Hawthorn Berries

Hawthorn berries have a long and interesting place in legends and folklore. The berries come from a tree that is considered the most sacred in Ireland and Wales. The Gaelic considered the hawthorn tree to be the entrance to the otherworld. Hawthorn is often associated with fairies and luck. The Crown of Thorns worn by Jesus was believed to be created by hawthorn berries. There have also been many studies done on hawthorn berries that show very positive health benefits. Hawthorn berries are primarily associated with the heart chakra.

Hawthorn berries are protective , especially to the Hearth and Home. A tea brewed from them can be sprinkled around the home to Shield the Premises from Evil, or it may be Drunk for Personal Protection. The berries can also be kept in the living room in a potpourri dish with other protective herbs to help assure that evil people do not enter.

Other Names
Crataegus laevigata, Hazels, Whitethorn, May Tree, Gazels, Halves, Ladies Meat, Quickset, Bread-and-Cheese Tree, Haw, Albesyne, Hagedorn, Quick, Hedgethorn, Fairy Bush, May Bush, May blossom, May Flower, Thorn, Hag Thorn, Tree of Chastity

Precautions
People with a heart condition or who are taking heart medication should consult with their doctor before beginning a hawthorn berry regimen. Do not use hawthorn berries if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Do not use hawthorn berries if you have ulcers. Large doses of hawthorn berries may cause dizziness.

10 Surprising Witch Hazel Uses

1. Swollen Eyes – dab a little Witch Hazel on cotton balls and  place them on your closed eyes for 10 minutes.

2. Itching – to reduce itching from poison ivy, chicken pox insect bites, psoriasis, eczema and even an itchy scalp. Apply witch hazel to the areas.

3. Swelling – to reduce, apply witch hazel topically to the area.

4. Burns – to soothe, gently dab on burns to help reduce pain and prevent peeling (ex. sun burn, cooking burns).

5. Diaper Rash – use a cotton ball to dab on their bottoms to relieve pain and heal the rash.

6. Hemorrhoid Treatment – dab on external hemorrhoids to tighten the skin and reduce itching.

7. Bruises – apply to bruises a few times a day to speed up healing time.

8. Acne and Blemishes – gently dab on problem area to reduce inflammation. Can be used daily to control breakouts.

9. Cuts – to clean, dab on small cuts to reduce the risk of infection and speed up the healing.

10. Varicose Veins – to tighten the veins and reduce pain and selling wrap legs in clothes soaked in Witch Hazel.

Lemon Balm Magic

Lemon Balm’s presence is quiet and strong. Running through the soil like her minty cousins, she spreads just under the surface with steady, clear intention. In this way, she reminds us  good cheer and sunny confidence will proliferate even when we’re not aware of their presence on the surface of our lives. Lemon Balm magic is the magic of quiet, steady trust.

Lemon Balm’s effect on honeybees, attracting them and encouraging them to remain in their hives, reminds us to nurture our homes, our friends and family, our communities. Through the simple act of contributing to our household, we nurture ourselves. In this way, Lemon Balm asks us to seek joy and peace in the mundane tasks of life as a way of self-nurturing.

Thriving in both sun and shade, soils of a wide pH, dry and damp conditions, Lemon Balm teaches versatility, particularly in how we grow. If Lemon Balm has popped up in your life, it may be time to ask yourself what conditions are present in your life that you must embrace to thrive. Has a challenge surfaced that you resist? Have you identified an aspect of your life that feels unbearable, burdensome, like a whole lotta work? Lemon Balm can help you identify the trouble and find ways to adapt and thrive amidst it, or maybe in spite of it.

Lemon Balm magic is the magic of steady, calm, persistent, good cheer.

In Astrology, Lemon Balm is considered a feminine plant and is governed by the Moon. Lemon Balm’s element is water. In Ayruvedic medicine, Lemon Balm’s energy is pungent, sour-sweet, cool, and wet.

The Benefits of Lemon Balm Tea

The Lemon Balm plant is very beneficial and has many useful purposes, and Lemon Balm Tea is a delightful way to experience some of these benefits. When you make tea from loose lemon balm leaves, you can then experience some of the ways in which this remarkable plant can help you. Let’s take a look at seven of the ways in which lemon balm tea can be of assistance.

