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

Jeudi: Curios

Amber, as Scott Cunningham notes in his Encyclopedia of Crystal, Gem & Metal Magic, is quite possibly the oldest form of adornment in the world. The solidified sap of now extinct coniferous trees, amber ranges in color from a deep reddish-orange to sunny yellow. And, of course, there are sometimes little bugs and leaves permanently captured in the stones.

Amber has a myriad of magickal uses and is certainly the jewel of choice for Wiccans and particularly High Priests and Priestesses. Considered a source of energy, amber is believed to represent the so called fifth element or Akasha that binds the four visible elements - fire, air, earth and water - together. Thus wearing of amber, usually in silver settings, is thought to increase the power of the worker and the efficacy of his or her spellcraft.

Viking children were often given simple amber necklaces to protect their health. This habit is still common today in colder areas of the world where amber is most plentiful. In Siberia, Canada and here in Alaska, natives wear amber and ivory together to bring prosperity and turn away the evil eye.

Wearing amber has for centuries been thought to improve the wearer's looks. Cunningham notes the irony of this: during the Renaissance, women wore amber in order to gain weight while in our times it is worn to assist in healthy weight loss. The efficacy of both these approaches may be a little spurious, but I have found that wearing amber regularly does lift one's mood which in turn makes one more attractive.

If you feel you are under psychic attack, or perhaps just having a run of "bad luck," add a few amber beads to a warm bath, settle in and soak. Then wear or carry the beads with you until your next bath. Taking loose amber or wearing a piece of amber jewelry to a job or other interview will also increase you confidence and by turns your chances of landing that job.

A bit of powdered amber added to any incense is said to increase the intended purpose of same. In Ancient Sumer, Babylon and Phoenicia, amber dust was burned during labor to ensure a safe birthing for both mother and child.

When buying amber, be sure to do your research. Items labeled amber are sometimes nothing more than glass or resin. Know your dealer and choose wisely. Amber is not cheap by any means so you will want to purchase the best quality you can afford. I have found that the right piece of amber will often find you rather than you finding it. You may receive it as a gift, stumble upon it at a flea market or run across an ad in the paper or online. For instance, I found the amber ring I now wear regularly at a local art store that was reducing their inventory. I knew the store owner well and therefore had no concerns about quality. The real kicker was when the ring fit - which I did not at all expect given my unfortunate "man hands," to use a "Seinfeld" reference. Reduced price, trusted source and it slipped on perfectly; ring me up, if you'll pardon the pun. Bonne chance ~

Header: Amber pendants via Wikipedia

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Today's herb, moonwort, can be a little confusing particularly if one is considering planting some in the garden. Two separate plants are called moonwort and, as this nice description at Alchemy Works points out, one is a variety of fern and quite difficult to grow particularly from seed. The other, and the one that is generally used in Wiccan love spells, is called Lunaria annua and is a member of the broccoli family. It grows large, silvery seed pods that have been used in various alchemical and old wives' concoctions since Medieval times in Europe.

The nearly transparent seed pods were once placed in purses and money chests to encourage an increase in wealth. Alchemists believed that the moonwort would actually spontaneously produce silver if left alone in such places. As a pocket piece, the seed pod is probably no less beneficial for increasing cash than any other herb/curio used with intention for the same purpose.

The sweet smelling leaves are dried and added to love sachets. They can also be sprinkled into a bath or simmered into a tea to add to same to make an individual more attractive to a potential love interest. Likewise, wearing the lovely violet-colored flowers is said to draw love. Having a lover hold one of the seed pods is said to encourage their honesty should they be less than faithful, so to say.

The fern known as moonwort was thought to magickally open locks and was thus a favorite of thieves and embezzlers. A fresh sprig from the plant was simply inserted into the lock and the rest was easy pickin's, so to say. The fern was also thought to remove shoes, from both horses and people. Blacksmiths and farriers were advised to carry the plant with them and simply have a horse with a stubborn shoe step over it for instant results. This believe was so persistent that colonists from Europe brought the fern and its folk name with them to the New World where it was largely known as "Unshoe-Horse".

