As it is nearly October, I felt it is a fitting time to talk about Poppy. It is the flower representing firstly the lives lost in WWI and in succeeding wars. It is a talisman to spark the memory of others to pray for our troops in the here and now, and to buy a Poppy these days means you support those troops and their families. No matter how you feel about war, be grateful we have trained men and women who will protect us come what may.
End of my Poppy Appeal. Let us move on to the magick. Poppies have long been associated with death and sleep. It was once believed that Poppies would grow where men died in battle. Was it coincidence that so many men died in the brutal battle in Flanders Field full of Poppies? For Poppies have represented the dead long before we adopted them as our official remembrance flower.
In the Victorian Language of Flowers, Poppies symbolise sleep, and imagination. Red Poppies mean pleasure, white Poppies are for consolations, and yellow Poppies mean success.
In the World of the Gods and Goddesses, Demeter loved a youth named Mekon. When he died, she turned him into a poppy. And, Hypnos, Greek God of Sleep and Dreaming, sometimes carried a Poppy stalk or a horn filled with Poppy juice. The Minoan culture featured a Goddess wearing a garland of Poppies in her hair, and Poppies in Christian art can represent both the blood of Christ on the cross and Christ’s death prior to his resurrection.
Magick
Poppy is a useful ingredient to put into loose incense for love spells or any kind of love working. It is also used in Moon incense and in any incense for prophesy, fertility, psychic awareness, dream magick, and spirituality.
Poppy seeds ~ Google images
I have heard from people who practise HooDoo magick that they mix Poppy seeds with Inflammatory Confusion Oil [which I’ve never heard of] and rub the mixture on black Mustard seeds which are also widely believed to disrupt the activities of troublesome people.
Poppies are a flower favoured by Hecate and any magickal work you do using Poppy when you evoke Her name should go favourably with you.
Sleep with a sachet under your pillow stuffed with Poppy seeds to bring relief from insomnia.
The dried leaves and flowers of the Poppy can be used just as the seeds are if you don’t have the seeds.
We put Poppy in our Love Witch Bottle Necklaces to help people attract love and to learn to love themselves.
Healing
White Poppy ~ whiteflowerfarm.com
Historically the white Poppy has been and probably still is used for creating narcotic medicines. And, they are still very much in use for creating heroin, unfortunately. I’m afraid I can not speak to healing with Poppy as I am not at all familiar with it and a bit afraid to lead anyone else to dabble with it unless you only use it in sympathetic medicine. Of course, using Poppy seeds in small amounts or even dried Poppy probably would not harm anyone, however, I do hear that ingestion of Poppy seeds can make a urine test positive for narcotics so if you think you may be tested in future, don’t eat the buns with Poppy seeds!
An interesting fact – Roman surgeons used an anaesthesia made from Opium [morphine for numbing pain and limiting movement], Henbane seeds [scopolamine for inducing sleep], and Mandrake [for slowing heart rate and deadening pain]. Please do not try this at home.
Nicholas Culpeper in his 17th century tome, Culpeper’s Complete Herbal and the English Physician has much to say about Poppies, although for our purposes nothing which can be used. He recommends “the garden poppy heads with seeds made into a syrup, is frequently, and to good effect used to procure rest, and sleep, in the sick and weak, and to stay catarrhs and defluctions of thin rheums from the head into the stomach and lungs, causing a continual cough, the forerunner of a consumption; it helps also hoarseness of the throat, and when one has lost their voice, which the oil of the seed doth like-wise.”
No doubt the patient was at the very least, quite happy!
Powers: Calm Energy, Communion with the Infinite, Invisibility, Overcoming Addiction, Making Peace with Death, Perspective, Relaxation and Sleep, Surrender and Release
Other Names: Corn Poppy [red], Corn Rose, Opium Poppy [white], The Black and White of the Garden, Erratic Wild Poppy
Many thanks for reading and wishing warm blessings to all whom this way wander x
Sources
Witchipedia
The Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper
The Old English Herbals, by Eleanour Sinclair Rohdes
Foxgloves can both ‘raise the dead and kill the living’. The Digitalis purpurea is, as you may suspect from the name, a common heart medication ingredient. I can remember when many the elder folk in my family spoke of someone on “the digitalis”. I did not know at the time that the beautiful Foxgloves my Nana raised right outside from where I was sat were the plants responsible for so many lives saved. Not her personal plants, obviously, but you know…
Still, at the same time, I was cautioned never to touch the stunning flowers, do not pick them. Just “do not”. For some children that would have been a dare but for me, it was enough. Not that I was any sainted child, far from it! But finding that they could kill me in the blink of an eye was quite enough to keep me from doing any more than observing as bumblebees from far and wide came buzzing round and enjoying the nectar. That was my Nana’s predominant reasoning with me for not messing about with her Foxgloves… the bees! She knew that despite having been stung once in a tender place – between my little toe and the next – that I loved bees as much as she did. So, that was a good enough reason for me to leave the Foxgloves alone.
photo from woodlandtrust.org.uk
Foxglove is a well-known plant across the UK, which produces a spike of purple-pink flowers between June and September. It can grow up to 2m tall and is found in heathland, woodland edges, and gardens. Because of its height, I nearly called this a “magickal tree” but then decided it may be closer to wortcunning… then again, we do not ingest this flower in any way [without doctor’s orders]– upon pain of death, literally – so it is simply this… it is Foxglove, purely a treat for the eyes.
Not to be confused with common Comfrey [Symphytum officinale]. Comfrey could be mistaken for Foxglove when not in flower, as the leaves are similar. However, Comfrey leaves are untoothed, meaning they have smooth edges, and Foxglove leaves are toothed. Great Mullein [Verbascum Thapsus] is another plant Foxglove might be confused with when no flowers are present. However, Great Mullein leaves are untoothed and are hairier than those of foxglove.
Foxgloves can be grown in partial shade, shade, and full sun. I have read where those grown in partial shade do not have Digitalis, or at least to a much lesser degree, but the ones raised in full sun are exceedingly poisonous. I would always wear gloves either way.
Magickal
Plant Foxglove to lure Faeries into your garden. Dew collected from the blossoms is used in spells for communicating with fairies, though gloves must be worn when handling the plant as Digitalis can be toxic. Foxglove grown in a garden around your home offers protection to you and your family. Do not worry about planting Foxglove if you have animals. They won’t eat it.
