8 Earth-Body-Soul: Consulting With Dill, Stillness
“Look at a tree, a flower, a plant. Let your awareness rest upon it. How still they are, how deeply rooted in Being. Allow nature to teach you stillness.”
Daily Word of Intention
Stillness
Centering Thought
I am rooted; I am grounded; I am still.
Questions
Where do you go to find peace in your life?
Is it easy for you to experience stillness?
What is your concept of stillness?
Gratitude:
I am so thankful for my ability to be still. I am thankful for the stillness of my mind that I am experiencing in this moment. I am grateful for the stillness of my body. I am thankful for the power of peace. I am thankful for stillness of being. I am thankful for my calm.
Reflection
There is an innate wisdom in the Earth. Our kinship with plants can enlighten and empower us. As we consider and consult the greens that grow so near to us, what do we learn— what Earthly gifts are they so freely offering to our body and soul?
What do we know about dill?
It’s beautiful! Deep green, nearly blue, lacy, and frail narrow leaves branch out in multiples from round hollow stalks that grow upright from the ground. Rooted deeply, given time, this fern-like, feathery fronds bolt into beautiful umbrellas of bright yellow clusters of tiny blooms; dill is amazingly beautiful. Just for garden aesthetics alone, this plant has appeal and can be grown in a bed or border. With its softness, this herb complements flowers. The seed grows dark and brown - it is flat, and narrow, and ribbed. Nearing a bed of dill, gardeners are welcomes by the bright aroma.
It’s growable. This plant is established best from seed sown directly in the garden in the cool days of spring. It is easily damaged by wind and sensitive to the cold, and will need protecting though it can survive temperatures down to 25F. This plant also likes full sun and a light and loamy soil. Cover the seeds with a half inch of seed starting soil and keep it moist during this time. They should germinate within two weeks. After germination, the plant takes about 8 weeks until fully ready for harvest. Give each plant about a foot of growing room and planting of room vertically as well because this plant has a very long taproot. If growing in a container, place it in a sunny spot and make sure it is deep. To ensure a supply all summer, plant news seeds every few weeks. Dill is biennial warm-season herb. If you want to create a permanent patch, just allow it to grow to seed. The herb should come back each year. To care for them, put mulch around the their base as they are growing to keep the bed moist and weed-free. In fact, if you add mulch, you may not even need to water the dill plant. Allowing the blooms allows benefits your garden as they are a main attraction for many beneficials such as bees and wasps. Some fruit growers use them in orchards because they attract insects that control moths and caterpillars.
To harvest the fronds, as soon as they have grown to the size of your liking, pick them just before they form flowers; they taste better at that time. I have also read that it is better not to pick them in the heat of the day. Just clip them close to the stem.
However, if it the seeds that you are interested in, enjoy the flowers while waiting for them to go to seed. Then, when the majority of seeds have formed, harvest as you like.
Dill is better fresh. However, if you want to store it, dry it using a dehydrator or in sun or by hanging in bunches until crumbly, and store in a dark place in a tightly-sealed jar. You can also freeze dill - just put it it a freezer bag and into the freezer. Either way you choose to store it, it will last from 4 to 6 months.
It’s got roots. Native to the Mediterranean and Russia and kin to parsley and carrot and and celery, dill is now grown around the world and has been naturalized in many countries including the U.S. For the Romans, it symbolized wealth and good fortune, and for the Egyptians, it protected one from witchcraft. For ages, it has been cultivated it for its medicinal benefits especially for its ability to soothe. It’s use as a medicine was recorded in Egyptian medical texts in 3000 B.C., and it is also mentioned in the *Bible.
It’s got a name. Of the Apiaceae, Anethum graveolens, known commonly dill, has a curious name. The name dill is derived from an Old Norse word, dilla, or dylla, which means to lull.