The Lunaria annua is said to be easy to grow and Alchemy Works offers the plant's seeds for sale as well as a wide variety of other magickal herbs. Bonne chance ~

Header: The Love Potion by Evelyn de Morgan c 1903 via Wikipedia

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Lots of things going on here at chez Pauline so, rather than skip another post, here is some herbal advice from the archives. Enjoy!

Nettle is a common weed in cooler climates all over the world. Known to Native shaman, old wives and root workers alike, nettle's most common use is to break and turn away jinxes. But there is so much more to the ancient history of this herb.

In hoodoo, nettle is used specifically to dispel evil. A tea of nettle and rue is added to baths along with a handful of black salt to lift curses and crossed conditions. At least some of the bathwater should be thrown out the front door of the home to seal the cure.

Both natives in North America and old wives in Europe recommended nettle tea for pregnant women to strengthen the fetus and ease labor. After the baby's birth, nettle tea continued to be prescribed to encourage milk production. Dried nettle was also sprinkled on the feed given to dairy cows for the same purpose.

According to Scott Cunningham, nettle should be carried in a sachet or stuffed in a poppet to remove a curse and send it back. Wiccans sprinkle dried nettle around the home to ward off evil. It can also be thrown into a fire to prevent harm coming to home or person and it is held in the right hand to ward off ghosts, particularly while walking alone at night near haunted ground. Putting a bowl full of nettle clippings under the bed of a sick person is thought to aid healing.

Pow-Wow also uses nettle, and for similar purposes. Silver RavenWolf says that a combination of nettle and yarrow makes a powerful amulet against fear. Scott Cunningham agrees, saying the two will also dispel negativity. Pow-Wows also use dried nettle to enhance lust, and sprinkle it over the bedclothes of the sick to encourage recovery.

A very old German "spell", which probably originated in one form or another prior to the widespread success of Christianity in the Middle Ages, saw farmers using nettle to remove maggot infestations from their cows' hooves. In Highroad to the Stake: A Tale of Witchcraft, Michael Kunze says the nettle should be picked before sunrise and held between both hands. The farmer should then recite:

Nettle, nettle, hear forsooth,
Our cow's got maggots in her hoof,
If you don't drive the maggots out,
I'll twist your collar round about!

The nettle stem was then twisted until it broke off and both pieces were tossed over the farmer's head. If all steps of this process were repeated three days in a row, the cow would be cured.

Finally, nettle has been used for centuries as a bandage in cases of bleeding. The leaves should be bruised slightly to allow the juice to flow and then applied to the bloody wound before bandaging to help with clotting. Bonne chance ~

Header: At the Entrance by Boilly via A Harlot's Progress

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Bon Mardi Gras to one and all! The calendar is bringing the moveable feasts early this year and, shameless thing that I am, I started the day with a King Cake cupcake. It's never too early to celebrate, after all.

Valentine's Day, not being in any way moveable (not much of a metaphor for love when you think about it) is Thursday. And so today, the violet which is universally considered a bringer of love, friendship and harmony.

According to Scott Cunningham, the Ancient Greeks wore violets not only to diffuse anger but also to bring restful, restorative sleep. Old wives would weave violet flowers and stems into a kind of crown or chaplet that was then placed on the head of someone suffering from headache or dizziness. This treatment, along with a little rest, was thought to banish the problem within a day. Violet leaves were also applied to cuts and burns, and carried on the person in a green bag to keep the wound from festering. It was also said that picking the first violet one found as spring burst forth was a very lucky omen. One's most ardent wish would be fulfilled, the story goes, before the following spring.

In hoodoo, violets are used in workings for love and lust. The violet known in the southern U.S. as Johnny Jump-Up was mixed with High John the Conqueror and snake root chips, then carried by men to draw the sexual attention of a woman or women.

To bring a new love into their life, men and women alike would wear a violet leaf in their shoe for seven days. To boost the strength of the trick, three violet leaves are worn on consecutive weeks. The entire working then lasts twenty-one days and is thought to ensure a new love will follow one home.

