Samedi: Curios

The beautiful, sea-blue stone known as aquamarine is an ancient talisman of those devoted to the sea. As I am thoroughly missing the blue water right now, I find it is high time to discuss the crystal most precious to my lwa, La Siren.

Aquamarine, a variety of beryl, has been used as a talisman and made into beads and pendants since the dawn of civilization. Beads of aquamarine have been found in Sumerian and Egyptian burials from as early at 4,000 BCE, when bead making was just taking off as an art form. The stone was thought to ease the soul's transition from life into afterlife, probably a stunning psychological trauma that needed - and needs - all the easing it can get.

The stone has long been believed to enhance psychic power, and is a favorite of those who work in the business of divination. Scott Cunningham, in his Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, gives a simple yet powerful ritual for enhancing one's psychism and empathy. Place an aquamarine of any size, even the smallest bead will do, in a glass of fresh water and let this sit in the light of a full moon for three hours. Retrieve the stone, which you might want to tuck away wherever you store your divining tools, and drink the water to achieve increased psychic awareness. This ritual can be repeated as often as necessary.

Probably because of its color, aquamarine is associated with seafaring and safety on the water. The Phoenicians, whom the Ancient Egyptians simply referred to as "The Sea People," sent their men out into blue water with amulets of aquamarine to protect them from storms and drowning. Fishermen along the coasts of Europe and North Africa still wear aquamarine for this purpose. Tuck an aquamarine in your luggage, or wear one on your person, when you travel by or over water to safely arrive at your destination.

Aquamarine can also be used in the same ways one would use amethyst. Wear it to inspire courage, calm, joy, happiness and strong relationships as well as keep the mind alert. Bonne chance ~

Header: Orpheus and Eurydice by Michael Putz-Richard via Old Paint

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

For regular readers of my ramblings here at HQ, it will come as no surprise that I have been engrossed in research on healing herbs recently.  Dear friends have been helpful, particularly our yoga instructor brother-from-another-mother Joe, as well as holistic healing pyrates of the New World Seika and Captain Swallow.  Magickal ends are also worth seeking out, though.  Radiation therapy, meditation and grape seed oil can all use a little push, right?

To my surprise, one of the most effective healing herbs across all manner of magickal disciplines turns out to be humble, garden variety rue.  Rue is a favorite in Mediterranean cooking, and rue tea has been prescribed to pregnant women for centuries by midwives hoping to even out those occasional mood swings.  The herb is also a bit of a jack-of-all-trades magickally speaking, bringing luck, love, courage, protection and healing.

Druids, Wiccans and Gnostics/Copts have used rue for centuries.  The Coptic word for rue is bashoush, which can be translated as lucky.  The Ancient Etruscans and Romans included rue in their food not only as a spice, but to protect their internal organs from disease caused by hexes or the Evil Eye.  To this day one of the most popular amulets in Italy is the Cimaruta.  Made exclusively from silver, the Cimaruta is worn around the neck to aid in healing, ward against future illness and the Evil Eye, and bring luck to the wearer.  This tradition is popular in the Strega practice of Wicca, and is thought to date back to the Etruscan culture.  You can find a lovely example of a Cimaruta here.

Druids and Wiccans also use bundles of rue as sprinklers to shake salt water around homes for cleansing rituals.  Rue is rubbed along clean floorboards to repel evil magick, according to Scott Cunningham, and hung over the doors to protect against same.  Cunningham also recommends placing fresh rue on the forehead while relaxing to cure tension headaches and taking in the scent of fresh rue to clear the mind and enhance mental acuity.  Love poppets are often stuffed with rue.

In hoodoo, rue tea is is sprinkled around the home for protection and added to baths to help healing and break jinxes.  Cleansing incense is made by mixing dried rue and hyssop with ground frankincense, camphor and sandalwood.  The mixture is burned on charcoal and used to smudge the home or people for purification.  A healing and protecting mojo should include rue, comfrey root, coriander and nine Devil's shoestings.  These should be placed in a red flannel bag and dressed regularly with a healing or protection oil or whiskey.  The bag should be carried close to the skin whenever possible.

Silver RavenWolf mentions the use of rue in Pow-Wow, which echoes the Wiccan use of the herb for clarity of thought.  She also notes the hex-breaking qualities of the herb and, perhaps curiously, advises that rue can be used to protect self and home from werewolves.  I'd call that an added bonus.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Coming Events Cast Their Shadows Before by Charles C. Ward via American Gallery

Jeudi: Curios

The beautiful, red-orange semiprecious stone called carnelian always reminds me of summer.  Its fiery color also inspired our ancestors, who used this red form of chalcedony as a ward against fear, a help with depression and a source of virility.

In ancient times, carnelian was usually worn in rings.  The Ancient Egyptians believed that carnelian set in gold could conquer feelings of jealousy, hatred and anger in one's self and others.  The Greeks and Romans believed carnelian was a promoter of health and could, in particular, keep diseases of the skin, body parasites and insanity at bay.

In the late Medieval period and Renaissance in Europe, Scott Cunningham tells us that large carnelians were engraved with the image of a sword or, to even better effect, a warrior in full armor and worn a an amulet against harm, including the psychic intrusion of someone trying to read your mind.  These amulets were also hung in homes and churches to keep away lightening and the evil workings of witches.

