**ON PLANTS : SOME PIECES OF ADVICE & LORE FROM FRENCH TRADITIONAL WITCHCRAFT**
These ancient superstitions and beliefs prove the deep respect human beings had for their environment, back to an era when we were aware of the unity of this nature.
HARVEST
– Avoid cutting the plant with a vile metal such as iron. The first mythical reason is that spirits (especially faes) abhor iron, known to repel and hurt them. Use a bronze or copper blade, sometimes even a gold or silver coin to dig up the roots. There also lies a logical, scientific explanation of a remarkable empiric coherence : iron salts quickens the action of the tannins contained in certain plants, significantly altering their components.
– Some plant spirits are not cooperative, so you’ll have to foil their harmful influence. Do not talk to anyone about your intention of picking the plant on your way to reach it, so as not to warn the spirit – thus counteracting any intention to flee it may have.
– Pluck the plant backwards to protect yourself from the spirit’s ire (this is particularly true of poisonous beauties such as foxglove, belladonna, etc.).
– Drawing a circle around the plant, using a wand or a knife, or even the finger, isolates the reaper from the wrath of the spirit while preventing it from escaping its plant host .
– It is expected to explain to the plant the intended use for which it is plucked.
– Pay a small tribute to the spirit of the plant as a salary for the effort youaskedfrom it.
PRAYERS, PLEAS & INVOCATIONS
« Je coupe ta verdeur parce que tu purifies toutes les humeurs qui entraînent l’Homme sur des chemins d’erreur et d’injustice ; par le Verbe vivant qui a fait l’Homme sans le regretter. »
•
“I will cut your greenness, so you could purify all the moods that lead Man on the paths of error and injustice; by the living Word who made Man without any regrets.”
(Supposedly from abbess Hildegarde de Bingen, who also advocates to cut the plant with the left hand)
« Ô toi par qui s’endort la nature, toi qui fais fuir le jour et amène la nuit, toi qui nous cache le soleil, qui engendre toutes les herbes et les donne aux humains pour la guérison… Celle qui vous a créée avec vos propriétés salutaires veut bien que je vous cueille. »
•
“O thou by whom nature falls asleep, thou who drive away the day and bring about the night, thou who hides the sun, who generates all the herbs and gives them to the humans for healing… She who made thou with all thy salutary properties allows me to pick thou. ”
« Lève-toi, lève-toi, va guérir X… Je sais que tu dors, mais j’ai besoin de toi. »
•
“Wake up, wake up, and come to heal X… I know you are asleep, but I need you.”
STORAGE
– Drying a plant makes it lose a large part of its properties. Whenever possible, always favor the use of fresh plants.
– The plants are hanging in a bouquet or spread on a flat surface to dry in openair.
– Plants are stored in glass jars or paper bags once fully dried. Iron boxes and containers are of course prohibited.
– Do not keep your plants more than a year: their power slowly fades then disappears, so you will have to renew the stock every year.
***
(Appreciatively sourced and translated from BERTON H.,Sorcellerie en Auvergne, Éditions De Borée, 2003. All rights reserved.)
When I was first starting out with herbology, I was living in a small village in Croatia with a total population of less than 100 people. We depended on homemade teas, salves and medicines to heal us since the nearest hospital was two hours away. We treated ourselves with the power of herbs, gifted to us by the Earth.
These days, we can purchase all the tools we need to grow both common and exotic plants. Dried herbs are also another good option, especially for those that cannot grow their own. And with these tools, we can craft our own medicines.
For the first lesson, I’m going to focus on something simple: the art of crafting medicinal tea.
Creating Tea Blends
When starting out with creating medicinal teas, it’s important to understand how each ingredient interacts with our bodies. Be sure that you’re not allergic to any of your herbs and that they won’t interact poorly with any prescribed medications that you’re on. For example, those who are diabetic should not take angelica root; folks who are allergic to ragweed should avoid chamomile.