Chewing violet to increase that new love's affection for you was also advised. Men who did not want to be "caught" shied away from a lady who might offer to wipe their face with her handkerchief. She may have spit into it after chewing violet, than let it dry. Rubbing the lover's skin with the hanky thereafter was thought to make them wild about you and, to some degree, "trap" them in the relationship.

When love goes wrong, as it does for all of us at some time, the violet can come to the rescue to ease the pain. Mix pansy flowers - which are a form of violet - with the buds of Balm of Gilead or rosemary (particularly for ladies). Steep this in hot water, drain and add to a nice warm bath. With luck, harmony will return to your life. This ritual is said to also soften the anger that often accompanies such episodes, and make one's frame of mind more open to reconciliation or at least friendship with the former lover.

Finally, growing a violet in the kitchen is said to draw prosperity and bring peace to the home. Ask an expert at the nursery; some violets are edible and they make an attractive addition to salads. Serve some to your lover on Valentine's Day and see what happens... Bonne chance et bon Mardi Gras ~

Header: The Reluctant Bride by Auguste Tolmouche via Two Nerdy History Girls because sometimes love just doesn't happen...

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

Jeudi: Curios

Garnets are one of my favorite semi-precious stones, and not just because I was born in January. For centuries, garnets have had a connection to friendship and keeping friends close even when they are physically separated. While we don't think much about something like that in our "I'll text you when I get to the far side of the globe" world, only a few short decades ago such things were a lot more dear. Then too, there's the fact that the deep, rich red of a garnet always puts me in mind of the Holidays.

Garnets are ruled by the planet Mars and are therefore considered masculine and projective. For all these reasons, garnets have been and still are used for protective purposes. In times gone by, garnets were thought to repel stinging and biting creatures and anklets were made of garnets for those who had to tread on dangerous ground, particularly where scorpions or snakes might lie in wait. The stones were also thought to drive off supernatural creatures, especially those like vampires that struck at night. Wearing a garnet necklace to bed was always advisable and Jewish mothers might include a garnet or two in the charm above their baby's bed to ward against the viscous appetites of Lamia.

According to Scott Cunningham, garnets can serve a similar purpose in our modern age. Charged and worn, garnets can strengthen the personal aura and repel negative energies and intents. Because garnets have always thought to guard against theft, wearing them may help keep would-be muggers out of your personal space.

In Medieval medicine garnets, worn or crushed and drunk in wine, were thought to regulate the blood. They have been used in "New Age" medicine to help relieve swelling and rashes.

My favorite application for garnets, however, returns to the issue of keeping friendships. If you must part with a close friend, make them a gift of something with a garnet in or on it before you go. The stone, again treated with intention, will continue your mutual affection and ensure that somehow, someway, you will be together again. This is a sentiment that the Victorians seem to have understood judging from this enchanting gold locket set with pearls and garnets. A votre sante ~

Header: Chimeres by Pascal A.J.D. Bouvert via Old Paint

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

This time of year there is a lot of talk about peace. Peace on Earth, wishes of peace and, of course, peace in the home. One can imagine all those things more readily in the stillness of the season. But stillness, and even peace, are not usually the reality of this time of year. Quite the opposite, actually. How handy that hoodoo has a little helper for just that problem.

Motherwort, a fuzzy-leafed, bitter member of the mint family, comes to the rescue. Though not much thought of in other magickal disciplines - Scott Cunningham doesn't even mention is in his all-inclusive Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - motherwort has been a boon to many a hoodoo homekeeper.

The dried herb is brewed into a tea, which it should be said is not for drinking. The tincture is added to bathwater to bring calm to fussy children and grouchy adults. A bit of the tea can also be added to the clothes washer to achieve the same results. In the past, underwear in particular was washed with motherwort tea since that particular article of clothing would invariably touch the skin of the wearer.

The tea can be included in a floor wash to encourage not only the family but guests in the home to interact peacefully. Rub your doorways and window sills with the same mixture to protect from unwanted visitors and belligerent intruders.

