Posts Tagged ‘Magic’

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Hump Day Herbal Magic – Rose

Wednesday, May 30th, 2012

Rose (Rosaceae)

Powers: Healing, Love Divination, Luck, Protection, Psychic Powers

ROSE buds and petals are a symbol of love, romance and sexual attraction, as well as to draw good fortune in matters of the heart. ROSE hips are symbols of overall luck. ROSE oil appears in many love formulas and in some for luck.


Photo by alfaneque

Deities: Aphrodite, Adonis, Aurora, Cupid, Demeter, Eros, Harpocrates, Hathor, Hulda, Isis, Venus

Element: Water (Dreams, Fidelity, Friendships, Healing, Love, Meditation, Prophetic Dreams, Purification, Sleep)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Venus (Beauty, Fidelity, Friendships, Good Fortune, Love, Money, youth)

Magical and Ritual Uses:

  • Roses represent all aspects of the Goddess, and may be used in rituals to honor the Goddess or used when Drawing Down the Moon.
  • For Luck and Protection, rose hips can be used as bringers of good fortune. They can be dried and placed in a green conjure bag with PYRITE and a selection of other money-drawing herbs. They can also be placed in a red flannel bag with FLAX seeds for protection from harm.
  • The rose is also associated with Hand-fastings and rituals of union. They are often worn by the participants and guests, and are strewn to bring divine blessings to the couple’s love.
  • Rose petals bring luck in love affairs and remove any kind of love-jinxing. Scatter fresh or dried ROSE petals on your altar when burning candles and praying, this will increase sexual passion, bring back a lover, enhance marital happiness, or for aid in breaking a jinx in crossed love affairs.
  • To make a Love-Drawing mojo bag, keep a whole QUEEN ELIZABETH ROOT in a red conjure bag with ROSE petals, LAVENDER, RED CLOVER, DAMIANA, and CATNIP, and dress it with Love Me Oil.
  • Select any nine non-toxic love herbs, being sure to include ROSE PETALS, RED CLOVER, and CATNIP. Steep the herbs in hot water for nine minutes, as you pray.
  • A rosewater soaked clothe laid on the temple will help relieve headache pain.
  • Rose petals are said to attract Fairies, and are best when stolen.
  • Drink a tea of rosebuds before sleep to induce prophetic dreams.
  • Spread rose petals around the house to calm stress, or any problems that may have manifested in the home.
  • When consecrating jewelry, set with an emerald or empowering stone for magickal work, the emerald/stone should be dressed with rose oil.
  • Roses are often brought into sabbat rites, usually white for the Autumnal Equinox, yellow for Eostara, red for Midsummer and any color for Beltane!

References:

  • Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
  • Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
  • Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the fruit listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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News & Submissions 5/24/2012

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

Arts & Entertainment:

‘Wicker Man’ followup is more of a straw man
The original 1973 version of “The Wicker Man” is a horror classic. The 2006 remake starring Nicolas Cage is an unintentionally hilarious diversion.Unfortunately, “The Wicker Tree” — director/writer Robin Hardy’s completely unnecessary followup to the 1973 film, which he directed from Anthony Shaffer’s screenplay — is neither.

It’s neither good nor bad enough to be entertaining, and you find yourself wishing the inevitable and unsurprising conclusion would just hurry up and arrive already.

Not quite a sequel and not quite a remake either, “The Wicker Tree” tells basically the same story as “The Wicker Man,” only with a much less interesting and far more grating cast of characters.  Read full story from timesdaily.com

Comicon 2012 is a pagan festival for science fiction fans in Phoenix
The 11th Annual Phoenix Comicon is here from May 25 to 27, 2012 in Phoenix,  Arizona.The event has been a gathering for avid science fiction fans locally, since the first such event in June 2002. It is billed as the signature popular cultural even in the Southwest, and is being held at the Phoenix Convention Center.

