Herbal Magic 101Class 3Herbs in Magicand Ritural : Herbal Magic 101Class 3Herbs in Magicand Ritural
Slide 2 : The lyrics are about a man trying to attain his true love. In Medieval times, the herbs mentioned in the song represented virtues that were important to the lyrics. Parsley was comfort, sage was strength, rosemary was love, and thyme was courage.
Scarborough is a small town on the coast of England. The "Scarborough Fair" was a popular gathering in Medieval times, attracting traders and entertainers from all over the country. The fair lasted 45 days and started every August 15th. In the 1600s, mineral waters were found in Scarborough and it became a resort town. Today, Scarborough is a quiet town with a rich history
words and music by traditional
Are you going to Scarborough Faire?Parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.Remember me to one who lived there.She once was a true love of mine.
Slide 3 : Have her make me a cambric shirtParsley, sage, rosemary and thyme.Without no seams, nor fine needle work.Then she'll be a true love of mine.
Tell her to weave it in a sycamore wood lane.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeGather it up in a basket of flowersThen she'll be a true love of mine
Have her wash it in yonder dry wellParsley, sage, rosemary and thymeWhere water ne'er sprung, nor drop of rain fell.Then she'll be a true love of mine
Tell her to to find me an acre of land.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeBetween the sea foam and over the sand.Then she'll be a true love of mine
Plow the land with the horn of a lamb.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeThen sow some seeds from north of the dam.Then she'll be a true love of mine
Have her reap it with a sickle of leather.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeGather it up in a bunch of heather.Then she'll be a true love of mine
Slide 4 : If she tells me she can't, then I'll reply.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeLet me know, that at least she will try.Then she'll be a true love of mine
Love imposes impossible tasks Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeThough not more than any heart asks.And I must know she's true love of mine
When thou has finished thy task.Parsley, sage, rosemary and thymeCome to me my hand for to ask.For then you'll be a true love of mine
Additional verses:
Tell her to dry it on yonder thorn, Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, Which never bore blossom since Adam was born, And then she'll be a true love of mine.
Ask her to do me this courtesy, Parsely, sage, rosemary, and thyme, And ask for a like favor from me, And then she'll be a true love of mine.
Have you been to Scarborough Fair? Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, Remember me from one who lives there, For he once was a true love of mine.
When he has done and finished his work, Parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme, Ask him to come for his cambric shirt, For then he'll be a true love of mine.
Slide 5 : Overview
Herbs have long been connected with the Wicca. In ages past an Herb Woman or Cunning Man might automatically be considered to be a Witch also. Certainly the use of herbs is extremely common in American Wicca and some knowledge of their qualities and use is necessary to every initiate.
Magickal Herbalism is based on a system known as CORRESPONDENCES. These correspondences postulate a link between a desired magickal effect, a planet, a star, a god or goddess, etc. and a specific plant Many of the correspondences develop from a logical relationship. For example, gold is a color quite reasonably associated with the sun and, perhaps slightly less logically, silver with the moon. In most correspondences very little logical relationship appears to exist. However, these connections do not need to seem "scientific" to the modem mind in order to work. Few of us understand the "logic" of electricity, but most of us manage to use it.
Your most valuable tool in magickal herbalism is still your own intuition. If you are sure something is right - or wrong - go with that feeling.
Slide 6 : Parsley
Sage
Rosemary
Tyme
Slide 7 : There are numerous methods of preparing herbs for magickal and ritual use. Many of these will be needed only if you decide to make herbalism a major topic of study. However, a few basic techniques should be available to every initiate.
TEA: (Infusion, Tisane, Potion, Simple)
An herb tea or infusion is prepared about the way you have always made tea. Take a teaspoon (or amount specified) per cup of fresh or dry herb and place it in a warmed cup or teapot Remember that it takes more of the fresh herb to reach the desired strength. Add boiling water and allow it to steep (or sit undisturbed) for (usually) five to ten minutes. During steeping the cup or teapot should be covered to prevent the escape of the more volatile vapors. The tea should then be strained, possibly sweetened and used as desired. Infusions don't really keep well so make it at about the time you want to use it.
MOON WATER:
This preparation is made by placing the appropriate herb(s) in a non-metallic (unless silver) container of water on the evening of the New Moon - that is the day after the almanac says "new moon". The immersed herbs are then left exposed overnight (outdoors if possible). Bring them into the house at sunrise and keep in the dark. The bowl should be returned to exposure to moonlight every night until the full moon. At this time the Moon Water can be used or strained and stored in a tight container in the dark.
