DIY Frankincense Milk (Beauty Witchery)

Frankincense milk (a.k.a. Frankincense Water) is easy to make, simply soak and/or heat the crushed resin tears in filtered (distilled or purified) water to dissolve the water soluble compounds from the resin, which leaves us with this milk white fluid and some very sticky gum resin. A quick google search (Frankincense Water) will bring up a vast source of articles on the benefits and uses of this substance.  It is said to lighten, tone, firm and tighten skin, also stimulates skin and tissue regeneration.
I use it in my face creams and body lotions. A two part milk to one part mixture with witch hazel works as a great skin brightener and toner.

 

 

The traditional way of making frankincense water is to soak 4 or 5 pieces of resin tears in water over night, but the way I make it is to add two heaping table spoons of the resin tears (crushed up after measuring) to 3/4 cup (6 oz) of water and then slowly heat on my coffee mug warmer. I warm the water and resin, stirring occasionally (with a disposable plastic spoon), for 12 hours the first day, refrigerate the water and resin mixture over night and then reheat for another 12 hours the second day (total of 24 hrs. heating).  

 

DIY Frankincense Extract Oil

 

Once the heating process is finished, while the water is warm, I spoon out all the sticky resin gum and place it on a non-stick cookie sheet to dry and harden. Then I strain the white milky water through cheese cloth or sterile gauze before I bottle it. Refrigerate the milk until ready to use, if you will not be using the milk within 7 days, it can be froze to maintain freshness.

 

 

 *Don't toss the gum resin as this can be used for making your own frankincense extract oil.







Making "Dream Fluff" pillow stuffing with Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)

  

Ground Mugwort (a.k.a. "Dream Fluff")  compared to Dried Leaf Mugwort

For those that are not familiar with this herb, Artemisia vulgaris, also known as Mugwort, Common Wormwood, and Moxa, it is a sacred herb to the Druids, Diana and Artemis. In ancient China and Japan, Mugwort was hung in open doorways to exorcise the spirits of disease. In ancient times it was believed that Mermaids came from the sea and gave humans the knowledge of Mugwort's supernatural powers. Roman soldiers placed the herb inside their shoes as a protection aid for traveling long distances away from their homes. One Roman general recorded that his men marched ten miles further, as well as faster, when on Mugwort. Native Americans also burned Mugwort as a smudge to purify the spiritual and physical environment.

In ancient China and Japan, Mugwort was hung in open doorways to exorcise the spirits of disease. - See more at: http://happyherbcompany.com/mugwort#sthash.WWRUvRsf.dpuf

In ancient China and Japan, Mugwort was hung in open doorways to exorcise the spirits of disease. - See more at: http://happyherbcompany.com/mugwort#sthash.WWRUvRsf.dpuf

Mugwort tea was usually drunk before divination rituals and also burnt as a ‘transporting’ incense. Store a small bag of Mugwort with any scrying tools and use an infusion of Mugwort to clean crystal balls and magick mirrors.

Mugwort is also used to enhance dreams, especially the prophetic sort and lucid dreaming, helps with remembering your dreams once you are awake. 

To use in a sleep pillow or in a sachet under your pillowcase, grind the dried leaves and stalks into a soft fluff (see above picture on the left) as this helps to release the essential oils. Mugwort will puff like cotton fiber fill once it is ground making it easier to add other herbs as it captures and holds particles just like fiber fills do. If your sachet were to come open during the night it is less likely the herbs would end up scattered.

The best materials to use for sleep pillows and sachets are muslin, cotton or flannel, the thinner the material the better. Before you lay down to sleep, squeeze and gentle rub the herbs in the pillow or sachet, place to your nose and breath in a few times.

Dreaming herbal blends:

* Catnip for relaxing and deeper sleep

* Lavender for relaxing and stress release

* Rosemary for warding off bad dreams

* Chamomile for calming and relaxing, deeper sleep

* Mugwort for enhanced lucid dreaming and remembering dreams

* White Clover for lifting your spirit and calming fears

Ritual Scentz Herbal Grimoire

Magickal Uses:

• Blackberry Leaf:  Black Briar leaf is associated with Venus and the element Water
  Different parts of the blackberry plant have different correspondences. The tea from the leaf is said to work as a mild aphrodisiac, it's powers are also in healing, protection, abundance and prosperity
  

• Calamus Root: Aromatic rush root or Sweet Flag root is commonly used in spells and formulas for compassion, dreams, family, fertility, gardening, healing, love, peace, promoting sleep, prophecy, prophetic (or psychic) dreams, psychic awareness, sleep, and spirituality. Add to spells for gaining insight and help in revealing the hidden.

