Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

We're having a troublesome day here at chez Pauline. It is time to say good-bye to our very old and very sick Saint Bernard, Thor. The wait for the vet appointment at 11:30 Alaska time is like slow torture. How fortunate we are, though, to be able to stop the animal's pain and see an old friend off to a better place.

My thoughts turn to something that will help bring peace and piece of mind to me and my family as we say adieu to one of our own. I'm wishing I had a few bachelor buttons, those pretty blue blooms also known as corn flowers, to help me do the trick.

In Wicca, corn flowers are used to draw and/or prognosticate about love. Women should wear them on the lapel as a corsage to attract affection. Scott Cunningham advises that men should carry a flower in their pocket. The freshness or wilting of the flower at the end of the day is said to predict future success - or lack thereof - in love.

In hoodoo, the flowers are steeped in water along with other blue or bluish-purple blooms like periwinkle and forget-me-not. Rosemary, which is very affective at improving one's mood, is often added as well. The water is strained and used to sprinkle in the corners of the home to bring peace to those who live there, people and animals alike. You can add some of the water to your floor wash to achieve the same end.

Dried corn flowers are also sprinkled into the corners of a room where a fight has occurred. This is said to restore harmony to the environment as well as relax the tensions of those who are at odds.

As an aside, the forget-me-not, which happens to be Alaska's state flower, is said to bring peace and prosperity to a home when grown in the kitchen. I have a big yellow pot with a thriving forget-me-not in our kitchen. With luck, it will help us through this difficult process. Bonne chance ~

Header: Letters by Annie Stegg via American Gallery

3 comments:

Undine said...

Oh, I'm so sorry to hear about Thor. The last time we owned a dog, years ago, we eventually had to do the same thing. You have to keep in the forefront of your mind the fact that you're doing them a final act of great kindness, and I'm certain they know that. That thought doesn't make it much easier to do, though.

Timmy! said...

Thor was a good dog, Pauline. Not the brightest or best behaved dog we ever had, but most certainly the sweetest, most affectionate and loving dog I have ever had the great good fortune to know and love. I am glad that I had the chance to say goodbye and that we were able to do the right thing and end his suffering. He is in a better place now with Jessie and Magic and Tucker and all of our other dogs from when we were kids.

Pauline said...

Undine: Thank you dear friend. Thor went very quickly, simply pointing up the fact that it was time. Timmy! and I and both of our girls will always love him. It's good to know he's in a better place now.