The Hedge – Physical Boundaries

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Henges and hedges, dill heaps, stone walls and more have marked the edges of a community. In my own little parish, a couple of years ago we re-established “beating the bounds”, a tradition of going around and adding soil and sod to the “dill heaps”, little mounds of earth that mark the parish boundary. We have two boundaries, one for the lower common and one for the upper common. Looking at old maps, we determined that there were 35 dill heaps for the lower common, and established a day when members of the community could walk the
boundaries and search for these little heaps of earth, to reinstate them and to take care of them every two years. It was also the custom to
bounce the youngest child on top of each dill heap: why I have no idea!

Our vicar blessed the community, the farms and fields, the crops and gardens, the shop and school and then we headed out on a four-mile trek through the landscape. At each dill heap I left an offering of seeds for the local wildlife and the Fair Folk .

To walk a boundary is to find where edges meet. In permaculture, the place where two environments meet, such as forest and field, is where there is the most diversity. Where we find our edges meeting with another, we can gain inspiration, called the awen in Druidry. This is
what relationship is all about: the give and take, learning and working together, finding out how you fit in your own local patch. The threads of awen shimmer where the edges meet. These are liminal places, where one energy merges with another, such as at the seashore, or on a
mountaintop between earth and sky, at the edge of a lake or in a park in the middle of a city.

Hedges are often places that delineate boundaries, and here in Britain there are some hedgerows that are hundreds and hundreds of years old, places of great bio-diversity in an ever-increasing mono-cultured world. Where I live in East Anglia, it is mostly farmland or grazing pasture, and the hedgerows mark the boundaries of the farmer’s land. They are also incredible habitats for nature, wonderful “corridors” that allow animals to travel many miles in search of food or places to live. Hedges that link with each other can stretch for miles, and are places where wild birds, mice, snakes, toads, insects of all kinds and more can thrive. Hedges are also places that can mark the boundary between our garden and the wilderness beyond. I have a hedge all around my back garden, and at the bottom of the garden the hedge marks the spot
between me and a small patch of a wild and wooded area that flows along the small valley’s depression. Often wild creatures come through
holes in the hedge to visit my garden: fallow deer and muntjac deer, badgers, foxes and pheasants. It’s also a highway for local cats to pass
through into the “wilds” beyond. Yet the hedge is not only a boundary in this very physical sense; it is also a boundary between this world and the Otherworld.

Vinegar – Use it about Anywhere

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

1. Cleans Glass. Mixed with water or simply sprayed full-strength on glass and mirrors, vinegar does a great job quickly and easily. Simply wipe windows dry with crumpled-up newspapers and watch your windows sparkle.
2. Clean your car. Use it full-strength to polish car chrome with a cloth and see it shine! Use it on your cars windshield and windows, too.
3. Cleans drinking glasses. Soak cloudy drinking glasses in warmed white vinegar for a few hours to remove the film, simply wipe clean, rinse, and dry.
4. Clean your washing machine. Periodically run a gallon of distilled vinegar through your washing machine to clean it thoroughly, get rid of soap scum, and clear out the hoses. Run the machine through the warm water wash cycle empty and then add the vinegar during the rinse cycle.
5. Furniture Polish. Make your own furniture polish with one part vinegar and three parts lemon oil or olive oil.
6. Remove price tags or stickers Paint them with several coats of vinegar and let it soak in. Depending what you are removing them off of is whether they’ll slide off easily or require a little heavier rubbing.
7. Clean your IRON -Put vinegar in the water holder and let it steam itself clean. Remember to flush it with water when you are done.
8. Clean paintbrushes -Simmer paintbrushes in pure vinegar, then wash in hot soapy water.
9. Wash walls. Wipe down your walls with a vinegar-water mixture and it will help absorb odors and clean the surfaces.
10. Remove spots from glass.Use a vinegar-soaked cloth to remove spots from any glassware or crystal.
11. Unclog drains Pour boiling white vinegar down clogged drains to remove the clog!
12. Clean jars. Remove odors and stains from jars by cleaning them out with vinegar.
13. Clean an old lunchbox. Soak a piece of bread in vinegar and let it
sit in the lunchbox over night.
14. To loosen splattered on food in the microwave, boil 1 cup of water with ¼ cup of white distilled vinegar in the microwave. This solution will also remove any odors from inside the microwave.
15. To eliminate odor from a garbage disposal, freeze equal amounts of vinegar and water in ice cube trays. Once frozen, drop the cubes into the garbage disposal and run the cold water down the drain for 2 minutes.
16. Vinegar can be used to clean automatic coffee makers. Run the coffee maker on the regular brewing cycle after filling the reservoir with white distilled vinegar. Run a cycle of regular water thru after the vinegar cycle to eliminate any vinegar odor or taste.
17. Pouring a cup of vinegar down the drain for 30 minutes, once a week will deodorize the kitchen drain. After the vinegar has sat for 30 minutes, rinse the drain with cold water.
18. You can deodorize the refrigerator by using 1 cup of apple cider vinegar. Set the cup in the refrigerator for two days to remove any odor.
19. To give the refrigerator a good cleaning, use 1 cup of water and 1 cup of white distilled vinegar. Apply this solution to a rag to wash the refrigerator.
20. For cleaner dishes, pour 1 ½ cups of white distilled vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher. Use the normal dish detergent and run the dishwaster on the normal cycle for spotless dishes.
21. You can use undiluted white distilled vinegar to disinfect and clean wooden cutting boards and chopping blocks.
22. By using ½ cup of vinegar mixed with ¼ cup water, you can clean stainless steel appliances. When applied with a soft cloth it can remove streaks off the appliances.
23.Polish brass to a beautiful shine by using 1 cup of white distilled vinegar, 1 teaspoon of table salt, and floor. Use enough flour to form a paste, and then apply it into the metals. After leaving the solution on for 15 minutes, rinse the brass clean using warm water. Polish the brass until it is dry.
24. Washing hard surfaces in the kitchennwith white distilled vinegar can help to eliminate ants from the kitchen.
25. Teapot cleaning Boil a mixture of water and vinegar in the teapot. Wipe away the grime.
Clean eyeglasses Wipe each lens with a drop of vinegar.
20. Remove stains from furniture and upholstery Remove stubborn stains
from furniture upholstery and clothes. Apply Heinz White Vinegar
directly to the stain, then wash as directed by the manufacturer’s
instructions.
21. Natural air deodorizer Heinz Vinegar is a natural air freshener when sprayed in a room.
22. Remove rust Soak the rusted tool, bolt, or spigot in undiluted Heinz White Vinegar overnight.
23. Toilet bowl Pour in one cup of Heinz White Vinegar, let it stand for five minutes, and flush.

24. Remove detergent from clothes in final rinse, Brighten fabrics Add a 1/2 cup vinegar to the rinse cycle.
25. Natural cleaning wipes A cloth soaked with vinegar for sanitizing kitchen counters, stove, and bathroom surfaces. This is just as effective as the anti-bacterial products and does not promote resistant strains like the commercial products can, this is also a cheaper and greener way to protect your loved ones.
26. Remove lint from laundry Add 1/2 cup of vinegar to the rinse cycle.
27. Remove grease from suede Dip a toothbrush in vinegar and gently brush over grease spot.
28. Remove perspiration stains from clothing Apply one part vinegar to four parts water, then rinse.
29. Clean coffee or tea stains from china A mixture of salt and vinegar will clean coffee and tea stains from chinaware.
30. Fabric Softener Replacement I use vinegar in place of fabric softener in my laundry. I use the same amount as fabric softener plus twice the amount of water (so 2 parts water, 1 part vinegar) and put it in my fabric softener dispenser. Clothes come out soft and scent free. It also helps reduce static (I still have some but not enough for me to go buy fabric softener!).
Vinegar Tips for Floors:

31. Carpet stains are common in many households, especially those with children and pets. Next time a carpet stain appears, mix 1 pint of warm water with 1 teaspoon of a liquid laundry detergent, then add in 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar. This mixture will work well to remove non-oily stains from the carpet. Using a small brush or towel, apply the mixture to a stain, rubbing it in lightly. After this is done, use a clean towel, dampened with water to spot dry the surface. Use these steps until the stain is removed and then promptly dry the area with a hair dryer or fan.
32. Vinegar can also be used to clean no-wax floors. Add 1 cup of white distilled vinegar to 1 gallon of warm water to make a moping solution.

Vinegar Tips for the Bathroom:

1. In your bath water. Add ½ cup of vinegar or so to warm bath water when bathing and get double benefits : softer skin and a cleaner bathtub with less work!
2. Hair Conditioner. Vinegar makes a simple, inexpensive conditioner for your hair and helps remove the sticky stuff shampoo can leave behind. About a tablespoon in a few cups of water will do it.
3. Dandruff Treatment Simply pour a few Tablespoons of vinegar on your hair and massage into your scalp. Wait a few minutes, then rinse and wash hair like normal. Try this for a few days until you see results.
4. Weight Loss. Vinegar naturally helps to remove fat from the body – Apple cider vinegar is especially good for this. Drink 1 tablespoon or more in a glass of water a few times a day, and add a little lemon or honey for a nicer flavor. This will also help reduce your appetite.
5. Cracked, dry skin. Smooth a little vinegar on dried skin to help it heal.
6. Clean dentures Soak dentures overnight in Heinz White Vinegar, then brush away tartar with a toothbrush.
7. Facial Spritzer mix 1/2 apple cider vinegar and 1/2 water into a spray bottle. Refreshing!
8. Hair Cleanser – Take 1 cup of vinegar and warm water into a large glass and use to rinse your hair after you shampoo. Vinegar adds highlights to brunette hair, restores the acid mantel, and removes soap film and sebum oil.
9. Longer lasting pantyhose -Add 1 tablespoon of vinegar to the rinse water when washing and your pantyhose will last longer!
10. Toenail Fungus Treatment Another use for vinegar…….Soak your feet in a strong solution of 10% vinegar and 90% water at least daily to get rid of toenail fungus.
11. Showerheads can be unclogged by soaking the showerheads in white distilled vinegar over night. If the showerhead can not be removed, wrap a vinegar saturated towel around the shower head for the same effect.
12 To remove soap scum from bathtubs, wipe the surfaces with white distilled vinegar, and then wipe with soda. When this is complete, rinse the surface with clean water to remove the soap scum.
13. Shower doors can easily be cleaned by washing them with a sponge soaked in white distilled vinegar, leaving the doors scum free.
14. To remove stains from the toilet, apply white distilled vinegar to the stains and scrub them away. Afterwards, put 3 cups of white distilled vinegar into the toilet, letting it sit for 30 minutes to eliminate any odor.

Vinegar Tips for Walls and Windows:

1.General Household Cleaner Keep some vinegar diluted in a spray bottle. Use this for wiping down counter tops (at night only so smell goes away) .
2. Removes smoke stains from walls (Submitted by Kathy) To remove nicotine from walls before painting, always use vinegar in hot water. Will remove stains and the nicotine will not bleed through the paint. It is especially good in bathrooms, where there is a lot of steam from
showers. Be very careful to use rubber gloves because the nicotine will absorb into the skin and you will get the same effect as smoking.
3. put in dishwasher to use in place of jet dry.
4. Rings left from wet glasses on woodenfurniture can often be difficult to remove. By mixing 1 teaspoon of white distilled vinegar and 1 teaspoon of olive oil, you can create a mixture to assist you in removing the rings. Use a towel to apply the mixture to the furniture, rubbing with the grain of the wood. Afterwards, polish the furniture for an amazing result.
5. To have streak freewindowsin your home, mix ½ cup of white distilled vinegar and ½ cup warm water. Apply this solution with a soft cloth to have beautifully clean windows.
6. By mixing 1 gallon of warm water, ½ cup white distilled vinegar, 1 cup ammonia, and ¼ cup of baking soda; you can make a great solution to clean your wall woodwork, painted walls, and Venetian Blinds.

Vinegar Tips for the Garden:

1. Clay Pot Cleaning Remove white salt buildup on old clay pots by soaking them in full strength vinegar.
2. Kills grass. Undiluted vinegar will kill grass between bricks and sidewalk cracks.
3. Kills weeds. Spray full strength on weeds – be careful not to spray it on the surrounding grass as it will kill that too.
4. Deter Ants Spray vinegar around doors, appliances, and along other areas where ants are known to gather.
5. Keep Cats Away Keep cats away. Sprinkle vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat walking, sleeping, or scratching on.
6. Freshen Cut Flowers Add 2 tablespoons vinegar and 2 tablespoon sugar for each quart of water.
7. To give your plants a vibrant appearance mix 1 cup of vinegar, 1 cup of sugar, and 16 cups of water together and water the plants with the mixture to help them thrive.