Now, carnelian is particularly prized for its ability to keep doubt, fear and depression at bay.  Carnelian is considered the go-to curio for people who fear public speaking but have no way of avoiding it.  For this purpose, Cunningham advises wearing the stone in a ring or necklace although I have a pair of carnelian earrings that have served me well in such situations.

Carnelian is thought to give shy people a boost of self-confidence and impart eloquence of speech.  It is also considered a psychic stone, improving second-sight while quelling nightmares.

In all eras, carnelian has been worn to encourage the sex drive and fertility, particularly in men.  Remember, too, that if you cannot afford carnelian - which is admittedly rather pricey - red jasper is a perfect substitute.  And, as always, cleanse your stone(s) with holy water, salt or sunshine before using them.

One last note, if you will indulge me.  This post is dedicated to two of my favorite guys named Scott.  First the incomparable Scott Cunningham, the anniversary of whose birthday was yesterday; may he know eternal happiness in the Summerland.  Second my dear - and very much alive - friend Scott Rose who recently had to abandon a labor of love; I have no doubt that the future holds so much more for you!

Happy Summer to all in the Northern latitudes, and - as always - Bonne chance ~

Header: Jeanne d'Arc and Saint Michael by Spencer Baird Nichols c 1925

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

As a magickal practice, hoodoo has a long history of offering root work and mojos that will either keep the law away from the client, or help them when they have a run in with the authorities.  This makes perfect sense given the roots of hoodoo.  Most practitioners came from the ranks of the poor, who probably had more frequent encounters – for good or ill – with law enforcement and the court system.  This does not mean that wealthier people refused to seek out such help when it was needed; more than one land or business owner in a bind has surely asked a local root doctor to help him with a law confusion or court case mojo.

Today’s herb is used for such workings.  Celandine, a leafy and poisonous plant with milky sap and poppy-like pods is used in work to keep away evil, most particularly the evils of the law.  The tiny seeds have been scattered around houses to ward of the evil eye and keep away ghostly haints and witches, but this method is said to keep the police away as well.  This was a treatment favored by illicit brothels and speak easies alike.

An old candle burning ritual to keep people from testifying against one required that poppy seeds, celandine and calendula flowers be steeped in oil for nine days.  This mixture was then strained and the oil was used to anoint a black candle into which the names of those set to testify have been carved.  The candle is lit and allowed to burn itself out while the root worker or her client – or both – concentrate on a successful outcome in or out of court.

Scott Cunningham mentions similar uses for celandine in Wicca.  The leaves should be worn next to the skin, and replaced with new ones every three days, to avoid capture by the law or other possible snares.  The same application may win favor from judge and jury in a court case.  He also says that celandine is worn to uplift the spirit and fight depression.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Trial of Jeanne d’Arc by Louis Boutet de Monvel c 1911

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Decoctions, tisanes and teas are used in both traditional and magickal healing to keep us healthy or to nurse us back to that state.  Tea proper, whether black or green, has uses in both areas as well.  It is a mild stimulant and diuretic and has astringent properties that benefit skin and hair.  Its magickal uses are somewhat limited in the west but probably only for the fact that it has not been known as long as it has been in the east.

In Wicca, tea is thought to impart courage and strength as well as draw wealth.  Tea is a sign of good fortune, as well as hospitality, in many eastern cultures as well.  Dried tea leaves are burned to draw money to a home or business.  They can also be sprinkled in cash registers and safes for the same purpose.  Scott Cunningham recommends adding them to all money mixtures and sachets.  He also recommends infusions of dark tea to add to any lust-inducing drink.

In hoodoo, tea leaves are not much thought of but odd items are sometimes brewed in boiling water and added to tea or coffee to ensure the fidelity of a partner.  In one such application, women are advised to boil a pair of underwear after wearing it for a day and add some of the resulting “tea” to their lover’s or husband’s morning coffee.  This is thought to ensure his fidelity, at least as long as he does not discern what’s in his morning cup of Joe…  Bonne chance ~

Header:  Lady at a Tea Table by Mary Cassatt c 1883

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Yarrow has been in use in various cultures around the globe since ancient times.  The stalks were used by the Chinese to make pieces for the divinatory system known as I Ching.  European alchemists associated the plant with Mars and prescribed it as a talisman against being wounded in battle.  Modern root workers make use of it to improve courage and reveal one’s future mate.  Wiccans say it can attract love, enhance psychic powers and drive away evil.

Yarrow is carried on the person to draw love.  Scott Cunningham says that carrying the leaves of the plant will bring far away friends and relatives to your side.  An old Mediterranean ritual involves hanging dried yarrow over a bridal bed to ensure the couple will love one another for at least seven years.  Yarrow is also used in wedding bouquets for the same reason.  Hoodoos say that a girl who puts a little bunch of yarrow under her pillow will dream of her future husband.

Flowers from the yarrow plant can be infused into a tea and added to a bath to improve psychic powers.  An old wives’ tale says that rinsing the head once a month with a yarrow infusion will prevent baldness, but it will not bring back hair that has already been lost.

Courage can be gained by making a mojo with dried yarrow and nettle.  First, write down your fears on a piece of paper.  Turn the paper one quarter turn to your left and write your full name nine times over what you have already written, crossing the fears with your name.  Fold up the paper and place it in a yellow bag.  Follow that with a bit of nettle and a bit of yarrow.  Seal the bag and carry it with you to overcome your fears.  In a pinch, simply grasp a yarrow leaf in your hand for an instant boost of courage.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Yarrow plant from a Medieval herbal housed at the Bailey Howe Library