use on muscles and joints that need extra care after long days, repetitive movement, or physical exertion. The blend also contains warming and cooling botanicals that create a balanced sensory effect on the skin, helping bring a noticeable feeling of ease and release to areas that feel tight or uncomfortable.

Rather than targeting the skin itself, RELIEFKIND is intended to support local comfort and mobility, making it a trusted companion for massage and body care when the body asks for a little extra support.

03/15/2026

Go and say hi to Alice d'Entremont from Ouest Ville Perennials at the beautiful event.

I’ll be there! With plants!
Herbs. And deer resistant perennials.
Looking forward to it!