Herbal Wise: The Benefits of Celery

Back in the far away (and very hazy) day I used to dance ballet. Those days were over fast when I realized two things: those (comparatively) huge boobs were not going to work and and my right knee was trouble from the get go. Hey, it was fun while it lasted.

To the point, though, I still have problems with my knee. It pops and pains and I wear a soft brace made from bamboo charcoal fiber most days just to keep the darn thing in line. Recently though, due more to the fact that I often research possible helpful solutions for my daughter's Juvenile Idiopathic (they used to call it "Rheumatoid") Arthritis than any interest in my own uncooperative joint, I have found a surprisingly simple solution. Celery.

It turns out that celery seed has been of long standing assistance to those with joint pain. According to Andrew Chevallier in The Visual Reference Guide to Herbal Remedies, celery is a "... good detoxification remedy, celery stem, leaf and seed stimulate the kidneys to clear waste... especially helping to cleanse salts that accumulate in joints, causing stiffness and inflammation."

Celery seed in particular is of great assistance in this process, and can be found at health food stores and herbalists in capsule form. Both my daughter and I take one capsule daily to the benefit of our sore joints. I won't say that it has completely alleviated our symptoms like some miracle but celery seed has certainly helped.

An added bonus here is that celery seed, and more specifically the juice of the celery stem, can help in detoxifying and moving unwanted fluids along. If you are prone to swollen ankles after a long day at your desk, a nice infusion of celery juice in an evening green tea will help move those fluids along and make you less gargantuan in the lower extremities after a long day.

But Pauline, you say; this is HQ. We're not here to have our piggies de-bloatified by some silly celery tea. What will celery do for us magickly gosh darn it?

Hold your horses, as they used to say. I've got that for you too.

Use celery in your cooking not only to help your dreaming hint at the future but to bring peace and harmony to your home and your family.

Most often, celery - particularly in the form of seed - is used to encourage psychism. Crush and bruise a few celery seeds, then wrap them in a muslin bag or a coffee filter and brew them into a tea with very hot water to help you along in your card, crystal ball, pendulum or other readings. The celery tea is said to open the third eye to visions of the future and what might be the best path for anyone you are reading for - including yourself.

You can make a mojo bag for psychic vision by placing equal parts anise, calendula, poppy flower and celery seed into a muslin or yellow flannel bag with intention. Place the mojo in your pillow case and sleep on it nightly to encourage your psychic ability. Carry it - if you dare - into haunted places to see the ghosties and ghoulies that walk the night. The mojo is best held in your left - receptive - hand for this purpose but beware: this practice can encourage an attraction making an unwelcome entity glom on to you and follow you home. Not a very pleasant experience and one that can only be avoided by proper and careful warding beforehand.

In the end, celery is both a practical and spiritual plant that can help in myriad different ways and on various levels. Use it wisely, and the benefits will be manifest happily. Bonne chance ~

Header: Found on Tumblr; isn't the internet amazing?

Jeudi: Curios

Silver in all forms, as amulets, coins, beads, pieces of jewelry and even as table wear, is a powerful magickal substance in all disciplines around the world. It was one of the first precious metals worked by man because it comes from the Earth in its pure form. There is no need to add anything to silver before working with it. In the past it has been less expensive than gold, as well, making it a comfortable choice for the average person.

In Wicca, silver jewelry is worn to honor the Mother Goddess. This tradition probably goes back centuries and links silver to both Earth and sky. The metal is pulled from the Earth, but has the sparkling quality of the moon and stars. Crescent shaped objects, either to be worn or put on altars, have been made of silver since the dawn of civilization. Even after Christianity and Islam swept across much of the world, the silver crescent continued to hold a place of honor. As one of the attributes of the Virgin Mary, the crescent is still a symbol of the Divine Mother.

In many cultures, silver has always been considered an excellent choice for amulets of protection. As Scott Cunningham notes in his Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, there's a valid historical reason for the literary notion that silver can destroy vampires and werewolves. Crosses of any kind may foil a vampire, but a silver cross trumps all. And what better way to dispatch a werewolf than with a silver bullet?

In hoodoo, as we've discussed before, silver dimes are prized for their money-drawing qualities. Minted in the U.S. until 1945, these dimes are added to mojo bags or carried as a pocket piece. They are also considered good for drawing love or inspiring lust.

