As Winter Solstice is approaching with seasonal, darkness-related depression, I am remembering the joys of summer and Yellow Day Lily. A bringer of joy, it is said to “brighten the chi” in Chinese medicine. Yellow Day Lily is native to East Asia where it is used for depression. It has a delightful lemony scent. Upbeat and uplifting, it tells us about the properties of this flower essence. This particular Yellow Day Lily has edible flowers. When the flowers are blooming, I like to cook with them. Fresh and chopped finely, they add their lemony perfume to a salad. Surprisingly powerful, just three or four blossoms infuse a whole pot of rice with flower-flavour. For this, I add them last to the rice, put the lid on for just one minute to steam them slightly – done! I also dry some for winter to add to fine vegetable dishes, such as peas. Dried buds of edible Yellow Day Lilies are available in East Asia as a gourmet food. They come into commerce under the name “yellow needles”.
For those of us far away from fresh blossoms and suffering from the darkness of winter, adding some of the essence to a bath is a wonderful pick-me-up which reconnects us to our inner light and joy.For this, add about three dropperfuls of the essence to your bath. Enjoy Yellow Day Lily days!
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