Here’s a list of common herbs and their functions for the purposes of crafting medicinal teas:
Angelica Root: Soothes colds and flu, reduces phlegm and fever. (Do not use if you are diabetic)
Catnip: Soothes teething pain, colic, diarrhea, indigestion, anxiety, insomnia. (May cause drowsiness. Avoid if on Lithium or sedatives)
Calendula (marigold): Reduces fevers, soothes indigestion, gastrointestinal cramps, flu; antiseptic. (May cause drowsiness. Avoid if on sedatives)
Cayenne Pepper: Soothes coughs, colds, arthritis (topical), nerve pain, fever, flu; expectorant. (Avoid taking with medications that contain Theophylline).
Chamomile: Reduces insomnia, anxiety, stress, fever, indigestion; aids with sleep and pain relief. (May decrease effectiveness of birth control pills and some cancer medications, may increase the effects of warfarin; avoid if you are taking medications for your liver)
Cinnamon Bark: Soothes sore throats and coughs; anti-inflammatory (Avoid taking with diabetes medications)
Dandelion Root: Detoxifying, aids digestion, relieves constipation, laxative. (Avoid if on antibiotics, lithium or water pills)
Dandelion Leaf: Mild diuretic, potassium-rich (Avoid if on medication for liver)
Elderberries: Wards off colds and flu
Ginger: Eases morning sickness, nausea, colic, indigestion, diarrhea, fever, sore throats. (Avoid taking with medications that slow blood clotting)
Ginkgo: Relieves anxiety, vertigo, tinnitus; improves circulation, helps concentration; helps PMS. (Avoid taking with ibuprofen or with medications that slow blood clotting; numerous medications have interactions with ginkgo so speak to your specialist before use)
Ginseng: Aphrodisiac, mild stimulant, boosts immune system. (Do not take with medications that slow blood clotting, and avoid taking with diabetes medications or with MAO inhibitors)
Goldenrod: Relieves gout and cramps
Lavender: Reduces anxiety, headaches, tension, stress, indigestion, IBS; antibacterial; antiseptic; disinfectant (May cause drowsiness; avoid if on sedatives)
Lemon balm: Relieves anxiety, cold sores, colic, insomnia, restlessness, indigestion; boosts memory (May cause drowsiness, avoid taking with sedatives)
Nettle: Reduces hay fever and arthritis; diuretic. (Avoid taking with diabetes medications, medications for high BP, sedatives, medications that slow blood clotting, and lithium)
Peppermint: Relieves nausea, anxiety, indigestion, IBS, colic, diarrhea, fever, coughs, colds; anesthetic (Avoid if you have acid-reflux disease; avoid taking with cyclosporine; avoid if on liver medications)
Pine Needles: Expectorant; antiseptic; relieves coughs, colds, fever and congestion
Thyme: Antibacterial, antiseptic, eases coughs and colds, expectorant (Do not take with medications that slow blood clotting)
Recipes
For those starting out, here are a few recipes for common ailments. As you start making your own teas, you’ll learn which blends of herbs work best for your body. Keep track of which ingredients and combinations are successful – with each steep, you get closer and closer to crafting your perfect personalized medicine cabinet.
Anxiety Relief – ½ tsp chamomile – ½ tsp lemon balm
Cold Relief – ½ tsp elderberry flower – ½ tsp thyme
Mood Booster – ½ tsp lavender – ½ tsp catnip – ½ tsp rosemary
Cramp Relief – ½ tsp basil – ½ tsp calendula (marigold) – ½ tsp goldenrod
Indigestion Relief – ½ tsp ginger – ½ tsp lemon balm – ½ tsp peppermint
Expectorant – ½ tsp pine needles – ½ tsp nettle leaf – ½ tsp angelica root
Insomnia – ½ tsp chamomile – ½ tsp catnip – ½ tsp lavender
Sore Throat Relief – ½ tsp cinnamon (or half a stick) – ½ tsp ginger – 1 tbsp honey
Flu Relief – ½ tsp calendula (marigold) – ½ tsp lemon balm
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Photographs are under the Creative Commons License. Content is from my grimoire and is embedded with information from a variety of sources over the years.
