Hedge Raven

Bacon-Cheese Pull-Aparts

2011-02-28T21:19:00.000-08:00

INGREDIENTS

1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 (16.3-oz.) can Pillsbury® Grands!® Flaky Layers Refrigerated Original Biscuits
1 (2.1-oz.) pkg. precooked bacon, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
3 oz. (3/4 cup) shredded Cheddar cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped green onions (4 medium)

Directions

Heat oven to 350°F. Spray 11×7- or 12×8-inch (2-quart) glass baking dish with cooking spray. In large bowl, beat egg and milk with wire whisk until smooth.

Separate dough into 8 biscuits; cut each into quarters. Gently stir biscuit pieces into egg mixture to coat evenly. Fold in bacon, cheese and onions. Spoon mixture into sprayed dish; arrange biscuit pieces in single layer.

Bake at 350°F. for 23 to 28 minutes or until golden brown. Cut into squares.

Thanks You Pillsbury!

Suggested Herbal Books

2011-02-26T17:22:00.000-08:00

I keep seeing places that say post what books your have or think others should read. I finally made up a list of the one’s I have that are good enough to pass along. If it says Review from Amazon then there was not a description from the publisher on the Amazon page. If there is a description from the publisher that is posted instead of a review. Many of these books I got from a local used and out-of-print bookstore (Hyde Brothers Books) so it may be hard to find some of these unless they are a used copy. Any book marked * is one that I would never sell and would recommend. All of these are the paperback version unless otherwise stated.

Usage

*The Way of Herbs : Revised Edition

Author: Michael Tierra

Paperback: 416 pages

Publisher: Pocket; Reissue edition (October 1, 1990)

Language: English

ISBN: 0671724037

Review from Amazon:

This is the best herb book around. Mostly when an herb book is written, an author will gather information on different herbs and write them in a book Michael Tiera is different. He has used all of these herbs himself. He has studied with native cultures and writes from experience. He uses Chinese medicine and herbs. He uses American herbs. He also uses Ayervedic techniques. He treats the whole body and not just the symptoms. This book is broken down in an easy to use method. He will list an herb and all of its properties and how it is used.

*Herbs and Things: Jeanne Rose's Herbal

Author: Jeanne Rose

Paperback

Publisher: Perigee Books (February 1, 1973)

Language: English

ISBN: 0399509445

Review from Amazon:

This is a much needed addition to anyone's herbal library. It is unlike almost any other herbal available on the market. It’s a shame that something like this is not seen more on the shelves of those corporate warehouse bookstores. Maybe it might be a good thing, this book really does belong on an old gnarled wooden shelf in some obscure shop run by a kindly old woman who knows its pages by heart. If you buy it you will open your self up to a new world of herbal possibilities.

*Indian Herbalogy of North America

Author: Alma R. Hutchens

Paperback: 382 pages

Publisher: Shambhala; Reprint edition (August 27, 1991)

Language: English

ISBN: 0877736391

Personal Review:

Yes the title is misspelled and it was printed that way. There is a lot of good information in this book but it does not just cover North American herbs. There are many references to Russian herbal use and folklore along with other countries. Still this book contains a lot of information.

Herbs for Health and Healing

Author: Kathi Keville, Peter Korn

Paperback: 374 pages

Publisher: Rodale Pr (October 1, 1998)

Language: English

ISBN: 1579540457

From Publishers Weekly
Keville, director of the American Herbalist Association, delivers an entertaining compendium of herbal medicine. Clearly and enthusiastically writing about the benefits of natural healing, Keville limits her coverage to those herbs that are safe; for the novice, she includes simple instructions for making herbal preparations as well as guidelines for buying them. Grouping ailments by body system? respiratory, digestive, etc.? she provides recipes for remedies that she has found effective in her 30 years of studying herbalism. Separate sections on men's, women's and children's health problems offer treatments for conditions ranging from baldness and impotence to menstrual cramps and teething pain. There's even advice on putting together an herbal first-aid kit and a list of beauty tips for women. This guide, however, is not for those who require scientific proof, for although Keville sometimes cities studies supporting use of particular herbs, her evidence is largely anecdotal. Personal stories of successful healing abound in the text, and, along with the history and folklore, are what make the text enjoyable.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

*Modern Encyclopedia of Herbs

Author: Joseph M Kadans

Paperback

Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Paper) (January 1, 1973)

Language: English

ISBN: 0135937809

Older book that could be found in used bookstores and there are many used copies on Amazon. Very informative.

The Complete Herb Book

Author: Maggie Stuckey

Paperback

Publisher: Berkley (May 1, 1994)

Language: English

ISBN: 0425142639

Book Description
Herbs are truly wondrous plants. In this comprehensive book, Maggie Stuckey explains the uses of dozens of herbs, offers advice on planning a herb garden, and presents recipes for everything from salad dressing to meat loaf. Use herbs to...
Spice up a meal. Soothe a stomachache, a sunburn, or a sore throat. Keep away mice, moths, and mosquitoes. Freshen a room or take a bath in basil. Add shine to your hair and softness to your skin. Make a wreath of bay branches or a catnip sachet and more.

*The Herbal Handbook: A User's Guide to Medical Herbalism

Author: David Hoffman

Paperback: 240 pages

Publisher: Inner Traditions (March 1, 1989)

Language: English

ISBN: 0892812753

Review from Whole Earth, 1998
In some ways, then, The Herbal Handbook is an understatement--the scientific data is integrated so seamlessly into the traditional lore that Hoffman's extensive technical and scientific background could easily be missed.

*Gentle Healing for Baby and Child : A Parent's Guide to Child-Friendly Herbs and Other Natural Remedies for Common Ailments and Injuries
Author: Andrea Candee, David Andrusia

Paperback: 288 pages

Publisher: Pocket; Revised edition (December 24, 2003)

Language: English

ISBN: 0743497252

Review from Amazon.com staff:
Even if you're a parent who prefers the straight and narrow of allopathic medicine, you'll find numerous tricks for soothing your little one in Gentle Healing for Baby and Child. From minor issues like splinters or a skinned knee to a nighttime cough that your prescribed medicine just isn't relieving, master herbalist Andrea Candee offers simple, safe remedies made from ingredients that you'll probably find in your kitchen.

Most chapters are focused on either a specific part of the body (skin, respiratory system, digestive system) or an age group (from infants to teenagers). You may be tempted to head directly to the chapters of most interest to you, but don't skip over "Dosing Guidelines." As with any medication, herbs must be taken properly in order to be safe, and following the simple charts of dosage frequency according to age and weight is an easy way to prevent problems. You'll also find suggestions here for getting some of those hot, pungent herbs down the hatch--it may take more than "a spoonful of sugar" to get your child to ingest doses of cayenne and garlic.

Some items show up repeatedly in Candee's book. Onions, garlic, honey, lemons, and salt are all commonly available and inexpensive, and can help with everything from sore throats (warm salt and lemon gargle) to an ear infection (onion poultice directly on the ear). Garlic, "nature's antibiotic," can take care of colds, parasites, and "anything about to become a something!" Honey works to soothe skin and the respiratory system. (Note that honey shouldn't be given orally to an infant; their immature immune systems might have difficulty fending off any botulism spores that might be present.)

Offering new and friendly ammunition for a parent's arsenal of healing techniques, Gentle Healing for Baby and Child is an excellent addition to the family first aid kit and a fantastic way to avoid over reliance on prescription antibiotics

Herb and Drug Interactions

*Herb Contraindications And Drug Interactions, Second Edition
Author: Francis Brinker, Nancy Stodart

Paperback: 263 pages

Publisher: Eclectic Medical Pubns; 2nd Rev edition (December 1, 1998)

Language: English

ISBN: 1888483067

Book Description
A handbook for health care providers and the public. This second edition expands an essential reference on the contraindications of over 200 herbs and drug interactions.

This book includes appendices which address, by category the effects and limitations of herbs.

A new appendix identifies vitamin and mineral interactions with drugs.

Information is derived from the German Commission E Monographs, recent scientific research and traditional clinical experience.

Growing

*Vegetables, Herbs & Fruit: An Illustrated Encyclopedia (Hardcover)
Author: Matthew Biggs, Jekka McVicar, Bob Flowerdew

Hardcover: 640 pages

Publisher: Firefly Books Ltd (December 3, 2005)

Language: English

ISBN: 1554071267

Book Description
The definitive source book to growing, harvesting, preserving, and cooking.

This superbly illustrated reference contains a wealth of information to help gardeners choose the plants best suited to their space, climate, and needs. Three experts guide the reader in choosing which vegetables, herbs, and fruit to grow, and then in successfully producing the crop.

The vegetable and herb sections are arranged alphabetically by botanical Latin name, and the fruit section is arranged by fruit type. Accompanied by full color photographs and a brief introduction discussing the plant's origins and history, each entry presents a wealth of practical tips on cultivation, including: - Edibility, nutritional value, the most useful and recommended varieties - Plant hardiness, propagation, and growing guidelines - Cropping, harvesting, and storing - Weed, pest, and disease control - Ornamental and wildlife value - A maintenance calendar - Pruning and training - Companion planting - Container growing.

The remainder of the book focuses on the practical aspects of gardening and has in-depth sections on creating a garden, pollination, soil fertility, greenhouse growing, and much more. The book wraps up with a glossary, further reading, seed sources, hardiness zones, and a detailed index.

*The American Horticultural Society Encyclopedia of Gardening (Hardcover)
by Elvin McDonald (Editor), Christopher Brickell (Editor), American Horticultural Society (Corporate Author), Trevor J. Cole (Editor)

Hardcover: 648 pages

Publisher: Dorling Kindersley Publishing; 1st American Ed edition (October 1, 1993)

Language: English

ISBN: 1564582914

Review from Amazon.com Staff
Many books claim to be a "definitive guide"; this is one title that happily lives up to those claims--and then some. Encyclopedia of Gardening will become your indispensable how-to manual for any plant-related topic. Indoors or out, you'll find information on choosing and maintaining healthy plants of all varieties, how to build structures from greenhouses to trellises, ways to identify pests and diseases, and methods of garden design that enable you to turn your lawn into a unique and personal work of art.

The text is straightforward and accompanied at all points by close-up photos of techniques, ideas, and specimens. The handy glossary is ready with definitions for everything from bulblet to vermiculite, and two pages of seasonal reminders are a great quick-reference cheat sheet. Thanks to clear category separations and the easy-to-read layout, the information is never overwhelming, just friendly and helpful--it's like having a master gardener living in your bookshelf! For the beginning-but-committed gardener, this encyclopedia is the perfect starting point. With every question answered thoroughly and accurately, you may find it's the only book you need for years to come. The fruit and vegetable sections are terrific, as are the areas on propagation and water gardening. For novice and expert alike, there's plenty to be learned from this information-packed volume.

Magic or Historical Usage

*Plants of Mystery and Magic

Author: Michael Jordan

Paperback: 128 pages

Publisher: Cassell; New Ed edition (December 31, 2001)

Language: English

ISBN: 0304359610

Book Description

The human fascination with plants goes far beyond our love of gardening. Somewhere in the back of our minds lurks the ancient magic and mystery associated with plants, while today we are rediscovering all-but-forgotten healing and nutritional properties of plants in their natural settings. Superb color photos that capture the sense of ritual and reverence are accompanied by an expert history that explains our early use, as nomadic gatherers, of flowers, bushes, and herbs, and our development of domestic planting. The earliest-known ceremonies, such as burials, planting rituals, and harvest festivals, show how plants came to be worshiped as both symbols of life and essential nutrients and healers. The story continues from the rise of civilizations that use plants as symbols in their imperial crests and coins to today's use of holly, mistletoe, Christmas trees, pumpkins, autumn leaves, and other holiday symbols--backed by current psychological and medical research.

*Medieval English Gardens
Author: Teresa McLean

Unknown Binding: 298 pages (It is a hard back ~ Raven)

Publisher: Collins (January 1, 1981)

Language: English

ISBN: 000216535X

Looks like this is one that will be hard to find unless a library or used bookstore has one. It is a great book looking at gardens throughout Europe’s history. It shows how Monks laid out their gardens and how people made an income from gardening. It is very educational and sad to see it is no longer being published.

Victorian Kitchen Garden (Hardcover)
Author: Jennifer Davies

Hardcover: 160 pages

Publisher: W W Norton & Co Inc; 1st American Ed edition (April 1, 1988)

Language: English

ISBN: 039302539X

Bottled Snowflakes

2011-02-26T17:04:00.000-08:00

You will need:

1 white pipe cleaner
1 length of twine
scissors
1 quart jar with a wide mouth
2 cups boiling water
6 tablespoons borax
1 pencil

Cut a white pipe cleaner into 3 equal lengths, twist them together in the center, then arrange the six legs so that they are equidistant from each other. Tie one end of the twine to a leg, and the other end to the middle of a pencil. (For a more ornate flake, tie the twine around the end of each leg in a continuous motion to make a center wheel).

Set aside. Pour boiling water into the jar, then add the borax one tablespoon at a time, stirring to dissolve. (if a little borax settles to the bottom, there's no need to worry, just go on to the next step.)

Submerge the pipe cleaner form in the solution and let the pencil rest on top of the jar. Leave the snowflake in the solution overnight. The next morning, you'll find it covered with tiny, sparkling crystals. Remove it from the jar, and hang it from the window to catch the sun

Pore Cleanser

2011-02-26T17:03:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 tsp. sunflower seed meal
1 tsp. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. almond meal
1/4 tsp. vegetable oil (I recommend a very light one here)
1/4 ripe tomato or chunk of cucumber, peeled
water

Puree tomato or cucumber in blender, adding a small amount of water(approx. 1 tablespoon), Strain. Combine enough vegetable liquid with the meal and oil to form a smooth paste. Spread onto face and neck, allow to dry, rinse. Good for normal and oily skin. Use on to two times per week.

Mullein Compress

2011-02-26T17:02:00.000-08:00

2 quarts cider or malt vinegar
4 oz. Mullein
1/2 oz Lobelia herb
1/4 ounce cayenne powder

Gently simmer well covered for 20-30 min. Strain and pour over 1/4 ounce cayenne powder. Foment affected area as hot as possible for at least 1 hour. I usually place a soaked cloth on the area and cover with plastic wrap and place a heating pad over it all.

This is wonderful for glandular swellings, painful joints and muscles, edema and other swellings. Mullein encourages the absorbtion of fluids thus reducing swelling and inflammation. Lobelia is very relaxing and anti-spasmodic. Using a stimulant like Cayenne makes the other ingredients more effective and it also can help allay pain and staunch bleeding both on the surface and under (e.g. good for bruising). Cayenne is also somewhat antiseptic. This fomentation may be stored in a cool place and used within a 3 month period.

Just a couple of notes:
1. If it is too "hot", use less capsicum. Adjust to the needs of the patient.
2. Don't foment overnight. It may cause skin irritation. Use moderation. Don't forget vinegar is an acid. My daughter had peeling skin for several days after falling asleep with a compress on her arm.
3. If the vinegar is too irritating, substitute olive oil, in which case you can foment longer.
4. An interesting variation is to use 2 oz Mullein and 2 oz Comfrey with the other ingredients. Comfrey tends to hasten healing of tissues so might be helpful in wounds etc.
5. Do NOT use this compress on cancerous tumors since it encourages dispersion and absorption of fluids, etc.

Massage Oil for Sore Muscles

2011-02-26T17:01:00.000-08:00

5 or 6 Cayenne peppers
1 cup vegetable oil
1/4 tsp. clove essential oil
1/4 tsp. eucalyptus essential oil
1/4 tsp. mint essential oil

Chop cayenne peppers and place in a jar. Cover with vegetable oil. Make sure the peppers are completely covered. Store oil in a warm, dark place. Strain after one week. Add the essential oils.

Massage on sore muscles. Be careful not to get this oil in your eyes or open wounds - it will sting. Wash your hands after using this oil.

Muscle and Congestion Ointment

2011-02-26T17:00:00.000-08:00

1/2 oz. cayenne pods, chopped
1/2 oz. cloves, powdered
1 oz. eucalyptus leaves, chopped
1 cup isopropyl alcohol (common rubbing alcohol)
60 drops wintergreen essential oil
20 drops peppermint essential oil
20 drops clove essential oil

Soak first three ingredients in alcohol for two weeks, then strain. Add
essential oils. Stir Well. Massage liniment into area affected by arthritis, onto back and chest for congestion or on sore muscles.

Juniper Berry Ointment

2011-02-26T16:58:00.000-08:00

This ointment is good for wounds, itching and scratches.

1 cup juniper berries
2 cups oil (olive, peanut, wheat germ, lanolin)
2 - 3 Tbsp. beeswax

Simmer berries in oil. Melt beeswax into the oil and berry mixture. Strain & pour into jars.

Honey Facial Cleaner

2011-02-26T16:57:00.000-08:00

2 tbl. liquid Castile soap
1/4 c. honey
1/4 c. Rosewater

Mix ingredients and pour into bottle for use. Gently massage onto face and rinse with tepid water. Can be used for all skin types.

Healing Lotion

2011-02-26T16:55:00.000-08:00

1/2 oz. calendula tincture
1 oz. comfrey tincture
1 oz. wheat germ oil
3 oz. aloe vera gel or fresh pulp
1/4 tsp. vitamin C crystals
1/2 essential oil, if desired

Combine ingredients in a bottle and shake vigorously. Refrigerate if made with fresh aloe pulp.

Mint Facial Steam

2011-02-26T16:54:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
approx. 3 cups water
1 tsp. sage or rosemary
1 tsp. yarrow
1 tsp. peppermint

Boil water, remove from heat, and place herbs to steep, lidded for about 5 minutes. Sit with towel tented over head and face over the bowl... allowing the steam to cleanse the pores Good for normal and oily skin.

Dry Skin Milk Bath

2011-02-26T16:53:00.000-08:00

Ingredients:
1 cup powdered milk
1 tbl. grapeseed, apricot or almond oil
8 drops essential of jasmine, rosemary, or lavender

Add ingredients individually under running water in your bath. Swish with hands to mix then sit back and relax.

Cleansing Grains

2011-02-26T16:51:00.000-08:00

2 tbl. Oatmeal, coarsely ground or chopped
2 tbl. cornmeal
2 tbl. wheatgerm
3 tbl. Aloe Vera gel

Mix together and store in airtight container. Massage a small portion onto skin and rinse with tepid water. To be used twice weekly. Keeps well, consider increasing the size of measurements proportionally to make more.

To make it a deep cleansing grain soap add the grains to any soap recipe then instead of Aloe Vera Gel use about 1/2 chopped Aloe Vera leaves.

Chest Cold Vinegar

2011-02-26T16:49:00.000-08:00

1 Large onion (sliced)
1/2 Cup Dried Mullein Flowers
7 Cloves Garlic (crushed)
2 Tablespoons (Crushed or grated) Horseradish
2 Tablespoons Fresh Grated Ginger
2 Tablespoons Honey
Apple Cider Vinegar

Fill jar with layers of these ingredients until full. Then top with Apple Cider Vinegar Refrigerate and use after 24 hrs. Take 2-3 teaspoons of the juice 2-3 times daily. Keeps for 6 Weeks.

Calendula-Lavender Cream

2011-02-26T16:48:00.000-08:00

2 oz. comfrey oil
2 oz. calendula oil
1/2 tsp. hydrous lanolin*
2 oz distilled water or rose water
1/16 oz. borax powder
1/4 lavender oil

Combine and heat comfrey and calendula oils. Melt lanolin and beeswax in oil mixture. In another pot, gently warm water and dissolve borax in it. Remove both mixtures from heat. Place oil-wax mixture in blender or food processor. Add the borax and water mixture very slowly, constantly blending, until water has been added. Constantly push hardened top edge of mixture back into blender or food processor. Add lavender oil; blend until thickened. Pour into jars. Store any extra cream in the refrigerator.

You can replace the water in this recipe with fresh plant juices, technically called succus, if they are available. Succus is usually preserved with 20% alcohol. But be aware that cream made from fresh plant juices tends to last 6 - 12 months.

* Hydrous lanolin is available in pharmacies.

Burn Poultice

2011-02-26T16:46:00.000-08:00

Burn Poultice

Use equal parts of Echinacea, comfrey and marshmallow root
(enough to cover the burn area generously)
Aloe Vera leaf(s)
a few drops of clove oil

Immediately after the burn occurs, place in an ice water bath for at least 10 minutes - I try and make it close to 20 for myself.

1) Remove the inside from the aloe vera

2) Pulverize the roots and aloe together (if using dried root-reconstitute first with purified water) making it as smooth as possible--don't worry if it is still lumpy though

3) add a few drops of clove oil

4) Apply to your burn covering well-don't make it too thin or it will dry out too fast)

5) Cover with a clean gauze and leave on for 3-6 hours...the longer it
stays the better you heal.

Athlete's Foot Vinegar

2011-02-26T16:45:00.000-08:00

2 Garlic bulbs
1/2 cup fresh or dried calendula petals
1/4 cup fresh comfrey root
Hulls of 3 fresh black walnuts, chopped or 1/2 oz. black walnut tincture
Vinegar, about two cups
2 tsp. tea tree oil

Place garlic in a blender along with the calendula petals, comfrey root and black walnut hulls or tincture. Pour the mixture into a jar, and add the tea tree oil. Keep in a dark place for two weeks. Strain. Shake well before using.

To treat Athlete's foot, dab solution on affected area several times a day. You may wish to wear dark socks when undergoing this treatment as the black walnut can stain white socks.

Astringent for Sensitive Skin

2011-02-26T16:42:00.000-08:00

4 oz. Rosewater
2 oz. orange water
4 oz. witch hazel

Mix together and apply to skin with cotton ball, rinse with cool water.

Apple Astringent

2011-02-26T16:41:00.000-08:00

1/4 c. apple juice
2 tbl. vodka
2 tbl. witch hazel

Mix together and apply to skin with cotton ball, rinse with cool water.

Anti-fungal Salve

2011-02-26T16:34:00.000-08:00

1/2 cup garlic oil
1/2 cup calendula oil
3/4 oz. beeswax
20 drops tea tree essential oil
1 tsp. black walnut tincture

Combine the garlic and calendula oils and gently warm them. Melt the beeswax into the oils. Add the essential oil and tincture. Stir well. Pour into salve containers while still warm.

All-Purpose Healing Salve

2011-02-26T16:33:00.000-08:00

1/2 cup comfrey root oil
1/2 cup calendula oil
3/4 oz. beeswax
1Tbsp vitamin E oil
20 drops vitamin A emulsion

Combine the oils and gently warm them. Melt the beeswax into the oils. Add vitamins E & A. Pour into salve containers and let stand about 20 minutes to harden.

Buckeyes

2011-01-27T13:08:00.000-08:00

This is a great treat to have around especially in the fall.

INGREDIENTS:

* 1 1/2 cups Smucker’s® Creamy Natural Peanut Butter, stirred
* OR Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
* 1/2 cup butter, softened
* 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 to 4 cups powdered sugar
* 1 (12 oz.) package (2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips
* 2 tablespoons Crisco® All-Vegetable Shortening

Directions

COMBINE peanut butter, butter, vanilla and salt in large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on LOW until blended. Add 2 cups powdered sugar, beating until blended. Beat in additional powdered sugar until mixture, when shaped into a ball, will stay on a toothpick. Shape into 1-inch balls. Refrigerate.

PLACE chocolate chips and shortening in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave on MEDIUM for 30 seconds. Stir. Repeat until mixture is smooth. Reheat as needed while coating peanut butter balls.

INSERT toothpick in peanut butter ball. Dip 3/4 of ball into chocolate, leaving top uncovered to resemble a buckeye. Remove excess. Place on wax paper-lined tray. Remove toothpick. Smooth over holes. Refrigerate until firm.

Kitchen Lore

2011-01-19T21:58:00.000-08:00

I am posting these more for humor and knowledge than trying to enforce a strong belief in these tidbits of folk lore.

* Money will soon come your way if any of the following things should occur: bubbles appear in a cup of coffee, you accidentally knock over a sugar bowl, rice forms a ring around the edge of a pot, or tea leaves float to the top of the cup.

* Trouble is indicted by the accidental omission of spices from a recipe or by the spilling of salt. Be prepared for an argument with someone if you should happen to spill pepper on the kitchen table or floor. (According to occult tradition, these bad omens can be remedied by simply adding the spices, and by tossing a pinch of salt or pepper over your left shoulder, respectively.) It is also said that if two persons stir the same boiling pot or sit together on a table, they will soon find themselves involved in a quarrel.

* If your apron comes untied by itself and falls off while you are working in the kitchen, this is generally seen as a sign that someone is thinking about you. Some say that it means your sweetheart is having romantic thoughts about you at that moment.

* It is believed by many to be an omen of good news when baked apples burst while in the oven, or when the salt and sugar are accidentally mixed up.

* If a fork accidentally falls onto the floor, a woman will soon knock on your door; a spoon indicates the arrival of a gentleman. (In some parts of the world, the fork means a man, and the spoon a woman.) Unexpected or unwelcome visitors are also presaged by the dropping of a knife that sticks in the ground and by cracks that form on the shells of eggs boiling in a pot of water.

* If you are engaged or wish to get married, according to an old belief once common in England, you should take care to never sit on a kitchen table, for this will break the engagement and also prevent you from ever being wed.

