You can store fresh herbs in the refrigerator. If it feels right to simmer them a bit longer, or to boil them more vigorously, do so. Its stems grow from one to two feet tall. Above all else, allow the process to be fun! The door to the inner realms is once again opening as the days shorten. Spend time outdoors on the equinox. When the sun is at its weakest, sprinkle the dried flowers around your home to remind yourself of the summer to come. Its tea is also said to settle an upset stomach. If you allow your awareness to expand, you will begin to feel the changes in the energy of the earth as the moon waxes and wanes. The sun god is slowly dying, moving once again toward the darkness of winter. Dance and sing with complete joy and abandon. This is the perfect time of year to harvest fennel. It is of great symbolic around your home will invite the wisdom and significance in England and is one of the chief protection of the ancestors. It is based on having the utmost reverence for all of life. Vanilla grows best in partial shade in moist conditions. Beltane means goodly fire, which refers to the bonfires tra- ditionally built along the ridges. It blooms from June through August. An attic is often a wonderful place for drying herbs. Added to soup, Hyssop will help relieve asthma. Imagine yourself amongst ancient standing stones hearing the voices of the earth and the ancient ones speaking to you and guiding you. Never boil catnip through September, producing small, whitish pink because boiling causes it to lose its curative prop- spiky blossoms. Allow the west to help you sink into the well of sacred energy that lives within you. Sleeping with alder leaves under your pillow will help you know when to move forward and when find- ing the inner stillness is the most important thing to do next on your spiritual journey. Traditionally, the rafters would be filled with bunches of fragrant herbs drying. Herbs, plants and flowers are flourishing. The slightly aromatic flowers h arness pimentos magical properties: are large and bright yellow, resembling a double Pimento has been used for centuries as a love sunflower. The worship of the Goddess was later channeled into worship of the Virgin Mary by the early Christian church. You may see a flash of light or just feel a loving presence. They knew the magical and healing properties of plants, herbs, and roots. Make each part of that act as special as possible without becoming rigid, fearful, or dogmatic about it. Each time you make tea, you can practice connecting to the spirit of the plants Another way to harness the magic of herbs is to burn them as incense. Some of the yew trees in England are thought to be over 4000 years old. Connecting with the waxing and waning of the moon can create more balance and harmony to your life. When cut open you find a pen- tagram long associated with the gift of healing and the magic contained within nature. Even in to be a substitute for professional medical care. You manifest your beliefs and thoughts into physical reality. When found growing with honeysuckle it makes a particularly powerful walking stick. Calamus spreads mainly by the rapid growth of its spread- m edicinal uses: Some varieties of Calamus are ing rhizome. For your herbal magic to be successful, there are certain key steps: 1. You can consciously choose to transform all of your limiting beliefs into inspirations that will guide you to new heights of freedom and joy. Meditat- ing near a Rowan tree will help you heal your body, clear your mind and expand your personal power. Solomon Seal Polygonatum multiflorum Deepens your understanding s olomon seal will: Invite inner wisdom, Protect you and your home, Repel negativity t he plant: Solomon Seal is a relative of Lily of the Valley. Both the plants and the seeds are used in cooking. Catnip flowers from July and help get rid of gas pains. The Crone has been turned into an old hag and magic downgraded to a game of trick or treat. The days are still cold but they are lengthening. Celer y Apium graveolens m edicinal uses: Celery seeds are harvested after the plants second year. Buckeye Nut Aesculus glabra Gladdens your heart and fills you with joy b uckeye nut will: Bring you good luck, Help enhance a mans sexual performance, Protect your home t he plant: Buckeye is a tree that grows in the central part of the United States, primarily in the Mississippi and Ohio River valley regions. Magic is something you feel with your heart and soul rather than a mental exercise. When you clean, add a few seeds to the water to purify and protect your home. Classically, Agaric is symbolic of enchanted forests and magical groves where gnomes and fairies live. To raise your homes energy, place a bean on your altar. Think of passion, power, and creativity. dreams and desires. Allow the plant world to fully embrace you, support you, and teach you. It is a tall, majestic tree, and its fruit, the acorn, was widely m edicinal uses: The bark is widely used for used as a food source for both animals and people. One of the most important principles of magic is to do no harm. You can then use the The plant produces round, black seeds that have oil to anoint yourself and others to strengthen a strong resinous smell. For directions for using them to make tea and incense, see page 18. get where you want to go in life. The candied roots home will not only protect your home from can be chewed to soothe a sore throat or calm a robbers but will also discourage fleas and other persistent cough. You can use this powerful energy of fertility to help you manifest your dreams and desires. ment for bruises, sprains, and stiff muscles. The earth gives birth to all the plants, seeds, flowers, herbs, trees, and animals. Connecting with na- about an herb, a plant, or a flower that sounds like ture, with