Tag: Herb

White Sage Bundles

If you only have one magickal housekeeping tool or ingredient, a white sage bundle should be it. This is because burning white sage lifts vibrations, releases stuck energy protects from negativity, and creates sacred space. If any sort of negative events takes place in your space, you can burn white sage to quickly and effectively purify the residual energy from the event. It is also just a good practice to burn it periodically for general purification. After you burn it, you’ll definitely notice a positive difference in the feeling and atmosphere of a room.

To burn it, just light the bundle and carefully shake it over a dish or the sink until the flame goes out but it is still smoking. Carry the a dish under the burning up tip to catch any falling ash, and move around the perimeter of each room you’d like to purify, taking as much time with each area as your intuition guides you to. You can also burn it around your body to purify your energetic body and aura.

Smudge Sticks

Smudge sticks are tied-up or braided bundles of dried herbs that care carried and burned like incense around a room or area in order to create energetic shifts with the magickal power of the smoke.

You can purchase smudge stick online or at many health and metaphysical stores,  or you can make your own. To make your own sage smudge stick simply cut fresh sage and tie firmly into a wand like bundle with hemp twine or  cotton . Then  hang it up to dry. For sweetgrass braids you’re on your own–I’ve never made on of the ssweetgrass braids, but I would imagine it’s pretty easy if you know where and how to find fresh sweetgrass.

Personal note: I prefer to use sage. I know most spells that use sage call for the use of white sage. But I have found that every type of sage works. I planted a garden full of sage. In my opinion, you can never have enough sage. You use it to cleanse and you also use it in your spells. So the more sage you have, the better off you are.

 

Sunshine Brew

This amazing formula has many uses! The liquid can be added to soaps and floor washes and the dried herbs can be included in your own incense recipes or burned alone on an incense charcoal tab. I created the formula to vibrate to good health, wealth, and success. Be sure to empower the finished brew with your magickal bell. (tuning forks) and your own special prayer.

2    tablespoons dried chamomile

2    tablespoons dried bergamot

2    tablespoons dried ginger

2    tablespoons dried rosemary

Mortar and pestle

1    up distilled water

1    paper coffee filter

1    clear glass bottle or jar

Grind the herbs with mortar and pestle just enough to break them up and release their aroma, not enough to pulverize them. Boil one cup of distilled water. Take one half of your herbal mixture and place to center of a paper coffee filter. Twist filter tightly. Place filter in the cup of hot water. Remove after one hour; throw soaked herbs away. Refrigerate sunshine brew and be sure to label DO NOT DRINK. To use, empower at sunrise or at noon. Add a crystal to the brew for more power.

Sunshine Brew Glycerin Body Soap

4    cups melt and pour glycerin soap base

2    tablespoons sunshine brew

Ground sunshine brew herbs (dried)

Yellow soap dye (optional, but if you do not use dye for this recipe, your

soap will appear a faint, murky yellow-green)

Soap molds or square Pyrex dish

4    vitamin E gel capsules

Grind sunshine herbs into a finer mixture-especially the ginger, this should be powdered. Follow soap-melting instructions as given on the package. Once soap has melted, with ladle, transfer soap to your Pyrex measuring cup. (If you melted the soap in the cup in the microwave, transfer won’t be necessary.) Whisk in desired amount of color and scent by following instructions given with those products. Add the two tablespoons of sunshine brews, and whisk. Add desired amount of herbs. Some individuals like very few herbs in their soaps, where others like a more generous amount–just remember that herbals can clog your drain if they are too large or you use too much. Break vitamin E gel capsules and add the liquid to your soap mixture. Vitamin E will help to preserve the chamomile. Makes approximately ten 6-ounce soaps.

Witchy Soap Making

Making your own soap with empowered herbs can be an extremely rewarding and magickal experience. The recipes that follow rely on melt-and-pour soap bases that can be purchased at your local craft store or online. This type of easy carrier allows you to make lots of fragrant soap in a single afternoon and can be a great magickal project practice with a circle of friends or your children (as long as you monitor the hot soap and you do the pouring). When shopping for a glycerin soap base, look for formulas that permit good suspension of herbs, as most herbs will sink to the bottom of the mold unless the soap is poured just at the moment of setting (which can be tricky). Here are the general supplies you will need for all of the recipes.

  • Soap cauldron (can be purchased at local craft store) or microwave (if soap directions say you can use this)

  • Desired fragrance (sweet scents help to instill good feelings and harmony within the body)

  • Small plastic baggies or shrink-wrap system for packaging after soap has cooled

  • Sharp, smooth-blade knife (for cutting soap base into small, 1-inch blocks)

  • Pyrex measuring cup (4-cup size)Wire whisk (only to be used for soap)

  • Droppers (for adding scent and color)

  • Rubbing alcohol in spritzer bottle (removes bubbles from the poured soap)

  • Ladle (if using a soap cauldron)

  • Mortar and pestle or spice grinder

  • Soap molds ( you can also use silicone muffin molds)

  • X-Acto knife ( for trimming soaps if you over-poured the mold)

  • Wire curing rack ( for handmilled soaps)

 

Female Tonic

This tonic builds vitality, beautiful skin and regulates the female reproductive system. It is mildly sedative and beneficial for women of all ages.

1  small root (1 ounce) or 1 thin slice tang kuei

2  slices white peony root

3  pieces bupleurun

2  jujube red dates

1  piece licorice or ginger root

In 2 -3  cups of water, simmer herbs for one hour. Strain and drink up to one cup daily. Use 2 cups of water to produce a stronger estrogenic brew.

NOTE: Omit tang kuei if estrogen blockers have been prescribed or consult your physician first,.

Clear Skin Tonic

Schizandra was popular with the wealthy Chinese and royalty as a radiant skin tonic. It protects the skin from sun and wind exposure, and is used in many aphrodisiac tonics. It is also known to be mildly sedative.

1/2  cup schizandra berries

1/2  cup jujube red dates

1       piece licorice or ginger root

Soak schizandra berries immersed in water overnight; drain and combine with 4 cups of fresh water, jujube red dates, and licorice or ginger root. Simmer, covered, 15 – 20 minutes. Sip on cup daily.

Herb of the Day for May 20th is Borage

Herb of the Day

Borage

Folk Names:  Bugloss, Burrage, Herb of Gladness, Star Flower, Borak, Lisan selvi, Lesan-El-Tour

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Jupiter

Element:  Air

Powers:  Courage, Psychic Powers

Magickal Uses:  Carry the fresh blossoms to strengthen your courage, or place one in your buttonhole for protection when walking outdoors.

A tea of borage induced psychic powers.

Herb Vinegars and Oils

Combine your favorite herbs and spices in a delicious herb vinegar or oil to flavor salads, vegetables, pastas, and marinades. Add six two-inch sprigs or one tablespoon of fresh leaves to every cup of heated vinegar or oil. Cool, cover, and store in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place up to one year. Reuse the vinegar bottles to store herb vinegar. When adding garlic, chilies, or chives, use one for every cup of vinegar.

Herb of the Day for May 11th is Lemon Grass

Herb of the Day

Lemon Grass

This herb is a native of Southeastern Asia growing in tropical climates all over the world. From a distance it may be mistaken as Johnson grass, but this herb is very useful. It yields the finest commercial lemon oil and make the best culinary herb for lemon lovers. The bulb helps digest fatty meats and its’ leaves flavor teas, seafood and vegetable. Grow me in full sun with lots of water. Propagate the herb from root division or buy a bulb at the Chinese vegetable market, root it in potting soil and it will be producing new leaves in three weeks.