• Calendula Flower: Symbolizes love and constancy and is great for wedding bouquets and decorations. It is the traditional "he loves me, he loves me not" flower and is useful for love potions. Wreaths of marigold hung over a door are said to keep evil and negativity from entering. Dried petals can be strewn to consecrate an area or burned in consecration incense. They are also a good addition to dream pillows. Protection, legal matters, and psychic/spiritual powers

• Catnip: Sacred to Bast, use in any ritual involving cats or cat deities, in sachets and spells designed to enhance beauty or happiness. Catnip is also used for calming and relaxation, sleep protection, to enhance psychic abilities during meditation. Mix with Dragon's Blood to rid oneself of a behavioral problem or bad habit. Use with rose petals in love sachets or burn dried leaves for love magick.

• Chamomile: Love, healing, and reducing stress. Add to a sachet or spell to increase the chances of its success. Sprinkle an infusion of chamomile around the house to remove hexes, curses and spells. Burn or add to prosperity bags to increase money. Burn as incense for de-stressing, meditation, and restful sleep. Wash hands in an infusion of chamomile for luck before gambling or playing cards. Use in bath magick to attract love. Keep a packet of the herb with lottery tickets for luck.

• Cinnamon Bark:  Spirituality, success, healing, protection, power, love, luck, strength, and prosperity. Burn as an incense or use in a sachet to raise spiritual and protective vibrations, draw money, and stimulate psychic powers. A popular herb for use in charms to draw money & prosperity. Wear in an amulet to bring passion. Also Called: Sweet Wood

• Cinquefoil:  An all-purpose magickal herb. The five points of the leaf represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom. Stimulates memory, eloquence, and self confidence. Carry, burn, or wear to possess these traits. Used for business & house blessing. Use in spells to bring protection to a friend or loved one taking a journey. Burn as an incense during divination to bring dreams of one's intended mate. Frequently associated with ritual work involving romance. Wash hands and forehead with an infusion of this herb nine times to wash away hexes and evil spells against you. Fill an empty egg shell and keep it in the home for powerful protection from evil forces. Wrap in red flannel and hang over the bed to ward off dark spirits of the night. Also Called: Five Finger Grass, Synkefoyle, Witches Weed, Five Leaf, Tormentilla, Sunkfield, Bloodroot, Moor Grass, Goosegrass, Goose Tansy, Crampweed, Silverweed, Silver Weed, Sunkfield

• Copal Resin:  Love, purification. Add to love and purification incenses. Use a piece of copal to represent the heart in poppets. Copal incense is also used for purification; consecration; contact with other astral planes, exorcism and spell work

• Dogwood:  Carry a branch or bark to draw trustworthy people into your life, use in spells, potions and formulas for instilling happiness, loyalty, manifesting wishes and uncovering secrets or to keep secrets, use to help pets get along better with each other, also rituals involving animal spirit guides, especially canines ( coyote, fox, and wolf), as well as any ritual involving deities that have canine forms (such as Anubis and Cernunnos).

• Dragon’s Blood:  Used for empowerment, purifying, protection, consecration and ritual energy. It also has very powerful drawing energies, promotes good luck, success, love, and protection from negativity. Dragon's Blood is particularly good at clearing stagnant and negative energy from a home. When clearing energy, try alternating between Sage and Dragon's Blood. Burn as an incense to increase the potency of a spell. Has strong banishing powers against negative influences and bad habits. A pinch under the mattress is believed to prevent impotency. Used as a form of magickal ink. Carry or sprinkle around the home or place of business to drive away negativity. Carry or wear for good luck.

