Chamomile: Herb of Calmness

Chamomile has been a popular herb since ancient times, but from then to now it can cause some confusion. The confusion stems from there being two different Chamomile, both are in the same family but they are two totally different plants. There is Roman Chamomile Chamaemelum nobile and then there is Greman Chamomile Matricaria recutita. They both belong to the Compositae family which also includes daisy, dandelion, and marigold. Both plants have many of the same common traits which adds to everyone’s confusion.

they both have the same common name
they both like full sun or partial shade
they both have the same fragrance
they both bloom in the spring through late summer
they both have daisy like flowers with feather like foliage

But there are ways that you can tell them apart more easily. For one Roman Chamomile is a perennial that only grows to be about 9 inches tall, and its fragrance is slightly stronger. While German Chamomile is an annual that can grow up to 2-3 feet tall.

Chamomile was a must have in ancient gardens and is still a great one to have in your garden since it is so very handy. The German Chamomile is so hardy that it has been used for lawns since it doesn’t mind being walked on. It is one of my favorite teas and I am not alone since it is one of the most popular herbal teas here in the USA. The Greeks thought the apple scented flowers smelled so much like apples they named it Chamomile which means “ ground apple”. They used Chamomile herbally for relieving headaches and to help with kidney, liver, and bladder problems. The Egyptians used it to fight fevers and malarial chills that plagued their ancient civilization. While in Spain they used it to flavor very fine sherry. In ancient times until modern day, chamomile has been used as a hair rinse because of its natural ability to accent natural blond highlights. A Chamomile infusion can be made for a very soothing bath. It is often used in ointments, lotion, vapor baths, and in inhalations which are made from Chamomile extract. Now the extracts have also been found to help as an anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, and as a natural tranquilizer. It has been a commonly used in compressed because it can help prevent wound infections. This is because it has been found to stimulate the immune system’s infection-fighting white blood cells. The sweet apple scent of Chamomile also makes the daisy like flowers the perfect addition to potpourris and dried flower arrangements.

Magickally both of the Chamomile have the same properties and go by several folk names such as Camomile, Chamaimeln, Ground Apple, Maythen, and Whigplant. Chamomile is masculine and associated with the Sun and the element of Water. It can be used magickally for prosperity, protection, purification, meditation, rest, calmness, sleep, and love. If you need to remove a curse or spell that was cast against you, you can use chamomile by sprinkling it around your property which will remove it from you.

September 15, 2019 0

Hazel: Tree of Wisdom

Hazelnut is one of my favorite flavors, especially for my coffee! And this month is the perfect time to talk about Hazel trees because Hazel is the Celtic tree of the month from August 5th to September 1st. It is a deciduous tree that is native to the Northern Hemisphere. Hazel trees or Corylus spp. belong to the Betulaceae family, which is the same as the Birch trees. They have rounded leaves with double-serrate margins and they flower in the spring. The fruit is hazelnuts, which has been one of my favorite nuts since I was a child. The Hazel tree has a rich history and many uses. The Celtic believed that hazelnuts gave you wisdom and inspiration. It is also said that if you take hazelnuts and string them onto a cord and then hang them in your home, you can enlist in the aid of the plant faeries. Then for hundreds of years, it was Hazel branches that were commonly used for dowsing, which is using a forked stick to find water. It is said that if you eat the hazelnuts they can help with increasing wisdom and fertility, and are sometimes ate right before doing divination. There is a belief that if you carry a hazelnut in your pocket it will increase your fertility. There is a belief that Hazel can protect you from lightning by placing twigs of hazel in all of your windows so it will not strike your home. Then it is said that if you need protection then draw a circle in the dirt around you with a stick from a Hazel tree.

Hazel is masculine and connected to the element of Air and the Sun. It is sacred to Mercury, Thor, Artemis, and Diana. And is good for magickal workings dealing with luck, fertility, anti-lightning, protection, wisdom, wishes, fairies, healing, communication, inspiration, wands, manifesting, spirit contact, prosperity, dreams, and divination: dowsing. Hazel is one of the best woods to make all-purpose wands out of.