Silver jewelry, set with any stone or none at all, can have a wide range of benefits. Cleansed and worn with intention, it can improve psychic ability and encourage psychic dreams. Silver is worn to attract love as well, and the metal's drawing power is increased if it is etched with the planetary symbol of Venus, according to Cunningham. The Celts believed that silver would calm anger and anxiety; just touching a person with something silver could relieve their mental torment. Silver is worn for this purpose today as it is thought to balance emotions and instill inner calm.

I'll end with an excellent, and elegantly simple, money-drawing spell provided by the master, Mr. Cunningham. This working in particular is for the attraction of unexpected cash - something most of us could certainly use - so plan on a little surprise if you use it. Acquire a pure silver coin, if possible; if not, any small piece of silver will do. Empower this and place it under a candle holder. Dress a green candle with olive or money-drawing oil while concentrating on your need for funds. Place the candle in the candle holder and light it with intention; visualize that unexpected money coming your way. It helps if you know the amount you need and can keep that in the back of your mind while the candle burns down and out. Bury what is left of the candle on your property or in a house plant and carry or wear the silver piece to encourage your bank account to grow. Bonne chance ~

Header: Assumption of the Virgin Mary by William Henry Machen via American Gallery

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Purslane, which is basically a weed in mild to warm climates and – at least to me – has a very Medieval ring to its name, is used in hoodoo, Wicca and Pow-Wow.  We’ll call this dainty herb purslane for the purposes of this post because that sounds so much better than pigweed.

In Wicca, the flowers, stems and roots of purslane have broad uses.  The flowers are carried as pocket pieces to bring luck in love and keep evil away.  Dried purslane is sprinkled in the corners of homes and workplaces to keep things peaceful and running smoothly.  Old wives advised their daughters to lay  a sprig of purslane on a restless child’s pillow, as it was thought to ward off nightmares.  They also sent their sons into battle with a handful of purslane to guard them against harm.  I wonder, did Saint Jeanne’s mother press a sprig of purslane into her little girl’s hand before she went off to free Orleans?

Pow-Wow and hoodoo treat purslane similarly, which is a fair hint that this use of the herb came to both disciplines through American Natives.  Dried purslane is combined with patchouli leaves and anise seeds.  This herbal mix is steeped in oil and then the oil is used to anoint the forehead before engaging in divination.  A little dried purslane sprinkled in the box or bag in which you keep your fortune telling cards is thought to enhance their effectiveness as well.

Hoodoos also burn dried purslane for protection against evil spirits.  The effects are said to be enhanced when purslane is combined with a premixed warding or blessing incense.

Ingesting purslane is not recommended, particularly for pregnant women; frequent dosing can cause or exacerbate kidney stones.  In other words, use this stuff externally.  Bonne chance ~

Header: St. Jeanne d’Arc statue in New Orleans via NOLAFemmes

Dimanche: Swimming

Portrait of T.E. Lawrence by Henry S. Tuke via Old Paint ~

All men dream; but not equally.  Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.

Jeudi: Curios

The beautiful, deep blue stone known as lapis lazuli has been used for magickal purposes since the most ancient times.  In fact, it may have been one of the first precious gems actively sought by our ancestors.

Lapis lazuli has always been associated with kingship, possible because of its almost purple color which is sometimes flecked with golden pyrite.  It was highly prized in ancient Middle Eastern civilizations such as Sumer, Assyria, Egypt and Phoenicia.  In Sumer, the adornments of the gods were said to be made of lapis lazuli.  Rulers had their cylinder seals, spool-like, carved seals that would be rolled over soft clay to leave a recognizable mark, made from the stone.

Phoenician pirates admired lapis as plunder.  In Ancient Egypt it was used in not only jewelry but household items and even furniture for the royal and wealthy elite.  Physicians ground lapis lazuli into a powder and mixed it with various ingredients to cure everything from headaches to aging.  Thanks to the Egyptian’s funerary rituals, we are blessed with a wealth of beautiful objects inlaid with intricate designs of lapis lazuli such as the bracelet shown above.

Warriors favored the stone as well and carried it into battle to allow them to be courageous unto death.

In modern magick, the stone is still used for healing.  It is said that holding, carrying or wearing lapis can calm nightmares, ease anxiety, reduce fever and improve eyesight.  The stone is often used by psychic healers when performing rituals for people who are physically removed from where the healer is.