Other Names: goblin gloves [Wales], witches’ gloves, dead men’s bells [Scotland], great herb [Ireland], folk’s gloves, foxesglew/fox’s music [Anglo-Saxon]
Health
We have not read the words of Dr Nicholas Culpeper in some time. As we do not endorse using Foxglove medicinally [unless prescribed by your doctor] due to its deadly nature, I shall still give you Culpeper’s take on the medicinal purposes for Foxglove of which he waxes glowingly… only do keep in mind these remedies were written without proper testing back in the 1650’s and earlier. Culpeper’s book was published in 1653. Read only for amusement, please.
[Government and virtues] The plant is under dominion of Venus, being of a gentle, cleansing nature, and withal, very friendly to nature. The herb is familiarly and frequently by the Italians to heal any fresh or green wound, the leaves being but bruised and bound thereon; and the juice thereof is also used on old sores, to cleanse, dry, and heal them. The decoction hereof made up with some sugar or honey, is available to cleanse and purge the body, both upwards and downwards, sometimes of tough phlegm and clammy humours, and to open obstructions of the liver and spleen. It has been found by experience to be available for the king’s evil [1], the herb bruised and applied or an ointment made with the juice thereof, and so used; and a decoction of two handfuls thereof, with four ounces of Polipody [2], in ale, has been found by late experience to cure divers, of the falling sickness that have been troubled with it above twenty years. I am confident that an ointment of it is one of the best remedies for a scabby head that is.
I find it quite odd that he never mentions Foxglove as an aid to heart problems. Still, it was still early doors in medicine those days.
Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings to all whom this way wander x
I don’t normally write about herbs/spices/woods/roots that are more predominantly used in HooDoo/Conjure spells or witchcraft as I’m not 100% familiar with this kind of sorcery, however, I have a love affair with Liquorice root which I must write about! No matter what kind of witchcraft you’re into – Green, Hedge, Kitchen, etc – this root is easily applied to most in one form or another. And, most of all, it can be an excellent health aid when necessary.
Liquorice Allsorts ~ heaven!
Liquorice root [Glycyrrhiza glabra], which means “sweet [glykys] root [rhiza]” in Greek and “glabra” is Latin for “smooth”, is a legume. It is native to the Mediterranean and parts of South-West Asia and particularly to the Indian subcontinent, where it is called “Mulethi”. It is a perennial herb/spice that grows to over a metre and a half tall. It is not botanically related to Anise, Star Anise, or Fennel, which are sources of similar flavouring compounds. As many of you know, Liquorice root is the primary flavour you find in… Liquorice! And, growing up, I was the odd child who adored Liquorice Allsorts, along with horehound, and boiled sweets of any sort. Most children were after anything with chocolate in it, but not the oddity that was my small self.
Magickal
Liquorice Root ~ Photographer Unknown
The first thing you’re ever taught in little witches’ school is to carry a piece of Liquorice root in your pocket to attract love. I highly expect that was from back in the time when a young lad would smell the sweet scent of Liquorice and be extra nice to the young lady who smelled of it! But oh, is there ever much more you can use Liquorice root for.
In HooDoo, it is used primarily for compelling or dominating someone. I personally don’t do this kind of magick, but if you do, this apparently is the one for making a lover do your bidding or anybody for that matter. It is alleged to grant the bearer control over a person or situation. Because of this, Liquorice root is an ingredient in formulas used for controlling others, including Commanding Powder and Essence of Bend-Over Oil. I read that one can mix Liquorice root with Commanding Powder and sprinkle it around the room where they will meet someone they wish to control. You can also add Liquorice root to a conjure bag filled with so-called Love-Herbs, in order to dominate in a love affair. And, of course, chips of Liquorice root can be burned as an incense while doing a domination candle-spell.
Not judging those who wish to practise this kind of magick, but not my cup of tea.
A way to use Liquorice root/powder that is more up my street is that you can use it in spell-work to empower yourself and to strengthen your own will. By this, after enchanting the root or powder for your purpose to strengthen your will or to empower you to do a necessary task, make a tea of it and as you drink, imagine yourself having the power to pass that test or to ace that job interview. If you feel your will has been lagging, the same principle applies. Or, if for health purposes you feel you should not drink the tea, you can either sprinkle it over yourself before the task. You can also carry the root in a pouch which you have already cleansed and consecrated and enchanted for your purpose – yes, much like a HooDoo mojo bag.
Other Names: Lacris {Welsh], Lycorys [probably medieval English with a Latin bent], Reglisse [Welsh], Sweet Root
Healing
In Nicholas Culpeper’s book, The Complete Herbal and English Physician, he writes:
Liquorice Plant ~ Telegraph.co.uk
“It [Liquorice] is under the dominion of Mercury. Liquorice boiled in fair water, with some Maiden-hair and figs, makes a good drink for those that have a dry cough or hoarseness wheezing or shortness of breath, and for all the griefs of the breast and lungs, phthisic or consumptions caused by the distillation of salt humours on them It is also good in all pains of the reins, the stranguary, and heat of urine: The fine powder of Liquorice blown through a quill into the eyes that have a pin and web [as they call it] or rheumatic distillations in them doth cleanse and help them. The juice of the Liquorice is as effectual in all the diseases of the breast and lungs, the reins and bladder, as the water, with some Gum Tragacanth, is a fine licking medicine for hoarseness, wheezing, &c.”
[Reins, if you’re wondering, dates back to Biblical times as the name for the kidneys]
Exactly as it is still used today. As in regard to Fisherman’s Friend throat lozenges which contain sugar, liquorice extract, menthol, eucalyptus oil, dextrin, tragacanth, and capsicum tincture. And, believe me, these work a treat on any sore throat and cough.
For most of us who use the holistic approach to medications, a simple cup of Liquorice tea will do a world of good. And the good thing about Liquorice tea is, apart from all its healing qualities, that you do not need to add sugar. Liquorice root is said to be fifty times as sweet as caster sugar which you would normally use in your tea. There are more than 300 different compounds in Liquorice, some of which have antiviral and antimicrobial properties. It is said to help eczema, impetigo, cellulitis, and folliculitis which are believed to be caused by Staphylococcus aureus.
Other uses for Liquorice [not only the root but the leaves as well] is for stomach discomfort/ulcers, Hepatitis C, and tooth decay. It was found that an extract containing glabridin and glabrene, which are flavonoids present in Liquorice root, is effective in relieving stomach discomfort. The extract reduced nausea, stomach pain, and heartburn. Glycyrrhizin may help treat hepatitis C, a virus that infects the liver. Without treatment, Hepatitis C can cause inflammation and long-term liver damage. Researchers have reported that glycyrrhizin demonstrates antimicrobial activity against hepatitis C in cell samples and may hold promise as a future treatment for this virus. Doctors in Japan have used the injections in patients with Hepatitis C which improves their health where no other drug does. Some research suggests that Liquorice may help kill bacteria in the mouth that cause tooth decay.
