Intuitive Readings | Julia Ornelas

“Love and admire how much reverence Julia has for her sacred practice… Felt so much peace and clarity during the reading and concluded with a full heart of gratitude… Her connection with nature, plant spirits, animals and all living beings is felt through the screen.” - Silvia O

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Path & Purpose

If you are seeking clarity on your path; whether in career, relationships, purpose, or a life transition, this sacred reading is for you.

Spirit speaks and I simply act as a lantern, illuminating what’s already present within your heart that may be too difficult to see. Through messages, images, and sensations, we work together to gently shift the pieces, helping you see clearly the next aligned step on your path.

You’ll leave with clarity, affirmation, and a grounded sense of what to do next.

This is for you if:

You're standing at a crossroad
You’re discerning the truth in a current relationship or letting go of one

You’re longing to reconnect with your soul’s purpose

You’ve been carrying heaviness or confusion about the next step

You need sacred witnessing, intuitive insight, and a clear action plan

You’re ready to move forward — but want to be sure it’s in the right direction

Book Now

Want to give a reading as a gift? Click HERE to purchase Gift Cards

*Can't find a slot that works for you? Join my waitlist HERE and get first access to my bookings each month!

| $127 1 hr 15 min

If you are seeking healing in both body and spirit and want a deeper way of working with the plants, this is for you.

During the reading a plant will come forward to walk with you for one moon cycle. Not as a remedy chosen by symptoms, but as an ally who is intelligent and knows how to unearth the root cause.

Plant spirit work is for those who want to go deeper, who know that physical symptoms are often rooted in emotional, ancestral, or energetic patterns.

Take Lemon Balm, for example. She soothes anxiety, supports digestion, and calms the nervous system, but her power lies in how she makes that possible. By lifting heaviness from the heart, inviting joy, and helping you feel safe enough to truly soften. When the spirit unclenches, the body can begin to heal.

After the reading you will have the opportunity to book clinical consultations with me to address specific symptoms and create a more more robust protocol for physical healing.

Book Now

Want to give a reading as a gift? Click HERE to purchase Gift Cards

*Can't find a slot that works for you? Join my waitlist HERE and get first access to my bookings each month!

| $127 1 hr 15 min

plant spirit

I had an intuitive energy reading with Julia, and it was truly powerful. What stood out most was how quickly and directly she got to the core of what truly matters to me, things I hadn't fully voiced but I did deeply feel. She brought these insights to the surface in a way that helped me see them clearly, and it gave me a deep sense of clarity and confidence about the direction I’m heading. The reading felt incredibly accurate and aligned, and I walked away feeling more connected to myself and my path. I would absolutely recommend her to anyone seeking honest, intuitive guidance and a deeper understanding of their inner landscape. - Amber B

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Testimonials

My Back-Alley Potions Holiday Sale is now through Friday at
9:00pm EST.!

Individual info and pricing is in my stories right now!

Just a sneak peak into part of my life as an Herbalist, Mystic, and Mama.

If you are interested in becoming part of my Day of Readings
✅️ DM: READING
to book with me

And gain clarity around...
Relationships
Career
Location
Health Issues
Path
Purpose

Be there or be square!

In my stories, that is. 😉

First Move it Monday! Thanks for those who came.
I won't be reposting future ones, but wanted to post thd first!

Join me live today and every Monday at noon Eastern Time for a quick lunch dance sesh (one song).

We will shake our a$$es and get inspired to create and move forward this week.

See you there!

You ready?

Can you soften and relax enough to be made love to by All That Is?

It requires trust and patience and action. It requires you to relax and play and maybe not grip so hard.

You've done the shedding (and maybe that is still happening a bit), but are you ready to be fluid enough to be made love to
By the Universe?
By your business?
By a true open-hearted lover?
Your spirit guides?
The elements?
The spirit of Money?
Your Work?
The Plants?
Your Home?
Your Community?
Your Senses?
The Land?
By All That Is?

Because buckle up buttercup. It's time to get your world rocked. And it's up to you how you receive it.

This message was brought to you by the Spirit of Kava Kava and my Abuelita. 😘 Go get 'em Tiger.

Hard launch of my new guy 😉

Just a sneak peak into part of my life as an Herbalist, Mystic, and Mama.

If you are interested in becoming part of my Day of Readings
✅️ DM: READING
to book with me

And gain clarity around...
Relationships
Career
Location
Health Issues
Path
Purpose

❤️‍🔥Special End-of-Year Readings are open for booking!

We will be looking into...

What Seeds you are to be Gestating this Winter

AND

What Spiritual Allies want to walk with you into the New Year!

In ADDITION to the usual Clarity on...
Relationships
Career
Location
Health Issues
Path
Purpose

❤️‍🔥 DM: READING
to book with me

Birthday Bachata Circle 🥰 I'm so grateful that my back is well enough to dance again!