Vinegar Tips for Cooking:1. Cheese Storage Cheese will last longer if you store it in a vinegar-soaked cloth.
2. Whiter Cauliflower Add a teaspoon or so of white vinegar to your cooking water while cooking cauliflower – it will retain a whiter color.
3. Ketchup Only have a little ketchup left in the bottle? Add a bit of vinegar and give it a good shake and you’ll have a bit more!
4. Boiling Eggs Add a bit of white vinegar to the water you’re boiling your eggs in, and the shells won’t crack.
5. Cooking Cabbage Add a bit of vinegar to the water you’re cooking your cabbage in to remove that stinky cabbage smell.
6. Fluffier Meringues Add 1 teaspoon vinegar for every three egg whites and you’ll have fluffier meringues.
7. Tenderize Meat Soak in vinegar over night.
8. Unsticky Rice To cook rice without sticking add a spoon full of vinegar in it.
9. Remove onion odors from skin Eliminate onion odor by rubbing vinegar on your fingers before and after slicing.
10. Disinfect/clean cutting boards Clean and disinfect wood cutting boards by wiping with full strength vinegar.
11. Make buttermilk Make buttermilk. Add a tablespoon of vinegar to a cup of milk and let it stand 5 minutes to thicken.
12. Potato Cooking Water Add 1 teaspoon to the water when you are boiling potatoes to avoid them going black. Note this does not apply to potatoes that are freshly dug or new. This works on potatoes that have been in storage over the winter.
13. To have tender, sweet fish, first soak the fish in a mixture of water and vinegar before cooking it.
14. If you fresh vegetables have begun to wilt, soak them in an equal amount of vinegar and cold water.

Vinegar Tips for Pets:

1. Pet’s drinking water. Add a teaspoon of vinegar to your pet’s
drinking water to encourage a shinier coat, and reduce odor.
2. Remove skunk odor Use vinegar straight to remove skunk odor from your pet’s fur.
3. Stop your cat’s scratching furniture Sprinkle or spray vinegar on areas you don’t want the cat scratching on.
4. Fish bowl cleaner Eliminate that ugly deposit in the gold fish tank by rubbing it with a cloth dipped in vinegar and rinsing well. For stubborn deposits, soak for several hours or overnight
5. Remove pet stains from carpets Blot up urine with a soft cloth, flush several times with lukewarm water, then apply a mixture of equal parts vinegar and cool water. Blot up, rinse, and let dry.
6. Clean pets cages I use a mixture of 50% White Vinegar and 50% Water
in a spray bottle to clean my pet cages. It disinfects and deodorizes it and is much cheaper than the commercial products. rinse with plain water.
7. Stops dogs scratching Read the cat scratch tip ;it works for dogs as well.
8. To stop puppies from chewing, spray undiluted vinegar on the puppies favorite chew spots.
9. Give your dog a gleaming coat by spraying or rubbing with a solution of 1 cup white distilled vinegar to 1 quart water. As a bonus, you save the cost of an expensive shine product used on
show animals. (Works even on a horse!)
10. Keep a dog from scratching its ears by wiping them out regularly with a soft cloth dipped in undiluted white distilled vinegar.
11. Discourage a cat from sitting on a certain windowsill or other surface, or from scratching upholstery, by spraying white distilled vinegar on the item. Test first on an unnoticeable area to be sure there won’t be a discoloration.
12. Keep a cat out of a garden area by placing paper, a cloth, or sponge there that has been soaked in white distilled vinegar.
13. Keep the birdbath clean by scrubbing it often with undiluted white distilled vinegar. Rinse well.
14. Keep flies away from horses or other outdoor pets by spraying a mixture of water and white distilled vinegar around the area where the animals are.
15. Remove cat litter odor by pouring ½ inch of white distilled vinegar in the empty litter box. Let it stand for 20 minutes, swish it around, then rinse with cold water.
16. Kill fleas by adding a little white distilled vinegar to your dog or cat’s drinking water.
17. Remove pet odors. After cleaning, cover the area with baking soda. Let it stand overnight. The next day vacuum up the baking soda and wash the area with white distilled vinegar. Rinse and
let dry.
18. Cats hate the smell of vinegar. If you have a cat that is marking its territory around outside your house, spray the area with white distilled vinegar then rinse with a hose.
19. Prevent cats from eating your plants by spraying the leaves with a solution of white distilled vinegar and water.

Vinegar Health Tips:

1. Suffering from a sore throat? Mix a teaspoon vinegar with a glass of water. Gargle with the mixture and then swallow.
2. Remove calluses Try soaking your feet in a combination of white vinegar and warm water nightly and watch your feet soften noticeably.
3. Soak a washcloth in vinegar and gently apply it to sunburned skin for cool relief. Reapply as needed as it evaporates. Besides sunburn, vinegar also soothes the itch and irritation of bee stings!
4. Arthritis Tonic. Two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water, several times a day.
5. Jellyfish Stings Dot the irritation with vinegar and relieve itching.
6. Sinus Infections and Head Colds Add 1/4 cup or more vinegar to the vaporizer.
7. Wart Removal Mix one part Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar to one part glycerin into a lotion and apply daily to warts until they dissolve.
8. Soothe an upset stomach Drink two teaspoons Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar in one cup water to soothe an upset stomach.
9. Mosquito bites Use a cotton ball to dab mosquito and other bug bites with Heinz Vinegar straight from the bottle.
10. Thousands of years ago, vinegar soaked sponge used for contraception
11. Relieve the discomfort of sunburn by rubbing vinegar lightly on the skin.
12. If you have itchy, dry skin, try adding 2 tablespoons of vinegar to your bath water to moisten your skin.

Misc. Vinegar Tips;

1. To keep windows from frosting over, wipe 1 tablespoon of water and 3 tablespoons of white distilled vinegar over the windows the night before to eliminate the chances of possible frosty windows.
2 your paint brushes become hard or stiff, soak the paint brushes in hot white distilled vinegar for a few minutes and then completely rinse them with soapy water.
3. Let your goldjewelryshine by cleaning them in a cup of apple cider vinegar. Soak the jewelry in the vinegar for 15 minutes and then dry them with a cloth.

THE NATURAL MAGICK OF HEARTH AND HOME

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

The natural magick of the home-based Witch is uncomplicated and down-to-earth. There is wisdom and spirituality evoked by the very earth that we live on. Why not take that basic energy and direct it into your home? Applying the subject of natural magick to your home is a great opportunity to get in touch with your sense of enchantment and to link back into the tides of nature to celebrate the cycles of the earth, the moon, and the seasons.

You may call yourself a cunning man, wise woman, hedgewitch, kitchen-witch, garden witch, or maybe you think of yourself as a natural magician. Perhaps you don’t give yourself a title at all. A Witch’s inner power comes from connecting to the influence and secrecy of the natural world that surrounds their home, family, and life. Natural magick is elemental, quiet, and spontaneous.

Working with the influences of nature to boost the power and security of our homes is not a new idea. Author Scott Cunningham described a magickal home as being a “pool of protective energy” and “a shrine to the deity of life itself.” This is an elegant way of pointing out that your home is a sacred and influential magickal place. So now that you’ve wrapped your mind around this idea, what are you going to do about it? How can you apply this idea to your lifestyle in a natural and practical way?

If you are thinking Well, I just live in an apartment, I don’t have anything fancy, let me point out that it’s not about how much you spend or how fancy of a residence you live in—that matters not in the slightest. I am not expecting your home to look like a photoshoot for Better Pagan Homes and Gardens. Cottage witchery is about making magick with what you have or can acquire affordably.

Look at garage sales and flea markets for fun and charming decorative pieces. Watch for sales or make magickal and creative accessories yourself. Remember, natural and magickal décor and supplies do not have to be expensive. It is not about how much money you have or how big the place you call home is. That sense of welcome and practicality shows up in each of our homes, and that type of common sense is a magick unto itself.

The idea behind cottage witchery is to encourage folks to look at their homes in a new magickal way and to connect to a simpler time. No one is asking you to give up your computers or to start washing your laundry on a rock down at the creek. I am encouraging you to reconnect to the energies of the natural world—to cherish, celebrate, and then to direct these magickal forces into your homes and
everyday lives.

Go ahead and arrange a few sunflowers in an old glass canning jar and set it out on your table this summer. It will brighten up the whole room, just like magick.

This autumn arrange a few mini pumpkins and gourds on a shelf and scatter a handful of oak leaves around them to celebrate wisdom and the earth’s abundance during the harvest festivals.

How about setting a rustic basket of pine cones and pretty twigs that you gathered and arranged yourself on your hearth this winter? This would invoke an earthy type of enchantment, as the pine cones are symbols of fertility and the pine itself encourages prosperity. This is the essence of simple, affordable, and practical magick. Try looking at things from a natural magick perspective. Nature is beautiful. Imagine what fascinating energies you could incorporate into your life by bringing natural and rustic items into your home.

Cottage witchery is meant to inspire you to add a little old-time charm and down-to-earth magick into your everyday life. This book is filled with witchy ideas, all of them no-nonsense and easy to incorporate into your magickal lifestyle.

Spring Cleaning Recipes

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

These recipes use the guidelines found in Spiritual Spring Cleaning to create natural magical cleaning products. To make the following recipes you will also need a blender or food processor, mixing bowls and spoons, a spray bottle, and a couple of storage jars.

Spring Clean Scouring Powder
1c baking soda
1c sea salt
½ c lemongrass
½ c lavender flowers
10 drops lemon, lime, or grapefruit essential oil

Combine all ingredients in the blender or food processor and pulse until they become a powder.

Sparkling Window Cleaner
1 cup white vinegar
3 cups boiling water
10 drops lemon or lemongrass essential oil

Mix all ingredients into a spray bottle and shake well.

Spring Sunshine Carpet Freshener
½ c cornstarch
½ c baking soda
¼ c lemongrass
¼ c lemon peel
6 drops grapefruit essential oil
4 drops lemongrass essential oil

Combine all ingredients into the blender and pulse until they become a powder. Transfer into a mixing bowl and stir occasionally until completely dry. Sprinkle onto carpet and let sit 15 minutes before vacuuming.

Feel free to adjust the recipes to your preferred strength and scent or create your own combinations to make them your own

Hearthcraft

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

The word hearth is of old English origin, meaning the floor around the fireplace or the lower part of a furnace where molten metal is collected during the smelting process. Throughout the ages, Hearth has come to represent domestic comfort and the entire home, perceived as the heart of the centre of the living space. Therefore someone who practices hearth craft is someone whose spiritual practices revolve around the hearth and home.

Hearth Craft like other aspects of the house withes and other forms of kitchen and green witchcraft, revolved around practicality, with little ritualistic guidelines or necessary formality

When thinking of Hearthcraft a few words that may be an idea to keep in mind are the following:

Simple

Practical

Family Related

Domestic

Everyday

Household

Magickal Herbal House Washes

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

There are several ways to create a magical floor wash. The simplest is to place herbs that correspond to what you are trying to achieve in a bowl. Pour hot water over the herbs and let them steep for 10 to 15 minutes; drain the liquid into a bucket and add warm tap water and the cleaning product of your choice. Soaps and products made with pine oil are good choices. Use the mix to clean floors, walls, door frames, and windowsills. Always be careful with the type and color of herb used, to avoid staining. You can use an herbal wash to cleanse your home of negative energies or to promote positive feelings, such as love or calm. When doing the actual cleaning, wash clockwise when drawing positive things to you, counter-clockwise when ridding your home of unwanted energies.

Good Luck Wash

  • 2 chamomile tea bags
  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part oregano
  • a handful of peanut shells

Health and Healing Wash

  • 2 parts sage
  • 2 parts thyme
  • 2 parts rosemary
  • 1 part salt
  • 1 part dill
  • a handful of shredded coconut
  • a handful of pine needles (if available)

Protection Wash

  • 2 parts rosemary
  • 2 parts basil
  • 2 large bay leaves
  • 2 parts ginger
  • 1 part dried garlic
  • 1 part black pepper

Four Thieves Wash (to repel illness and for protection)

  • 1 part rosemary
  • 1 part black salt
  • a splash of Four Thieves vinegar

Heartbreak Ease Wash

  • 1 part fennel seed
  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part fresh or dried chives
  • a handful of raw almonds

Stress Management Wash

  • 2 chamomile tea bags
  • 1 part culinary sage
  • 1 part fennel seed
  • ½ part salt
  • ½ part ground cloves

Happy Marriage Mix (use after an argument to heal emotions, also good for anniversary dates and days that are special to you and your spouse)

  • 1 part marjoram
  • 1 part dried apple peel
  • 1 whole star anise
  • ½ part fennel seed
  • 1 chamomile tea bag

Successful Business Wash

  • 2 parts basil
  • 2 parts culinary sage
  • 1 part mint
  • a splash of champagne vinegar (or white vinegar)

Spirituality in Hearthcraft

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Nurturing the spiritual elements of the home can be key to the path of a herth based house witch. The answer to how you can do this depends on how you define your spirituality.

Attempting to define spirituality can at times be challenging, frustrating and faith-testing. It may be the case that when you recognize something as spiritual, you acknowledge that something about it moves you or touches you deeply in a very specific way, evoking feelings that may be indefinable.

Once you have started to realize what kind of things you find spiritual or what kind of events or actions evoke that response within yourself, then you may have some idea of there to focus on your practice of home-based spirituality. This may include how to identify with everyday activities that can support you as a spiritual person. With all this, you may be able to begin to recognize and reinforce your commitment to making the home a spiritual place. One way of doing the above is to use certain moments and activities as an opportunity to think about things that are important to you as a person.