And, of course, Liquorice is phenomenal for soothing a sore throat and many people think of Liquorice as a sore throat remedy, as such. To prove a point, a small study recruited people who were having a breathing tube inserted into their oesophagus before surgery. Following its removal, the breathing tube can cause a postoperative sore throat, known as POST. The researchers showed that gargling a Liquorice solution for 1–15 minutes before surgery was as effective as a ketamine gargle in reducing the incidence and severity of POST. Another similar study found that solutions with a higher concentration of Liquorice were more effective than less concentrated solutions in improving POST. I know which I would rather gargle with in light of all the bad business with ketamine!
Now, for the side effects and admonishments, which you know are coming…
Number one – if you have high blood pressure, it is best to avoid Liquorice tea or any product with real Liquorice in it [many sweets claiming to be Liquorice are flavoured with Anise oil as it tastes similarly]. Recently in the UK, a woman fell ill with nausea, headaches, and dizziness. When she went to her GP she was diagnosed with hypertension. It was caused by her drinking three cups of Liquorice tea a day! As soon as she stopped drinking it, her symptoms disappeared. Please, DO NOT make this mistake. Yes, it is a delicious tea but too much of a good thing is not good as we all know.
I won’t tell you not to have a cup of Liquorice tea if you only use it for a sore throat or cough if you use it in moderation. Even if you do have mild high blood pressure. My blood pressure can get a bit spikey at times, but I would never avoid the Liquorice tea altogether if I needed it. Still, I do want you to be forewarned that it is not a drink to have because you like it. It is, in my mind, a completely medicinal tea and should be used only as such.
With that said, if your potassium levels are low, it is recommended not to eat or drink Liquorice as it causes your potassium levels to lower. This can lead to abnormal heart rhythms, high blood pressure, swelling, lethargy, and worst still – congestive heart failure – the path that poor woman in Sheffield was headed toward drinking three cups of the tea a day!
Pregnant women should not consume large quantities of Liquorice or take Liquorice root as a supplement. One study found that the glycyrrhiza in Liquorice could harm the developing brain of the foetus, leading to cognitive problems later in life. An older study found that heavy Liquorice consumption during pregnancy could lead to preterm birth.
Potential drug interactions
drugs that lower potassium
blood pressure medications
diuretics, also called water pills
heart rhythm medications
blood thinners, such as warfarin [Coumadin]
oestrogen, hormone therapy, and birth control pills
corticosteroids
Please always use any tea or supplement under the advice of your healthcare provider. Unless you are a licensed holistic or Aruyvedic practitioner, or at least a long-term practitioner of holistic healthcare, you may not always know what does or doesn’t work well with prescription medications. Please do not take any chances with your health.
Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings to those whom this way wander. x
Sources
Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper
I felt now is timely to expound upon the virtues of Ginger root. And, forgive me if this is more about health than magick, however, in the current climate, I felt all information I have should be shared.
The English origin of the word, “Ginger”, is from the mid-14th century, from Old English gingifer, from Medieval Latin gingiber, from Greek zingiberis, from Prakrit [Middle Indic] singabera, from Sanskrit srngaveram. Ginger originated from Southeast Asia. It is a true cultigen and does not exist in its wild state.
Though it is grown in many areas across the globe, Ginger is among the earliest recorded spices to be cultivated and exported from southwest India. India holds the seventh position is Ginger export worldwide, however, is still the largest producer of Ginger in the world.
Magickal
There are many ways in which to use Ginger as magickal currency. One that I only just picked up on recently is for health [although Scott Cunningham has mentioned it]: Chew some [cleaned] root and spit it on the source of the ‘sicknesses’ to banish it [be it a part of a body, a photograph of the sick person etc]. Take that, Covid-19! And, in the Pacific, the Dobu Islanders do the same to ward off incoming storms. I have no recorded proof that either thing works, but when things are dire, we witches want to throw all we can at the problem, don’t we?
Ginger is used a lot in love spells. It is one of the ingredients in our Love Witch Bottle we sell. Just drinking a cup of Ginger root tea will add power to any spell you perform.
And, Ginger features predominantly in money and success spells. Whole Ginger root can be planted by your front door to welcome money into your home or you can carry either powdered Ginger or a piece of Ginger root or dried Ginger in a pocket to attract money to you.
For a lusty weekend with your beloved, prepare a Ginger-infused wine for the two of you!
You can burn the root of Ginger and consecrate your ritual tools in the smoke or use it to break hexes.
Simply chewing Ginger root can imbue you with stronger magickal power and capacity.
Any of you of a certain age may remember your mother giving you a cup of steaming Ginger tea for an upset stomach. It is absolutely spot on for nausea and any tummy upset, including morning sickness. Nicholas Culpeper did write a bit about Ginger… it was only taking hold in Great Britain when Queen Elizabeth I presented visiting dignitaries each with a Gingerbread man baked in their own likeness. Gingerbread tied with a ribbon was popular at fairs and, when exchanged, became a token of love. Ginger root was only introduced in Great Britain around the 14th century and as far as I can tell, was not grown here. So, Ginger, as many East Asian spices were of the time, was probably too scarce and expensive for most physicians of the time to use. To my knowledge, the first blurb written about it was by Mr Culpeper in his The Complete Herbal and English Physician:
“Zingerberis. Of Ginger. Helps digestion, warms the stomach, clears the sight, and is profitable for old men: heats the joints and is therefore profitable against the gout, expels wind; it is hot and dry in the second degree.”
Wild Ginger, left; Good Ginger, right ~ photo by By Anna Frodesiak – Own work, Public Domain
As almost always before I write about a herb/flower/root/bark/spice to be used in a medicinal way, I guinea-pig myself with the item. Mind, I also do read everything about it that I can if it isn’t something I’m already familiar with, right down to recommended dosages. I have an insatiable desire to know every detail, including research studies. I don’t feel I should introduce anything medically viable without having done so first. Still, that said, always do consult your GP before trying most things I speak of… although, I have come to agreement with myself that, Ginger root is 99.9% safe for anybody, with the occasional caveat, such as, don’t use North American wild ginger… much, anyway… as it can cause kidney damage.
I suppose my nana started me on this because as a healing cunning woman herself, if I started moaning about a tummy ache, out comes the grated Ginger root and ten minutes later I was sipping the tea!