This is the perfect topper to my Adaptogenic Pumpkin Cake! (See other reel)

Chocolate-Pecan Adaptogenic Frosting 🤤
4 c. Pecans
2 oz. Finely Chopped Fair Trade 100% Chocolate (I use Ceremonial Cacao)
1/2 tsp. Ceylon Cinnamon
1 tsp. Ashwagandha
1/4 -1/2 c. Pure Maple Syrup

Roast the nuts on a parchment lined cookie sheet at 325 F for 8 minutes (until fragrant)

Blend nuts in food processor or with an immersion blender until it is a uniformly smooth nut butter

Add chopped Cacao and blend well

Add powders and blend well

Add Maple Syrup and blend well

Whip in a stand mixer to get a smooth consistency adding more Maple Syrup as needed

Spread this on cakes like my Adaptogenic Pumpkin Cake (recipe in other reel), add it to ice cream, cookies, graham crackers, or eat it off the spoon. The sky's the limit!

✨️Want to shake your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist! Doors open again in January!

✨️ DM: MAGIC for more info
Or check out my 🔗 in bio

This pumpkin cake is full of calming happy adaptogens, medicinal spices, and protein. Plus it's naturally gluten and dairy free! Top it off with my Adaptogenic Chocolate Pecan frosting and it's like two holiday desserts in one! 🤤

My kids declared this to be a winner and want this instead of pumpkin pie!

✨️Want to shake your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist! Doors open again in January!

✨️ DM: MAGIC for more info
Or check out my 🔗 in bio

Here's the Recipe:

1 c. Turbinado sugar
6 eggs
15 oz. Pumpkin puree
1 tsp. Reishi Extract Powder
1 tsp. Mucuna Powder
3/4 tsp. Ceylon Cinnamon
1/2 tsp. Fresh Pumpkin Pie Spice (recipe below)
3 c. Ground Almond Flour

Set oven to 350 F

Beat together the sugar & eggs
Mix in the Pumpkin Puree and Powders
Mix in the Almond Flour
Pour batter into a greased large cast iron skillet

Bake for 35 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Wait to cool and top with the Chocolate Pecan Adaptogenic Frosting
(Recipe coming tomorrow)

Pumpkin Pie spice:
(Use freshly ground spices if possible)
4 Tbsp Ceylon Cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Have you thought about the fact that you are an ancestor?

Why are my eyes so puffy? I'll explain in my stories 😂

I hurt my back 😭

And the humility of s l o w i n g d o w n

Books are open for November!

October was FILLED with beautiful readings. I am so grateful to work with so many amazing souls!

✨️ If you are ready to gain clarity about

RELATIONSHIPS
CAREER
LOCATION
PATH
PURPOSE
HEALTH ISSUES

⬆️ Book through my b i o
OR
Julia Ornelas . com

Relationship is the single most important thing I have learned from my teachers.

Herbalism is built on reciprocity and relationship.

Not just with the plants themselves, but with the land, the seasons, your own body.

Knowledge does have its place. It helps us understand and speak the language of the plants, but it’s relationship that teaches us how to truly listen.

You can read every book and still not know a plant until you’ve sat with it, tended it, and let it change you.

Real herbal wisdom is grown through reciprocity, through showing up again and again with care.

So how do you build that relationship?

- Sit with one plant every day for a moon cycle.

- Continue to pay attention to that plant through the seasons of the year and the stages of its life, even before you ingest it.

- Learn its stories, not just its constituents.

- Ask permission to harvest it, and harvest in a way that promotes more growth.

- Offer gratitude, and only take what you need.

- If your knowledge tells you it’s safe to ingest, drink it daily as a tea steeped overnight for a moon cycle and notice what shifts in your body and mood.

- Listen and learn from the plant.

Want to learn how to connect with the plants and the land?

✅️DM: MAGIC to get on the waitlist

to join the incredible women in Practical Magic!✨️

In this online community we focus on:

Connection to Self

Connection to the Land

Connection to Purpose

through community, rituals, lots of fun, and an easy curriculum.

Membership is only $33 a month

Doors open again in January 2026

💀 We're in love and I don't care who knows it!

Make this Rosemary Radiance Oxymel now and the brew will be ready to be a base for holiday Mocktails and Cocktails come November!

Oxymels are a delicious way to pull vitamins and minerals out of plants and get them into your body! My favorite ways to use them are in drinks and salad dressings. 🤤

In a clean jar add:
Arils from 1 Pomegranate
Zest and juice from 1 lemon
Leaves from 5-7 sprigs of fresh Rosemary

Mash this all together using a wooden spoon

Fill the remainder of the jar with
50% Raw local honey
50% Apple Cider Vinegar (with the mother)

Stir well.

Cover with parchment or wax paper before putting on your lid. We don't want vinegar and metal to touch.

Shake it like a Polaroid Picture.😉

Store in a dark, cool place for a moon cycle, shaking every couple of days.

Strain and store in a cool place.

This is kitchen Witchery, so play with the quantity of each ingredient as you wish.

*The only important thing is to make sure liquid fills all the way to the top and no plant matter in sticking out.