• Eucalyptus:  Attracts healing vibrations, great for protection and healing sachets. Use to purify any space. Use dried leaves to stuff healing poppets, pillows, or sachets. Arrange a ring of dried leaves around a blue candle and burn the candle for healing vibrations. Carry in a sachet or amulet to help reconcile difficulties in a relationship, for protection, and/or to maintain health.

• Fleabane: Exorcism, protection, chastity.

• Fleawort: (Horseweed) Like Fleabane uses are exorcism, protection, chastity but this one also has healing energies for the physical and emotional needs.

• Frankincense: Use to ward off negativity, cleanse and purify your sacred ritual space, also used for protection in charms, amulets, spells and potions, as for offering at Beltane, Lammas, and Yule. Enhances the power of topaz. Use in rituals and magick associated with self-will, self-control, or the ego. Represents the ability of the divine to move into manifestation. Add to charm bags and sachets to bring success. Mix with Cumin and burn as incense for powerful protection.

• High John Root: As its name implies, High John root is a source of power and is almost always used for positive ends. Drawing money, building personal powers and conquering enemies to name a few of the uses.

• Holly : (Bat’s Wing) Marriage, dream magick, luck, and love. Planted around the outside of the home for protection. Used as a decoration at Yule. When carried by men, is thought to heighten masculinity.

• Hyssop:  The most widely used purification herb in magick. Lightens vibrations and promotes spiritual opening; used for cleansing and purification. Said to protect property against burglars and trespassers. Used to consecrate magickal tools or items made of tin. The best herb for physical cleansing and washing of temple, ritual tools, or oneself (bath magick). Add to baths & sachets, infuse and sprinkle on objects/people for cleansing or hang in the home to purge it of evil & negativity.

• Juniper:  Banishes all things injurious to good health; attracts good, healthy energies and love. Juniper berries can be carried by males to increase potency. Use a string of juniper berries to attract love. Burn for magickal protection. Place a sprig of juniper near the door to a home or with valuables to help safeguard against theft (but keep locking the doors, too!). Use juniper oil in magickal workings to increase money and prosperity.

• Lavender:  Magickal uses include love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and peace. Promotes healing from depression. Great in sleep pillows and bath spells. Believed to preserve chastity when mixed with rosemary. Burn the flowers to induce sleep and rest, then scatter the ashes around the home to bring peace and harmony. Use in love spells and sachets, especially those to attract men.

• Lemon Balm (Melissa Officinalis): Use for love potions, aphrodisiacs, fertility and anti depressant. Healing spells and rituals for those suffering from mental, emotional or nervous disorders. Animal healing, compassion, endings, happiness, healing, longevity, prosperity, psychic, release, success,and youth. The uses of lemon balm opens one to the divine love of the Goddess and also believed to add energy to one’s being which makes you more appealing in the world of love and romance.

• Lemongrass: Psychic cleansing and opening, lust potions.

• Mimosa: Removes a sense of isolation, especially for older people; calms anxiety; relieves depression, gastric problems, cuts, and wounds, also nightmares. Protection, purification, love, dream magick. Use in sleep pillows to draw prophetic dreams. Use in bath magick to break hexes and prevent future problems. Scatter around an area for purification.

• Mist Flower (Conoclinium coelestinum, Ageratum): This nectar plant is ruled by Venus and will bring the energies of love, strength, psychic energy, hexbreaking, prosperity, protection, success, and purification. Use it to draw and communicate with the Fae  

• Mugwort: Carried to increase lust & fertility, prevent backache and cure disease & madness. Place around divination and scrying tools to increase their power or near the bed to enable astral travel. Use in sleep pillow or place in a sachet under your pillowcase to bring about prophetic dreams. Use an infusion of mugwort to clean crystal balls and magick mirrors.

• Mulberry: The tree was dedicated by the Ancients to Minerva, the Goddess of wisdom in the Roman pantheon. Use to increase one's access to wisdom and ability to think clearly. Mulberry is an excellent leaf to dry and press into your Book of Shadows. Fresh berries may be set out as an offering and the leaves may be used for bathing. Mulberry is believed to offer protection for children and babies.