* There are also numerous kitchen omens concerning bread. It is considered unlucky in certain countries to wash a bread-knife on a Sunday, cut both ends of a loaf of bread, leave a knife stuck in the loaf, or take the last slice of bread. Accidentally dropping a slice of bread with the buttered side down is also said to be a bad omen; however, it is a good sign if the dropped bread lands with the buttered side up. If you and another person reach for the same slice of bread at the same time, an unexpected visitor will soon appear.

Weather Lore

2011-01-19T21:44:00.000-08:00

Like with the rest of the lore pages, I am not saying all of these are true and should be strictly believed in. I post old folk lore because I love seeing what people of the past believed in.

* If the cows lie down in the field it is going to rain.
* When bees are out flying, there will be fair weather. When they stay close to the hive, rain is coming.
* Grasshoppers chirp louder and louder the hotter it gets.
* When a donkey nods and shakes its head a lot, it means rain is on the way.
* Flies bite more if there is a storm coming.
* If the spiders are making bigger webs, the weather will be dry.
* Bees will not swarm before a storm.
* A full moon rising clear means good weather
* If the wind blows so you can see the bottoms of leaves it will rain.
* A purple sunset means frost that night

Dark Chocolate Orange Shortbread

2011-01-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

From Two Peas and Their Pod

2 sticks of unsalted butter
1 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
Zest of 2 oranges (about 3 tablespoons)
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/3 cups flour
1 cup dark chocolate, chopped into tiny pieces

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees. Grease 2 9 inch cake pans.

2. Place the sugar and orange zest in a bowl. Rub the zest in with your fingers. In the bowl of a mixer, cream together butter, sugar/orange mix, salt, and vanilla.

3. Chop chocolate. You want the pieces a little smaller than chocolate chips.

4. Beat the flour and the chocolate with the butter mixture, until well combined.

5. Divide the dough in half and press in prepared cake pans. Make sure each pan is even. Smooth the surface and prick the dough with a fork.

6. Bake for 40 minutes, until golden brown on the edges. Remove and loosen the edges with a knife.

7. Wait five minutes, then carefully place the shortbread out onto a clean work surface, all in one piece.

8. Using a pizza wheel or knife, cut into wedges. Do this while it is still warm so you can cut it. Transfer wedges to a cooling rack.

What is Light and Dark Magic?

2011-01-05T18:07:00.000-08:00

This is a very common question for those learning about magic. Terms like Light, White, Dark, Black, Neutral, and Grey Magic litter web pages and blogs. Should you do this? Should you do that? Will a band of demons rip you from your bed at night if you do this? I would like to give my perspective of this.

Quite simply I do not believe in these classifications. Magic is energy. Energy is life. It is constantly changing forms. What I do believe in is a balance.

When you look at nature there is balance everywhere. A thunder storm rolls in and brings both death and life. A baby bird is pushed out of the nest and dies but in its death its siblings grow stronger.

In my personal life I feel there is a series of checks and balances. If you are born with everything money can buy there is something in your life that is negative to balance this out. Maybe your parents were never around for love and comfort. Maybe your line of work makes you feel uncomfortable or makes you suppress other people. You may become an adult to realize the woman who are attracted to you "love" you for your money and not for the person inside your body.

On the other end of the scale, I feel someone who has struggled to survive either has something others wish they had or will end their lives with a brighter outlook. I have had some bad things happen to me the past few years but on the other hand I have a husband who loves me unconditionally and my family has become closer.

My views may sound generic or like I have no faith in greater powers impacting my life. Well I don't. I am an Atheist and feel everything around me should be accounted for either by myself or science and nature. I personally feel it is sheepish to blame bad happenings on evil demons or to keep hoping to a deity to make things better.

If you have a bill that is due what do you do? You pay it. It is unrealistic to look at the bill and say "Deity I ask that you help me pay for this bill" and then set the bill aside. You have to do something about it for it to get paid. The same goes to those asking deities to heal their illnesses. You can ask your deity to help you heal your body but if you don't do anything about it yourself then nothing will ever happen.

So Black and White magic...

There is always a payment for what you do and YOU need to be accounted for it. Is it wrong for you to pray and cast spells to influence someones decision? Depends on the situation but I am sure many of you have already done this without realizing it. You go into a job interview. In your mind you keep thinking really hard that the person will like you and hire you. You are metaphysically pushing your ideas onto someone else. Have you used words or gestures to influence a conversation into your favor? Have you twisted facts to make people agree with you? Have you used your body, voice, and gestures to influence a sexual partner into being attracted to you? You may say "But I didn't actually cast a physical spell to do these things!" Then ask yourself what is a spell? Is a prayer to a deity to help a family member in a car accident a spell? Is imparting love and kindness into the food you cook for your family a spell? Is being infuriated and invision a protective shielf around you a spell?

But what about the Rede? The Wiccan Rede is for followers of Wicca. Current Wicca is a bastardization of the origional path. It was a path created by Gardner in the 50s that had a set of rules, structered progression through learning, and the requirement that covens needs to be traced back to the foundation coven. How many followers of Wicca do you know can say and trace their coven back to Gardners? Wicca has become the stepping stone for people leaving main stream structured religions like Christianity and step into a socially acceptable non mainstream religion. The Internet has further watered it down to the point it is hard to find what is really Wicca and what is the neo "I can call myself Wiccan and belief anything I want because this is an religion a billion years old" mindset. The Wiccan Rede is for those who follow Wicca which is only one path of Paganism.

I dont want you to take what I say as fact. What is fact is what you learn through your heart. You already know everything you need to know it is just the process of unlocking what you already know in your heart. Read and research all you can but always take things with a grain of salt and never stop learning. If you feel uncomfortable with a certain path then start looking into others that have the same types of beliefs you have. Know that names of religions were put in place by a small amount of people with a big voice. If you start researching into world religions you will see many religions are connected in beliefs. You do not have to label your beliefs. Just say you follow what you feel is right. Know that you do not have to follow deities to be Pagan and that many Pagan authors, especially ones in the past 15 years, only pump out books because it is a money maker right now.

Crockpot Spicy Apple Betty

2010-12-13T15:46:00.000-08:00

Lifted from the Hillbilly Housewife website:

http://www.hillbillyhousewife.com

Crockpot Spicy Apple Betty

3 pounds of crisp cooking apples
10 slices of hearty bread, crusts cut off and then bread cubed1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
pinch of salt
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter, melted

Wash the apples really well. You don't need to peel them & I don't. Cut each apple into eight wedges, and cut the core out. Of course, if you have one of those nice combination apple corer and cutter, that's even better.

Put the apple slices into your crockpot. Then, in a separate bowl, combine the bread with all the other ingredients, tossing together so the spices and butter combine really well.

Spoon the mixture over the apples in the crockpot. Put the cover on. Turn crockpot to the LOW setting and let cook for 2 to 3 hours. The apples should be cooked but not turn into mush. This crockpot dessert is sort of like a combination Apple Brown Betty and Bread Pudding.

This dessert will serve about 6 people, more if you're a little careful. Add a scoop of vanilla ice cream to make this dessert go a little further, and for the extra sweetness! Very tasty!

Sausage Corn Bread Dressing

2010-12-08T16:49:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

8 ounces breakfast sausage
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped
1 carrot, chopped

1 teaspoon poultry seasoning
1 pound corn bread stuffing mix
3/4 cup cooked rice
2 to 3 cups milk

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat until brown. Add the vegetables and cook until they are soft. Stir in the poultry seasoning, then set the skillet aside.
Prepare the corn bread stuffing according to the package directions. Add the sausage mixture and the rice. Stir in enough milk to evenly moisten the dressing. Pour the dressing into a large baking dish and bake uncovered for 1 hour or until a crust forms on top. Makes about 10 cups.

Indiana Corn Casserole

2010-12-08T16:48:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 pound bacon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 medium onion, chopped
1/2 cup chopped celery
1 red pepper, chopped
1 green pepper, chopped

5 tablespoons all-purpose flour
2 cups sour cream
2 pounds fresh corn (or frozen corn, thawed)
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350 degrees. Cook the bacon, then chop it into bite-size pieces and set it aside.
Melt the butter in a large pot over medium heat. Sauté the onion, celery, and peppers until soft. Stir in the flour, then the sour cream, until well combined. Add the corn and most of the bacon bits and season with salt and pepper.
Pour the mixture into a 9- by 13-inch baking dish and sprinkle on the remaining bacon bits and the parsley. Bake for 30 to 45 minutes, until lightly browned. (Note: for a lower-fat version of this casserole, use half the bacon, butter, and flour). Serves 6 to 8.

Pizza Scones

2010-12-08T16:41:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

2 cups flour
1/2 cup fine cornmeal
1 tablespoon baking powder
1 teaspoon basil
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup diced sun-dried tomatoes
1 cup (4 ounces) shredded mozzarella
1/3 cup finely chopped pepperoni (optional)
2 large eggs
3/4 cup buttermilk

Instructions

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Coat a baking sheet with cooking spray or line it with parchment paper. In a large bowl, mix the flour, cornmeal, baking powder, basil, oregano, and salt. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender or two knives, until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Place the diced sun-dried tomatoes in a medium-size bowl and cover them with boiling water. Let them stand for 30 seconds, then drain the water and stir in the cheese and pepperoni (if using).
In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs and the buttermilk, then add them and the tomato mixture to the dry ingredients. Stir until the mixture forms a sticky dough.
Turn out the dough onto a lightly floured surface. Gently knead the dough until it holds together, about five times. Divide the dough in half and pat each half into a 1-inch-thick disk. Slice each disk into four wedges.
Place the wedges on a lightly greased baking sheet about 1 inch apart. Bake them until golden brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. Serve the scones warm or at room temperature. Makes 8 scones.

Nutritional Information
Per serving (1 scone):
Calories 340 ● Total Fat 17 g (27% DV) ● Saturated Fat 10 g (49% DV) ● Cholesterol 95 mg (32% DV) ● Sodium 525 mg (22% DV) ● Total Carbohydrate 37 g (12% DV) ● Fiber 1 g (6% DV) ● Sugars 3 g ●
Protein 11 g (22% DV)

Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Pierogies With Pizzazz

2010-12-08T16:40:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

2 (16.9-ounce) packages frozen potato and Cheddar cheese pierogies (there are 12 pierogies per package)
3 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 teaspoon dried rosemary or thyme
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/2 cup chive-flavored cream cheese
1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
1/4 cup finely chopped green or black olives
2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
or parsley

Instructions

Boil the pierogies according to the package directions. Drain thoroughly.
Heat the oven to 425º. In a large bowl, combine the olive oil, rosemary (or thyme), salt, and pepper. Add the pierogies and toss to coat them thoroughly.
Arrange the pierogies, in a single layer, on an ungreased baking sheet. Bake until just beginning to brown, about 15 minutes. Transfer baking sheet to a wire rack and let cool for 5 minutes.
Spread the pierogies with a thin layer of softened cream cheese. Atop the cream cheese, sprinkle chopped tomatoes, chopped olives, and basil. Transfer the pierogies to a serving platter. Makes 24.

Mini Crab Cakes

2010-12-08T16:38:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1/3 cup finely chopped red bell pepper
2 tablespoons finely chopped parsley
2 tablespoons finely chopped scallions
3 tablespoons mayonnaise
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
3/4 cup panko bread crumbs (available in the ethnic foods section of large supermarkets)
1 pound lump crabmeat, shell pieces removed
2 tablespoons vegetable oil, plus more as needed
Lemon wedges

Instructions

Mix the bell pepper, parsley, scallions, mayonnaise, lemon juice, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and black pepper in a large bowl. Add the bread crumbs and crabmeat, and toss gently to mix.
Divide the crab mixture into 12 equal portions (about 1/4 cup each) and shape each into a 1-inch-thick patty.
Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the crab cakes to the skillet and cook until they're golden on both sides, adding more oil as needed. Cook about 3 minutes per side. Serve warm with lemon wedges. Makes 12.

Chicken Chili Cheese Cups

2010-12-08T16:29:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

2 eggs
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup cooked chicken, finely diced

1 (4-ounce) can diced green chilies
2 tablespoons finely chopped cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack
30 mini phyllo shells

Instructions

Heat the oven to 350º. In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper. In another bowl, toss together the chicken, chilies, cilantro, and cheese.
Place the phyllo shells on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Spoon 1 rounded teaspoon of chicken filling into each shell, then add about 1 teaspoon of the egg mixture. Let the shells sit for about a minute so the egg can settle to the bottom. Then add about another teaspoon of egg to each shell, filling it close to the top.
Bake the cups until the custard is set, about 15 minutes. After the cups have cooled, freeze them for up to 2 weeks. To serve, simply reheat them in a 350º oven until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. Makes 30 quiches.

Nutritional Information:

Per serving (1 quiche):

Calories 46

Protein 3g (5% DV)

Carbohydrates 2g (1% DV)

Total Fat 3g (4% DV)

Saturated Fat 1g (7% DV)

Cholesterol 25mg (8% DV)

Sodium 69mg (3% DV)

Percent daily values are based on a 2,000-calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs

Cheesy Corns

2010-12-08T16:22:00.000-08:00

Directions

1. Heat the oven to 450º.

2. Cut two small round prebaked pizza crusts into wedges that resemble the shape of candy corn. Top each wedge with rows of white, orange, and yellowish cheeses, as shown.

3. Bake the wedges on a cookie sheet for 8 to 10 minutes, then let them cool for 5 minutes before serving. Makes 16 to 20.

Roasted Red Pepper & Feta Dip

2010-12-08T16:18:00.000-08:00

Ingredients

1 whole roasted red pepper (from a jar)
1 cup crumbled feta

1 small clove garlic
2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients in a food processor.
Pulse for 10 seconds, scrape down the sides, then repeat until combined, about 1 minute. Serve with celery, green beans, toasted pita, crostini, tortilla chips, or broccoli. Makes 3/4 cup.

Fried Ravioli

2010-01-19T21:53:00.000-08:00

Olive oil, for frying
1 cup buttermilk
2 cups Italian-style bread crumbs
1 box store-bought cheese ravioli (about 24 ravioli)
1/4 cup freshly grated parmesan
1 jar store bought marinara sauce, heated, for dipping

Pour enough olive oil into a large frying pan to reach a depth of
2". Heat the oil over medium heat until a deep-fry thermometer
registers 325F. While the oil is heating, put the buttermilk and the
bread crumbs in separate shallow bowls. Working in batches, dip
ravioli in buttermilk to coat completely. Allow the excess
buttermilk to drip back into the bowl. Dredge ravioli in the bread
crumbs. Place the ravioli on a baking sheet, and continue with the
remaining ravioli. When the oil is hot, fry the ravioli in batches,
turning occasionally, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Using a
slotted spoon, transfer the fried ravioli to paper towels to drain.
Sprinkle the fried ravioli with parmesan and serve with a bowl of
warmed marinara sauce for dipping.

Crockpot Apple Butter

2010-01-19T21:52:00.001-08:00

7 cups applesauce, unsweetened
2 cups apple cider
1 1/2 cups honey
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon allspice
In a crockpot, mix all ingredients. Cover and cook on low heat for 14 to 15 hours, or until the mixture is deep brown. Pack while hot into 4 hot pint jars. Process in hot-water bath for 10 minutes, counting the time after the jars have been immersed and the water comes again to a rolling boil. Makes 4 pints.

Philly Dutch-Style Funnel Cakes

2010-01-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. fine salt
2 cups milk
1 egg, room temperature
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 stick butter, melted
4 cups vegetable oil
Powdered sugar, for dusting

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl and
whisk together. Gradually whisk in the milk, then the egg and
vanilla and finally the sugar and melted butter. Heat the oil in a
large, heavy pot over high heat to 350F. Pour as much batter as
fints into a funnel, holding your finger at the base of the funnel to
dam it. Bring the funnel over the top of the hot oil, release your
finger to being the stream of batter, and move the funnel in a
circular motion to create a spiral shape. Use about 1/2 cup batter
per funnel cake, or more or less to your liking. Fry 2-3 minutes
until golden brown and slightly puffed, turning over when 1 side is
golden. Remove from oil and place on a plate lined with 2 layers of
paper towels. Immediately top with a good scattering of powdered
sugar. Repeat until no batter remains.

American Traditional Pumpkin Pie

2010-01-19T21:51:00.000-08:00

3 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 cups pumpkin mush*
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ginger
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. salt
1- 12oz can evaporated milk
1 pie shell

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. In a large non-metal bowl combine sugars and eggs. Add in the pumpkin mush, the spices, salt, and evaporated milk. Pour the filling into the pie shell. Bake for 10 minutes, and then reduce heat to 350 and bake for another 50 minutes, or until pie sets. Make 6-8 servings.

*Pumpkin mush: cut a medium pumpkin in half. Prick the skin several times with a fork, and place on a cookie sheet, cut-side up. Bake for 50 minutes or until very soft when poked with a fork. Let the pumpkin cool, then scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Scoop out the pumpkin meat, and throw away the skin. Mash the pumpkin meat with a potato masher or puree in a blender/food processor. Makes about 4 cups.

Hot Apple Cider

2010-01-19T21:49:00.000-08:00

1 1/2 gallons Apple Cider
2 whole cinnamon sticks
5 cloves
1 large orange, sliced thin with peel left on
1/2 lemon, sliced thin with peel left on
1/2 cup sugar

Directions: In large pot, combine cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange and lemon slices, and sugar to taste. Serve hot.

Cakes for the Dead

2010-01-19T21:48:00.000-08:00

Makes about 3 dozen, dough must be chilled several hours to overnight.

1/2 c veg. oil
4 sq unsweetened chocolate (4 oz) melted
2 cups granulated sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups pastry flour (not hard, sifted or cake flour)
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup confectioner's sugar

Mix oil, chocolate, and granulated sugar. Blend in one egg at a time until well mixed. Add vanilla. Measure flour by dipping method or by sifting. Stir flour, baking powder, and salt into oil mixture. Chill several hours to overnight. Heat oven to 350 degree F [175 degree C]. Roll about a tablespoon of dough into a ball (yes, it's messy). Drop balls into confectioner's sugar & roll around until coated. Place about 2 inches apart on greased baking sheet. Bake 10-12 min. They will be a little soft but should not be mushy. Edges should be firm.

Flower Essence

2008-07-01T10:16:00.000-07:00

Newsgroups: alt.magick
From: oispeggy@********* (Peggy Brown)
Subject: flower essence, background information...
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 15:49:00 GMT

****************************************************************

The flower-essence reference I like best is _Flower Essences and
Vibrational Healing_ by Gurudas, channeled through Kevin Ryerson
(Brotherhood of Life, Albuquerque, New Mexico). According to this
book, St. John's wort helps you to move in dreaming, while comfrey
helps you to remember where you've been:

St. John's wort [flower essence] aids the individual having
astral projections and soul travel beyond the lower astral planes
to experience visionary states. Cluttered dreams and nightmares
are eased when the soul's forces properly separate from the
physical body during sleep....
St. John's wort relates to the soul's forces leaving, not
returning to the physicl body. (p. 185-6)

A healthy nervous system is very important in many forms of
meditation. It is then easier for a person to relax.... Comfrey
[flower essence] helps one release tensions stored in the nervous
system and the subconscious mind.... This essence also improves
the memory. Students cramming for exams or people trying to find
lost objects or to remember dreams upon awakening should consider
using this essence. (p. 109)

Flower essences often have very different uses than the tea made from
the same plant, so taking a capsule or tea of the leaves or flowers
of comfrey or St. John's wort wouldn't necessarily have the same
effect as taking the flower essence. I looked in several herbals,
but I haven't found any reference that says the herbal teas made from
these plants affect memory or dream recall.

The system of using flower essences for healing is very ancient, but
in this century it had fallen into disuse in Westen medicine until it
was partly revived and rediscovered by Dr. Edward Bach, a London
physician and homeopath. His approach was influenced by clairvoyant
Rudolf Steiner, who founded the Anthroposophical movement after
leaving (or getting kicked out of) the Theosophical Society. Bach
was also clairvoynat to a degree; he could receive mental impressions
of a flower's effect on people simply by tasting the flower or
holding it in his hand.

Flower essences work on the same principle of potentization used in
homeopathy. A substance is dissolved or suspended in water or
alcohol, then diluted many times to get the stuff the patient takes.
The final dilution has so little of the original substance that a
chemical analysis would show it as containing only water and alcohol.
The idea is that the dilute solution contains the subtle energy
pattern characteristic of the substance, without containing the
physical substance itself. This subtle energy pattern doesn't have
any direct effect on the physical body, but it does affects the
body's subtle energy field. Then the change in the body's energy
affects the physical level to bring about healing.

This process fascinates me, because nagualism is based on exactly
the same idea: that by removing the self, which is the densest, most
material expression of mind, some pattern of energy or life force
remains that could be said to survive death. IOW, self-importance is
like the physical substance, and the potentizing process is like
losing self-importance. Then the homeopathic remedy could be said to
exist in a kind of third attention.

But I digress.

Flower essences are similar to homeopathic remedies, except instead
of starting with a substance, the original solution (or "mother
essence") is made by capturing the energy pattern of the flower in
the water by floating the freshly picked flowers on the water in
the morning sunlight. The sunlight transfers the "vibration" of the
flowers to the water. You then remove the flowers and bottle the
mother essence in a mixture of 3 parts water to 1 part brandy.
Except for possibly a little dust or bits of flower that may have
fallen into the water, the mother essence contains no organic matter
at all. The mother essence is normally diluted several times to get
the final flower essence solution.

There is evidence from physical chemistry that water has the ability
to hold complex patterns of molecular polarization that are
self-sustaining, so the mechanism whereby homeopathic potentization
may work is not all that far-fetched. Also quantum physics shows
that information can be carried in fields without physical components
(like atoms) necessarily having to be present. But neither of these
facts are taught in medical school, which is why most doctors
consider homeopathy to be a second cousin to voodoo. Besides, they
are inexpensive to make and unpatented, so no drug company can make
money on them.

The danger of side-effects is less with flower essences than with
herbal or homeopathic treatment. However, as Gurudas cautions, the
healing process always involves a certain amount of adjustment:

[F]lower essences do not negatively affect people. What some call
negative influences are really healing crises. As ingrained
emotions are released, points of confrontation may be experienced.
This sometimes creates illusions that the essence negatively
affects the person. If some emotional problems are too difficult
to face, the essence only gradually influences the individual....
[F]lower essences work on levels of consciousness, so they are
self-adjusting and do not violate the individula's free will. If
there is an emotional blockage that should not be released at a
particular time, the flower essence will usually cancel itself in
that part of a person's consciousness.
However, there is not a 100% guarantee that extreme emotional
states will never be created as flower essences release emotional
blockages. When people do experience aggravation with these
essences, it is often because it is important to their
psychological rigidity and paranoia that the remedy not work.
People should have enough common sense to understand that if
extreme emotional reactions result from taking a flower essence,
that substance should probably be discontinued, at least for a
while. (p. 39)

I'll post full instructions for making flower essences next message...

===

Newsgroups: alt.magick
From: oispeggy@********* (Peggy Brown)
Subject: howto make flower essences, x-post from Castaneda list...

*********************************************************************
INSTRUCTIONS FOR MAKING FLOWER ESSENCES
USING COMMON HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
*********************************************************************

Materials needed for EACH flower essence to be prepared:

* 1 clear, unadorned glass bowl, to hold about 12 oz. of water
* 1 16-oz. glass storage bottle (blue is preferred, but amber,
green, or clear glass is acceptable), with a new cork stopper and
a blank label
* 12 oz. of unpolluted local spring water (preferred) or distilled
water, in a glass bottle with cork stopper (I use a wine bottle)
* 4 oz. of pure brandy (I like Korbel)
* several wild or organically grown plants of the chosen species,
in full bloom with abundant flowers
* 1 4-oz. bottle (again, blue preferred, but amber, green, or clear
is acceptable) with blank label and glass dropper and bulb in cap,
to hold the "stock" tincture (diluted from mother essence)
* several 2-oz. bottles (blue preferred etc.) with blank label and
glass dropper and bulb in cap, for the "dosage" tinctures (diluted
from the stock tincture; one bottle for each person who takes the
essence)

The last two items are the hardest to find, but fortunately you
don't need them to prepare the mother essence, you only need them
when you dilute the essences for use.

Other items needed for making and storing flower essences:

* 1 glass funnel
* 2 finger-sized quartz crystals, unpolished
* 1 kitchen
* 1 pot (with lid) made of enamel, glass, copper, or stainless
steel, big enough to hold bowl & bottles, for sterilizing
* 1 cloudless morning, preferably in spring or summer
* 1 idyllic, fairy forest glen with towering oaks and dancing nature
sprites (preferred) or a spot in your backyard. It has to get
full sun starting in the early morning and lasting for at least
three hours. Also, privacy is nice because you'll be talking to
the plants, and, as dJ says, you must talk to them in a loud,
clear voice if you expect them to answer you.
* 1 linen cloth (I use a piece of raw 100% linen artist's canvas)
* sea salt
* 1 cupboard or closet shelf, away from plastics, petrochemicals,
camphor, caffeine, and toxic metals like lead or aluminum (that
is, not in the kitchen, bathroom, or garage--I use a hall closet
shelf), for storing mother and stock bottles
* a box in which you can place the mother bottles for carrying in
such a way that they will not touch each other (optional--needed
only if the place where the plants are growing is far from the
place where they will be stored)
* extra brandy for sipping on cloudless morning while waiting for
essences to be done (also optional)

In what follows, I assume that spring water is being used, to avoid
having to say "spring or distilled water" all the time.