It’s edible. Dill has a distinctive flavor, bright and fresh. Its been valued as a culinary herb for ages. Best used as a fresh herb, dill can also be dried though it looses much of its flavor that way. The seeds can be used fresh too, and they can also be dried, and crushed or ground. Probably most known as a pickling spice, there are also many other ways to use this herb. I love it on top of raw cucumber and lettuce salads. My favorite blend is a mix of shredded romaine and iceburg lettuce with one or two cucumbers, cubed, a chunk of onion diced, and one frond of dill minced and scattered on top. I add apple cider vinegar and a little maple syrup to taste, and I have a very nice lunch or dinner salad. It also works very nicely with squashes of all types and spinach too. Dill makes a wonderfully refreshing herbal tea. If you like to cook, add it to potato dishes and throw it into your soups. If you bake, try adding it to your bread recipes. People have been cooking with this spice for centuries, and it is one of the main flavors of Russian borscht and Greek tzatziki. In fact, dill is a staple in Greek and Russian foods and common in many cultures.
It’s nutritious. Fresh dill is so very beneficial and if you include it into your diet on a regular basis, you will enjoy its benefits. It contains vitamins C and the Bs, calcium, iron and magnesium. It is full of antioxidants.
It’s protective: Various cultures have observed the protective properties of this herb. This is probably due to its power to soothe the body and mind and to kill germs. Magicians used it in the Middle Ages against witchcraft. Stalks of it have been placed over cradles and seeds scattered under pillows to protect and to calm the young and old alike.
It’s medicine. Dill has probably been used longer as medicine than as food. Mainly, around the world, it has been recognized for its power to treat soothe the stomach and to help with digestive maladies and sleep disorders. It was named, dill or della, because of this characteristic. It is very good for the health of the stomach. The antioxidants of this plant include flavonoids which are known to be good for the brain and also help to prevent heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer’s, and some forms of cancer; terpenoids which support all of the eliminative organs as well as the brain; and tannins that repair and cleanse the body. This herb also has anti-inflammatory compounds and works in the body to reduce chronic inflammation and prevent and even heal rheumatoid arthritis. Because of its antomicrobiological properties, it is also can be used as a disinfectant and is beneficial for infections of all sorts and even parasites. It is good for the bones and the blood. Dill is a diuretic and helps the body to release excess fluids and salts, lowering blood pressure and supporting the heart. Mother’s use it when breastfeeding.
What advise for living does this plant give?
Be beautiful. Root down into the Earth, deeply. Grow up tall, gracefully. Bloom prolifically. Contribute greatly to the welfare of your neighbors: be a beneficial companion. Soothe and protect.
*Biblical mentions of dill:
Does he not level its surfaceAnd sow dill and scatter cumminAnd plant wheat in rows,Barley in its place and rye within its area? (Isaiah 28:25, NASV)
For dill is not threshed with a threshing sledge,Nor is the cartwheel driven over cummin;But dill is beaten out with a rod, and cummin with a club. (Isaiah 28:27, NASV)
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23, NASV)
Sources
Ball, Liz. “Discover Dill.” Flower & Garden, vol. 45, no. 2, Mar. 2001, p. 38. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=4153152&site=eds-live.
“Dill.” Funk & Wagnalls New World Encyclopedia, Jan. 2018, p. 1; EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=funk&AN=di056800&site=eds-live.
Filippone, Peggy Trowbridg. “Dill Weed History and Uses.” The Spruce Eats. https://www.thespruceeats.com/the-history-of-dill-1807592. Assessed 3 July 2021.
MARQUIS, PAMELA. “The Real Dill: Growing This Classic Herb for Use in Countless Dishes.” New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, vol. 23, no. 2, Summer 2020, p. 24. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=f5h&AN=144684392&site=eds-live.
McGraine, Kelli. “All You Need to Know About Dill.” HealthLine.com. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/dil. Assessed 3 July 2021.
New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org Source: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/words/Dill/type/nasb
William, Anthony. “Dill” https://www.medicalmedium.com/blog/dill. Assessed 3 July 2021.
Blessings
Thank you for joining me today! I hope you have a beautiful day! Please leave a comment below. I would love to hear from you. Peace for now - And remember, stay CHARMED.