Another nice use for motherwort is to collect a photo of each member of your household - so much the better if it is just one picture and everyone is gathered happily together - and put them/it in an envelope or box with a sprinkling of dried motherwort. Tuck the container away in the bottom of a drawer or under your bed. Done with intention, this trick will keep peace and love flowing among the members of the family. Don't forget to include your pets.

Motherwort is believed to have gotten its unusual name because it was used by midwives to calm and relax pregnant women and women in labor. This application is frowned upon now as the herb tends to relax not only the mind and the muscles but the clotting process as well, creating the potential for hemorrhage.

Joy and peace to you and your families, then. Take a moment at some point during this long holiday season to enjoy the blessings of silence and rest. They can do wonders not only for the body but for the soul as well. Bonne chance ~

Header: A vintage greeting card via Mid-Century

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Onions, those common garden vegetables that are a base for so many delicious recipes, are also a well thought of magickal herb. The white and yellow variety have an extended history in Wicca, folklore and old wives' tales. But today we are dealing specifically with that purplish kind known as a red onion.

In hoodoo, red onions are used extensively both for so called "white" magicks such as keeping the peace around the house. They also lend themselves to more "gray" magick - or gris-gris if you will. In these cases the red onion or parts of it are used to keep a beloved under the root worker's thrall, beginning and/or continuing a relationship whether or not the other party is entirely on board with the idea. This is a type of manipulative magick that hoodoo very rarely thinks twice about. In practices like Wicca, however, the rule of three would be minded and manipulation would be shunned. At least in theory.

So let us turn to an old hoodoo trick for a peaceful home, which surely a number of us could use with the Holidays fast approaching.

Take a red onion and bore a hole in it through to the center but not all the way out the other side. Fill the hole with sugar and seal it up with some sort of stuffing, onion bits, hot wax, what ever works for you. Now conceal the onion somewhere over the door that most folks go in and out of the house through. A great way to accomplish the concealment is to put a little shelf over your door - they're available all over the place now - and fill it with knickknacks. Include a decorative box in which to put the onion. Voila! Be sure to do this with intention, and change the onion as often as you like but at least once a year.

According to Scott Cunningham, old wives once insisted that red onions could draw away illness and misfortune and protect the home they were in. For this reason a red onion was tied to the bedpost, especially of those who were recuperating from illness.

Both Wiccans and root workers will advise you that throwing away onion skins - particularly on the ground - is a sure way to end your prosperity. The skins should instead be burned, either in the fireplace or on the stove, to increase prosperity, draw in business, multiply affection and, in hoodoo at least, keep the law away. Bonne chance ~

Header: Two Idlers by Robert Frederick Blum via American Gallery

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

I am so glad that it is finally election day here in the U.S. that I can't express my joy. This has been a miserable, divisive, contentious year of campaigning all the way around. And I'm tired of it. Sick and bloody tired.

In case you're wondering, I am personally an Independent who advocates for fiscal responsibility (do my kid's kid's kids really need to be paying off a debt currently rivaled on the world stage only by that of Greece?) and social reform (why is it that same-sex couples can't have a legally recognized partnership like marriage?). I don't believe anyone will take my guns away from me or deny my daughters the right to a safe, legal abortion. Regardless of who is elected President. Yet I am called names by both sides - racist, hater, and oh yeah, I'm going to Hell - because I can think for myself and will not follow a major party like a blind goat on a lead.

To put it mildly, I am fed up with being anxious, angry, confused and, well, the list goes on and on.

So I'm changing up today's post and introducing all of the HQ readers to the special magick of something that is not exactly an herb: honey.

Honey is used for sweetening work in hoodoo. Through the doctrine of like-makes-like, it is believed that honey will calm the home, stop gossip, reconcile you with a lover, make a judge smile on you in a court case and so forth. Here is a powerful piece of root work utilizing honey and candle magick that you can use for all that and more.