Lapis lazuli is also thought to increase psychic awareness.  Wear, carry or hold a piece of lapis before and/or during a reading of your chosen divining medium such as runes or cards.  The stone is thought to break the dominant conscious mind’s hold on the subconscious, allowing for more accurate use of the divining tool.

According to Scott Cunningham, lapis is also a love-drawing stone.  He recommends using a raw, unpolished stone that has a point or sharp edge.  This along with a pink candle should be empowered with your need for love.  While still concentrating on love, etch a heart into the candle wax with the lapis.  Light the candle and place the stone close to the candleholder.  Relax, and continue to envision love entering your life as the candle burns down and out.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Ancient Egyptian bracelet of gold and lapis lazuli c the 22^nd Dynasty via The Ancient World

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

When our family first moved to the frozen North almost twelve years ago my daughters were three and one.  It was over that first winter here that I discovered a disturbing reality about my youngest.  If she caught cold – or something more serious – and developed a fever she would often suffer night terrors.  She would scream at the top of her lungs in the middle of the night and waking her up from her horrifying dreams often took several minutes.  I puzzled over what to do, short of dosing her with too much ibuprofen, and then I hit on a plan.  After stuffing her favorite pillow with a handful of hops, the awful night terrors subsided and – as an added bonus – she began to sleep better when she was well, too.

Hops are an old remedy for nightmares and fitful sleep.  Regardless of what magickal discipline you consult, it is universally believed that a pillow stuffed with hops and slept on nightly will bring sweet dreams and ensure restful sleep.

For moms with young children, a handful of hops in their child’s pillow can also bring a small blessing to Mom: a full night’s sleep.  Don’t forget to make a smaller pillow for travel and/or sleepovers.  The work is worth it for everyone’s well being.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Sleeping Gypsy by Henri Rousseau c 1897

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Last week we talked about the uses of anise in Wicca and hoodoo.  Today we’ll look at a completely different plant with a very similar name: star anise.

Star anise is in the same botanical family as magnolia, but its origins are Asian.  In Japan it is held sacred; star anise is often planted near tombs and temples in that country.  As Catherine Yronwode notes, most of the star anise available in the U.S. is in seed form.  The seeds are quite lovely with their eight-pointed star shape and are considered to have great mystical power.

In Wicca, the seeds are burned as incense to increase one’s psychic powers.  Scott Cunningham also notes that the seeds can be strung on cording and worn as a necklace for the same purpose.  Some Wiccans place an uneven number of star anise seeds on their altars to draw power to the area.  Five seeds are usually used, place at each of the four directions and then in the center to represent Spirit.

In hoodoo, star anise is considered very lucky.  The seeds are used in mojos to bring psychic dreams of lucky lotto numbers, winning horses’ names and cetera.  Star anise is also thought to be protective.  Seven seeds tied up in a mojo bag and carried on one’s person are said to ward off the Evil Eye and draw good health, prosperity and luck in love for twelve months.  This is a wonderfully easy working for the New Year to set things up for personal success as each year changes.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Past & Present No. 2 by A.L. Egg

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Anise is a favorite holiday spice, particularly in sweet treats and liqueurs.  It has a licorice or fennel taste to it that some people really like and others are put off by.  I personally fall into the latter category but that doesn’t mean I don’t keep anise around as a magickal assistant when it’s called for.

Anise should not be confused with star anise.  The two plants are completely different and look it.  That said, they are both used in hoodoo and Wicca to similar ends: to increase psychic abilities and ward off the Evil Eye.

Old wives in Europe used to advise hanging a sprig of anise on the bedpost when a girl began to mature.  This was to be freshened regularly with the thought that it would help keep her youthful.

In Wicca, sachets filled with anise seeds are stuffed under one’s pillow to keep nightmares away.  Anise seeds are also added to baths to help in spiritual purification; Scott Cunningham recommends adding bay leaves as well.  Anise leaves and flowers are strewn around the home or used to form the outline of a magick circle to keep evil at bay.  Needless to say, anise grown in the garden helps protect the home and property.

In hoodoo, anise seeds are one ingredient in Psychic Vision Oil.  They can be burned as an incense to encourage psychic dreaming or open psychic centers before undertaking a card reading, a lot casting, a scrying and so on.