I try to make more than one essence at a time whenever possible. The
only thing you have to be careful to do is to rinse your hands and
any equipment you're using (like the funnel or the bottle of spring
water) under running water when you're done working with one essence
and want to move on to the next. This is to avoid contaminating the
second essence with the vibrations of the first, which may cling to
your hands and equipment if you don't rinse them. Vibrational
cross-contamination is a continual worry of flower-essence makers,
but fortunately it is a danger only when working with the mother
tinctures and, to a lesser degree, the stock tinctures. The dosage
tinctures of several different plants can even be mixed in the same
bottle without contaminating each other.

Before making any essences, clean the cupboard or shelf space where
they are to be stored, using distilled water and a linen or cotton
cloth. Leave the space empty for several days prior to use. Put some
quartz crystals in the area.

Steps preparatory to making flower essences (I usually do these the
night before my cloudless morning):

1. Sterilize the pot by boiling tap water in it for 10 minutes.
Discard the water.
2. Wash the bowl, the bottles, and the funnel.
3. Sterilize the bowl, the bottles, and the funnel by boiling them
in the pot with tap water for 10 minutes.
4. Label the 16-oz. mother bottles with the name of the flower
essence; for example:

ST. JOHN'S WORT
(Hypericum Perforatum)
FLOWER ESSENCE
MOTHER TINCTURE

5. Collect the spring water you'll need (12 oz. per essence).

The sterilizing in boiling water is not only to remove bacterial
contamination, but to remove any vibrations from whatever was in
the bottles or bowls previously, or from the manufacturing process,
in the case of new bottles.

I have a funnel and a couple of bowls I use only for making flower
essences, and a couple of bottles I use for carrying spring water.
You don't have to boil such equipment to sterilize it after the first
time; all you have to do is fill the sterilized pot with spring
water, put some crushed quartz crystals in a clean linen cloth, then
dip the bowl or whatever in the spring water with the bag of
crystals. Then dip the bag of crystals alone in the water. This
clears away any lingering old essences, and saves a lot of boiling.

Early in the morning of your cloudless day, take your stuff to a
place that's a little distant from the flowers. (You don't want the
equipment--especially the brandy, which you have to keep pure, from
one gathering to the next--to be permeated by any flower's essence,
for then it would contaminate other essences.)

Then follow these steps:

1. Pour 12 oz. of spring water into a bowl. Take the bowl and the
two quartz crystals and go to the plants. Talk to them. Explain
what you're doing, talk baby talk, or tell them how cute they
are--whatever. You are hoping to get a friendly, affirmative
response.

Here's what Gurudas says about communicating with the plants:

Thy communication in dialogue needs to be sensitive to the
fields of life and light about these essences, for herein is
the dimensional state upon which the devic forces exist. As
you work with plant forces, placing flowers on the water, be in
communication with these intelligences as though they were
present with thee, even though you may not see them with the
physical eye. Eventually you will evolve, with the ability of
the physical eyes, to see those energies or nature spirits.
This increases your communication with them as forms of
intelligence and acknowledges their existence....
Explain to the nature spirits exactly what you are doing, so
they will understand and help in the process of transferring
life force of the flower into the water. In picking flowers,
you are literally stepping into someone's territory. If you
want to walk across someone's private property, it is courteous
to first ask permission.... (p. 21)

2. Sit by the plants and attune yourself to them. Release any
attachment to the outcome of the whole endeavor. Wait until
you feel attuned to the plant and know that it has given you
permission to pick its flowers. If you don't get a good feeling
from the plant, as if it wants to help you, thank it courteously
and go find another plant, or go on to make the next essence.

3. If the plant gives its assent, place the bowl on the ground near
the plants. If you need to elevate the bowl (to catch the sun,
say), place it on wood or a natural stone, never metal or cement.

4. Remove flowers one at a time and place each immediately on the
surface of the water. Pick enough to cover the whole surface.
Do not touch the flower with your hands; instead, use either a
leaf of the plant or the pair of quartz crystals to pick each
flower. It is important to be very gentle, as any great shock
to the plant will cause its essence (energy field) to retreat
into the ground. If you drop a flower, leave it on the ground.
Also, do not let your hands touch the water. If several plants
are available, pick the healthiest looking flowers from them all,
rather than denuding one plant. Try not to take more than half
the flowers on any one plant; this is simple courtesy.

5. Note the time. Go rinse your hands and the crystals, then take
them back to the spot where you left your other equipment.

6. Repeat steps 1-5 for the other flower essences being prepared.

7. When all the flower gathering is done, pour 4 oz. of brandy into
each of the 16-oz. mother tincture bottles. Then go sip brandy
(or however you want to spend the time) until the first bowl
of flowers has been basking in the sun for three hours.

8. Take the funnel and the mother bottle to the bowl that's done,
then carefully remove the flowers from the water, using a leaf
from the plants so that your hands do not touch the water. Also
remove any insects or debris that may have fallen into the water.
The water should look sparkling and clean. Pour the water into
the bottle using the funnel. Set the bowl aside to be sterilized
(away from the other equipment and the brandy). Put the mother
bottle in the storage space or in the carrying box.

9. Go rinse your hands and the funnel, then return to the spot where
you left your equipment.

10. Repeat steps 8-9 for the other flower essences.

This may sound complicated, but it is really just a matter of being
conscious of where each flower's vibrations have gone so you don't
let one essence contaminate another. When you're done, rinse the
crystals and funnel and sterilize the bowls (using the
bag-of-crystals method). You can store the equipment in the space
with the mother bottles as long as everything has been sterilized.

To prepare a 4-oz. stock bottle, wait at least two days after making
the mother tincture. Then wash and sterilize the stock bottle, and
put 1 oz. of brandy in it. Fill the rest of the bottle with 3 oz.
of spring water. Fill the stock bottle dropper with mother tincture
from the mother bottle. Add 7 drops to the stock bottle. Empty the
remaining mother tincture in the mother bottle, replace the dropper
in the stock bottle, and cork the mother bottle. Wipe the mother
bottle with linen dipped in a solution of water and sea salt. Shake
the stock bottle about 15 times and store it in the cupboard or
shelf.

To prepare some 2-oz. dosage bottles: again, wait at least two days
after the stock tincture has been prepared. Wash, sterilize, and
label the dosage bottles, fill each with 1/2 oz. brandy and 1 1/2 oz.
spring water, then use the stock bottle dropper to add 7 drops of
stock tincture to each dosage bottle. Cap all bottles. Shake each
dosage bottle 15 times. The dosage bottles are ready for immediate
use. When you give someone a bottle, write the name of the person
on the bottle's label.

A flower essence that is being taken for a specific problem is
usually taken once a day by placing seven drops in a glass of water,
then drinking the water. For dream recall, it would make sense to
take the essence in the evening. If you don't want to drink the
water, you can simply put seven drops from the dosage bottle under
your tongue.

Never put the stock bottle dropper into an unsterilized bottle or
a bottle containing a different flower essence. Never share a single
dosage bottle between two people. Store the stock and mother bottles
so they don't touch each other; keep the mother bottles about 1 foot
apart. Wipe them once every three months with linen dipped in a
solution of water and sea salt to clean them of environmental
contamination.

There are many fine points to this work that I have omitted for
brevity's sake. For example, flowers that grow facing the east side,
rather than the west, of a shrub or tree tend to be slightly more
potent; flowers from the top of a tree tend to move emotions, while
those near the bottom stabilize them; and so on. In a pinch you can
bend most of the rules; you can get by with a plastic funnel, leave
the flowers out a little longer if there are some clouds in the sky,
etc. The main ones you can't bend are the requirements that you get
permission from the plant, that the essence must not stay out so long
that the flowers begin to wilt, and that petrochemicals or toxic
substances should not be kept near the storage area for any extended
period of time. Also, roses, lotus, papaya, and mango require 50%
brandy instead of 25%. If you want to know more, get the Gurudas
book.

The *intent* of the person making the essence is probably the most
important factor. You don't necvessarily have to gullibly believe
anything, but you need to at least have an open mind, and of course
not too much self-importance.

Properly stored, mother tinctures can last indefinitely. If you only
use them to prepare stock bottles, and only use the stock bottles to
prepare dosage bottles, one 16 oz. mother bottle will supply you and
all your relations with plenty of flower essence for the next seven
generations. So it's worth taking care to do it right.

The first essence I made was Easter Lilly, which is a general
purifier of the female reproductive organs. I made it for a friend
who was concerned about the possibility of ovarian cancer (mainly
because she had been reading about it, not because she had any
medical tests that indicated she had it). She had a hard time
believing that the dosage tincture would do anything (even though
there's really no real substance in the mother tincture either), so I
gave her the mother tincture straight. This will usually cause the
essence to affect the physical body more directly, and is generally
to be avoided because it circumvents, to some degree, the body's
intelligence. But if she had taken the dosage tincture, her
disbelief that it could be effective would have worked against her.

After a few days of doing nothing different except taking a few
drops of the mother tincture each day, she got her period early, and
her body ejected some fibrous matter that she said looked like small
fibroid tumors. This result even impressed me! I hadn't expected
anything quite so dramatic on my first attempt.

===

Newsgroups: alt.magick
From: oispeggy@*********** (Peggy Brown)
Subject: more on making flower essences, xpost from Castaneda list
Date: Wed, 10 Aug 1994 16:06:00 GMT

************************************************************

Peggy, you wrote,
>>So far my SJW plant has only produced 2 flowers, at different
intervals. The recipe calls for enough flowers to cover the surface
of the bowl. Also, it says not to deplete the plant of flowers. So
I didn't pick either flower. Maybe they'll goto seed and produce
more plants for next year. Would making the essence out of leaves
be worthwhile?<<

In a pinch, you can bend most of the rules. In this case, for
instance, you could use a small bowl and make less essence (only four
ounces, say). You could ask the plant if it's OK to take all of its
flowers. SJW is a perennial, so it may not mind as much as an
annual would. Explain your situation to the plant. Plants are
usually pretty understanding if you ask them nicely. However, it
sounds like you have only one flower to work with, which probably
wouldn't be enough.

No, the leaves won't work. Only the flower carries the flower
essence. The vibrational pattern of the energy you're trying to
capture is related to the geometric form of the flower. Also, I
forgot to mention, the plant must be growing in the ground, not in a
pot. And it shouldn't have been fertilized with chemical fertilizer
in, say, the past year. But if it looks and feels healthy, it's
probably OK.

I've found that the hardest part to making flower essences is
finding flowers in the best possible condition. It's easier if the
plant is a tree, vine, ground cover, or large shrub; then at least
you have plenty of flowers to choose from, and the only problem is
finding plants in a secluded spot where you can talk your head
off to them in a LOUD, CLEAR VOICE without attracting a crowd. It's
more of a challenge to find small individual plants like SJW or
comfrey, because even if you know someone who has an herb garden,
usually they have only one or two plants, or the flowers are very
small, or one batch of flowers wilts before the next comes into
bloom, etc. etc. etc. It's frustrating. And places that grow
fields of herbs commercially almost always use chemical fertilizers.

Fortunately, it's not too hard to grow a bunch of small herbs if you
have a little garden space and can plan ahead. You usually only
need to gather the essence once; after that you can put the extra
plants in pots and give them away to friends. Roses take a little
more work, but they're nice to have around anyway.

>>I plan to make the essence out of clover flowers. Those are in
season now and I have access to plenty of them. What do clover
flowers do? How about (miniature) rose flowers? Snapdragons?
Daylily? Dahlia? Nasturtium? Black-eye Susan? Daisy?<<

Here is a brief summary of the main uses of the ones I have
references for. The Gurudas book contains much more detail, but
even it can't list every flower in the world.

Red clover (Trifolium pratense): Treats mass hysteria or panic, such
as that following disasters like earthquakes, fires, floods, the
arrest of a national football hero for murder, the parking situation
during the World Cup, etc.

Green rose or Chinese wild rose (Rosa chinensis viridiflora):
Augments psychic abilities, especially the exchange of systems of
philosophy between East and West. Treats a variety of diseases that
result from the suppression of psychic abilities, including
allergies, asthma, colon spasms, epilepsy, Meniere's disease,
migraine headaches, mucous colitis, chldren's night terrors,
obsessional neuroses, and duodenal ulcers.

Koenigin von Daenmark (a double-alba rose hybrid introduced in 1826):
Revitalizes the immune system, which affects just about everything.

Macartney rose (Rosa macrantha): Balances the brain hemispheres and
increases telepathic abilities.

Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus): Treats any problem with the vocal
chords, lips, jaw, and face, such as tetanus, Bell's palsy,
arthritis of the jaw joints, TMJ, laryngitis, sore throat,
inflamations of the esophagus, and speech disorders like stuttering.
Also treats the radiation miasm (a disorder of the energy body
produced by exposure to radioactivity in the environment).

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Revitalizes the nervous system.
Treats narrow-mindedness, compulsiveness, nervousness, or obsession
with an issue--a good one to give to your fart friends. Also
increases sensitivity to colors.

English daisy (Bellis perennis) or Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum
maximum): Facilitates finding an intuitive understanding of the
unity of various spiritual paths. Stabilizes people who are
constantly running from one spiritual growth group to another
without finding what they are seeking. Brings scattered information
into clear focus. Good for students in school.

As you can see, some essences, like Snapdragon, are highly specific in
their effects, while some, like Koenigin von Daenemark, are more
general. Some affect mainly the physical body, while others mainly
treat psychological conditions or the energy body.

Fragrant Oils

2008-07-01T10:14:00.002-07:00

Copyright Ceci Henningsson 1994. This article may be freely copied and
distributed, provided this copyright notice is included.
======================================================================
Witches often ask about how to make essential oils.
I don't know exactly how you produce essential oils from herbs. What I
do know is that it's a laborous process, and that most of the time you
will want to dilute the essential oils anyway, so that fragrant,
blended oils consisting of a carrier oil and a herb are often more
versatile. In addition to that they are quite easy to
manufacture. This is how I do it.

The Kitchen Magic School's Fragrant Oils

This is what you need
=====================
A carrier oil. The intended use decides which one. Edible oils are
sold in super-markets everywhere, and can often be used for other
purposes than just eating. In herbal cosmetic shops like the Body Shop
you can buy pure or blended oils for special purposes like bathing and
massage. You can experiment with different oils for different
purposes, but never ingest any oil that wasn't specifically made for
the purpose. It's important that you use new oil with the best before
date well ahead, as fragrant oils don't keep as well as essential
oils. Wheatgerm oil can be used as a preservative if you find that
your oils don't keep well.

The herb. For this purpose it doesn't matter if it's fresh, dried or
even frozen. Herbs are sold in many places. Occult shops often have
quite an assortment, but the super-market in your area may sell some
of these much cheaper. Super-markets often have herbs in either the
spice department (notably fennel and cardamon), the health food
department (notably rosehips and buckwheat) or even the hot drinks
department (notably chamomille and cocoa). Specialized health food
stores and natural cosmetics boutiques often have herbs too.

Growing your own herbs can be a very satisfying experience, and it
doesn't take a lot of skill to do with the most common ones. You can
buy plants at a nursery or raise your own from seeds. Seeds are
available in super-markets, garden centres and nurseries. There are
often quite adequate instructions on the seed envelope. If you are new
to growing things, start out with easy growers like mint, heartsease
and dill and grow them in pots.

Which herb to choose is a science in itself. If you want to use the
oil for magickal purposes, you will probably want to choose it
according to its correspondences. At the end of Starhawk's
_Spiral_Dance_ there is a substantial list of common correspondences,
and the classic Culpeper's Complete Herbal lists herbs and their uses
and correspondences. Of course if you follow a specific tradition you
will want to consult it, so you don't use inappropriate herbs. Many
eclectic witches like to make up their own correspondences following
their intuition. If you will use the oil on your skin, make sure that
it won't irritate or cause allergic reactions. You may want to consult
a book on aromatherapy if you are using fragrant oils for
healing. Some oils are considered aphrodisiacs, and can be quite fun
to use for massage.

A practical consideration is the availability of a given herb. Herbs
may be unavailable for many different reasons. Maybe it isn't
traditionally used in your part of the world, it may be illegal for a
number of reasons, it could be surrounded with superstition or it can
simply be out of season.

A bottle. Fragrant oils are sensitive to light so try avoiding crystal
clear bottles. You will often want to use just a spoonful of the oil,
so a squirt cap is useful. Shampoo bottles can often be used, as they
are generally about the right size and have caps which are made so you
can easily take a small amount without having oil run down the outside
of the bottle. Plastic bottles will often be found to take on some of
the aroma of the contents, so you may want to throw them away after
one use, or always keep the same oil in the same bottle. Some occult
shops sell amber glass bottles, too. Of course it's neat to have all
your oils in identical bottles instead of having an array of brightly
coloured shampoo bottles, but they're a lot more expensive than saved
up shampoo bottles. Label all your bottles carefully with the name of
the herb, carrier oil and date of manufacture!

This is how to do it
====================
The basic principle is easy: put the herb in the oil, and wait.

If you are bothered by herb particles in the finished product, you can
use a tea egg or a small bag of muslin or nylon suspended by string in
the bottle, and remove them when you find the fragrance strong
enough. This requires a bottle with a wide opening. If you don't have
such a bottle, you can strain the oil in a wire-mesh tea sieve
instead. If you aren't bothered by herb particles, you can often leave
the herb in the oil until you've used it all up. This works
particularly well with antiseptic herbs like peppermint, but can in
other cases make the oil go stale.

The time it takes for an oil to become pleasantly fragrant depends on
the herb and the oil, what you consider pleasant and the conditions
you keep them under. You will have to experiment with concentration,
stirring, and time to find out which works best under your
circumstances. With some herbs crushing can speed up the process.
Seeds like fennel are among those. Many herbs vary quite a lot in
strength depending on a range of factors, so sometimes you will have
to adapt your recipes. The best thing is probably to develop your
intuition with regards to herbs. As a rule of thumb, two weeks to
three months should be adequate.

Suggested uses for fragrant oils
================================
Bathing: Many oils can change your mood when used in a bath. Try out
different ones, like thyme and heartsease. Caveat 1: Some
herbs are skin irritants, and you may be allergic to some
without knowing this. If your skin gets irritated during or
after a bath, immideately take a shower and wash yourself all
over with hypoallergenic soap. Then dry yourself and use a
hypoallergenic body lotion. This should take care of most skin
irritations. If it doesn't, seek a doctor. Carefully note
which herbs cause skin irritatations in you, and avoid
them. If you know that your skin is sensitive, avoid herbs
which are known to cause skin irritations or allergic
reactions in many people. Some of the more common ones are
mint, vanilla and of course all hot spices like pepper. Caveat
2: Never use psychoactive herbs in a bath, this includes sleep
inducing herbs. You can drown yourself quite easily that way.

Annointing: Fragrant oils are much milder than essential oils, and can
often be used directly for annointing on your skin. If you are
using fragrant oils for magickal purposes, you may want to
take into account the correspondences of the carrier oil,
too.

Vaporising: Vaporising means that you heat the oil so that it
gives off its fragrance. This is useful in its own right, but
can also serve as a substitute for incense when you or members
of your household object to incense for medical or other
reasons. Vaporisers can be bought in occult stores, shops for
herbal cosmetics, interior decoration boutiques or even in the
department store. The most common ones are a terracotta ring
that you suspend on a lightbulb, and more elaborate structures
with a ÓhouseÓ for a tea-candle and a shallow pan
suspended above it. The fragrant oil has to be quite strong
for this purpose.

Massage: Massage is a fine art and healing in many ways. You may want
to experiment with using edible oils for this purpose. Caveat
1: The oil used for massage enters the skin even more
forcefully than the one used in a bath. Make sure you
aren't allergic beforehand. Vigorously rub in a tad of oil
on a sensitive place like the inside of the arm just above
your wrist. If the skin is irritated after an hour, don't
use that oil on your skin again. Caveat 2: Massage is often a
part of lovemaking. If you use a condom for birth control,
don't use massage oils. The reason for this is that the oil
makes microscopic holes in the rubber, and renders it useless.

Cooking: Fragrant oils of spices like oregano or basil can be used in
cooking. You can use it as a marinade, or to brush on meat
before you grill it. How about making your own curry oil?
Caveat: Use only oils specificly made for ingestion for this
purpose.

Libations: We often use wine or water for libations, but we know that
for instance the Minoans on Crete offered their deities oils
aswell as wine and honey.

Further suggestions
===================
You can use this method with other mediums than oil; shampoo and
liquid soap for instance. Find fragrance free products, and make your
own herbal cosmetics. I like to use chamomille shampoo, so I blend 100
ml of fragrance free shampoo with 1 gramme of chamomille flowers from
a teabag. After one week the liquid starts to turn yellow and smell of
chamomille, and is ready for use. I use a hair conditioner (again
fragrance free) to make sure I rinse out all chamomille particles from
my hair. The same can be done with rosemary if you have dark hair, and
other herbs if you have problems with your hair or scalp. Lavender
produces a soothing soap, and pine needles an invigorating one. Again,
make sure you aren't allergic to herbs used on the skin or in the hair
in this way.

Incense

2008-07-01T10:14:00.001-07:00

From: Rowan Fairgrove
About ten years ago I was very interested in botanical incenses and
spent alot of time studying and teaching the use of same. After a
hiatus I am getting back into this and would like some feedback on
what has been happening out there.

I will type herein parts of a booklet I published called "A Handbook
of Botantical Incenses" to give you some idea of where my thinking was
at that time. I had generated the schema as something useful to my
own work, it is not something widely used. I would love to hear other
schema such as astrological, deity correspondences, seasonal, etc. I
may append some of those sorts of categories to this if I have the
time.

My meaning come mostly from "traditional" sources but in my actual
teaching and working I place more emphasis on what an individual scent
does to the worker. In my beginning classes I simply passed around a
collection of incenses and had each member tell what it meant to them
and then we talked about the "traditional" meaning. If, for example,
the traditional meaning for cinnamon is concentration and you smell it
and think of grandma's pumpkin pie and all you can think about is
food, it is not going to be appropriate to burn to help you study!

A HANDBOOK OF BOTANICAL INCENSES
Introduction:
...Botanical and other incense are a tool which can be tailored to the
user's desire. At their simplest they may be used to stimulate the
sense of smell and bring enjoyment to those nearby, alternatively,
they can be a subtle compilation designed to create a specific ambiance
for a ritual or magical operation.

The following guide contains some botanical (and a few other
substances) and their uses when burned. The attributes have been
derived from a great many sources, both published and personal
communication, and like most magical properties they are most
effective when tailored to the individual or group using them. So sit
down and burn some and see if they work for you. Try combinations. I
have included some recipes which have worked for myself and others in
the hopes that you will find them useful. Happy Censing!

A Scheme of Things:

The botanicals which I will discuss fall into several broad
categories:
1) EVOCATIVE - used to get the attention of divinities or
to summon spirits
2) DIVINATORY - used to foretell the future or to see hidden
secrets
3) PURIFICATORY - used to purify the purpose of a rite or the
action of a given object
4) ENHANCING - used to intensify the purpose of a rite or the
action of a given object
5) PROTECTIVE - used to shield the user or area from harm
6) BANISHING - used to drive out unwanted influences or
spirits
7) HEALING - used to promote wholeness in mind, body or
spirit
8) SPELL CASTING - used to promote a purpose, e.g., love,
fertility, money, luck, fortune, concentration, etc.

Many botanicals fall into several categories, for example: Wormword
(Artemesia) can be used

1) to evoke Artemis and call the dead
2) to promote divination
6) when consecrated to Mars in banishing
6) & 7) it was used to banish the Black Plague fleas
8) when consecrated to Mars, in works of anger.

Some Examples:
1) Evocative
Almond Lotus
Ash Mandrake
Basil Myrrh
Bay Olive
Blessed Thistle Patchouli
Damiana Rowan
Dittany of Crete Rue
Elm Thyme
Frankincense Verbena
Henbane Vervain, Blue
Life Everlasting Flowers Wormwood
Yarrow

2) Divinatory:
Ash Linseed
Bay Mugwort
Cinquefoil Rowan
Clove Thyme
Elm Wormwood
Frankincense Yarrow

3) Purificatory:
Angelica Mastic gum
Bayberry Myrrh
Burnet Olive
Cinnamon

4) Healing
Balm of Gilead Myrrh
Lavendar Rosemary
Life Everlasting Wormwood

4) Enhancing:
Anise seed Lotus
Angelica Mandrake
Celery seed Mastic gum
Cinnamon Mugwort
Cinquefoil Orris root
Cloves Peppermint
Damiana Sandalwood
Dragon's Blood Styrax
Frankincense Uva Ursi
Henbane

5) Protective:
Alfalfa Juniper wood
Basil Life Everlasting flowers
Blessed Thistle Mastic gum
Bay Mistletoe
Camphor Mugwort
Cinquefoil Orris root
Elder Rosemary
Five Finger Grass Rowan
Frankincense St. John's Wort
Garlic Vervain, Blue

6) Banishing:
Agrimony Lavendar
Ash Pine
Camphor Rowan
Dragon's Blood Vervain, Blue
Juniper wood Wormwood

8) Spell Casting:
Basil Patchouli
Bayberry Peppermint
Bezoin gum Rosemary
Camphor Rowan
Cinnamon Rue
Damiana Sandalwood
Dragon's Blood Tormantil
Frankincense Uva Ursi
Lavendar Vervain, Blue
Lemon peel St. John's Wort
Life Everlasting flowers Wormwood
Mandrake Yarrow
Mistletoe Ylang Ylang
Orris Root

GODDESS RECIPES:OILS, PERFUMES ETC

2008-07-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

[From 'The Witches' Goddess by Janet & Stewart Farrar]

MOON PRIESTESS PERFUME:
1 Drop Queen of the Night Oil
3 drops rose oil
1 drop lemon verbena oil
4 fl. oz (120cc) white spirit
Blend the three oils in a bottle. Add the white spirit, and shake all
vigorously. A cologne can be made by adding another 1 FL. oz (30cc)
of white spirit and 3 fl. oz (90cc) of distilled water.