View slideshow: Star Photo Ops at Phoenix Comicon 2012

Between 35,000 and 40,000 fans are expected to be in attendance this weekend at Phoenix Comicon 2012. Those planning ahead as weekend attendees will want to book reservations with the Hyatt Regency which is across the street from the Phoenix Convention Center.

Phoenix Comicon one of the biggest underground events that happens annually in Phoenix area. Art and techno paganism are running wild at these fun filled gatherings, but basically it is good clean fun times for young and old alike. Read full story from examiner.com

Religion:

After decade in storage, Washington letter on religious freedom will go public
Washington (CNN) – After sitting in storage for nearly a decade, George Washington’s signature statement on religious liberty will go on display this summer in the city where freedom of religion was enshrined in the Constitution: Philadelphia.

America’s first president wrote the letter to a Jewish congregation in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1790, assuring American Jews that their freedom of religion would be protected. The document will go on display this summer for the first time since 2002 in an exhibition at Philadelphia’s National Museum of American Jewish History.

For nine years, the letter has been kept out of public view, in storage at a sterile Maryland office park a few hundred feet from FedEx Field, where the Washington Redskins play. CNN took an inside look at the document in September. Read full story from cnn.com

Accused priest: ‘I was helping priests and helping victims as best I could’
Philadelphia (CNN) — The highest-ranking cleric to be charged with child endangerment testified Wednesday in the landmark child sexual abuse and conspiracy trial in which he and another Philadelphia priest are defendants.Dressed in clerical garb, Monsignor William Lynn took the stand inside the packed Common Pleas courtroom under the watchful eye of Judge Teresa Sarmina. He was calm, confident and very matter-of-fact during direct examination by one of his defense attorneys, Thomas Bergstrom.

“I felt I was helping priests and helping victims as best I could,” Lynn told jurors, swiveling in the witness chair.

Lynn is accused of knowingly allowing dangerous priests to continue in the ministry in roles in which they had access to children. Also on trial is the Rev. James Brennan, who is accused of the attempted rape of a 14-year-old. Both Brennan and Lynn have pleaded not guilty. Read full story from cnn.com

Why is obscure Bible verse from Exodus trending on Twitter?
(CNN) – It’s not every day a Bible verse lights up social media, but a relatively obscure verse from the Hebrew Bible – what Christians call the Old Testament – was trending on Twitter worldwide Thursday.

The verse, Exodus 23:1, offers this admonition: “You shall not spread a false report. You shall not join hands with the wicked to act as a malicious witness.” (New Revised Standard Version)
It comes in a section following Moses’ bringing the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai. “Exodus 23:1″ also is the title of a new song from rapper Pusha T, which may explain why it’s trending. Read full story from cnn.com

Media:

Mixed reactions around church whose pastor’s anti-gay rant went viral (Source: CNN)


Full Length Talk by Daniel Dennett – ‘How To Tell You’re An Atheist’ (Source: YouTube -TheClergyProject)

Blogspot:

Feel free to leave comments regarding the articles posted.

If you’re interested in guest blogging or would like to submit an article or event, contact me at pagansworld.org@gmail.com.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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Hump Day Herbal Magic – Quince

Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012

Quince (Cydonia Vulgaris)

Powers: Happiness, Love, Protection

Quince is a member of the genus Cydonia and native to Asia in the Caucasus region. It’s a small, deciduous tree, growing 5–8 m tall and 4–6 m wide. Related to apples and pears, and like them has a pome fruit. When mature, it is bright golden yellow and pear-shaped, ranging about 7–12 cm long and 6–9 cm broad.

Quince is sacred in many cultures, the Greeks believed it to be sacred to Aphrodite, and Pliny the Elder recorded that it warded off the evil eye. The Roman counterpart to Aphrodite, Venus, is often shown holding a quince, it is said, it was given to her by Paris to show his love. This association was later transferred, in some areas, to Mary, mother ofJesus. In Pompeii, the quince was often found in artwork and tile mosaics, and frequently shown in a bear’s paw. The oldest record of it’s religious use is with Hebrews. Grieves believed it sacred to these peoples and writes in A Modern Herbal that many ”consider that the Tappuach of Scripture, always translated apple, was the Quince. It is also supposed to be the fruit alluded to in the Canticles, ‘I sat down under his shadow with great delight and his fruit was sweet to my taste.’”