1. If you have insomnia, you will find that lemon balm tea has a calming effect on the system. It can help you in getting a better night’s sleep. The herb, Valerian, can also be added to Lemon Balm Tea to help even further in creating a calming environment.

2. Lemon Balm Tea is useful for when you have a fever due to colds or the flu. It helps to bring on perspiration, which, in turn, will help your fever.

3. If you are feeling depressed, a cup of Lemon Balm Tea may be of help. It has been known to lighten the mood and help with alleviating sadness. Lemon Balm Tea is also beneficial for helping to relieve tension and stress, and in today’s hectic times, who couldn’t benefit from that.

4. You can also use Lemon Balm Tea if you have nerve pain.

5. Lemon Balm Tea can also be soothing to an upset or nervous stomach. It can be taken occasionally throughout the day for maximum benefits.

6. Lemon Balm Tea can be beneficial in improving memory and other functions of the brain.Herbal Oil

7. Lemon Balm has also been used to treat other ailments, such as flatulence, asthma, headaches and toothaches.

You may want to use a little bit of honey as a sweetener in your tea. Lemon Balm is also available in other forms, such as capsules, extracts, tinctures and oils. But the tea is the easiest and best way to experience Lemon Balm.

If you are taking medication for hyperthyroidism, you should check with your doctor before taking Lemon Balm Tea, as it can interact with medication for that condition. You should also check with your doctor if you are taking sedatives, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Lemon Balm Tea is a very beneficial and tasty product and can help with a number of ailments. If you would like to experience some of the wonderful benefits of this product, try some Lemon Balm Tea for yourself.

Angelica Essential Oil

Angelica essential oil comes from the roots of the Angelica archangelica (Archangelica officinalis) plant. It has a herby, spicy scent and is a base note oil.

In Germany, angelica was historically referred to as the “oil of angels,” in part because of its ability to calm anxiety, restore happy memories, and bring peaceful sleep. Traditional medicine practitioners used angelica as a stimulant, digestive tonic, and expectorant.

There are two angelica essential oils, one distilled from the seeds, one from the roots. Sometimes they are combined. As an essence, angelica has been distilled only recently in Europe. At first it is colourless, but with age it turns yellow and then dark brown. It must not be used when dark brown. It is quite thick, but still fluid. The seeds contain more essential oil than the roots, but the root oil is much stronger and more concentrated. The seeds are dependent on the variety but include angelic acid, sugar, valeric acid, volatile oil, bitter principle and a resin called angelicin. The angelica essential oil is extracted from the roots when the plant is approximately one year old.

Origin of angelica oil

The plant is said to originate from Africa and was introduced to Europe in the 16th century. It is considered a native plant of northern and eastern Europe, as well as parts of Asia and the Soviet Union, and is found in Scotland, Holland, Lapland and Germany.

It is called Angelica, since it normally flowers on the 8th May, which is St Michael the Archangel's Day, and for this reason it is often planted in monasteries and is referred to as "Angel Grass".

This herb is included in the famous Chartreuse and Benedictine liqueur. When the Black Plague swept Europe, the herb was considered an antidote for it, and "Angelica Water" was taken up in a Royal Prescription and published by the College of Physicians when the plague swept London in 1665. It is also used to flavor gin, perfumes, and traditionally candied for cake decoration and confectionery.

It is a rather large, water-loving herb, with broad pointed leaves dividing into smaller leaflets and has small white-green flowers. It has a strong aromatic scent and a large rhizome.

This oil is great for giving your constitution a boost by invigorating the lymphatic system. It generally detoxifies the body. It can also be used to great effect on respiratory ailments and is a great help in stomach related problems; including flatulence, dyspepsia, nausea, discomfort and indigestion.

Burners and vaporizers

In vapor therapy, angelica oil can be used to help clear lungs, for bronchitis, pleurisy and to ease shortness of breath as well as asthma.

Blended massage oil and in the bath

Angelica oil can be used in blended massage oil, or in the bath, to assist in aiding the lymphatic system, detoxification, digestive problems, to help with colds and flu, as well as to fight fungal growths.