Likewise, a mojo bag to aid in divination can be made with star anise, anise seeds and dried yarrow flowers or leaves.  Carried, this is thought to increase psychism and should be held in the hands prior to undertaking a reading.  Bonne chance ~

Header: A Christmas Frolic by Louis Loeb via American Gallery

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Holly is one of the two herbs representative of the Christian celebration of Christmas.  The other, of course, is ivy which is the feminine to holly’s masculine.  This tradition actually came to Europe from the Roman festival of Saturnalia and was grafted onto the Druid and Scandinavian reverence for the prickly bush we now call holly.

In just about all magicks, holly is used for protection.  Both Druids and Wiccans advise planting holly bushes near a home to protect it from dark magick, the evil eye and demon infestation.  Scott Cunningham writes of an old tradition that recommends tossing holly leaves at wild animals to encourage them to leave your property or your presence.  Personally, living in a place where truly threatening creatures like brown bears are frequently too close for comfort, I’ll bring a gun along as well.

Druidic tradition says that newborns should be sprinkled with water infused with holly to protect them as they grow.  Men should carry a holly leaf as a pocket piece for good luck; in contrast, women should carry ivy.  If a girl plucks nine holly leaves at midnight on a Friday, wraps them in a white cloth tied with nine knots and tucks this under her pillow, she will dream of her future husband.  This only works if the entire ritual is done in silence; the magick is particularly potent on or near the Winter Solstice (December 22^nd this year).

In hoodoo, holly carries the same tradition of protection.  The leaves are burned to protect and cleanse the home.  Holly branches are also hung above the front door to encourage luck and draw helpful spirits to the place.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Spirit of Christmas by Spencer Baird Nichols c 1910

Mercredi: The Art of Giving

It happens to be that time of year again.  The one where pretty much all of us, regardless of background, creed or faith, start to think about the giving of gifts.  The problem is that we in the Western world are bombarded by the media blitz of “only the biggest is best”.  If you don’t buy her a diamond, you don’t love her.  Only the largest, most plugged in, most HD-iest TV will do for him.  And as for the kids? iPod, XboX, new phone, laptop…  what is your problem Mom and Dad?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: no.  You have to put a stop to it at some point and yet – despite the withering of our economy here in the U.S. and elsewhere – we still insist on buying, buying, buying.

But that’s not the point of this post.  Everyone needs to do what’s best for them.  I maintain, however, that something handmade tucked into a stocking or waiting on a breakfast plate is one of the kindest things anyone can do for someone they love.  So I’ll kick off the season with a dream mojo.  Easy to make, easy to use, and full of sweet dreams.  Here’s what you’ll need for four bundles:

5 tbsp dried lavender

25 whole cloves

5 tbsp dried rosemary

1 amethyst bead for each mojo

Four fabric squares about 5” x 5”; your choice of color

Ribbon or thread to tie up your bundles in either matching or coordinating color

Take some time away from your worries to concentrate on putting these dream mojos together for family and/or friends.  Light a candle, put some music on, immerse yourself in a dreamy atmosphere so that you can infuse your work with wishes for pleasant, prophetic dreams.

When you’re ready, combine the herbs in a bowl or cup.  If possible, use your fingers for this and concentrate on the magick of sound sleep.

Next, lay out your fabric squares.  I like to use a soft fabric like silk, satin or velvet in dreamy, night time colors like dark blue or violet but white muslin will work perfectly well.  Distribute the herb mixture evenly into the four fabric squares.  Place a little amethyst bead on each of the piles of herbs; this is to keep away nightmares and restlessness.  No semi-precious stones to hand?  No worries; use a pinch of salt or a large seed such as a pumpkin or sunflower seed to do the same job.

Now you are ready to tie up the bundles with your ribbon or thread.  Remember to use three knots for each before finishing with a bow if you like.  Don’t forget to continue to focus throughout the process.

Give these right away or tuck them into a safe, quiet place for presentation at your holiday celebration with instructions for them to be placed under the receiver’s pillow at bedtime.  And please don’t forget to make one for yourself; you deserve beautiful dreams, too.  A votre santé ~

Header: Dante’s Dream by Dante Gabriel Rossetti c 1871

Jeudi: Root Work

For centuries, the spirits of various beliefs have been entreated to send prophetic dreams.  Sometimes the desired knowledge is simply what will become of us but sometimes it is more specific: a future spouse, the outcome of a business deal, the best path to take.  Halloween has always been a time to practice this sort of divination because of the prevailing belief that the veil between the worlds is most thin at the turn of the year.  For the Celts – and to some extent for those of us affected by their ancient wisdom – October 31 marks the beginning of a New Year.