Updated 7 March 2018 with relevant warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series.
Warnings: All plant material should be sourced appropriately and responsibly for your own safety and well-being. Be certain that you are purchasing food-grade ingredients from a reliable retailer or supplier. Along these lines, not all dried herbs are meant for consumption so please be on the lookout for “external use only” labels – you do not want those products for this.
Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.
Finally, medicinal teas are a health supplement and not a substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR.
I’ve compiled some helpful websites and databases for researching herbal medicine + possible interactions with other herbs or medications. (Click me)
1: “What do I need to let go of?” 2: “What would make me happy right now?” 3: “What do I need to get rid of?”
Just a simple three card spread I threw together a while back while sipping tea (okay, it might have been coffee). Thought it was appropriately café themed!
if you work with or have done research on the Elder Fuþark runes, you may have noticed that there are lots of variations on the names. & i mean LOTS, e.g.:
there are a couple of reasons for this:
HOWEVER, most actual runic inscriptions in the Elder Fuþark are actually in Proto-Norse, the intermediate stage between Proto-Indo-European and Old Norse. A lot of the discrepancies between the attested names & their names in other Germanic languages (i.e. Gothic and Old English) is due to this fact (Orðstírr has a good intro to Proto-Norse sounds especially re: runes)
modern English is missing many of the sounds and letters that existed in early Germanic languages, so variant spellings are different ways of rendering them in our limited 26-letter alphabet
many sources on runes come from magickal writings from many decades ago, and because language science is constantly evolving, so has our reconstruction of Proto-Germanic. thus, many of the names are based on outdated reconstructions.
most magickal writings on runes are not written by historical linguists who study ancient Germanic languages
luckily i regularly study & use Proto-Germanic, & based on our most recent & accurate reconstructions, the names for the Elder Fuþark would have probably taken the following forms (text in /slashes/ is IPA phonemic transcription; where names are different, this is due to differring names in the different attested langauges, or variation within Proto-Germanic dialects):
if you would like more in-depth explanations for each of these, HERE is a good source (where we differ, i’d note that this source leans heavily on the Norse variants because our oldest attested uses come from Proto-Norse)
As a college student, I’m super broke and haven’t wanted to buy sachets for spells, but I have a solution! Just use an envelope instead! You can get a whole box for like $3 and they work just like a sachet: you put your herbs, pieces of paper, little crystals, etc. inside.
You can also decorate them with designs, colors, and sigils that correspond to the spell you’re doing! The one in this picture is a love spell I made for a friend! Art isn’t your thing? Just use stickers! Washi tape! You can carry them around easily and discreetly too. You could even mail a spell to a friend! And add a layer of enchantment to bless your postal delivery person while they’re carrying the spell 🙂
They range in price from $15 to $250, all crystals will be labeled and the contents are always worth more than what you pay.
The shipping time for these boxes is extra long because of the fact that all items have to be labeled and wrapped individually. These boxes will ship sometime in January, a more exact shipping time will be announced at a later point.
I went and picked some blackberry stems today to makes some Witch’s Whisks and tonight I’m going to bless and cleanse them and cut all the thorns off under the full moon 🌕
In traditional English witchcraft a Whitch’s Whisk was set alight and blown out to smoke, just like a sage wand. The whisk is then used to “dance and weave” around the outside of your circle. The intent was to make a boundary for sacred space. The dried blackberry stems are cut and bound together at one end with traditionally red twine for power and protection but you can use any color twine to represent what you need it too. Sometimes the end bound is also covered in a matching colored wax for extra for intent.