Maintaining healthy spirituality means keeping yourself focussed, relaxed when practising something. I may also mean keeping the lines of communication open between you and something greater than you. The term practice is often used to describe what one does with respect to a spiritual path. It also can mean physically or intentionally acting on a theory associated with the path. By actively seeking out or defining spiritual activity  you create an opportunity to develop a deeper connection with the world around you

Hedgewitch: A Universal Telephone Line

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Remember Harvey? And do you recall how he said that his house insurance was cancelled?
Here is the creative way in which he handled it:
“I got this darned letter in the mail that said ‘your house insurance is cancelled because
your windows have peeling paint.’ I’d just finished arranging for a new loan on the house to
fix the place up, and here I get this letter. I was furious, because the insurer knew about the
loan that cleared not thirty days before and that I was planning to use the money to repair the
house. Frustrated, I decided to fix this problem … promptly!
“The day before, I’d purchased an old-fashioned phone at the mall, thinking it would add
a special touch that the wife would like. I marched to the bedroom and took the phone out
of the package, repeating a mantra: ‘Always a blessing.’ I placed the phone on our bedroom
dresser. I didn’t hook the phone up to the house line. In fact, I didn’t hook it up at all. In my
mind, if a cell phone could call my kid, my magick phone could call the universe! What’s the
difference?
“On a notecard, I wrote: ‘I want this house insurance mess fixed immediately, to my benefit.’ I stuck the card under the phone, picked up the receiver, and dialed 911. I said, ‘Hello,
Universe? Harvey speaking. I want this house insurance mess fixed immediately, to my benefit.Thank you for helping me,’ and I hung up. In less than one hour, I had the phone number
of a new agent. In less than twenty-four hours, I’d made arrangements with that new agent to
come view the house. In forty-eight hours, I had a new policy that was cheaper than the old
one, and it covered the exact same thing. And seventy-two hours after that phone call, the old
agent phoned, wanting to fix things, where before when I originally called them they had all
but ignored me.
25
“I didn’t stop there. My son has a new job as a salesman, and he was lamenting he needed at
least two sales his first week to show his employer he would be good at the job. So, I went to
the phone in my bedroom, dialed 411, and said, ‘Hello. This is Harvey. I want my son to land
at least two sales today. Thank you,’ and hung up. Sure enough, my son called me that night.
He made his two sales, and by the time the week was out, he’d made a total of four. You can
bet I’m going to keep using my magick phone!”
Harvey’s example shows us that a simple spell can work miracles. Now, let’s check Harvey’s
beliefs so we are all on the same page. Harvey believes that something runs the universe that
is good, caring, and all-loving. He isn’t sure what that something is, but when he is addressing
the universe, he believes that he is somehow aligning himself with divinity. Secondly, Harvey
has always believed that a solution to every problem exists; you just have to find it sometimes.
Therefore, solving this problem was well within both his conscious and subconscious minds,
and calling on a solution was not out of bounds in either type of thought.
To help his mind believe that he could contact the source of all things, he used a vehicle
familiar to all of us: the telephone. Like Harvey said, if he could call his son on a cell, he could
call the source on his magick phone. The act of dialing familiar numbers-911, in most areas
of the United States, is the three-digit Emergency number, and 411 is Information. Harvey
later explained that he used 411 because he wanted the universe to find two people who needed what his son was selling. In both cases, remember, the phone was dead-he never hooked
it up, so he didn’t really call 911 or 411. He just went through the motions. Also, in the desire
for his son to land the sales, Harvey had the greatest confidence in his son’s ability-he’d seen
him perform before, and knew his son could do it-meaning he believed his son was capable
26
of landing the sale. As his son’s desire and Harvey’s
desire for him matched, the sales were made in
less than twenty-four hours. When two or more
people are joined together in a single thought
in which they both believe (both consciously
and subconsciously), then that desire will manifest quickly. Finally, Harvey had this to say: “I didn’t
for one moment allow myself to doubt. I just forged
ahead, knowing that I would get what I wanted. I used a HedgeWitch technique whenever I
felt doubt coming on. I said, repeatedly, ‘It ALWAYS works!’”
And it did!
Linking your mind to a physical object to support your belief or matching your words
to something you know to be true is not new. Magickal practitioners have been doing this
for centuries. The trick is that you must believe in what you know to be true. Sounds funny,
doesn’t it? We find an excellent example in mental fluidity when studying Pow-Wow spells
(Pow-Wow is a German-American magickal system). In Christianized Pow-Wow, the practitioner often adds a rider, such as:
“As surely as Mary gave forth Jesus Christ, so will Suzanne experience the fullness of healing in His name.”
For a Christian, this works perfectly, but that isn’t the original text. Indeed, the original
version states rivers and territories that no longer hold the same names, so to update a bit, we
might say:
‘~s surely as the Mosel River flows through France, Luxembourg, and Germany, so too will
Suzanne experience the gentle flow of healing energy until she is completely well.”
Both versions work-again, it is what you believe that counts.

What is a Hedge Witch

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

A Hedge Witch is a solitary practitioner of the herbal arts – both, medicinal and spiritual. She is the person you call when you develop a rash or get a toothache, and the doctor or dentist is unavailable. She is the person you consult when strange things go bump in the night, or you are certain that someone just gave you the evil eye.

Her cupboard contains the remedy for what ails you – physical and spiritual.

A Hedge Witch does not belong to a coven. She does not follow the tenets of any sect or organized religion. Her craft is her own – usually handed down to her by family and honed by her own experience and research.

You will not find two Hedge Witches that are alike. Each follows her own path. The common thread that puts us under the heading of Hedge Witch is our herbal remedies and our solitary spiritual practices

The name, Hedge Witch, comes from days of old when villages were separated by forests. The edge of a village where the forest began was called the hedge. In most villages there was an herbal practitioner, who lived in the forest or near the edge of the forest. This was the person the villagers appealed to when there was no doctor, or the doctor couldn’t cure them. The practitioner who lived by the hedge and practiced herbal arts was called a Hedge Witch.

Today, a Hedge Witch may or may not live near the forest, but you likely will find her there at one time or another. Most Hedge Witches have a reverence for nature. They know the medicinal and spiritual properties of everything that grows, and they understand nature’s balance. A wise Hedge Witch enlists nature to deal with natural problems. She harvests more weeds than she pulls. She invites wasps, spiders and other predators to kill unwanted bugs. She uses plants and animals to divert bunnies from the vegetable garden.

But the most definitive characteristic of a Hedge Witch is that she has a remedy for everything under the sun, and much of it was prepared by the light of the moon.

Herbs for Medical Symptom

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Please refer to the herbs in the list for dosages and instructions
before attempting to take the herb. Some herbs are poisonous!

Aches: rosemary
Acne: rosemary, thyme, witch-hazel
Allergies: nettle
Amenorrhea: chaste tree berry
Antibacterial: lemon, thyme
Antibiotic: calendula, comfrey, garlic, marigold, mullein, raspberry, sweet woodruff, thyme, tumeric
Antiseptic: lavender, lemon, marigold, mint, pine, sweet woodruff, thyme
Antiviral: thyme
Anxiety: valerian
Aphrodisiac: coriander, damiana, hibiscus, lavender
Arthritis: ash leaves, bladderwrack, buckbean, nettles, parsley, rosemary, yarrow
Asthma: coltsfoot, ephedra, ginseng, lobelia, mint, mullein, nettle, sage, wild yam
Astringent: raspberry, rosemary, yarrow
Back Pain: yarrow
Baldness: wild cherry
Bed Wetting: St. Johnswort
Bile: balmony
Bladder: basil, broom, buchu, cornsilk, elder, parsley, saw palmetto, sheep sorrel, shepherd’s purse
Blood: bee balm, burdock, cayenne, chervil, chives, garlic, ginger, ginseng, nettle, plantain, red clover, sheep sorrel, strawberry, valerian, yarrow
Bones: boneset
Breath: lemon
Bronchitis: bay, borage, fenugreek, ginseng, horehound, prickly lettuce, lobelia, peppermint, sage, wild yam
Bruises: burdock
Burns: aloe vera, burdock, lavender, marigold
Cancer: garlic, ginseng, parsley, sheep sorrel, violet
Catarrh: blackcurrant leaves, goldenseal, prickly lettuce, mullein, peppermint, sage
Cellulite: lemon, rosemary
Chapping: marigold
Chest: bay, borage, calendula, cayenne, coltsfoot, ephedra, hollyhock, Irish moss, prickly lettuce, lobelia, lungwort, mullein, pansy, peppermint, sage, solomon’s seal, thyme
Childbirth: raspberry
Chills: cayenne, lavender, lemon
Circulation: mint
Cold: basil, bay, black pepper, blue mallow, cayenne, coltsfoot, elder, hollyhock, Irish moss, lavender, mint, mullein, oregano, pansy, peppermint, pine, sage, slippery elm, thyme, yarrow
Colic: anise, dill, spearmint
Cough: agrimony, bee balm, blackcurrant leaves, blue mallow, boneset, ginseng, horehound, lungwort, mullein, rosemary, slippery elm, thyme
Cramps: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, ginger, parsley, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves
Dandruff: sage
Depression: borage, catclaw, cayenne, ginseng, lavender, rosemary, St. Johnswort
Detergent: balmony
Diabetes: ginseng, rosemary
Diarrhea: blackberry, cinnamon
Digestion: agrimony, allspice, anise, aven’s herb, balmony, caraway, cardamom, chervil, cloves, coriander, fennel, ginger, ground ivy, lemon, mint, oregano, rosemary, sage, senna leaves, spearmint, thyme, tumeric
Diuretic: thyme
Dysentery: cinnamon
Earache: garlic
Eczema: marigold
Eliminate Toxins: apple, coltsfoot, shepherd’s purse
Exhaustion: catclaw, St. Johnswort, thyme, vitamin B12
Expectorant: bugloss, pine
External Bleeding: cayenne
Eyes: eyebright, greater celandine
Face: brewer’s yeast flower
Fatigue: ginseng, mint, nettle, rosemary
Female Problems: blackberry
Fever: balm, birch, blackcurrant leaves, boneset, borage, calendula, cleavers, elder, ginseng, lemon balm, lemon verbena, marigold, plantain, sage, thyme
Flu: basil, black pepper, boneset, calendula, cayenne, elder, lavender, marigold, mint, rosemary, sage
Gall Stones: broom, cleavers
Gas: bay, cinnamon, dill, ginseng, mint
Gastrointestinal Problems: chamomile
Gout: ash leaves, burdock, burr marigold, strawberry
Gravel: cleavers
Gums: myrrh
Hair: lemon, nettle, rosemary, sage, wild cherry
Headache: birch, cayenne, chamomile, ginger, lavender, lemon, lemon verbena, mint, rosemary, sage, skullcap, thyme, valerian
Heart: cayenne, ginseng, pansy
Heartburn: ginseng
Hemorrhage: shepherd’s purse
Hemorrhoids: witch hazel
Hiccoughs (hiccups): mint
Hot Flashes: black cohosh
Hypertension: lemon
Hysteria: chamomile, tansy
Immune System: ginseng, lavender
Impotence: ginseng
Induce Perspiration: angelica, balm, calendula, lemon balm
Infection: garlic, thyme, yarrow
Inflammation: bugloss, marigold, mint, tumeric
Insect Bites: lavender, lemon, parsley, plantain, witch hazel
Insect Repellent: chamomile, lavender flowers, myrrh, pennyroyal, thyme
Insomnia: lavender, valerian
Internal Bleeding: cayenne
Jaundice: balmony, greater celandine, marigold
Joints: garlic, St. Johnswort, yarrow
Kidneys: angelica, corn silk, elder, ground ivy, parsley, purslane, sheep sorrel, shepherd’s purse
Kidney Stones: birch
Lactation: blessed thistle,caraway, fennel
Laxative: boneset. garlic
Liver: bee balm, buckbean, costmary, goldenrod
Lungs: mint,shepherd’s purse
Menopause: black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, licorice, wild yam
Menstruation: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, chaste tree berry, ginger, marigold, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves,tumeric, valerian
Memory: ginko bilboa, rosemary
Miscarriage: black haw
Morning Sickness: tansy
Mouth: blackberry, sage, thyme, witch hazel
Muscles: arnica, pine, rosemary, sage, St. Johnswort, witch hazel, yarrow
Mucus: coltsfoot, comfrey, fennel, fenugreek, prickly lettuce, mullein, pansy, peppermint, sage
Nausea: bee balm, cloves, ginger, rose
Nervousness: valerian
Nettle Rash: nettles
Nosebleed: lemon, nettle
Ovulation: chaste tree berry
Pain Reliever: capsaicin, ginger, ginseng, valerian, willow, yarrow
Parasites: garlic
Piles: lesser celandine, pilewort, witch hazel
PMS: chaste tree berry, valerian
Prolonged Life: ginseng
Prostate: saw palmetto
Rheumatism: birch, bladderwrack, ground ivy, marigold, mint, rosemary, thyme
Scours: purslane
Sedative: anise, black cohosh, celery, chamomile, chicory, lavender, lemon verbena, prickly lettuce, sage, skullcap, valerian, violet
Skin: buckbean, chicory, Irish moss, lemon, marigold, mint, red clover, rosemary, sage, slippery elm, witch hazel
Spleen: bee balm
Sprains: marigold, parsley, rosemary
Stiffness: ginger
Stimulant: angelica, ginseng, rosemary
Stomach: fennel, goldenrod, lemon verbena, mint, pennyroyal, shepherd’s purse
Strength: garlic
Stress: garlic, ginseng
Styptic: aven’s herb
Sunburn: comfrey
Swelling: burdock, pine, yarrow
Teeth: cloves, garlic
Throat: bee balm, blackberry, blackcurrant leaves, horehound, lemon, rose, sage, thyme
Tonics: agrimony, aven’s herb, balmony, black pepper, buckbean, bugloss, cleavers, dandelion, ginseng, rosemary, violet, yarrow
Toothache: cloves, mint
Uterus: basil, bee balm, birch, blackberry, black cohosh, black haw, chaste tree berry, cramp bark, ginger, pennyroyal, raspberry leaves, shepherd’s purse
Varicose Veins: marigold, mint
Vitamins: burdock, strawberry, violet
Warts: bananna peel, dandelion, garlic, lemon, thyme
Weakness: ginseng
Weight Loss: ephedra
Whooping Cough: mouse ear, thyme
Worms: balmony, pumpkin seed, tansy, thyme, wormwood
Wounds: aloe vera, calendula, comfrey, ginseng, Irish moss, lavender, rosemary, witch hazel
Wrinkles: lemon

Herbal Vitamins and Minerals

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Allspice, also known popularly as Jamaican pepper or pimento, is just what its name implies: a single spice that tastes like a mixture of cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and pepper, which adds spiciness to all dishes. The spice is enriched with the good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, copper, selenium, and magnesium. Also contains very good amounts of vitamin A, vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine), riboflavin, niacin and vitamin-C.