Photo by Public Domain Photos

Deities: Aphrodite, Venus

Element: Earth (Employment, Fertility, Healing, Money, Prosperity)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Saturn (Endings, Exorcisms, Longevity, Visions)

Magical and Ritual Uses:

  • Carry seven Quince seeds in a flannel bag, hang around your wrist to protect from harm.
  • A desirable fruit to bring into a Handfasting, it has a history for blessing a union. It can be part of the feast and layered into the cake. The sprigs with flowers can be included in the ritual flowers. The sharing of the fruit before the Great Rite and removing the chord (once alone) would be appropriate to affirm the vows.
  • Use quince to repel negative energy from others. When a target of other’s negative energy, spread Quince on your morning muffin to keep their negation from manifesting in your life.
  • Quince is sacred to the bear to certain Romans. It you use a bear as your totem, keep a jar of quince preserves on hand.

Medicinal Uses:

  • Quince is good for weight loss, being rich in fiber.
  • It has antioxident properties, which helps the body fight free radicals and reduces the risk of cancer.
  • It has been found, Quince is helpful to those suffering from gastric ulcer.
  • Aids in digestion and helps lower cholesterol.
  • The potassium in Quince helps maintain blood pressure.
  • The presence of Vitamin C reduces the risk of heart disease.
  • It is said it is beneficial for those suffering from tuberculosis,  hepatic insufficiency, diarrhea and dysentery.
  • It is also beneficial to those suffering from liver diseases and eye diseases, if consumed on a regular basis.

References:

  • Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
  • Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
  • Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the fruit listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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Hump Day Herb Magic – Patchouli

Wednesday, March 21st, 2012

Patchouli (Botanical Name: Pogostemon Cablin)
Folk Names: Kablin, Pucha-Pot

Powers: Fertility, Jinx-Breaking, Lust, Money

Patchouli is a species from the genus Pogostemon and an herb of the mint family. It is cultivated extensively in India, Madagascar, Sumatra and the Seychelles for steam distillation of oil and used to manufacture perfumes, incense, soaps, hair tonic, tobacco and cosmetics. The essential oil has a lusty, earthy scent and may be used during the Great Rite, as a candle dressing, or mixed into sexual lubricants.


Photo by phidauex

Deities: Aphrodite, Pan, Osain

Element: Earth (Employment, Fertility, Healing, Money, Prosperity)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Pluto (Control, Elimination, Money, Power, Sex, )

Magical & Ritual Uses:

  • Make a love bath: Mix Patchouli with rose petals, orange flowers and chips of Queen of Elizabeth root. Blend into a tea and use in a love bath. Air dry to keep the fragrance on you when you go on a date. Throw the bath water out the front door to attract love
  • To sex up love: Blend equal amounts of Patchouli leaves, Damiana leaves, and Myrrh, then mix on charcoal.
  • To attract money: In equal amounts, blend Patchouli leaves with Sandlewood and Quassia, carry in a green flannel conjure bag dressed with money drawing oil. You can also use this in the corners of the your house or place of employment.  For a stonger incense, add equal parts of Bayberry root chips, Cinnamon chips, Bensoin and Cloves. Burn on a bed of charcoal.  It can also be sprinkled onto money, added to a purse or wallet, and placed around candles.
  • Break a Jinx or return a spell: Mix Patchouli roots with graveyard dirt and Agrimony, and carry the mixture in a mojo bag.

Medicinal Uses:
The oil is very strong and can be tempered down by adding 10-20 drops of oil to 2 tablesp. of almond oil and 5 drops of wheatgerm oil to preserve freshness.