Take a small jar that has a wide enough top to set a candle holder on. Write your name on a small piece of brown paper and put it at the bottom of the jar along with a strand or two of your hair (clippings from a razor will work if you're bald). Now, fill the jar with any type of honey you have on hand. Cap the jar tightly - you may be using it for a while and you don't want it to attract pests.

Place the jar in a central area of your home where it is safe to burn candles on. I personally like either the fireplace mantel or somewhere in the kitchen for this one. Now, put a candle holder on top of the jar and choose a candle color that matches your need:

Blue: peace in the home (for this one, you may want to add a name paper/hair strand for each person living in your house - include pets if you like)
Yellow: stop malicious gossip or lies being told about you or a family member (here, you may wish to add name papers - at the very least and hair if possible - for the family member being victimized and the bully)
Pink: draw new love/friendship or to reconcile with a lover or friend (again, if you are looking to reconcile, add a name paper for the person you have been estranged from)
Red: encourage lust (do I even need to mention adding a name paper and strand of hair here?)
Purple: revive health (a name paper for the person you wish to heal - if it is not yourself - is a must)
Brown: for a favorable outcome in court (a name paper for the judge couldn't hurt...)
Green: to draw money and/or get approval for a loan (this one works wonders when trying to get a mortgage; try adding a "name" paper with your future home's address on it)

Dress your candle, as always, with olive oil and light it with intention. Keep your need or desire in the back of your mind while allowing the candle to burn down and out. Bury any remaining wax on your property or, in the case of court, health or money issues, carry it with you in a mojo or conjure bag to appointments, trials, etc.

You can increase the power of your name paper(s) by using ink the same color as your candle. Using other sticky, liquid sweeteners - such as cane syrup or molasses - will work just as well should you be unable to use honey. You can also reuse your honey for other influencing work if you don't mind fishing name papers and hair out of it when needed.

For particularly difficult issues - like clearing away all this negative political energy - burn new candles on three, six or even nine consecutive days. Watching the moon face can help you here, too. To carry something away, do this ritual during a waning or dark moon; to draw something to you, choose a waxing or full moon.

Stay calm and carry on and remember that sometimes accepting what we can't change while working graciously to change what we can is always a better solution than calling each other names. Bonne chance ~

Header: It's Up to You by Gil Elvgren via American Gallery

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Last Friday we talked about the history and lore of the mandrake, that strange "man shaped" root that comes up so often in discussions of old wives and witchcraft.  The root as discussed in that post is the so called European mandrake, a poisonous plant in the infamous Nightshade family.  These roots are now hard to come by and particularly dear if one happens to find them.  But the magick associated with mandrake can be accomplished by simply substituting the hoodoo version: May Apple root or American mandrake.

The root of the May Apple, which is not poisonous, looks more like a stick than a man but it is used by root workers as a "doll baby" to attract love.  The name of the person one wishes to attract should be written on brown paper and tied around the center, or waist, of the root.  The poppet is then hidden in a drawer or box to attract the loved one's affection.

Scott Cunningham recommends myriad uses for May Apple root, which he also notes as a substitute for European mandrake.  The root should be "activated" and brought in tune with its environment by being left in a prominent place in one's home for three days.  Then it should be bathed in warm water, after which it is ready for use.  The water in which the root has been washed can be used to dress windows and doors to protect the home.

Placed on hearth or mantel, the root will protect the home, draw prosperity and encourage fertility.  Carried, the root is said to attract friendship, sweeten enemies and protect against illness.  The scent of the root is thought to induce sleep, and for this purpose it may be hung on the headboard or bedstead.  Money left near the May Apple root is thought to magickally multiply, especially silver coins.

In general, the root has a reputation for drawing good fortune and harmony, particularly to the home.  It's hard to ask for much more than that.  Bonne chance ~


Header: A Vision of Flammetta by Dante Gabriel Rossetti c 1878

Jeudi: Root Work

June has been the month for weddings since ancient times; June being named after Juno, the wife of the Roman Jupiter, King of the Gods.  To go along with all these weddings, if Hollywood is to be considered a mirror of "real life", there are a cartload of singles looking to find "the right one."  Curiously, weddings have always been an occasion where it was considered acceptable for young people to "mingle" if not actually engage in potential romance.  The more things change....  To that end, then, a little trick is always nice to have up one's sleeve.