Anise has a strong licorice flavor, making its seed popular in cakes and cookies. Ground anise seed is used with fruit or cabbage. Star anise is a similar spice from Asia. A great source of minerals like calcium, iron, copper, potassium, manganese, zinc and magnesium. Also contains good amounts of anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A.

Basil has a distinctive warm, minty flavor, and is most frequently used for pesto sauces and tomato dishes. It goes well with most Mediterranean-style dishes. Contains exceptionally high levels of beta-carotene, vitamin A, vitamin K, cryptoxanthin, lutein and zea-xanthin. Also contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

Bay leaf has a pungent woodsy flavor, and aroma that complements meats, soups, and stews. Add the dry, brittle leaf at the beginning of cooking to allow time for it to release its flavour. Remove leaf before serving. Good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Also contains vitamin A, vitamin C and folic acid.

Black peppercorns are sharp and aromatic. Freshly ground black pepper from a pepper mill gives the most flavor. Good source of many anti-oxidant vitamins such as vitamin-C and vitamin-A. They are also an excellent source of many vital B-complex groups of vitamins such as Pyridoxine, riboflavin, thiamin and niacin.

Caraway seeds, small and aromatic, have an anise-like flavor. They add that flavour and a nutty texture to breads, cakes, cheeses, vegetables, and meats. An excellent source of minerals like iron, copper, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc and magnesium. Vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin C as well as many B-complex vitamins like thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, and niacin particularly are concentrated in the caraway seeds.

Cardamom comes from the ground seed of an Indian plant in the ginger family. It is a spice used mainly in curries and baking. Good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, magnesium, iron and manganese.

Cayenne, ground dried red chili peppers and their seeds, is hot and peppery in sauces and stews. Contains very high levels of essential minerals, iron, copper, zinc, potassium, manganese, magnesium and selenium. Also good in B-complex group of vitamins such as niacin, pyridoxine (vitamin B-6), riboflavin and thiamin (vitamin B-1).

Celery seeds, tiny as they are, can give a strong celery flavour to sauces, dips, stews, or soups. Good source of vitamin C. Also has antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and diuretic properties.

Chervil is an anise-tasting herb that enhances egg, chicken, shrimp, and salad dishes. Excellent source of Vitamins A and C, as well as calcium, iron, manganese, potassium and zinc. Chervil also contains smaller but significant amounts of a number of the B vitamins, magnesium, selenium, copper and phosphorous.

Chili powder, which comes in hot or mild versions, is a mixture of ground dried chilies, and other herbs, such as garlic, oregano, cumin, coriander, and cloves. Good source of vitamin C, vitamin A, and flvonoids like beta-carotene, alpha carotene, lutein, zeaxanthin, and cryptoxanthins. Contains good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, and magnesium.

Chives add a sweet onion flavor to salads, sauces, and dips. They are an easy perennial to grow, but also can be bought fresh, frozen, or freeze-dried at grocery stores. Contain vitamins such as vitamin C, and K, in fact; chives are one of the richest sources of vitamin K. The leaves are packed with other B-complex vitamins as well as some essential minerals such as copper, iron, manganese, zinc, and calcium. The leafy greens contain several vital vitamins such as pyridoxine, pantothenic acid, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin in healthy proportions.

Cilantro, and coriander, refer to the same plant. Its fresh green leaves are very aromatic and distinct in their flavor, and are popular in Mexican and Southwest American dishes as well as Asian cooking. The ground seeds are used in curries and spice cakes. Good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Also contain vitamins including folic-acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin-A, beta carotene and vitamin-C.

Cinnamon comes in stick form (good for spicing up hot ciders) or ground (mix with sugar for cinnamon toast). Cinnamon flavors sweet rolls, spice cakes, and puddings. It is also used in Moroccan and Greek entrees and pilafs. Great source of manganese, fiber, iron and calcium.

Cloves are used to stud hams before baking or spike apples for a cider punch. Use ground cloves for spice cakes or puddings. Contains a good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, selenium and magnesium. This spice is a good source of vitamin-K, vitamin-A, vitamin-B6 (pyridoxine), thiamin (vitamin B-1), vitamin-C and riboflavin.

Cumin seeds and ground cumin have an earthy flavour that adds richness to Mexican, bean, and shellfish recipes. Good source of iron, vitamin C, vitamin A and essential oils.

Dill, either freshly chopped or dried dill weed, gives a fresh flavour to beets, carrots, cucumbers, pickled vegetables, potatoes, and seafood. Dill seed is used in pickling. Good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium. Also contain folic acid, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin A, ß-carotene and vitamin-C.

Fennel seeds have an anise flavour that goes well with fish and pork. Great source of minerals like copper, iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, selenium, zinc, and magnesium.

Gingerroot has a sharp, lemony flavour. Fresh gingerroot is peeled and grated or diced and added to stir-fries or spicy stews. Store fresh ginger, well wrapped, in the freezer. Ground dried ginger is used in cakes and cookies as well as some curries. Good amount of minerals like potassium, manganese, copper, and magnesium.

Mace is the external covering, or aril, of the nutmeg seed that is also and ground for use as a spice. It is hotter and less subtle than nutmeg and a classic spice for pound cake. Good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. Rich in many vital B-complex vitamins, including vitamin C, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin A.

Marjoram has a spicy, fresh flavour that goes with most vegetables, especially those used in Mexican, Greek, and Italian recipes. One of the richest herbal sources for vitamin K. Also contains vitamin A and vitamin C. Good amount of minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, manganese, copper, zinc and magnesium.

Mint has a light, fresh taste that enlivens fruit drinks like lemonade and fruit salads; it also enhances the taste of lamb and fish. Contains good amounts of Vitamin A, C, B12, folic acid, thiamine and riboflavin, as well as, minerals such as, calcium, copper, fluoride, iron, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium and zinc.

Mustard seed is used to make many popular commercial spreads from Dijon to hot dog mustard. Ground mustard seed, hot and pungent, is also an important ingredient in homemade mayonnaise, and many sauces and gravies served with fish, poultry, and meat. Rich source of many health benefiting minerals like, calcium, manganese, copper, iron, selenium and zinc. An excellent source of essential B-complex vitamins such as folates, niacin, thiamin, riboflavin, pyridoxine (vitaminB-6), pantothenic acid.

Nutmeg has a warm, sweet, nutty flavour that complements spinach, pumpkin, and cheese dishes as well as puddings. Good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, zinc and magnesium. Rich in many vital B-complex vitamins, including vitamin C, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin A.

Oregano, like a stronger version of marjoram, enhances tomato, cabbage, poultry, beef, veal, and lamb recipes. An excellent source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron and magnesium.

Paprika, like cayenne, is ground dried red peppers but in a combination that is milder and sweeter. Hungarian paprika is among the best, aromatic and delicious. Some paprika sold in Canada is so mild that it is used as decoration only. Good source of vitmains A, C, E and iron.

Parsley comes in two versions, curly-leaf and flat-leaf. The two kinds can be used interchangeably to add a fresh taste to potatoes, grains, mushrooms, and meat. Chewing fresh parsley is said to freshen the breath. One of the richest of the entire herb source for vitamin K. Good source of minerals like potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, and magnesium.

Red pepper flakes are made from crushed, dried chili peppers and are very hot. Use them to add hotness to chilies and stews.

Rosemary has an intense, earthy flavour that makes it especially good for marinades and grilled foods, such as lamb. Used sparingly (because it is strong), it complements beans, legumes, mushrooms, peas, summer squash, and zucchini. A rich source of minerals like potassium, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, and magnesium. An excellent source of iron, folic acid, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Saffron, the most expensive of all spices, is obtained from the stamens of a single variety of fall crocus. It is used to flavour—and color—rice, vegetable soups, fish dishes, and sweet rolls. Good source of minerals like copper, potassium, calcium, manganese, iron, selenium, zinc and magnesium. A rich in many vital vitamins, including vitamin A, folic acid, riboflavin, niacin and vitamin-C.

Sage has a woodsy, aromatic flavour that is often used in Italian cooking, blending well with garlic and tomatoes. It also goes well with onions, legumes, pork, poultry, and stuffing. Rich source of minerals like potassium, zinc, calcium, iron, manganese, copper, and magnesium. A very rich source of several B-complex groups of vitamins, such as folic acid, thiamin, pyridoxine, riboflavin, vitamin A and vitamin C.

Sea salt, such as fleur de sel from France and alaea from Hawaii, is literally taken from the sea; it’s what’s left when the water is evaporated. Depending on its source, sea salt has subtle flavours from trace minerals. It is coarse and should be sprinkled on food after cooking.

Summer savory is a slightly peppery herb that spices up green beans, dried beans, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and potatoes as well as fish, poultry, and pork. A rich source of many important vitamins such as B-complex group vitamins, vitamin-A, vitamin-C, niacin, thiamin and pyridoxine.

Tarragon, a popular French herb, has an anise-like flavour that complements carrots, greens, chicken, seafood, and egg dishes. A rich source of vitamins such as vitamin-C, vitamin-A as well as B-complex group of vitamins such as folates, pyridoxine, niacin and riboflavin.

Thyme has a light, spicy flavour that marries well with carrots, mushrooms, and salad greens, as well as beef, pork, lamb, poultry, and oil-rich fish. It is especially tasty in soups, and stews. Its leaves are one of the richest sources of potassium, iron, calcium, manganese, magnesium, and selenium. A rich source of many important vitamins such as B-complex vitamins, beta caratene, vitamin A, vitamin K, vitamin E, vitamin C and folic acid.

Remedies From The Witch’s Libary

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Prickling in the legs

Prickling in the legs can drive you crazy when you’re trying to go to sleep. One remedy is to eat banana – there’s a lot of potassium in bananas and the prickling sensation can come from a potassium deficiency.

Chafe

When you’ve gotten a chafe, you can crack a couple of eggs and pick off the membranes closest to the shells. Put these on the chafe and you’ll se that it heals over night.

Burns

Egg white is a good thing when you’ve gotten a burn. Smear a layer over the spot and you’ll see that it eases the pain rapidly. It also prevents blistering.

Sunburn

Put a thin layer of cooling and soothing natural yogurt on the part of your skin that’s burnt Let it sit for a couple of hours and then rinse it off with water.

Throat infection

Grate a carrot, put it in the middle of a big handkerchief and fold it. Dip a piece of cloth in ice cold water and wring it out. Put the pack on your neck and put the cold piece of cloth on top of it, then a wool scarf on top of that again. Let it work for 45 minutes or until it feels warm.

Onion wrap for ear infection

Chop a heaped teaspoon of onion, put it in a handkerchief and warm it on a saucepan lid. Place the warm onion pack on the ear and put a small corner behind it. To hold the pack in place, you put on a cap that you can tie under the chin. The child should lie with the infected ear against the pillow to keep the wrap warm.

Earache

If you have an earache, you can take a piece of fresh ginger and put it against the ear. Squeeze it a bit, and the juice will ease the pain.

Headache

Is there really anything worse than having a bad headache? To lie there in bed just wanting to chop your head off. That’s not what I would recommend, although it surely would cure the migraine it self. Here are some more or less useful tips against mild pain and real migraine.

