Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Happy May Day to one and all and welcome to HQ’s 500^th post; quite a milestone if I do say so myself.  This seems an excellent opportunity to thank you all for your support.  I sincerely appreciate it.

The first of May always makes me think of flowers.  The fact that there is not a bloom to be seen outside my window is no reason to keep from thinking of nature’s jewels.  So let us look at the passion flower which, as Scott Cunningham points out, is not so about excitement magickally speaking as it is about serenity.

Passion flowers grow in long, stalky vines that curl around and climb up whatever they are close to, seeking the sun.  They are also symbolic in Catholic folklore of the Passion of Jesus.  Because of this combination of nature and history, passion flowers are most used in hoodoo to impart peace and draw lasting love. 

Root workers will cultivate passion flower at their front gate or on their front porch to bring harmony into the home and bless the house.  A piece of passion flower root, taken from the plant without uprooting it all together and if possible dressed with Love Me Oil, should be carried in a red flannel mojo to draw love.

In Wicca, passion flower is also planted near the home or put in vases indoors to bring peace and quiet arguments.

Old wives advised wearing the lacey, purple flowers on the lapel or in the hair as a way for both men and women to draw the affection and friendship of others.  The flowers were also thought to assist insomniacs when placed under the pillow at bed time.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Vogue c 1952, photo by Irving Penn via Mid-Century

Jeudi: Root Work

Entertaining was one of the many things that my Grandmother excelled at.  She was notorious in small towns along the Washington coast such as Aberdeen and Hoquiam for her during-Prohibition-and-beyond cocktail parties.  So much so that the memory of them lingered long after Gran had joined the Ghede. 

I remember being approached by a quite elderly man in Ocean Shores when I was in my early twenties.  He asked me if I was “Helen’s granddaughter” and when I said yes he began to gush about Gran, perfectly dry martinis and a certain silk dress that evidently showed off rouged knees.  Right about then my Grandfather came around the corner.  The gushing ended abruptly; even in his 80s Grandpa could be threatening.

Since my own mother tends to loath entertaining – I suspect she loathes people in general so entertaining would naturally follow – I was always keen to hear what Gran had to say about the makings of a perfect get-together.  One of her favorite bits of advice involved the use of what we would now term “aromatherapy”.  She called in “incense magick” and gave the credit for her knowledge of the responses of the human olfactory system to her old friends, the Gypsies.

Accordingly, she wrote down a list that I’ve kept tucked in her old cookbook.  Some of these incenses are harder to find today than they were in the ‘30s when Gran was in her glory, but most can still be acquired if you’re willing to look.  Remember to always purchase the highest quality incense your budget will allow, regardless of your preference for stick, cone or loose varieties.  High quality ingredients, it goes without saying, result in high quality incense.  Here’s Gran’s list with a few of my own tweaks:

Amber ~ a fine choice for small gatherings, particularly those with romantic overtones

Cassia ~ sets a comfortable, homey mood

Cedar ~ calms men (Gran recommended this one if two rivals were bound to show up at your soirée)

Cinnamon ~ a purifier that is best to burn the day before you entertain to “clear the air”

Clove ~ stimulates the brain; great for meetings, book clubs, writing circles etc.

Frankincense or Myrrh ~ attunes the conscious mind to higher powers; the right choice for any spiritual gathering

Ginger ~ creates a warm, welcoming environment; perfect on cold winter nights

Lavender ~ a tension reliever that dissipates nervous energy; this is a good one for the hostess to enjoy in her private rooms while she prepares for her guests

Neroli ~ brings joy; a great choice for celebrations of weddings, baptisms, birthdays and a loved one who has passed on

Pine ~ this perfect holiday scent is like a combination – figuratively speaking – of Ginger and Neroli

Rosemary ~ much like a combination of Cinnamon and Clove – again in the figurative sense – Rosemary helps clear both the atmosphere and the brain; it is also a good choice for groups made up exclusively of women

Sandalwood ~ tends to make people drop their barriers and interact freely

Ylang-Ylang ~ “inspires beauty” and is perfect for gallery openings or gatherings of artists young or old; I find this scent is particularly good for children’s parties

Incense is a simple and inexpensive way to bring harmony, well-being and creativity into your home, and not just when you entertain.  Not all magick has to be concentration and sparks, after all.  If you’re like me and are not blessed with a local purveyor of good incense, I recommend Azure Green as a place to shop online.  They are reputable, have a large stock and ship to both the U.S. and Canada.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Village Fête by Victor Nehlig via American Gallery

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Everyone knows what is being spoken of when someone remarks that an especially pretty girl is “like catnip”. The truly amusing thing is that the idea behind the remark is as old as the hills and probably has a magickal basis.