Ruby Rosemary Elixir:
Ice
Juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2 c. Rosemary Radiance Oxymel
1/2 c. Sparkling water
Garnish with rosemary & Lemon slice

✨️Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

These are essentially Autumn inspired Meringue cookies. They are delightfully crispy on the outside and chewy in the center. I LOVE them.

They are naturally gluten free and if you use quality ingredients, are a healthy treat!

As the weather gets colder and flu season sets in I like to add Reishi to as much food as possible. Reishi has a beautifully ancient history of supporting health and longevity. It has been called the Mushroom of Immortality. As an adaptogen it helps the body adapt to stress as well as supports the immune system. Reishi has also been known to support cardiovascular health and improve sleep. The spirit of Reishi is even more powerful andhas healed me through heartache.

🍁RECIPE
3 Eggwhites at room temperature
Small pinch of salt
1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice (recipe below)
1/4 tsp ground ginger
2 tsp Reishi extract powder
1/4 c. 100% real Maple Syrup

Preheat oven to 225 F

Beat eggwhites to soft peaks. Add in salt and all powders. Slowly add in maple syrup.

Have a dance party, but don't over beat!

Spoon the batter onto parchment paper lined cookie sheets.

Bake for at least 1 1/2 hours. The key here is not the time, but making sure they are fully set and crisp on top. The time will depend on the humidity in your house. I live in Florida, so it took a lot longer. Once they are fully set and crisp on top, turn your oven off and leave them in there overnight.

In the morning transfer them to an airtight container and keep them away from humidity.
They should be a bit puffy. Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. If they are flat, the eggs were overbeaten. They will still be tasty, but the texture will be off.

A note on ingredients:
If you want these to be truly medicinal and healthy I suggest using freshly ground spices from quality sources (a reliable source is in my bio). Did you know these spices are medicinal?

Make sure you use Reishi EXTRACT powder, not just reishi powder. Use 100% organic real maple syrup. And you want healthy eggs from happy chickens 😉.

Pumpkin Pie spice:
(Use freshly ground spices if possible)
4 Tbsp Ceylon Cinnamon
2 tsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground ginger
1 1/2 tsp ground allspice
1 1/2 tsp ground cloves

Pollinators are keystone species in ecosystems. They help maintain biodiversity by supporting plant reproduction, which in turn supports animals up the food chain. Without them, many plants would fail to reproduce, weakening entire ecosystems.

In my monthly community, Practical Magic, I’ll be sharing how to create your own sanctuary for pollinators, plants, and your own soul, sustainably, over time, no matter where you live.

This is how we weave Magic into the Mundane.

I began with just a couple of native plants. Little by little my yard transformed into a thriving sanctuary, alive with butterflies, birds, bees, and hummingbirds. Last week alone, over 100 Monarch caterpillars turned into chrysalises in my yard.

Want to learn how to nurture the little ones and create your own sanctuary?

✅️DM: MAGIC

And join the incredible women in Practical Magic!

In this community we focus on:

Connection to Self

Connection to the Land

Connection to Purpose

through community, rituals, sustainable practices, and an easy curriculum.

Membership is only $33 a month

Doors close October 3rd and won’t reopen until 2026.

✅️Want a starting assignment?
Tonight do a quick internet search and find the closest Native Plant Nursery to you. You could even tag them in the comments!

Just two girls going to see @mychemicalromance in the middle of Eclipse Season. 🌕🌖🌗🌘🌑

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

#mychemicalromance #mcr #longlivetheblackparade #theblackparade #tampa #mcrconcert

Please read the full caption before working with Pokeberry.

Poke has a long tradition of use both with indigenous healers and in many folk remedies. She is native to the eastern United States and has a special affinity to the southeast and the Appalachians.

To me she is Magical.

She must be used with caution and care, but shouldn't be feared. I personally do not work with ingesting any part of Poke in my practice, but her spirit is potent and her berries make the most beautiful ink and make-up. Test her ink on a small area of skin first. I have no reaction to her, but some people do.

Having no idea who she was, I battled Pokeweed for years in my garden. And then I finally met her and recognized her and allowed her to grow. Each year she provides more and more to my gardens, my ecosystem, and my children and me. She provides shelter and food for the birds each morning as they feast upon her berries, support for my dainty vines, and a reprieve from the heat of this Florida sun. My youngest children often talk about her transporting visitors into a magical land when entering our property.

Pokeberry ink has been used for a long time. Many have used her ink to write letters and documents as well as dye for cloth. I love to use her as lipstick and blush. Just as any other make-up or ink/paint, don't ingest it. Any toxicity in the berries is mostly in the seeds, so just strain them out.

To make the ink:

Pick dark purple ripe berries(with gloves if you are worried about any irritation)

Pour them into a nutmilk bag

Squeeze the juice out

Paint or write with the juice

It really is that simple. It makes a beautiful magenta ink that lasts. Store the ink in a jar in the fridge and use within a week or so. Some people ferment the ink for longer use.

Poke grows abundantly in most places, but please make sure you only take berries from places where berries are abundant. They are food for the birds first.

