Tag: Herb

Living Life as the Magickal Witch – Acceptable Gifts and Offerings to the Gods

Living Life as the Magickal Witch – Acceptable Gifts and Offerings to the Gods

 

It is a common Pagan and Wiccan tradition that, in order to show respect and gratitude for , gifts and offerings are being made. Each deity responds best to a certain type of gift so when making an offering always think about what the god represents. While, in general, offerings such as bread, milk and wine are appropriate for any deity, this question still arises: “What are the acceptable offerings and gifts to offer each deity?”

Based upon the types of gods, here are some suggestions for specific food, drink and herbs offerings you can make:

1. Gods of Hearth and Home

– Offer food such as bread and grains, salt and cooking oil
– Appropriate drinks are milk, wine and cider
– Herb offerings you can go for are rosemary or thyme

2. Love and Passion Gods

– Best food offerings are apples , honey and eggs
– Drink offerings: wine and fruit juice
– Herbs: lavender and sandalwood

3. Prosperity and Abundance Gods. It is recommended that you offer the following:

– Dairy products and grains
– Milk and beer
– Mint, catnip and pennyroyal

4. Nature and Garden Gods

– Bread, fruits, cornmeal
– Milk and water
– Bay

5. Fertility Goddess

– Eggs and baked sweets
– Milk – breast milk too
– Rose, apple blossoms and sandalwood

6. Ancestor Spirits

– Offer any food and drinks from your family’s table and herbs such as sweet grass or sage.

 

 

Reference:
“The Wayward Wiccan”

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The Air Witch & Smudging Ceremonies

The Air Witch & Smudging Ceremonies

 

Smudging involves burning herbs and using the herbal smoke to cleanse and bless areas or people. It is a common and sacred practice.

Native Americans make use of three primary herbs for smudging: white sage, cedar, and sweet grass. The sage removes negative influences, the cedar cleanses the area, and the sweet grass calls in positive influences. The prayers said during the ceremony are lifted to the gods upon the smoke.

To smudge, place sand or salt in the bottom of a fireproof dish. If you are using a smudging wand, you can carry this dish beneath it to catch any hot ashes. If you are using a dried, crumbled herbal mixture, light a charcoal tablet and place it in the center of the bed of sand. Sprinkle the herbs over the charcoal as you move clockwise from area to area.

As you moved around the space wafting the smoke, say aloud, “Only love and light may dwell here. All other vibrations must leave this house {person, etc.}.” You may direct the smoke into corners and crevices with a feather, a fan, your breath, or your hand. When you have smudged the whole area, sweep the negative vibrations out the door and call in the positive vibrations that you want. Try something along the lines of, “Be gone, worry, pain, misery, and strife! Welcome, healing comfort, love and light!”

 

Psychic Sight Mojo Bag

Psychic Sight Mojo Bag

A spell to open the third eye.

Fill a small purple bag (or a piece of cloth that you can wrap herbs in and tie up) with as many of the following herbs as you can:
mugwort

acacia

honeysuckle

peppermint

rosemary

thyme

yarrow

cloves

dandelion

lilac

lavender

Calendula – (marigold)

Gather the edges of the cloth and tie a string around it if you are using a cloth, or if you used a small purple bag, tie it shut. (Drawstring bags work best.)
Using a dark violet marker, draw an eye on the front of the bag.
Rub the bag on the third eye Chakra (forehead) whenever performing divination or needing psychic sight, and sleep with it under your pillow every night.

Insomnia Tea

Insomnia Tea

Add the following:

One-quarter teaspoon of valerian root
One-quarter teaspoon of skullcap
One-quarter teaspoon of lady’s slipper

Add all the above to one cup of boiling water. (Never boil valerian root.)

Add some honey or sugar to sweeten the tea and allow it to cool before drinking.
Do not drink more than one cup per day.

Dream Pillows

DREAM PILLOWS

Combine together in a bowl:

1 cup mugwort
1/2 cup rose petals
1/2 cup German chamomile
1/2 cup of sweet hops
1/3 cup lavender buds
1/3 cup catnip crushed
1/4 cup peppermint

Mix the ingredients together make cloth bags from a 5×12 inch piece of material fill cloth bags with your mixture sew the top of the bag shut and sweet dreams!