The smoke of the whisk was used to exorcise evil entities and negativity, cleanse and consecrate a space, ward off misfortune and banish illnesses from the house and its inhabitants.
A chant which is traditionally associated with blackberries is the following. Chant it three times, knowing that you are invoking the energy of Brigid, the Goddess of Fire, healing and protection along with other things. The same chant is used for healing purposes.
“Three ladies came from the East, One with fire and two with frost, Out with thee fire and in with thee frost”
I got tons of brambles in my backyard. I should totally do this
☕️ brew a cup of tea in between, after, and/or before classes. use herbs according to certain correspondences(I personally use lavender & chamomile after class, rosemary & mugwort before or in between if I have enough time). stir in sugar with intention. pour in a thermos if you’re on the go.
☀️ wake up 20 minutes early and meditate. set intentions or goals for the day, say your prayers, give thanks to the universe or to your deity, focus on your chakras. whatever feels right and simple, make it a part of your morning. [alternative: if you have 20 minutes in between classes this can really help you unwind before your next class]
🎧 instead of listening to your regular music, find something spiritually enriching to listen to when you have a moment. there’s plenty of wonderful spirits on youtube, instagram, etc. that speak to me on a daily. listen to an astrology forecast, a tarot reading, info on certain gods or deities, other witches and their practice, anything that resonates with you. [alternative: find witchy playlists on spotify, tumblr, or 8tracks* ]
📔 combine your practice with your planner. jot down the astrological influences of each week/day. track your tea intake. record pre-planned workings/spellwork/rituals/etc. dedicate a spread to your intentions each Moon cycle, at the end of the cycle cross off everything that manifested, migrate the remaining intentions to the next spread. this is a great pastime when you’re bored in class
♥️ shuffle your tarot/Oracle/etc. cards in class. take them with you throughout the day, let them experience what you do. at the end of the day ask them for their thoughts, or any other thing you feel. make sure to cleanse your deck however you prefer after a long day, your cards will absorb all the energy around you and it may lead to them acting wonky
🖊 draw sigils to help you study and prepare for tests. if you’re struggling with lateness, come up with a sigil to help you be more time efficient. if you suck at homework, write a symbol for wisdom or focus on yourself before you start doing it. sigils are an urban witches best friend
💸 to save money, diy items for your altar. if you live on a college campus, there’s plenty of places where people give away unwanted items either or free or really cheap. get them, if they resonate. paint them, sculpt around them, whatever. then put it on your altar
*I have a bunch of songs that I can put together in tailored playlists if anyone wants
This hex is intended for someone who has tormented your thoughts for days on end. The kind of person that leaves you haunted by their actions or words, crippling you with anxiety.
The recipient of the hex will experience multiple nightmares depicting their darkest horrors over a 30 day period.
You will need:
🌙 Black Candle
🌙 Salt
🌙 Thin paper
🌙 Black pen/marker
🌙 Mugwort tea
🌙 Teacup
🌙 Spoon, stick or water and heat-proof wand
🌙 Chalk
🌙 Boiling water (be careful)
🌙 Amethyst
The Spell
🔮 Light your candle
🔮 Draw a pentagram on the underside of your teacup using the chalk
🔮 Write your target’s name on a small piece of thin paper and place inside the cup
🔮 Pour boiling water into the teacup
🔮 Take the amethyst into your non-dominant hand, and with your dominant hand using your utensil of choice, stir the tea clockwise and chant the following spell until the paper disintegrates in the water:
I send the spirit of your malice
To haunt you in your sleep
Bestial, dark and callous
Now fear shall make you weep
🔮 Sprinkle salt into the tea in a circular motion
🔮 Pour melted black wax into the tea to blacken their dreams and complete the spell
🔮 Dispose of the tea at night, preferably near a place they fear or find unpleasant or close to where they reside
To undo the hex:
☁️ Place a piece of paper with their name inside a bag along with an amethyst and some salt
☁️ Place the bag under your pillow before you go to sleep
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