Blended in a cream or lotion

As a constituent of a cream or lotion, angelica oil can be used to assist with circulation, arthritis, gout, sciatica, migraines, colds and flu, as well as helping to encourage the natural production of estrogen - this aids in regulating and easing painful monthly periods.

It is a remarkable healer for scars, wounds and bruises. Mix about 5 drops of angelica oil with 10 ml (2 tsp) of a vegetable oil like almond, and apply three times a day at first, then once every day until cured. Patience is necessary. Caution: Don’t expose yourself to the sun or ultra-violet light straight after use.

Add 2 drops of Angelica Essential oil along with 1 drop of Eucalyptus oil to steam inhalation for treating migraine pain, nasal congestion, cold, whooping cough, headache, bronchitis, sinusitis, asthma and breathing difficulties.

A weekly rejuvenating massage with 5 drops of Angelica oil blended with 3 drops of Rosewood oil, 3 drops of Petitgrain oil, 3 drops of Chamomile oil and 1 drop of Rose oil with 75 ml of Jojoba oil can alleviate nervous tension, anxiety, pain, anger, and negative feelings due to depression and hypertension.

A Few Words of Caution: It should be avoided during pregnancy and by diabetics. It can cause skin irritation in higher concentrations and also photo-toxicity. In higher doses, it can cause excessive stimulation or hyperactivity of the nervous system.

Blending: The Essential Oil of Angelica blends well with basil, chamomile, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, mandarin, and patchouli essential oils.

Spearmint Uses

Spearmint

PARTS USED
The Whole Herb

GENDER: Feminine
ELEMENTS: Air and Water
PLANET: Venus

FOLK NAMES
Brown Mint
Erba Santa Maria
Fish Mint
Frauen Munze
Garden Mint
Green Mint
Lamb Mint
Mackerel Mint
Menthe de Notre Dame
Mismin (Irish Gaelic)
Our Lady's Mint
Sage of Bethlehem
Spire Mint
Yerba Buena (Spanish)

POWERS

Healing
Love
Mental Powers
Healing and some Love wishes.
Burn for healing wishes especially respiratory.
Carry the herb in sachet for healing, drink the tea
for healing or take a bath for strength and vitality.

MAGICAL USES

Spearmint ia used in all healing applications.
especially in aiding lung disease.
Spearmint is sometimes used to provoke lust.
Smelled, spearmint increases and sharpens mental power.
For protection while asleep.
stuff a pillow or mattress with spearmint.

Source
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
by Scott Cunningham

Lavender Mint Bath Salts Recipe

Lavender Mint Bath Salts Recipe

There are so many health benefits to a relaxing salt bath.

Salt baths are great for:

Stress relief

Reducing muscle aches

Improving circulation

Better nutrient absorption

Headache relief

Speeding up wound healing

During illness, especially respiratory illness

For children to help mineral absorption and improve sleep

For acne, eczema or other skin problems

For joint pain relief

Improving skin hydration

Ingredients:

2 cups epsom salts or try using magnesium flakes as an alternative

1/2 cup baking soda

1/4 cup sea salt (optional)

30 drops of lavender essential oils

10 drops of peppermint essential oil

Instructions:

Mix all ingredients in a medium size bowl.

Store in an air-tight jar and use 1/4 cup per bath.

3 Herbal Teas That Boost Metabolism

Bladderwrack

This black herb comes from the garden of the sea and it packs the traditional salty taste you’d expect from aquatic plants.

Bladderwrack herbal tea works on the thyroid and is considered to be a thyroid tonic due to its soothing effects and high iodine content. It also gives the metabolism a nice boost so that the body can start working towards a more healthy weight balance.

Use bladderwrack herb in small doses in fragrant blends to mask its salty, aquatic taste.

Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla herbal tea gently stimulates and fires up the metabolism so that the body uses up fats and carbs in a healthier way. This herb is included in just about every weight loss and fat burning blend and its gentle effects makes it a great option for many people.