Perfect Ginger root
As a sufferer of arthritis, bad hip and back, and Graves disease [hyperthyroidism] and Hiroshito disease [hypothyroidism] – yes, you can have both – I needed to look into all things which can be of benefit to me in my “elder years”. No, I don’t really feel elderly… but you know… So! Some years ago, I had found that adding Turmeric and a little pepper to my twice daily Ginger tea would help my arthritis and has it ever! I no longer need heavy painkillers or even paracetamol or ibuprofen [more about ibuprofen later]. Of course, I still have some pain occasionally but nothing at all like I once had. There have been many research reports written about this and you can click here for one which I think explains most things about Ginger root best.
The brilliant bit about this concoction is that it is said to boost one’s immune system as well. I drink mine twice per day and here is my recipe:
1-ounce grated Ginger root , steep covered for ten minutes. I put my Ginger root in a tea diffuser/basket, but you can also just toss it into the hot water if you don’t mind Ginger bits floating round in your drink. When ten minutes are up, lift out tea basket and add the following:
½ teaspoon powdered Turmeric
A dash or pinch of black Pepper
Stir very well and keep your spoon for you will need to stir it constantly as all of the Turmeric fails to dissolve in the water but if you stir again after each sip you won’t end up with a quarter teaspoon of Turmeric in the bottom of your cup. It may sound like a bit of work, but the health benefits are very much worth it.
I won’t promise you that you’ll never become ill with a cold or flu if you drink this twice per day, but it can help and possibly reduce how long you’re ill for. And I won’t tell you that it tastes wonderful because it is an acquired taste, even for someone like me whose taste buds love nearly everything. Although, if you feel you can drink it a bit easier by adding honey, there’s no harm in it.
Whilst there seem to be no contraindications on how much plain Ginger tea one drinks, there is for how much Turmeric you ingest. It is likely that more than one full teaspoon per day is not good for you, unless you are very ill or your Ayurvedic or holistic healer recommends more. Many of you would like to drink one cup of Ginger and Turmeric tea and be done with it but as you know with any pain reliever, it is best to stage doses, therefore, I recommend taking a “dose” around mid-morning and the other just before bedtime. Also, always be sure that whether you take your Turmeric in the Ginger tea or via supplement that black Pepper or piperine [a natural compound in peppercorns that make black pepper spicy] is included. Neither Turmeric and Curcumin [the substance that gives the spice its orangey-yellow pigment] supplements cannot be absorbed properly without one or the other.
Please understand that this concoction will not cure a cold [which is of the Coronavirus genealogy] nor the flu, nor Covid-19/Omicron! But, it may, with any luck, help already healthy people with no underlying issues, feel better quicker. I hope so, anyway.
About Ibuprofen, as promised: The French Health Minister recently reported that Ibuprofen as a painkiller should not be used, particularly with Covid-19. The country’s health minister, Olivier Véran, who is a qualified doctor and neurologist, tweeted: “The taking of anti-inflammatories [ibuprofen, cortisone … ] could be a factor in aggravating the infection. In case of fever, take paracetamol. If you are already taking anti-inflammatory drugs, ask your doctor’s advice.” As per a report in The Guardian.
Health officials point out that anti-inflammatory drugs are known to be a risk for those with infectious illnesses because they tend to diminish the response of the body’s immune system.
Many thanks to all whom this way wander and good health and warmest blessings to all x
Sources
Experience
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper
The Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
It is July but I am thinking of Yule so Rosemary came to mind and its heady “pine-ish” aroma. It is a scent and a flavour I love wholeheartedly. Rosemary roasted potatoes come to mind! But I am not here to write a cookbook, am I? No, I’m here to explore all the wonderful magickal ways with which Rosemary can assist us in spells and healing. And even with Yule being a half a year away, Rosemary can be used in so many ways, from magick to good health. So, let us begin.
Rosemary in bloom ~ gardenaction.co.uk
Reading through Nicholas Culpeper’s The Complete Herbal and English Physician, I find it amusing that as he wrote about most herbs and plants, he would always say in the beginning of each plant’s description, ‘…it is so well known, I need not describe it.’ I would have to argue a few of his entries saying that as I would never know the plant without a description or picture, however, I can agree here…I imagine everybody knows the look of Rosemary! It has been around for so long and used by so many that it is a staple in all kitchens most likely and grown in many gardens. It is so easy and hardy to grow that it can flourish even in the gardens of those without green fingers. If you’re not sure of yourself as a gardener I believe you will find success at last by growing Rosemary.
Magickal
Rosemary is a favourite of mine to use in poppets and incense for courage and healing spells and for protection. It is also a fundamental ingredient in clearing rituals.
Rosemary bundle ~ netdoctor,co,uk
Burning Rosemary whether in an incense or as a smudge stick/wand is a long-favoured way of “clearing the air” in a negative home or room. It has been found to help students whom are swotting up for exams and whilst doing revision for it helps clear their minds and keeps them on task because it helps their memory.
Many people I have talked to use Rosemary oil for cleansing and consecrating their altar and tools, however, I have not tried this. I stick to using Myrrh. Still, I may give Rosemary a go sometime. I certainly know it can’t hurt.
Plant Rosemary near your entrance doors on your home to ward off thieves.
My family swore by Rosemary being left underneath the marital bed for increasing the chances of fertility. You can make sachets to lay under pillows on the bed to achieve the same if you don’t want to have to sweep Rosemary needles from under your bed.
For marital loyalty, have your groom’s buttonhole made to include a sprig of Rosemary and be sure to have it added to your own bouquet to use during your wedding / handfasting.
Rosemary can be used in wreathes and decorations for the Yule season [keep in mind for next year] for its protectiveness, heath-giving, and loyalty attributes.
Hanging a bunch of Rosemary above one’s bed can ensure nightmares will not come.
The Elven folk are said to be attracted to Rosemary and I can attest to that as we had a maisonette a few years ago with a massive, bushy Rosemary growing in the back garden. We also had an impish Elf we named “Squishy” who notoriously pulled pranks when we sat out at night with a glass of wine. He was a quite a lot of fun, however, we haven’t seen him since moving to our bungalow. If we did not come out, he would chuck pebbles against the bathroom window to get our attention!
Health
According to Culpeper, Rosemary “….is very much used for inward and outward diseases, for by the warming and comforting heat thereof it helps all cold diseases, both of the head, stomach, liver, and belly. The decoction thereof in wine, helps the cold distillations of rheums into the eyes, and all other cold diseases of the head and brain, as the giddiness or swimmings therein, drowsiness or dullness of the mind and senses like a stupidness, the dumb palsy, or loss of speech the lethargy, and falling-sickness, to be both drank, and the temples bathed therewith.” He also goes on to say it is good for bathing away pains in teeth and gums and is used “to clear away stinking breath“. Rosemary also helps a weak memory and a plethora of other maladies! It would seem that if you had Rosemary in your garden and knew how to use it, you could almost live forever!