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August 21, 2019 1

Bay Laurel: Symbol of Glory and Reward

Since ancient Greece Bay Laurel has been a symbol of glory, reward. And it all started with the Greek God Apollo who loved the beautiful nymph Daphne, only she did not love him back. So she went to the other Gods and pleaded for their help. It was then that her father Peneus changed her into a laurel tree so that Apollo wouldn’t be able to chase her anymore. When Apollo discovered she had been turned into the laurel tree he bowed down before it and declared it would be sacred for eternally. Then wreaths of laurel became a symbol for glory and reward. They were given to warriors, poets, emperors, and the winners of the Olympics. And Bay Laurel didn’t just influence the Greeks, but it has stayed a symbol in the modern world also. Apollo was the Greek God of medicine and even in now it is still used in the Hippocratic oath that medical students recite.

Herbalist also used it throughout the ages since it is seen as being an astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, emetic, narcotic, and stimulant. In the Middle ages, it was often prescribed to promote menstruation and to induce abortions. It also helps to relax the body while soothing the stomach and relieving flatulence. It can help to soothe the aches and pains of arthritis.

Bay Laurel trees (Laurus nobilis) are in the Lauraceae family, which also includes avocado, cinnamon, and nutmeg. They are a small evergreen tree that has shiny gray bark with shiny, leathery, dark green leaves. They do tend to be hard to grow and can not survive a cold winter at all. But they do grow well in a pot indoors. If grown indoors they can reach 6-8 ft. tall and you will have a ready supply of Bay leaves all year. Culinary Bay leaves are often used in soups, stews, tomato sauces, and they work well with shellfish, meats, and sausages.

Magickally they are masculine and connected to the Sun and the element of Fire. Bay is not just sacred to Apollo, but also to Aesculapius, Ceres, Faunus, and Eros. It is said to have posers of protection, psychic powers, healing, purification, strength, wishes, divination, justice, wisdom, and promotion. There are many ways to use Bay leaves magickally, the most common way is to write wishes on a leaf and then burn them. But they can also be used in teas for clairvoyance and wisdom. They are also said to help bring prophetic dreams if you place them under your pillow. They can be used in amulets to help with warding off negativity and evil. They can be used to help cause visions by burning them. If you mix Bay leaves with sandalwood and then burn the mixture it is helpful to remove curses and evil spells. I have recently used Bay leaves in a cleansing ritual and it worked very well. Bay leaves are also very popular to use in decorations for Yule. With all of the many uses, it is no wonder why it can be commonly found in spice racks and one of the most commonly used herbs by witches and pagans across the world.

August 14, 2019 0

Heart’s Delight the Magick of Lemon Balm

One of my favorite things to grow in my garden is Lemon Balm. I love just walking by it and brushing it gently with my hand to fill the air with its lemony scent. Lemon Balm has gone by many names such as Common Balm, Balm Mint, Balm, Bee Balm, Lemon Balsam, Melissa, Sweet Balm, Sweet Melissa, and Heart’s Delight but its official name is Melissa officinalis. And it has a rich history, in ancient times it was often planted around by beekeepers to keep the honeybees content. It was also planted around the Temples of Diana, it was a herb sacred to her and it helped keep the honeybees happy. It is from the Goddess Diana that Lemon Balm was started to be called Heart’s Delight. It was believed in ancient times that Lemon Balm was useful to calm the heart and the body. And it has been used through the ages for many reasons from flavoring medicine and flavoring in cooking. It has been found to have a sedative effect and as a tranquilizer. It is also said to help inhibit bacteria and viruses and also as a digestive aid. As a digestive aid, it can even be added to fresh salads where it will add a fresh lemon flavor.

Magickally Lemon Balm is feminine and associated with the element of Water. It is also connected to the Moon and the planet Neptune. it is commonly used in love sachets but it has more magickal uses than just for love. Magickally it can be used for love, success, healing, cleansing, fertility, animal healing, happiness, prosperity, psychic awareness, and divination.