Ginger Root

You can literally feel ginger herbal tea raise the body temperature slightly as the metabolism kicks into high gear. This herb is favored in the East because when the body temperature gets slightly raised, it doesn’t feel as hot outside as it may be.

In addition to turning up the fat burning heat in the body, ginger root herbal tea also gets the body’s digestive process in high gear so that fats, carbs, and nutrients get handled in a faster and more efficient way.

Stress Tonic Herbal Tea Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 teaspoon Lemon Balm

1/4 teaspoon German Chamomile

1/4 teaspoon Skullcap

1/4 teaspoon Nettle

To Prepare

Steep the herbs in 8-10 ounces of steaming hot water for 6 minutes. You can use a mesh tea ball, reusable muslin tea bag, disposable natural tea bag, or a tea kettle with a built-in strainer. Make sure to keep the tea covered while it steeps so that you don’t lose all the essential oils as the water evaporates.

Sit back and enjoy

5th Chakra Tea

OVERVIEW

A warm and soothing decoction blend designed to improve communication all year round. Dry or scratchy sore throats are no match for this combination of roots and spices. A smooth and comforting blend.

TASTE

A warming tea which slides down smoothly and has a succulent linger.

AROMA AND TASTE

Sweet and viscous with strong licorice and marshmallow notes.

BREW TIME AND COLOR

Golden amber. 5-10 minutes

CAFFEINE CONTENT

Caffeine free

INGREDIENTS

Organic Licorice root, organic Marshmallow root, organic Echinacea purpurea root, organic Orange peel, organic Cinnamon bark, organic Ginger root, organic Fennel seed, and organic Cloves.

I have not tried this yet myself, so you will have to experiment with the combinations of ingredients, to achieve the perfect blend, does sound like a lovely tea.

Cinnamon the Spice of Life

Correspondences

Element: Fire
Planet: Sun
Season: Winter
Deities: Venus, Aphrodite, Mars, Bast
Gender: male

Cinnamon is masculine in action and ruled by the Sun and the element of Fire. As well as being a valuable ingredient in many recipes, cinnamon can be sprinkled over coals and burned as a pleasing incense to purify your sacred space before beginning your magical work and cinnamon scented candles are readily available as well. It can be made into cinnamon clay and used to fashion any number of delightfully scented sculptures and cinnamon sticks can be added to wreathes and other crafts.

Ground cinnamon sprinkled in cabinets will discourage bugs from entering.

A stick of Cinnamon makes an excellent incense, as it smolders slowly releasing a potent energy. Cinnamon has a high vibration, and can be added to most spells simply to boost their power.
Cinnamon can be used to achieve a higher state of spirituality and as an aid to clairvoyance and to stimulate psychic powers.

Incorporated into a spell or charm, Cinnamon can be used to give your creativity a boost, and it can also be drawn upon to reinforce your will and determination. The fast moving, successful, determined energy of Cinnamon makes it an ideal addition to prosperity and success spells to draw money and increase your personal power, and aid in successful ventures.

However you apply it, cinnamon can be used in magic for protection, prosperity, scrying, and warm, comforting love. Cinnamon is all about security.

Cinnamon is a natural accompaniment to apples and enhances their loving energy.

If you are using cinnamon as an incense or other non edible ways then the shop bought off the shelf Cassia Cinnamon is fine but if you are going to cook with it on a regular basis then use Ceylon Cinnamon because it has low levels of Coumarin compared to Cassia Cinnamon, if you only use it in cooking now and again then you could use either, personally I only use Ceylon Cinnamon.

If you are taking Ceylon Cinnamon for diabetes, take it in moderation as part of a healthy program of diet, proper nutrition and moderate exercise.

Cinnamon is a spice that is made from the inner bark of trees called Cinnamomum.
It has been used as an ingredient throughout history, dating back as far as Ancient Egypt. It used to be rare and valuable, and was regarded as a gift fit for kings.
These days, cinnamon is cheap, available in every supermarket and found in all sorts of foods and recipes.

There are two main types of cinnamon

Ceylon cinnamon: Also known as “true” cinnamon.

Cassia cinnamon: This is the more common variety today, what people generally refer to as “cinnamon.”

