#in fact it's highly important to learn to recognize that you *won't* always have a visceral reaction to shitty things worth talking about! | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

fqirycollective · 2 years

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Dear Younger Systems...

The label "System"

Don't be so quick to call yourself a system. OSDDID is a heavily stigmatized disorder and is far from fun. Don't be so quick to give yourself such a stigmatized label. There are many, many disorders to consider before OSDDID, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, etc. A lot of you are younger than 16, meaning the disorder likely hasn't presented itself very much. However for the other disorders I mentioned, it's much more likely. Not only are they not as stigmatized, but they're much more common and present younger much more often. Being a younger teen specifically leaves you impressionable to being wrong, especially with the identity issues being a younger teen brings. The only disorders often confused with OSDDID that I don't suggest looking at before is personality disorders.

Track your symptoms

For everything good, please track your symptoms!! If you don't experience dissociation and slight identity changes, you aren't a system. Those two things are required, but so many people will assume they're a system because their personality changes around different people. That's called an alter ego!! But you can't know if you experience these things without tracking. Even if you believe you're a system, you shouldn't stop tracking symptoms because you may learn of a disorder that explains your symptoms better.

Don't cling to the diagnosis

This applies to every person who has self diagnosed with something. After diagnosis, you shouldn't cling too much either as there's always possibility to be wrong, but it's even more important with self diagnosis. As I said, as you're younger, you're mlre impressionable and you'll likely give into some type of internal bias easier. Especially if OSDDID is the first disorder you look into. When someone suggests other disorders to look into, research them! I'm not saying you aren't a system, or that you should listen to fakeclaimers. I'm saying you can't be so sure you're a system whenever I try to help you. I've actually had conversations with younger systems that have told me I was downright wrong for suggesting the possibility they weren't systems but maybe instead had another disorder. Please stop being so sure of yourself that you refuse to continue researching, tracking symptoms, and continue to argue with people for saying the facts because you're so attached to a diagnosis that it becomes apart of you. It's not healthy.

Statistics

This is the part that's really going to piss people off. In order to know about your system before the age of about mid to late 16, you would have to be overt as a child, although it doesn't necessarily mean other people have to recognize the overtness as it can be more inwards. Only 6% of *adults* (as most research is in adults) are overt, so the probablity of you being overt as a younger teen is highly improbable. There are some instances where overtness is more likely, such as in C-DID systems as everything is "higher" in them (from observation, I've noticed they've tended to be more overt in childhood but that's obviously not the case for every complex system). If you believe you're a system as a younger teen but aren't overt in the slightest or know everything about your system, especially without professional help, I highly suggest you take a break from the system community. Obviously symptoms won't just get worse on your 16th birthday, they gradually worsen, but as a younger system, it's very unlikely that you will know for sure until you're an adult (as symptoms will have had time to "develop").

Safety

Another part that will piss people off. Source calls aren't safe, even for adult systems. Partner application accounts shouldn't even exist. It's a breeding ground for pedophilia, grooming, and overall abusive behavior because guess what? People can lie. It's also easier to be catfished by a system, in my opinion, as any inconsistancies can be played off as other alters. Not to mention, it's hella romanticizing to use these types of accounts or even make partner applications in general as it lowkey (or highkey) gives off the vibe that "it's a 'disorder' people use to date many other people," which is far from the truth. Sharing any triggers, positive or negative, with people you aren't super close with is dangerous. Sharing your legal name is dangerous, especially if they connect you with being a system with how traumatized you already are. Putting things such as dick/bra sizes, sub/dom, etc. is highly sexualizing and can make it more likely for the things mentioned above. Just practice normal online safety.

Final Thoughts

This post was aimed at systems 15 or younger. This is not a post to fakeclaim, only to educate and help. Do not cling to a self diagnosis of a highly stigmatized disorder at such a young age (or in general). It's very important to keep yourself from doing that. I was that young when I discovered my system, and even with confirmation from everyone close to me except the professionals I work with, I'm still very open to the idea. You have to be some type of overt, to yourself or others, to know at such a young age. Otherwise the symptoms wouldn't be "strong" enough to present properly enough for you to track and line them up. And for the love of god, be safe. I know a couple systems are planning posts on that so I'll leave it to them to elaborate on what I've already said. But remember basic internet safety. As much as we want this to be a safe community, it's not. It's so easy for people to justify bad behavior and blame it on alters.