Happy painting!

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

Can we hold hands with God and play?

✅Interested in a reading to guide you on your path or purpose?
Check out my bio for more info and to book one for yourself!

What is the gift that you are called to give in return for your privilege of breath?

I just returned from the land of the Cherokee. Throughout the years those lands have healed my heart, my body, my mind, my soul. The land fills me up and gives me new inspiration every time I visit her.

She has been raped. Her people, her caretakers, were pushed away from her. Stolen. Killed. Forced to die on a long road to another land.

And yet she continues to give. Her elements provide us with beauty and life. She survives and rebuilds and thrives.

She is ancient. Part of some of the oldest mountains in the world. I am nothing compared to her and yet she gives so much to me.

I bathe in her waters, breathe her fresh air, bask in her sun, and collect her abundant plants as she heals me. I gaze at her mountains and ask her what I can do to give back. What gift could ever be enough?

When I am with her my gift is usually song. As I leave I know my gift will be to follow through with the inspirations she has given me.

Do you have a land who heals you? And what gift do you give back to her?

In 2021 I visited the Santa Cruz Redwoods and, while sitting in front of this special tree, I received the call to be a Medicine Woman and Mystic.

It was an experience that came both suddenly and slowly over time.

A year later, God led me on a path to the School of the Sacred Wild, and I studied under the beautiful @marysia_miernowska . She taught me to connect to the land, the seasons, and the plants in a deeper way than I had ever experienced before. Through that container, I found my footing as a Medicine Woman.

Two plants stepped forward as my deepest allies, Lemon Balm and Tulsi, and I wrote a book about them as part of my graduation project for School of the Sacred Wild. To my complete surprise, the place picked for our graduation was the Santa Cruz Redwoods.

And so a year ago today, I made a little pilgrimage to my special Redwood tree to thank her before starting my graduation retreat.

And when I arrived in her grove, there was Lemon Balm.

Everywhere. 😭

It was one of the most beautiful moments of my life. 🥰

I sat there for hours and just journaled, sang, danced, and basked in their beauty. Such gratitude and confirmation of my path, my journey.

And here I am, a year later, after finishing @earthmysteryschool . Claiming the title of Mystic and Intuitive Guide after a deep Lemon Balm immersion with @actuallyriver

It is all connected, and I am amazed.
There are no coincidences.
Just magic and connection.

As an intuitive guide and herbalist I call on the elements often. In ceremony. In consults. And ideally, in daily life.

Water is the one I go to when I need to feel again. She reminds me to allow everything to flow freely. And to have the audacity to fill the container of my life.

The elements ARE the medicine.
They are alive and they are always offering us a way back to ourselves.

If you are wanting to reconnect with the elements for clarity around your path or for physical healing, I offer 1:1 readings to support you.
DM me "Readings" and I'll send you a link with all the info.

As the @earthmysteryschool members and @lizzietilia begin their retreat I am holding them in prayer from afar. This was the container where my gifts expanded exponentially and I am eternally humbled and grateful. 🙏

Magic is Real.
The Earth is Alive.
We are Safe in that.

And now...

We create.

Mercury Retrograde in the house!

Thanks @livgowans for the funny convo amd inspiration 😆

Be careful what you drink when trying to film 😆 And why was that the weirdest burp ever??

In all seriousness, I love drinking peppermint tea 🌱 in the afternoon. It's cooling and sharpens the mind. It's the perfect companion to sip on while getting work done.

But it WILL move trapped wind in the body, lol.

I'm having a Summer Sale ☀️ for my 1:1 Plant Spirit Readings and Path and Purpose Readings.

Which one is for you?

Path & Purpose ---> get clarity on career, relationships, purpose, or life transition

Plant Spirit ---> find healing in both the body and spirit by getting to the root of the matter. Physical symptoms are often rooted in deeper things and I'll help you find a plant ally to help with that. Maybe it's Peppermint 😉

Book through my bio. 😊

Allowing my dear Lemon Balm to work through my body.
My lovely teacher, @lizzietilia put this song on our Lemon Balm playlist to go with our epic immersion led by @actuallyriver and I have been dancing to it daily ever since.

Moving much needed energy, shedding old patterns. Letting go, Letting go, Letting go. Allowing myself to move into my next phase.

That is was Lemon Balm does, she moves heat and she opens. Whether energetically, physically, or both. She propels us into something new. And for me, music and movement need to be a big part of it. Daily. Usually more intense than this, but I have a foor injury, lol. So today it is slow.

Thanks you sweet Lemon Balm for showing me all the things I still need to shed.

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

After the fire, the earth.

Yesterday, we raised our voices with MILLIONS upon MILLIONS across the country.

Today, I return to the land. Barefoot. Hands in the soil.

Gathering butterfly blue pea in the soft rain.
Her electric blue blossoms feel like little portals—opening vision, softening sorrow, reminding me of beauty even among so much uncertainty in the world.

She’s a nervous system balm, a crown chakra whisper, a bridge between groundedness and imagination.