Catnip has been used in hoodoo for hundreds of years. It attracts men in particular, and ladies have been using its magnetism to just that end. The idea is that the herb will make a woman look more enticing and her conversation seem more charming to gentlemen. With this in mind, catnip quickly became a favorite among the quadroons of old New Orleans.

It was not uncommon for debuting girls to wear catnip flowers to the Black and White balls where the wealthy and decidedly white gentlemen would pay (often a hefty sum) to dance with and be entertained by these mixed-race ladies. The end for everyone was a nice arrangement whereby the young lady would set up house under the gentleman’s patronage and any children of their union would be given his last name so, of course, competition tended to be fierce. A little catnip pinned to the bodice or worn in a locket or broach was said to give a girl an edge in a sea of pretty women. To seal the deal, a lady might offer a flower to the gentleman and then burn the rest of the catnip she was wearing with love incense upon arriving home. Monsieur would surely come to her like a cat to, well, catnip.

Other traditions have similar workings built around catnip. Growing it in the yard or hanging some over the door is thought to attract luck and helpful spirits. As with hoodoo love mojos, which frequently include catnip, Wiccans fashion sachets to draw love with dried catnip and rose petals. Scott Cunningham mentions holding catnip in your hand until it is warm and then, after setting the herb aside, holding another’s hand. That person will forever be your friend as long as you keep the catnip you used in a safe place.

And then there’s your cat. The tradition goes that giving him or her catnip increases your psychic bond and that wise women in Europe would do so to make a stray cat a docile familiar. If nothing else, it will make the cat happy. Bon chance ~

Header: The Musical Contest by Jean Honore Fragonard

Mercdredi: The Art of Giving

For these next few Wednesdays, HQ’s “Art of Beauty” posts will morph into the “Art of Giving”. I’ll post some of my favorite easy to make gifts that you can throw together in a couple of hours (usually) and have ready for the hostess, fellow volunteer or overnight guest. Who doesn’t appreciate a thoughtful, handcrafted gift over something hastily pulled from a store shelf, after all?

Today, herbed oils. Really all you need it good olive oil, a nice cruet or glass bottle (with or without one of those fancy metal tops that pour “just the right amount” Martha Stewart style) and access to herbs. Here are two recipes I’m fond of:

Basil Oil

3 to 5 tbsps basil leaves (depending on the taste of your recipient)
1 cup boiling water
2 cups olive oil

Put the leaves in a glass bowl and cover with boiling water. Let stand for two minutes and drain. Dry the leaves slightly between two sheets of paper towel. Chop the leaves very fine and then add them to two tablespoons of oil. Mash this mixture with a fork until it achieves the consistency akin to baby food. Alternatively, mix oil and basil in a food processor if you have access to one.

Place the basil mixture along with the remaining olive oil in a jar with a tight fitting lid and store for at least two days or up to a week. Strain the mixture through muslin and then decant your oil into the bottle of your choice.

This oil is insanely good on a tomato and mozzarella salad or in a vinaigrette. Handle your basil with intent to infuse wishes for friendship, prosperity and protection into this gift.

Rosemary and Garlic Oil
4 sprigs of rosemary
3 garlic cloves, peeled
2 cups olive oil

Hit the rosemary and garlic a time or two with the flat of a knife to open them up a little. Put both herbs directly into the bottle you will be using for the gift and pour in the oil

Again, set this a side for a day or two before giving. The longer it sits the more flavorful it becomes.

This is a great blend to brown meats in and is wonderful for dipping bread because it holds its own with balsamic vinegar. Use intent when bruising your rosemary and garlic to impart love and a youthful attitude (rosemary) and protection and health (garlic). Les meilleurs voeux ~

Header: Girl with a Wineglass by Vermeer

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

The apple, so frequently referred to as "humble", is actually a very complex metaphor in more than one culture, both modern and historical. Cut it in half one way and you reveal what can be interpreted as symbolic female genitalia. Cut it the other way and you've the Wiccans' beloved five pointed star. Surf the web for innumerable images of the Judeo-Christian "fall of man" and find the apple right next to Eve and The Snake. Poor Adam didn't have a chance. Turn it into anything you like: pie, cider, butter, jam, juice, chips. The possibilities are endless. When you step back from it, there is nothing at all humble about this ancient fruit that originated in what is now Kazakhstan (thank you Alton Brown of "Good Eats").