How do we use it in these times? A lot of the same ways as in olden days. We use Rosemary in cooking much of the time to guarantee proper digestion, particularly during holiday meals. It is one of the reasons why I always add Rosemary to my roast potatoes. Not only does it make them taste wonderful, but it is also helpful to sooth our stomachs from the excesses of the day.
dried Rosemary ~ courtesy of Google Images
Other ways I have used Rosemary is to melt down some bee’s wax, then add a bit of camphor. Next, I add a good amount of ground, fresh Rosemary, and a few drops of Rosemary oil, then allow it to sit til completely cool. It is the most fabulous nose un-stuffer when you have a cold, not to mention very gentle round your sore nose. It can also be used on cuts and bruises with success. It works for sore muscles, of which I generally have many, and this balm also helps reduce the appearance of spots and scars in the skin. For very sore muscles a drop or two of turpentine won’t go amiss. The same as people used it for many centuries ago.
For our hair, my daughters and I make an infusion with castor oil and fresh Rosemary by stuffing as much as will fit into a large jar. Then, we fill it with either castor oil or extra virgin olive oil and let it set for thirty days in the sunny window sill with the lid on tightly. Note: Be quick about using it if you make your infusion with olive oil as it seems to go “off” quicker than castor oil. Just massage into your hair and apply heat, let it sit for an hour, then wash as normal. Your hair will be softer than ever, and it seems to help strengthen against breakage. Infusion made oils are also useable in your magickal work in place of their essential oil counterparts. In fact, I like using infusion made oils better.
Rosemary is a wonderful pick-me-up in the sickroom. Have fresh bunches of Rosemary placed about the room for the spirit-lifting aroma and the protection of the patient.
I warn you, though it is bitter, you can steep Rosemary flowers and needles in a diffuser to make a cup of tea for an upset tummy.
Correspondences
Planet: Sun
Zodiac: Aries *Many say Leo, however, I use the designation of Aries by Nicholas Culpeper
I hope you have found some use for Rosemary from my blog that you may not have already thought of. Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings to all this way wander. x
Sources
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper, c.1700’s
Never did I think as I began writing this blog that there were so many varieties of Moss! For my own purposes and practise I use Oak Moss exclusively. I am not a Moss for Dummies kind of girl, still, there is one hell of a lot of Moss in the world! Over 12,000 species to be in close range!
As my favourite physician, Nicholas Culpeper said in his book, The Complete Herbal, “I shall not trouble the reader with a description of these, since my intent is to speak only of two kinds, as the most principal, viz. Ground Moss and Tree Moss, both of which are very well known”.
Although I plan on giving the magickal properties of Oak Moss, I feel I should mention most mosses will align magickally with Oak Moss and can be interchangeably, in case you are unable to procure Oak Moss.
Magickal
I have used Oak Moss extensively in spell work. One other thing Nicholas Culpeper stated in his book is that with Tree Mosses, the Moss takes on the nature of the tree itself and his belief was that Oak was most binding. Therefore, I have always felt most compelled to use Oak Moss in my practise. He also stated that “most Mosses are under the dominion of Saturn”. In that case, no matter which kind you prefer to use in your practise, the Correspondences below should be closely related. As far as powers are concerned if you use a Moss from a different tree than Oak you should likely find the powers for that particular tree to align it properly with your spell work.
One of my favourite ways to use Oak Moss is in a spell jar. As Oak Moss is intricately linked to the acquisition of money, here is my Extra Money / Business Spell Jar formula:
One medium sized jar with lid [I save curry sauce jars for this purpose!]
Green or gold cloth
Green or gold ribbon, two of each whichever colour you use]
Green or gold candle [a small spell candle will do]
A small piece of paper, parchment or other
Oak Moss, as much as you wish
A stick of Cedar or if unavailable, a Cinnamon stick
Patchouli herb
A pound coin or any denomination of money in your currency
A piece of Whitby Jet or a piece of Jet that is easily attainable where you live
On a Saturday for wealth, on a Sunday for business growth. Saturday being the day for Saturn is wonderful for gaining extra money and you would use the green cloth, green ribbon, and green candle for that spell. If you are wanting more money for your business, you would use the gold and do your spell on a Sunday as it is the day for Business spell work. Keep those aside for the end. Light your candle and say a prayer in your own words to your God, Goddess, the Divine Parents, the Universe [whomever you pray to] or just visualise money coming to you. Enchant your Moss, Cedar or Cinnamon, Patchouli, money, and Jet, placing each into the jar in that order. It will not matter if they get jostled about and rearranged later, it is only important that you put them in this order. Once all items are in, write on your parchment paper the amount of money you need [don’t go too over the top… the Universe doesn’t do greedy] and tie it with one of your ribbons then put it inside your jar. Holding your jar in both hands then take a nice deep breath in thinking “poverty be gone” and slowly release your breath into the jar thinking “prosperity come home”, Do this three times then put the lid onto the jar and tighten. Next, cut a square of the colour of cloth you are using that will fit over the lid of the jar, hanging over the top by a bit – enough where you can tie the ribbon round the jar neck tightly and as you tie the ribbon into a bow say “so mote it be”.
A protection spell jar ~ only an example if you are not familiar. Your spell jar won’t look like this one.
Leave your spell jar on your desk if for business or any safe place for extra money. It is important not to unseal it ever because your spell will not work and this is a lasting spell so you can charge in the light of the waxing moon to give it more power each month. It is perfectly acceptable to keep it in a sunny place as well as the masculine power of the sun works well with the spell jar. Only do be sure not to leave it where a child or a pet or roommate would potentially knock it over or open it.
I have also used Oak Moss in sachets for money that I can carry with me in my handbag and for luck. For my Yule loose incense blend I add Oak Moss – did you know that Oak Moss is used in many perfumes? Any one of them with a woodsy scent likely have Oak Moss. It is no wonder that kind of perfume is my favourite.
There are plenty of other ways to use it in magick. Perhaps some of you know of ways you may want to share? Just leave a comment below!
Correspondences
Planetary: Saturn
Gender: Masculine
Zodiac: Capricorn, Aquarius [pre-discovery of Uranus]
Element: Earth
Chakra: Base/Root
Powers: Luck, Money, Prosperity
Deity: Shiva, Kali [Hindu], Brahma, Yama [Vedic]
Health
Nicholas Cunningham had much to say about Moss as a curative… I am not certain if anybody these days would care to try them. However, whether you would or not, I think you will at least find some amusement from these. As afore mentioned, he speaks only of Ground Moss and Tree Moss in late medieval England.