  • Headaches may come from dehydration, drink a couple of glasses of water.
  • Chamomile tea made from the flowers is antiseptic but also analgesic.
  • Acupressure: massage the small pit between the ears, in the middle of the thumb grip or the point an inch out from the corner of the eye.
  • Massage does, even if it doesn’t help, at least feel good. Concentrate on shoulders and neck.
  • Migraine tea: Pour 1.5 – 2 dl (~5.1 – 6.8 fl oz) of hot (not boiled) water over 2 tsp of grated horse radish, strain and drink immediately.
  • Keep a small bottle with 3 drops of essential lavender oil in Almond oil. Rub it on your temples.
  • Migraine: Store some fresh Featherfoil leaves in aluminum foil in the freezer. Chew on some as soon as you notice the first symptoms. If you can’t stand the taste, there are capsules and pills with Featherfoil.

Stomach problems

You could have many different stomach problems. Aches, pains, constipation and diarrhea are just some examples.

  • Ginger: When you have indigestion and bellyaches fresh ginger might help. Grate or chop it finely and mix it in your food, or chew some thin slices after the meal. Ginger is good for most stomach problems, f. ex motion sickness, constipation and summer diarrhea.
  • Fennel seeds: Chew them or make tea from them against gas. To make tea you let 2 tsp of seeds steep 15-20 minutes in hot water.

Diaper rash

A sore bottom is very common for children who are in diapers. A very good advice: Stop using all ointments! Wet naps and ointments and other things with artificial fragrance and strange declarations of contents as long as a bad year is something you should keep far away from the skin of babies. Use potato flour. The only thing that works! Potato flour has a stabilizing effect on many skin conditions, you can dry the flour in the oven first then it gets easier to use. Powder the baby’s bottom and avoid using ointments during the treatment period. Many find that the soreness has gone already when it’s time to change the next diaper. Marigold ointment is also good. You can also rub the sore behind with breast milk. Breast milk contains substances that make it very useful for treating soreness and other things.

If you’ve burnt your self on a nettle

  • Try to rub some pure lavender oil on it and presto, it doesn’t hurt anymore.
  • Rub the yellow part of a dandelion on the skin where you got burnt. It often grows near the nettle.
  • Cut a tomato in half and rub the cut side on it.
  • Use Aloe Vera gel.
  • Rub Cucumber on it, it helps.
  • Squeeze the juice out of the stalk of Plantain and pull the leaf in the direction of the stalk over the stinging area.
  • Rub the juice of a cabbage leaf on it.
  • Onion juice soothes many kinds of irritation.
  • Rub a Dandelion leaf over it.
  • Pour milk on it.

Lemon wrap for a sore throat

A lemon wrap for the throat can reduce swelling when it’s sore. You slice a lemon and put the slices in a row on a cloth, fold it and put it around your neck and then a wool scarf around it.

Hangover

I’ve never had one myself, but I know many are tormented by them. Take two tsp of Thyme for one cup of water, boil for 10 minutes and drink the day after. The best advice though is probably to eat properly before and after drinking, and to drink enough water.

Stuffed nose

Mix a few drops of Eucalyptus oil with clean water in a small spray bottle, spray it on your sweater or your scarf. Sniff it in. It opens the nose. For small children; put a few drops of undiluted Eucalyptus oil on the pillow, by the next day a lot of it has come out.

Clogged milk channels

If you’re weaning your baby and you’ve got clogged milk channels, and you wish to drive the milk back, this might help:

  • Rub your breasts and armpits with white camphor oil.
  • Put a poultice with warm green soap water on and change it as soon as it cools.

If you want the lactation to decrease, it might help to drink sage tea. Pour 1⁄4 l (~8.5 fl oz) of cold water over 1-2 tsp of sage. Slowly bring it to boil and let it steep for a few minutes before you strain it. Drink a cup three times a day.

Increase lactation

Pour 1⁄4 l (~8.5 fl oz) of boiling water over a mixture of 1 tsp of anise, 1 tsp of fennel and 1 tsp of caraway. Let this steep for about 10 minutes, and drink a cup.

Breast infection

Poultices of cabbage leaves have been used for a long time on nursing women with infected breasts. It’s said that the cabbage can pull the infection out, and besides it’s known for its analgesic properties. Remove the thick nerve and roll the leaves soft before use. Change poultices two times a day and rub the skin with oil first, so it doesn’t get irritated by the cabbage juice.

Pollen allergy

Honey is said to prevent hay-fever. A tablespoon for each meal all through winter is a supplement full of vitamins and minerals and might help reduce the allergic reactions.

Sinus infection

Boil 1 1⁄2 liter (~0.4 gallons) of water with 1 tsp of salt, let it cool and sniff it into your nose.

Anemia

Not all types of ginger ale are made with artificial taste. Some contain real ginger and this spice is said to increase the blood count. Drink a bottle every day for one to two months.

Blood circulation

Garlic has a beneficial effect on the blood circulation and some say a daily intake of garlic can reduce sclerosis in the veins. Cold feet, varicose veins and leg pains can be improved by a daily intake of 3-6 garlic capsules. (Make sure you get a good brand, there are a few on the market with minimal amounts of garlic). 1-2 pieces of garlic a day would be a suitable dose for those who prefer the natural flavor.

Lay down on your stomach with your feet stretched out against the surface. Mix 1 tsp of salt and 1 cork of green soap in a container of hot water. Use it as a footbath until the water is tepid (30 minutes) It’s said that the mixture stimulates the blood circulation. Changing between hot and cold baths increases circulation. So does all forms of activity.

High blood pressure

Note! What ever you try of remedies, never stop using blood pressure medication without asking your doctor first. Make sure you go on regular check-ups, whether you take medication or not. Other general advice is; reduce your salt intake, loose weight if you’re overweight, stop smoking and don’t eat food with saturated fat.

An extract of mistletoe has been used against headaches, high pulse and heart conditions. You can try a cold water extract of the plant (you shouldn’t make tea from mistletoe). Use 1 heaped tsp for 1⁄4 liter (~8.5 fl oz) of cold water and let it sit in a pot over night (not aluminum). Strain it the next morning and warm it until it’s tepid. The extract is split into three cups during the day (not all at once!) Warning: mistletoe is a poisonous plant and must be used carefully!

Garlic is known for its stimulating effect on the circulatory system and some say it also stabilizes blood pressure. Take 1 tbsp of cod-liver oil and 4 capsules of garlic every day. (Warning: never stop taking blood pressure medication without consulting your physician and get your blood pressure checked regularly)

Soothing

Warm chamomile tea, lemon balm tea and lavender tea is soothing. You can buy these as pure herbs at a health food store of a drug store and mix your own tea, either with all three or the one you prefer. Use one tsp of each with hot water in a cup or teapot.

Cystorrhea

You get the best chance that this advice will work if you start at the moment the symptoms are noticed. If the problem continues, contact your physician. Cystorrhea is an infection and can develop into serious conditions if it isn’t stopped in time.

  • Drink a decoction of bird cherry bark. The ‘tea’ is diuretic and can be used several times a day.
  • Remember to drink a lot of water.
  • Dissolve 1 tsp ground fenugreek seeds (trigonella foenum- graecum) in some water and drink several times a day. It may have a favorable effect on different infections in the body.
  • Excessive vitamin C in the body is secreted into the urine and makes it sourer. This restricts the bacterial growth and because of this it might be a good idea to take a strong dose of vitamin C morning and evening. Especially in the evening because the urine lies still in the bladder at night.
  • 1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of 7 % white vinegar
    1⁄2 dl (~1.7 fl oz) of water
    3 tbsp of sugarDrink it morning and evening. If the mixture is too strong, soften it with more water. Warning; if you have a weak stomach, the mixture should be made weaker and 1-2 tbsp morning and evening.
  • 1-2 tsp of golden rod (solidago virgaurea) is mixed with 1 cup of cold water and brought to boil. Let the tea steep for a couple of minutes before you strain it. Drink a cup of warm golden rod tea three times a day if you have problems with cystorrhea, kidney infection or painful urination.
  • Horsetail tea (equisetum arvense) is a highly valued agent in folk medicine against urethral problems and is mildly diuretic. Drink it as soon as the symptoms set in and you may avoid them developing further. 1- 2 tsp of horsetail in a cup of cold water is brought to boil and let steep for 15 – 30 minutes. Strain it and drink a cup three times a day.
  • Sage can have a healing effect on cystorrhea. 4 tbsp of sage leaves to a large cup of cold water is brought to boil. Let it steep for 3-5 minutes and strain it. You can mix it with some honey if you want. Drink it in sips during the day.
  • Massage the rump-bone, the one at the bottom of your spine. It’s shaped as a triangular bone plate. This stimulates blood circulation and accelerates the healing process according to a physiotherapist.
  • Avoid sweets, citrus fruits, matured cheese, caffeine, alcohol and nicotine.
  • Take cranberry capsules with buchu extract (Agathosma betulina).
  • Drink cranberry tea and hip tea (makes the urine sour).
  • Eat blueberries.
  • Don’t sit on cold surfaces and keep your feet and hands warm.
  • Urinate immediately after intercourse.
  • Use a skirt or loose fitting pants, this way you avoid dampness. (Dampness makes bacteria happy).
  • See a physician if you have any of the following symptoms: Nausea, blood in the urine, shivers, vomiting, lower back pain.

Cellulite

Cellulite is fat tissue on the thighs, bottom and upper arms, and it’s a problem many women have. Many say that it helps to massage the skin daily with a hemp cloth. You can do it in the shower, and keep it up until the skin gets warm. After a while the skin gets smoother and firmer (it increases blood circulation) Alternating baths; Massage with a coarse cloth combined with alternating hot and cold showers is extra effective. Rub the skin with salicylic Vaseline after the bath. Since this is a rather stick ointment, it might be a good idea to go without clothes for a while, until it’s fully absorbed.

Bad breath

Against bad breath it’s recommended to chew fresh leaves of mint or parsley. It also helps to chew on fresh or dried seeds from cumin, caraway, fennel, lovage or fenugreek. Try chewing 2-3 fresh or dried peppermint leaves or 2-3 fresh or dried lemon balm leaves. Parsley is also a good thing when you’ve eaten garlic; it’s best if you chew it raw.

Diarrhea

  • Boil Carrots to a mush (can be given to young and old).
  • Eat 1 tsp dry cinnamon, it may ease nausea and diarrhea (take it with a glass of water).
  • Eat dried blueberries or drink a concentrated decoction (can also be given to children and infants).
  • Barley soup: Barley is boiled in water for about 1h, strain and drink in sips during the day.
  • 1tsp ground nutmeg flower is washed down with a glass of water, you should get better after a few hours.
  • Stir 2-3 tsp of Potato flour into water.

Eczema

  • Chop Dandelion leaves and flowers and make a poultice which is put on the skin. You can also use the decoction and rub it directly on the skin. Repeat the treatment every other day.
  • Fill a bottle with marigold petals and pour brandy over them. Let the mixture sit for 3-4 weeks (or even longer). The mixture is rubbed directly on the skin.
  • Honey helps the soars and softens the skin (If you warm it, it’s easier to handle.)
  • Boil 1⁄2 pack of bran in 2 liters (~0.53 gallons) of water, strain and pour in the bath water (can also be used for infants).
  • Boil 1⁄2 pack of bran, 2 liters (~0.53 gallons) of water, 1 tsp pure liquid green soap for 20 minutes and strain, the fluid can be rubbed directly on the skin.
  • Zink cream is good for eczema on the hands. You can get the pharmacy to make this ointment for you; zinki oxidum 20 %, camphora 5.5 %, Acid Salicyl 1.5 %, vaselinum 73 %.
  • Cod-liver oil is good for eczema on the hands. Use medical cod-liver oil 3-4 times a day. It should get better after a couple of days.

Colds – Misc tips

  • Keep your throat moist. Drink at least 10 glasses of water and do 4 steam baths a day if you can.
  • Heather is good to breathe in when you have a cold. It’s also good for coughing and diarrhea. It’s mildly sedative and soporific. There is some superstition around heather. They say that if you bring heather into the home, someone in the same house will go to sleep for ever.
  • Elder is good against fever and colds and is causes sweating. Drink 2 tsp of flower/bud hot. Note! Larger amounts can cause nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
  • Vitamin C is good against colds (prevention). There’s a lot of it in citrus fruit, black currant, carrots etc.
  • Against a sore throat you can use curry dissolved in tepid water. Use 1 tsp for 1 cup of water and gurle with it.
  • To get rid of mucus, you can squeeze the juice out of a lemon into a cup and drink it.
  • Swallow 20 whole pepper corns with a glass of water.
  • Grind white or black pepper and mix it with as much full milk as you can drink. Boil and drink it, add honey if you want.
  • Add a few drops of Japanese peppermint oil in some water and drink. You can also gurgle with pure peppermint oil.
  • Bergamot tea was used by Native Americans to ward off colds and a soar throat. Six leaves are allowed to steep in a cup of boiled water for 15 minutes to make an antiseptic tea. The leaves, stems and flowers can be brewed to soothe a sore throat.
  • Take 1 cup of boiling milk, add 1 tbsp of honey to soothe a sore throat.
  • Some say it pays to avoid meat and eggs until you feel better.
  • When you’ve had enough of drinking this and that for a sore throat, try taking a teaspoon of crem now and then.

Children’s colds

  • Warm some water and add a couple of drops of Eucalypt oil. Place the bowl at the side of the child’s bed, it will ease breathing and loosen a stuffed nose.
  • Small children can get rid of a cold easier if you rub their feet with sheep’s tallow.