Louisiana Van Van Oil

Louisiana Van Van Oil

Use this oil to anoint candles, doorways and amulets for extra power.

¼ cup extra Virgin Olive oil

1 oz. Lemon Grass

Pinch of Salt

Place in a jar, cover and steep in dark place for 3 weeks. Shake the jar daily, and visualize power pouring into the oil. Strain out the herb, add fresh herbs and repeat till the oil is strongly scented. When the you believe the oil is strong enough for use (by smell), strain out the herbs, bottle and store in a dark place.

Inner Power Pouch (Gris Gris Bag)

Inner Power Pouch

 

A piece of purple cloth

Vervain

Dragon’s blood resin

Rosemary

Frankincense

Ginger root

High John oil

Your own personal power oil

1 Clear quartz crystal

A personal talisman
In regards to the measurements of the herbs, chose the amount you wish to use. Then use equal amounts for the remaining herbs.

Yuletide Journey (Snow Moon)

Yuletide Journey

(Snow Moon)

 

Before you go to sleep, turn on soft meditative music. Hold your dream crystal in your power hand. Lie back and imagine sitting before the most beautiful winter’s evening as you possibly can, with bright stars and a beautiful moon, with cedar and pine trees covered with snow. Breathe in the splendor and beauty of the winter’s evening. As you do, think about the things you are thankful for in your life, your many blessings. Imagine sharing your love and light with others, sharing good times and cultivating happy memories. Now, fill your mind completely with positive and loving thoughts, all the while imagining the incredible winter’s evening in your mind’s eye. Be glad for the divine privilege of life. Know that you are divinely blessed, guided and protected.

Take another deep breath in and breathe in the harmony and peacefulness of your positive and loving thoughts and images.

Take another deep breath, and breathe in the divine beauty of the magnificent winter’s evening. Continue doing this as you drift to sleep.

Rosemary

Herb of the Day

ROSEMARY

(Rosmarinus officinalis)

 

To grow: Evergreen shrub, herb. Rugged and picturesque, grows 2-6 ft high. Leaves are narrow, aromatic, glossy, and dark green above, grayish white below. Flowers grow in small clusters and are lavender blue, 1/4-1/2 inch. They bloom in winter and spring, and occasionally in the fall. It endures hot sun and poor soil. You must have good drainage for this plant. Once established, water it sparingly in the desert. In other areas the plant needs little or no water. Control growth by pinching tips when plants are small and by pruning older plants lightly.

Uses: Rosemary is a circulatory and Nervine stimulant. Can be used for headaches, dyspepsia, or depression associated with debility. It can be used to ease muscular pain, sciatica, and neuralgia externally. It’s oil may be used on hair follicles for premature baldness.

Parts used: Leaves and twigs. Gather the leaves throughout the summer. The best time to collect them is during their flowering time.

Infusion: Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 1-2 tsp. of the dried herb and leave to infuse in a covered container for 10-15 minutes. Drink three times a day.

Tincture: Take 1-2 ml of the tincture three times a day.

Balm

 

Herb of the Day

 

BALM

 

(Melissa officinalis)

To grow: Perennial herb. Grows to 2 ft. It’s leaves are heavily veined, light green leaves with a lemony scent. It’s white flowers are unimportant and need to be cut occasionally to keep compact. Spreads rapidly. Grow in rich, moist soil in sun or part shade. Balm is very hardy and you can propagate from seed or root divisions. Self sows.

Uses: Balm is an excellent carminative herb that relieves spasms in the digestive tract and is used in flatulent dyspepsia. The gently sedative oils relieve tension and stress reactions, therefore, acting to lighten depression. It has a tonic effect on the circulatory system and heart, thus lowering blood pressure. It can be used in feverish conditions such as flu.

Parts used: Dried aerial parts or fresh in season. Pick the leaves two or three times a year between early summer and early fall. Cut off the young shoots when they are approximately 12 in long. They should be dried in the shade at a temperature not more than 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Infusion: Pour a cup of boiling water onto 2-3 teaspoons of the dried herb or 4-6 fresh leaves and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes, well covered. Drink a cup in the morning and the evening or when needed.

Tincture: Take 2-6 ml of the tincture three times a day.