In hoodoo, easy to make and use magickal oils are often considered just the thing to attract what we feel is lacking in our lives.  There's Van Van oil, famous in New Orleans voodoo, for luck and success, Four Thieves Vinegar to chase off jinxes and oils dedicated to various lwa.  The most widely used recipe for Attraction Oil as said to have been created by Marie Laveau.  This will work perfectly well regardless of your gender or sexual preference so please don't imagine it is only for ladies seeking gentlemen by any means.

Of course in the process of gathering and mixing your ingredients, you should always keep your intention as the focus of your thoughts.  What ever will help you do this - music, humming, a candle burning, the silence of a late night - should be used to best advantage.  You will need a six ounce bottle, preferably glass but plastic will work, with a tight lid so that you can shake your oils to mix them together.  You will also need a base oil.  I recommend almond oil.  Some root workers use jojoba oil.  Olive or vegetable oil is also used but please note that these will go rancid in a relatively short time compared to almond and jojoba oils.

For Attraction Oil, add 1/4 cup base oil to your bottle, then add in the following order:

12 drops Rose Otto essential oil
Note: if you cannot find or use Rose Otto (it is expensive and, depending on where you live, may only be available online), Rose Geranium essential oil is a perfectly good substitute.
12 drops Lavender essential oil
12 drops Sandalwood essential oil
12 drops Jasmine essential oil

Cap your bottle and shake it gently to mix the oils while envisioning yourself drawing desirable gentlemen or ladies to you whenever you wear it.

Store your Attraction Oil in a cool, dark place. Before you head out to your next social situation, anoint your wrists with this oil while again envisioning romantic success.  This oil can also be used to dress objects such as love mojos or jewelry, even a gift for a special person you'd like to know better.  Bonne chance ~

Header: 1950s cartoon via Mid-Century

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Primroses, usually thought of as an old-time flower favored by the Victorians, has a history in magick as well. It is said to be particularly helpful with obstreperous children. In Wicca, primroses are often used in love sachets.

Scott Cunningham notes that some practitioners warn that primrose can bring on wantonness, and this is probably an old wives’ tale that has something to do with their heady scent. All the same, a little wantonness in love can’t be all bad, can it? The blue and red varieties are said to be protective when planted in the garden. Cunningham mentions that they will also draw fairies; but take care on that account.

In hoodoo, primroses are trained around garden gates and front doors to provide not only general protection but keep away unwanted visitors. If you cannot grow a primrose near your front door, the dried flower petals and/or leaves scattered under the front mat or at the base of the door will have the same effect. Taking root anywhere in the garden, a primrose is thought to bring peace to the home.

Both Wiccans and root workers agree that primrose is the herb to use when seeking to raise respectful and well mannered children. For this purpose the flowers are steeped in a tea that is then added to a child’s bath, sewn into clothing or tied up in a mojo bag and placed in the little one’s pillowcase. A little more of this kind of working might help to ease the current epidemic of ill-tempered, self-centered brats I seem to perceive all over the place. But maybe that’s just me. Bonne chance ~  

Header: Nanny and Child by Margaret E. Browne

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Cherries are a favorite in spring and summer all over the world.  They are a symbol of renewal in such diverse cultures as those of Japan and Washington, D.C.  And yeah; I’m gonna say Washington, D.C. has its own culture that is nothing at all like anything found in the real United States. 

Given their wide popularity, it is not surprising that cherries as fruits, as blossoms and as trees are used in magickal disciplines around the world.  The one focus of these magicks, almost without exception, is the finding and keeping of affection and love.

The working can be as simple as cherry cobbler or cherry pie, both of which are used by girls in the Pennsylvania Pow-Wow tradition to "sweeten" the temperament of a young man.