  • Stimulates the nervous system
  • Lifts moods
  • Relieves stress and gives the feeling of well being
  • Balances endocrine system (which balances hormones)
  • Stimulates pituitary glands (which secrete endorphins)
  • Relaxes the body
  • Relieves pain
  • Cools inflamed, cracked  and rough skin
  • Add several drops to bath water
  • Rub on pulse points, temples or as a massage oil
  • Aromatherapy to clear lethargy and sharpen wits

References:

  • Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
  • Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
  • Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs
Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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Hump Day Herbs – Oak

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Oak

Botanical Name: Quercus Alba

Folk Names: Jove’s Nuts, Juglans (Latin)Duir, White Oak

The oak is revered as a sacred tree, to the Greeks, Romans, Celts, Slavs and Teutonic tribes it was associated with the supreme god in their pantheon. Also, sacred to Zeus, Jupiter, Dagda, Perun and Thor, each of these gods had dominion over rain, thunder and lightning. It is no coincidence that oak trees seem to be more prone to lightning strikes than other trees, whether it be because of the wood’s low electrical resistance or the fact that they are often the tallest in the landscape.

Today, many believe that the Yule log should be made from it. When it is but ashes, those are strewn on one’s land to bring good fortune and wealth in the coming year. Oak leaves’ connection with rainfall is also survived in more recent folklore in a rhyme about which tree’s leaves appeared first, such as the Irish saying:

If the oak before the ash,
Then we’ll only have a splash.
If the ash before the oak,
Then we’ll surely have a soak!


Photo by Tie Guy II

“A tree as long-lived and strong as the oak naturally offers magical protection.”

Deities: Cybele, Dagda, Dianus, Erato, Hecate, Heme, Janus, Jupiter, Pan, Rhea, Thor, Zeus

Element: Fire (Courage, Exorcism, Health, Lust, Protection, Strength)

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Jupiter (Money, Prosperity, Legal Matters, Luck, Protection)

Powers: Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck

Magical Uses:
Decorate altars with leaves as early as Lammas and Samhain.

  • Acorns are beaded and worn for fertility
  • Carrying any piece of the oak draws good luck.
  • Plant an acorn in the dark of the Moon to receive money.
  • Carrying an acorn increases fertility and strengthens sexual potency.
  • If you can catch a falling oak leaf you shall have no colds all winter.
  • The bark may be gathered and dried, then ground and used as an incense to invoke or honor any of the deities associated with the it.
  • The oak’s association with Vesta and fire festivals lends itself to working with this herbal tree in conjunction with elemental fire.
  • When a person is sick, place oak wood in the fireplace to “draw off” the illness.
  • Make a charm from oak. Take two equal lengths of twig or of a small branch and bind them together in a cross. This represents keeping one’s self in balance with the four elements. It can also be hung in the house for protection.
  • Acorns may be adapted into amulets and tokens. (Highly appropriate for the Samhain celebration)
  • It is believed there is no wand as sacred as one made of oak.
  • Collect an acorn and empower it throughout the winter, then plant it before the snow melts so that the new tree will be one of magic and power.
  • Acorns placed in windows guard the entrance against lightning, and a piece of oak wood, carried, protects its bearer from all harm.
  • Oak is used to bring protection against the ferocity of the elements and the dangers of life, and we use oak to ask for divine assistance in having our needs met.

Ritual Uses:

  • Include oak in the fire for your Midsummer ritual.
  • The bark may be dried and powdered and used to unite one with the gods and goddesses.
  • The Druids (traditionally) would not meet for rituals unless an oak was present, and the very words “oak” and “Druid,” some say, are related. Religious idols were fashioned from oak wood, and Witches often danced beneath the tree.

Medicinal Uses: Native Americans used White oak medicinally, it was valued for its antiseptic and astringent properties and used in the treatment of many complaints. The inner bark contains 6 – 11% tannin, and can be boiled and the liquid drunk in the treatment diarrhoea, intermittent fevers, coughs and colds, consumption, asthma, lost voice etc. The bark has been chewed as a treatment for mouth sores. Externally, it is used as a wash for skin eruptions, burns, rashes, bruises, ulcers etc and as a vaginal douche. It has also been used as a wash for muscular pains. The bark is best collected in the spring.