• Mullein: (Graveyard herb) Protection from nightmares & sorcery, courage, cursing, and invoking spirits. Place beneath pillow or use in dream pillow to guard against nightmares. Carry to instill courage and help attract love from the opposite sex. Use in place of graveyard dust in spells. Wear to keep wild animals at bay in unfamiliar areas. Burn to banish bad influences and bring an immediate halt to bad habits.

• Myrrh:  Spiritual opening, meditation, and healing. This herb has high psychic vibrations that will enhance any magickal working. Burn as a potent incense to bring peace and for consecration, and blessing of talismans, charms, and magickal tools. Increases the power of any incense of which it is a part. Usually burned with Frankincense.

• Myrtle Crape Bark:  Use for helping with releasing the "old" and moving on to new beginnings, add to potions, spells and formulas for strength and courage during times of change, transitions and transformations.

• Patchouli: Used in spells, sachets, baths and mixtures for money & love. Put in the wallet or purse to draw money. Place in a charm or use in incense for fertility. Helps to ground you and bring your consciousness back to the physical level. Burn to bring business growth.

• Peppermint leaf (Mentha Piperita): Use to increase the vibrations of a space or in spells and incense for healing and purification. Place in sleep pillow to ensure peaceful sleep and bring about prophetic dreams. Use to anoint furnishings and household objects. Burn in a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy. Use in magickal workings to provide the push needed to bring change to one's life. Also hex, jinx and curse breaking.  

• *Periwinkle: *Note: Can be poisonous, use with caution. Love within marriage, mental powers, and money. Carry to obtain grace, attract money, and protect against snakes and poison. Use in magickal workings to restore lost memory. Burn with love incense before having sex with your husband or wife. Also called the Patron herb of Wiccans, this Water and Venus plant is considered protective, especially amongst the Celts, and is often referred to as the Violet of the Sorcerers. It has the ability to re-inspire love and is usually associated with the past, whether that be past love or memories. In Eastern European systems, it stands for eternal love and was planted on graves. Agrippa associated this magick herb with the north star, Polaris, which is the fixed star known as the tail of the Lesser Bear (Little Dipper). You can see the steadfastness sought through love magick found in the steady guiding light of this star, so you can consider that periwinkle has the characteristic of being steadfast and trusty.

• Red Clover:  Healing and good fortune! Luck in love, marriage matters, money and protection. It is believed that the leaves of clover can aid with seeing the fae and other spirits. 

• Red Rose: Magickal uses include divine love, close friendships, domestic peace/happiness, and lasting relationships (Red roses stand for love, romantic love and enduring passion. Representing true love stronger than thorns). Great for use in incense, potpourri or bath magick. Place around sprains and dark bruises to help them heal faster.

• Rosemary:  Used in spells to enhance memory, as study aid and academic success. Also used to ward off negative energies and nightmares.  Burn or use in spells for fidelity and remembrance as well as to dispel jealousy.

• Sage:  (white sage) Used for self purification and dealing with grief and loss. Carried to improve mental ability and bring wisdom. Used in healing sachets & incense. Promotes spiritual, mental, emotional & physical health and longevity. Removes negative energy. Place near a personal object of a person who is ailing when performing healing spells or rituals. Write a wish on a sage leaf and place it under your pillow for 3 nights -- if you dream of your wish, it will come true; if not, bury the leaf in the ground so that no bad will come to you.

• Sandalwood: Purification, healing, protection, consecration. Used to raise energy vibrations and enhance spell works. Also used as offerings to the gods and spirits.    

• Seven Barks: (Hydrangea) Hex-breaking, love drawing, bringing back a lover, fidelity, and binding.

• Star Anise: Burned as incense to increase psychic awareness & abilities. Placed on the altar to increase the power generated. Carried to bring luck.

• Strawberry: Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances. Served as a love food. Leaves are carried for luck. Pregnant women carry a packet of the leaves to ease the pain of pregnancy and childbirth.

• Sweetgum: Helps with clearing the mind, promotes healing and courage, the leaf naturally grows in the shape of the five pointed star giving the magical properties of balance and protection. Use in potions and spells to enhance the powers of all the other ingredients.

• Three Kings resin: It is used for protection, deep meditation (astral travel), divination and third eye. Can also be added to incense, charms, talisman to draw prosperity.

