Ruth (Sacred Love)

Ruth Holcomb Powell

Aug. 10th 1941- Sept. 2nd 2017

I lift you up and cherish the gifts, lessons and message you brought to us and for us...
These most precious of all things, they can not be bought, nor can they be sold, for you brought them forward to all of us.

When I look at your hands and I search out the works of those most beautiful of hands, I can see your works, I can see that you brought forth all the ancestors of our past generations. Within the gathered assembly of your two hands, I can see my grandmother and I can sense my grandfather and I can hear all of the grands from our past. When I look at my own hands, I see you there in the midst of them. You bring to me a new sense and meaning of what it is to be a sacred speck within a grand and vast gathering, dancing, swirling and floating about within the ancient flow that brings life to all that will open to receive its flow.

You were planted under a great evergreen pine tree, a tree that never sleeps and yet it never awakens, through out all our seasons it has remained steadfast, an ever watchful, patient guardian that reminds us that there is within us a part that needs no sleep and needs no wakefulness, it lacks in no thing and therefore contains within it all things. This tree greets us with celebration at every season of our life. And its companion tree which you lay beneath is small and yet most beloved, it brings love in a sweet and simple spirit that reaches out to all that feel insufficient and insignificant. Our dogwood tree who's spirit has chosen to grow low and close to all that it holds precious and sacred...

But the sweetest things in life are always free
Like the songs the birds would sing
And the sweet new grass of spring
And the sacred blossoms on the dogwood tree

– Heartsong: Dolly Parton

It wasn't until I stood sheltered under these trees and had a sacred family secret revealed to me...

Your most beloved and favored conveyed it to me...

He said he couldn't withhold these hidden seeds, they come at no cost and they freely feed...

He proclaimed... "Aunt Ruth found favor in me!"

Then each little bird sang, "and in me", "and in me",  "and in me".... we are all favored under aunt Ruth's tree. We all received that sacred seed, by water and blood it will feed, ever flowing in the gentle touch she bestowed on me...and me..and me...

From the mouth of our smallest, sweetest little seed, she called out, "Aunt ROOF!"

She sheltered me...and me...and me...

A season well lived and a harvest well received, everyone and everything that enters under the wings of my tree, help me to remember the sacred seeds of the evergreen tree who saw it all and celebrated, one by one, the personal sacredness of "We".

  

DIY Anti-Aging Frankincense Face and Neck Cream

I recommend this cream as a night cream as it goes on wet and stages down into an oily feel, before it absorbs into a silky smooth hydrated feel. Apply to face (eye lids also!), neck and décolleté. If you want to amp up the toning anti-aging properties of this cream, put a little in the palm of your hand and mix in a few drops of rosehip seed oil.

*Please note that rosehip seed oil is a natural retinol (vitamin A) and should not be applied to the skin neat (undiluted) always buffer the essential oil into or on top of a cream before applying it to the skin.

What you will need:

*Electric hand mixer

 

• 1 tsp. cocoa butter
• 1 tsp. coconut oil
• 1tsp. bee's wax
• 1 tsp. aloe gel
• 1/2 tsp. DIY frankincense extract oil
• 1/2 tsp. vitamin E
• 1/4 cup DIY frankincense milk
• 1/4 cup carrier oil (sweet almond, safflower, grape seed, olive) 

 

Melt and stir together the bee's wax, cocoa butter, coconut oil and carrier oil in a double boiler or over low heat.

In a separate mixing bowl combine and mix the (water soluble ingredients) aloe gel and frankincense milk, once the oils and wax are melted, slowly pour the oil mixture into the milk and gel mixture as you blend on low with the hand mixer. As the cream begins to form you can up the speed of the mixer to get a creamer texture, when the cream has cooled down, use the hand mixer again to mix in the vitamin E and frankincense oil.

 

This cream does not need to be refrigerated but it is a refreshing treat when applied cold!

Beauty Witchery "Conjuring the Glam" with Frankincense

 

 

 

 Frankincense

 

We all know the most common magickal properties and uses for this wonder filled resin, from cleansing sacred items and ritual space to adding it into spell craft ingredients for raising positive energies within workings and yet this little gift from nature has many more practical and magickal uses especially when it comes to getting our natural beauty glamour witching going!

 

 

When it comes to skin care frankincense is one potent ingredient that helps to protect the skin cells, as an astringent it can aid in reducing acne blemishes, help reduce the appearance of large pores, fade scars and hyperpigmentation. It also aids in healing wounds, cystic acne, scraps and itchy inflamed skin. Frankincense oil has been used to remove skin tags, moles and warts.

 

Adding frankincense into your anti-aging creams, lotions, serums, balms and salves will give the brew a boost in tightening sagging skin, fading dark spots, smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles.   

 

 

If you're interested in learning more about this resin and its uses, here is great link:

 

Frankincense (乳香 Rǔ Xiāng; Boswellia Species): From the Selection of Traditional Applications to the Novel Phytotherapy for the Prevention and Treatment of Serious Diseases 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 



DIY Frankincense Extract Oil

 

 

To make your own frankincense extract oil the resin tears need to be crushed and put through a heated water soak to dissolve the water soluble compounds (See our post on Frankincense Milk). Please note that a concentrated extract oil can not be achieved without first removing the water soluble compounds.