Music in my ears, heart wide open. Letting the plants hold me. Letting the garden remind me who I am.

This is how I root after rising.
This is how I remember what I’m here to create.
This is how I restore enough to offer beauty again.

To all of you who protested too, whether physically or in your heart: come back to the land. Let her soothe you. Let the land show you what’s next.

What beauty will you be bringing to the world?

🍋🌱 Lemonbalm Glow-Up Spritzer
For when your body needs electrolytes and your soul needs a hug.

I was feeling under the weather this week, and this was the perfect afternoon pick-me-up—cooling, replenishing, and spirit-lifting.

Lemonbalm is one of my favorite plants to bring out the inner child. She carries this sweet, uplifting calm that feels like sunshine in leaf form. Paired with Hibiscus (a beautiful source of Vitamin C and antioxidants), this spritzer becomes both medicine and magic.

Here’s how to make it:

🌺 Prep your Hibiscus
Steep a large pinch in 1 quart of co water overnight to pull out her full potency.

🍋 In a 1-quart jar, layer:
— 1–2 Tbsp Raw Honey
— 1 tsp Sea Salt
— 1 serving Trace Mineral Drops
(add a little tea here to help dissolve)
— Juice of 1–2 Lemons
— 3–4 fresh Lemonbalm sprigs
— Ice

🫧 Fill halfway with your Hibiscus infusion
🫧 Top off with sparkling water
🫧 Stir and garnish with a lemon slice + Lemonbalm sprig

Let me know if you try it!

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

Mornings in the garden smell like chamomile and sunshine.🥰☀️

Soft petals, sleepy fingers, birds calling in the trees, and the clink of glass jars filling with golden calm.

Chamomile is the kind of plant that whispers instead of shouts.
Gentle… but powerful.

Traditionally used for everything from colic to insomnia, chamomile soothes the nervous system, settles upset tummies, relaxes muscle tension, eases menstrual cramps, and quiets anxious thoughts. It’s safe for children, beloved by herbalists, and deeply restorative for anyone running on empty.

This is your reminder that “gentle” doesn’t mean “weak.”

In my apothecary this June, you’ll find this golden ally in three forms:
— tincture (strong and fast-acting)
— glycerite (sweet and kid-friendly)
— elixir (a magical combination of the two)

Want in on this golden calm?
🌼 Message me Apothecary to join my customer list!

🍋🌿 This heart-soothing plant isn’t just for tea.

She can wrap you in calm, open your heart, and bring peace to your skin, your senses, and your spirit.

Here are 10 sweet, simple ways to invite her into your daily rituals:
Message me “LemonBalm” and I’ll send you the link to download your free PDF with all the instructionsto make these! 💌 🍋🌿

🌿 Body Oil – Massage into skin to calm the nerves and invite deep nourishment.

🌿 Foot Soak – Soak to relax tension and return to your body’s center.

🌿 Cooling Mist / Hydrosol – Spritz to soothe hot skin, frazzled edges, or emotional heat.

🌿 Dream Pillow – Tuck beneath your pillow to ease into soft, restful sleep.

🌿 Prayer & Protection Spray – Mist with intention to clear space and call in protection.

🌿 Bath Salts – Soak in her sweetness to unwind, soften, and let go.

🌿 Hair Rinse – Pour over hair and scalp for shine, clarity, and clearing.

🌿 Facial Steam – Breathe in her warm aroma to open pores and soften stress.

🌿 Flower Essence – Take a few drops to lift the spirit and hold the heart.

🌿 Relational Practice – Sit with her in stillness. Breathe. Listen. Receive.

✨ Want the full how-to guide with instructions for everything?

Message me “LemonBalm” and I’ll send you the link to download your free PDF! 💌 🍋🌿

Which one will you try first?

How do I start as an Herbalist?

It really is this simple. So simple that we often ignore it and want to focus on other things. But this is the foundation.

Daily commitment and relationship to start. Get to know one weed. Watch it change over time.

Eventually learn more and more about it.

Did you notice I never said to harvest it and ingest it? Taking from the plants is never step 1.

We need to lay a foundation.

I will be speaking more on this in the coming weeks as more and more plants are popping up.

What do you want to know more about?

Springtime in the Garden🌱

From cutting back -> to prepping beds -> to planting -> to first harvests -> to drying and making medicine, the past couple of months have been busy!

There is no shortage of work in my Spring garden, but it's my favorite time to be there 🥰.

These plants bring me such joy.

What did you plant this spring?

Lemonbalm Lavender Almond Cake with Fairy Flower Frosting

Every bite of this cake made the patience of infusing the butter and sugar worth it! 🤤
It based on my beloved Santiago Cake, which makes it naturally gluten free.