“The Ground Moss is held to be singularly good to break the stone, and to expel and drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine and drank The herb being bruised and boiled in water, and applied, eases all inflammations and pains coming from an hot cause; and it therefore used to ease the pains of the gout.
The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, and partake of a digesting and mollifying quality withal, as Galen[1] saith, But each Moss partakes of the nature of the tree from whence it is taken; therefore that of the oak is more binding, and is of good effect to stay fluxes[2] in man or woman; as also to vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof being taken in wine The decoction thereof in wine is very good for women to be bathed in that are troubled with the overflowing of their courses[3]. The same being drank, stays the stomach that is trouble with casting, or hiccough; and, as Avicena [sic][4] saith, it comforts the heart. The powder thereof taken in drink for some time together, is thought available for the dropsy. The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped therein for a time, and afterwards boiled and applied to the temples and forehead, marvellously eases the head-ache coming of a hot cause; as also the distillations of hot rheums[5] or humours[6] in the eyes, or other parts. The ancients much used it in their ointments and other medicines against the lassitude, and to strengthen and comfort the sinews; for which, if it was good then, I know no reason but it may be found so still.”
Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings upon all whom this way wander. Please stay safe x
Sources
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper
The Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
Wikipedia.com
Experience
[1] Galen, Greek Galenos, Latin Galenus, (born 129 ce, Pergamum, Mysia, Anatolia [now Bergama, Turkey]
[2] A pathological flowing of blood (or humours, excretions, discharges) from any part of the body; ~ blod, ~ of blod, profuse bleeding; ~ of the womb, dysentery, diarrhoea, or lientery.
[3] A Tudor England term for a woman’s menses – “A woman’s monthly bleeding, otherwise known as “courses”, was believed to be the womb ridding itself of excess blood. If this did not happen the womb could become overrun with blood and could possibly drown the woman.” [hahaha, how silly!]
[4] Avicenna, an Iranian philosopher and physician of the tenth and eleventh centuries [4th and 5th century AH] His scientific fame and influence was not only spread in Iran and the Islamic world, but also extended to the whole world. According to some researches, the views of Avicenna in diagnosis and treatment of some diseases, such as asthma is more precise and effective than the findings of modern medicine, or in jaundice, biliary obstruction and liver indigestion, his prescribed medicines are in conformity with the findings of new researches
[5] Pronunciation /ruːm/ – A watery fluid that collects in or drips from the nose or eyes.
[6] Greek physician Hippocrates [ca. 460 BCE–370 BCE] is often credited with developing the theory of the four humours—blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm—and their influence on the body and its emotions.
Corn dolly collect, All Saint’s Church, Siddington near Macclesfield
Have many of you considered Oat straw in magick? It was something I had not done for many years but now find a use for it very often. I have always known oat straw – it has been used for centuries to make corn dollies as a harvest ritual. Depending upon where you live in the UK, there are regional styles of corn dollies. You would always know where they are from by their design. Corn dollies can be simple or very complex. Still, I never saw a need for oat straw in magick until a few years ago.
A little folklore for you: During the Middle Ages, Oats were thought to attract vampires, and farmers who grew the grain also had garlands of garlic wrapped around their doors and windows.
Magickal
Using Oat straw as a main ingredient in magickal workings is best used on the day of Venus, Friday and during the hour of Venus.
Money is the primary magickal power of Oat straw. Perhaps it has to do with the harvests because obviously if your crop was very good, you made more money. Still, I do find the help Oat straw gives in spell work and talismans is sound. It is also excellent in fertility spell work.
The ways I have implemented Oat straw in magick is by using it in witch bottles along with other herbs/flowers/resins/woods to help with fertility or finances. I have also used it in sachets for the same reasons. And, I made a fertility incense for a woman once using Oat straw along with the appropriate oil, resin, and other herbs and wood for the cause. It must have worked for she is a mother now 😊 But you can, of course, find other ways to use Oat straw in your magick if these ones don’t work for you.
You can also make use of Oat straw for its rejuvenating properties in the form of a ritual bath or as a ritual cup of tea to invoke inner peace, enhance mental powers, concentration and endurance.
Healing
Growing Oats – purplesage.org.uk
Oat straw contains protein [avenins], saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroidal compounds, vitamins B1, B2, D, E, carotene, starch, and fat, and it also contains minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron and trace elements like silicon and potassium. It has long been a food crop but has also shown itself useful in healing. Case in point, oats are very useful in helping to lower cholesterol and regulate blood pressure. Did you hate eating porridge as a child? Most of us did! But these days, maybe because of my enhanced years, I have a steamy bowl of porridge [brochan which is my preferred name for it] each morning [when I’m not indulging in the occasional ‘breakfast cake’ 😊] It really sets me up for the day.
The oat seeds carry antispasmodic, cardiac, diuretic, emollient, nervine and stimulant properties. As I refer to Nicholas Culpeper’s The Complete Herbal and English Physician quite often, I find he writes very little about Oats and nothing about the straw. Perhaps because in those days the only use for the straw aside from using in corn dollies was to stuff pillows and mattresses and to feed cattle! Still, Mr Culpeper’s words on Oats:
“[Government and virtues] Oats fried with bay salt, and applied to the sides, take away the pains of stitches and wind in the sides of the belly. A poultice made of meal of Oats, and some oil of Bays put thereunto, helps the itch and the leprosy, as also the fistulas of the fundament, and dissolves hard imposthumes. The meal of Oats boiled with vinegar, and applied, takes away freckles and spots in the face, and other parts of the body.”
Nowadays, Oat straw is highly regarded for the nervous system and can be prepared as a tea for states of general debility and for nervous exhaustion. Oat straw is a good relaxing nervous system tonic and can be used for insomnia and anxiety when these are due to stress. It is diuretic and acts as a tonic for a weak bladder and for kidney problems. It also brings relief for liver and gallbladder problems. For external use, a decoction can be added to the bathwater to treat skin sores and eczema and that can reduce itchiness. An Oat straw bath also soothes rheumatic and gouty pains.
For those of you with gluten allergies, Oat straw does not contain gluten like other grains such as wheat, barley, and rye.
Correspondences
Planetary: Venus
Gender: Feminine
Zodiac: Taurus
Element: Earth
Powers: Money, Fertility, Inner Peace
Deity: Lugh, Osiris, Demeter, Ceres, Adonis
Other Names: Common oat, groats, herb oats, oatgrass, oats, wild oats.