#did system #osdd system #osdd #did alter #did osdd #dissociative system #osdd support #osdd community #osdd things

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1111jenx · 3 years

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Hi darl, a silly question has been running through my head and I think you're the best one to answer so here it goes... what's the difference between Saturn rx and the normal saturn?¿ (idk how to say it properly sorry) I mean how it affects the chart anddd also I wish you could explain why some astrologers say that when Jupiter is retrograde in a chart it's better bc the planet can expand itself the most ?¿ or something like that.

hope u can understand the tongue twister i just did up there hahah and thank u sm in advance💗💗.

pd: english is not my first language so sorry if there's any mistake :D

Good morning love!!

I hope you're doing okay:D And ofcourse, don't worry about it at all you explained what you wanted to ask very clearly and I'll be more than happy to answer it for ya🥰

🪐Natal Saturn rx & Natal Jupiter rx 🪐

— Saturn, like the other planets, moves backwards at times. The term "retrograde" refers to the fact that the planets appear to be travelling backward in the sky, therefore we count degrees backward instead of forward until Saturn changes course and returns to direct. Our counting is slowed as a result of this. Retrograde motion can extend for months and has an impact on the time of your Saturn Return. It also has an impact on how many times your Saturn will be hit during your reincarnation. Let's assume that Saturn is in Aquarius at 27 degrees, at the end of the sign.

During Saturn's two-and-a-half-year transit through Aquarius, Saturn is unlikely to move from zero to twenty-seven in a straight line. Saturn will reach a particular degree, then pause, go retrograde, pause, and then resume its onward motion through the sign until it reaches the finish. Because this process takes months, you may experience your Saturn Return more than once every twenty-eight years! Therefore, your Saturn rx will manifest a result of Saturn Return as such:

First Saturn Return: ages twenty-seven to thirty-one

Second Saturn Return: ages fifty-six to sixty

Third Saturn Return: ages eighty-four to ninety

But how does Saturn in retrograde manifest its affect on one’s life?

When Saturn is retrograde in your chart, you may feel more sorrow and self-doubt than normal. Others won't know how you're feeling since you like to keep your worries to yourself. Instead, you are too cautious out of dread of disappointing others. It generally refers to a situation in which the father was either absent or only available to administer discipline rather than encouraging.

It may make you feel uneasy in situations that aren't bothersome to others. Saturn retrograde people may find social situations incredibly tough. Saturn retrograde people have a hard time recognizing when they should agree or disagree with anything. Limits are governed by Saturn, and their understanding of them is distorted or undeveloped.

Saturn retrograde might indicate a "late bloomer," indicating a later success in life. You work for years without success until, as you grow older, you begin to be rewarded and can become extremely successful.

A Saturn rx person is a knowledgeable spirit who has mastered many important life lessons via prior incarnations of responsibility. Learning to relax and enjoy yourself may be a part of your current life's job.

Saturn Retrograde in the natal chart may also indicate that the individual would deal with their karma privately, rather than outwardly, through meditation, therapy, and prayer.

There may also be a strong fear of disappointing others or failing to meet one's responsibilities, in other words, of making the wrong judgments. Being disciplined and orderly as a child was not always simple. In some ways, having Saturn retrograde in the chart is comparable to having a strong Uranus in the chart, where the native feels uncomfortable with a highly planned or disciplined lifestyle. Individuals with Saturn rx may feel especially uneasy or apprehensive in situations that require etiquette or certain sets of rules and conventions.

— A powerful Jupiter, in my opinion, makes one religious and devotional, whereas a retrograde Jupiter does the contrary. It may not necessary make a person an atheist, but it does cause one to have extreme beliefs that differ from the person's familial traditions.

Jupiter represents the instructor or professor; they are a supporter of endeavors that advance consciousness. Jupiter represents the higher intellect, bringing one beyond acquired limitations, whether exactly or symbolically, and into an investigation of the riddle, which anticipates a rebound of faith.

Retrograde planets, according to astrology, represent an internal, contemplative cycle, which corresponds to the nature of the planet and the constellation it is crossing. In Jupiter's case, this manifests as a process and length of intense spiritual and intellectual development on a personal level. Jupiter's retrograde in natal chart signifies deep inner transformation. Individuals frequently reconnect and realign with their internal guidance, intimate inner truth, and enormous, all encompassing conscious experience foundation inside.