Slide 8 : BATH, SOAK:
We often add herbs to a bath to add to its cleansing, purifying, and centering qualities. A bath is prepared by adding a large quantity of herb (from one cup to one pound) to a bathtub full of water. Usually dry herb is used. A strong infusion may be used rather than adding dry herbs. Dry herbs may be placed in a fabric bag and tied to the faucet to add their savor to the bath.
SACHETS, HERBAL AMULETS:
You will need an intention, a container, and a selection of appropriate herbs. A fabric or leather pouch may be used, or the herbs may simply be tied up in a square of fabric. Occasionally a basket, box or other container is used. To select the herbs, a list of correspondences will be needed — or possibly a "recipe" from the Tradition files or a book. In some way you must determine the appropriate herbs to place in the sachet. Then you must obtain appropriate quantities of the herb.
Once the materials are obtained, you must cleanse yourself and a ritual area. Cast a circle in the usual way and then do the actual physical work of assembling the sachet Once it is assembled, you will "enchant" the sachet with words chosen to help you clearly visualize your magickal purpose while you tie or otherwise seal your spell. Once you have finished, dismiss your circle and clean up all materials and etc.
FLUID CONDENSER:
To make a magickal fluid condenser, a selection of herbs should be assembled. Usually an odd number of herbs is used. Place the herbs in cold water. Heat the water to a boil and let simmer gently for twenty minutes. Cover the preparation and let it steep. The herbs are then strained out and the preparation returned to the stove and boiled until the liquid is reduced by half. This must be stored tightly closed in a dark place. If you wish to keep it for a long period alcohol should be added to prevent spoiling.
Slide 9 : INCENSE:
Incense preparation can be very complicated and a life-long study. However, the preparation of loose incense for special occasions isn't too awfully difficult. Grind up the herbs in a mortar and mix well. To use the incense you must sprinkle them on burning charcoal blocks. Store it in a very tightly closed container.
It is very important that all magickal workings be carefully disposed of when their job is over. This is for all materials used magickally (not tools), not just herbal spells. Such objects as nave been "named" to connect them with a specific individual MUST be ritually un-named! Do not neglect this step!!!!!!
With all spell materials, cast a circle, set the out-dated spells on the altar and let yourself visualize the energies you put into them dispersing into whatever element is appropriate to the spell. Laying the objects on the ground, or on dirt, may be necessary to ground all the power.
Slide 10 : Once you have ritually de-energized these objects, then the actual physical components must be dealt with. Open each container and remove all the contents. The herbs should be burned, buried, or sprinkled on the earth. The container must also be burned or buried. Solid objects such as stones, metal, etc., can usually be retained for further use. They should be cleansed in running water.
Solid objects from banishing amulets must be treated more carefully because they have become storage for negativity. You must release these energies where they will not harm or conflict with other energies. Running water is preferred for this task. The sea is fine, but use the ebbing tide. It may be that the objects cannot be reused, in which case, burial, after cleansing is recommended. One ancient method calls for burying them at a lonely cross-roads
Slide 11 : Rosemary - Rosemarinus Officinalis
Other Names: Compass Weed, Dew of the Sea, Elf Lead, Guardrobe, Incensier, Libanotis (Greek), Polar Plant, Sea Dew.
Masculine, SUN, FIRE, LEO
Powers: Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth.
Rosemary, When Burned, Emits powerful cleansing and purifying vibration and so is smouldered to rid a place of negativity, Especially prior to performing magic. It is one of the oldest incenses.
When placed beneath the pillow rosemary ensures a good sleep and drives away nightmares. Laid under the bed it protects the sleeper from all harm. Rosemary is also hung on the porch and doorpost to keep thieves from the house and is carried to remain healthy. Placed in the bath it purifies.
A chaplet of rosemary, worn, aids the memory, while the wood, smelled often, preserves youthfulness. To ensure the latter add a rosemary infusion to the bath water.
Rosemary has long been used in love and lust incenses and other mixtures, and healing poppets are stuffed with rosemary to take advantage of its curative vibrations. Rosemary infusions is used to wash the hands before healing work, and the leaves mixed with juniper berries are burned in the sickroom to promote healing.
If you wish to receive knowledge or the answer to a question, Burn rosemary on charcoal and smell its smoke. Rosemary is also grown to attract elves, and the powdered leaves wrapped in linen cloth and bound to the right arm dispel depression and make the emotions light and merry.
Rosemary is generally used as a substitute for Frankincense.
Slide 12 : Rosemary's Latin name, Rosmarinus, means "dew from the sea" and refers to its blue flowers or to the fact that this herb prospers by the seashore, especially in Spain where its thick growth covers the cliffs. To explain the range in the color of the flowers from pale bluish white to deep blue, legend claims the flower were originally white but were turned shades of blue when Mary hung her blue cloak over them. It is also believed not to grow over the height that Christ grew.