• Turkey Tail (Fungi/shroom): Resilient and adaptable! Healing, used for resilience, stamina and strength through difficult times or recovery (spiritual, physical and emotional). These decomposing fungal organisms (known as primary decomposers) are vital in the cycle of life & the seasons, each one an agent in an autumnal pull back to the earth, doing the good dirty work so new life can leap forward in the next season, add to workings for new beginnings and easier transitions for the phrases of life.

• Vervain: Protection, purification, money, youth, peace, healing, and sleep. Bury in the yard or keep in the home to encourage wealth, protect from lightning & storms, and bring peace. Put under the pillow to prevent nightmares. Use as an incense to end unrequited love. Use in prosperity spells. Carry to prevent depression and/or bring creativity. Use in cleansing baths and rituals before working magick. Use in amulets, sachets, dream pillows, and baths for all-purpose protection of home sand people (especially children). Also Called: Verveine, Verbena

• White Clover (Trifolium repens): Protection from Evil. Carry white clover flowers in a flannel bag to break a Hex. Used to cleanse a house of evil spirits, the petals of white clover were once dried and made into "fairy-bread". Has an affinity with the rune Fehu/Feoh

• White Pine Bark: Promotes clean breaks, new beginnings, prosperity, success, strength, grounding, and growth; Also used for cleansing, purification, and repelling negativity. Great for house and business blessing.

• Wild Lettuce: Wild lettuce was referred to as "Titan's Blood" in ancient Greek manuscripts on magic and is ruled by Saturn. Wild Lettuce Leaf was often used among Native Americans in religious ritual as an aid in seeking meditative trances and visions, and to create more vivid dreams. Use in spells dealing with the Moon and Element of Water, also divination and chastity spells.

• Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium): The scent of wormwood is said to increase psychic powers. Burned with incenses on Samhain to aid evocation, divination, scrying and prophecy. Especially good when combined with Mugwort. Strengthens incenses for exorcism and protection. Use in spells for: Binding; Psychic Awareness; Evocation; Love; Clairvoyance. Also used to remove anger, stop war, inhibit violent acts, and for protection from the evil eye.

• Yarrow Flowers: Uses include healing, hand fasting, and divination. Draws love. Carry as a sachet or amulet to banish negativity, ward off fear, and promote courage, confidence, and psychic opening. Place in a yellow flannel bag with a piece of parchment on which you have written your fears, carry with you to overcome them.

Five Finger Grass

Five Finger Grass

The five points of the leaf represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom. Stimulates memory, eloquence, and self confidence. Carry, burn, or wear to possess these traits. 

~Can be used in workings for business and house blessings, gambler's luck, spells to bring protection to a friend or loved one taking a journey. 

~Burn as an incense during divination to bring dreams of one's intended mate. 

~Frequently associated with ritual work involving romance. 

~Wash hands and forehead with an infusion of this herb nine times to wash away hexes and evil spells against you. 

~Fill an empty egg shell and keep it in the home for powerful protection from evil forces. 

~Wrap in red flannel and hang over the bed to ward off dark spirits of the night.

Also Called: Five Finger Grass, Synkefoyle, Witches Weed, Five Leaf, Tormentilla, Sunkfield, Bloodroot, Moor Grass, Goosegrass, Goose Tansy, Crampweed, Silverweed, Silver Weed, Sunkfield

Mock Orange (English Dogwood)

Mock Orange (English Dogwood)

Philadelphus Coronarius

Mock Orange or English Dogwood is a favorite of many gardeners for its sweet-scented blossoms. That statement is a mockery! Have you ever encountered this plant with all its glorious blooms on a sunny day and couldn't resist to get up close for a sniff of their sweet aroma only to be mocked, fooled and laughed to scorn by the Fae. If so, then you know why it is called 'Mock' as the aroma is light to nonexistent, but I will let you in on a secret that all tricksters in the Fae realm know, "Catch the Mocker by Moonlight!"

That's right, try smelling the blooms at night when the blossoms release their heavenly sweet aroma, which is why this plant makes for a perfect fit in any Moon garden. 

So, what magick can mock orange be used for? 