I believe that pleasant dreams are a year round privilege; if they happen to give us a glimpse of the future, so much the better.  That said, why not take advantage of the Halloween mojo, if you will, and make mojo bags to help the dreams of your loved ones as the wheel turns once again?  This is an easy working that I encourage my kids to do for themselves.  It’s a wonderful introduction to applying concentration and intention to help achieve a goal.  Here’s what you’ll need:

Small, drawstring bags in any color and material that appeals to you.  These are easily found in craft stores these days; just be sure to cleanse the “store-bought” versions with a dab of holy water or an extra pinch of sea salt before you begin.  You can also make your own bags, of course.  The easiest kinds of mojo bags are, in fact, no more than a square of fabric filled with ingredients then bundled up and tied with ribbon or thread.  You will want a bag/bundle that will fit comfortably in a pillow case or under a pillow.

Dried lavender

Whole cloves

Dried rosemary leaves

Dried rose petals or a whole rosebud

Sea salt

Mix all your herbs together in a bowl.  How much of each herb with depend on your intention and how many mojos you are making.  The lavender will impart restful sleep, the cloves protect from nightmares and call upon ancestors, rosemary also protects (especially women) and draws prosperity; the rose petals/buds attract dreams of love.  A pinch of sea salt in each mojo will help ground the dreamer and encourage them to make wise decisions in their waking life.

Take some time to yourself, listen to music or light a candle if you like, sit down and deliberately fill your mojo bags with your chosen ingredients.  Imagine the people you care for both enjoying and benefitting from their dreams today, tomorrow and always.  Be sure to make yourself a dream mojo as well; you’ve earned it.

When they’re done, put the mojo bags in a box or cupboard where they won’t be disturbed.  Distribute them to your family and friends on or near Halloween.  They can use them all year, and then burn or bury them the following Halloween.  Either include instructions on making the mojo with your gift, or make new ones yourself the next year.  A votre santé ~

Header: A Veil by Louis W. Hawkins via Old Paint

Jeudi: Curios

I've talked about semi-precious stones and crystal before.  As noted, these were not common items in historical hoodoo.  This is most probably because their cost was prohibitive to the majority of root workers.  Times change and hoodoo, like all magickal practices, is a fluid discipline.  More and more root workers are availing themselves of the power of rocks and stones, myself included.

All that out of the way, one of my favorite stones to work with is jasper.  It is a relatively common stone and therefore quite affordable.  Jasper is a form of chalcedony, which is itself a form of quartz.  There are four different variations of this opaque stone, each of which has its own magickal uses.  This puts jasper high on the short list of the most versatile stones.

In general, jasper is said to protect its possessor.  It will keep a person from engaging in dangerous behaviors and is therefore thought to assist in recovery from addiction.  Women held a piece of jasper in one hand during childbirth to protect them and their child from pain, injury and/or death.  Any of the variations of jasper could be used for these purposes.

Brown jasper is often the color of sienna ink rather than truly brown like soil.  This is an excellent stone for grounding.  Hold a piece of brown jasper to return to a normal psychic state after spell work or divination.  Scott Cunningham also recommends wearing or carrying brown jasper for people who tend to day dream rather than take action.  Along those same lines, I find that it keeps me from falling into one of my worst habits: procrastination.

Green jasper can vary in color from a light gray-green to moss.  It is used in spells for healing and to bring calm to the psyche.  Wear green jasper to bed to promote restful sleep and chase away night terrors.  People who are empathic favor green jasper as an aid to opening themselves up to psychic vibrations while staying safe and grounded at the same time.  For this purpose, the stone should be held in the receptive hand (left if you are right handed and vice versa).

Mottled jasper often looks like those marbles we used to call “swirlies”, with two, three or even four colors intermingled in one stone.  This was a favorite stone among seafarers, who wore it for protection from drowning.  Depending on the most prominent color in the stone, it may be used as a substitute for red, green or brown jasper.

