So we started talking about polarity and solvents. So if water is so polar why not just use that for everything? And why should you care?   As with most everything in life there is just more to the story.  I feel like I put the cart before the horse so let's back up and take a look at what solubility is, solutions are and how they work. 
What we are working toward is a better understanding of how we can make tinctures, oils, honeys and vinegars in a different and more informed way.  We are going to do this in easily digestible chunks, so if you have a question; ask, because someone else probably has the same one.  Here we go.
Lets start by talking about mixtures.  There are homogenous (means the same)  mixtures, example; a cup of tea with sugar. The tea, water, and sugar cannot be separated.  If you test anywhere in the mixture. the tea, water and sugar will be present. A decanted tincture for example, is a homogeneous mixture.  Anyplace you test it it will have plant constituents and alcohol.
Heterogeneous (means different) mixtures, in these mixtures components can be separated. For example, a tea blend.  If you blend a tea from dried herbs ie: peppermint, Valerian, and hops.  You can test this mixture in one area and find mostly or all peppermint, or mostly hops.  Even if you grind it very finely there will not be the exact same mixture of herbal particles throughout the mixture.
Recap: the tea and the sugar (smaller amounts hence solUTE) are soluble in water (the greater part and solVENT).  The dry tea is not soluble at all together till you add water to make the tea.   Make sense?  Do you see how this concept is important in herbalism?  Still with me?  Having fun?   If you are cool with this we can move on to the next concept.  If you have questions or need clarification do not hesitate to ask.
Where was I?  Oh yeah, science...right.  Now on to Solvents.  
Solvent definition: In a solution the substance present in the greatest amount.  These can be anything, but in herbalism we use: water, vinegar, alcohol, oil, honey and  glycerin, am I missing anything? All of these solvents have different actions and draw out different constituents of the plant matter, 
One of the things that is really important is which solvent will draw what constituent from the plant matter?  We aren't going to get the same effect when we use oil to make a tincture as we will when we use alcohol to make a tincture,  Why is that?  Is it magic?  Do we as herbalists just prefer vodka to oil? (certainly in a martini...would that be homogenous or heterogeous?) or does the vodka extract different constituents than oil extracts?  Now that we have solutes and solvents understood we can now have a solution. 
The definitions of a solution is this: "a homogenous mixture of solute or solutes dissolved in a solvent."  Ok so now we know that we are not really talking about dried herbal tea blends (we will cover tea blending later), but the product of steeping the dried plant matter in water or alcohol or whatever we decide is best with our new Giant Scientific Brains (GSB).
Now we can see where polarity fits into this picture, can we not? Let us review what we learned in the post about polarity.  (see previous post)
Now we see the importance of polarity and how knowing about polarity would be beneficial to medicine making.  BUT!  (there is always a but in science) there is so much more.  There is ph to consider, pressure, bonds, ionic capturing, phases...we will be here a while.  All of this gives us a peek into the possible, and hopefully sparks ideas that are unique that you can share with me!  This is going to be super fun.  I am really excited!  So next we are going to talk about bonds, different types and strengths.  I think that is a good place to go.

The definition of shadow was coined by Carl Jung In Aion; The phenomenology of the self (1951). This is where he discussed the shadow for the first time. According to Jung “The shadow is a group of emotions or experiences or thoughts and experiences society deems uncomfortable, evil, ungodly, wrong or unacceptable.”  
Shadow work is the active action of confronting these experiences and thoughts and exploring where they come from, why they may be unacceptable, and to reclaim the power they steal from each of us.
Shadow work is important because all of these emotions and experiences carry great weight in our day to day decision making process.  They are allowed to run our lives behind the curtain because we refuse to acknowledge or deal with them.
We are embarrassed or horrified by our own actions or thoughts, which gives these actions and thoughts power.  It seems like a contradiction doesn't it?  The things we strive to hide even from our own consciousness should have such power.  How might that happen?  Let's take a look at some ideas together.
So what are these shadow thoughts exactly?  They are feelings related to lust, low self esteem, jealousy, regret, anger, rage, neediness, bitterness, self pity, despair, vindictiveness, guilt and shame.  They may stem from things we really did, or from things we struggle NOT to be think or do, or even things that were projected upon us by another.  Can you think of any other shadow thoughts or behaviors?  
So how do these thoughts become destructive? They become destructive because they threaten survival.  Let me share my own experience:
When I was younger my parents told me that I was fat and unlovable,  The kids at school bullied me because I was fat.  Teachers told me I was fat, too talkative, asked too many questions and was too excitable.  When I was in 7th grade I loved science.  I would stay inside during recess and study halls and search for paramecium in the microscope.  One day my science teacher said I couldn't do it anymore because I was not a math person.  
I got spanked for talking (being me). I got ridiculed for being fat (being me). I was punished for being excited and curious about life (being me). At a young age I was already finding that being me was getting to be a situation where I was not going to get my needs met, therefore my survival is perceived to be threatened .   
These hurts, embarrassments and slights went for shelter in the shadow, in the cool mossy comfort of darkness, and I attempted to conform. The conformation was not well executed. Something kept me remembering the old slights the old hurts, I could hear their voices saying things like “you are unlovable”, “you are a fat unworthy slob” “you are too stupid” “your existence is a mistake”, “you are an inconvenience”...the things that live in the darkness and shadow is where hurt does its work if it isn't addressed. Because the pain is still there and it is still just as potent as when it happened.
Do you have a similar experience?  Can you write it down?  Writing things down is one of the ways to begin the healing process.  To write it is to dance with it.  To get it outside of your shadow, to get an objective viewpoint, to begin a dialogue.
 Breathe In; Hold for a 5 count; release through pursed lips with sound until it is all out.
So now we are dancing.  
Donna Bass 2017 
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Exercises will be posted at a later date.  For now just write, write, write...till you see the light.

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OK....well then.  The card of the day is brought to you by the Sun and Moon Tarot.  It is the fool yet again.  
OK, here's the deal.  It is time to let go of self limiting beliefs, or the next cycle will not begin and you will be stuck where you are doing what you are doing over and over again.  Is the situation you are dealing with seem eerily familiar?  Your beliefs about yourself and your situation are holding you in this pattern.  This is as plainly as I can put it.  Time to inspect what you really believe.  Do you believe that you are limitless?  Do you believe that you will be responsible with success?  Do you believe that you are worthy, capable and unbeatable?  Why not?  Who told you that you were less than any of that?  People are often well meaning, people are often assholes.  That's just the way it is.  You get to decide what you really believe but you MUST face what you really do believe, then adjust from there.  You cannot just stuff it or cover it with positive homilies.  You MUST face the voices.  Or you will be ineffective at starting the next cycle.
How do we face the voices?  Write, write, write till you see the light.  Listen to the whispers between breaths.  Where in your body do you feel resistance?  Do you need a shadow reading?  Do you need to talk to someone?  Reiki?  Transformational Breath Session?  Herbal consultation?  Chakra Alignment?  Rebirthing session?  Any and all of these modalities can help.  If you dont know where to get them, ask I can help you find it.  Now is the time to start with a clean slate.
The imagery on the card the Tiger is the oriental symbol for fear.  Fear is at the fools back because he knows he is limitless.  The caduceus is the symbol of health, well being and healing.  The butterfly is transformation.  The crocodile is creative vision and strength.  The sun and the sea represent the energy and vision of healthy emotion.  Use tiger energy to move through fear, move out of stagnation, and face the limited with the limitless.