Temporary illusions and to give impressions from a distance, but remember just like this beautiful bush, it's enchantment only works from a distance as any would be target that moved in for a closer look and whiff would plainly see and know it is fake and a mocker of orange and hawthorn blossoms and a sneaky wearer of dogwood leaves!  

Backyard Magick ~ Part Two ~ "Rocks"

~ Rocks ~

Rocks are classified into three main categories: igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic. Igneous rocks are formed from heat and fire, sedimentary rocks are formed from particles being pressed together over a long period of time, and metamorphic rocks are formed when a sedimentary or igneous rock changes form due to pressure and/or heat. 

Igneous rocks contain properties of both earth and fire. One common type of igneous rock is granite, a very hard stone. Magickally, granite can be used in spells for defense, protection, perseverance, stability and lasting passion.

Sedimentary rocks are great for energy combining spells. Sandstone, rock salt, chert, coal, dolomite, flint and limestone, just to name a few.

Metamorphic rocks, such as quartzite, slate, soapstone, gneiss, or phyllite can be used for causing change or transformation. 

Backyard Magick ~ Part One ~ "Dirt"

 ~ Dirt ~

"Above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don't believe in magic will never find it."  ~Roald Dahl

Dirt is filled with the power of the earth, influenced and charged with the energies of the surrounding environment, it makes a very versatile ingredient for a variety of purposes in spell working. Dirt has the magickal attributes of strength and wealth, but it can have additional properties depending on where you gather it.  Graveyard  dirt is great for conjuring spirits or communicating with the dead, and it's also useful in magick intended to cause a termination or a waning of power. Use it for protection works, love, home and family, binding, injustice, ancestor works and spirit guidance.

While dirt found near large, old trees or found in agriculture fields or gardens, is especially powerful for wealth and to increase fertility, virility or for the germination of ideas, dreams and hopes. Fertility doesn't always mean child conception. Dirt from riverbanks, lakeside, or other ares prone to erosion is useful for transformative magick. Use the dirt where it is at, by casting your spell for transformation or reduction into the dirt covered area with high erosion and let the next rain wash it away.

Dirt gathered from sunny, grass covered areas will contain solar energy, while dirt from banks will lend help for prosperity and financial matters. The dirt from churches or temples of worship is considered 'holy' and purifying. 

There are a lot of ways to use dirt magickally, you can empower a pinch of dirt with an energy and then discreetly dust a bit of it over your body, your magick tools, or anythings else being used in the workings. Dirt can be used in 'gris gris' bags and used as feeding dust or powder also. Mix with spell waters, oils and herbs to make mud charms, or mix to make a liquid stain for painting and writing. With just a little creative thought, dirt can become a powerful spell tool. 

Dream Pillow Herbs

* Anise: to prevent nightmares and to ensure pleasant dreams

* Bay: to induce dreams of a prophetic nature

* Catnip: relaxing, induces sleep, used in dream and sleep pillows

* Cedar: used to dream of love

* Chamomile: calming, relaxing, said to keep bad dreams away

* Cinquefoil : to assure restful sleep or to dream of a  new lover

* Clove: brings warmth and an exotic feelings to dreams

* Hops: relaxing, brings peacefulness

* Jasmine: for restful sleep and pleasant dreams

* Lavender: soothing, relaxing, eases headaches and induces sleep

* Marigold: induces dreams of a prophetic nature and protect against black magick through dreams

* Mistletoe: prevent nightmares and insomnia

* Morning glory: safeguard against nightmares

* Mugwort: induces dreams of prophetic nature, enhances lucid dreaming and helps with remembering dreams

* Peppermint: compels one toward sleep, induces dreams of prophetic nature, enhances clarity and vividness in dreams

* Roses: brings warmth and love, may be used to evoke romantic dreams

* Rosemary: to prevent nightmares and bring deep sleep

* Sage: helps to make dreams come true

* Sweet Woodruff: protection from nightmares

* Thyme: drives away nightmares and ensures a restful sleep

* Valerian: to promote a peaceful atmosphere


* Wooly betony: keeps negative influences at bay and prevent nightmares


* Yarrow: induces prophetic dreams




 