the magic, and with the amazing universe it might be of benefit to you medically, I encourage that exists just beyond our everyday awareness can you to bring this encyclopedia along with you the become an exciting way of life. You can publish your book online for free in a few minutes. But when we begin to explore these other realms and fully use all of our senses, we get a glimpse into the magical capabilities we might someday harness. ground and walk over it to assure your safety. Herbs lose their strength as they age. It is thought to be indigenous to Europe and Asia. The dried root can also be used Enchanting Herbs 45 Place them in the crisper section of your refrigerator. A tea made from the root eases the are about forty different varieties of Yucca. The double spiral is a symbol often associated with these days. The plant will ensure you of success and stop any negativity from yield ten to fifteen flowers along a spike that is entering your home. Enchanting Herbs 41 48 The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, Revised Labyrinths have often been associated with Beltane. Spend some time connecting with the essence of the herb, plant, or flower; preparing for the ritual; and allowing the magical power to build. The earliest records of the Druids come from the third century BCE. They resonate with me; Mother Nature enlightening your doctor to some of these plants touches my soul in such a profound manner when amazing healing capabilities. Making Herbal Tea and Using Incense As you work with herbs, you will get an intuitive sense about what is needed for your rit- ual. very similar to the bearded Iris. Mojave Desert. This time of the year is also celebrated as the Feast of the Dead. about three feet long. It has small white flowers that produce grown in much of North America. It is an annual with long, fibrous roots to four feet tall, has a sweet, warm aroma, and and long, oval, heavily wrinkled leaves. two cups of boiling water and allow the mixture For protection and to bless an area, sprinkle a to steep for about ten minutes before straining it. long and four inches wide. pinch of tobacco and coarsely ground cornmeal in Finally, you can use a small bunch of Hyssop leaves the four corners of your property. Take time to meditate and feel your connection to the earth, the herbs, and the potential held within each moment. You can use plants to What is more magical than a seed? Contents introduction 8 a brief history of magical plants 10 how to use this book 12 How to Reconnect with Herbs, Flowers, and Other Plants 13 Tips for Harvesting, Drying, and Storing Plants 14 Understanding the Magical and Spiritual Meaning of Colors 15 Practicing and Perfecting Your Herbal Magic 16 Creating and Altar for Your Magical Work 17 Making Herbal Tea and Using Incense 18 Creating a Magical Herb Garden 19 Using the Moons Cycles to Connect with Magical Herbs 20 Magical Herbs, Ceremony, and Connecting with the Earths Cycles 21 The Eight Ceremonies of the Earths Yearly Cycle 23 part i: Enchanting Herbs 31 part ii: Magical Plants 196 part iii: Mystical Flowers 242 glossary 294 authors note 296 acknowledgements 296 about the author 296 index 297 photo credits 304 Use the dried leaves as incense when you a rnica will: Help you sleep, Increase your meditate to deepen your spiritual connection. It is known as a mysterious, magical, and lucky mushroom. How to Use This Book 21 m edicinal uses: The flowers are used in making a fermented liquor called Cowslip Wine. The moon orbits the earth once every twenty-nine days and the earth takes a full year to revolve around the sun. It is their energy we harness, their very essence and spirit. Ribbons and pieces of clothing were once tied around trees growing around sacred wells as a gift to the fairies. The flowers outside where the moonlight can shine on it. bruises fade more rapidly. Find things that are meaningful to you. Spend time outside when the moon is dark. At the equinoxes you can work on finding balance within, a balance of the physical, mental, and spiritual realms. The sights and sounds ers, and plants. Many plants are rare in the wild. Inroucion A garden is truly a place of enchantment. There are many superstitions about the elder tree. They have a large spreading canopy and answer. Your garden can be simple or complex, or it can even be just a few pots of herbs sitting on your window sill. Hyssop Tobacco Hyssopus officinalis Nicotiana tabacum Purifies your life Teaches you about both the light and the dark side of things h yssop will: Protect you and your home, Purify your altar or sacred space, Dispel t obacco will: Purify an area, Release negativ- depression ity, Induce visions t he plant: Hyssop is a hardy evergreen, bushy t he plant: Tobacco is native to the mid-Atlan- herb that is native to the Mediterranean and tic portion of North America, although it is now eastern Asia. Drink some as you celebrate this extraordinary time of year. Dragon energy has long been associated with the spring equinox. h ow to harness vanillas magical properties: Place a Vanilla bean in a bowl of sugar for several weeks and then use the sugar with your friends and family. 14 The Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of Magical Plants, Revised The plant cycle is deeply connected to so many earth-based belief systems. Store your dried herbs, plants, and flowers in glass bottles in a dark place away from heat. They would pray, perform ceremonies, expel what they perceived as evil spirits, and heal the sick and af- flicted. During the third quarter, the week following the full moon, you should plant herbs where you primarily use the root, for instance, turmeric, as well as bulbs, such as tulips. The Church renamed Beltane and changed it into Mayday.
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