MOON PRIEST COLOGNE:
1 fl.oz (30cc) lemon verbena or Lime oil
2 fl.oz (60cc) coriander oil
1/2 fl.oz. (15cc) camphor or myrrh oil
1/4 fl.oz. (7cc) white spirit
3 3/4 fl.oz. (105cc) distilled water
Blend the oils in a bottle, add the spirit and water and shake all
vigorously. Increasing the myrrh oils gives a darker perfume; increasing
the camphor, a lighter and more spicy one. All perfumes 'behave'
differently on different skins, so it is worth experimenting to find
your own balance.

EARTH MOTHER PERFUME:
Musk oil
Patchouli oil
Rose Oil
Blend in equal parts, bottle and shake well.

ISIS PERFUME:
Rose oil
Blue Lotus Oil
Blend equal parts, bottle and shake well.

SUN GODDESS PERFUME:
Cinnamon Oil
Lemon Verbena Oil
Ylang-Ylang Oil
Blend equal parts, bottle and shake well.

OIL FOR THE DARK OF THE MOON:
2 fl.oz.(60cc) tincture of myrrh
1 fl.oz.(30cc) oil of cinnamon
1/4 fl.oz.(7cc) Queen of the Night Oil
1 fl.oz.(30cc) oil of rose
Blend, bottle and shake well.

OIL FOR THE RITES OF ISIS:
7 drops oil of rose
2 Drops oil of Camphor
2 drops tincture of myrrh
3 drops oil of blue hyacinth
Blens the oils of rose, camphor, and blue hyacinth during the
waxing moon. Bottle and keep till the Moon wanes. Add the Myrrh

KALI INCENSE:
This is an individual and personalized incense, for attunement
to your own Dark of the Moon.
1 oz (30gm) sandalwood chips
1 oz (30gm) Dried jasmine flowers or 6 drops jasmine oil
1/2 oz (15gm) dried rose petals
2 drops of your own menstrual blood
Blend and use for private meditation during the onset of your
menstruation.

MORRIGAN INCENSE:
1 oz (30gm) musk amberette
1/2 oz (15gm) dragon's blood (resin used in violin staining)
4 drops patchouli oil
4 drops civet oil
4 drops of blood from your own finger
Blend at the dark of the Mon, put in a jar and bury in the earth
for 6 weeks (a flower pot of peat in a cool cupboard will do).

ATHENE OIL & INCENSE:
The olive is sacred to Athene, so use pure olive oil as an
annointing oil in particular, rub between the palms of your hands
and annoint your feet, forehead and lips. For the Incense:
1 oz (30gm) cedarwood chips
1/2 oz (15gm) camphor
7 drops musk oil
Female sweat (as much as possible)
6 olives unstuffed and preferabbly black
Blend the first four ingredients well, at the full moon, and add
the olives. Put in a jar and leave for one month to mature. Then
remove the olives (Which will have imparted their essence to the
rest) and throw them away.
Stuffed olives, both black and green, are an obvious food for
a ritual of Athene, also stuffed vine leaves, a very Athenian dish.
If possible, of course, the wine should be Greek - especially
retsina, though that is an acquired taste.

PRE-RITUAL BATH SCENTS:
To cleanse and relax the body before a ritual, and to energize
the psychic centres. Fill small sachets of muslin cloth with equal
amounts of the following herbs:
Basil (for psychic energy)
Borage (to strengthen the inner self)
Lavendar (to banish mental and emotional stress)
Centaury (a traditional witch herb)
Rue (a traditional bathing herb)
Put a satchet into your bath five minutes before you get in, to
give the aromatics time to work.

DIANA OF THE MOON INCENSE:
It is recommended that it be made in the hour and the day of the
Moon - i.e. the first or eighth hour after sunrise, or the third or
tenth hour after sunset, on a Monday.
Thoroughly mix equal amounts of the following:
Gum mastic
Jasmine
Mandrake
Orris root
add a few drops of wintergreen oil and moisten with a little clear
mineral oil.

AINE of KNOCKAINE INCENSE:
1/2 oz (15gm) meadowsweet flowers and leaf (gathered when the
plant is in full bloom and dried)
1/2 oz (15gm) finely chopped pine needles
1/2 fl.oz. (15cc) lemon verbena oil
By the way, meadowsweet blossom also makes a delicious wine.

Herbal Wines

2008-07-01T10:11:00.000-07:00

by Nicholas Morcinek

One of the many pleasures of a life in the country is the
abundance of free food and the makings of fine drink. Sitting here at
my desk, glass of Dandelion wine in hand, the golden glow of the
flickering firelight passing through the pale amber nectar drifts my
mind back to the Spring and the picking and preparation that led to
this magic moment. Anyone who has ever made their own wine or beer
will understand my feelings but nowadays of course, wine nearly always
refers to a Chateau produced store bought liquid, made from grapes
grown in some exotic far away land. However until very recently, many
other varieties of fruit and even flowers were used by enterprising
brewers. Dandelion, Red Clover, Rosemary and Rose flowers were all
used and all have their own distinctive nose, flavour and
effect. Herbs were used for their traditional medicinal values, the
wine-making process being me rely the method of preservation.

Dandelion for the digestion and liver
Cowslip to help with sleep
Clover flowers as a tonic and mild euphoriant

These herb wines are very simply made, with minimal amounts of time
and equipment and once tried and successfully imbibed, they can become
an integral part of your routine and life style. After all, what
better way is there to take your medicine than in a glass of fragrant
ambrosia? Hoping that I've caught your interest, (excuse me while I
pour myself an other glass!), perhaps you'd like to give flower wines
a try.

Here to help you on your way is my own tried, and very well tested,
recipe.

Ingredients:

Two quarts of Red Clover or Dandelion flower-heads. (Or any other
type of edible/medicinal flower. Good ones to try are Calendula, Rose,
Violet, Elderflowers, etc; Use your own judgement, the recipe is good
for almost any combination of flowers and herbs).

One Kilo of sugar & 3 lemons.
Four ounces un-coated raisins or sultanas.
One packet Champagne type wine yeast.

You will also need some equipment, most of which can be found in the
kitchen, viz: One, two or three gallon container, (stainless steel,
earthenware, glass or un-chipped enamel).

A one gallon glass flagon, Fermentation lock, campden table and syphon
tube.

(These can be obtained quite inexpensively from any home-brewing
store).

Now for the...Method:

Pick the flowers on a sunny morning after the dew has dried. They
are best picked after several days of full sun but Mother Nature is
not always so obliging. Choose only the best flowers and discard all
green parts at the base of the flowers. (They will make the wine
bitter). Collect two full quarts of flowers for each gallon you wish
to make. (This is a good job to give to the kids on a sunny Sunday
afternoon. You won't see them for at least an hour.) It is very
important that you collect only from areas that have not been sprayed
with garden or agricultural pest sprays. Avoid all roadside flowers as
they contain high levels of pollutants.

It is important before starting in the kitchen to ensure that all
the implements and containers used are scrupulously clean. Make up a
sterilizing solution using the campden tablets, (follow the
instructions on the pack) and then thoroughly rinse and clean
everything you intend to use. This is the most important operation in
home wine making, get it right and your wines turnout perfectly every
time, screw-up and your friends will find all sorts of reasons for why
they can't pop over to watch the game, join the barbecue, etc; etc;
Anyway, we are digressing. Back to the wine.

Clean the flowers of insects and dirt and place them into the
largest container. Add the juice from the three lemons and the washed
raisins or sultanas, and immediately pour over them six pints of
boiling water. Stir it all up with a sterilized spoon, cover the
container with a sterilized lid and leave to stand for twenty four
hours.

Next day, lift up the lid and take a peek at the dead flowers and
other bits, floating in the water. Hmmm...Give it all a good stir and
then strain out the liquid into a clean sterilized container. Rinse
out your original container with some sulphite solution and then
immediately pour the strained liquid back in. Add the sugar and two
pints of boiling water, stirring well so as to dissolve the sugar, and
then add the yeast, which has been prepared beforehand as instructed
on the package. Stir it again, cover and put it away in a warm spot
where the temperature stays around 70-80 degrees. Now forget all about
it for one month.

The month has passed and you rush like the wind to take a look at
your wine. Urgghh!! It smells weird and looks weirder, but don't
worry, every thing should work out fine. This is where the syphon,
flagon and fermentation lock come into the picture. First sterilize
all your equipment with a sulphite solution and rinse thoroughly. Then
syphon the contents of your brewing bin into the flagon. This will
give you your first taste, but don't despair it gets much better! Set
up the fermentation lock as per the manufacturer's instructions, pop
it on top of the flagon and now take it back to that warm out of the
way place where you hid it before.

Now comes the hardest part of the whole show. You have to forget
all about this big bottle of fermenting nectar for at least six
months. Don't be tempted to peek inside, smell or God forbid! taste
your new concoction. Don't even think about it! That day is still in
the far future.

Six months have passed. November arrives and the nights are
getting longer. Remember the wine?? It's now ready to be
bottled. You'll need about six or seven bottles for each gallon. Use
only those bottles that are designed to hold pressure, i.e. Champagne
or sparkling wine bottles, even those thick heavy old-fashioned cola
bottles. Use a sulphite solution to sterilize the bottles, corks and
caps, and using a sterilized syphon tube, carefully syphon the clear
liquid from the flagon into the bottles without disturbing the
sediment in the flagon. Tastes pretty good now eh!

To make your wine just a little sparkling add no more than a half
teaspoon of sugar to each bottle. Seal the bottles well and let them
stand in a warm place for three days. Then place them in the coolest
part of the house and wait six more weeks. It will then be just about
ready to drink. Of course like many wines it will taste better if left
longer, ( about a year is best).

But of course we're all only human and so must inevitably try out
the fruits of our labour. Invite around your true friends, break out
the best glasses and then carefully open your first delicately cooled
bottle, without disturbing the sediment on the bottom. Pour carefully
into each glass, filling them all in one delicate movement, again so
as not to disturb the sediment. Sit back, raise your glass in a toast
and sip this delightful ambrosia. Revel in the complements and
congratulations of your friends, for they are truly deserved. And
think of the coming Spring and the fifteen gallons that you plan to
brew.

Good luck!!!

What Kind of Witch Are You?

2008-06-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

What Kind of Modern Tradition Witch Are You?
created with QuizFarm.com

You scored as Hedgewitch

A Witch who combines many elements of Traditional Witchcraft and Nature Witchcraft, as well as Shamanism and healing, with a more rural tone to their practise.
A hedgewitch studies herbalism, nature, shamanism, healing lore, hearthcraft, nature oriented magick and anything else she may find useful. She will study both magickal and medicinal herbalism.
Hedgewitches study and practice their rituals and magick anywhere they may, but prefer to in rural or wild areas.
They also tend to live in more rural places.
She will have a garden if she can, but prefers to gather plants and magickal materials from the wild. She may know a lot about what grows in the wild, as well as about wildlife and livestock. Her tools will be a mix of different useful items, as well as natural items and shamanic tools. Such as walking sticks and staffs, wands, rattles, a medicine bag, pruning shears, cooking pots, besoms, and the tools of herbalism, such as a mortar and pestual.
Her shrine/altar can be placed anywhere in her home, garden or yard, and she may have special places set up in her favorite wild places, or a corner of a farm field.
Her patrons will be deities of nature, the wild, and agriculture, healing, the harvest and the Underworld.

Hedgewitch

100%

Greenwitch

100%

Gardenwitch

100%

Cottagewitch

96%

Kitchenwitch

92%

Hearthwitch

88%

Herbal Superstitions A to Z

2008-06-25T13:49:00.000-07:00

“Superstition is one of the mainsprings of human behaviour,
generating hopes of defeating the forces of evil, and of influencing
one’s own fate.” —Iona Opie and Moira Tatem, A Dictionary
of Superstitions.

Acorn
It was once believed that an acorn placed on a windowsill
guarded a house against fires and damage caused by lightning
strikes. This superstition can be traced back to the old Norse
legend that the great god Thor once sheltered from a thunderstorm
under a mighty oak tree.

Adder’s Tongue
The British once believed that adder’s tongue gathered
during the waning of the moon possessed the power to cure
adder bites and, according to David Pickering’s Dictionary of
Superstitions, countered “other evils associated with snakes.”

Agrimony
According to a rhyme found in a medieval medical manuscript,
“If it [agrimony] be leyd under a man’s head, he shall sleep as if he were dead. He shall never drede nor waken, till
from under his head it be taken.”

Almond
According to the ancient Roman author Pliny, the eating
of five nuts from an almond tree before drinking wine will
work to prevent drunkenness!
If success in your business ventures is what you desire, one
way to attain this (in addition to hard work) is to climb to the
top of an almond tree, so sayeth an old legend from Asia.

Angelica
Associated with Saint Michael the Archangel, angelica was
once thought to dispel lustful thoughts and protect against
sorcery, the Black Death, attacks by rabid and venomous beasts,
and a wide variety of illnesses.

Apple Tree
If the sun shines on Christmas morning and rain falls on
Saint Swithin’s Day (July 15th), these are both a good omen
that the apple orchards will yield a bountiful crop the following
season. To ensure that an apple tree bears fruit for many
years, an old custom from Germany is for the first fruit of the
season to be consumed by a woman who has bore many children.
There exist a number of death omens related to apple trees.
For instance, if there should be a single apple left on a tree
after the rest of the crop has been picked at harvesting time
and it does not fall to the ground before the arrival of the
following spring, the family upon whose land the apple tree
stands will lose one of its loved ones to the Angel of Death.
Interestingly, it is an old Pagan custom in some parts of the world to deliberately leave one apple on the tree at harvesting
time as an offering to the spirits. Beware of apple trees that
blossom out of season (particularly in the fall), for they are
said to presage a death in the family.
Unicorns, according to Pagan folklore, often dwell beneath
apple (and ash) trees. Every so often, one or more of these
magnificent magickal creatures can be observed eating or wandering
about in an apple orchard, especially in the wee morning
hours when the countryside is shrouded in a ghostly mist.
Other apple superstitions are as follows: Eating an apple a
day is said to “keep the doctor away.” Wassailing apple trees
on Twelfth Night keeps all manners of evil spirits at bay. Cutting
down an apple orchard is said by some to bring bad luck,
and many Pagan folks in Norway once believed that by eating
apples they could attain “immortality through wisdom.” According
to an issue of Notes and Queries from the year 1862, “a
good apple year is a great year for twins.”
Rubbing an apple before eating it is an old method to
ensure that the fruit will be free of any evil spirits or demonic
entities. Some superstitious folks still believe that if you eat an
apple without first rubbing or washing it, you invite the devil
to dine with you.

Blackberry
In England, it was once believed that bad luck would befall
anyone who dared to pick the fruit of the blackberry plant
after the 11th day of October (the old
date of the Christian’s Feast of Michaelmas).
Legend has it that on this day many
eons ago the devil fell into a thorny blackberry
thicket and laid a curse upon the
plant.

Broom
The broom has long been regarded as a plant of ill omen,
and unluckiest during the month of May. To sweep the house
with blossomed broom in May (or even to bring it into the
house) is said to “sweep the head of the house away.” In England,
it was once believed that the whipping of a young boy
with a branch of green broom would result in the stunting of
his growth.

Daffodil
If the very first daffodil you lay your eyes upon in the
spring or summer hangs its head towards you, this is said to
be an omen of bad luck for the remainder of the year. This
herbal superstition, which is centuries old, continues to live
on in many parts of Great Britain.

Garlic
The legendary power of garlic to keep bloodthirsty vampires
and all evil spirits at bay is known throughout much of
the world. However, some say that only garlic gathered in the
month of May can be truly effective for this purpose.
According to an old legend popular among Christians,
the first garlic sprang up in the spot where the Devil’s left foot
stepped when he left the Garden of Eden. In the spot where
his right foot stepped, sprang the first onion.
Garlic is said to be able to absorb the diseases of both man
and beast, as well as to trap and destroy negative vibrations and
evil influences within cursed or haunted dwellings. (Interestingly,
onions are accredited with having the same powers.)

Hawthorn
Also known as hagthorn (due to its long association with
Witches), the hawthorn is a very magickal tree that is said to
be sacred to the Pagan deities Cardea, Flora, and Hymen. In
England it was once believed that the hawthorn was one of the
three trees most sacred to the fairy-folk (the others being the
oak and the ash).
It is customary for many modern Witches to decorate their
Beltane altars and May poles with hawthorn. In ancient times,
many a superstitious soul believed that hawthorns were actually
Witches in disguise. Many Witches were thought to have
been able to transform themselves into trees at will by means
of magickal spells, or (according to Christians) through the
aid of the devil. Others were said to have danced so wildly
around the hawthorns in their frenzied rites that they permanently
became as one with the tree.
Take care not to sit beneath the boughs of a hawthorn tree
on Halloween (the time of year when the invisible veil between
the human and supernatural realms is thinnest), otherwise,
you may fall under a fairy enchantment. Cutting down a
hawthorn tree is said to greatly anger the fairies, and therefore
brings the worst of luck to the one who fells it.
There exist contradicting legends concerning the bringing
of hawthorn blossoms into the house. One holds that the
blossoms are beneficial, offering the household protection
against evil, sorcery, and lightning. Another claims that they
are extremely unlucky and may even bring about a death in
the family.

Hellebore
Since medieval times, it has been believed that bad luck
awaits those who pick the black hellebore. White hellebore flowers, on the other hand, were once believed to cure madness,
promote intelligence, and protect against epileptic seizures,
leprosy, miscarriages, and attacks by rabid animals.
Long ago, many farmers blessed their cattle with hellebore
to protect them against sorcery, and it was for this purpose that
the plant was dug up with certain mystical rites. In The Complete
Book of Herbs by Kay N. Sanecki, it is said that “a circle was
described with the point of a sword around the plant, and then
prayers were offered while the black roots were lifted.”
Some farmers still believe that a good harvest is portended
whenever a hellebore plant bears four tufts. However, it is believed
to be an extremely bad sign should it bear only two.
This portends a crop failure in the near future.

Holly
Known by many names, including “bat’s
wings” and “Christ’s thorn,” the holly is a plant
strongly connected to the Yuletide season and
highly valued by Witches for its magickal and
divinatory powers. It was once believed to safeguard
a house and its inhabitants against lightning
strikes, evil entities, hauntings, and black magick when
planted near the dwelling.
Carrying a wand or walking stick made of holly wood will
prevent you from falling victim to all hexes and bewitchments,
according to occult folklore.
To avoid bad luck, be sure never to bring holly into your
house prior to Christmas Eve. However, not having holly in
your house at all on Christmas Day is said to conjure the worst
of luck for all members of the family.
It is supposed to be very unlucky to step on a holly berry,
cut down a holly tree, sweep a chimney with holly, or burn discarded holly boughs, which some folks believe invites the
Angel of Death to claim a member of the family.
The so-called “male” variety of holly (with prickly leaves)
brings good luck to all persons of the male gender; while the
“female” variety (with smooth leaves) brings good luck to all of
the fairer sex.
An old Christian legend holds that the cross on which
Jesus Christ was crucified was made of holly wood, and it was
the blood of Christ that gave the holly berry its deep red color.
It is said that lightning will never strike a holly tree nor
anyone who stands under the branches of one during a storm.
It was a widespread belief in the Middle Ages that the
holly possessed miraculous curative powers. Pricking or thrashing
the feet with holly and then walking barefoot in the snow
was once thought to cure chilblains (an inflammatory swelling
caused by cold and poor circulation). Another old method
for treating chilblains was to rub the ashes of burnt holly berries
upon the afflicted areas. To prevent a fever, scratch your
legs with a holly branch; and to ease a whooping cough, drink
a bit of fresh milk out of a cup or bowl made of holly wood.

Houseleek
In many parts of Great Britain it is still believed that houseleeks
growing on the outside walls and/or roof of a house bring
phenomenal good luck to all inhabitants of the dwelling. However,
should you purposely or accidentally cut down a houseleek,
you will suffer a streak of bad luck, especially where your
house is concerned.
Houseleeks are also said to protect a house against lightning
strikes, fire, and tempests. For this reason, it is traditional
for many folks upon moving into a new home to plant
them as close to the house as possible before doing anything else. It is also very common for many Welsh families who dwell
within thatch-roofed cottages to plant houseleeks upon their
rooftops for good luck.

Hydrangea
According to old English folklore, the hydrangea is an
unlucky plant for young ladies who wish to find a husband.
Persons who allow the plant to grow near their houses (especially
close to the front door) are said to curse their daughters
with a lonely life of spinsterhood.

Ivy
Some people believe that bringing an ivy plant into the
house also brings in bad luck. Picking a leaf from an ivy plant
growing on the wall of a church will cause you to fall ill. Even
worse, should the ivy growing on the wall of a house suddenly
wither and die for no apparent reason, this is said to indicate that
a death will occur in that household within a very short time.

Leaves
If the wind should blow leaves of any type into your house,
this is said to be a very lucky omen. Catching a falling autumn
leaf before it reaches the ground also brings good luck, and
some people claim that for every leaf you catch you will have a
day filled with good luck. Another superstition holds that if
you secretly make a wish as you catch a falling leaf on Halloween,
it will surely come true for you. And yet another leaf-catching
superstition promises 12 consecutive months
of good luck and happiness for those who catch
12 falling leaves in the month of October.

Mandrake
It was once believed that mandrake plants were inhabited
by dark-skinned supernatural beings known as mandragoras
(“man-dragons”), which were mischievous by nature and often
called upon to aid sorcerers and sorceresses in the practice
of their craft.
A legend dating back to medieval times claims that when
a mandrake plant is pulled from the ground, it emits an earpiercing
scream and begins to sweat droplets of blood. Legend
also has it that any person whose ears were unfortunate enough
to hear the plant’s shriek would either be driven to madness or
suffer an agonizing death. How this legend came to be is somewhat
of a mystery, but it was nevertheless well known throughout
Europe and even prompted many practitioners of sorcery
to use dogs to uproot their mandrakes as a safety precaution.
One interesting theory concerning the origin of the shrieking
mandrake legend can be found in Richard Lucas’ The Magic
of Herbs in Daily Living:
“Tests conducted by Sir Janghadish showed that a plant
pulled up by the roots suffers tremendous shock, comparable
to that of a person beaten into insensibility. This immediately
calls to mind the legend of the screaming mandrake. Perhaps
the myth originated when some person here and there with
mediumistic ability tore a mandrake from the ground and psychically
sensed the plant’s torment and anguish. Such an experience
would have excited profound emotions of horror in
the mind of the psychic, especially if the person was a timid
soul or one whose psychic faculties had just emerged for the
first time. It is not difficult to understand that in some instances
the shock could have caused insanity or heart failure.”

Mistletoe
In order to be effective in magickal spells, mistletoe must
be cut with a single stroke of a gold sickle on the Summer
Solstice, the Winter Solstice, or the sixth day after the new
moon. Take care not to let the plant touch the earth, lest it be
rendered magickally impotent.
This old Pagan custom originated with the priestly caste
of the Celts, who believed that mistletoe found growing on
oak trees possessed the power to heal as well as to promote
fertility and protect against all manner of evil.
The Druids believed that it was necessary to appease the
gods by sacrificing a pair of white bulls during their mistletoecutting
ritual.
Also known in earlier times as all heal, devil’s fuge, golden
bough, and Witches’ broom, the mistletoe is said to be sacred
to the Pagan deities Apollo, Freya, Frigga, Odin, and Venus.
According to old Pagan herb lore, mistletoe works well to
ward off lightning strikes and storms when hung from the
chimney or over the doors and windows of a dwelling.
Fairies are also said to be repelled by the sight and smell of
mistletoe, a belief that unquestionably gave birth to the old
custom of placing a sprig of the plant inside a child’s cradle.
With the protective power of the mistletoe working for them,
parents who once feared that their children might be stolen by
fairies and replaced with changelings could rest easier at night.
In England it was once believed that if a young woman
failed to be kissed beneath a sprig of yuletide mistletoe before
her wedding day, she would be forever unable to bear children.
Likewise, unable to father children would be the fate of
any man who never kissed beneath the yuletide mistletoe while
in his bachelorhood.
Many people continue to cling to the old belief that cutting
down any mistletoe-bearing tree is a most unlucky thing
to do. Some individuals who have done so are said to have met
with a violent death as a result. But whether such strange and
deadly occurrences are actually the effects of an ancient Druid
curse at work or merely odd coincidences, we may never know
for sure.

“Too superstitious…is their conceit…that it [mistletoe] hath
power against witchcraft, and the illusion of Sathan [Satan], and
for that purpose, use to hang a piece thereof at their children’s neckes.”
—J. Parkinson, Theatrum Botanicum, 1640.

Molukka Bean
The Molukka bean (or nut) is a variety of nut native to the
Molukka Islands, and popular as an amulet in the Western
Isles of Scotland (where they often wash ashore). When worn
about the neck, a white Molukka bean is said to turn black to
indicate the presence of a sorcerer or a person possessing the
evil eye. Some people believe that Molukka beans guard against
death in childbirth and drowning.