Cinnamon is made by cutting the stems of the cinnamomum tree. The inner bark is then extracted and the woody parts removed from it.

When it dries, it forms strips that curl into rolls, called cinnamon sticks. The sticks can be ground to form cinnamon powder.

The distinct smell and flavor of cinnamon is due to the oily part, which is very high in a compound called cinnamaldehyde.

It is this compound that is responsible for most of cinnamon’s powerful effects on health and metabolism.

Ceylon Cinnamon Leaf Oil is a powerful anti-bacterial and makes a great natural disinfectant.

Cinnamon is effective in inhibiting bacterial growth. This maybe one reason why it is widely used in food preparation in hot Asian countries. In Sri Lanka, virtually every dish has a pinch of Cinnamon in it. In addition to great flavor, Ceylon Cinnamon in combination with other spices like Turmeric and Chili may have been an indigenous solution to preserve food without a refrigerator.

Pure Cinnamon Leaf oil not only smells great but is an effective odor neutralizer as it kills bacteria that creates bad odors and not just mask odors. All you need is 2-5 drops of Cinnamon leaf oil mixed with water on a diffuser and within minutes all odors are neutralized. Alternatively spray diluted Cinnamon Leaf Oil and wipe down toilets, floors and kitchen counter tops, garbage cans and the interior of vehicles to rapidly remove foul odors. Far better than any chemical sprays. It also has the effect of improving your mood. Especially great as a cure for the winter blues.

Cinnamon is a well known warming agent. Combined with a carrier oil it is highly effective in relaxing and relieving muscle pain. Try putting a few drops in your bath to relax and to sooth tired and aching muscles.

At the first sign (within 5-10 minutes) of sniffles or an itch in your throat take some Cinnamon Tea or Cinnamon stick Tea. It is said to stop an impending illness in its tracks. Again this is related to the anti bacterial properties and warming properties of Cinnamon and its propensity to increase blood flow and thereby improve blood oxygen levels to fight illness. Chinese traditional medicine commonly recommends Cinnamon for phlegm coughs.

Magical Properties of Incense and Smudge Sticks

.What is Smudging?

"Smudging" is the common name given to a powerful cleansing technique from the Native American tradition; however, the burning of herbs for emotional, psychic, and spiritual purification is a common practice among many religious, healing, and spiritual traditions. It is a ceremonial way to cleanse a person, place or an object of negative energies or influences. It is also an effective method for energizing or blessing a person, place or object.

Smudging can be useful when you're feeling depressed, angry, resentful, unwell or after you have had an argument with someone. It is common to smudge yourself, the space and all the guests or participants before a ritual or ceremony or celebration. You can smudge your home or work space as part of a general spiritual housecleaning, and you can cleanse crystals or other objects of any negative or lingering energy with a smudging ritual.

How to Smudge

Any action undertaken with intention and belief can become a potent ritual, so consider your intention before you smudge and hold it clearly in your mind. Smudging should be done with care, with reverence and in an attitude of love.

A candle flame is recommended to light the smudge stick as it may take a little time to get the stick smoking. Once the stick is alight with flame, blow it out so that the smudge stick is smoldering, not burning - be careful not to blow ash everywhere. If you're using loose leaves, a candle is still recommended, but the single leaf will light much more quickly - again, you want to blow out the flame so the sage doesn't burn away too rapidly (you won't get the sweet sage smoke if it burns rather than smolders). And yes, it is still called smudging if you are only using loose leaves not rolled into smudge sticks.

What is the advantage to using loose leaf vs. smudge sticks? You may need to light more than one leaf for your purpose, but you won't be relighting a smudge stick that may smell like old ash the next time you need the power of sage. Further, a goodly portion of a smudge stick can be "wasted" in snuffing out a stick. A smudge stick goes a long way, so it is unlikely that you'll use the whole thing in only one use unless it is a lengthy ceremony.

Smudging yourself or another

Fan the swirls of smoke around your body from head to toe. You may want to especially focus on areas where you feel there are blockages or where there has been or is physical, emotional, or spiritual pain. Imagine the smoke lifting away all the negative thoughts, emotions and energies that have attached themselves to you. If you are feeling depressed, for instance, you could visualize the smoke carrying away all your feelings of depression.