Colds – bronchitis

If you have mucus in your chest or bronchitis, two cups of Hyssop tea (hyssopus officinalis) a day may be beneficial. 3 tsp of Hyssop (dried) is left to sit in 1⁄4 l (~8.5 fl oz) of water for 10 minutes.

Cold Prevention

  • Echinacea is good as a preventative and when you start to get sick. To prevent a cold you can take 30 drops a day for week, stop for a week and then repeat it. If you notice thay you’re getting sick, you can take 20 drops five times a day for a week.
  • Mix a large, finely chopped onion with four tbsp of honey. Leave it foir three hours and then strain. Take 1 tbsp of the juice three times a day.
  • Chew Angelica root when you feel a cold coming on.
  • Some take a large dose of vitamin C (vitamin chock) and mean they’ve avoided an oncoming cold. (Be careful, large doses of vitamin C can be hard on the mucus membranes of the stomach.
  • Chew garlic until all the juice is gone.
  • Put garlic in your nose and sniff the fumes. One clove in each nostril and breathe in a couple of times.
  • Garlic sandwich; 3 cloves, a piece of bread and some other form of spread.
  • Garlic salad; 1⁄2 finely chopped apple, 1 tbsp of parsley, 2 large pressed garlic cloves, 1 tbsp of sour cream. (Eat it 3 times a day, the apple and the sour cream makes it taste milder and the parsley takes away some of the smell.)
  • Garlic and milk: bring 2-3 cloves to boil with milk, add honey if you like, nice to give to children who can’t eat raw garlic.
  • When you feel a cold coming on, chew on shoots from fur tree, larch or pine. It’s supposed to kill it. It’s disinfecting for the mouth and the throat, increases blood circulation and is said to be blood purifying. For those afraid of bad smell, there are remedies for that to, see bad breath.
  • Put 2 drops of iodine in 1 glass of water drink it every day. (Iodine is poisonous in larger amounts so be thorough with the dose, some may be allergic to iodine and shouldn’t drink it.)
  • Put Champhor 20 drops on a piece of sugar and suck on it or take 1 cup of warm milk with 1 tsp of camphor (this is strong, not recommended for small children), go to bed and sweat it out. Dry camphor- put it on a wool cloth and put it on your chest, loosens nose and chest and is said to protect against infection (can also be used on children).
  • Chamomile tea and linden flower tea also prevent infection. 2-3 tsp is made into a large cup of tea.
  • 2 Peppermint drops in half a glass of tepid water or on some honey.
  • Sage gurgle water and tea.
  • Apple geranium – plant which smells like lemon when you touch it, just to have it in the living room can be preventative.
  • Zone therapy – press on and massage the skin between your thumb and your index finger on both hands for about 5 minutes, then put your index finger nails against the top of the inside of the thumb nails and press for 15 minutes. Repeat several times a day for a couple of days.
  • Take a warm foot bath with a handful of sea salt and go to bed immediately after, you’ll probably feel better the next day.

Hoarseness

  • Cold wraps around the neck.
  • Small Burnet drops- put some drops on a piece of sugar and suck it. Repeat 3 times a day.
  • Carrots and honey- boil 4 carrots until they’re soft and mash them with 1 dl (~3.4 fl oz) of honey. 1 tsp 5- 6 times a day (also works for smoker’s cough).

Sore throat

  • 1-2 cups of Fenugreek tea a day. 2 tbsp of Fenugreek powder to 1⁄4 l (~8.5 fl oz) of boiling water, drink it after it’s cooled (you should avoid hot drinks when you have a throat infection).
  • Put 1 tbsp of Apple vinegar in a glass of tepid water. Gurgle with it several times a day. Small sips every 5 minutes if the soreness is further down.
  • Gurgle with salt water for 5 minutes straight several times a day.
  • Gurgle with sage several times a day (2 tsp of sage in 1⁄4 l (~8.5 fl oz) of water which is heated up towards the boiling point). Nursing women should avoid sage, it hampers lactation.

Stuffed nose

  • Essential oils, especially pine needle, sage and eucalyptus oil may help. Drip a couple of drops on a cloth and sniff.
  • Take the lid off a jar of honey and breathe inn the gas from the honey. You can also rub some under your nose.
  • If you move your jaw muscles from side to side, it may loosen a stuffed nose.
  • Boil some Pine and Spruce twigs in water and hold your head over the steam with a towel over your head. Breathe deeply until the stuffiness goes away.
  • Chamomile steam baths also works dissolving.
  • 2 tbsp of Horsetail is steeped in 1⁄2 l (~0.4 gallons) of boiling water for 30 minutes, and then you breathe in the steam for 2 minutes, pause then continue for as long as you can.
  • Do the same with Thyme as with the Horsetail but only let it steep for 10-15 minutes.

Coughing

Cut an onion into segments and put it in a bowl of water – almost cover it with water. Place the bowl in the bedroom.

Bug Bites

  • Hyssop oil or lotion
  • Lavender oil
  • Marigold ointment
  • Bandage with plantain
  • Put fresh leaves of lemon balm or sage on the bite
  • Try a slice of onion.
  • Rub the bite with parsley

YOUR KITCHEN MEDICINE CABINET Spices to the Rescue

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Just as there is no clear dividing line between food and medicine, there’s also no dividing line between cooking spices and medicinal herbs. The astute herbalist must be resourceful and versatile, and ready to use whatever is at his disposal in the service of healing.
Traditionally, herbs and spices were equally important in both cuisine and healing. Any household with any arable land tried to cultivate an herb garden, from which they would spice up their food and put together home remedies.

According to traditional herbal medicine, the medicinal properties of many, if not most, herbs and spices are manifest in their taste:
Pungent or spicy herbs and spices are either hot or very warming in temperament, as well as drying. They strongly stimulate digestion, circulation and metabolism, disperse obstructions, and remove or cut through phlegm and other cold, wet humors. Examples are Ginger and Black Pepper.
Fragrant or aromatic herbs and spices mediate, balance and harmonize, and smooth and regulate the flow of the vital energies throughout the body; many improve digestion. Others contain essential oils with an antiseptic or diaphoretic effects. Examples are Marjoram, Cardamoms and Peppermint.
Sweet tasting herbs and spices mollify, mediate and harmonize, and smooth out harsh effects of other medicines. Examples are Fennel and Anise seeds.

Natural Medicines in Your Spice Rack

Within your kitchen spice rack are many excellent remedies for common ailments. Below is an alphabetical listing of culinary herbs and spices and their common medicinal uses:

Anise(Pimpinella anisum): Anise seed is a carminative and stomachic whose warming stimulant properties reduce or eliminate accumulations of excess phlegm. And so, anise is good for gas, stomachaches and indigestion, as well as runny nose, coughing and lung congestion. Anise can also relieve premenstrual pains and cramping in women, and can increase milk production in nursing mothers. For phlegm congestion, drink the hot tea; for other purposes, use either the tea or chew the seeds.

Asafoetida(Ferula foetida): Asafoetida is a potent resin that smells like garlic and onions. It is very heating and drying, and should be avoided or used very sparingly by Choleric types, or those with aggravations of heat and choler. Because it is often used as a cooking spice instead of garlic and onions in India and the Middle East, it can often be found in their supermarkets. Asafoetida is one of the strongest digestive stimulants known. Cooked into food and consumed daily, it will strengthen the stomach and bowels and eliminate gas and dyspepsia. It’s one of the best remedies I know of for diarrhea, intestinal infections and putrefactions, and is even effective against dysentery. Asafoetida also eliminates phlegm congestion in coughs, catarrhs and asthma. and also acts as a nervine and sedative in convulsions and spasms. In those suffering from weight loss and emaciation due to a cold, weak, deficient digestion, Asafoetida strengthens the digestion and helps them gain weight.

Basil(Ocimum basilicum): Fresh Basil, eaten raw or cooked in with food, is excellent for soothing nervous, colicky Melancholic digestive complaints. A hot tea made from the dried herb will warm and expand the heart and chest, and help the lungs to expectorate phlegm, in addition to treating digestive complaints. Whether in East or West, Basil also enjoys a reputation as a holy or sacred herb. A Greek Orthodox priest will bless a house by dipping a sprig of Basil into some holy water and flicking the water about the rooms of the house. In India, potted Basil plants grow indoors to uplift the vibrations in the house and provide a spiritual atmosphere; they also have a special species of Basil, called Tulsi, or Holy Basil (Ocimum sanctum). Drinking Basil tea helps clear the mind and spirit.

Bay Laurel(Laurus nobilis): Called Daphne by the ancient Greeks, Laurel was sacred to the Sun god Apollo. The leaves are stomachic and carminative, and excellent for expelling gas and flatulence, whether upwards from the stomach by belching, or downwards from the bowels. The warming action of the leaves also stimulates liver metabolism in the production of the humors, and so Bay leaves are recommended for those suffering from consumption and weight loss. A hot tea made from the leaves and drunk is great for dispersing cold, damp, rheumatic humors from the body, improving the circulation, relieving rheumatic and arthritic pains, and dispelling accumulations of cold, watery phlegm, whether they be in the head and sinuses, in the throat and pharynx, or in the lungs and chest. A tea of the leaves will speed up childbirth and delivery, and promote the flow of suppressed menses; taking large doses of Laurel is generally not recommended in pregnancy. Laurel tea also relieves the stoppage of urine due to either wind or cold. In classical Greek Medicine, Laurel berries were often used; their properties are similar to the leaves, but their aromatic properties as a stomachic and digestive stimulant are stronger.

Black Pepper(Piper nigrum): Black pepper is very heating and drying – in the Third Degree. It warms and stimulates the stomach and digestion and relieves gas, or flatulence. For this reason, it is put on salads, whose lettuce and other greens tend to be quite cooling. As a digestive stimulant, Black Pepper is also used to spice heavy red meats like beef, to aid in their digestion and to neutralize toxins.
A great remedy for colds, coughs and lung congestion is to take a quarter to a half teaspoon of Black Pepper and mix it with honey to make a paste. Eat this paste, washing it down with warm herb tea. It is like a fire, which will burn the cold, with all its phlegm, out of the body.

Caraway(Carum carvi): Caraway is a stomachic and carminative that expels gas or flatulence; it is also good for provoking urination in water retention, and improves fluid metabolism. Chewing the seed also relaxes menstrual pains and cramping, and improves lactation in nursing mothers.

Cardamom(Eleteria cardamomum): An excellent stomachic. Chewed regularly after meals, Cardamoms will strengthen the stomach and improve digestion. They also counteract putrefactions and turbid phlegm and dampness in the stomach and intestines, and act as a breath freshener.

Cayenne(Capsicum annuum): One of the most powerful stimulants for the whole organism in the entire herbal kingdom. Administering Cayenne has been known to revive someone who has had a heart attack, so powerful are its stimulant properties to the heart and circulation. Can also stimulate a cold, weak, atonic stomach and digestion in small amounts, but excessive use and dosage can irritate the GI tract, aggravating ulcers and irritable bowel, especially in those of a Melancholic constitution. Used externally, mixed with vinegar as a liniment, can be used as a rubefacient and counterirritant to relieve arthritic and rheumatic aches and pains. Strictly speakiing, Cayenne is not a traditional Greek medicinal herb, since it is indigenous to the New World.

Celery seed(Petroselinum hortense): Useful to stimulate the digestion as a stomachic, and to relieve excess gas or flatulence. Regular use also relieves rheumatic aches and pains and warms the body. In the Middle East and India, Ajwain seeds(Ptychotis ajowan), a botanical relative of celery, is used for these same complaints, and is stronger.

Cinnamon(Cinnamomum zeylanicum): Also called Canela, this is the thin, delicate, aromatic Spanish Cinnamon that Galen preferred over the thicker, heavier Asian variety. As a diaphoretic remedy to break a sweat and relieve a cold, make a tea from this Spanish Cinnamon and drink it hot, sweetened with a little honey and lemon. For added effectiveness, throw in a couple of slices of fresh Ginger. It’s also good at relieving cold, rheumatic aches and pains.

Cloves(Eugenia caryophyllata): Will stimulate the stomach to relieve gas, indigestion, hiccups and nausea. Chewing on a Clove bud will clear cold phlegm from the throat and also relieve the pain of toothache if chewed on the affected tooth. Oil of cloves and its essence, Eugenol, are common analgesics and disinfectants in dentistry. Also stimulates the overall circulation and metabolism.

Coriander(Coriandrum sativum): Will gently soothe the stomach and digestion, relieving gas, distension and bloating. Also is a mild diuretic which improves the fluid metabolism if drunk as a tea. Make a delicious tea for colic and other digestive complaints by mixing with equal parts of Cumin and Fennel.

Cumin(Cuminum cyminum): Stomachic, carminative. One of the best spices to cook in with beans to counteract gas formation. Chew Cumin seeds after a meal to relieve gas, colic, distension and bloating. Cumin seeds are one of the finest digestive aids in the herbal kingdom.

Dill(Anethum graveolens): The seeds are a stomachic and carminative that can be chewed after meals as a digestive aid, much like Cumin. Dill seeds provide relief for flatulent colic, hiccup, and for digestive bloating due to gas and water retention. Besides a mild diuretic effect that improves fluid metabolism, Dill seeds also have a sedative effect on the nerves in nervous stomach conditions. Dill seeds are helpful in relieving menstrual pains and cramping, and in improving lactation in nursing mothers. Ancient Greek physicians used a decoction of the seeds as an eyewash, to protect against diseases of the cornea.