In Japan, old wives would advise their daughter to tie a lock of her hair to a budding cherry tree’s branch.  This would draw love to the girl, particularly if birds used the hair for their nests.  As a curious aside, gypsy lore warns people not to leave their hair out where birds can get to it as it is thought that, should the birds use your hair for nesting, you will be subject to migraines. 

Scott Cunningham tells us that cherry juice is an acceptable substitute for blood when the latter is called for in spell work.  He also advices that one can predict how long they will live by finding a tree full of ripe cherries and running around it at full tilt.  Then shake the tree very hard; the number of cherries that falls tells the years you’ve left to live.  This one sounds particularly specious, but it would be a fun way to harvest cherries for those yummy deserts.

In hoodoo, cherry bark is used for controlling work, particularly to keep a man from straying.  Love mojos are made with cherry bark, lavender and damiana.  If you are looking to attract a man, add catnip.  If your goal is a woman, add High John the Conqueror root.  Put these herbs in a red flannel bag and dress it frequently with Come to Me Oil or rose oil.  Carry it with you, close to your skin.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Veranda by Stephen Pan via American Gallery

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

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Deer's tongue, which is sometimes spelled “deerstongue” and also referred to as hound’s tongue or wild vanilla, has large, slightly fuzzy leaves that do resemble an animal’s tongue.  While it is not surprising that root workers employ it in “like-makes-like” workings to improved people’s communication skills, it is a little strange that no other magickal discipline seems to do so.

In Wicca the leaves are used specifically to attract men as lovers.  For this purpose they are dried and then sprinkled where the love object will sit or on a bed.  Scott Cunningham also notes that deer’s tongue can aid in improving psychic powers when worn.

In hoodoo, deer’s tongue is said to bring the gift of eloquent speech when carried.  This is thought to be especially true in court and the herb is favored by defendants, witnesses and lawyers alike.  Deer’s tongue is an ingredient in the hoodoo mojo dressing known as Court Case Oil.

Bathing in a tincture of deer’s tongue, basil, rose petals and lavender is thought to increase one’s affection for the people they live with, particularly family.  If everyone in the household does so, harmony will come to the home.  Please note that deer’s tongue should not be ingested so even a weak tincture is only for external use.

Mojo bags containing deer’s tongue are sometimes put together for young men heading out to propose marriage.  Wrapping three leaves with red silk thread and carrying them in a red flannel mojo bag to which a lock of his girl’s hair is added will give the young man a silver tongue.  The lady will not be able to say no.  Bonne chance ~

Header: The Black Brunswicker by John Everett Millais c 1860

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Cardamom is one of those “Oriental” spices that was so coveted by Europeans in times past.  It thrives in tropical regions and is probably most associated in popular Western consciousness with India.  The tasty little seeds have found their way into hoodoo, Wicca and other magickal disciplines since being brought west and they are almost always used to attract love.

Cardamom has been chewed as a breath freshener for centuries, which may or may not have led to its association with amorous contacts.  One old hoodoo trick is no more complicated than chewing a few cardamom seeds before heading out for a night on the town in order to draw attention from potential lovers.  Cardamom seeds are also sprinkled under marriage beds to spice up lovemaking.  Powerful lust drawing mojos are made with flower petals from roses, passion flowers and cardamom seeds.  For extra zing, a woman might add catnip to attract men; a man could include High John the Conqueror to attract women.

In Wicca, cardamom is used similarly.  Added to sweet foods like carrot cake or apple pie, it works to “sweeten” a potential lover’s attitude toward the witch cum baker.  Just remember to work with intention, and to make sure that the creepy guy at the office doesn’t accidently get some of your pâtisserie de l'amour.  Bon chance ~

Header: The Kiss by Francesco Hayez c 1859

Mardi: Herbal-Wise

Patchouli actually has a long history in spellcraft and root work as well as the perfume industries.  Of course, patchouli oil is famously the scent of choice for hippies but generally when used in magick the plant and not the oil is preferred.