 

Once you have heat soaked and dried your left over resin it's time to re-crush and powder it, the easiest way to powder crush any resin is to freeze it first. If you read the frankincense milk post this post picks up from that procedure of using the left over, undissolved resin gum from two heaping table spoons of resin tears. I measure two table spoons out before I crush the resin for the milk procedure, normally the left over undissolved resin will measure about and close to half of what I started with. This resin gum is easily dissolvable in most carrier oils, as with the milk/water I warm the oil on my coffee mug warmer. I measure out 1/2 cup of the carrier oil I want to use and place the powdered resin in it, the heating time varies as I continue the warming until I can see and tell that no more residue will dissolve, usually 12 to 18 hours. The left over residue normally measures out to be about 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon. When I'm not planning on using the oil in a salve or cream I will not bother to strain out the residue. *Reminder: Use a disposable plastic spoon to stir the oil, the resin is very sticky!

 

 

 

Here is a link to Dan Riegler's blog and his post on making an extract, Dan is the go to man for resin knowledge! (and products!)

 

 

How to make an extract of Frankincense and other oleoresins

 

 

For Dan's Esty shop:

 

Apothecary's Garden

 

 

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.







October Correspondence

October

retained its name from the Latin octō meaning "eight"

Moon Names: (Hunter's Moon/Falling Leaf Moon)

The moon of new goals, protection, resolution and spirituality. Time to reflect and evaluate the year's accomplishments. The beginning of shadow works.

Algonquian - Pepewarr (white frost one grass)

Appalachian - Blood Moon

Celtic - Harvest Moon

Colonial American - Hunter's Moon

Chinese - Kindly Moon

Cherokee - Duninhdi ( harvest moon)

Choctaw - Hash Koinchush (moon of the wildcat)

Comanche - yuba mua (fall moon)

Druid - Reed Moon 

English Medieval - Blood Moon

Hopi - Angaqmuyaw (moon of long hair)

Astrological Signs:

The Zodiac Sign Libra | Sep 24 - Oct 23

The Zodiac Sign Scorpio | Oct 24 - Nov 22

Plants, Trees, Herbs and Resins:

Allspice, Apple, Ash, Basil, Benzoin, Chrysanthemum, Cloves, Cypress, Dandelion, Dill, Dittany, Elder, Elderberries Galangal, Gardenia, Ginger, Heather, Horehound, Ivy, Mapple, Marigold, Mugwort, Mullein, Myrrh, Nettle, Oak, Opoponax, Patchouli, Pennyroyal, Pine, Pumpkin, Reed, Saffron, Sarsaparilla, Thistle, Vanilla, 

Colors:

Black, Brown, Dark Green, Grey, Gold, Maroon, Orange, Red, Dark Red

Stones and Crystals:

Agate, Aquamarine, Beryl, Bloodstone, Citrine, Coral, Garnet, Malachite, Obsidian, Opal, Rutilated Quartz, Ruby, Topaz

Animals:

Bats, Cats, Crow, Dog, Eagle, Hawk, Owl, Raven, Scorpion, Snake, Vulture 

Spell Works: Legal Matters and Court Cases

Candle Colors:

• Orange: Justice and legal matters
• Brown: Special favor
• Purple: Influence people in high positions
• Grey: Erasing, balance, neutrality, canceling, confusion

Stones and Crystals:

• Bloodstone: Legal matters
• Hematite: "Lawyer Stone", positive judgement
• Citrine: Successful outcome
• Lodestone: To draw the works/energy toward you

Oils: (For making your own oil)

• Olive oil as the carrier for peace and victory
• Sunflower oil as the carrier for protection and success
• Sweet Almond as the carrier for overcoming obstacles

Herbs:

Barberry: For atonement, cleansing, freeing oneself from the powers or control of another

Basil: To move forward in positive manner despite perilous danger.

Bay Leaf: Protection against dark/black magic

Black Pepper: Aids in courage for difficult situations

Calendula Flowers: Protection, legal matters, helps and aids justice in your favor.

Cascara Bark (Bearberry): Legal matters and to win court cases.

Celandine: Brings victory and assist in legal matters, also wards against negative energies.

Devil's Shoestring: Protection, luck and invisibility

Dill:  Wards off dark energies.

Dogwood: Grants wishes, seals, silences and hides what needs to be kept secret.

Galangal Root: Winning court cases and breaking hexes

Gardenia:  Promotes peace and repels strife

Hickory: Protection and legal matters

Hyssop: Purging negative energies, protection (Granddaddy herb for getting rid of negative workings and energies!)

Little John: Good luck in all endeavors

Marigold Flowers: Luck in court cases and legal matters.

Mimosa: Break hexes and prevent future problems

Mullein: Protection

Myrrh: Add to enhance and boost workings

Dead Nettle: To overcome obstacles, archangel Micheal protection.

Palo Santo:  Remove curses

Pennyroyal: To remove negative thoughts against you.

Periwinkle: To obtain grace

Pine: Clean breaks for new beginnings

Plantain: To remove vengeful negative energies and healing

Poppy Seeds: Invisibility 

Rose Geranium: Averts negativity, gossip and false accusations.

Slippery Elm: Halts gossip

St. John Wort: Strengthens courage and conviction when confronting nasty situations. 

Strawberry leaf: For favorable situations.

Thyme: Attracts good opinions of others.

Violet Flowers: Calm nerves and promote peace

Wormwood: To remove anger, stop war, protection against evil eye.


Products:

Just Judge Oil

Win Court Case Spell Kit

Helping Hand Oil

Law Away Oil (Conjured Cardea)

Danda Oil (Conjured Cardea)