Lemonbalm Lavender Almond Cake
1 1/2 c. Turbinado Sugar
Zest from 4 Lemons
1 small handful of Lemonbalm, finely chopped
2 Sprigs of Lavender, finely chopped
6 eggs
3 c. Almond Flour
Juice from 2 Lemons

1. Rub together sugar, zest, Lemonbalm, and Lavender until well mixed.
2. Allow to infused in a covered container for at least 1 hour
3. Preheat oven to 350°F
4. Grease a large cast iron skillet
5. Whisk together eggs and infused sugar.
6. Add Almond flour and whisk until well incorporated
7. Stir in lemon juice
8. Pour into the skillet and bake for 35 minutes

Fairy Flower Frosting
8 oz. Grassfed unsalted butter
1 handful Lemonbalm
2 Sprigs Lavender
16 oz Cream Cheese, softened
2-3 tsp Butterfly Blue Pea powder
2-3 tsp Rose powder
1/2 c. Fine Sugar (infused with lemon zest and lavender is even better!)

1. Melt butter in a double boiler
2. Add Lemonbalm and Lavender and allow to infuse on low heat for 15 to 20 minutes (do not cook the herbs)
3. Pour into a container and allow to cool to a "softened" butter texture overnight.
4. In a standing mixture whisk the infused butter and cream cheese together until it starts to get fluffy
5. Add butterfly blue pea, rose, and sugar and beat until well incorporated

Spread on cake and decorate with edible flowers! 😋

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

The warm days are starting! 🌞 Which means it's Mojito season. 😁
Let this one rehydrate you instead of depleting you!

Mojito Electrolyte Mocktail

2 T Raw Honey
1 tsp Sea Salt
1/2 tsp Trace Mineral Drops
1 handful Fresh Mint
2 Limes
Sparkling Water, Water, or Mint Tea

Pour a little warm (not hot) water over the Honey and Salt and stir to dissolve a bit.
Layer the Ice, sprigs of Mint and Lime Juice up the glass.
I like to add more honey and salt too. 👀
Fill the cup with the liquid of your choice.
Garnish with Mint and Lime.

Try this for an afternoon pick-me-up instead of coffee!

✨Want to move your booty and practice Kitchen Witchery live online with me?
Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

This ❤️‍🔥 Wild Heart Tonic ❤️‍🔥 has been giving me life and bringing me out of the depths of Winter into Spring.

Wild Heart Tonic
1 pinch of Hibiscus
1 pinch of Schisandra Berries
1 pinch of Rose Petals
1 pinch of Cinnamon Chips
1 thumb of fresh Ginger, sliced

Place all ingredients into a 1 quart jar. Fill with boiling water. Cover and let steep for a minimum of 1 hour. I like to steep it over night to get the full benefits of these lovely plants.

I like to serve it at room temperature with my lemon peel infused honey, but any honey will do.

What is your favorite way to have Hibiscus?

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Get on my Practical Magic waitlist!
Link in my bio.

Rooted Warrior Love Elixir 💕 – A heart-fortifying cacao drink infused with strength, resilience, and devotion. Crafted to nourish the wild, grounded masculine within—and to honor, awaken, and call in the beloved warrior, protector, and lover who stands in his power with an open heart.

It's slow, intentional, & deeply nourishing.

Make a big batch of the base on the stove one day and then use it for the whole week.
Start with 8 cups of simmering water in a pot and add a handful of each of the following:

Burdock: This earthy root purifies, grounds, nourishes, and adds emotional stability and safety.

Ashwagandha: This root rejuvenates inner strength and vitality while easing stress and providing a calm space for the body and soul to heal.

Reishi: This mushroom is known for enhancing wisdom, offering protection, and calming the spirit. It is incredibly restorative and connects us deeply to the ancestors as well as the cosmos.

Cinnamon Chips: This lovely bark increases circulation, opens the heart, and helps to regulate blood sugar. It also adds a bit of spice for those who like the masculine spicy, like me. 😉

Allow this to simmer all day uncovered, adding more water as needed. Once finished you can strain and refrigerate it to be used as the base of the Rooted Warrior throughout the week.

To make:

Put 1 cup of very hot decoction into a large glass measuring cup.

Add…

1 scoop of unflavored powdered bone broth for nourishment, strength, and energy

1 ounce chopped, Ceremonial Grade Cacao for a link to the ancestors, mystic depth, and provides connection to Spirit & intuition.

1/2 tsp. Kava root to bring one out of the mind and back into the body, and is excellent for connection to oneself, in a sacred communal setting, or with a lover.

Mix with a frother

Pour into your loveliest mug

Top with powdered & whole rose petals to open the heart and encourage healthy boundaries.

Enjoy!

The Magic of Butterfly Blue Pea 🦋

I love to keep this simple syrup on hand to turn mocktails into magic. And it's so easy!

Butterfly Blue Pea Simple Syrup
1 cups water
1 cup sweetener
2-4 Butterfly Blue Pea flowers

In a small saucepan heat the water and sweetener until the sweetener dissolves. Turn the heat off and add the flowers. Allow the flowers to infuse until it cools or until the syrup reaches the desired blue tint.
Pour the cooled syrup into a glass jar and store in the fridge.