You may want to speak an intention or a suggestion for the smudging as you do it. Repeat this process with your guests as they enter the space at a ritual, ceremony or special event.

Smudging a room or space

Light the smudge stick as suggested above, and walk about the perimeter, giving special attention to the corners and the places behind doors. You can also fan the smoke throughout the room with a large feather. If you are amenable to the notion, you should state a prayer of gratitude for the cleansing and keep in mind your intention of removing any negatively inclined energy from the area during the ritual.

This is a list of Herbs used in Incense and Smudge Sticks

AFRICAN VIOLET: used for spirituality and protection. 

ALOESWOOD: used for spirituality, meditation, luck, love and to strengthen other incenses.

AMBER: used in healing, meditation. 

APPLE: used in love, peace and happiness.

BAMBOO: Bamboo is the stick used to hold the herbs and resins in most stick incense. It has magical uses of its own. It is used in divination in Chinese Temples. Used in luck, protection and hex-breaking rituals.

BANANA: used for fertility, potency and prosperity rituals. 

BASIL: used for happiness, peace and money. 

BAY: used for psychic awareness and purification.

BENZOIN: used for purification, prosperity, knowledge, peace, and psychic protection 

BERGAMOT: used for peace, happiness, restful sleep. 

CAMOMILE: used for sleep, meditation and peace. 

CAMPHOR: used for purification, physical energy and celibacy.

CEDAR: used for purifying, protection and to banish bad dreams. Used by Native Americans in sweat lodges to release heavy emotional energies.

CHAMPA: used for meditation and for creating your sacred space. An auric energizer. It brings one's energies into harmonious balance.

CHERRY: used to attract love and divination.

CINNAMON: raises spiritual and protective vibrations, stimulates psychic powers, physical energy.

COPAL, BLACK: used in immunity, heart rituals, purification. An earthy, spicy Copal. Burned during "Day of the Dead" Celebrations.

CLOVE: used to drive away hostile, negative forces, a psychic enhancer. It is also used to produce spiritual vibrations and to purify the area.

DESERT SAGE: used to drive out bad spirits, feelings and influences. An important, strong, herbaceous Native American Plant. Burned for wealth, wisdom, knowledge, protection, and purification.

DRAGON'S BLOOD: Resin from the palm tree. It is used in rituals involving love, protection and exorcism. Burned for consecration, protection, good luck.

EUCALYPTUS: used in healing and to maintain good health, purification and protection.

FRANGIPANI: used for psychic work to restore peace and harmony with its soothing vibrations.

FRANKINCENSE: used as an incense for purification, spiritual growth, knowledge and meditation. Has been used for over 3,000 years and is still burned in Catholic churches. 

FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH: A powerful combination that is used for spirituality, healing, protection and exorcism. Used as an incense for purification, spiritual growth, knowledge and meditation.

GARDENIA: used in love spells and to attract good, peaceful spirits during rituals. Possesses very high spiritual vibrations. Also used for peace and love. 

GINGER: Used in money and success rituals, for psychic growth, success, sex, love money and courage.

GUM ARABIC POWDER: used in protective and psychic awareness rituals. Burned for purification. 

HONEYSUCKLE: used for love, fidelity, money, protection and clairvoyance. A mental stimulant that aids intuition and psychic perception.

HYACINTH: used for love, protection, happiness and overcoming grief. Guards against nightmares.

HYSSOP LEAF: used for wealth and psychic protection 

IRIS: used for love and psychic awareness.

JASMINE: used to create prophetic and psychic dreams, love, peace, spirituality and raising vibrations.

JUNIPER: used to promote psychic powers, protection, purification and healing. Guards against evil and sickness. Used in sick rooms throughout Europe.

LAVENDER: used in love and healing rituals. Used to attract and protect relationships. Promotes sleep and peacefulness.

LEMONGRASS: used for psychic awareness and purification.

LILAC: used for love, protection, exorcism and protection. Brings peace and harmony into everyday life. 

LIME: used for purification, physical energy and protection.