Moonwort
In the Middle Ages, it was popularly believed among the
peasantry of Europe that the fern known as moonwort possessed
the power to open or break locks, loosen iron nails, and
unshoe horses that tread upon it. An even more curious superstition
surrounding the moonwort holds that woodpeckers can
acquire the strength to pierce iron if they rub their beaks upon
a leaf of this plant. How this bizarre belief entered into the
annals of herblore is a mystery.

Mugwort
Sacred to the Pagan goddesses Artemis and Diana, the
mugwort is a significant magickal herb and one with many
connections to occult folklore.
According to an ancient tradition, a mugwort plant must
be picked on the eve of a Summer Solstice in order for its
magickal properties to be properly activated. Christians in the
Middle Ages seldom pulled a mugwort from the soil of the
earth without first making the sign of the cross to ward off any
evil spirits that might have taken up residence within the plant.
A small “coal” (said to be actually “old acid roots”) found
in the ground beneath the roots of a mugwort plant is reputed
to be one of the most powerful of all natural amulets. However,
occult tradition holds that unless the mugwort plant is
uprooted at noon or midnight on St. John’s Eve, the “coal”
found beneath it shall be without amuletic value.
For those lucky enough to unearth such a treasure, a
mugwort’s “coal” will offer protection against all “venomous
beasts,” ward off evil and sorcery, heal all ills (including madness
and the plague), inspire feelings of lust in the frigid, bring
fertility to those cursed with barrenness, and induce prophetic
dreams (especially pertaining to future marriage partners) when
placed under a pillow at bedtime.

“If they would drink nettles in March,
And eat muggons [mugwort] in May,
So many fine maidens
Would go not to the clay.”
—An old Scottish rhyme.

Peas
It is a good luck sign to find a peapod containing nine
peas, and an even luckier one to come across one containing a
single pea. If you make a wish while throwing a pod of nine
peas over your right shoulder, the chances are
good that your wish will come true (but only if
you do not repeat it to anyone). It was once
believed that a wart could be cured by rubbing
it with a pod of nine peas while reciting a
special incantation.

Seeds
It was once believed that to accidentally leave any earth
unsown in a field brought upon a death in the family before
the end of the year, or, depending on the local legend, before
the crop is reaped. An old Scottish farming superstition holds
that if the weather prevents the sowing of seed after a farmer
has taken it out to the field, this is a grim omen.

Shrew-Ash
Centuries ago, it was common in rural England for a live
shrew-mouse to be imprisoned within the split trunk of an
ash tree and left there to suffocate or starve to death, thus
giving the tree incredible magickal powers. Such a tree was
known as a “shrew-ash” and its branches and leaves were believed
to possess the miraculous powers to heal both man and
beast of a wide variety of ailments, including shrew bites.

Willow
In some parts of England it is still believed that willow
wood should never be burned on Bonfire Night. To do so invites bad luck. Driving a horse with a stick of willow brings on a
stomach ache, while swatting a child or animal with one stunts
their growth.
Willow trees have long been valued for their natural ability
to protect against sorcery and the evil eye, and some individuals
believe that touching them ensures good luck. However,
never reveal a secret beneath a willow, otherwise your secrets
will be repeated by the wind.

Wood Betony
According to Penelope Ody in The Complete Medicinal
Herbal, wood betony was the most important herb among the
Anglo-Saxons, who found at least 29 medicinal uses for it. She
also suggests that wood betony was “possibly the most popular
amulet herb, used well into the Middle Ages to ward off
evil or ill humors.” A ninth century Saxon work called Herbarium
Apuleii says that wood betony “is good whether for a
man’s soul or his body; it shields him against visions and
dreams.” Other popular herbs in Saxon times were mugwort,
plantain, vervain, and yarrow, which were used in numerous
internal remedies, but most commonly employed as an amulet.

From: Herbal Magick A Witch’s Guide to Herbal Folklore and Enchantments

Kitchen Witch Herbal

2008-06-25T13:44:00.000-07:00

The herbs listed below should be easily obtained at any grocery store, and should not get a second glance from even the most rabid anti-magickal person.
Some ways to include herbs in your spells are to simmer them on the stove in a pot of water, to include them in ritual foods or drinks, to burn them in a fire, or to place them in a bag, doll, or pillow. You can also scatter them on your working altar.

*Anise*
Element: Air
Contacting other planes, divination, love, passion, preventing nightmares, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, fertility, gain, good luck, happiness, money, weddings
*Basil*
Element: Fire
Consecration, divination (esp. about love), exorcism, fertility, fidelity, good luck, happiness, harmony, love, money, passion, peace, prosperity, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, strength, success, tranquility
*Bay*
Element: Fire
Consecration, divination, dreams, healing, love, passion, protection, purification, wisdom, wishes
*Caraway*
Element: Air
Fidelity, love, memory, passion, preventing theft, protection, retention, sensuality, consecration, fertility, gain, honesty, keeping, secrets, peace of mind, weddings
*Celery seed*
Element: Earth
Psychic development, Beauty, divination, fertility, love, passion
*Cinnamon*
Element: Air/Fire
Clairvoyance, consecration, divination, energy, good luck, love, money, passion, peace, prosperity, protection, success, communication, happiness, harmony, healing, inspiration, knowledge, meditation, purification, spirituality, tranquility, wisdom
*Cloves*
Element: Fire
clairvoyance, divination, exorcism, keeps away negative, forces, love, memory, money, passion, peace of mind, protection, purification, stopping gossip, cleansing, friendship, psychic development, release, spell-breaking
*Coriander* (also called Cilantro)
Element: Fire
Love, clairvoyance, divination, fertility, gain, health, keeping secrets, passion, peace, protection, retention, weddings
*Dill*
Element: Earth/Fire
love, protection, psychic protection, blessings, confidence, determination, dreams, fertility, gain, harmony, keeping secrets, money, passion, peace, prevents theft, retention, rest, sleep, tranquility
*Fennel*
Element: Air/Fire
Confidence, courage, fertility, longevity, love, Midsummer, protection, psychic protection, purification, strength, commanding, consecration, divination, energy, gain, meditation, Summer rituals, virility
*Garlic*
Element: Fire
Magic, passion, protection, spell-breaking, strength, clairvoyance, commanding, confidence, consecration, courage, divination, healing, longevity, money, overcoming opposition, prevents nightmares, purification, stopping gossip, success, weather (fair)
*Ginger*
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses: love, passion, psychic protection, cursing, health, psychic development, sensuality, success
*Lavender*
Element: Air
Clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, happiness, healing, love, Midsummer, money, passion, peace, peace of mind, protection, psychic protection, purification, tranquility, blessings, chastity, divination, dreams, energy, gentleness, good luck, grieving, harmony, keeping secrets, magic, meditation, memory, retention, ritual, sleep, stability, virility, weddings
*Lovage*
Element: Earth/Water
Love, beauty, cleansing, consecration, money, passion, protection, psychic protection, purification
*Mace*
Element: Air
Clairvoyance, fertility, gain, good luck, love, protection
*Marjoram*
Element: Air
grieving, happiness, love, money, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, tranquility, weddings, animals, cleansing, courage, dreams (of love), harmony, peace, rituals for the dead, success
*Mustard seed*
Element: Fire
fertility, health, love, passion, protection commanding, cursing, exorcism, gain, good luck, sensuality, spell-breaking, strength, success, virility
*Nutmeg*
Element: Fire/Air
clairvoyance, divination, money, dreams, fertility, gain, love, meditation, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, rest, sleep
*Onion*
Element: Fire
exorcism, protection, clairvoyance, cleansing, contacting other planes, divination, healing, lunar rites, magic, purification, spell-breaking
*Oregano*
Element: Air
happiness, tranquility, animals, grieving, harmony, love, peace, protection, psychic development, weddings
*Parsley*
Element: Earth
divination, happiness, passion, protection, psychic, development, purification, clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, fertility, good luck, invokation, meditation, rituals for the dead, speed
*Pepper*
Element: Fire
cursing, exorcism, passion, protection, commanding, sensuality, spell-breaking, stops envy
*Peppermint*
Element: Air
cleansing, consecration, dreams, happiness, healing, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, purification, release, renewal, rest, sleep, animals, divination, endings, energy, exorcism, good luck, grieving, spirit offering, success, transformation
*Poppyseed*
Element: Water
Dreams, Binding, clairvoyance, consecration, cursing, fertility, prosperity
*Rosemary*
Element: Fire
cleansing, confidence, consecration, courage, exorcism, good luck, grieving, happiness, healing, knowledge, love, memory, passion, peace of mind, prevents theft, protection, psychic development, purification, release, ritual, rituals for the dead, water rites/sea rituals, weddings, blessings, dreams, endings, energy, elves, fidelity, honesty, inspiration, invokation, longevity, meditation, new moon, prevents nightmares, sleep, strength, transformation, wisdom, Yule
*Saffron*
Element: Fire
Clairvoyance, divination, cleansing, commanding, consecration, exorcism, healing, magic, psychic development, purification, spell-breaking, weather (raises wind)
*Sage*
Element: Earth
cleansing, healing, longevity, money, passion, prosperity, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, wisdom, business, clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony, energy, happiness, inspiration, keeping secrets, knowledge, love, Mabon, meditation, peace, retention, Samhain, tranquility, weddings, Yule
*Savory*
Element: Air
Passion, animals, attracts males, happiness, love, satyrs, sensuality, virility
*Spearmint*
Element: Air
consecration, happiness, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, animals, dreams, endings, exorcism, healing, good luck, release, renewal, rest, sleep, spirit offering, success, transformation
*Star Anise*
Element: Air/Water
clairvoyance, good luck, protection, psychic development, consecration, divination, exorcism, fertility, gain, invokation, justice, love, money, passion, preventing nightmares, psychic protection, spiritual places
*Tarragon*
Element: Fire
commanding, confidence, courage, passion, protection, strength, animals, calming, keeping secrets, love, peace, prevents theft, retention, sensuality, virility
*Thyme*
Element: Air
clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, courage, divination, dreams, exorcism, faeries, happiness, healing, love, money, prevents nightmares, protection, psychic development, purification, compassion, confidence, contacting other planes, grieving, magic, meditation, Midsummer, passion, release, renewal,
rituals for the dead, Summer rituals, wishing
*Turmeric*
Element: Fire
Passion, commanding, confidence, courage, exorcism, magic, sensuality, spell-breaking, strength
*Vanilla*
Element: Fire
love, passion, energy, new moon
*Wintergreen*
Element: Earth
Animals, contacting other planes, good luck, money

SPELL TYPE CROSS-REFERENCE
*Animals*
marjoram, oregano, peppermint, savory, spearmint, tarragon, wintergreen
*Beauty*
celery seed, lovage
*Binding and Cursing*
ginger, mustard seed, pepper, poppyseed
*Blessings*
dill, lavender, rosemary
*Business*
sage
*Calming*
tarragon
*Chastity*
lavender
*Clairvoyance*
anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, garlic, lavender, mace, nutmeg, onion, parsley, poppyseed, saffron, sage, star anise, thyme
*Cleansing*
anise, cloves, lavender, lovage, marjoram, onion, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme
*Commanding*
basil, fennel, garlic, mustard seed, pepper, saffron, tarragon, turmeric
*Communication*
cinnamon
*Compassion*
thyme
*Confidence*
dill, fennel, garlic, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
*Consecration*
anise, basil, bay, caraway, cinnamon, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, parsley, peppermint, poppyseed, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme
*Contacting other planes*
anise, onion, parsley, star anise, thyme, wintergreen
*Courage*
basil, fennel, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric
*Death rituals (rites for the dead)*
basil, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, thyme
*Determination*
dill
*Divination*
anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, fennel, garlic, lavender, nutmeg, onion, parsley, peppermint, saffron, sage, star anise, thyme
*Dragons*
basil, tarragon
*Dreams*
bay, dill, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, peppermint, poppyseed, rosemary, spearmint, thyme
*Elements*
Air--anise, caraway, cinnamon, fennel, lavender, mace, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, savory, spearmint, star anise, thyme
Fire--basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, nutmeg, onion, pepper, rosemary, tarragon, turmeric, vanilla
Water--lovage, poppyseed, rosemary, star anise
Earth--celery seed, dill, lovage, parsley, sage, wintergreen
*Elves*
rosemary
*Endings*
bay, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint
*Energy*
cinnamon, fennel, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage, vanilla
*Envy, stopping*
pepper
*Exorcism*
basil, bay, cloves, garlic, mustard seed, onion, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, spearmint, star anise, thyme, turmeric
*Faeries*
thyme
*Fertility*
anise, basil, caraway, celery seed, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, mace, mustard seed, nutmeg, parsley, poppyseed, star anise
*Fidelity*
caraway, rosemary
*Friendship*
cloves
*Gain*
anise, caraway, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, mace, mustard seed, nutmeg, star anise
*Gentleness*
lavender
*Good luck*
anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, lavender, mace, mustard seed, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, star anise, wintergreen
*Gossip, stopping*
cloves, garlic
*Grieving*
basil, lavender, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, thyme
*Happiness*
anise, basil, cinnamon, lavender, marjoram, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, thyme
*Harmony*
basil, bay, cinnamon, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage
*Hatred*
basil
*Health/healing*
bay, cinnamon, coriander/cilantro, garlic, ginger, lavender, mustard seed, onion, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, thyme
*Honesty*
basil, caraway, rosemary
*Initiation*
basil
*Inspiration*
basil, bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage
*Invokation*
basil, parsley, rosemary, star anise
*Justice*
bay, star anise
*Keeping secrets*
caraway, coriander/cilantro, dill, lavender, sage, tarragon
*Knowledge*
bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage
*Longevity*
fennel, garlic, rosemary, sage
*Love*
anise, basil, bay, caraway, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, ginger, lavender, lovage, mace, marjoram, mustard seed, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme, vanilla
*Lunar rites*
onion, rosemary, vanilla
*Magic*
bay, garlic, lavender, onion, saffron, thyme, turmeric
*Meditation*
cinnamon, fennel, lavender, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
*Memory*
bay, caraway, cloves, lavender, rosemary
*Money*
anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, dill, garlic, lavender, lovage, marjoram, nutmeg, peppermint, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme, wintergreen
*Nightmares, preventing*
anise, garlic, rosemary, star anise, thyme
*Opposition, overcoming*
bay, garlic
*Passion*
anise, basil, bay, caraway, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, garlic, ginger, lavender, lovage, mustard seed, nutmeg, parsley, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme, turmeric, vanilla
*Peace*
basil, bay, cinnamon, coriander/cilantro, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage, tarragon
*Peace of mind*
caraway, cloves, lavender, rosemary
*Sun*--bay, cinnamon, cloves, lovage, rosemary, saffron
*Moon*--poppyseed
*Prosperity*
basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, poppyseed, sage, spearmint
*Protection*
anise, basil, bay, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, mace, marjoram, mustard seed, nutmeg, onion, oregano, parsley, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme
*Psychic development*
anise, basil, bay, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme
*Psychic protection*
anise, basil, bay, cloves, dill, fennel, ginger, lavender, lovage, marjoram, rosemary, sage, star anise
*Purification*
anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, onion, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme
*Release*
bay, cloves, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, thyme
*Renewal*
peppermint, spearmint, thyme
*Rest*
dill, nutmeg, peppermint, spearmint
*Retention*
caraway, dill, lavender, sage, tarragon
*Ritual (general)*
lavender
*Satyrs*
savory
*Sea/water rituals*
rosemary
*Sensuality*
caraway, ginger, mustard seed, pepper, savory, tarragon, turmeric
*Sleep*
dill, lavender, nutmeg, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint
*Speed*
parsley
*Spell-breaking*
basil, bay, cloves, garlic, mustard seed, onion, pepper, saffron, turmeric
*Spirit offering*
peppermint, spearmint
*Spirituality*
cinnamon
*Spiritual places*
star anise
*Stability*
lavender
*Strength*
basil, bay, fennel, garlic, mustard seed, rosemary, tarragon, turmeric
*Success*
basil, bay, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mustard seed, peppermint, spearmint
*Summer rituals (Spring Equinox through Fall Equinox)*
fennel, lavender, thyme
*Theft, preventing*
basil, caraway, dill, rosemary, tarragon
*Tranquility*
basil, bay, cinnamon, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage
*Transformation*
bay, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint
*Virility*
fennel, lavender, mustard seed, savory, tarragon
*Weather*
garlic (fair), saffron (raise wind) (Note: since you don't get any rain-making herbs, one of the very few shortcomings of the kitchen herbal, I will tell you that another folk method of bringing rain is to dip a broom into water and shake it out in the air. Or, you can go the modern route and wash your car.)
*Weddings*
anise, caraway, coriander/cilantro, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage
*Winter rituals (Fall Equinox through Spring Equinox)*
basil, bay, rosemary, sage
*Wisdom*
bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage
*Wishes*
bay, thyme

Herbs for the Kitchen Witch

2008-06-25T13:43:00.001-07:00

African Violet - Used as a protection amulet and to promote spirituality
in the home. It is burned as a traditional herbal incense of the Spring
Equinox Sabbat.

Allspice - Burned as an incense to attract money or luck. It is also
used to promote healing.

Aloe - A popular houseplant. Used for protection against evil influences
and prevents household accidents.

Angelica - One of the traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas and
Beltane Sabbats. Angelica is both a culinary and medicinal herb. Sprinkle
around the house to ward off evil. Added to the bath, it removes curses or
spells that may have been cast against you.

Anise - The leaves are used for protection. The seeds are burned as a
meditation incense. Filling a small pillowcase with anise seeds and sleeping
on it will ensure that you have no nightmares.

Basil - Brings wealth to those who carry it in their pockets. Basil
given as a gift brings good luck to a new home. It is one of the
traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas Sabbat.

Bay - Wishes are written on bay leaves which are then burned to make
them come true, and a bay leaf held in the mouth wards off bad luck. Bay is
one of the traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas and Winter Solstice
Sabbats.

Buckwheat - Sprinkle the flour to form magic circles on the floor around
you while performing magic.

Catnip - Grown near the home, it attracts good spirits and great luck.
Catnip is used in spells designed to enhance beauty and happiness. Large
Catnip leaves are pressed and used as bookmarks in magickal texts.

Cinnamon - Used in healing rituals and spells to attract money. It
stimulates clairvoyant abilities and raises both protective and spiritual
vibrations. The oil of the cinnamon plant is used to anoint candles for
love goddess invocations, love magick, and spells of passion. It is also
used in sachets and infusions.

Clove - Burned as an incense, cloves attract riches, drive away negative
forces, and purify the area. Burn them to stop others from gossiping about
you. Wear them or carry them to attract the opposite sex.

Corn - Place an ear of corn in a baby's crib to protect it against
negative forces. A necklace made of dried red corn kernels prevents
nosebleed.

Cumin - Used in love spells. When carried, it gives peace of mind.

Dill - This is an herb of protection. When hung over the front door, it
will keep your home safe from enemies. Dill has a magickal ability to
attract money and good fortune.

Garlic - Extremely protective in new homes. Worn, it guards against foul
weather.

Grape - Eating grapes or raisins increases fertility, as well as strengthens
mental powers. Place grapes on the altar during money spells.

Hazel - String the nuts and hang in the house for luck. The nuts are often
eaten prior to divination and give wisdom and increase fertility. Twigs of
hazel are placed in window frames to guard the house against lightning.
Hazel wood can be used to make all-purpose magickal wands.

Lemon - Lemon juice is mixed with water and is used to wash amulets, jewelry and other magickal objects which have been obtained second-hand. This wash
ensures that all negative vibrations are cleansed from the object. Keep one
of the seeds from a lemon that you have consumed. Plant it in early spring,
and nurture it in a warm place. When it grows, give it to a loved one, to keep your love fresh and true. Also, Take a slice of fresh lemon and put it under the chair of a visiting friend, to ensure your friendship will last.

Lettuce - Rub lettuce juice onto the forehead or eat the leaves to have no
trouble falling asleep.

Mint - The leaves of the mint plants have been used magickally for healing,
attracting money, increasing sexual desire, and protection. Mint oil is
often used for anointing candles, ritual tools, and healing poppets.

Mustard - Carry mustard seeds in a red cloth to guard against colds and to
increase mental powers. When eaten, mustard seed increases fertility in
women.

Nuts - All nuts are potent fertility-inducers, and are carried for such
uses. Nuts are also used in many prosperity and money mixtures.

Oats - Used in prosperity and money spells.

Olive - Olive oil has long been used as an anointing oil to aid in healing.
Olive leaves, worn, bring luck.

Onion - An onion placed beneath the pillow can produce prophetic dreams.
Magickal knives and swords are purified by rubbing their blades with fresh
onions.

Orange - The dried peel and seeds are added to love sachets. The peel is
also added to prosperity powders, incenses and mixtures. Orange juice is
drunk in rituals in place of wine.

Pea - Shelling peas brings fortune and profits in business, and the dried
peas are used in monetary mixtures.

Pear - The fruit is used in love spells, and the wood makes fine magickal
wands.

Pepper - Pepper is added to amulets as a protectant against the evil eye,
and when worn, it frees the mind of envious thoughts. Mixed with salt and
scattered about the property it dispels evil.

Pineapple - Dried pineapple is placed in bags and added to baths to draw
good luck to the bather. Pineapple juice is drunk to hinder lust, and the
dried peel or flesh is added to money mixtures.

Poppy - The flowers and seeds of the poppy are highly magickal and have been used in spells, potions, and sachets to promote female fertility, attract
money, and induce divinatory dreams. The poppy is regarded as good luck, and it is potent in all forms of love enchantment.

Potato - A potato carried in the pocket curse toothaches and guards against
rheumatism, warts and gout. To protect against contracting a cold, a potato
should be carried in the pocket or purse all winter-the same potato.

Rice - When placed on the roof, rice guards against all misfortunes.
Throwing rice in the air can cause rain. Rice is also added in money spells.

Rosemary - Is burned as an incense to purify, heal, prevent nightmares,
dispel depression, attract fairy-folk, and induce sleep. Healing poppets are
often stuffed with rosemary for its powerful curative vibrations.

Saffron - Has many magickal powers. It is an herb of love enchantment,
healing, weather working, and spells and rituals to strengthen the psychic
abilities. Drinking a potion made from saffron is said to give a woman or
man the gift of second sight.

Sage - An herb of immortality, protection, and wish magick. When eaten,
worn in a horn amulet, or carried in a mojo bag, sage leaves guard against
the evil eye. This herb of magick is also reputed to promote wisdom, heal
the body, mind, and soul, and attract money. The sage is one of the
traditional ritual herbs of the Samhain Sabbat.

Spearmint - Is used in all healing applications, especially in aiding
lung diseases. Smelled, spearmint increases and sharpens mental powers.

Tea - Burn the leaves of the tea plant to ensure future riches, and add
to all money mixtures and sachets. Tea is also included in talismans
designed to give their bearer courage and strength.

Thyme - This magickal herb is used in love spells and divinations, dream
magick, spells to increase strength and courage and charms against
nightmares. Thyme is also used in healing spells, purifications, and rituals
to develop extra-sensory perception.

Tomato - Placed on the windowsill or any other household entrance it
repels evil from entering. The plants in the garden are protective, and the
tomato when eaten, has the power of inspiring love.

Vanilla - The vanilla plant is used in love magick. Its beans are used
as amulets to improve mental powers, and its purple flowers are used in
aphrodisiacs and passion sachets.

Wintergreen - Is utilized in healing spells, and when fresh sprigs are
placed on the altar they call good spirits to witness and aid you magic.

~author unknown

Herbal Substitutions

2008-06-25T13:41:00.000-07:00

Acacia: Gum Arabic
Aconite: Tobacco
Arabic, Gum: Frankincense, Gum Mastic
Ammoniac, Gum: Asafoetide
Asafoetide: Tobacco, Valerian
Balm of Gilead: Rose buds, Gum Mastic
Bdellium, Gum: Copal, Pine Resin, Dragon's Blood
Belladonna: Tobacco
Benzoin: Gum Arabic, Gum Mastic
Cachana: Angelica root
Camphor Oil: Eucalyptus oil, Lavender oil
Carnation: Rose petals anointed with a few drops Clove oil
Cassia: Cinnamon
Castor Bean: A few drops Castor oil
Cedar: Sandalwood
Cinquefoil: Clover, Trefoil
Citron: Equal parts Orange peel and Lemon peel
Clove: Mace, Nutmeg
Clover: Cinquefoil
Copal: Frankincense, Cedar
Cowbane: Tobacco
Cypress: Juniper, Pine needles
Deers tongue: Tonka bean, Woodruff, Vanilla
Dittany of Crete: Gum Mastic
Dragon's Blood: Equal parts Frankincense and Red Sandalwood
Eucalyptus Oil: Camphor oil, Lavender oil
Euphorbium: Tobacco
Frankincense: Copal, Pine resin
Galangal: Ginger root
Grains of Paradise: Black Pepper
Hellebore: Tobacco, Nettle
Hemlock: Tobacco
Hemp: Nutmeg, Damiana, Star Anise, Bay
Henbane: Tobacco
Hyssop: Lavender
Ivy: Cinquefoil
Jasmine: Rose
Juniper: Pine
Lavender: Rose
Lemongrass: Lemon peel
Lemon Peel: Lemongrass
Lemon Verbena: Lemongrass, Lemon peel
Mace: Nutmeg
Mandrake: Tobacco
Mint: Sage
Mistletoe: Mint, Sage
Mugwort: Wormwood
Neroli oil: Orange oil
Nightshade: Tobacco
Nutmeg: Mace, Cinnamon
Oak moss: Patchouli
Orange: Tangerine peel
Orange Flowers: Orange peel
Patchouli: Oak moss
Peppermint: Spearmint
Pepperwort: Rue, Grains of Paradise, Black Pepper
Pine: Juniper
Pine Resin: Frankincense, Copal
Red Sandalwood: Sandalwood mixed with a pinch of Dragon's Blood
Rose: Yarrow
Rose Geranium: Rose
Rue: Rosemary mixed with a pinch of Black Pepper
Saffron: Orange peel
Sandalwood: Cedar
Sarsaparilla: Sassafras
Sassafras: Sarsaparilla
Spearmint: Peppermint
Sulfur: Tobacco, Club Moss, Asafoetide
Thyme: Rosemary
Tobacco: Bay
Tonka Bean: Deers tongue, Woodruff, Vanilla bean
Trefoil: Cinquefoil
Valerian: Asafoetida
Vanilla: Woodruff, Deers tongue, Tonka Bean
Vetivert: Calamus
Wolfs bane: Tobacco
Wood Aloe: Sandalwood sprinkled with Ambergris oil
Woodruff: Deers tongue, Vanilla
Wormwood: Mugwort
Yarrow: Rose
Yew: Tobacco

~Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs, Scott Cunningham

Herb Companions for Kitchen and Garden

2008-06-25T13:39:00.000-07:00

Herbs are great companions to food in your culinary masterpieces, and they are great companions in the garden, too.

