Tag: herbalism

Staying At Home: My Witchy Spaces

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn stay at home witchcraft

So, are you embracing or hating your home witchy space? Are you wishing that you had one?

Well, come on inside my doors for a glimpse at where I am spending a lot of time with the store currently, depressingly closed. I don’t usually share a lot of personal stuff, but it felt appropriate right now. We’re all missing personal connections.

So here goes: I am both loving and hating my space. I moved in December, and I did not manage to get my future special witchy space built out before the pandemic came to our attention. But I am trying to embrace the space I have as-is and do what I can until things can once again move forward.

Not that I am being great about it. I pretty much ignored the full moon this week. It’s hard to focus on much for long. And I still don’t feel “settled in” here. And I miss all of you guys! The Treehouse has an awesome little community around it, and I’m thinking about all of you.

I miss all of you guys, so come and visit me virtually for this little tour!

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Okay, let’s start outside instead. I managed to get my new herb garden started before the stay at home orders came in, and maintaining it has been one of my fresh air activities. Counterclockwise from the center: rosemary, oregano, lavender, parsley, basil, red basil, thyme, lemon balm, garden sage, peppermint, spearmint, and catnip.
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I’m spending a lot of time sitting here, working on the website or accounting. Bleh! Plus, look at that stack of books waiting for reviews or reading…
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My window-side altar chest. The wood chest was where I started keeping my witchy things when I first started, but nowadays I feel comfortable having the altar regularly set up. Some of the things you can see: my statue of Hestia, a pin with my favorite tarot card (ace of cups), a candle stick with wheat stalks I found at a thrift store, a small antler wand that was a gift from a friend, and a dragon egg that was gifted to me at Dragon Con two years ago.
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Even though this is not the room I plan to always have for my witchy space, since I’m stuck at home I was randomly annoyed that I had not hung my art. So I hung my triple goddess wall shrine yesterday!
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I collect vintage witches and Halloween things in general. So here’s my classic Halloween shelf!
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Not everything is displayed for pretty – some of it just needs a space to be stored. So, here’s my miscellaneous candles, my tarot deck collection, and my drawing and journaling supplies. Not that I am at all good at keeping up journaling.
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“What do you mean I’m not supposed to be in here?” Meet Dante, who we met as a bedraggled kitten that approached Jac in the rain outside the shop one night. He is very good at sounding pathetic. But it got him a new home! He makes me smile when I need it these days.

So, how are you all faring? Tell me about your witchy spaces, and where you feel comfortable at home!

Copy of Tarot Art Nouveau

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Stay At Home Herbalism: Dandelions

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Herbal Magic
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Collecting some early dandelion heads to enjoy their beautiful yellow color.

Since so many of us are staying in our homes right now, I thought I might turn some of our focus to magic that can be found right near by. Chances are, if you have any yard at all, at this time of year, you have dandelions! Hated by some as weeds, popping up their cheerful yellow blossoms as a sign of Spring, and loved by kids blowing or kicking at the seed heads, there is tons of folklore around these common plants.

Dandelions are a remarkably resilient and adaptable plant, a quality we could all embrace. The bright yellow flowers are also associated with solar energy and vitality. As they appear in Spring, they are a great symbol for beginnings and creative energy. They are reminders of joy and whimsy.

Here’s a little fun folklore for you: the tallest dandelion flower a child found in the Spring was supposed to show how much taller they would grow that year! Or, hold the golden flower under a child’s chin: a golden glow indicates how rich they will someday be.

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Some see a weed – I see my childhood wishes!

Most magic and folklore surrounding dandelions is focused on their wonderful puff ball seed heads. For example:

  • The simple childhood game: blow on the seeds and make a wish!
  • Count the remaining seeds after you blow on them. The number left is how many more years you will live.
  • To tell the time, blow on the seeds three times. The number left is the hour.
  • To send a message to someone you love, picture your message while you blow the seeds in their direction.
  • When you blow on seeds to make a wish, and left behind means good luck.

Dandelion roots have been used in teas to promote psychic abilities. Dandelion leaves make a good addition to a Beltane meal. You can also make dandelion wine. In fact, there are lots of ways to eat dandelion! I haven’t tried any myself, but I would love to hear your experiences with dandelion recipes.

Know any more fun dandelion folklore or good recipes? Let us know in the comments!

Sources: The Hearth Witch’s Compendium by Anna Franklin, Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham.

Dandelion is one of the herbs available in our downloadable herbal magic pages!

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Herbal Magic: Mistletoe

On By Cynthia AbernathyIn Herbal Magic

MistletoeIn honor of the season, the first herb I’ve decided to highlight is mistletoe! If there is anything you want to add on magic, medicine, or folklore associated with this herb, please do so in the comments.

Mistletoe

Scientific Name: Viscum album European Mistletoe. Note: American Mistletoe is poisonous!

Description: An evergreen, parasitic plant, found in the branches of deciduous trees in Europe.

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Sun and Jupiter

Element: Air

Deities: Apollo, Freya, Frigga, Venus, Odin, Balder, Cerridwen

Magical Associations: Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism, Yule, Midsummer.

Magical and Folk Uses:

We’ve just about all heard or seen the tradition of hanging mistletoe around Christmas. This tradition may date back to the Roman holiday of Saturnalia. In the more recent history that brings us to our Christmas tradition, kissing under the mistletoe was supposed to grant lasting love. For each kiss, one of the berries was supposed to be removed. When no more berries were left, the kissing magic was done.

Here are some additional uses:

Carry or place the leaves and berries for protection from lightning, disease, and general misfortune. Also can be carried for good luck in hunting.

Wearing a ring carved of mistletoe will ward off sickness.

Laid near the bedroom door, mistletoe grants restful sleep.

Mistletoe burned banishes evil.

Medical Uses:

Mistletoe raises and then lowers blood pressure below the initial level. It has been used to help the heart and circulatory system.

It is toxic and should be used with care, preferably under medical supervision. There are multiple types of mistletoe, so be sure to check the scientific names before use!