A person born with Jupiter rx has a sense of integrity, honesty, faith, and knowledge that is beyond their age. One will put up with a philosophic methodology while paying attention to the connotations of that home in order to find a more in-depth truth. In the chart, Jupiter retrograde stresses attention, kindness, tolerance, explaining action, a basis for life, and a profound understanding of the advantages of their role as an inner pleader.

Individuals may find it more difficult in their initial years to share their advantages with the rest of the world owing to factors such as a lack of chances, consciousness, and self-doubt.

However, Jupiter will deposit immediately through progression in the native's later years of life, honoring a point when the wheel of success is turning, necessitating a huge leap of faith. This may appear to be a complete 180-degree turn or an unimaginable endeavor. However, it is likely to be accompanied with a sense that one's entire life experience has been in preparation for this moment.

As a person's internal trust is restored, it becomes simpler to share one's advantages with the community without worrying about how they are received—or returned. Natives will realize that they are a conduit for a tremendous amount of energy that the universe transmits via them.

They typically thrive where others have failed in the workplace. When others fail, those with Jupiter rx start working and succeed. These people are well-known for their excellent managerial skills. Closed projects come to life when you put your hand in them. The individual is a visionary who does not believe in hurrying through life.

Above are some thoughts I have for Saturn rx and Jupiter rx:) I have always been very fascinated when it comes to the outer planet and I deem them to have a major effect on our lives, the same way that our inner planets do, yet in a vastly different way:D

I hope this helps and hopefully provide you some insights love<3

saint jenx🪐

#saturn rx #jupiter rx #astrojenx #askjenx #saturn rising #jupiter rising #astro observations #astro community #astro notes #astrology observations

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sk-lumen · 3 years

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Need serious advice about setting boundaries or communicating when dealing with a person who:

Is a parent

Has unhealthy communication methods -- it takes very little for them to start full-blown screaming, shouting out all your 'negative' things/mistakes/past, can continue to scream-criticise you even after you've gone silent, for WHOLE MINUTES even if you've shut up, will not accept anything that even hints at them making a mistake

You can't trust since childhood coz u made the mistake of confiding in them with a serious issue as a young teen --- mental related --- and they belittled and invalidated you, and since then pretended you never confided in them and have NO IDEA how you've been coping without them or ANYone else for years... Yeah thanks, parent, what u said back then made me think I was the one at fault and so I stopped trusting even friends coz yeah, when ur own parent doesn't give a damn, why would anyone else?

Is a master at silent treatments without explaining what EXACTLY they're punishing you for, then when theyre in the mood, will start talking to you as if they hadn't ignored you for days. Lol I'd rather be water boarded I think. Especially for all the damage this caused when I was a child

Won't openly talk about what they want, yet expects ALL FHE TIME others (in the family) to know what they want, then will complain/scream/angry for AGES about how no one cares, no one gives a damn... And when someone asks them what they want, they either say: nothing, or "you should know! Can't u see?"

Upon asking them to please talk normally, will blow a fuse, and lose it --- happened multiple times today

Literally will use me as a scape goat to unleash their frustrations upon. Even when I leave the room, I can hear them b*tch about how much of a failure I am etc. The trigger being anything that bothers them, from a phone call to something other siblings did, bla bla. I limit my time with them... But it's like, it feels impossible to have them treat me normally, without ridiculing or criticising me. I'm already a very low self esteem person... This doesn't help AT ALL

In short, refuse to tell/ask/discuss important stuff, and getting mad randomly that no one read their mind, bcoz everyone's 'old enough to have enough sense' to know what they 'should' do... Eg will not pikc up the phone when we call them from the store to ask when what the needed isn't available, so what other alternative can we get... And then when we get home, will instead blame us for being fussy and not getting the alternative, completelt skirting around the issue they didn't deign to pick up the phone... I mean, I don't get it. In the past I HAVE in fact asked them to just openly tell me what they want/expect from me to make them happy... Got passive aggressive answers like "don't you know? Are you dumb?" Bla bla

Passive aggressive to the max when they've lost it

Expect me to drop anything I'm doing and immediately cater to them, and expect me to help them in their hobbies (while simultaneously, as I learned many years ago to much heartache, not being interested or even pretending to be interested in my hobbies. The disinterest taught me very quickly how much what I wanted meant, leading to years of self-invalidation. Luckily I've learned it really is them, not me. My hobbies are valid)

Will not talk about why they're feeling angry, what causes it. Instead will blame me, who's like the golden scapegoat in our amazing family, by saying :YOU made me negative. They've said it many times now... It hurts a lot, when I'm also struggling with my own issues which I ofc can't confide in them about :)

Today I manned up -- the outburst of hatred happened again! Over a simple thing. It was NIGHTMARE and made me angry/sad/frustrated/triggered---, and so I told them to stop talking like that... Boy was that the wrong thing to say... I don't think I can accurately tell u what happened afterwards...