IT is one of the most beloved of herbs. IT has been associated with remembrance from the time of the Greeks when students studying wore garlands of rosemary to strengthen their memories. It was also linked with happy memories, fidelity and love and thus it became a wedding flower in Europe from the time of Charlemagne. Members of the wedding party carried sprigs or small branches, which were often gilded, while the bride wore a garland fashioned from it. It is still worn by some brides today. Rosemary became a funeral flower too in the 17th and 18th century Europe because it symbolized the memories of the loved ones. Mourners brought sprigs of it and drop them in the grave. Robert Herrich, a 17th century poet, wrote in his poem "the Garden"
Grow it for two ends, it matter not at all
Be't for my bridall or my buriall...
Slide 13 : Many folks beliefs endowed rosemary with magical qualities. In the middle Ages, it was placed under the pillow to repel evil spirits and bad dreams. IT was also good against witches and the plague. In England, rosemary plant flourishing outside a house was a sign that the wife was the boss of the household. Because of this, some husbands would sneak out and cut off the roots to hide the truth from their neighbors. Another belief held that a man unaroused by Rosemary's perfume would not be able to give true love to a woman. In belgium children were told that babies came from rosemary plant.
History records that in ancient Greece, where rosemary was said to strengthen the memory, students wore sprig of it while they studied. As a result of this reputation, rosemary became a symbol of remembrance. Brides wore it to show that they would always remember their families and the dead were buried with it to signify that they would not be forgotten.
Over centuries people found a host of benefits in the plant. According to one belief rosemary would stop a robber. wash the thief's feet with a lotion made from the root and he will be deprived of the strength to steal. When the populace desperately sought protection against rampant diseases, they burned the branches as a disinfectant. Apothecaries of the 16th and 17th centuries prescribed rosemary for the relief of intestinal gas and as a tonic and digestive aid. They suggested different preparations of the plant for toothache, headache, gout, coughs, and even baldness. Rosemary has also been used as an antispasmodic. Long ago, cooks discovered rosemary's culinary properties; the leaves are a basic item in the modern herb rack and herb garden
Slide 14 : Sage - Salvia officinalis
Other Names Garden Sage, Red Sage, Sawge
Masculine, JUPITER, AIR, SAGITTARIUS
Powers: Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes
Sage has been utilized to ensure a long life - sometimes even immortality. This is done by eating some of the plant every day or at least in May, For:
He who would live for aye - Must eat sage in May
Sage is carried to promote wisdom and the leaves are used in countless healing and money spells.
To guard yourself against contracting the dreaded evil eye wear a small horn filled with sage.
There are a few curious gardening tips concerning sage; first it is bad luck to plant sage in your own garden; a stranger should be found to do the work. Second, a full bed of sages brings ill luck, so ensure that some other plant shares the plot. Incidentally, Toads love sage.
If you desire to make a wish come true, write it on a sag leaf and hide it beneath your pillow. For three nights sleep upon it. If once you dream of what you desire your wish will be materialized; if not bury the sage in the ground so that you do not come to harm.
Slide 15 : Sage has been used as a medicine and a flavoring since prehistoric time. It's name Salvia is taken from the Latin salvus meaning safe or well, and was given to the plant because it was so highly regarded medicinally as a safeguard to health. The word sage comes to us from the French name for the plant, sauge. Because of its medicinal and healthful qualities, sage has since ancient times had a reputation for promoting longevity. An ancient Arabian proverb asks," How shall a man die who has sage in his garden?".
THis is also said to have originated in the middle ages at the famous medical school of Salerno, Italy.
Even as late as the 17th century, John Evelyn, and English writer of book on botanical subjects, said Tis a plant indeed with so many and wonderful properties, as that the assiduous use of it is said to render men immortal.
Like Rosemary, Sage was said to flourish in the garden only when the woman dominated the house. But another belief held that sage reflected the fortunes of the man of the house.
Sage has enjoyed a high reputation as a health giver ever since antiquity, to judge by its LAtin name salvia meaning Healthy. Greco-roman medicine viewed sage as a diuretic with specific usefulness for certain women's complaints. A boiled down brew of sage reputedly checked heavy menstrual bleeding, whereas a similar extract mixed white wine or wormwood tea relieved dysentery and when applied externally, healed certain wounds. Later herbalism, until the 20th century, carried on the tradition and Sage also figured in prescription for colic and fevers, to expel worms and to prevent epileptic seizures