LOTUS: The Lotus has been long revered in the East as a mystical symbol of life, spirituality and the center of the universe. Burned for protection and as a sacred offering to the Gods. It is said to attract good fortune and love while promoting long life. 

MACE: used for psychic awareness. 

MAGNOLIA: used for fidelity and love. 

MELON: used for healing and health. 

MIMOSA: used for psychic dreams and love. 

MUGWORT: used for psychic awareness, psychic dreams and astral projection. MUSK: used for protection, enlightenment and sexual magnetism. Stimulates self-confidence, determination and enhances extroversion. 

MYRRH: Was used in the temple of Isis. Great meditation and contemplation incense. Used or protection, spirituality, healing and stimulates crown chakra. NAG CHAMPA: A blend of costly, highly fragrant rare gums, resins & powders for meditation and for creating your sacred space. An auric energizer. It brings one's energies into harmonious balance. 

NUTMEG: used for physical energy, magical energy, psychic awareness and money. 

OSHA: A plant revered by all Native American healers for its powerful healing abilities. Used to treat respiratory and rheumatic complaints. 

ORANGE: used for beauty, luck, fidelity, love, purification, joy and physical energy.

PEPPERMINT: used for healing, protection, prosperity, growth and renewal. 

PINE: used for healing, purification, protection, grounding, physical and magical energy.

PINEAPPLE: used for luck, money and chastity.

PINION PINE: used in healing, money, exorcism and protection rituals. PLUMERIA: used for peace and love. 

ROSE: used in love, luck, grief and healing rituals. Induces thoughts of loving affection and peaceful harmonious vibrations. Used for prophetic dreams.

ROSEMARY: used as powerful cleansing and purifying vibrations. One of the oldest incenses. Used in love, healing and mental rituals. Stimulates memory and clarification.

SAFFRON: used for love, healing, happiness, lust, strength and clairvoyance.

SANDALWOOD: used for spiritual awareness, meditation and psychic development. 

STAR ANISE: used for psychic awareness. Sacred Japanese temple incense used to drive away negativity and to bring good luck 

STRAWBERRY: used for love and luck.

SWEETGRASS: used to purify spaces and to attract positive influences. 

SWEETPEA: used for happiness and courage. 

TEA, GREEN: used for money, courage and strength.

Tobacco: Sacred Plant of Native Americans

The custom and belief is that when you pick sage (or receive any gift from nature) you should give the gift of tobacco to the plant first. This is a respectful way of thanking the earth, the sage plant, and the Creator for the gift you are about to receive. Just sprinkle a little tobacco on the plant first, then after your give thanks pick only as much as you need and will use.

TUBEROSE: used to ward off evil and negativity. It restores happiness, peace and harmony.

VANILLA: used for love, lust, healing, luck and mental powers.

VERBENA, LEMON: used or carried for protection and love.

WHITE SAGE: used to purify and protect objects, places and people.

White Sage is traditionally used as a cleansing plant by Native Americans for healing, ceremonies, and to remove negative energy. The belief is that it also said to be mind enhancing

WISTERIA: used for protection and calling higher spiritual forces.

WOOD BETONY: used in protection and reunion rituals. 

YARROW: used for psychic awareness, courage and love. 

YERBA SANTA LEAF: used to drive out negative influences and restores a guarded boundary of protection. 

YLANG-YLANG: used for peace, sex, love, calming and tension relieving'

Divination Herbal Tea

3 tsp China Black Tea
2 tsp Lemon Balm
1 tsp Eyebright
3 tsp Mugwort
3 tsp Rose Hips

Aphrodite Blend Herbal Tea

A sensuous, aromatic blend with just the right tint of zest for your palate, and sure to kindle flames! A delicate, but dashing combination makes this one of your most enjoyable cups of tea.

1 part Damiana leaves

1 part rose petals

1 part peppermint leaves

1 part muira puama

1 part gingko leaves

1 part orange peel

1 part cinnamon bark chips

pinch of stevia.

Place all herbs in a tea ball or bag, put in your nicest or most favorite cup or mug, and cover with boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes.