Many thanks for reading my blog. Warmest blessings to all whom this way wander x
Sources
Experience
Encylopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
The Complete Herbal and English Doctor, by Nicholas Culpeper
Take a moment and imagine, if you will, the scent of Lavender when you first pluck a stem of it and rub the tiny leaves. Let the aroma envelope your senses and your mind be cast to a simpler and happier time. Breathe deeply and exhale slowly, inhaling positivity and exhaling negativity… Do you feel refreshed now? I do simply by writing this paragraph. Lavender is the most powerfully relaxing herb/flower I know of. …. It is no wonder why Lavender is often called “The Tranquillity Herb”.
Snowhills, Gloucestershire lavender farm ~ photo by countrylife.co.uk
One of the things I like best about ironing clothes [yes, I still do that!] is to spray lavender water on my personal items [my son might not like smelling like lavender!] before setting the hot iron to them. At one time I also used a lavender washing powder I had found online. Never until later did I find out that I was following a long-held English custom which apparently began when the Romans invaded. Roman soldiers would put lavender in their bath water and do their washing with it as well. Because of this association, during medieval times, laundresses [washerwomen] were called “lavenders”. More often than not, these lavenders were also prostituting for supplemental income as the washerwoman did not make a living wage, so the name lavender took on a double meaning. An anonymous 16th-century poet wrote:
Thou shalt be my lavender
To wash and clean all my gear
Our two beds shall be set
Without any let
Magickal
Love Witch Bottle ~ photo by i.macy
One of the key ingredients in both our Love Witch Bottle and in our Empath Rescue Witch Bottle is Lavender. Obviously for love, but in the Empath bottle, Lavender is also for protection, peace of mind, and purification of the depressing aura which can sometimes envelope even the strongest empath.
Lavender can, as above-mentioned, be used for purification bathing. Lavender water can not only be sprayed onto clothing before ironing to impart its scent but to be sprayed in your power circle for rituals to bring purification and protection within it.
Lavender is an excellent sleep aid and one of my favourite things to have near me at night is my Lavender bag created by Jacqui Livesay Art on Etsy. Of course, you can make your own. These can also be used to help you to strengthen your mental and psychic powers during divination. Making a talisman for this purpose is the ultimate way to induce your psychic powers by placing an Amethyst crystal along with lavender herb in a drawstring bag and wearing around your neck when engaged in tarot readings, casting runes or ogham staves, and pendulum dowsing. Lavender is also said to promote visions during readings of any kind.
Love spells and fertility spells are always helped along by Lavender. Use it in poppets, sachets, and loose incenses for these purposes. Wearing the scent of Lavender alone can attract love to you.
Dried Lavender makes excellent smudge sticks.
Healing
Whom else would I turn for advice on healing by herbs/flowers/woods, and the like except Nicholas Culpeper, author of the world famous The Complete Herbal and English Physician? Although the writings are over 300 years old, much of what he wrote then holds true to this day. For example, “It [Lavender] provokes women’s courses, and expels the dead child and after-birth”. Whether the birth was ‘intended’ to be early or if the pregnancy had gone full-term, but the child was known to be dead in the womb prior to its birth, Lavender brought on the immediate dismissal of the foetus from its mother’s womb. It is now why I interject a warning to all expectant mothers to never use any Lavender oil or herb by ingestion or otherwise to be safe. I don’t know how much is “enough” but please don’t take any risks. Also, he says, “two spoonfuls of the distilled water of the flowers taken, helps them that have lost their voice” which is what my Nana prescribed me when I had a case of the laryngitis after reading aloud a book about Florence Nightingale to my mum at the dining room table one night. It worked. Culpeper also goes on to say that it is not only good to drink for certain maladies but is also does the job by applying onto temples and smelling through the nostrils to stop tremblings, faintings, and swooning. He also wrote that “The chymical oil drawn from Lavender, usually called Oil of Spike, is of so fierce and piercing a quality, that it is cautiously to be used, some few drops being sufficient, to be given with other things, either for inward or outward griefs.”
Correspondences
Planetary: Mercury
Gender: Masculine
Zodiac: Virgo
Element: Air
Powers: Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, and Peace
Poplar trees, or Populus – the genus, has about twenty-five to thirty-five species, and is native to much of the Northern Hemisphere. The name Populus refers to the fact that the trees were often planted around public meeting places in Roman times. They grow rather tall, 15 to 50 metres [49 to 164 ft] and have trunk diameters of up to 2.5 metres or 8 feet 2 inches. Different species have names other than Poplar, such as Aspen or Cottonwood. It all depends upon where you live, I suppose. According to Wikipedia, in the September 2006 issue of Science Magazine, the Joint Genome Institute announced that the western balsam poplar [P. trichocarpa] was the first tree whose full DNA code had been determined by DNA sequencing. Pretty impressive, that.
Populus nigra ~ woodlandtrust.org.uk
Loosely speaking, the Poplar is divided into three groups, as mentioned above – Balsam Poplar, Aspen, and Cottonwood, in the United States. As far as I can understand, the only “like” or comparable Poplars which are found in both the US and the UK are the Aspen, Black Poplar, and White Poplar. Of course, I have already written about the Aspen. I did find some pretty impressive information concerning a trial which took place in the 1990’s where new hybrids of Poplar were being experimentally planted in the lowlands of England to see if they would be viable as trees to investigate the interaction on profitability….to test whether growing these hybrids would be worth the doing. I imagine this investigation is on-going as the first seven years will be their baseline for all future events from this experiment…and I have found no ending conclusion of it in my research.
So, as we have nothing quite the same in the UK as all the species of Poplar which reside in the US… apart from the Aspen, which you can read about here, and White Poplar and Black Poplar, I shall write about the White Poplar and the Black Poplar, which both grow in both the US and in the UK, their respective genus’s and species being Populus Alba and Populas Nigra. The White and Black Poplar’s are both naturalised to the UK, having been brought from the US in times past. The genus Populus Alba leads me to think that the White Poplar may have been first discovered in Scotland. Why? Because “Alba” is the word for Scotland in Scottish Gaidhlig, or, Gaelic as you would recognise it.
Magickal
Being of Saturn and the zodiac of Capricorn, any part of Poplar is best used on Saturdays during the planetary hour of Saturn. The best spell work is achieved during this time for anything to do with safety, power, success, intellect, travelling, communication [especially into other realms]; spells to help you get through difficult times, as well as when you just need a boost in a specific area of your life.
For change and success, the Poplar wood is best ground fine and used as one of the ingredients of your loose incense created for just these purposes. You may also use it in talismans which you create for these purposes at your altar during ritual.
For creating a protection charm/amulet, you will do well to create your amulet in ritual as in a witch bottle, sachet, or poppet of yourself or the person you’re wanting protection for.
