- Alder- Support, Magical Beginnings
- Apple- Love magick, Otherworld/Spiritual contact, fertility
- Ash- Conductor of magic energy, connects to the spiritual and otherworld, protection, healing
- Bay- Sun God, protection, healing, divination
- Beech- Magic - especially written
- Birch- Fertility, purification, banishment, warding
- Blackthorn- powerful magic aid, protection
- Bramble- Healing
- Buckthorn- Healing
- Cypress- Rites for the dead, entrance to the Otherworld
- Elder- Wisdom, Crone magic, Samhain, healing, summoning spirits
- Elm- Goddess magic, healing
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- Hawthorn- Protection, shielding, Beltaine, Goddess magic
- Hazel- General purpose
- Holly- Male magics, warrior magic, protection, winter rites
- Ivy- Binding magic, protection, psychic warding
- Juniper- Warding, exorcism
- Linden- Goddess magic
- Maple- Handfasting, celebration
- Mistletoe- Healing, luck, fortune
- Oak- Protection, general purpose, Midsummer, divination, Otherworld, wisdom
- Pine- knowledge, fire, illumination
- Poplar- Divination
- Rowan- Protection, divination
- Willow- Protection, healing, Goddess magic, rebirth
- Yew- Inititation, funeral rites, protection
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Herbal History
Herb Butters: During the Middle Ages butter was wrapped in sorrel leaves and emersed in earthenware pots filled with salt water. The reason was to keep the butter fresh tasting and the sorrel would impart it's sour lemony flavour to the overall taste. This was undoubtedly the beginning of the cook's knowledge about herbal butters. The most simplest of herb butters is using unsalted butter, creamed to a soft stage with chopped herbs added, a little lemon juice adding salt and pepper to taste. The butter is hardened and molded into log or ball shapes for use at the table. Add to vegetables, fish and meats as a garnish or spread on bread and you will experience the beginnings of your culinary delights....
Basic Recipe for Herbal Butter
- 1/2 pound unsalted butter
- 5 tablespoons fresh herbs, chopped or 5 teaspoons of dried herbs
- 1 teaspoon of lemon juice salt and white pepper to taste
Freeze up to 6 months.
Combinations: Dill, parsley, lemon rind, lemon basil (good on fish and vegetables) Thyme, garlic, oregano, chives, parsley, basil (for tomatoes, zucchini or beef) Tarragon, savory, lemon zest (for fish, chicken or eggs)
From: A Purposeful Harvest of Culinary Delights
Chamomile has an ancient history as the gardener's friend. Planted by a sickly plant, chamomile seems to have a healing effect and helps restore its companion. However, care must be taken to remove the chamomile when the other plant has recovered as otherwise it will often sicken once more and die.
Tidbits
An evergreen branch nailed to the rafters in a new home brings good luck
Nails should never be hammered after dark as the din will rouse the tree gods in anger
Have an interesting article or snippet you'd like to share? Please send it to Callum Mostyn
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Bill's Lunatic Planting
By Bill W.
Using the guidance of the sun, stars, and moon in daily life has always intrigued me. The following guide is one I use for undertaking activities in general:
- Monday - Moon's day is ruled by the Moon and is a feminine day of power. This is a time for emotional work and magic concentrating upon intuition, dreamwork, psychic ability, protection and warding, and inner change.
- Tuesday - This is the day of the gods of war and as such is a day of battles and power. Work that focuses upon spiritual challenges, personal battles, confrontation and conflict resolution, protection, and banishing is suited to a Tuesday.
- Wednesday - Woden's day, and the time of messages, Wednesday is ideal for communication, communion, and revelations.
- Thursday - The day of Thor, I find Thursday is a day of honesty and compassion. But take care as it can affect spells is unexpected ways, bringing Thor's bluntness to bear. Still, a day of power suited to any spellwork, Thursday is ideal for prosperity and success magic.
- Friday - The day of lovers, Fridays is devoted to amorous spells as well as those less passionate. Work on friendship, relationship, and lust.
- Saturday - Saturn's day is a day to banish, cleanse, and bind. Try and avoid other work this day as the energy is better suited to undoing.
- Sunday - Sun's day is a masculine day of power, bringing the heat and healing of the sun to all things physical. A day to construct and create. Focus more upon the physical than emotional today.
The Last Quarter arrives on September 25 at 06:41 Universal Time. With the arrival of the barren moon, avoid planting - especially if you already have a black thumb. It simply compounds the issues. Focus on weeding and harvesting only.
The New Moon falls on October 3rd at 10:28 Universal Time. Remember - sowing, planting and transplanting! Or, if you feel a little destructive, why not try some pruning and cutting back? New growth will be encouraged, and your inner tenseness will be alieviated!
The Second Quarter, on October 10th, at 19:01 Universal Time. Energy is still flowing strongly, so continue your planting (or chopping) with wild abandon.
On September 17th (at 12:14 Universal Time) the Full Moon arrives. With the full moon comes a shift in energy. Root vegetables planted now will flourish and you can start harvesting your herbs and produce.
The Last Quarter arrives on October 25th at 01:17 Universal Time. With the arrival of the barren moon, avoid planting - especially if you already have a black thumb. It simply compounds the issues. Focus on weeding and harvesting only.
The New Moon falls on November 2nd at 01:24 Universal Time. Remember - sowing, planting and transplanting! Or, if you feel a little destructive, why not try some pruning and cutting back? New growth will be encouraged, and your inner tenseness will be alieviated!
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