July 24, 2019 0

Holly The Tree of Sacrifice

Holly trees are part of the genus lex and in the Aquifoliaceae family. There are 480 species and can be trees or bushes, and most are evergreens. Because they are evergreen they have a strong connection with death and rebirth symbolized with Winter. Just as the Oak rules over the summer or light half of the year, the Holly is said to rule over winter or the dark half of the year. It is one of the trees honored during Yule and Lughnasa. It is said that if you bring Holly branch into your home during the winter months you are inviting the fae to come and stay warm with you. If you do this then it is recommended to burn the holly at Imbolic so that the fae will not stay and cause trouble.

The wood of the Holly is very hard and very white with a fine and delicate grain. It is because of this that it makes beautiful wands. Wands made from Holly are wonderful for protection from negative energies and for banishing unwanted entities. Holly planted near your home is said to help protect you from evil or unwanted spirits. Holly has gone by many folk names such as Aquifolius, Bat’s Wings, Christ’s Thorn, Holy Tree, Holm Chaste, Hulm, and Tinne. It is associated with Tuesday’s and has Masculine energy. It is also associated with the planets Mars and Saturn and the element of Fire. Deities it is connected to are Thor and Taranis and any hunter Gods. Holly has the properties of unconditional love, sacrifice, reincarnation, protection, anti-lightning, luck, dream magic, countering negative energies, marriage, purity, logic, consecration, energy, strength, and insight. Herbally it is said to have the qualities of calm on an emotional mind and body.

July 10, 2019 0

The Oak Tree of Ancient Wisdom and Strength

The Oak belongs to the genus of Quercus and the Fagaceae family and it is native to the Northern Hemisphere. The mighty Oak tree to me is a thing of beauty that has held a sacred spot in the histories of the world.It is even said the Druids wouldn’t meet unless there was an Oak tree present. The Vikings in the 9th and 10th centuries held ships made with oak planking in high regard. Then in the Middle Ages, it was common to use Oakwood in a number of ways from building ships to internal paneling inside prestigious buildings. Then for centuries barrels made from Oak have been used in the making of wines, sherry, brandy, and whiskey. In today’s world Oak is still widely used from the barrels of wines and spirits to furniture and buildings. Oak has even found a way into our kitchens by using oak chips to flavor our smoked fish, meat and cheeses. The acorns from the Oak tree can be used for flour and you can also roast them to make a coffee substitute. The bark from the mighty Oak tree is rich in tannin which is used in tanning leather. With so many uses its no wonder that people from all over the world have seen the beauty of the Oak tree.

It was so highly regarded by the Celtic it is one of the trees in their Celtic tree calendar. It represents the 7th month which is from June 10th till July 7th. The Oak tree is seen as a symbol of strength and masculinity and connected to the Oak King who rules over the summer months. With its connections to summer its no surprise it is often used in the ritual fires during Litha which signifies the beginning of summer. But that is not the only sabbat it is connected to because it also corresponds with Mabon, Samhain, and Yule. The planet for Oak is the Sun and it corresponds with the element of Fire and Thursday’s. Deities that it is sacred to are Dagda, Dianus, Jupiter, The Green Man, Thor, Zeus, Herne, Junas, Rhea, Cybele, Hecate, Pan, and Erato. Oak has the properties of healing/health, prosperity, money, abundance, hunting, good luck, protection, balance, strength, power, purification, wisdom, truth, fertility, success, courage, and endurance.

In folklore, it is said that witches would dance under the Oak. And it is where we get the saying of “As above, So below” because the roots of an Oak tree reach as far into the ground as the branches reach into the sky. The Oak is also sacred the faeries and it is said that you can hear the faeries in the hollow of an Oak trunk. Regardless of that is true or not I find that if I sit under an Oak tree it brings me a grounding calmness into my life like nothing else. So if you have a few moments to spare and an oak tree nearby, take a few moments to sit under it and just watch the natural beauty around you.