Sleep Pillows Herbs

*Balsam fir needles: relaxing, soothing
*Catnip: Helps bring deep sleep
*Chamomile: Calming, relaxing, keeps bad dreams away
*Cinquefoil: restful sleep or to dream of a new love
*Hops: Peaceful, relaxing sleep
*Lavender: induces sleep and relieves headaches
*Lemon balm: eases stress, anxiousness and nervous feelings
*Linden: promotes sleep
*Rose petals: brings warmth and love to dreams and sleep
*Rosemary: encourages a deep, restful sleep and keeps bad dreams away
*Thyme: ensures pleasant sleep, drive nightmares away
*Marjoram: calms restlessness

 ~ Charm (by Monica Crosson) to say as you sew your pillow closed:

Restful sleep come to me,
Release me from anxiety,
As I stitch, this spell is done
As I will it, let it harm none

For instructions on making an embroidered sleep pillow like the one in the picture, check
http://www.centsationalgirl.com/2010/06/diy-lavender-eye-pillows-and-a-giveaway/

Chickweed, Stellaria

Chickweed, Stellaria

 A gentle herb, Chickweed is often used in workings to strengthen and maintain relationships or other rituals of love and fertility.  It is associated with the Moon and the element of water, which makes it also useful in Lunar magick. 

~  To attract new romance or maintain a relationship, mix chickweed, roses and orange blossoms into your bath water.

~ To bring peace to your home, lightly sprinkle chickweed powder throughout each room in your home.

Chickweed is also said to discourage obesity and help with weight loss, add a small amount to your food (great for salads) or try the old folklore recipe of "Chickweed Water"

1 tablespoon of dried herb (2 for fresh)

1 cup of boiling water

Steep for 10 minutes, drink in 1/2 cup doses 2 to 4 times daily

(This recipe is also said to work for fertility issues)

Dogwood Wish Spell

Dogwood for Wishes

This spell was found at:  Magickal Herbalism

(Posted by  Fen Alraun)

 Dogwood is the tree of wishes! A dogwood flower is an excellent charm to bring about wishes. Here is a spell from the Lewellyn Publishing website from 2009:
"To make a wish come true, collect three red dogwood berries, a dogwood leaf that has also turned red, and a few pieces of bark. Place all of these items on a piece of white fabric or in a pouch, and tie it up with red yarn. Speak words of power affirming your wish over this magic bundle. Pass the bundle above the flame of a red candle. Extinguish the candle and hide your magic bundle until you receive your wish."

WOOD SORREL (Oxalis acetosella)

YELLOW WOOD SORREL (Oxalis acetosella)

This is one of the magickal herbs associated with the fairies, elves and woodland spirits. In the old and enchanted country of Ireland, shamrock (or wood sorrel) was held sacred to the leprechauns, believed to attract them if planted in a secluded garden or woodland. 

As a herb of magick, wood sorrel leaves are commonly used in healing rituals, and carried as charms to protect the heart. The tiny flowers are called by the Welsh "fairy bells" and are believed to ring the merry peals which call the elves to moonlight dance and revelry. 

The Elf-Dance N. J. O. Blommér

“Merry elves, their morrice pacing

To aërial minstrelsy,

Emerald rings on brown heath tracing,

Trip it deft and merrily.”

~Sir Walter Scott.

Wormwood Spell

Ease and release the bitterness of anger, hurt and pain with wormwood.

Bitter Wormwood Powder

 

 

Smartweed Lady's Thumb

Ladies thumb is interchangeable with Knot weed, it can be used for love, binding, bonding and restricting, although when used for the latter of restricting consider carefully please, Karmic law, "do to others as you want done to you, for that is what is done" and the other ancient saying, "if you lead into captivity, there also you enter in yourself"

Wild Harvest List

 

Daffodil 

Purple Dead Nettle Lamium purpureum 

Smartweed Lady's Thumb

 Wild Geranium

 Wood Sorrel

Wild Geranium

Other Names: Crane's bill, Spotted Geranium, Spotted Cranesbill, Wood Geranium, Spotted Cranesbill, Wild Cranesbill, Crowfoot, Dove's-foot, Old Maid's Nightcap, Shameface, hardy geranium 

A tea of Wild Geranium flowers is an effective counter to many love spells. A bit of the root can be carried as an amulet to attract happiness and prosperity. It can also be used in spells to encourage conception, successful pregnancy and safe childbirth, especially in sympathetic spells.