Creating a talisman featuring Poplar wood is also found to attract money and wealth; again, may be used in poppets, sachets, and witch bottles. And, of course, in your ritual loose incense for this purpose.
The leaves of the Poplar are particularly good for use in ‘flying ointments’ for those involved in astral travel and/or hedge witchery, and necromancy – to help walk the hedge and to contact ancestors. The Spirit of the Poplar is a guide during divinations. A perfect divination pendulum can be fashioned from Poplar wood which we are now selling in our shop.
In the Celtic Birth Tree ‘astrology’ [which really needs another designation as it has nothing to do with astrology apart from the lunar months], Poplar is a tree of growth, strength, and visualisation. Its Ogham alphabet is Ead [pronounced hadh] for the English alphabetic equation of the letter E.
Healing
White Poplar catkins ~ woodlandtrust.co.uk
I must turn to Nicholas Culpeper for he so kindly wrote about both the White Poplar and the Black Poplar. You can be assured that much of what he writes is still in practise today.
White Poplar: ‘White Poplar, saith Galen, is of a cleansing property: The weight is of an ounce in power, of the bark, thereof, being drank, saith Dioscorides, is a remedy for those that are troubled with the sciatica or the stranguary, The juice of the leaves dropped warm into the ears, eases the pains in them, The young clammy buds, or eyes, before they break out into leaves, bruised, and a little honey put to them, is a good medicine for a dull sight.’
Black Poplar catkins ~ woodlandtrust.org.uk
Black Poplar: ‘The Black Poplar is held to be more cooling than the White, and therefore the leaves bruised with vinegar and applied, help the gout. The seed drank in vinegar is held good against the falling-sickness. The water that drops from the hollow places of this tree takes away warts, pushes, wheals, and other like breakings-out of the body. The young Black Poplar buds, saith Matthiolus, are much used by women to beautify their hair, bruising them with fresh butter, straining them after they have been kept for some time in the sun. The ointment call Populneon, which is made of this Poplar, is singularly good for all heat and inflammations in any part of the body, and tempers the heat of wounds, it is much used to dry up the milk of women’s breasts when they have weaned their children.’
Black Poplar buds ~ woodlandtrust.org.uk
Black Poplar is a good remedy for urinary tract infections, kidney stones, and cystitis. It has anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and diuretic properties well suited to alleviating pain and infection. The Poplar’s buds have all the help you need! Add two teaspoons of the dried bud from the Black Poplar to one litre of water and infuse for 10 minutes. You can drink two to three cups of the tea per day to stave off stones and to treat your urinary tract infection or cystitis. For rheumatism, use Black Poplar bark in a decoction of half a teaspoon of dry bark to a cup of water, infused for 10 minutes. Drink two cups per day to alleviate pain and inflammation. Poplar has gallic acid, and salicin, both painkillers. You may use the recipe above with Poplar buds instead if preferred. This recipe also is good for the gout and bronchitis and is very helpful with the common cold.
Correspondences
Planetary: Saturn
Gender: White Poplar, Masculine; Black Poplar, Feminine
Of the Juniper bush, Nicholas Culpeper wrote in his famous The Complete Herbal and English Physician, “They [Juniper bushes] grow plentifully in divers woods in Kent, Warney common near Brentwood in Essex upon Finchley Common without Highgate; hard by the Newfound Wells near Dulwich, upon a Common between Mitcham and Croydon, in the Highgate near Amersham in Buckinghamshire, and many other places.” Of course, Mr Culpeper would not have known they also were growing in Europe, Southwest Asia, and North America. He wrote about what was on hand mainly in England in the 1700’s and how each herb, spice, flower, and tree could lend itself to healing in the medicine of the times. His information was good for his time and is still as useful today.
We can not speak of the berries, which many of us use for different purposes in magick and healing without first speaking of the bush/tree, of course. And now that we have done, Mr Culpeper has more information regarding the Juniper, “The berries are not ripe the first year, but continue green two Summers and one Winter before they are ripe; at which time they are all of a black colour, and therefore you shall always find upon the bush green berries; the berries are ripe about the fall of the leaf.”
The Juniper bush can grow up to 25 feet tall…I would say that is quite a large bush, indeed! And any lover of a good G and T [gin and tonic] knows the primary ingredient in gin is Juniper berries. But we shall now ponder the magickal and healing ways of the berries.
Magickal
Juniper berries, if added to sachets and carried with, will protect the wearer from accidents and theft, as well as from attacks from wild animals and snakes.
The berries are also said to increase male potency.
If Juniper is grown by or hung dry by any entry door of your home, it is said that the home will be protected against evil forces and persons.
Juniper Berries are good for increasing psychic powers and other popular uses including incense mixtures for exorcism and breaking hexes. It is also used in love spells.
Juniper has been said to be the guardian of the veil – the veil between the worlds.
For any magickal undertaking, the berries can be dried and crushed to be used in incenses for your purpose. They can also be added to poppets and sachets for the reasons you wish to use their magickal properties and drinking Juniper berry tea is helpful when seeking out the other side as in hedgewitchery and necromancy. Do not drink the tea or work with Juniper berries if you are pregnant.
Healing
Juniper berries are known for having health properties that improve memory and mental clarity.
Juniper berries act as a parasiticide (parasite destroyer) and antiseptic. Nicholas Culpeper writes, “The berries stay all fluxes, help the haemorrhoids or piles, and kill worms in children.”
Apparently, a great ridder of ‘wind’ [after all the rich foods partaken of back in the day, no doubt!] for Mr Culpeper also states, “…strengthens the stomach exceedingly, and expels the wind. Indeed, there is scarce a better remedy for wind in any part of the body, or the cholic than the chymical oil drawn from the berries.”
Juniper berries ~ cma.org.uk
Juniper berries are excellent to use in a tea for its detoxifying properties and can aid in the treatment of gout and rheumatoid arthritis. This is confirmed by Culpeper as he writes, “…[Juniper berries] are excellently good in all sorts of agues; help the gout and sciatica and strengthen the limbs of the body.” The berries are also known as an excellent diuretic and is proved again by Culpeper, “they provoke urine exceedingly, and are therefore very available to all dysuries and stranguaries.”
Culpeper also says Juniper berries are “a most admirable counter-poison, and as great a register of the pestilence as any growing; they are excellent good against the bitings of venomous beasts.” I have no doubt this is true.
Correspondences
Planetary: Sun
Gender: Masculine
Element: Fire
Zodiac: Leo
Powers: Protection, Mental Health, Love, Male Potency, Increasing Psychic Powers, and Breaking Hexes
WytchenCrafts 