June 30, 2019 0

Purifying Lavender

Lavender is a herb I added to my garden last summer and this summer it is taking off! Right now I have 3 of them growing in my garden and I love the scent they give as I brush my hands over them. There are 3 main types of Lavender sold in the garden centers English, French, and Spanish. I have English and I have enjoyed harvesting it this summer. I love using Lavender in the kitchen, magickally, and in my bath salts. Because to me lavender is one of those herbs that seems down-to-earth and has a grandmotherly feeling that can soothe your soul. But then lavender has a different side, a hidden side that is like a hidden tiger with a cool head and a stout heart.

Lavender has many fold names such as Elf Leaf, Nand, Nardas, and Spike. I just call it lavender and I am so happy to have added it to my garden. Lavender is a bushy, branching perennial shrub that can grow up to 2-3ft. Its leaves are smooth-edged and a silvery gray. But it is the flowers that I collect the most and they are small and a lavender purple with a strong scent that I have grown to love.

In the Middle Ages, they believed that lavender would help them find love and would use lavender water to have its gentle scent on them. They would also use lavender in sickrooms and in smelling salts. But one of the most popular ways of using lavender was in sachets that they would put in with their linens which helped protect against moths. Which is still used by some today. But lavender is mostly used today in perfumed products from bath salts to air fresheners. I have used lavender in my cooking, but remember a little bit goes a long way with lavender! Lavender can be used in flavoring vinegar, jellies, salads, and sweets such as cookies and cakes.

Magickally lavender has masculine energy and is connected to the element of Air. It is also connected to the planet Mercury. It is seen as having the energies of love, protection, sleep, chastity, longevity, happiness, peace, grounding, and purification. Purification is one of the main ways I use lavender. I make Purifying Bath salt that I regularly use before rituals. Here is my simple recipe for my purifying bath which grounds you and purifies you at the same time. I like to take this bath with white candles which purifies the space while also giving a relaxing element to the bath.

Purifying Bath Salts

1/2 c. Epsom Salt (Purifying)

1/2 c. Sea Salt (Purifying)

10 drops Lavender Essential Oil (purification & grounding)

1 Tbsp. dried Hyssop (Purification)

1 Tbsp. dried Rosemary (Purification)

1 White muslin bag (Purifying)

To make this bath salt you would just simply put the salts into a bowl and add the 10 drops of lavender essential oil and mix them well so the oil is all through the salts. Then add the dried hyssop and rosemary and blend well. Store in a clean glass jar with a tight lid. When you are ready to use them put about 1/4 a cup of the bath salts into a white muslin bag to place into your water when needed. I like to use the salts in the bag since it keeps clean up of the tub afterward easier. Then if you don’t like baths you can also hang the bag from your shower head so that as you shower you can get the energies from the bath salts. I hope you try the bath salts and enjoy them!

June 26, 2019 1

Toad A Symbol of Transformation

Frogs and Toads are often thought of as the same thing and they are both are Amphibians are very alike. But Toads belong to the family of Bufonidae and have a few differences than frogs. Toads have dry leathery skin, which frogs skin isn’t. Then another major difference is their legs frogs have longer legs and toads have short legs. Another difference is that Toads have large bumps covering them mostly covering the parotoid glands. These bumps are often called warts, but they are not warts. Toads are found all over the world except in Australia, Madagascar, Polynesia and in polar regions. Most tend to be terrestrial and nocturnal. They feed on insects and small animals that they catch using the stickiness of their long tongues. When the weather changes drastically wither its winter or during a drought, they will then go into their burrows and remain there until the weather is better. They breed in the water. Because of this they often will travel up to a mile from their normal habitat to reach the water to breed. They also tend to go back to the area were born at. When they lay eggs it can be anywhere from 600 to 30,000 at one time. They will lay them in 2 long jelly tubes. After a few days, the eggs will hatch into tadpoles. The toads will transform from tadpoles into adults within one to 3 months. At that time they will go find them a new home, then once its time to breed they will return. They can tell who is their siblings by the croaks they make so there is no interbreeding.