✨️Magical Pink Lemonade Mocktail✨️
Rim a glass with coarse lemon sugar
Add your desired amount of ice
Fill 1/3 with Butterfly Blue Pea Simple Syrup
Fill 1/3 with Lemon Juice
Top off with sparkling water
Add a sprig of Rosemary, give it a stir, and Enjoy!

Don't have any Butterfly Blue Pea flowers? Shoot me a DM and I'll get you some ASAP!

It’s Citrus Season!

Do you have neighbors bringing over bags of extra citrus and you don’t know what to do with all of it? I’ve got you covered!

These make great Holiday Gifts too!

My generous neighbors gave me a gazillion Meyer Lemons and I was determined to use every bit of every lemon.

Here’s what I made…

*make sure the citrus is not sprayed with chemicals and only wash with hot water and baking soda.

Lacto-Fermented Citrus-
These are great to have on hand to add to meats, seafood, vegetables, salads, soups, dressings or just straight from the jar! Just rinse off the excess salt and enjoy!
Starting with salt, make layers of the quartered citrus and large pinches of salt in a jar. Press down with a wooden spoon after each layer. Salt generously and add other spices to the bottom if desired. I made one plain and one with cinnamon chips, cloves, and allspice berries. Make sure the citrus is completely submerged in juice and add additional juice if necessary. Cover with parchment paper and a tight lid. Let it sit at room temperature for 5 days, turning the jar twice a day. After 5 days, let them ferment in the fridge, turning every few days. Make sure they are always submerged in juice. After about a month, they will be ready to eat. If properly stored, they should last a year in the fridge.

Citrus Sugars-
Keep these around for the rims of cocktails/mocktails, give a crunchy top to baked goods, add to oil for a luxurious body scrub, or just to add lemony sweetness to anything!Use 2 tablespoons of fine zest (1-2 pieces of fruit) from a microplane and 1 cup of sugar. Mix in a bowl with your hands, rubbing the zest and sugar together well. I like to use coarse turbinado sugar. I kept ⅓ coarse, I ground ⅓ in the blender to a fine sugar, and I ground ⅓ in a blender with a sprig of lavender to a fine sugar. Store in a cool dry place. If you live in Florida, store in the fridge.

More Recipes in the comments...

I highly recommend making this! We devoured it at record speed. I make apple pie every year, but this has been my best yet!

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Here's the recipe...

I don't measure things, so just have fun!

About 5lbs of apples. I like to use a variety.

1 stick cold grass fed butter (or other fat)

Pie crust for top and bottom

Raw sugar or sweetener

Spices and powdered adaptogens. Be creative! I used cinnamon, sugar, clove, ginger, reishi extract powder, chaga extract powder, and mucuna. If you have one of my powdered adaptogen or hormone balance blends, you can just use that!

Core and slice apples (I don't peel)

Place the bottom crust in a deep dish pie pan. I used store bought crust this time, but if you make your own, try adding some adaptogen powders to the crust too!

Arrange one layer of apple slices.

Sprinkle sugar, spices, and adaptogens

Add small cubes of butter.

Repeat layers of apples - sugar - spices and/or adaptogens- butter two more times

Cover with top crust.

Cut slits in top for steam to escape

Brush with a mix of melted butter and milk

Sprinkle with raw sugar.

*In one of my layers I also added some of my Rising Phoenix Elixir, which has Tulsi, Damiana, Rose bud and thorn, and cinnamon. It was an amazing addition. I didn't add as many powders in that layer.

Bake at 425 for 20 minutes

Turn down to 375 for 40 minutes, keeping an eye on the crust.

Let cool and serve with vanilla ice cream if course 😉

#thanksgiving #foodmedicine #mushrooms #adaptogens #herbalism

Today is the day!!!!
Available NOW at JuliaOrnelas. c o m

Reconnect to your inner fire through recipes, stories, and connection with the plants.
Herbalist, Julia Ornelas, offers a beautifully designed book showcasing two simple, easy to grow herbs and weaves a memoir of how these plants brought her from confusion to clarity and to recognizing her power within.

Containing 50 recipes that span from elixirs to salads to cookies, instructions on how to grow, and an in-depth reference for each plant, this book provides the knowledge to make even the beginner feel like a master herbalist. Beyond the how-to, Julia provides a platform for personal growth, clarity and a sensuality for life that is inspiring and medicine for the soul.

Cookbook.Memoir. Herbal reference. A Heart Aflame: Tales of a Journey With Lemon Balm & Tulsi is perfect for budding herbalists, nature lovers, creative cooks, nutritious eaters, and anyone who feels stuck, lost, or confused within a sea of self-help books.

#herbalism #plantmedicine #lemonbalm #tulsi #holybasil #schoolofthesacredwild #book #passion #sensuality #divinefeminine

How are you leaning into your witchy side this season?

It's interesting that the only two Halloween costumes I remember dressing up as a child were a Mommy and a Witch. My two most cherished roles now.