In hoodoo, patchouli is utilized for attracting love and money and breaking jinxes, particularly those associated with affection or wealth.  Patchouli is also used in hoodoo oils, such as Stay With Me Oil, and in love incenses.  Adding dried patchouli leaves to any of the latter such as rose, geranium or lavender is thought to turn the focus of the incense from love to passionate sex.

Women in particular are thought to use patchouli to great success.  Many workings and mojos to keep a husband happy at home include dried patchouli leaves.  If a woman is looking to attract a man, she might brew a tea of patchouli leaves, rose petals and shavings of Queen Elizabeth root.  This mixture would be added to a bath to be taken before going out on the town or in particular on a date.  As with most hoodoo baths, the person should air dry rather than towel off.  Before leaving the house, a pan of the bath water should be tossed out the front door to bring love home.

To break a jinx, patchouli root is mixed with graveyard dirt and carried in a yellow mojo bag.

Wiccans used dried patchouli in wallets and money drawing sachets.  It is also considered a good ingredient in fertility spells due to its earthy smell.  Scott Cunningham notes that American root workers also use the herb for “separations”, a working he does not clarify, but I can find no other reference to such uses in hoodoo.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Flowers of the Fields by Louis Janmot c 1845

Samedi: The Hoodoo Garden

I've had a couple of folks online and a couple more in “real life” ask me about the herbs, trees and flowers I would suggest for starting a hoodoo-friendly garden.  This has been over the course of the last month and I’ve thought about it very carefully.  As my daughter and I were putting the finishing touches on our own garden shopping list, I thought I’d turn the idea into a post.

I’m not much of a gardener myself, sorry to say, so I tend to rely on authorities who know better than I what will grow in my far northern climate.  Fortunately Lewis Hill wrote Cold Climate Gardening in 1981 and ever since our move to Alaska in 2000 I have relied on his sage, Canadian advice.  Then, too, my daughter could grow a noble fir in the Mojave so I’m lucky in my gardening partner.

So here is my list of “must haves” for a hoodoo garden far from hoodoo country.  No poke or lemon, but plenty of wonderful plants that can be helpful all year round.

Apple: if you can at all have an apple tree somewhere on your property.  Even those first few years when the apples aren’t much to speak of, the tree will keep relations at your home sweet and ward off bad vibrations.  Never forget to offer some spiced apple juice or cider to your tree on the Winter Solstice in the tradition of wassailing.

Catnip: even if you don’t have cats, this herb can be amazingly helpful for women (and gay men) as a love herb to draw men to you. 

Comfrey: the leaves of this plant are not only good in salads but great for money spells.  The flowers are a reasonable substitute for borage, which is harder to grow in cool climates.  Use them in workings for courage and relief of depression.

Horehound: an easy to grow and wonderfully versatile herb for protection.

Lavender: an all around love herb that will also sweeten your home and your laundry.  The plant attracts bumble bees, who will pollinate your garden at no extra charge.

Lemon grass: a delicious addition to many Asian dishes, this easy-to-grow grass is great for house cleaning and is an aphrodisiac.  Just as an aside, dogs love to eat it to settle their stomachs.

Marigold: plant these golden flowers in front of your house in tubs or window boxes to draw in money.  Dry them at the end of the season and sprinkle in your wallet to keep and grow the wealth you already have.

Mint: all mints are lucky, purifying and fantastic at breaking jinxes.  They also, much like marigold, protect the money you have.  Pennyroyal, which is in the mint family, can be used as a ground cover and insect repellant while also helping crossed conditions in relationships (particularly marriage).

Rosemary: will grow just about anywhere, although it likes direct sun best.  Its uses are endless from beauty treatments to breaking jinxes to finding love to encouraging psychic dreams.

Sage: this hearty herb is not only delicious with poultry but will also bring wisdom and impart fortitude to women.

Wormwood: helps to repel insects from your garden and, when dried and carried in your car, will protect you from accidents and carjacking.

Most of these plants are perennial in cold climates as long as they are mulched in before the first frost, marigold excepted.  Your apple trees, if they are selected for your climate area, will be hearty regardless.  Bonne chance ~

Header: Conversation with the Gardener by Auguste Renoir

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