ANISE
In the garden: Plant with coriander, which promotes its germination
and growth. In the kitchen: Use in cookies, cakes, fruit fillings,
and breads, or with cottage cheese, shellfish, and spaghetti dishes.

BASIL
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes. Repels flies and mosquitoes.
In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, pesto, sauces, and
salad dressings.

BORAGE
In the garden: Plant with tomatoes, squash, and strawberries.
Deters tomato worm.
In the kitchen: Use leaves in salads; flowers in soups and stews.

CARAWAY
In the garden: Plant here and there. Loosens soil.
In the kitchen: Use in rye breads, cheese dips and rarebits,
soups, applesauce, salads, coleslaw, and over pork or sauerkraut.

CHERVIL
In the garden: Plant with radishes.
In the kitchen: Use with soups, salads, sauces, eggs, fish,
veal, lamb, and pork.

CHIVES
In the garden: Plant with carrots.
In the kitchen: Related to the onion, chives enliven vegetable
dishes, dressings, casseroles, rice, eggs, cheese dishes, sauces,
gravies, and dips.

DILL
In the garden: Plant with cabbages. Keep away from carrots.
In the kitchen: Use seed for pickles and also to add aroma
and taste to strong vegetables like cauliflower, cabbage, and
turnips. Use fresh with green beans, potato dishes, cheese, soups,
salads, seafood, and sauces.

FENNEL
In the garden: Plant away from other herbs and vegetables.
In the kitchen: Use to flavor pastries, confectionery, sweet
pickles, sausages, tomato dishes, soups, and to flavor vinegars
and oils. Gives warmth and sweetness to curries.

GARLIC
In the garden: Plant near roses and raspberries. Deters Japanese
beetle. In the kitchen: Use in tomato dishes, garlic bread, soups,
dips, sauces, marinades, or with meats, poultry, fish, and vegetables.

LOVAGE
In the garden: Plant here and there to improve the health and
flavor of other plants. In the kitchen: It's a great flavoring
for soups, stews, and salad dressings. Goes well with potatoes.
The seeds can be used on breads and biscuits.

MARJORAM
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Excellent in almost any meat, fish, dairy,
or vegetable dish that isn't sweet. Add near the end of cooking.

MINT
In the garden: Plant near cabbage and tomatoes. Deters white
cabbage moth. In the kitchen: It is common in Middle Eastern dishes.
Use with roast lamb or fish and in salads, jellies, or teas.

OREGANO
In the garden: Good companion to all vegetables.
In the kitchen: Of Italian origin, its taste is zesty and strong,
good in any tomato dish. Try oregano with summer squash and
potatoes, mushroom dishes, beans, or in a marinade for lamb or game.

PARSLEY
In the garden: Plant near asparagus, corn, and tomatoes.
In the kitchen: Use fresh parsley in soups, sauces, and
salads. It lessens the need for salt in soups. You can fry parsley
and use it as a side dish with meat or fish. It is, of course,
the perfect garnish.

ROSEMARY
In the garden: Plant near cabbage, beans, carrots, and sage.
Deters cabbage moth, bean beetles, and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use for poultry, lamb, and tomato dishes, stews,
soups, and vegetables. Try it finely chopped in breads and custards.

SAGE
In the garden: Plant near rosemary, cabbage, and carrots; away
from cucumbers. Deters cabbage moth and carrot fly.
In the kitchen: Use in cheese dishes, stuffings, soups, pickles,
with beans and peas, and in salads. Excellent for salt-free cooking.

SUMMER SAVORY
In the garden: Plant with beans and onions to improve growth and
flavor. In the kitchen: Popular in soups, stews, stuffings,
and with fish, chicken, green beans, and eggs.

TARRAGON
In the garden: Good companion to most vegetables.
In the kitchen: Great with meat, eggs, poultry,
seafood, and in salad dressings, marinades, and sauces.

THYME
In the garden: Plant near cabbage. Deters cabbage worm.
In the kitchen: Use in casseroles, stews, soups, ragouts,
and with eggs, potatoes, fish, and green vegetables.

Healing Herbs for Candles

2008-06-25T13:38:00.000-07:00

Adders Tongue: Stomach ulcers and tumors

Agrimony: Jaundice and diseases of the liver.

Alder: Diarrhea, inflammations and sore throat.

All-Heal: External wounds

Aloe Vera Leaves: burns and external wounds.

Angelica: Alcohol and drug abuse, delayed menstrual period, and toothache pain.

Anise: Bronchial asthma, bronchitis.

Blessed Thistle: Colds

Bloodroot: RIng worms

Catnip: Anxiety, fever, menstrual cramps

Chamomile: Colic, fever, inflammations, menstrual cramps, and nervous conditions.

Chickweed: Inflammations.

Cinnamon: Flu

Coltsfoot: Bronchial asthma, bronchitis, chest complaints, coughs.

Comfrey: Dysentery, external wounds, and stomach ulcers.

Corriander: Fever.

Costmary: Infections.

Crimson Clover: Cancers.

Daisy: Bronchial Asthma.

Dandelion: Constipation, gall stones and ailments of the liver, pancreas, spleen, or female organs.

Dogwood: Fevers and infections.

Elderflowers: Colds, constipation, fever, hemorrhoids, and impotency.

Elecampane: Coughs and irregular menstruation.

Eyebright: Eye ailments.

Fennel: Anxiety, constipation and irregular menstrual periods.

Garlic: Arthritis, bronchial asthma, infections and rheumatism.

Ginger: Fever, impotency and menstrual cramps.

Ginseng: Impotency and any sexual ailments.

Goldenrod: Bladder infections, inflammations and insomnia.

Goldenseal: Eczema, eye ailments, internal infections, poison ivy, rectal ulcers, and ringworms.

Hawthorn: Arteriosclerosis, edema, heart ailments and weak muscles.

Horehound: Colds, coughs, and constipation.

Horseheal: Fever.

Horseradish Root: Bronchitis, colds, kidney conditions and rheumatism.

Irish Moss: Burns and coughs.

Jacobs Ladder: Fever.

Jasmine: Impotency.

Jimsonweed: Poison Ivy.

Juniper: Neuralgic pains, rheumatism and swellings.

Lady's Mantle: Fever, headaches, inflammations, insomnia, menopause, menstrual cramps and toothaches.

Lavender: Depression, fatigue, headache, impotency, neuralgic pains, rheumatism and sprains.

Liferoot: Menstruation, and menstrual problems.

Mallow: Tonsilitis.

Mandrake Root: Impotency and infertility.

Milkweed: Warts.

Motherwort: All female problems.

Mugwort: Fever and poison ivy.

Mullien Leaves: Bronchial asthma.

Myrrh: Gum irritations and pain.

Nettle: Bronchial asthma, muscle aches, stomach ulcers, and diseases of the lungs and intestines.

Passionflower: Insomnia.

Pennyroyal: Fever and menstrual cramps.

Peppermint: Headaches and muscle cramps.

Rose: Kidney stones.

Rosemary: Colds, colic, congestion of the liver, depression, fatigue, headaches, high blood pressure, nervous heart conditions, paralysis, rheumatism, stress, weakness of the limbs and vertigo.

Saffron: Depression and fever.

Sage: Colds and coughs, depression, fever, flu, insomnia, pleurisy, sprains and vericose veins.

Scabwort Root: Fever and infections.

Serpentaria Root: Snakebites, and Impotency.

Shepherd's Purse: Bruises, skin irritations, and rheumatism.

Solomons Seal: Bruises, skin irritations, and wounds.

St. John's Wort: Depression, diarrhea.

Strawberry Leaves and Flowers: Gout.

Thyme: Fever, headaches and whooping cough.

Valerian: Anxiety, insomnia, rheumatism, stress and swollen joints.

Vervain: Fever.

Violet: Infections.

Willow Bark: Headaches, childbirth.

Witch Hazel: Anxiety, eczema, inflammations, swellings, tumors, and also an can be used as an attractant.

Wormwood: Colds and fevers.

Yarrow: Canker sores, colds, fevers, liver diseases and muscle aches.

Herbs should be ground finely, empowered with the intended use and added to wax when making a candle. The candles should be blessed and then burned. For these types of spells, it is always best to use the seven day candle design. Knob candles also work well for these, the user lighting the next knob of the candle each day with their intention in thought.

Common Kitchen Herbs

2008-06-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Common Household Culinary Herbs

Aloe (Aloe vera) : Called the "Burn Plant" because of its effect on burns,
aloe is also effective in preventing accidents involving fire or heat. An
Aloe growing in your kitchen affords not only it's healing properties, but
also protection against kitchen burns and fires.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum) : A daily cup of anise tea will preserve youth.
Anise burned on charcoal before bed will promote prophetic dreams.

Balm (Melissa officinalis) : Bathe in a bath of Balm to attract love. Add to
incense and sachets for love and to promote healing.

Barley (Hordeum spp.) : Sprinkle Barley around the perimeter of your yard
[or on windowsills] to ward off evil. A few grains under your doormat will
offer protection and repel negativity and evil that would enter.

Basil (Ocimum basilicum) : Basil oil rubbed on a green candle before burning
will attract wealth. Use Basil as a floor wash to rid house of all evil and
negativity. The incense smoke is beneficial for the same, plus banishing,
exorcising and for protection.

Blackberry (Rubus villosus) : To work your way through a bramble of
blackberries is damn near impossible - but it is rumored to dispel, and
protect from, all disease.

Caraway (Carum carvi) : Use in your wedding cake, and throw caraway seeds
after the ceremony. It promotes lust and fidelity. Of course - it doesn't
have to be your wedding night/cake.

Catnip (Nepeta cataria) : Well, we've seen it's effect on our feline
friends... giving your cat this herb can help create the psychic link needed
for a familiar. Add catnip to your sachets to attract love [but keep it away
from your cat].

Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) : Eat a meal hot with cayenne before a night of
Bacchanalian celebrating - it will curb drunkenness.

Chamomile (Anthemsis nobilis) : Ancient Egyptians associated Chamomile with
Ra for its healing powers. Even other plants in your herb garden will
benefit from this herb, as it repels insects & promotes healing. Chamomile
also has the properties of attracting wealth.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) : First cultivated and used in the East,
Cinnamon was burned to purify the temple. It also promotes health, vigor and
libido.

Clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus) : burned or ingested, clove promotes
visions.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) : If you see a puff off a dandelion, but
there's no wind, rain is on the way.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgar) : Ingested, Fennel promotes virility, fertility,
and libido in general. Also acts as a protective herb.

Garlic (Allium sativum) : Ropes of garlic are used to ward off evil. Garlic
is also known as a lustful herb when ingested.

Lavender (Lavendula officinale) : Especially useful in attracting men.
Lavender promotes happiness and harmony in the home, whether burned or
simply used in potpourri and sachets.

Marigold (Calendula officianis) : Use as a visionary herb. Burn when doing a
divination for love.

Marjoram (Origanum majorana) : Use as a floor wash to dispel negativity and
promote love & happiness.

Onion (Allium cepa) : Ingested, onions can promote prophetic visions and
dreams. Onion also promotes virility and libido.

Parsley (Retroselinum sativum) : Sacred to Persephone, and a favorite herb
of Venus and Aphrodite - Parsley also promotes communion with the Maternal
Aspect of Goddess.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) : Burn before bed for phrophetic dreams.
Peppermint tea aids in divination.

Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis) : Increases memory and protects against
evil. It has been used in conjunction with juniper berries for centuries to
purify the air.

Sage (Salvia officianus) : Make a broom out of Sage to really sweep away
undesired influences from your circle. Promotes strength, courage, longevity
and wisdom. It also banishes negativity and evil.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris) : Used to invoke the Faery folk. Burn when asking
advice of loved ones who have passed to the Summerlands.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) : The herb of Witches. Use for cleansing
and self-purification. Ingest with care.

Vervain (Verbena officinalis) : One of the Seven Sacred Herbs of the Druids.
Aids in visionary work. The Welsh called it 'llysiaur hudol' - or enchanting
herb. It promotes love, lust and sexual fulfillment. Use when performing
sexual magic. Helpful when invoking Goddess Diana. An herb of artists - use
before any artistic performances.

Willow (Salix alba) : An herb of immortality. Willow is sacred to Hecate,
Hermes, and other Underworld deities.

Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) : Use to remove jinx. Also good for
protecting children.

Witch Hazel (Hamamelis virginica) : Excellent for making divining rods -
which can be used to find more than just water.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) : A powerful tool in conjunction with I-Ching
divination. Use the flowers in Handfastings. Yarrow is sacred to Cernunnos.
Associated [as the Latin name shows] with Achilles

Magical Use of Plants

2008-06-25T13:35:00.000-07:00

Plants
Magic Use

Acacia
Protection, Psychic Powers

Adam & Eve Roots
Love, Happiness

Adders Tongue
Healing

African Violet
Spirituality, Protection

Agaric
Fertility

Agrimony
Protection, Sleep

Ague Root
Protection

Alfalfa
Prosperity, Anti-hunger, Money

Alkanet
Purification, Prosperity

Allspice
Money, Luck, Healing

Almond
Money, Prosperity, Wisdom

Aloe
Protection, Luck

Aloes, Wood
Love, Spirituality

Althea
Protection, Psychic Powers

Alyssum
Protection, Moderating Anger

Amaranth
Healing, Protection, Invisibility

Anemone
Health, Protection, Healing

Angelica
Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions

Apple
Love, Healing, Garden Magic, Immortality

Apricot
Love

Arabic Gum
Purify negativity and evil

Arbutus
Exorcism, Protection

Asafetida
Exorcism, Purification, Protection

Ash
Protection, Prosperity, Sea Rituals, Health

Aspen
Eloquence, Anti-Theft

Aster
Love

Avens
Exorcism, Purification, Love

Avocado
Love, Lust, Beauty

Bachelor's Buttons
Love

Balm, Lemon
Love, Success, Healing

Balm of Gilead
Love, Manifestations, Protection, Healing

Bamboo
Protection, Luck, Hex-Breaking, Wishes

Banana
Fertility, Potency, Prosperity

Banyan
Luck

Barley
Love, Healing, Protection

Basil
Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection

Bay
Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing, Purification, Strength

Bean
Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliations, Potency, Love

Bedstraw/Fragrant
Love

Beech
Wishes

Beet
Love

Benzoin
Purification, Prosperity

Bergamot, Orange
Money

Be-Still
Luck

Betony/wood
Protection, Purification, Love

Birch
Protection, Exorcism, Purification

Bistort
Psychic Powers, Fertility

Bittersweet
Protection, Healing

Blackberry
Healing, Money, Protection

Bladderwrack
Protection, Sea Spells, Wind Spells, Money, Psychic Powers

Bleeding Heart
Love

Bloodroot
Love, Protection, Purification

Bluebell
Luck, Truth

Blueberry
Protection

Blue Flag
Money

Bodhi
Fertility, Protection, Wisdom, Meditation

Boneset
Protection, Exorcism

Borage
Courage, Psychic Powers

Bracken
Healing, Rune Magic, Prophetic Dreams

Brazil Nut
Love

Briony
Image Magic, Money, Protection

Bromelaid
Protection, Money

Broom
Purification, Protection, Wind Spells, Divination

Buchu
Psychic Powers, Prophetic Dreams

Buckthorn
Protection, Exorcism, Wishes, Legal Matters

Buckwheat
Money, Protection

Burdock
Protection, Healing

Cabbage
Luck

Cactus
Protection, Chastity

Calamus
Luck, Healing, Money, Protection

Camellia
Riches

Camphor
Chastity, Health, Divination

Caper
Potency, Lust, Luck

Caraway
Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-theft, Mental Powers

Cardamon
Lust, Love

Carnation
Protection, Strength, Healing

Carob
Protection, Health

Carrot
Fertility, Lust

Cascara Sagrada
Legal Matters, Money, Protection

Cashew
Money

Castor
Protection

Catnip
Cat Magic, Love, Beauty, Happiness

Cattail
Lust

Cedar
Healing, Purification, Money, Protection

Celandine
Protection, Escape, Happiness, Legal Matters

Celery
Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers

Centaury
Snake Removing

Chamomile
Money, Sleep, Love, Purification

Cherry
Love, Divination

Chestnut
Love

Chickweed
Fertility, Love

Chicory
Removing Obstacles, Invisibility, Favors, Frigidity

Chili pepper
Fidelity, Hex Breaking, Love

China Berry
Luck

Chrysanthemum
Protection

Cinchona
Luck, Protection

Cinnamon
Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust, Protection, Love

Cinquefoil
Money, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Sleep

Citron
Psychic Powers, Healing

Cloth of Gold
Understand animal languages

Clove
Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money

Clover
Protection, Money, Love, fidelity, Exorcism, Success

Club Moss
Protection, Power

Coconut
Purification, Protection, Chastity

Cohosh, Black
Love, Courage, Protection, Potency

Coltsfoot
Love, Visions

Columbine
Courage, Love

Comfrey
Safety During Travel, Money

Copal
Love, Purification

Coriander
Love, Health, Healing

Corn
Protection, Luck, Divination

Cotton
Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, Fishing Magic

Cowslip
Healing, Youth, Treasure Finding

Crocus
Love, Visions

Cubeb
Love

Cuckoo-flower
Fertility, Lover

Cucumber
Chastity, Healing, Fertility

Cumin
Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism

Curry
Protection

Cyclamen
Fertility, Protection, Happiness, Lust

Cypress
Longevity, Healing, Comfort, Protection

Daffodil
Love, Fertility, Luck

Daisy
Lust, Luck

Damiana
Lust, Love, Visions

Dandelion
Divination, Wishes, Calling Spirits

Datura
Hex Breaking, Sleep, Protection

Deerstongue
Lust, Psychic Powers

Devils Bit
Exorcism, Love, Protection, Lust

Devils Shoestring
Protection, Gambling, Luck, Power, Employment

Dill
Protection, Money, Lust, Luck

Dittany of Crete
Manifestations, Astral Projection

Dock
Healing, Fertility, Money

Dodder
Love, Divination, Knot Magic

Dogbane
Love

Dogwood
Wishes, Protection

Dragons Blood
Love, Protection, Exorcism, Potency

Dulse
Lust, Harmony

Dutchman's-breeches
Love

Ebony
Protection, Power

Echinacea
Strengthening Spells

Edelweiss
Invisibility, Bullet-Proofing

Elder
Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Prosperity, Sleep

Elecampane
Love, Protection, Psychic Powers

Elm
Love

Endive
Lust, Love

Eryngo
Travelers Luck, Peace, Lust, Love

Eucalyptus
Healing, Protection

Euphorbia
Purification, Protection

Eyebright
Mental Powers, Psychic Power

Fennel
Protection, Healing, Purification

Fenugreek
Money

Fern
Rain Making, Protection, Luck, Riches, Eternal Youth, Health, Exorcism

Feverfew
Protection

Fig
Divination, Fertility, Love

Figwort
Health, Protection

Flax
Money, Protection, Beauty, Psychic Powers, Healing

Fleabane
Exorcism, Protection, Chastity

Foxglove
Protection

Frankincense
Protection, Exorcism, Spirituality

Fumitory
Money, Exorcism

Fuzzy Weed
Love, Hunting

Galangal
Protection, Lust, Health, Money, Psychic Powers, Hex Breaking

Gardenia
Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality

Garlic
Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Anti-Theft

Gentian
Love, Power

Geranium
Fertility, Health, Love, Protection

Ginger
Love, Money, Success, Power

Ginseng
Love, Wishes, Healing, Beauty, Protection, Lust

Goats Rue
Healing, Health

Goldenrod
Money, Divination

Golden Seal
Healing, Money

Gorse
Protection, Money

Gotu Kola
Meditation

Gourd
Protection

Grain
Protection

Grains of Paradise
Lust, Luck, Love, Money, Wishes

Grape
Fertility, Garden Magic, Mental Powers, Money

Grass
Psychic Powers, Protection

Ground Ivy
Divination

Groundsel
Health, Healing

Hawthorn
Fertility, Chastity, Fishing Magic, Happiness

Hazel
Luck, Fertility, Anti-Lightning, Protection, Wishes

Heather
Protection, Rain Making, Luck

Heliotrope
Exorcism, Prophetic dreams, Healing, Wealth, Invisibility

Hellebore, Black *POISON*
Protection

Hemlock *POISON*
Destroy Sexual Drives

Hemp
Healing, Love, Vision, Meditation

Henbane
POISON Not used

Henna
Healing

Hibiscus
Lust, Love, Divination

Hickory
Legal Matters

High John the Conqueror
Money, Love, Success, Happiness

Holly
Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magic

Honesty
Money, Repelling Monsters

Honeysuckle
Money, Psychic Powers, Protection

Hops
Healing, Sleep

Horehound
Protection, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Healing

Horse Chestnut
Money, Healing

Horseradish
Purification, Exorcism

Horsetail
Snake Charming, Fertility

Hound's-tongue
Tying Dogs Tongues

Houseleek
Luck, Protection, Love

Huckleberry
Luck, Protection, Dream Magic, Hex Breaking

Hyacinth
Love, Protection, Happiness

Hydrangea
Hex Breaking

Hyssop
Purification, Protection

Indian Paint Brush
Love

Iris
Purification, Wisdom

Irish Moss
Money, Luck, Protection

Ivy
Protection, Healing

Jasmine
Love, Money, Prophetic Dreams

Jobs Tears
Healing, Wishes, Luck

Joe-pye weed
Love, Respect

Juniper
Protection, Anti-theft, Love, Exorcism, Health

Kava-Kava
Visions, Protection, Luck

Knotweed
Binding, Health

Lady's mantle
Love

Lady's slipper
Protection

Larch
Protection, Anti theft

Larkspur
Health, Protection

Lavender
Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace

Leek
Love, Protection, Exorcism

Lemon
Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship

Lemongrass
Repel Snakes, Lust, Psychic Powers

Lemon Verbena
Purification, Love

Lettuce
Chastity, Protection, Love, Divination, Sleep

Licorice
Love, Lust, Fidelity

Life Everlasting
Longevity, Health, Healing

Lilac
Exorcism, Protection

Lily
Protection, Breaking Love Spells

Lily of the Valley
Mental Powers, Happiness

Lime
Healing, Love, Protection

Linden
Protection, Immortality, Luck, Love, Sleep

Liquidambar
Protection

Liverwort
Protection, Love

Loosestrife
Peace, Protection

Lotus
Protection, Lock-Opening

Lovage
Love

Love Seed
Love, Friendship

Lucky Hand
Employment, Luck, Protection, Money, Travel

Mace
Psychic Powers, Mental Powers

Maguey
Lust

Magnolia
Fidelity

Mahogany, mountain
Anti-Lightning

Maidenhair
Beauty, Love

Male Fern
Luck, Love

Mallow
Love, Protection, Exorcism

Mandrake
Protection, Love, Money, Fertility, Health

Maple
Love, Longevity, Money

Marigold
Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers

Marjoram
Protection, Love, Happiness, Health, Money

Master Wort
Strength, Courage, Protection

Mastic
Psychic Powers, Manifestations, Lust

May Apple
Money

Meadow Rue
Divination

Meadowsweet
Love, Divination, Peace, Happiness

Mesquite
Healing

Mimosa
Protection, Love, Prophetic Dreams, Purification

Mint
Money, Love, Lust, Healing, Exorcism, Travel, Protection

Mistletoe
Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism

Molucca
Protection

Moonwort
Money, Love

Moss
Luck, Money

Mugwort
Strength, Psychic Powers, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Astral Projection

Mulberry
Protection, Strength

Mullein
Courage, Protection, Health, Love, Divination, Exorcism

Mustard
Fertility, Protection, Mental Powers

Myrrh
Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Spirituality

Myrtle
Love, Fertility, Youth, Peace, Money

Nettle
Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Lust

Norfolk Island Pine
Protection, Anti-Hunger

Nuts
Fertility, Prosperity, Love, Luck

Oak
Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck

Oats
Money

Olive
Healing, Peace, Fertility, Potency, Protection, Lust

Onion
Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Money, Prophetic Dreams, Lust

Orange
Love, Divination, Luck, Money

Orchid
Love

Oregon Grape
Money, Prosperity

Orris
Love, Protection, Divination

Palm, Date
Fertility, Potency

Pansy
Love, Rain Magic, Divination

Papaya
Love, Protection

Papyrus
Protection

Parosela
Hunting

Parsley
Love, Protection, Purification

Passion Flower
Peace, Sleep, Friendship

Patchouly
Money, Fertility, Lust

Pea
Money, Love

Peach
Love, Exorcism, Longevity,. Fertility, Wishes

Pear
Lust, Love

Pecan
Money, Employment

Pennyroyal
Strength, Protection, Peace

Peony
Protection, Exorcism

Pepper
Protection, Exorcism

Peppermint
Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers

Pepper Tree
Purification, Healing, Protection

Periwinkle
Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Money, Protection

Persimmon
Changing Sex, Healing, Luck

Plot Weed
Protection

Pimento
Love

Pimpernel
Protection, Health

Pine
Healing, Fertility, Protection, Exorcism, Money

Pineapple
Luck, Money, Chastity

Pipsissewa
Money, Spirit Calling

Pistachio
Breaking Love Spells

Plantain
Healing, Protection, Strength, Snake Repelling

Plum
Healing

Plumeria
Love

Poke
Courage, Hex Breaking

Pomegranate
Divination, Luck, Wishes, Wealth, Fertility

Poplar
Money, Flying

Poppy
Fertility, Love, Sleep, Money, Luck, Invisibility

Potato
Image Magic, Healing

Prickly Ash
Love

Primrose
Protection, Love

Purslane
Sleep, Love, Luck, Protection, Happiness

Quassia
Love

Quince
Protection, Love, Happiness

Radish
Protection, Lust

Ragweed
Courage

Ragwort
Protection

Raspberry
Protection, Love

Rattlesnake Root
Protection, Money

Rhubarb
Protection, Fidelity

Rice
Protection, Rain, Fertility, Money

Roots
Protection, Power, Divination

Rose
Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Love, Divination, Luck, Protection

Rosemary
Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep

Rowan
Psychic Powers, Healing, Protection, Power, Success

Rue
Healing, Health, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Love

Rye
Love, Fidelity

Saffron
Love, Healing, Happiness, Wind Raising, Lust, Strength, Psychic Powers.