Remove tea ball or bag, and add sugar, honey, sweetener, milk, cream or whatever, to taste.

Stevia is a green, leafy plant that is native to South America.

It has been used for medicinal purposes for many centuries. The plant has also been bred for its strong, sweet flavor and used as a sweetener.

Muira puama, also called "potency wood," is a small tree up to 15 feet in height native to the Brazilian Amazon. The bark and root are the primary parts that are utilized. Indigenous peoples use muira puama for the therapy of sexual debility, fatigue, neuromuscular problems, and rheumatism. It's botanical name is Ptychopetalum olacoides.

Herbal Lore - Clove Buds

Clove Buds (Syzygium aromaticum)

Planetary Signature: Jupiter & Saturn

Astrological Signature: Capricorn

Elemental Signature: Fire

Parts Used: dried buds (whole, granules, or ground), essential oil (middle-note), and culinary flavoring-extract

Folk-Names: King of Spices

Herb-Lore & Magic:
Clove is another reputed commanding and power herb that is used to add necessary force to a love or money formula, depending upon the other ingredients to which it has been added.  The common name is derived from the Latin noun clavus, which means “a nail” in reference to its natural shape of the dried buds.  It is associated with protection in Indonesia where cloves are stuck into the nostrils and lips in order to “nail” those passageways closed so that demons and other evil spirits could not enter through them.

Cloves may be used in a variety of protection spells and formula where literal or metaphysical doors and windows must be “nailed” shut, including the prevention of sickness.  One may use clove buds to seal a pact with spirits, the gods, or a vow before one’s Coven during the hallowed Rite of Initiation in order to bind oneself to their word.  Furthermore, cloves may be used when signing contracts, making promises or deals, as well as at Handfastings to cement a bond.  It may be combined with slipper elm bark, or other herbs to facilitate the truth, to stop gossip.  It may also be blended with benzoin resin to banish unruly ghosts and faeries that have become a nuisance without the use of iron, or to magically seal a doorway that we have ceremonially opened, such as one of the Four Quarters when an element is evoked.  Because it may also magically bar physical doors and other entrances into the home, I often include the ground spice in my own formula for Protection Potion in order to guard the sovereignty of my residence and my Temple.  Clove buds will also behave as a “catalyst” and bind your spell in Natural Law, which make them effective when fashioning and charging Witch Chord spells, or when sealing and charging a Witch Bottle spell.  An incense may be composed using ground or whole clove buds to not only protect and consecrate your personal Grimoire, but to ensure that any spells that are cast from it will not be misused, and that their effectiveness will hinge upon whether or not they are “for the good of all” involved.

Plants that are safe to eat and drink

EDIBLE (AND DRINKABLE) FLOWERS

Alliums (flowers and young shoots), bee balm, carnations, hibiscus blossoms, hollyhock, honeysuckle flowers (the berries are highly poisonous), Johnny-jump-ups (flowers and leaves), lavender (blossoms and leaves), nasturtiums (flowers, buds, leaves, seedpods), pansies (flowers and leaves), roses (petals, leaves, and rose hips), violets (flowers and leaves).

EDIBLE (AND DRINKABLE) KITCHEN HERBS

Basil, chamomile flowers, chives, dill, lemon balm, marjoram, mint, oregano, parsley, peppermint and other mints, rosemary, sage, thyme, verbena.

EDIBLE (AND DRINKABLE) BUSHES AND TREES

Birch leaves (especially when young), blackberry leaves, citrus blossoms (lemon, orange, grapefruit, etc.), elderberry flowers and ripe berries (the leaves and unripe berries are poisonous), gardenia, hibiscus flowers, honeysuckle flowers, pine needles (white and black), raspberry leaves.

EDIBLE (AND DRINKABLE) WEEDS

Chickweed, chicory (flowers and buds), dandelions (flowers and leaves), goldenrod, good King Henry, kudzu, lamb's quarters, plantain (or white man's footsteps, as the Native Americans called them), purslane, stinging nettle.

Herbal Bath Rose Recipe

Rose Herb Bath

Make an infusion of red roses, white roses, yellow roses, pink roses, peppermint and parsley, and add it to your bath