Red jasper ranges in color from orange to scarlet to a deep purplish-red.  This is a powerful healing and defensive stone that I highly recommend to anyone who regularly works on breaking jinxes.  It will ward off negativity and send such vibrations back to their originator.  In medieval times, red jasper was worn to guard against poisoning and fevers.  Women wear it to promote a youthful appearance.

Finally, jasper is an excellent substitute for more expensive stones.  Use green jasper in place of jade and red jasper in place of carnelian or coral without losing anything in the translation.  As with all tools of magick, stones should be cleansed either with holy water, salt or sunshine before use. 

Because it is a common stone, perfectly good quality jasper can be found quite affordably at craft stores where jewelry findings are sold.  I recently bought a string which included all four varieties of jasper at Michel’s for $1.25.  You can’t beat that.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Sailor’s Return by Toby Edward Rosenthal c 1880

Jeudi: Curios

I'm a bit of a semi-precious gem junky.  I love the way they look and the way they feel when you hold or wear them.  Knowing about their background historically and magickally only increases the intensity of the vibrations.  At least for me. 

Crystals and gems are not particularly big in hoodoo – obviously, they were cost prohibitive for the original practitioners – and their “New Age” underpinnings have made them a little less popular in other magickal disciplines as well.  I love ‘em though, and I will happily set them under the umbrella of “Curios”.  So today, a brief discussion on one of my favorites: the amethyst.

These glorious purple stones whose color can range from delicate lilac to deep aubergine are actually a form of quartz.  Amethyst geodes are not unheard of but are generally expensive and collector’s items.  Amethyst stones can be had at fairly reasonable prices at bead and even craft stores.  Make sure you’re getting the real thing by checking the fine print. 

Amethysts are traditional stones for banishing evil, protection and boosting psychic powers.  They are considered a highly spiritual stone that can lift the person holding one out of daily anxiety and fear into universal strength and courage.  Here are just a few uses for this versatile stone.

Amethysts are frequently kept by psychics in the box or bag that holds their tools, whether they be cards, bones, shells, sticks or what have you.  Resting an amethyst on one’s forehead while meditating, obviously in a reclining position, is thought to open up the psychic eye and make fortune telling not only easier but more accurate.  Many psychics wear amethysts while reading the future.

Putting an amethyst under one’s pillow or wearing an amethyst while sleeping is thought to help insomnia, stop nightmares and encourage healing sleep and relaxing, possibly prophetic, dreams.  This calming power is carried into the waking world as well.  Holding an amethyst is thought to sooth anxiety and help lesson social disorders such as panic attacks.  The same act in a quiet place can encourage meditation and trance.  Adding an amethyst to the water of just about any spiritual bath will increase its efficacy.

Amethysts are also linked to life success regardless of the pursuit.  Consistent wearing of an amethyst is said to make one more alert, focused and capable of sticking to a goal.  Amethysts can be kept on the desk at work or in a business’ cash register to keep clients and cash coming in.  While not a money drawing stone per ce, the amethyst will help its owner keep a clear vision for success in mind, and know what to do to achieve it.

As a stone of positive attraction, amethysts are said to help women look beautiful and men encourage fondness in “the right woman”.  Carry or wear amethyst on a date with that special someone to magnify your appeal.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Lilac by Edmund Blair Leighton c 1901

Mercredi: The Art of Beauty

I've chattered away in previous beauty posts about dry, rashy skin and how this time of year can destroy almost anyone’s epidermis. It occurred to me last night, as I was trimming my daughters’ hair, that I haven’t addressed the winter misery of dry, brittle tresses. Of course it’s not just a wintertime affliction. Sun, salt water, chlorine and even air conditioning can dry out our hair, not to mention all the horrible things that we actually pay to have done to it. It’s a wonder to me that we’re all not as bald as the inhabitants of some dystopian future.

Permit me, then, to correct my oversight by offering my favorite luxurious treat for frazzled hair. This is a recipe my grandmother found in an old Reader’s Digest and she wrote it down in her book of cooking recipes with the amusing and accurate preface:

Don’t taste this; you’ll be sorry if you do.

This concoction contains rosemary essential oil which will sting your lips and tongue only mildly less effectively than rubbing them with a habanero pepper so just keep it away from your digestive system. On the other hand, apricot kernel oil, unlike some other oils, can actually penetrate the hair to strengthen, repair and protect from future damage. Rosemary is said to protect homes and people, particularly women, ensure a faithful marriage and bring good (and sometime prescient) dreams. What better essential oil for a lady to use on her “crowning glory” any time of year?