Sage
Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes

Sagebrush
Purification, Exorcism

St. John's Wort
Health, Power, Protection, Strength, Love, Divination, Happiness

Sandalwood
Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Spirituality

Sarsaparilla
Love, Money

Sassafras
Health, Money

Savory/Summer
Mental Powers

Skullcap
Love, Fidelity, Peace

Senna
Love

Sesame
Money, Lust

Shallot
Purification

Skunk Cabbage
Legal Matters

Slippery Elm
Halts Gossip

Sloe
Exorcism, Protection

Snakeroot
Luck, Money

Snakeroot/black
Love, Lust, Money

Snapdragon
Protection

Solomons Seal
Protection, Exorcism

Sorrel Wood
Healing, Health

Southern Wood
Love, Lust, Protection

Spanish Moss
Protection

Spearmint
Healing, Love, Mental Powers

Spiderwort
Love

Spikenard
Love

Squill
Money, Protection, Hex Breaking

Star Anise
Psychic Powers, Luck

Stillengia
Psychic Powers

Straw
Luck, Image Magic

Strawberry
Love, Luck

Sugar Cane
Love, Lust

Sumbul
Love, Luck, Health, Psychic Powers

Sunflower
Fertility, Wishes, Health, Wisdom

Sweetgrass
Calling Spirits

Sweetpea
Friendship, Chastity, Courage, Strength

Tamarind
Love

Tamarisk
Exorcism, Protection

Tansy
Health, Longevity

Tea
Riches, Courage, Strength

Thistle
Strength, Protection, Hex Breaking, Healing

Thistle/holy
Purification, Hex Breaking

Thistle/milk
Snake Enraging

Thyme
Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage

Ti
Protection, Healing

Toadflax
Protection, Hex Breaking

Toadstool
Rain Making

Tobacco
Healing, Purification

Turmeric
Purification

Turnip
Protection, Ending Relationships

Uva Ursa
Psychic Workings

Valerian
Love, Sleep, Purification, Protection

Vanilla
Love, Lust, Mental Powers

Venus Flytrap
Protection, Love

Vervain
Love, Protection, Purification, Peace, Money, Youth, Chastity, Sleep, Healing

Vetch, Giant
Fidelity

Vertivert
Love, Hex Breaking, Luck, Money, Anti-Theft

Violet
Protection, Luck, Love, Lust, Wishes, Peace, Healing

Wahoo
Hex-breaking, Courage, Success

Walnut
Health, Mental Powers, Infertility, Wishes

Wax Plant
Protection

Wheat
Fertility, Money

Willow
Love, Divination, Protection, Healing

Wintergreen
Protection, Healing, Hex Breaking

Winter's Bark
Success

Witch Grass
Happiness, Lust, Love, Exorcism

Witch Hazel
Protection, Chastity

Wolf's Bane
Protection, Invisibility

Wood Rose
Luck

Woodruff
Victory, Protection, Money

Wormwood
Psychic Powers, Protection, Love, Calling Spirits

Yarrow
Courage, Love, Psychic Powers, Exorcism

Yellow Evening Primrose
Hunting

Yerba Mate
Fidelity, Love, Lust

Yerba Santa
Beauty, Healing, Psychic Powers, Protection

Yew
Raising the Dead

Yohimbe
Love, Lust

Yucca
Transmutation, Protection, Purification

Aromatherapy and Magic

2008-06-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

APPLE: Peace of mind, relaxation, love, wisdom.

BAYBERRY: Luck to the home, money to the pocket.

BURGAMOT: Protection from harm.

CEDAR: Instills confidence, protection from misery and misfortune.

CINNAMON: raise and enhance spiritual vibrations, stimulate clairvoyance, aids focus and concentration, good for personal protection.

CITRONELLA: Attracts friends and customers, protection from insects.

CLOVE: Strengthens memory, protects from hostile negative forces.

EUCALYPTUS: Promotes healing of any hurt, depression or illness. Especially good for colds or flu.

FRANKENCENSE: Frees one of obsessions and destructive habits, brings spiritual blessings, protects, exorcises, purifies.

HELIOTROPE: Increases clairvoyance, assists meditation, protects from physical harm.

HONEYSUCKLE: Aids in understanding non-physical realities, sharpens intuition, brings prosperity.

JASMINE: Psychic protection, cleanses the aura, stimulates - creativity and originality, attracts spiritual love.

LAVENDER: Frees from emotional stress, brings inner calm and peace, gives increased awareness, brings stability and permanence, good for headaches.

LEMON: Evokes protective spirits.

LILAC: Helps recall past lives, draws good spirits, helps decision making, improves memory.

MUSK: Instills self assurance, confidence and strength, heightens passions.

MYRRH: Guards against evil, brings peace, assists in understanding personal sorrow.

ORANGE: Brings harmony, raises power.

PINE: Cleanses, ends useless recriminations.

ROSE: Unconditional love, peace, harmony, tranquillity.

SAGE: Powerful clearing and cleansing, removes negative energy.

SANDALWOOD: Stimulates clairvoyance, aids in seeing past lives, healing, clearing, protection, calms the mind.

SWEETGRASS: Invokes spiritual blessings, aids transformation.

VANILLA: Vitalizes energy, brings happy occasions to the premises, draws good fortune.

Body Oils

2008-06-25T13:28:00.000-07:00

Acne Oil
1/2 tsp (or 30 drops) Helichrysum Absolute. I prefer 1/2 tsp as it is very thick
2 oz Rose Hip Seed Oil
Place oils in an amber or cobalt glass bottle. I slightly warmed bottled mixture in a water bath to blend the oils. Shake well.

To apply: Cleanse skin thoroughly, pat dry and apply just a few drops of this oil and massage in well. I have my daughter using our Comfrey Root & Lavender home made vegetable soap. She is applying the oil mix 2 times per day.

Now it was mentioned to me that the addition of Tea Tree and Lavender would also be beneficial and that the rosehip seed oil might be a bit too heavy for young skin. But we have tried many of these combinations with not the success we have had now. My daughter finds the rosehip seed oil to be soothing and within 15 min it is completely absorbed, and also important to a teenager, the odor is not objectionable. She did find the Tea Tree pleasing.

Rose hip seed oil is wonderful in cases of inflamation and does provide important essential fatty acids. So with this combination what we have seen is healing without the extra irritation, which is what we were looking for.

Best Ever Body Oil
1 Tbsp Avocado Oil
20 drops Jojoba Oil
15 drops Carrot Seed EO
800 IU Vitamin E
8 drops Rose Geranium EO
2 drops Lemon EO
2 drops Sandalwood EO
2 drops Chamomile EO

Mix all ingredients except the EOs. Then, add the carrot seed EO and mix.
Add the rest of the EOs and mix well. Store in glass container.
Source: Natural Body Basics Making Your Own Cosmetics by Dorie Byers

Chamomile and Sage Massage Oil
15 drops Sage and Chamomile Perfume Oil (or 15 drops perfume oil of choice)
1/2 C Mineral Oil
1/4 C Castor Oil
1/4 C Sweet Almond Oil
Combine all appropriate in a bottle and shake gently until well blended.

DreamTouch Massage Oil
4 drops Clary Sage
3 drops Ylang Ylang
5 drops Neroli

Place in 1/4 cup fractionated coconut or your favorite carrier, then rub slowly and softly.

Ginger Oil
Good for arthritis. Make bath blend of:
4 parts Ginger (steam distilled essential oil)
2 parts Lavender
2 parts Rosemary
2 parts Lemon Eucalyptus
Put 10 drops of the essential oil mixture into either 1/4 cup of honey or 1/4 cup of bath salts and then add the solution to warm-hot (98-105 degree) bath water.

Massage Oil
For trouble spots
2 Tbsp Carrier Oil
10 drops Lavender
8 drops Rosemary
4 drops Ginger
3 drops Peppermint
Store in a dark bottle. Shake bottle before using in the morning and evening.

Erotic Massage Oil - Arabian Nights
Coriander 3 drops
Frankincense 3 drops
Lime 2 drops
Rose 2 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil - Tonight Josephine
Bergamot 2 drops
Jasmine 4 drops
Lavender 2 drops
Petitgrain 2 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil - Titania
Bergamot 3 drops
Lavender 2 drops
Neroli 3 drops
Vetiver 1 drop
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil - Velvet Seduction
Rose 2 drops
Sandalwood 5 drops
Ylang Ylang 2 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil - Eros
Coriander 3 drops
Ginger 1 drop
Sandalwood 6 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil - Sultry Nights and Roses
Geranium 3 drops
Patchouli 2 drops
Rose 3 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Erotic Massage Oil
Clary Sage 2 drops
Geranium 1 drop
Jasmine 4 drops
Add to 25ml base oil.
From Erotic Aromatherapy by Chrissie Wildwood

Pre-menstrual Blend
10 Drops Geranium
15 Drops Lavender
5 Drops German Chamomile
3 Drops Cypress

Diffuse this blend or place essential oils in 4 oz of fractionated coconut or your favorite carrier oil. Rub on abdomen as necessary.

Stretch Mark Massage Oil
1 oz cocoa butter, melted
1/2 oz flaxseed oil
1/4 oz rose hip seed oil
1/4 oz wheat germ oil
10 drops lavender oil
8 drops neroli oil
4 drops vetiver oil
Blend the melted cocoa butter, flaxseed oil rose hip seed oil and wheat germ oil. Transfer the mixture to a clean jar. As it begins to cool ad solidify, add the essential oils. Allow the mixture to cool to a comfortable temperature before using it. Massage the oil into your skin once or twice daily.
From the "Aromatherapy For Vibrant Health and Beauty" by Roberta Wilson Contributed by

Body Wraps

2008-06-25T12:37:00.000-07:00

Spa Style Herbal Body Wrap
6 cups very hot water
1/2 cup dried chamomile
1/2 cup dried rosemary
1/4 cup fresh mint or peppermint leaves
Cheesecloth or wide cotton gauze
Linen or loose-weave cotton, cut into long strips 4 to 6 inches wide
Roll of plastic wrap

Bring the water to a boil and remove it from the heat (or pour it into a stoppered sink). Wrap the herbs in the cheesecloth or gauze, making a large bundle, and push them down into the water with a large spoon or other utensil. Cover the infusion to contain the steam and allow it to sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Uncover the herbal infusion, stir it once or twice, and add the long strips of linen or cotton. When the fabric is saturated, wring it out and wrap the strips around your body (like a mummy) except your head, lower arms, and feet. The infusion and fabric should be hot,butnot so hot they will burn you! When you're done, repeat the wrapping process by covering the fabric with the plastic wrap.

Make a cold compress for your head and pour yourself a cool glass of water to sip while you rest. Now lie down, relax and let the herbs do their work. Leave the wrapping on your body for no more than 15 to 20 minutes; then unwrap and cool your body for another 15 minutes before showering.

HINT: If you have high blood pressure, heart problems, or other medical conditions, such high-heat situations may be harmful. Be sure to consult your doctor if you have health problems and want to do this procedure.
From "The Natural Beauty and Bath Book" by Casey Keller

Herbal Body Wrap
1 cup of your favorite herb or combination of herbs
Large beach towel or cotton sheets
Plastic drop cloth or shower curtain

Fill a large sink or bucket with very hot (but not boiling) water. Pour in your herbs and allow to steep for 5 minutes. Add the beach towel or sheets.

Lay the plastic drop cloth on your bed. Wring out the towel or sheets and wrap around your body. Lie down on the bed and have your partner help you wrap yourself in the plastic drop cloth. Cover yourself with blankets and lie quietly for 10 minutes --no more. Don't overdo it. Try not to talk or be distracted.

Slowly unwrap yourself and get up.
From "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox

Bath Teas

2008-06-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Seccret Garden Bath Tea
1 tsp lavender flowers (dried)
1 tsp rose petals (dried)
1/2 tsp lemon balm (dried)
1/4 tsp rosemary (dried)
1/8 tsp spearmint (dried) (just to give it a bit of a snap)
4 drops lavender EO
2 drops rose EO
1 drop patchouli EO
Mix well, put into heat sealable teabag. This is for one bag.

Stress-Relief Bath Tea
1.5 cup epsom salt
1cup sea salt
1cup lavender
1cup chamomile
30 drops lavender eo
(or you can add chamomile eo as well if you wish)

Mix in large bowl. Makes about 14 1/4cup baths

Stress-Relief Bath Tea 2
Spearmint
Peppermint
Rosemary
Sage
Lemon Verbena
Thyme
Lavender Buds
Calendula Petals

Lady's Herbal Bath
Steep 1/4 cup each of:
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme
Whole Cloves
Steep in 2 qts water like tea, strain if necessary, or use a muslin bag.
Pour in bath water and relax for 20 minutes, Water maybe slightly brown, but, thats okay.

Bath Oils

2008-06-25T12:31:00.000-07:00

Lemon Grass, Coriander and Clove Bath
2 tbsp almond oil
2 drops of lemon grss oil, corianderoil, clove oil
Measure almond oil into a small bowl
Slowly add all the oils
Mix ingredients and pour into running water
This bath helps stimulate the circulation and relive suffering joints and muscles

Gentle Arthritis Bath
15 drops Lavender
5 drops Clary Sage
10 drops Geranium
3 drops Ylang Ylang.
Place oils in bath under running water.Warm is sometimes better than hot.... Rinse thoroughly when finished.
Light a candle and make sure you can relax with no interruptions.

Eros Bath
4 drops Sandalwood
4 drops Ginger
4 drops Rose
2 drops Ylang Ylang

Place oils under running water. Share this bath with a partner

Bath Oil
Dried cones, pods, twigs, grasses, vine tendrils, rose hips and petals, statice, lamb's ears, nigella, baby's breath, larkspur and everlastings.

7 ounces light oil - sweet almond, castor, canola, apricot, grapeseed or a combination.

1 Tablespoon vitamin E oil.
1 teaspoon lilac or lily of the valley floral oil.

Mix the oils in a separate container, then pour over the dried material, which has been placed in a bottle. You put 2 Tablespoons in a bath.

Foaming Bath Oil
6 oz vodka (I added some red pigment to this)
12 oz light mineral oil ( veggie oils would work too)
1 oz Roberts bubble bath
1/2 to 1 tsp eo

It disperses very well when shaken. If you want more foaming, you'd need to add more bubble bath.

Tropical Bath Oil
1/2 C. Apricot kernel oil
10 drops each, perfume oils:
mango; coconut; gardenia
1 T. Glycerin
1 drop orange food coloring (optional)
Combine all ingredients in a bottle and shake gently until well blended.

Dispersing Bath Oil
1 whole egg
1/2 cup baby, mineral oil
2 tsp liquid detergent (maybe shredded soap?)
1/4 cup vodka
2 Tbs honey
1/4 cup whole milk
fo/eo to suit
liquid food coloring

Mix all ingredients in blender for 30 seconds. Use only 1-2 Tbs of oil per bath...shelf life at room temp is about 18 months.
From Super Formulas by Elaine White

Bath Oil Beads
This recipe is a variation of the rose bath beads in Kelly Reno's book "Oils, Lotions and Other Luxuries".

.25 cup powdered milk
2 Tbs white flour
2 Tbs borax powder
.25 cup distilled water
2 tsp mineral oil
10 drips lilac FO
food coloring

Combine milk, flour, and borax, mixing well. Now add water, oil, FO, and food coloring to form a thick dough. 1 tsp of dough, roll and dry for at least 24 hours.

PMS Bath Oil
Combination 1 – essential oils
3 drops clary sage
3 drops lavender
2 drops rose absolute or otto

Combination 2 – essential oils
2 drops clary sage
3 drops lavender
2 drops Roman chamomile
2 drops rose geranium

For bath – add either combination of oils directly to tub full of warm bath water and mix well.
For bloating – add oils to 1/2 oz. base oil and 2 drops of juniper and massage into the abdomen.
Base Oils – Sweet almond oil, jojoba or grapeseed oil
From “The Essential Oils Book” by Colleen K. Dodt Page 88

Aftershaves

2008-06-25T12:24:00.000-07:00

Cooling Aftershave
* 1/2 C pure Aloe Vera Gel
1 Tbsp. water
2 tsp. 100 proof vodka
2 tsp. witchhazel
1/4 tsp. fo or eo of choice
Simply blend all together and put in a container of choice

Aftershave
This recipe is from "The Herbal Body Book" by Stephanie Tourles.
2 cups witch hazel
1 sprig fresh rosemary
1 sprig mint of choice
1 stick cinnamon
5-10 whole cloves
2 strips fresh orange peel cut into spirals
2 strips fresh lemon peel cut into spirals
15 drops of tincture of benzoin
Place all in bottle. Cap tightly and store for 2 weeks. Use and enjoy.
I would assume skip the herbs and add FO. Don't think you would need tinc of benzoin. Probably used for preservative while using fresh herbs.

Aftershave
This month's issue (Aug '97) of the Herb Companion has an article by Janice Cox on herbal skin care for men. Most of the recipes are pretty basic, with just two or three ingredients. The following is one I want to try:
1 C Vodka
2 tsp Dried yarrow
1 Tbls dried lavender flowers
1 Tbls dried sage leaves
1 dried bay leaf
1 Tbls honey (optional-add for dry skin)
Mix ingredients together, and pour into a clean jar with tight fitting lid. Place the jar in a dark, cool place for two weeks. At the end of two weeks, strain off the liquid and discard any solids; pour the strained liquid into a clean container. You can also create stronger scents by adding a few drops of essential oil, or by adding more dry herbs and allowing the mixture to sit another week.

Aftershave
1 cup distilled water
1/2 cup vodka
2 tsp vegetable glycerin
1 dropper full of scent
The scent and the glycerin have to be put into the vodka before the water is added and stirred up real nice. Then add the water. The glycerin does make the solution white though so I ended up using 2 drops of yellow food color and 1 drop of red to make a peach color. Turned out really great!

Bay Rum Aftershave
For a nice Bay Rum Aftershave you can fill a quart size canning jar with bay leaves. Then fill it up with your Vodka or Everclear and leave about 2 inches of room at the top. Fill up the rest of the way with a nice oil like olive, or maybe fractionated coconut oil. Put the lid on the jar and let it sit for a couple of days shaking it now and then.
After your couple of days have passed strain out the bay leaves and pour your liquid into a gallon size container.
Then add 10 ounces of Rum
1 pint of Vodka or Everclear
1 teaspoon of cinnamon
1/2 ounce of tincture of benzoin
1 oz of glycerin
3 quarts of distilled water
Let this sit for a few days and its done and you have a whole gallon of it!

Sensual
This blend of EOs to add to your favourite aftershave base recipe.
4 parts rosewood eo
4 parts orange eo
2 parts vanilla eo
4 parts patchouli eo
4 parts ylangylang eo
2 parts oakmoss eo
2 parts lavender eo
4 parts grapefruit eo
2 parts clove bud eo
1 part cinnamon leaf eo
Mix in a dark bottle and leave for 4 days to blend.

Mabon Moon Cider

2008-06-24T00:44:00.000-07:00

4 cups apple cider
1/2 tsp. whole cloves
4 cups grape juice
additional cinnamon sticks
2 cinnamon sticks for cups, 6 inches long
1 tsp allspice
In a 4-quart saucepan, heat cider and grape juice. Add cinnamon, allspice and cloves. Bring just to boiling. Lower heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
Serve with ladle from a cauldron. Makes 8 cups.

Blackberry Wine

2008-06-24T00:43:00.000-07:00

3 pounds of blackberries
3 pounds of sugar
1 gallon of boiling water

Wash berries, put in large bowl and pour over them the boiling water. Stir well, then cover the bowl and leave for ten days. Strain liquid through muslin, add the three pounds of sugar and stir well. Cover the bowl and leave for three days, but stir daily. Put into bottles and cork, loosely at first. The wine will be ready to drink in six months.

Dandelion Wine

2008-06-24T00:42:00.000-07:00

2 quarts dandelion flowers
3 pounds sugar
1 ounce yeast
1 lemon
1 orange
1 gallon boiling water

Pick the dandelions on a sunny day. Pick just the heads until you have two quart jugs full. Wash flowers and put into a large bowl. Slice orange, lemon thinly and add to the flowerheads. Pour boiling water on top of them, stir well. Cover bowl, leave for ten days, no more. Strain liquid into another bowl, stir in the 3 pounds sugar. Spread the yeast on a piece of toast, and float on top. Cover the bowl and leave for another 3 days. Remove the toast, strain again, and bottle. Cork loosely at first. The wine will be ready to drink in 3 months.

Ginger Beer

2008-06-24T00:41:00.002-07:00

For The Starter:
1/2 Ounce Yeast
2 Teaspoons Sugar

To Feed The “Plant”:
7 Teaspoons Ground Ginger
7 Teaspoons Sugar

To Flavour:
1 1/2 Pounds Sugar
Juice Of 2 Lemons

Mix starter ingredients with 3/4 pint of warm water in a glass jar. Stir, cover and leave in a warm place for 24 hours. This is your starter “plant”. Feed the “plant” with 1 teaspoon each of ground ginger and sugar each day. After 7 days strain through a fine sieve. Dissolve the sugar in 2 pints of water. Add the lemon juice and the liquid from the “plant”. Dilute with 5 pints of water, mix well and store in corked bottles for at least 7 days.
Use strong bottles as pressure may build up which will cause thin bottles to explode. For the same reason use corked bottles rather than those with a more secure closure that will not ‘give’ under pressure.
The amount of sugar in the final stage can be varied according to taste.

Pecan Pie

2008-06-24T00:41:00.001-07:00

1-1/4 Cups Pecan Pieces
2 Eggs, Slightly Beaten
1 Cup Light Karo Syrup
1/4 Cup Sugar
2 Tablespoons Flour
1/4 Teaspoon Salt
1 Teaspoon Vanilla.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Spread pecans in an unbaked 9-inch pie shell. Mix remaining ingredients together and pour over pecans. Bake slowly at 375 degrees until done, approximately 1 hour. Hint: Cover the edges of the pie crust with foil about halfway through baking to prevent crust from getting too brown before the pie is done.

ROAST FILLET OF BEEF

2008-06-24T00:40:00.000-07:00

1 Fillet of beef (5-6 lb) trimmed
5 Garlic cloves, slivered
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Freshly ground pepper
Tabasco sauce
1 cup Soy sauce
1/2 cup Olive oil
1 cup Port wine
2 teaspoons Thyme
1 bunch Watercress

To prepare the fillet, make slits in it and put slivers of garlic in the slits. Rub well with salt, pepper and Tabasco. Combine the soy sauce, olive oil, port and herbs and place the fillet in this marinade in a baking dish for at least 1/2 hour unrefrigerated, or an hour or more in the refrigerator. Turn several times while it is marinating. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.
Place the fillet on a rack in a roasting pan. Roast for 30-35 minutes, basting occasionally with the marinade. A meat thermometer should register 120~ for very rare, 125~ for rare, 130~ for medium-rare. After it is removed from the oven, the internal temperature will rise as much as another 10~. Allow the fillet to rest, covered with foil, up to 30 minutes. If it needs to sit longer, you might try a catering trick: Wrap the fillet, just out of the oven, in plastic wrap.
Unwrap just before slicing. Cut into slices and place on a warm platter; garnish with sprigs of watercress.