Usually children learn communication skills from the parents... I at least learned to recognize the unhealthy ones, and what NOT to communicate like lol. Like, other parent is even worse, believe it or not. But that's another complex situation

I'm not bashing on the parent. Lord knows I even have that much of a right huh? I hate myself eveb more when they invalidate me if I try to show how MUCH THEY HURT me after a 'communication session'. As in, heaven forbid me if I BE SILENT afterwards and DON'T wanna listen to their retardation. Nope. Even then they provoke me, rage at me, you know how sometimes enraged people hiss vitriol thru gritted teeth? Yeah, that's what they did today after I stayed silent and tried to ignore them an hour later after the 'session' when they wabted something. It's like they don't even need me to say a word and will carry on and on for minutes 🤢

I feel alone, helpless and at a loss what to do

I want to move out. Due to severe mental issues I can't even move out rn coz it scares me even more. But this has to stop. Things are only okay if I'm absolutely passive, say yes to whatever they want, kill my wants and needs, and become a perfect robot bred to cater to them (parent)

I hope you can help me out, dear

Hi darling,

It sounds like you’re in a considerably toxic environment. I'm sorry you're going through this. Know that this is not normal, nor is it how a parent/child relationship should be. In case there's any doubt, let me start by saying you deserve to be supported, respected, listened to, to have your needs met. You deserve to live in an environment that offers you all of these things.

With that being said, from the many scenarios you’ve mentioned you’ve already tried reasoning and setting boundaries, to no avail. There is only so much you can do on your own, if the other person in the equation is not meeting halfway or at all. After all, a healthy conversation involves two people, not just one.

Here's my advice, in this order:

Calmly and maturely asking the respective parent to have a serious discussion with you and to listen to what you have to say. Share how their actions and behaviour is making you feel, let them know you care, and make sure to mention several solutions for the issue as well. If this doesn’t work…

Bring up the subject of needing help from outside, such as the assistance of a specialist/therapist. Family counselling can shed a lot of light on toxic behaviours that are ingrained from childhood (both in their case and yours), on fears your parent may have, stress from their work, whatever is causing their outbursts and anger - because there is always a reason. Behind anger is sadness, and behind sadness is some need not being met, or an underlying fear, trauma, etc. This is not a justification for their behaviour, they are responsible for it; this is simply the fact of how energy dynamics work. People bottle up their frustrations, fears, etc, and let them out on those closest to them, to whom they feel superior. It’s not fair, and it’s not healthy, but it is frequently how this pattern works. If this solution doesn’t work either…

Then unfortunately, all you can do is focus on yourself. If they refuse to meet you anywhere along the road, you have to pack up your things and go your own way. Literally or metaphorically. They may be your parent and you may love them even in spite of their behaviour, but you cannot hold yourself responsible for anything they say or do; that is on them. In those cases, you have to prioritize your own mental health and wellbeing, and focus on moving out. If your (home) environment is toxic, you have to focus on first changing it. That’s vital. Only afterwards can you start healing, refinding yourself, reclaiming your self-esteem and confidence, your sense of worth. As long as you stay stuck in a toxic environment, you cannot really heal; if there is abuse of any kind (physical, mental, emotional), the causes are still there, leading to re-traumatizing.

If for whatever reason moving out is not (yet) an option, I would emphasize seeking some sort of counselling for yourself, if nothing else. You need an anchor, some sort of support that will help you along your path until you do get out.

Now, I don’t know how old you are. I am going to assume you are over 18 and of age, so only mind my advice if that is the case. (As disclaimer, I don't provide advice to minors as it's not the scope of my blog nor am I specialized/focused on that area.)

I understand moving out seems scary because it is unknown, but with that line of thought you may wait another 10 years in the same situation. Wouldn’t you wake up 10 years later already having done the hard work on moving out, finding your independence, claiming your sense of individuality and moving on from this sort of environment, this phase in your life?