½ cup apricot kernel oil
20 drops rosemary essential oil

Mix the oils together thoroughly. Make sure to put an old towel around your shoulders before you start as the oils can stain clothing. Massage the oil into your scalp using firm, circular motions with your fingertips. Then coat your hair from scalp to ends with long, sweeping motions grabbing more oil as needed. Now pile your hair, if it’s long, on your head and cover entirely with a plastic shower cap (those disposable ones from hotels are the best for this). Heat a towel in the microwave (about 15 seconds on high) and wrap it around your head. Keep it on until it is cool again. Spend some time relaxing and letting the oil do its work, perhaps focusing on what you would like the rosemary oil to do for you besides make your hair soft.

Wash your hair thoroughly after the treatment. Don’t overdo the shampoo, though; you want the effects of the oil treatment to last. Rinsing with cold water will help seal the hair shafts and seal in the treatment. For a particularly indulgent treatment, rinse with a cup of apple cider vinegar and let your hair dry naturally to add shine and body. A votre santé ~

Header: The Bower Meadow by Dante Gabriel Rossetti c 1872

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

The delightful smell of sage is one that takes many people back to Holiday meals and warm kitchens. It has an earthy quality that is able to comfort and inspire. I find it interesting that sage is a member of the mint family.

In Europe during the witch hunts, sage was one of those nonsensical “indicators” of witchcraft. Sage in one’s kitchen garden was thought to be a clue that you were a witch even though the whole neighborhood grew sage. It was imagined that, because sage tends to attract toads, it was a favorite of witches.

Sage is also thought to ensure long life. Drinking sage tea or eating sage daily will keep one going into old age. Along those same lines, sage promotes wisdom. In modern Wicca and in hoodoo root work, sage is added to sachets and mojo bags to help people make wise decisions. Carrying a leaf of sage in your pocket on a day when a choice must be made is encouraged. The leaf is also thought to avert the Evil Eye, which may then go back to the ability to choose well. I might suggest doling out sage leaves en mass to our U.S. Congressional representatives right about now.

Dried sage can be added to reversing incenses to clear unwanted conditions. It is important to keep in mind that culinary sage and sagebrush are two different things. When you hear the term “smudging with sage” which has become an unfortunately misunderstood way to accomplish everything from house blessing to self-purification to ghost busting, sagebrush is the herb in use. The tradition of burning sagebrush or soaking in sagebrush infused baths for purification and healing comes from Native American lore and is appropriate in many situations. Unlike sage, sagebrush is not, safe for ingestion in large doses or if pregnant. Sagebrush, in fairness, is a topic for another post.

Sage is thought to be lucky in one’s garden but only if two rules are followed closely, according to Scott Cunningham. First, a stranger must plant the sage for you. And second, you must mix the sage with other herbs (mints work well as do tomatoes) and not devote an entire bed, box or pot to it. He also recommends this sage wishing spell: write your wish on a leaf of sage and tuck it under your pillow for three nights. If, on any of those evenings, you dream of your wish it will materialize. If not, bury the leaf in an isolated part of your yard or at a local park so that your wish doesn’t backfire on you.

Consider using sage this Holiday season with intent to improve health, impart wisdom and ensure long life. Why not nurture the spirit and the body all at the same time? Bon chance ~

Header: Deborah Hall by William Williams c 1766 (note her pet squirrel on a leash)

Jeudi: Root Work

Lucid dreaming, spell work, astral projection, divination, cursing, healing and countless other ways of magick require one thing in common: the mindful and continuous shut down of the active conscious brain. I’m not saying that you have to be “unconscious” to make a mojo bag or read the cards for a friend by any means. That’s just silly. But that irritating, chattering, gerbil-on-a-wheel part of your brain that repeats the annoying commercial jingle while it reminds you to buy bread next time you’re at the store and keeps asking “did you unplug the toaster?” has got to be stopped.