Fennel(Foeniculum vulgare): The seeds have a very soothing, harmonizing effect upon digestion, and are very good at relieving colic and griping in the GI tract, as well as nausea and poor appetite. Fennel seeds are also very good at resolving and thinning out accumulations of excess phlegm in the digestive and respiratory tracts. As a woman’s medicine, Fennel seeds relieve menstrual cramps and spasms, promote the menstrual flow if suppressed, and increase lactation in nursing mothers.

Garlic(Allium sativum): Garlic is one of the most potent adaptogens and stimulant tonics in your kitchen. It is also the poor man’s antibiotic. Its strong heating and drying effects are very good at getting rid of excess phlegm and coughing and congestion in the lungs; for this purpose, you can make a syrup by macerating Garlic in honey with a little lemon joice or apple cider vinegar. A tincture or alcoholic extract of Garlic taken in spoonful doses will stimulate the heart and circulation and balance the blood pressure. Garlic tea enemas are good for expelling worms and parasites from the bowels, and in correcting imbalances of intestinal flora. Or, simply cook Garlic into your food to enjoy all these health benefits. Drinking milk with your Garlic or chewing on some Parsley afterwards helps to kill the Garlic odor.

Ginger(Zingiber officinale): Fresh Ginger has the ability to open the pores and expel a cold or chill through sweating, while at the same time guarding and protecting the pores so that no new pathogenic influences may enter. This makes it the ideal preventive and remedy for colds and respiratory infections. Just boil a few slices of the fresh root in a cup of water for about 10 minutes and sweeten with honey and lemon, and drink hot. Adding some Canela, or Spanish Cinnamon to the brew increases the warming, diaphoretic and antirheumatic properties. Cooking lots of fresh Ginger into your food in the fall, when the weather is changing, protects against colds and flu. Either fresh or dried Ginger will harmonize the stomach, and is a good remedy for nausea and motion sickness. Ginger both stimulates and soothes the GI tract and enhances digestion. This makes Ginger one of the best and most balanced of all the stimulants.

Horseradish(Amoracia rusticana): Horseradish is best eaten in small doses in the winter months to expel excess phlegm from the lungs and respiratory tract, as well as from the head and sinuses. Horseradish is eaten as a condiment with beef and other red meats to improve their digestibility and neutralize the toxic residues generated.

Juniper berries(Juniperus comunis): Juniper berries are often cooked in with red meats to enhance their digestibility and neutralize toxins, as Greek Medicine recognizes Juniper as an herb that resists poison. A tea made from Juniper berries has an antiseptic action on the kidneys and urinary tract if drunk at room temperature, and a diaphoretic and antirheumatic action in colds, chills and rheumatism. Taken powdered in capsule form, Juniper berries stimulate the digestion and metabolism and gently cleanse the liver, making it a valuable tonic in digestive atony and type 2 diabetes.

Marjoram(Origanum marjorana): Marjoram is a great stomachic and digestive tonic that’s very effective against candidiasis and intestinal putrefactions. The essential oils of all species of Oregano have strong antiseptic and antimicrobial properties. A hot tea of Marjoram is also very good as a diaphoretic remedy to sweat out colds and other respiratory infections.

Mustard seed(Sinapis alba, Brassica nigra): The seeds of both the white (S. alba) and black (B. nigra) Mustard are great at stimulating the metabolic fire and resolving or eliminating phlegm. The White Mustard seed is hotter and stronger, and focuses its effects on the lungs and chest to eliminate phlegm and improve the circulation of the Vital Force through the respiratory tract to improve breathing, especially in convalescents and the elderly with chronic lung congestion. The Black Mustard seed is milder, and focuses its action on stoking the digestive fire and resolving phlegm in the stomach and GI tract. Pastes made from the white mustard seed and vinegar have been applied topically as vesicant plasters to form blisters and abcesses to draw out toxins.

Nutmeg(Myristica fragrans): Nutmeg is usually used to spice sweets, starches or rich creamy foods to enhance their digestibility and resolve the excessive phlegm they tend to generate. It can also be taken in doses of half a teaspoonful or so, washed down with water or warm herb tea, to counteract the cold, atonic, Phlegmatic diarrhea that is often the result of eating too many cold, wet, phlegm forming foods, like those Nutmeg is often used to spice. The essential oil of Nutmeg is often used in aromatherapy for its calming, sedating properties; rub some into the temples to relieve the pain and tension of a migraine headache.

Oregano(Origanum vulgare): The hot, spicy Greek Oregano is the best. If your digestion is sluggish after a big, heavy meal, chewing and swallowing a pinch or two of Oregano should make things a lot better. Or, if excess phlegm is congesting the digestive and/or respiratory tracts, chewing on a bit of Oregano should do a lot to relieve it. The essential oil of Oregano has strong antiseptic properties for combatting digestive putrefactions.

Peppermint(Mentha piperita): Drinking Peppermint tea after meals settles the tummy; it also benefits the skin by inducing a mild sweating in which its antiseptic essential oils cleanse the pores. Of course, the hot tea can also be taken to break a sweat to relieve colds. Drinking Peppermint tea sweetened with a little lemon and honey will do a lot to soothe a sore, inflamed throat.

Sage(Salvia officinalis): Drinking hot Sage tea with lemon and honey will soothe a sore throat, clear the voice and relieve hoarseness; this is a great boon to all singers and public speakers! Sage, through its mild astringent action, is also an anhydrotic, or an herb that stops sweating. This anhydrotic property, plus Sage’s mild sedative action, makes it a good tea to drink for the hot flashes of menopause. Sage is also a stimulant to the stomach and digestion, and also has a beneficial effect on the liver. We have been talking about the European or Dalmatian Sage, also known as cooking or garden Sage, but the Native American White Sage(Salvia apiana) also appears to have quite similar properties; in addition, it is good for helping the lungs and respiratory tract to expectorate phlegm, and for relieving skin rashes and eruptions. White Sage is often burned in smudging rituals for spiritual protection.

Tamarind(Tamarindus indica): Tamarind paste is often sold in Middle Eastern and Oriental supermarkets. Besides adding a tangy flavor to soups and sauces, Tamarind is also made into a cooling summer beverage that can bring down fevers and exerts a mild laxative action. Tamarind is often mixed with other harsh stimulant laxatives as a corrective and buffering agent to soften their action and to relieve griping in the bowels.

Tarragon(Artemisia dracunculus): Drunk as a tea, or eaten with or after food, Tarragon is an effective stomachic, carminative and antispasmodic to relieve colicky pains in the stomach, duodenum and gall bladder. In addtion to Cumin and Wormseed, or Epazote, Tarragon is one of the best herbs to use for cooking beans, to relieve the gas and bloating. Tarragon also exerts a mild sedative effect.

Thyme(Thymus vulgaris): Used as a cooking spice, or eaten after food, Thyme is a powerful stimulant to the stomach and digestion. Its essental oil is one of the most powerful natural antimicrobial and immune stimulating agents known. Thymol, or the essence of the essential oil, is available in drugstores for topical application to relieve fungal nail infections. It’s powerful, and it really works!

Turmeric(Curcuma longa): Turmeric is what gives curry powder its yellow color. It is antifungal, antirheumatic, hepatoprotector, choleretic, cholagogue, antispasmodic, carminative and alterative. Boil in a quarter to a half teaspoon with milk and drink hot to either treat skin conditions and eruptions; to relieve arthritic and rheumatic aches and pains, especially in the upper extremities and upper body; or to improve healing and regeneration from excessive muscular strain, wear and tear, or trauma. A paste that’s applied topically to arthritic joints can be made with equal parts of powdered Turmeric, grated fresh Ginger and Olive oil. A half teaspoon of Turmeric powder washed down with warm water or tea is an excellent remedy for gall bladder spasm and colic. Because of the very heating and drying nature of Turmeric, it’s generally not recommended for Cholerics, or those with aggravations of heat and choler.

Natural Antibacterial Herbs

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

There are hundreds of plants used all over the world, which are used in herbal medicine as treatments for bacterial infections. Here are some of the most accessible and reliable.

Bayberry (Myrica cerifera): stimulating the flow of bile, and also exhibits antibacterial activity. Use this herb externally as a poultice.

Cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum): is an ancient herbal remedy found in the Chinese Materia Medica. Various terpenoids found in the volatile oil including eugenol and cinnamaldehyde account for cinnamon�s medicinal effects. Both cinnamaldehyde and cinnamon oil vapors are potent anti-fungal compounds. Antibacterial actions have been found in cinnamon.

Cranberries (Vaccinium macrocarpon) : The medicinal benefits of cranberries have been touted in news reports for years, recognizing the small, four air-chambered berry for its ability to protect against urinary tract infections. However, new research suggests that not only does the cranberry, available in both white and red varieties, fight against bacterial infections in the urinary tract, but it is also associated with potentially lowering LDL cholesterol and slowing cancer cell growth.

Eucalyptus (eucalyptus globulus): It’s been known for some time that extracts of eucalyptus oil inhibit the growth of some bacteria. Antibacterial activities of eucalyptus globulus leaf extract against isolated bacteria were investigated by determining minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). methods. It is concluded that eucalyptus globules leaf extract is effective against isolated bacteria.

Garlic (Allium sativum): The ancient Egyptians attached great importance to garlic, and used it as a money exchange. Folklore has always claimed that garlic is a great healer, and there is actually a lot of scientific evidence to support that claim. Allicin is the compound responsible for the healing benefits of garlic. Garlic’s antibacterial characteristics have been tested even against drug-resistant varieties, and shown to have therapeutic activity. The sulfides in garlic may work in a way similar to that of penicillin and sulfa drugs, to counter the growth of bacteria.

Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadenis): Goldenseal is a native American medicinal plant introduced to early settlers by Cherokee Indians who used it as a wash for skin diseases, wounds, and for sore, inflamed eyes. Its roots are bright yellow, therefore, this is how it gets it’s name. Goldenseal root has acquired a considerable reputation as a natural antibiotic and as a remedy for various gastric and genitourinary disorders.

Myrrh (Commiphora Myrrha): Myrrh is a gum resin that has been used since ancient times. The Egyptians used it to embalm bodies, and in biblical times it was one of the herbs brought by the Three Wise Men. Myrrh constituents are antibacterial and antifungal, exhibiting activity against e.coli, staphylococcus, and candida albicans, an overgrowth of which leads to yeast infections. Its antiseptic and disinfectant properties make it useful as a wash on cuts, burns and skin infections. Gargle several drops of tincture in water to relieve a sore throat. Use diluted myrrh as a mouthwash or apply the powder on the mucus membranes inside of the mouth to treat mouth sores and thrush.

Olive Leaf Extract: is an extraordinary herbal antibacterial as well as, antiviral extract. Obtained from specific parts of the olive tree (Olea europaea), this new proprietary phytochemical extract is not only safe, but is also a nontoxic immune system builder. Olive Leaf Extract has been used clinically in its present form for over a year.

Tea Tree (Melaleuca altermifolia) : is the extracted oil from Melaleuca altermifolia tree native to Australia. The oil is extracted by steam distillation from the leaves of the tree and has been used by Australian aborigines for several centuries. Now the tree is grown all over the world for its medicinal properties. As an antibacterial agent, tea tree oil is said to alleviate hemorrhoids, and treat candidiasis and other vaginal infections. As an antifungal, tea tree oil has been used for years in the treatment of athlete’s foot, ringworm, and nail infections.

Turmeric (Curcuma longa): Curcumin, the yellow color pigment of turmeric, is produced industrially from turmeric oleoresin. The healing properties of turmeric have made it a most sought after ingredient in cosmetics and drugs, as the leaf oil and extract can also be used as sunscreens and bio-pesticides. It is well recognized as the best anti-oxidant, hypoglycemic, colorant, antiseptic and wound healer.

Yellow Dock (Rumex crispus): has been used for hundreds of years for its astringent properties, treating a variety of skin problems, including boils, rashes, blemishes and burns. Yellow dock is valued as an antibacterial agent and even more as one of the best available sources of iron. Yellow dock’s high iron content makes it beneficial for treating anemia and pregnant women. Yellow Dock also contains vitamin C, vitamin A, calcium and phosphorous.

