Parting the Mists

Hija of Fire – California Poppy

Create with the enthusiasm of a beginner; boisterous play, then sweet sleep; light up the landscape with golden joy.

Magical objects lie on a bright yellow table: a stuffed tiger, a glitter wand, a small cauldron, and a mortar and pestle. Pictures of poppy plants are scattered about like oracle cards. Real flowers frame the edge of the table. A child wraps her dirt-stained fingers adorned with flashy jewels around an amber gazing ball.

Meaning: The Hija of Fire jumps at the chance to be creative. She cannot wait to begin a new project. She approaches everything with the playfulness of a child. Knowing the strong elixir of California poppy creates magic, she takes small but confident steps toward independence. She may have watched an elder many times, but now she makes medicine for herself. Just as California poppy flowers light up dry, wild desert meadows with their brilliant color, she stays open to the light, sways with the wind, and radiates delight.

Crafting with the Hija of Fire

• Craft fairy dolls from poppy flowers to inspire enthusiasm.

• Spend times gathering California poppy in a wild meadow and craft a relaxing elixir.

• Do a little guerrilla gardening with California poppy seeds; sprinkle joy everywhere you go.

Herbcrafter’s Tarot by author Latisha Guthrie and artist Joanna Powell Colbert