The capacity to shut down that part of your consciousness is, for most of us at least, a life long struggle that requires practice. Well, in all fairness, it requires daily practice. Of course we’ve all read metaphysical authors who speak of “some people” who can “go into trance without thinking about it, as if they were switching off a light” or some other predictable metaphor. The reality is that who these people might be remains unstated and frankly, if they’re out there, only these authors seem to have met them. The fictional Merlin/Samantha/Harry Potter doesn’t exist. No amount of Latin or nose twitching is going to alter Newtonian physics or conquer millennia of evolution. Only dedication will. And the dedicated worker must practice.

So here’s what I do. Every night. Regardless. Climbing into bed becomes a ritual in itself that leads, after a lot of practice, to the ability to be able to overcome the Mom voice in my head. At least long enough to accomplish the occasional working of real, honest, magick.

Lie down on your back. That really is the best position for this meditation; flat on your back. Ladies who are pregnant or those with other medical conditions that prohibit lying in that position should modify the meditation appropriately. I liked to lie on my right side back when. Now close your eyes and take in a few deep breaths. Breathe in and out through your nose; those of you who practice yoga probably already have that exercise down. Try to silence your thoughts completely. Concentrate only on your breathing for a moment.

Now begin to systematically relax the muscles in your body while fighting the urge to consciously think about what you are doing. Start at your feet, work up through your calves, knees and thighs, relax your butt, your pelvis, your abdomen. Work up to your chest and feel your breathing slow down. Now your shoulders, down your arms to your hands and back up to your neck. Sometimes this is the hardest part of all, getting your shoulders and neck to relax; keep breathing and stop thinking. Progress upward and relax your jaw, your tongue, your face, your eyes, your forehead, your scalp. By now your breathing should be deep and slow. Without allowing your “inner voice” to disturb your peace, sink into the mat or mattress beneath you, breath and allow your subconscious to go wherever it wants to go. Try to hang in this space without thought for as long as you can but, once you are thoroughly relaxed, don’t force it. When it’s time to come out of your meditation and go to sleep, do so. You can come back to the exercise tomorrow night.

That’s it. If you are willing to do some version of this exercise consistently, I can guarantee that you will have more success concentrating in all aspects of your life. The mind is a creature of habit. Force it into some good habits and the benefits are surprising. As an aside, this is also a great way to wind up a workout, allowing your body some moments to completely relax once you have finish. Just be sure to keep warm as you may feel a bit chilly during the meditation.

Give it a try. If nothing else, this exercise is a great sleep aid that has no ill effects. And that in itself is a bonus in our hectic, modern world.

Header: Girl Asleep by Johannes Vermeer

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

One of the simple joys of a warm climate is that it affords one the ability to grow a jasmine tree. There is nothing (well, almost nothing) in the world more delightful than the scent of fresh jasmine. It lifts the spirits and, particularly in the case of night blooming jasmine, opens up the more amorous receptors in our brains. No wonder jasmine is believed to enhance herbal mixtures intended to insight love as well as ready the sleeper for psychic dreams.

Alas, only fresh jasmine smells so sweet. Once the flowers are dried they have no scent whatsoever. Although they are still potent in workings to encourage love, the psychic component is gone. For that, essential oil of jasmine must be employed. Fortunately, the oil is easy to come by and the organic varieties in particular are pretty honest relative to content (no other essential oils are added for enhanced aroma, etc).

Use dried jasmine in any sachet or mojo you are putting together to attract love, particularly if you are looking for a more cerebral and less “straight to bed” kind of relationship. The flowers, though generally tagged by herbalists as “feminine”, can be used by men or women, gay or straight. Just carrying the dried flowers in a pocket or purse is thought to make one more attractive to both sexes. If you cannot obtain the dried flowers, use the essential oil. Many root workers suggesting adding a bit of dried parsley to your jasmine oil to up its sexual proclivities. I understand that a bottle of jasmine oil that has had parsley soaking in it for a while can be quite potent, and I’m not talking about the smell. You’ve been warned.

Put a fresh sprig of jasmine on your pillow to help you fall asleep and encourage your memory with regard to your dreams. You can also dab a piece of cloth or the corner of your pillowcase with a bit of jasmine oil to achieve the same result. At the very least it will help insomnia.

Finally, some workers swear by jasmine as an incense for money drawing. Burn the incense in your home frequently while concentrating on the amount of money you need. Alternatively, carry dried jasmine in your wallet to ensure that it never completely empties of cash. Bon chance ~

Header: Love’s Young Dream by Jennie Augusta Brownscombe