Honey Whole Wheat Bread

2008-06-24T00:37:00.002-07:00

9 cups whole-wheat flour
4 teaspoons salt
2 pkg. active dry yeast
1 1/2 cups milk
1 1/2 cups water
6 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup honey

Sift together 3 cups flour, salt, and yeast. Combine milk, water, butter, and honey in a saucepan and heat over low heat until liquids are warm (butter need not melt completely). Gradually add to dry ingredients and beat 2 minutes. Add remaining flour a cup full at a time until a soft dough forms. Turn out onto lightly floured surface and allow to rest 10 minutes. Knead until smooth and elastic, about 10 minutes. Place in large greased bowl and turn to grease all sides of dough. Cover and allow to rise in a warm place until doubled in bulk, about one hour.
Punch dough down and turn out onto lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half and shape each half into a loaf. Place into greased loaf pans. Cover and let rise in warm place until double in bulk, about one hour. Bake at 375 degrees for 35-40 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.

Corn Bread Ear Sticks

2008-06-24T00:37:00.001-07:00

Purchase an iron mold shaped like little ears of corn in flea markets or kitchen supply shops, or look in grandma’s kitchen wherever she keeps her bakeware - there just might be one there already! Grease lightly and preheat in a 425 degree oven. You will need:
3/4 cup Flour
3/4 cup Yellow Corn Meal
1/4 cup Sugar
3/4 teaspoon Salt
2 teaspoons Baking Powder
2 Eggs
1 cup Milk (or Buttermilk if you prefer)
1/4 cup Shortening
Sift dry ingredients together. Add milk, eggs, shortening, and beat until smooth. Pour into preheated and greased molds and bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.

Blackberry Pie

2008-06-24T00:36:00.002-07:00

(Makes one nine-inch pie)
4 cups fresh blackberries (thawed frozen is okay)
1-1/2 cups sugar
1/3 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
Unbaked pie crust

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Line a deep pie dish with the pie crust, or purchase a commercially-made one. Set aside. Mix all other ingredients together in a large mixing bowl. If it appears too “wet”, mix in a little more flour (about 2 tablespoons). Turn the fruit into the pie shell and dot with butter or margarine. You can bake the pie as is, or cover it with another pie crust. If you do this, pinch down the ends to hold it to the other crust. Then score the top several times with a sharp knife. Bake for 1 hour, or until the top crust is a golden brown. (Note: A sugar-free version can be made by substituting appropriate amounts of artificial sweetener.)

Calendula & Plantain Ointment

2008-06-24T00:36:00.001-07:00

A good all around ointment to soothe irritated skin..

1/2 cup dried Calendula petals
1/2 cup dried Plantain leaves
olive oil to cover
about 1 Tbl. beeswax

Place herbs in glass bowl over simmering water (or double broiler),
cover with oil. Warm the oil stirring often for about 2 - 3 hours.
Strain out the herbs and discard.

Place herb oil back in bowl over steaming water and add enough beeswax
to create the desired consistency. Pour into lip balm jars.

Make Your Own Natural Bug Repellents

2008-06-24T00:35:00.000-07:00

By Tina Samuels

All natural bug repellents are becoming more common over their toxic
counterparts. Why not try to make up your own natural bug repellent
and see the different in the lack of fumes (some even smell really
good!) and the cheaper price. Most all of these bug repellents
incorporate essential oils.

Tick Repellent
20 drops rose essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Tick Repellent #2
20 drops eucalyptus essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Mosquito Repellent
20 drops lemon balm essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Mosquito Repellent #2
20 drops thyme essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Mosquito Repellent #3
20 drops lavender essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Black Fly Repellent
20 drops Sassafras essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Black Fly Repellent #2
20 drops cedar essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Lice Repellent
10 drops tea tree essential oil
10 drops rosemary essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Flea Repellent
20 drops orange oil essential oil
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 tablespoon aloe vera gel
Mix the above ingredients together, shaking to blend them well, and
keep in a glass jar. Use a few drops on your skin or clothing.

Aphid Repellent
1 Tablespoon liquid dish soap
1 Cup olive or vegetable oil
2 1/2 teaspoons water
Mix all together in a spray bottle. You can spray this mixture on
flowers and on plants every 10 days, indoors or outdoors.

Appetizer Meatballs

2008-06-24T00:34:00.002-07:00

Ingredients

2 pounds lean ground pork
1 cup ice water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Procedure

Heat oven to 375 degrees F. With hands or wooden spoon mix pork, water, soy sauce and pepper thoroughly in large bowl. Shape into ¾ -inch balls (mixture will be fairly soft and balls will not be perfect). Arrange closely together in single layer on ungreased shallow baking pan, like a jelly-roll pan. Bake for 20-30 minutes. Remove from pan, and serve immediately with a dipping sauce, like your favorite salad dressings (Russian, Thousand Island, Ranch) or choose from the suggestions below. Use toothpicks to skewer meatballs to dip. Or remove from pan, cool, cover and freeze or refrigerate. Serve cold or reheated.
Makes about 7 dozen meatballs.

Wassail

2008-06-24T00:34:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

1 gallon cider (hard or non-alcoholic)
6 cinnamon sticks
2 teaspoons allspice, whole
1 teaspoon each clove and ground nutmeg
Tart apples (I use about 3)

Makes a lot of wassail. Make on a cold winter day.

Instructions:

Put clove and allspice in a mesh bag or tea ball. Place all ingredients in a large pot and heat until the apples burst.

Snickerdoodle Pinwheels

2008-06-24T00:33:00.000-07:00

Ingredients:

1/3 cup sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 3-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon melted butter

Instructions:

Mix the cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese until thoroughly whipped; about 30 seconds on medium if using an electric mixer. Add 1 cup sugar and the baking powder. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Beat in the flour last. Divide the dough in half. Roll one half between two sheets of wax paper into a 12×8 rectangle. Remove the top wax paper and brush dough with melted butter. Then sprinkle 2 tablespoons of cinnamon/sugar mix on top, dusting evenly. Roll the dough up like a jelly roll, removing wax paper. Seal the edges, then repeat with the other half. Chill the rolls for 4 hours wrapped externally in wax paper. After chilled, cut into 1/4-inch slices and bake at 375º F for 8-10 minutes, 1 inch apart. Cool on the sheet for 1 minute, then transfer to wire rack. NOTE: Make sure that the rolls have as few cracks as possible, because cracks will become permanent after baking, and they spoil the swirl effect if you are going for a pretty and festive cookie.

Yield: 60 cookies

Poppy Seed Spirals

2008-06-24T00:32:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

1 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons poppy seed
1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel

Instructions:

Beat butter until fluffy, about 30 seconds on medium if using an electric mixer. Add sugar, baking powder, and salt, and combine. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Then beat in flour. Divide the dough in half. Stir poppy and lemon into one half, and leave the other plain. Roll each into a 9×6 rectangle. Roll poppy rectangle onto the plain, and seal them together. Roll up like a jelly roll, wrap in plastic, and chill for 4 to 24 hours until firm. Cut dough into 1/8-1/4-inch slices. Bake at 375º F for 8-10 minutes, 1 inch apart. Transfer to wire rack to cool.

Yield: 48 cookies

Coffee Bean Cookies

2008-06-24T00:32:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

2 teaspoons instant coffee crystals
2 tablespoons milk
3/4 cup butter, softened
1 3-ounce package of cream cheese, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour

Instructions:

Combine coffee and milk, and let stand until dissolved. In another bowl, beat the butter and cream cheese together until fluffy, about 30 seconds on high if using an electric mixer. Add brown sugar and vanilla to this mix, then add the coffee-and-milk mix. Beat until combined, then beat in the flour as well. Cover and chill for one hour. Then take out and shape into 1-inch balls, shaping into ovals after determining the correct amount of dough. Press a ridge into the center of each oval to make it look like a coffee bean. Bake at 350º F for 9-11 minute, 1 inch apart on an ungreased cookie sheet. Cool on wire rack.

Yield: 48 cookies

Eggnog

2008-06-24T00:31:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

4 eggs, separated
1/2 cup sugar
2 cups cold milk
1 cup cold light cream
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg

Instructions:

Beat the yolks and 1/4 cup of sugar together until thick and cream-colored. Gradually add milk, cream, vanilla, salt, and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg. Beat until frothy. Beat the egg whites separately with the remaining sugar until soft peaks form and fall over. Cover and chill until serving time. When ready to serve, mix well, pour in a bowl, and sprinkle with nutmeg.

Yield: 6 servings

Coquito

2008-06-24T00:31:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

3 cans coconut milk
3/4 cup granulated sugar
8 beaten eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup dark rum

Instructions:

Combine the coconut milk and the sugar in a saucepan. Bring to a boil and remove from the heat. Slowly pour the coconut and sugar mix into the beaten eggs, beating with a wire whisk. Put the mix back in the pan, and stir over low heat until it thickens, but DO NOT boil and don’t let it thicken to the point that you’ve cooked the eggs or something! Strain it (please, be sure to strain!) into the serving pitcher, and finally stir in the vanilla and the rum. Chill before serving.

Yield: 12 servings

Irish Potato Bread

2008-06-24T00:30:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

1 cup mashed potatoes
1 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 cup white flour

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 450ºF. Add salt and butter to mashed potatoes and mix well. Add flour and mix until dough-like, adding extra flour if necessary. Roll out 1/2-inch thick circle, transfer to a baking sheet, and cut into 6 or 8 wedges without separating. Bake in oven until golden brown. (Variation: Cook on griddle!)

Yield: 6-8 wedges

Deviled Eggs

2008-06-24T00:30:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

6 hard-boiled eggs, peeled
Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip, to taste
Salt
Pepper
Paprika

Instructions:

Slice eggs in two. Take out the hard-boiled middles and put them in a bowl, setting aside empty egg whites. Add spoonfuls of mayo or Miracle Whip until mix has the consistency of oatmeal or very thick soup. Spoon into empty egg whites. Dash with colorful red paprika and season with salt and pepper to taste.

Yield: 1 dozen servings

Elder Flower Fritters

2008-06-24T00:29:00.002-07:00

Ingredients:

1 egg
1 teaspoon rose water
1/2 cup honey
2 tablespoons brandy
1 cup self-rising flour
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
2 cups elder flowers, freshly picked and cleaned

Instructions:

Mix egg, rose water, honey, and brandy in a bowl, then stir in flour and cinnamon. Should be thick like pancake batter. (Add flour if it’s too thin, and add more brandy if it’s too thick.) Fold in the flowers. Fry like pancakes, OR drop by the teaspoonful into a deep-fat fryer until golden brown. Serve with orange water sprinkle and fresh lemon, or dip in sweet cream.

Yield: Fried like pancakes: About 10. Deep fat fryer: About 2 dozen.

Buckeyes

2008-06-24T00:29:00.001-07:00

Ingredients:

1 pound melted margarine
2 1/2 pounds smooth peanut butter
3 pounds powdered sugar
36 ounces semi-sweet baking chocolate

Instructions:

Note: This recipe in its original form suggests mixing paraffin into the chocolate. Paraffin is just wax and it is not a substance that has been dubbed appropriate for human consumption by the FDA. In the old days people used to melt wax into their chocolate to help it hold its shape, and certainly some won’t hurt you, but I prefer to just refrigerate the balls and then they hold up surprisingly well, I have never had one melt even after sitting at room temperature for a couple days. (Just don’t try it at a picnic.) My friends have dubbed these confections “death balls” because they are so good you want to keep eating them, but they are horrible for you.

Yield: 8 dozen

Corned Beef and Cabbage

2008-06-24T00:28:00.000-07:00

5 pounds Corned beef brisket
1 large Onion stuck with 6 whole cloves
6 Carrots, peeled and sliced
8 Potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 teaspoon Dried Thyme
1 small Bunch Parsley
1 head Cabbage (about 2 lbs) cut in quarters

Horseradish Sauce:
1/2 pint Whipping Cream
2 - 3 Tablespoons prepared horseradish
Put beef in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add all other ingredients except cabbage and bring to a boil with the lid off the pot. Turn to simmer and cook for 3 hours. Skim fat from top as it rises. Remove the thyme, parsley and onion. Add cabbage. Simmer for 20 minutes until cabbage is cooked. Remove the meat and cut into pieces. Place on center of a large platter. Strain the cabbage and season it heavily with black pepper. Surround the beef with the cabbage, carrots and potatoes. Serve with horseradish sauce.
Horseradish Sauce: Whip cream until it stand in peaks. Fold in horseradish

Mulligatawny Soup

2008-06-24T00:27:00.004-07:00

3 Tablespoons Butter
1 Tablespoon Vegetable Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
2 Stalks celery, sliced thinly
3 Carrots, diced
1 1/2 Tablespoons Curry powder
2 Tablespoons All-purpose flour
5 cups Chicken stock
2 Tablespoons Long grain white rice
2 Tomatoes; peeled & chopped
8 ounces Chicken; cooked & diced
1 small Apple; cooked, peeled, cored & diced
Salt to taste
Fresh celery leaves
Heat butter and oil in a saucepan. Add onion, celery and carrots; cook gently 5 minutes. Stir in Curry Powder and flour and cook 1 minute. Stir in stock and bring to a boil; add rice and stir well. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add tomatoes, chicken, apple and salt. Cover again and simmer 15 minutes. Garnish with celery leaves and carrot strip, if desired, and serve hot.

Braid Bread

2008-06-24T00:27:00.003-07:00

4 1/2 cups white flour
1 tbsp. salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 packages of dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened or melted
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2 1/4 cups very warm, not hot, water
2 tbsp. molasses
1 1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal

In large bowl, combine 2 1/4 cups of the flour, salt, sugar, and yeast. Add butter, eggs, and water and beat by hand or with mixer until all ingredients are combined. Then add another cup of white flour. Beat at high speed for 2 minutes. Divide equally into three bowls. In the first bowl, add and beat in 2 tbsp. molasses and 1 1/4 cups of wheat flour. In second bowl add in 1 1/4 cups yellow cornmeal. In third bowl add in the remaining 1 1/4 cups of white flour. Knead each batter on slightly floured board about 5 minutes. Dough should be smooth and elastic, bouncing back when poked. Grease all three bowls, place doughs in them, cover with damp cloths and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about an hour. Punch down. On lightly floured board, divide each dough in half, roll each half into a rope about 15 inches long. Braid together the white, corn, and wheat rope. Tuck the ends under and repeat with three remaining ropes. Place in greased 9×4 inch loaf plans. Cover with damp cloth over waxed paper, let rise again until doubled, about an hour. Heat oven to 350. Bake 25-30 minutes, until cornmeal braid is light brown on top. Baste with 2 tbsp. melted butter. Return to oven 10 more minutes. Loaf should be hollow when tapped. Let cool for 30 minutes.

Honey Apple Chicken

2008-06-24T00:27:00.001-07:00

1 apple, peeled, cored, and diced
1 onion, chopped
1 tbsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
1 chicken
4 tbsp. butter
4 tbsp. honey

Toss together apples, onion, salt and pepper. Stuff into chicken. Melt together butter and honey. Baste meat with honey butter. Roast about 1 1/2 hours at 325 degrees, basting halfway through. Cover for moist meat, uncovering for last 15 minutes to brown.

Lemon Pie

2008-06-24T00:26:00.003-07:00

Filling:
3 egg yolks
1 cup sugar, divided
6 tbsp. cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups water
2 tbsp. butter
2 tsp. grated lemon rind
5 tbsp. lemon juice

Crust
9 inch pie shell

Meringue :
6 egg whites
Dash of salt
1/4 tsp. vanilla

Preheat the oven to 325. Combine the egg yolks and 1/2 cup sugar in a small bowl. In a double broiler, mix 1/2 cup of the sugar, cornstarch, salt, and water. Cook over boiling water until thick, stir constantly. Cover. Bring mixture to a boil. Boil 1 minute. Stir occasionally. Spoon a little of the hot mixture into the egg yolk, stir quickly. Beat the egg yolks into the hot mixture. Cook 2 minutes, stir constantly. Remove the pain from the water, stir in the butter, lemon rind, and juice. Pour into pie shell. Beat the egg whites and salt until foamy. Add the vanilla. Beat in the remaining sugar 1 tbsp. at a time, continue beating until stiff and shiny. Cover pie with meringue. Make sure there are no gaps and the edges are sealed with the meringue. Bake until browned, about 15 minutes.

Potato and Carrot Soup

2008-06-24T00:26:00.001-07:00

2 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
1 sweet onion, diced
4 carrots, peeled and sliced
1/2 head white cabbage, cored, thinly shredded
dash of nutmeg
1/4 tsp. curry powder
1/2 tsp. fennel
sea salt and freshly ground white pepper, to taste
5 cups vegetable broth or light chicken broth
6 Yukon Gold (or yellow) potatoes, peeled and cut
1/2 cup milk, or almond milk
1-2 Tbs. light cream, or soy cream
fresh chives, chopped, for garnish

In a heavy soup pot, heat the olive oil on medium heat, and sauté the
onion until softened. Add the carrots, cabbage and spices, sea salt and
white pepper, stir and cook for ten minutes. Add in the vegetable broth and
potatoes, bring to a boil over high heat, then lower heat and simmer until
vegetables are tender, about 20 to 30 minutes. When the vegetables are
done, carefully ladle the soup mixture into a blender, reserving about a cup
of the whole vegetable pieces in the soup pot. Cover the blender and puree
the soup mixture until it is smooth, then pour the pureed soup back into the
soup pot, stirring it together with the reserved vegetable pieces. Stir in 1/2
cup milk, and gently heat it through, being careful not to bring the soup to a boil.

Add in cream, if desired.

Ladle this creamy soup into colorful bowls and garnish with fresh chopped chives.

Serves 4-6

Rosemary Cheese Biscuits

2008-06-24T00:25:00.001-07:00

2 cups unbleached, all purpose flour
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 1/2tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. fresh rosemary, minced
pinch cayenne pepper
1 stick unsalted butter or margarine, chilled
1/2 cup milk (or more if needed)
2-3 Tbs. dry sherry

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

In a large bowl combine the flour, cheese, baking powder, salt, rosemary and cayenne.
Cut the chilled butter into pieces and mix into the flour mixture, crumbling the dough.
Add the milk and sherry and quickly mix the dough just until the ingredients are moistened.Lightly knead the dough inside the bowl a few times to form a ball, and place
on a floured surface. Roll out the dough with floured fingers ( or a floured rolling pin ), to about 1/2 inch thick.

Cut out rounds with a cookie cutter or jelly glass and place them on a baking sheet. Bake them for 10 to 12 minutes, until they are golden brown. Serve warm in a festive basket.

Makes about 15 to 18 biscuits.

Beer Battered Fish and Chips

2008-06-24T00:24:00.002-07:00

INGREDIENTS:

2 lbs your favorite white fish: tilapia, haddock, flounder
4 large russett potatoes
Kosher salt
Rosemary
2 C flour
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1 tsp. kosher salt
1 tsp. Old Bay seasoning
A dash of cayenne pepper
1 bottle of dark beer, cold
Oil for frying
Cornstarch for dredging

PREPARATION:

Preheat the oven to 200 degrees. Heat the oil in a large pot until it reaches about 375.

Wedge the potatoes, leaving the skin on, and drop then in a large bowl with cold water.

In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, baking soda, salt, Old Bay seasoning, and cayenne pepper.

Finally, pour in the beer and whisk until the batter is smooth. To help batter adhere to the fish, try chilling the batter in the fridge for about half an hour.Drain the potatoes, and submerge them in the oil. Work in small batches so the oil doesn’t cool off too much, and cook them until they’re crisp and golden brown. Remove from oil, drain on a rack, and season with rosemary and kosher salt. Place them in the oven to stay warm while you cook the fish.

Reduce the heat of the oil to about 350. Lightly dredge your fish fillets in cornstarch, and then dip in the batter. Place in the hot oil, and allow to cook until the batter sets. Turn fish over, and cook until they’re a golden brown color. Remove from oil, drain on rack, and serve with potato fries.

For maximum flavor, sprinkle with malt vinegar and salt, accompanied by a pint of Guinness.

Autumn Butter

2008-06-24T00:24:00.001-07:00

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/4 cup whipping cream
1 cup butter, softened

Mix all ingredients until well blended. Spread onto your favorite muffins, quick bread, sweet crackers, or drop a dollop onto morning pancakes.

Cinnamon Butter

2008-06-24T00:23:00.002-07:00

2 sticks butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Serve over sweet bread, muffins, or morning waffles. Store tightly covered in the refrigerator.

Pumpkin Pie Spice Butter

2008-06-24T00:23:00.001-07:00

4 tbsp (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, softened
4 tbsp canned pumpkin puree
1 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/8 tsp ground ginger
1/8 tsp freshly grated or dried nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt

Combine all ingredients and mix well. Keep tightly covered in the refrigerator up to three weeks.

* 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice can be substituted for cloves, ginger and nutmeg.

Irish Stew

2008-06-24T00:22:00.002-07:00

1 lb lamb, cubed
2 lb turnips, diced
1/4 lb carrots, diced
1/4 lb parsnips, diced
3 onions
3 cloves garlic, chopped
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 & 1/2 cups vegetable stock (plus 1/4 cup white wine if desired)
Salt, pepper, 5 bay leaves, sprig fresh basil
1/2 cup barley

Brown onions, garlic, and meat in oil. Sautee carrots and parsnips separately, add brown sugar to glaze, and set aside
Place meat, onions, garlic, turnips, and liquid into a casserole dish with the barley. Add salt, pepper, bay leaves, and basil, cover and bake at 350 degrees Farenheit for about 40 minutes. Add carrots and parsnips
Leave to cook an additional hour. Mash in some of the vegetables before serving
Notes: Beef can be substituted for the lamb, and potatoes for the turnips
Extra vegetables can be added in - reduce the amount of carrots and parsnips proportionally

Lavendar Lemonade

2008-06-24T00:22:00.001-07:00

5 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
12 stems of fresh lavender
2 1/4 cups lemon juice

Boil 2 1/2 cups of water with the sugar. Add the lavender stems and remove from heat. Place on the lid and let cool
When cool, add 2 1/2 cups of water and the lemon juice. Strain out the lavender
Serve the lavender lemonade with crushed ice and garnish with lavender blossoms. Serves 8

Stuffed Eggplant Bake

2008-06-24T00:21:00.001-07:00

One large eggplant
1 orange or yellow bell pepper, sliced
2 tomatoes, sliced
3 large cloves garlic, sliced thinly
1 leek
olive oil
basil
oregano
shredded mozzerella or thinly sliced bocaccini
basting brush

Preheat oven to 375F. Lightly oil 13×9 casserole dish or spray with a nonstick spray, set aside. Slice eggplant lengthwise with each slice approximately 1/4 inch thick. Lightly salt each side of eggplant and set aside for 30 minutes on a cookie rack with paper towel underneath. Pat water off of egplant. Lightly brush olive oil onto egplant
Cut each slice of eggplant in half horizontally. Pair equal sized slices. Place halves of eggplant slices in casserole dish. On top of eggplant place slice of tomato, pepper, garlic (to taste), a few leek rings and sprinkle with shredded cheese and herbs. Place eggplant slice on top and repeat process. Place in oven and bake for approx. 30 minutes or until top is brown and eggplant fork tender
This eggplant dish is very tastey served with sauteed quinoa or bulgar wheat. For added flavor spoon a tbsp. of tomato sauce on eggplant before the sliced tomato

Fudge

2008-06-24T00:20:00.002-07:00

4 cups sugar
1 cup butter
14.5 oz evaporated milk
12 oz semisweet chocolate chips
2 cups mini marshmallows
1 cup chopped pecans
1 tsp vanilla essence

Put the sugar, butter, and milk into a heavy saucepan and bring to the boil. Boil for 10 minutes, stirring constantly. Remove from heat, stir in the chips, marshmallows, nuts, and essence. Pour into a greased 9×13 inch pan and cool. Cut into squares and store in an air-tight container

Fried Green Tomatoes

2008-06-24T00:20:00.001-07:00

3 green tomatoes
1 cup stone ground cornmeal
1 cup ll-purpose flour
salt and pepper to taste
1 - 2 eggs
2 - 4 tbsp water

Thinly slice tomatoes. Put cornmeal on a plate and the flour and seasonings in a bowl. Beat egg and water and put in another bowl. Dip tomato slices in flour, then egg, then cornmeal, coating well. Heat a frypan with 3/4 inch of oil and fry tomatoes - brown on each side, turning once. Drain well on paper towels.

Cream of Chicken Soup with Wild Rice and Mushrooms

2008-06-24T00:19:00.003-07:00

1 1/3 cups wild rice
1 chicken-worth of pieces, skinless but with bones
7 cups water
1 cup chopped celery
1 cup chopped onion
2 tbsp olive oil
1 cup shiitake mushrooms, cleaned, trimmed, and sliced
2 tsp chicken stock powder
Coarsely ground black pepper to taste
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup all purpose flour
4 cups whole milk
3/4 cup white wine

Cook the wild rice according to package directions, but remove from heat 15 minutes before it’s done. Drain and set aside. Place the water and chicken in a large stockpot and bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer, cover, and cook for two hours. Remove the chicken and let cool enough to debone and chop. Skim fat from the broth and reserve liquid. Throw the celery and onion into the (unwashed) stockpot and saute until softened, and then add mushrooms and cover
Cook for 10 minutes and then add the broth, wild rice, chicken stock powder, and pepper. Simmer for 30 minutes. Melt the butter over medium heat and stir in the flour until smooth. Whisk in the milk and thicken. Add a little broth to thin it, stirring constantly, and then add to the stockpot, along with the chicken and wine