Sooner is better than later, but do so with mindfulness and care over your mental health, of course. I know it’s scary. But being an adult requires some difficult decisions at times, and setting boundaries begins with choosing your wellbeing and doing what needs to be done, even if it is something uncomfortable short-term, but highly rewarding and beneficial long-term.

Hope this helps... and wishing you much luck, clarity, gentle guidance and comfort.✨

PS: Lately I've been receiving longer and longer letters in my inbox. As solution, I was thinking of having longer asks/letters redirected to my blog where there isn't any length limit, and readers can more comfortably browse both my tumblr and blog - and those requesting advice can share and receive a more in-depth response.

-Lumen

#mental health #toxic relationship #toxic environment #boundaries #parenthood #ask #tw? not sure what to tag just in case #tw: swearing #tw: mental health #tw: anxiety

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ntrending · 6 years

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A beginner's guide to finding wild edible plants that won't kill you

New Post has been published on https://nexcraft.co/a-beginners-guide-to-finding-wild-edible-plants-that-wont-kill-you/

A beginner's guide to finding wild edible plants that won't kill you

You’re lost in the woods, days out from civilization, and your stash of granola has run low. How you strayed off the path—on a vision quest gone bad or while searching for your favorite bird—doesn’t matter. Soon you’ll need to find food.

But you won’t have to look far. All around your mud-spattered boots is a nutritious buffet just waiting to be plucked, cracked, and uprooted: wild edible plants.

Despite what many people believe, most vegetation in North American forests is safe to consume, according to Andrew Townesmith, a botanist and edible plant expert at the Missouri Botanical Garden. The challenge, he says, is finding plants that are both nutritious and tasty—especially when they’re uncooked.

“The majority of plants in your environment are edible,” Townesmith says. “But they may not taste good or provide much in the way of calories.” In other words, you have to be choosy if you want a good meal.

Here’s how to find greenery that pleases your tongue and satisfies your hunger—and how to avoid their potentially-dangerous cousins.

Know what not to eat

As Susanne Collins wrote in that seminal survival guide, The Hunger Games, “Plants are tricky. Many are edible, but one false mouthful and you’re dead.”

Fine, that’s a bit of an exaggeration. But there are some plants you should be sure to avoid.

Don’t be fooled by leafy plants that look like familiar edibles, says Christopher Nyerges, author of Foraging Wild Edible Plants of North America. For example, a lot of wild plants look like Italian parsley, including hemlock—the plant that, in the form of a toxic tea, killed Greek philosopher Socrates.

“You don’t have to know a single poisonous plant,” he says. “You just have to know what you’re eating.” In other words, only bite into something if you recognize exactly what it is.

Nyerges recommends that you double-check a plant’s identity through smell. For example, loads of wild onions grow in forests across the country, and they make a great food source. But, he says, “If it doesn’t smell like an onion, don’t eat it.” (Your nose can also come in handy for sniffing out poisonous plants—avoid any non-almond that smells like almonds, as that could be a sign of poisonous cyanide.)

Nibble on tree nuts

So what are the plants you should be looking out for? You might be surrounded by leaves, but as any vegetarian knows, it takes legions of lettuce to feel full. If your goal is survival, you should turn to fattier, more calorie-dense plant parts. Tree nuts, Townesmith says, are a great option—and they’re available in most North American woodlands.

If you’re east of the Great Plains, search for hickory nuts, considered one of the most calorie-dense wild plant foods. Produced by tall, deciduous hardwoods, these protein-packed snacks are hard to crack into: They have both an outer husk and an inner shell, which envelopes the brain-like nut meat. But it’s well worth your effort if you do, Townesmith says. They taste like pecans—in fact, pecans you buy at the supermarket come from a southern species of hickory—and you don’t need to cook or soak them before chowing down, Townesmith says. Just be sure the nut looks veiny, like a pecan. Like hickory nuts, poisonous buckeyes also have double-shells, but the meat looks very different—smooth and rounded.

If you’re disoriented in the forests of the American southwest, pine nuts from the pinyon pine, a scrubby evergreen of the high desert, are also a great option, Townesmith says. Found inside pine cones—who knew?—these nuts are easy to harvest and taste like buttery kernels, ready to inspire any pesto. (Pine nuts in the supermarket are typically imported, but indigenous Americans, and some chefs, have been cooking with pinyon pine nuts for years).