Not surprisingly the apple is often used in magick. It's easy to come by - I remember picking apples as a kid in Washington State - and heartily nutritious as well (despite what the anti-carb crowd would have you believe). It is also a symbol of love and harmony in just about every magickal discipline. In hoodoo practice, the apple is often featured prominently in "sweetening" rituals done to make people get along better and/or fall in love. The forms of this type of root work are innumerable and they vary by region. Some are simple and some are so complex that they must be done by someone other than the couple involved. All share the belief that apples can generate warm feelings.

The simplest working is to cut and apple in two and share the other half with someone you like. Love will bloom between you. A bath in which the water has been sprinkled with apple blossoms will make the bather more attractive and open to a relationship. Hold an apple in your hands until it has warmed while thinking loving thoughts, then give it to someone you fancy. If they eat the apple, they will fall in love with you.

A more complex "sweetener" to be done by a third party goes like this. Get a red apple and a clay pot in which it will fit with room for potting soil and a live plant (or two). Take a piece of paper approximately the size of the apple and write the two individuals' names on the paper, crossing them in an X pattern. Now write your wish for the couple's happiness in a circle around the X (repeat the phrase if need be but don't leave any words out; this takes some planning ahead and practice to get the necessary "perfect" result). Core the apple's center and insert the rolled up paper. Place the apple in the flower pot and then pour some cinnamon powder and a bit of sugar into the hole in the apple. Now cover the apple completely with potting soil and plant a "love" plant such as dill, fern (maiden hair in particular), lavender or violet, in the pot. Water the new plant in, with Holy Water if possible, and give the whole thing to the couple as a gift. As the plant grows, so will the wish for "sweetness" in their relationship imparted to them by you.

Apples, of course, are a signature fruit for the end of the year Holidays. See what sweet offerings you can make with apples, and let me know how they do. Bon chance ~

Header: Adam and Eve by Albrecht Durer

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

As the cold settles in (it was 14 degrees Fahrenheit when I took my daughter to school at 8:45 this morning) I turn to the warm fragrances and tastes of what is generally referred to in European influenced societies as “Holiday food”. The spices used in things like pumpkin pie, turkey stuffing/dressing, gingerbread and so many other end of the year celebratory foods are also quite magickal in their own right. But that, of course, comes as no surprise.

Cloves have been used extensively as a winter spice for hundreds of years. They have a warm aroma that calms but with just enough bite to give one the energy they need to face cold, dark days. In hoodoo, both whole cloves and clove oil are used for gambling luck, money and friendship-drawing and to stop malicious gossip.

Gambling halls in southeastern Louisiana were “smudged” with an incense made of cloves, wintergreen, cinnamon and camphor to bring in good trade. Whole cloves were carried by gamblers to bring luck. Cloves burned as an incense by themselves are said to draw in wealth, purify the air and drive off crossed conditions. Scott Cunningham says the scent can also comfort the bereaved.

Pushing whole, dried cloves into a red candle while concentrating on stopping malicious gossip against you, then burning the candle until it goes out is said to be a fool-proof charm against other people’s lies. Some workers even say that doing this ritual will bring your enemies closer to your circle of friends.

Bringing in and keeping friendships is another use for cloves. To keep a friend for life, make two necklaces with small flannel bags filled with cloves and tied to strings. You and your friend should each wear a necklace until the strings break. You will always be good friends.

To make an attractive pomander ball which can be given as a gift and will encourage ongoing friendship, select an unusually beautiful orange and then wrap a lovely ribbon around it twice, like a gift box. Tie that in a knotted bow with long tails for carrying or even hanging. Now stud the orange with dried cloves all around in as even and pretty a pattern as possible. Give the pomander as a present and as the fruit begins to desiccate (a good number of cloves will keep it from actually rotting) it will release the scent of orange and cloves while cementing your friendship with the lucky recipient. It’s a perfect project for the Holidays (and, as an aside, an inexpensive and inconspicuous way for the kids to get in good with their teachers).

Prior to the dawn of antibiotics, clove oil was used as an antiseptic with surprisingly favorable results. Clove oil was also used as an anesthetic; dropped onto a decaying tooth, it would ease the pain for a time. My great grandmother, who never lived in town but always “out on the farm”, would drop clove oil on a rotten tooth in preparation to kill the root, which she did with carbolic acid. I am not making that up. Just so you know, this last paragraph is chock full of uses for clove oil (and carbolic acid for that matter) that I do not recommend. See a dentist s’il vous plait. Bon chance et subsistence chaude ~

Header: Landscape with Ice by Hendrik Avercamp c 17th century