Daffodil

Daffodil 

 Also Called: Nacissus, Lent Lily, Jonquil, Goose Leek, Lentlilly

 Symbolizing rebirth and new beginnings, the daffodil is virtually synonymous with spring, because of their long association with Lent, they’re known as the “Lent Lily.” Lore connecting the daffodil to not only a sign of winter’s end but a lucky emblem of future prosperity is found throughout the world. In Greek mythology the daffodil is described as a pale yellow deathless kind of lily flower, that overspreads the plains of Hades, and is the favorite food of the dead.

The March birth flower and the 10th wedding anniversary flower, a gift of daffodils is said to ensure happiness. But always remember to present daffodils in a bunch – the same legends that associate this cheerful flower with good fortune warn us that when given as a single bloom, a daffodil can foretell misfortune. 

The part of the plant that is normally used in magick is the flowers - either fresh or dried, but feel free to utilize the whole plant.

•  Used to keep negative energy away from the home or altar, sprinkle dried petals or place fresh flowers on an altar to attract friendly sprits.
• Keep in the house or garden to cheer you up.
• Add to bathwater to increase your luck and bring new people into your life. Wear near the heart to bring good luck.
• Place fresh daffodils in the home to increase fertility. Mix with rose petals and place around a photo of a lover you want to return to you.

Purple Dead Nettle Lamium purpureum

Purple Dead Nettle 

 Lamium purpureum

Other Names: Red Nettle, Red Dead-nettle, Red Henbit, Red Archangel, Purple Archangel, Dumb Nettle, Deaf Nettle, Blind Nettle

Folklore: Believed by some old wives to be a plague of the fields sent to punish the unrighteous. 

 The name ‘Lamium’ comes from the Greek ‘laimos’ meaning ‘throat’, referring to the shape of the flower. 

Archangel refers to the plant’s general blossoming date of May 8th, the old version which falls 11 days before the current one, and which was dedicated to the Archangel Michael.

Properties: Edible and medicinal, the leaves and upper plants are cooked as pot herbs or added to salads. The plant is very nutritious, high in iron, vitamins and fiber. The whole plant is medicinal, used as an astringent, diaphoretic, diuretic, purgative, styptic and tonic. Lab tests show that Lamium purpureum seed oil possess high antioxidant activities, and might be used as a future food-additive. In the past, this plant has been used to treat digestive issues, gout and joint pain. A decoction of the plant is particularly useful for checking any kind of hemorrhage, the fresh bruised leaves can be applied to external cuts and wounds. The dried herb, made into a tea and sweetened with honey, promotes perspiration and acts on the kidneys. A tea made from the fresh plant is an excellent laxative and tonic.

Medicinal tea: Add 2 tbsp. fresh or dried herb to to 1 cup water steep for 10 min. strain and drink in ½ cup doses, for laxative, and general tonic.

Pot Herb: Boil flowers and leaves in water for 20 to 30 min. drain, season to taste.

Magickal Properties: 

Although there is little magickal powers attributed to dead nettle because of the "No Sting" in the nettles, never under estimate the powers and energies of this potent spell herb for banishing, expelling and cleansing negative, stinging harmful energies from the surroundings and self.  Like its latter name "Archangel" this little seemingly benign herb is a warrior and conqueror of gracefully overtaking any nasty situations without the use of retaliation. It's energies are calming and cooling of heated emotions, helps with clear thinking and decision making in chaotic times and circumstances. It will boost and add to the energies of any herbs associated with and used for: confidence, courage, calmness, peace, strength, graceful persistence, clear thinking and emotional balance.

~ Archangel Guardian Sachet ~

A two sided sachet (bag) made of flannel, one side white the other red

  -Dead Nettle
 -Chamomile
 -Juniper Berries
 -St. Johns-wort

* Small (pebble size) Sodalite, green adenturine and one natural pebble stone (doesn't matter what type, just make sure to gather it from outside, can even be one you have picked up in the street)

Feed the sachet with Amber Oil