References:

  • Catherine Yronwode: Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic
  • umm.edu
  • Paul Beyerl: A Compendium of Herbal Magick
  • Scott Cunningham: Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of magical herbs

Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!

Lisa

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News & Submissions 8/16/2011

Tuesday, August 16th, 2011

Arts & Entertainment:

Real witches cry foul at portrayal on “True Blood”
(Reuters) – Critics of bloody violence and excessive sex on TV have long had HBO’s vampire drama “True Blood” in their cross hairs, but now the popular series has another group of wary citizens — witches, real ones.

The series’ fourth season has focused on Marnie Stonebrook (Fiona Shaw), a seemingly harmless medium and leader of a Wiccan group who becomes the physical conduit for Antonia, a long dead witch who is hellbent on vengeance against vampires who persecuted and burned her at the stake.

Marnie winds up as the mouthpiece for Antonia’s spell to drive the bloodsuckers of fictional “True Blood” town Bon Temps into the daylight. And that sort of deadly revenge, say some modern-day witches, is what gives witchcraft a bad name. Read full story from reuters.com

Native American:

State of Sequoyah Conference To Address Native American Issues
The State of Sequoyah Conference—scheduled for September 1 and 2—will address a number of Native American issues including economic development, history, contemporary studies, as well as warriors and war.

Speakers for September 1 include Cherokee Nation Tribal Councillors Julia Coates and Cara Cowan Watts; Wyman Kirk, who is with Northeastern State University’s (NSU) Language Program; Courtney Lewis, a Cherokee graduate student studying anthropology; Julie Reed, of the University of North Carolina; and Sonia Genslar, author of The Revenant, which is a young adult novel set in the 1890s at the Cherokee Female Seminary. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

Court Preserves Indian Health Care Law
WASHINGTON – The permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act is safe for now. That’s according to a decision by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit handed down on August 12, which found that some parts of the overall Obama administration healthcare plan are unconstitutional—but not the Indian health law.

The permanent reauthorization of the IHCIA was signed into law in 2010 as part of the larger healthcare reform bill pushed by the Obama administration. Given the controversies involved with some parts of that legislation, especially the so-called “individual mandate” to require Americans to buy health insurance, some Indian advocates felt it would have been safer to have IHCIA pass as a standalone bill. Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

News:

Woman admits role in toddler’s ‘exorcism’ death
A Fort Wayne woman Monday morning admitted she took part in an “exorcism” act that led to a toddler’s death.

Natasha N. Hawkins, 31, pleaded guilty to a Class A felony battery charge in the death of 2-year-old Jezaih King. In June, a jury found Jezaih’s mother, Latisha Lawson, guilty of murder. Read full story from journalgazette.net

Ontario city mystified by whole lotta shakin’ underground
WINDSOR — For months, residents of south and west Windsor have been wondering and worrying about vibrations of unknown origin.

And now, those mysterious rumblings under the city have found a new believer — the city’s Ward 10 Coun. Al Maghnieh, who says it’s time to start taking the phenomenon seriously.

“It’s very present and real,” he said.

Maghnieh added that those who think the phenomenon is a joke or that its proponents are “crazy” need to grasp the implications in terms of health and the environment. Read full story from montrealgazette.com

Media:

“Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief” special, “Psychic Power,” airing on Wednesday, Aug. 17 at 10 p.m./9c on ABC.

Spirit of Albion Movie Production Diary – Day Six

Blogspot:

  • io9 – When did magic become elitist?
  • Ghost Theory – Mexican Media Promotes “Real Life Fairy”
  • PaganDad – Feminine Archetypes – Crone
  • The Wild Hunt – Pagan Community Notes: Vivianne Crowley, Odroerir Journal, Sacred Harvest Festival, and more!