There are mixed feelings about toads, some see them as being luck then others see them as being bad luck or evil even. In China, many see the Toad as a trickster or a magician. They see them as masters of escapes and of spells. They also see them as the “Keeper of Powerful Secrets” which is based on some of their folklore. But in other parts of the world Toads have also been seen as “Agents of the Devil” or as a “Witches Familiar”. Some even view them as symbols of death. To many, they are symbolic of transformation and of re-creation. The reasoning for this viewpoint is because they go through at least one major transformation during their lifetime which is the transformation from tadpole to adult. As a totem animal Toads are seen as symbols of fertility, rebirth, renewal, change, transformation, and restless behavior. The connection they have with fertility is because they produce so many offspring at once. Offspring of just a low estimate of 600 is a lot of offspring! Then because Toads are always on the go and moving is why they are seen as a connection to restless behavior. Then the transformation from tadpole to adult is why they are connected to rebirth, renewal, transformation, and change. Just like the other animals, I feel Toads are misunderstood and it always helps to learn more about them to understand them.

June 23, 2019 0

Flowers for the Faeries

Everyone, it seems love Fairy Gardens and it is so easy to find supplies to make one. Some see them as the table top miniature gardens. Some think that is the only thing to do to attract the faeries, but there are so many other things you can do! One of my favorite things to do to attract Faeries is growing a Faerie garden. Which is basically a flower garden with some of their favorite flowers. There is such a wide range of flowers that they love that it is easy to find some that fit the space where you want to put the garden bed. And for me, I have spread some of their favorites all over my yard and it has added splashes of color all about.

Some of their favorites are very common flowers and include: Bluebells, Boxwood, Buttercup, Butterfly Bush, Carnation, Columbine, Cosmos, Crocus, Daffodil, Daisy, Dandelion, Ferns, Forget-me-not, Foxglove, Gardenia, Heliotrope, Hollyhocks, Honeysuckle, Hyacinth, Hyssop, Iris, Jasmine, Lambs Ear, Lavender, Lilac, Lily, Lobelia, Marigold, Morning Glories, Pansy, Periwinkle, Peony, Poppies, Phlox, Primrose, Rosemary, Roses, Snapdragon, Thyme, Tulip, Violet, Yarros, Zinna.

To make a Faerie garden that will attract them to your garden, you first need to decide where you want it to be. If it’s going to be in a shady spot then ferns and lamb’s ear with other shade-loving plants will be needed. But if you have a nice sunny spot most of the flowers will love it. Something else you need to think of is how much room you have. We have a big yard and so we are able to allow honeysuckle to grow all along our back fence. Then along another fence, we have tons of periwinkle that are always flourishing. Faeries also like things to be a little grown up, so a flower bed that is more natural looking, instead of a well-manicured, one would work wonderfully. A natural looking one full of perennials will also be less maintenance! I am slowly working on one bed in our front yard. I have Irises, lambs ear, thyme, and clover going wild in it and it has a fairy fountain in the center of it. Some see it as messy, I see the beauty in it and I love it, plus it’s filled with plants that the faeries love! I also have another spot that is in the back of our yard so I can let it grow up some with it not causing any problems. It has honeysuckle growing along the back of the fencing, periwinkle along the other fence. and then a huge bed of irises and then a small creek that is right on the other side of the honeysuckle. For me its the perfect spot for me to meditate and just sit and relax. It is also one of the places I feel the faeries visit. I have seen the dancing lights out of the corner of my eyes and found circles of toadstools there. Do I have positive proof the faeries are visiting? Nope, and I am fine with that, the spot brings me peace and the butterflies and bees love it so I am happy. So if you want to make yourself a spot to attack the faeries to you, just plan it out and just do it! Kids will love helping with it, and once it’s done it will bring a touch of beauty and calmness into your life.

May 26, 2019 0