Cleansing Detox Herbs

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Garlic–blood cleanser, lowers blood fats, natural antibiotic

Red clover blossoms–blood cleanser, good during convalescence and healing

Echinacea–lymph cleanser, improves lymphocyte and phagocyte actions

Dandelion root–liver and blood cleanser, diuretic, filters toxins, a tonic

Chaparral–strong blood cleanser, with possibilities for use in cancer therapy

Cayenne pepper–blood purifier, increases fluid elimination and sweat

Ginger root–stimulates circulation and sweating

Licorice root–”great detoxifier,” biochemical balancer, mild laxative

Yellow dock root–skin, blood, and liver cleanser, contains vitamin C and iron

Burdock root–skin and blood cleanser, diuretic and diaphoretic, improves liver function, antibacterial and antifungal properties

Sarsaparilla root–blood and lymph cleanser, contains saponins, which reduce microbes and toxins

Prickly ash bark–good for nerves and joints, anti-infectious

Oregon grape root–skin and colon cleanser, blood purifier, liver stimulant

Parsley leaf–diuretic, flushes kidneys

Goldenseal root–blood, liver, kidney, and skin cleanser, stimulate detoxification

Emotional Management

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

That’s all well and fine, but how do you keep your emotions in check? Is there
any way to handle them without becoming completely disassociated from reality
or losing all sense of human compassion?
Absolutely. But it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, practice, and hard
work. Fact is, you have to train yourself to think before you allow any sort of
action to take place, even on the mental plane; and that can be difficult,
especially if you’re as emotionally-driven as I am. Because the alternative is
unpleasant, to say the least, I urge you to try the following tips-and do whatever
else may be personally necessary-to grab control of your emotions. Otherwise,
you’ll find your magic controlling you instead of the other way around. And
that’s a place you simply don’t want to go.
Remove all silver jewelry. As the metal of the Moon, silver is directly linked to
the emotional realm. But that’s not all. It’s also one of the strongest energy
conductors available to humankind. This means that silver can power the
emotions far past their normal capacity. And while that can be very
beneficial to magic, it’s simply not conducive to good emotional
management or clear-headedness. You can always put it back on once
you’ve gotten things back under control.
Focus. No matter what the circumstances, will yourself to look at the problem
calmly and with an objective eye. It often helps to ground and center. Just
breathe in through your nose, and inhale the green, calming, stabilizing
energy from the Earth. Exhale that red, unsettling energy through your
mouth, blowing it back into the ground. Three or four repetitions usually
does the trick.
Think. Mentally explore every possible solution. Turn the situation around in
your mind and look at it from all angles. You may just discover that the best
way to handle the problem is mundane in nature, and that magic isn’t
necessary at all.
Listen. Not just to the advice of friends and family, but to that inner voice as
well, because brushing it aside is just asking for trouble. Why? Because it’s
often that inner voice speaking for the Higher Self that brings the answers
you seek.
Once you’re back in charge and thinking clearly again, weigh all the options,
then make an intelligent decision and take action. It’s the best way I know to
keep things tinder control and to manifest your desires without any unpleasant
surprises-the latter of which we can all do without!

Braid That Bind

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

This spell is intended to bind you to the one you love. You will need three long strands of hair (about 12 inches)from your head and from your loved one’s head, a strip of red ribbon, and a small cherry wood box.

Braid the strands of hair together as you chant:

Let thy thoughts be only of me,
None other shall you ever see.
By braid I bind thee forever,
That I shall lose thee never.
Thou art bound in wake and sleep,
Mine forever thou heart to keep.

Tie the braid off with the red ribbon. Place the braid in the cherry wood box and keep next to your bed.

Hair

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Hair represents strength and energy.

Early Christians shaved their heads to show their devotion to the religion.

In some cultures, it is seen as an act of purity to have all body hair removed before marriage.

In the Middle Ages, cutting a person’s hair had symbolic value judicially and was done to dishonour the lawbreaker.

In cultures where magick was practised, a person’s shorn hair could signify the actual person and could be used accordingly.

Even hair colour was considered. In the Middle Ages, blonde hair was considered good or heavenly, and red hair was a sign of evil or Witchcraft.

Modern practitioners of Witchcraft still use hair to link a person to a spell.

It is believed that if you have a person’s hair, you have a part of them and that what you do with or to the hair will then affect the person directly.

Hair is often used in healing rituals and binding spells.

Hair and Nails

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Nails have been associated with demons and evil; some Jews keep their fingernails as short as possible, and tribes in Madagascar believe the Devil lives under unpared fingernails.

Much Western magical lore about hair and nails can be traced to the Vendidad, a Zoroastrian liturgy written in the mid-5th century b.c.e. According to the Vendidad, hair and nails are instruments of evil because they grow with a life of their own and can be separated from the body, to be used by witches and wizards for conjuring the dead, bewitching and casting spells. Ahura Mazda gave Zarathustra specific rituals for the safe disposing of hair clippings and nail parings:

. . . thou shalt take them away ten paces from the faithful, twenty paces from the fire, thirty paces from the water, fifty paces from the bundles of baresma [holy twigs].

Then thou shalt dig a hole, ten fingers deep if the earth is hard, twelve fingers deep if it is soft; thou shalt take thy hair down there and thou shalt say aloud these fiend-smiting words: Out of his pity Mazda made plants grow.

There upon thou shalt draw three furrows with a knife of metal around the hole, or six, or nine, and thou shalt chant the Ahuna Vairya three times, or six, or nine.

For the nails, thou shalt dig a hole, out of the house, as deep as the top joint of the little finger; thou shalt take the nails down there and thou shalt say aloud these fiend-smiting words: The words are heard from the pious in holiness and good thought.

The practice of burying cut hair and nails persists among many cultures. Aleister Crowley secretly disposed of his hair and nail clippings throughout his life. In Ozark lore, hair combings are buried, never thrown out. French peasants bury hair; Turks and Chileans stuff hair clippings into walls.

Sorcerers, cunning men and women and witches in many societies have secured the cut hairs of victims to cast spells and break spells. A bewitched victim’s hair thrown into a fire supposedly projects the pain of the flames back onto the witch. The hair of a dead man buried
under the threshold of an enemy supposedly will cause the enemy to develop ague. In parts of Germany, a small bag of smooth human hair placed on the stomach will tell someone if they have been bewitched. The answer is yes if the hair is tangled after three days.

Hair, particularly pubic hair, is considered a potent ingredient in many love charms. According to legend, John Fian, a 16th-century Scottish wizard, attempted to make a young girl fall in love with him by making a charm from three of her pubic hairs. However, someone substituted
three hairs from a cow’s udder, and the lovestruck cow followed Fian all over town. It is still common for lovers to carry lockets of head hair, and in centuries past, young girls often made hair bracelets to give to their lovers to keep them faithful.

red-haired persons are witches or sorcerers, according to one old belief. Evidence exists to indicate that some ancient pagan sorcerers dyed their hair red for certain rituals. Red hair was common among the Celts, whose traditions were steeped in magic. During the witch hunts
red-haired people were often suspected of being witches.

Witches were said to shoot hairballs into animals to harm them. These hairballs supposedly lodged in the beasts’
stomachs without leaving a mark on the skin.

According to superstition, the cutting of hair must be timed according to the phases of the Moon, depending on how quickly one desires the hair to grow back

Ghosts, Hauntings and Witchcraft

Posted on by A Solitary Pagan

Hauntings by ghosts and poltergeists are sometimes blamed on witches and witchcraft, particularly in areas where fear of magic runs high.

In Brazil, for example, where fear of magic is strong among the working class, many cases of poltergeist activity are attributed to witches’ curses laid on families.

The notion that witches were responsible for ghosts and hauntings took root on the Continent and in the British Isles after the Protestant Reformation of the 16th century.

The belief that dead men walk the earth as ghosts has been universal since ancient times.

The Catholic Church used ghosts to its own ends, teaching that they were the souls of those stuck in purgatory, who could not rest until they atoned for their sins, and that they were sent by God to roam the realm of the living.

The Reformation rejected the concept of purgatory and said all souls went straight to heaven or hell, from which they never emerged.

This required a new explanation for ghosts.

In general, the Protestant church denied their existence, claiming that ghosts were a Catholic fraud used to manipulate the masses.

Those who did see ghosts were led to think that they were caused by the Devil, demons and witches, who also were manipulating the populace in a battle for souls.

Two camps formed: those who dismissed ghosts as foolishness and those who saw ghosts as proof of demonic forces.

James I of England, who said there existed a “feareful  abounding” of witches in the land, gave credit to the Devil for all ghosts.

Witches, being viewed as the servants of the Devil, were automatically connected to apparitions and hauntings.

During the 17th century, hauntings often were blamed on the witchcraft of malicious neighbors or relatives.

It was not uncommon to call upon the services of another witch or wizard to exorcise the haunting.

The Drummer of Tedworth. One of the most famous cases of alleged witchcraft-caused hauntings was a poltergeist case, the Drummer of Tedworth, which took place in England in 1661.

In March of that year, the drummer had been annoying the town of Ludgarshall, Wiltshire, with his drum beating. John Mompesson, of the neighboring town of Tedworth (formerly Tidworth), had the man taken before the justice of the peace.

The drum was confiscated, and given to Mompesson to secure in his own home.

The drummer persuaded the constable to release him, and he left the area.

In April, during Mompesson’s absence, a violent storm of poltergeist activity erupted in his house, frightening his wife, children and servants.

It began with a drumming noise heard outside the house and on top of it, which then moved indoors to the room where the confiscated drum was kept.

For more than two years, this and other bizarre phenomena occurred at irregular intervals, creating widespread interest and drawing curious visitors.

The children and servants saw apparitions and the younger children were levitated in their beds.

Some of the lesser phenomena—scratchings and pantings heard near the children’s beds—were heard by Joseph Glanvil, who chronicled the case in Saducismus Triumphatus (1668).

Manifestations of the Devil ghosts, hauntings and witchcraft.

Glanvil also reported the following:

chairs walked about the room by themselves;

a servant was chased  by a stick of wood, while another was held by an invisible force;

sulphurous and other foul odors filled the air, which became hot;

clothing and children’s shoes were thrown about; the sounds of coins jingling were heard; doors opened and shut violently by themselves; blue, glimmering lights were seen; footsteps and the rustling of invisible, silklike clothing were heard;

clawlike marks were found in ashes, along with unintelligible letters and numerous circles; lighted candles floated up the chimney, and singing was heard in the chimney; a horse was found with its hind leg stuffed into its mouth so firmly that it took several men to pry it out with a lever;

a servant saw “a great Body with two red glowring, or glaring eyes” standing at the foot of his bed; chamber pots were emptied onto beds, and a knife was found in one bed; and pocket money mysteriously burned black.

The telltale phenomenon, however, was the words, “A Witch, A Witch,” heard “for at least a hundred times” one morning in the children’s room.

The Mompesson household believed itself to be in the grip of a witch-sent demon or the Devil himself.

Mompesson was approached by a wizard, who said the disturbances were caused by a “rendezvous of witches” and offered to perform an exorcism for 100 pounds.

Mompesson apparently did not accept.

The vagrant drummer eventually surfaced in court again, this time at the Salisbury assizes where he was tried on theft charges, convicted, and sent to the Gloucester goal.

When a Wiltshire man visited the drummer, the drummer asked for news and was told there was none.

The drummer reportedly replied, “No, do you not hear of the Drumming at a gentlemen’s house in Tedworth? I have plagued him (or to that purpose) and he shall never be quiet, till he hath made me satisfaction for taking away my Drum.”

The drummer was swiftly charged with witchcraft and tried at Sarum.

Numerous witnesses to the poltergeist activities testified against him.

The court banished the drummer and he left the area.

Rumors surfaced later that in his wanderings he raised storms and frightened seamen.

As long as he was gone, the Mompesson house was quiet, but whenever he returned to the area, the disturbances began again.

Glanvil does not say if the Mompessons were plagued indefinitely or if the problem eventually went away.

Modern witchcraft, ghosts, and hauntings.

Witches are often blamed for hauntings in societies that have such expectations.

In the industrialized West, only a small percentage of cases—less than 10 percent—are attributed to witchcraft.

Many contemporary witches exorcise haunting spirits.

Like psychics, clerics, and paranormal investigators, they are called into a home or building to send on the spirit of a departed animal or person.

The witch contacts the spirit and either persuades it to depart or uses magical words of power to send it away.

Psychic energy also may manifest in artificially created forms that some Witches term “ghosts” and others call “thought-forms.”

In November of 1981, the coven of Stewart and Janet Farrar in Ireland acted to stop the illegal slaughter of gray seal pups by fishermen.

The fisherman claimed the seals, which had their pups on the Ineshka Islands off the coast of Ireland, were a threat to salmon fishing.

According to the Farrars, the coven magically created a gray-green thought-form named Mara (Gaelic for “of the sea”) and instructed it to manifest as a ghost on the islands and frighten any seal-killers; she was not to harm any hunter unless he could be stopped no other way.

At each full moon, the coven psychically recharged and reinstructed Mara.

The Irish Wildlife Federation also sent volunteers to guard the seals.

No massacres occurred in 1982 and 1983.

Certainly, the presence of the volunteers was a deterrent—but stories began to circulate about sightings of a mysterious woman, clad in a gray-green mackintosh, who moved among the seals without disturbing them.

According to Witches, ghostly remnants of thought forms may also linger in a place where a great deal of psychic and magical work has been done, such as a Witches’ covenstead.

Unless banished by proper ritual, such energy is believed to be capable of poltergeist-like hauntings.

Another form of haunting, which may be exorcised by ritual magic, is that of nature spirits, or elementals.

Such beings are said occasionally to haunt newly constructed homes, buildings or roads, particularly if a secluded or wooded area was freshly cleared for the construction.

Elemental hauntings are characterized by the presence of strange or uncomfortable sensations; invasions of pests; malfunctions of heating and electrical equipment; the unexplained failure of plants to grow or the wild overgrowth of plants; missing objects; and the appearance that the structure is askew.