Even the humble acorn is edible. “They were an important food source for Native Americans,” Townesmith says. But they need to be prepared. First, use a rock to separate the nuts from the shells. And then, assuming you don’t have a pot, use a piece of clothing—such as a sock, ideally a clean one—to submerge the nut meat in a stream for a couple of days. The rushing water gets rid of some of their tannic acid, which can cause stomach issues in high concentrations, and their bitter taste. (If you soak the nuts in a pot instead, be sure to change the water a few times, Townesmith says.)

Bite into familiar berries

For dessert, pair your foraged nuts with wild berries, another great source of calories. However, finding edible fruit is a bit trickier; some varieties can make you sick. According to Townesmith, there’s no good rule of thumb for distinguishing the good from the poisonous.

So to be safe, he says, stick to berries that you recognize with absolute certainty. For example, keep an eye out for blackberries, raspberries, and other “aggregate berries”—those named for their tightly-packed clusters of fruit. They’re delicious, and bountiful in many parts of the country. In the Pacific Northwest, it’s hard not to stumble into a bramble of Himalayan blackberries, which are an encroaching variety, so you’ll be curbing an invasive species while curbing your appetite.

Other recognizable fruits, such as elderberries (small purplish-black berries that form an umbrella-shaped cluster), are also widespread. Just be sure to avoid any white berry, Townesmith says, as these tend to be toxic. Also beware of fruits that look like blueberries or cherries—they may taste scrumptious, but both have deadly doppelgangers.

Uproot aquatic plants

If you’re near a lake, river, or wetland, scan the surface for aquatic plants with leaves poking out of the water. These so-called emergent aquatics are nearly all edible, Townesmith says, and their roots are usually nutritious.

The familiar cattail, or bulrush, is a great go-to. You can easily distinguish these plants by their cigar-shaped “flower spikes,” and their roots are a good source of protein and carbs, although they’re highly fibrous, which makes them unappetizing when uncooked. (Pro-tip: If you want to toast them over a fire, then kindle your flame with the cattail’s dried-out flower spike.)

Then there’s the aquatic arrowhead. Less commonly known as “katniss”—yes, it’s the namesake of The Hunger Games heroine—you identify this plant by its large, arrowhead-shaped leaves. Its roots, nutritious underground stems called tubers, taste something like sweet potatoes, and they’re surprisingly easy to dig up.

“Stomp around in the mud, and as you loosen it up, the tubers will actually float,” Townesmith says.

When in doubt, try the universal edibility test

If you find nothing nearby that looks obviously safe to eat—or you spot an appetizing-looking plant but don’t feel sure it’s edible—you can always check it with the universal edibility test.

“It’s essentially taking small amounts of a plant, having increasing contact with it over enough time to see if any ill-effects develop,” Townesmith says.

Here’s a summary of how to perform the test, according to Backpacker. You’ll want to perform this trial separately for each part of the plant you want to eat, including the roots, leaves, and stem.

Give a strong sniff. If the plant part smells awful or like a rotting corpse, toss it out.

If not, hold the plant part to your inner elbow or wrist for a few minutes. Do you feel itching, burning, or any other negative response? If yes, don’t eat it.

If your skin feels fine, kiss the plant with your lips and then wait for 15 minutes.

As long as there’s no burning or itching, take a pea-sized bite. If the plant tastes extremely bitter or soapy, spit it out immediately—but remember, most plants are gross, so don’t expect the peppery flavor of basil. Even if the taste is bearable, hold the bite in your mouth for another 15 minutes.

Finally, wait for at least a few hours. At this point, if you’re not feeling sick or dead on the forest floor, then that part of the plant—and that part only—is probably safe to eat.

Though these tips may make the thought of getting lost in the woods less horrifying, they just scratch the surface of wild foraging. To level up, Nyerges says, learn some basic botany. This can teach you things like how to identify edible families like mustard by their floral characteristics. (“In any given area, there are about 50 different varieties of mustards,” Nyerges says.)

So read a book. Or take a class (Nyerges, co-founder of the School for Self Reliance, has been teaching foraging workshops in California for more than 40 years). If you do, then the next time you go wandering in the woods, you may be perfectly content to stay there.

Written By Benji Jones

#DIY

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