Even though so many of my herbal sisters have loved reclaiming the title of witch, I didn't have that desire in my heart for a long time.
I didn't want to be associated with black magic in any way (and still don't). And that's not what any of my herbal sisters were associating with either. I was inspired by my sisters who reclaimed the title to take back the word. To not let it have such a stigma and to remember that those who were accused and punished as witches in history were often herbalists, medicine women, or just scapegoats. How odd that many still fear the idea of a witch more than the people who killed innocent women.

Magic is simply the ability to shift consciousness at will. My teacher, @marysia_miernowska, says that often.

And so, through my claiming of all titles at my graduation ceremony, I also claimed that of Witch.
I'm a Green Witch. One of the earth. Who works everyday to shift my consciousness at will. Mainly to regulate my nervous system and focus on my own inner healing. Plants, and prayer, and connection to the Creator are just some of the ways I do that. I cannot hold space for others to find healing if I don't practice the magic within myself first. I accept and love ALL parts of myself, even my shadow. I celebrate it ALL.
And my passion is to help other women to do the same.

That is the magic.

If you haven't heard, my BOOK comes out November 1st! Go to JuliaOrnelas . c o m to check it out and pre-order your copy!

Want to reconnect to your inner fire 🔥 and delight?

My new book is all about two very special plants that did that very thing for me.
It includes 50 beloved recipes and preparations of both Lemon Balm & Tulsi, how to grow and care for them, what they are "good" for and my story of how they changed my life.

Carmelite Water is one of these 50 recipes, and here is a brief exerpt about it from the pages of my book,

"Initially crafted in the 14th Century by Carmelite monks in the Abbey of St. Just, the original recipe (of Carmelite Water) was - and is - a closely guarded secret. However, the concoction of alcohol, spices, and herbs including Lemon Balm and Angelica Root has been known to soothe many medical ailments. Anxiety, headaches, menstrual cramps, fevers, and colds have all been traditionally treated with Carmelite Water, and it is also and excellent rinse for the face, body, and hair..."
- pg. 29

This batch of Carmelite Water has been such a gift to me and has helped me through some tremendous difficulties over the past two months.

Have you ever heard of Carmelite Water or Eau de Mélisse?

Pre-order my book today through w w w. JuliaOrnelas . c o m

The final click of sending MY BOOK off to the printers!

If you don't know already... I wrote my first book! It comes out November 1st!
I'm so proud of myself that I could burst with joy 😁.

It's amazing how even after I wrote it, those very words were the medicine I was needing these past 6 weeks of my life.

Keep your eyes and ears open as I'll be sharing more and more about it in the weeks to come!

💦What a watery, sensual, and transformative full moon ritual! I'm going to need to return to my journal to fully process.

What did you do for the full moon eclipse?

I have been diving into this idea of spaciousness of the unknown. It was something I started journaling about in early summer as I discerned what I wanted this coming fall --> winter to look like for me. My heart desired this spaciousness so that I had the ability to expand my circles and try new things and just see what comes into my life and where I was led.

To be honest, some days/moments the spaciousness still feels a bit scary. Especially because there were certain things and people that I thought would come into this opened space that didn't.

But for the most part I'm very excited as I discern and implement shifts in my business (did you see the new IG bio and name??), shifts in my home life, shifts in my relationships. So much room for possibility.💃

I can't wait to share more as all the next steps are revealed to me 🥰.

Have you ever thought about this in your own life?

Dropping back into my body on work breaks.

Anyone else need movement throughout their day? 🙋‍♀️

There is something amazing about the ritual of bathing in the wild. The slowness of it. The connection.
In this ritual I used @natalialalonde 's Triple Lotus Glycerine and an oil from @criticalritual and I remembered the beautiful time dry brushing and oiling with my dear Sacred Wild sisters in the Redwoods.
The next morning I brought two other women with me to bathe at the creek. I feel like these are things women are supposed to do together. It just feels so natural and beautiful.

I am definitely a woman of the water and I hope to incorporate that in my offerings in some way in the future. I'm not yet sure what that will look like, but the water is calling!

School of the Sacred Wild
Graduation Retreat 2024

What an incredible week this was. The road of these past two years was one of letting go of the old and reclaiming myself.✨️

During my graduation ceremony I claimed the titles of Medicine Woman, Mystic, and... EVERYTHING, lol. I want it all. I want to delight in the nectar and juiciness of life in all aspects of myself and don't want to shy away from anything.

Graduation week was such a celebration of us as these wild women who are stepping out onto our paths in service to ourselves and the world. We had the privilege of witnessing eachothers final projects and I was so inspired by each and every one of my sisters in this coven. It was incredible to see each person's unique gifts. Of course I brought that dancing energy 💃. And apparently I brought a lot of mermaid energy as well, lol 🧜‍♀️ 💦.

I will be sharing my final project in the months to come. 😁 For now I am basking in this energy with other Wild Women and I'm so excited for this unknown path ahead of me that has yet to be revealed.

If you are interested in this life changing experience of School of the Sacred Wild, registration is still open and the spiral starts in September!

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For herbal fun and recipes, follow me on Instagram! @Julia.Ornelas.Herbalist

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