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Hump Day Herbs – Jasmine

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Jasmine

Botanical Name: Jasminum officinale, Jamsminum grandiflorum, Jasminum odoratissimum

Folk Names: Anbar, Jessamin, Moonlight on the Grove, Peot’s Jessamine, Yasmin


Photo By snopek

Jasmine is a woody perennial. The shrub climbs up to 50 feet, with green stems and leaves. J. grandiflorum is mostly used in herbal remedies, while J. officinale is used in aromatherapy.

In Europe, jasmine was used to aid in childbirth. The oil would facilitate birth by “warming the womb.” Burning Jasmine leaves would attract wealth and bring money. If the leaves were burned in the bedroom, it was believed that it would result in  prophetic dreams.

Deities: Diana, Vishnu

Element: Water (Fidelity, Friendship, Healing, Love, Meditation, Prophetic Dreams, Purification, sleep)

Gender: Feminine

Planet: Moon (Fertility, Healing, Peace, Prophetic Dreams, Sleep)

Powers: Love, Money, Prophetic Dreams

Medicinal Uses: The Jasmine flower is used as a cardiac sedative, and also helps with anxiety, cancer (bone, lymph nodes and breast), migraines, paralysis, wounds, ulcers, constipation, dry skin, insomnia, hysteria, hypertension, exhaustion, easing depression and so forth.

Magical Uses: Jasmine is used for love and protection. Dried Jasmine flowers are added to sachets, charms and incense to attract a spiritual love. (as apposed to a physical love) The flowers will also bring wealth and money if carried, burned or worn. It’s beautiful aroma is soothing and helps to lift spirits. Dreaming of Jasmine is said to foretell good fortune and good news for lovers. (Perhaps an early marriage)  It will also cause prophetic dreams if burned in the bedroom and helps with insomnia. Storing Jasmine and Quartz crystals together promote new/creative ideas.

Ritual Uses: Use in rituals when you wish to conjure the feminine properties of the Moon. It is also excellent to burn during meditation.

References:

Note: Consult with a Physician or a certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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Hump Day Herbs – Hawthorn

Wednesday, July 13th, 2011

Hawthorn

Botanical Name: Crataegus Oxyacantha

Folk Names: Ban-Sangli, Bread and Cheese Tree, Gazels, Hagthorn, Halves, Haw, Hazels, Hedgethorn, Huath, Ladie’ Meat, May, Mayblossom, May Bush, Mayflower, Quick, Thorn, Tree of Chastity.


© Copyright David Hawgood and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence

Hawthorn is a member of Rosaceae family. A spiny tree or shrub, native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere in Europe, Asia and North America, It may reach a height of 30 feet.

The hawthorn has been regarded as the symbol of hope. The branches were carried by the ancient Greeks in wedding processions, and were used to deck the altar of Hymenaios. In Celtic folklore, the hawthorn plant was used commonly for rune inscriptions along with Yew and Apple. It was also used to heal a broken heart. In Serbian and Croatian folklore, hawthorn is deadly to vampires, and a stake used for slaying must be made from its wood. In Gaelic folklore, hawthorn marks the entrance to the other-world’ and is strongly associated with fairies. It has been said, it is very unlucky to cut the tree at any time other than when it is in bloom, during this time it is cut and decorated as a May Bush. (Beltane)

Deities: Cardea, Flora, Hymen

Element: Fire (Courage, Exorcism, Health, Lust, Protection, Strength)

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars (Courage, Exorcism, Hex-Breaking, Lust, Protection, Sexual Potency, Strength)

Powers: Chastity, Fertility, Fishing Magic, Happiness

Medicinal Uses: Hawthorn helps to lessen pain in the heart and adjacent areas. It also increases warmth in cold hands and feet where the drop in temperature is due to poor circulation. Hawthorn can also play a part in lowering cholesterol levels and removing plaque that has accumulated in the arteries. The plant parts used medicinally are usually sprigs with both leaves and flowers, or alternatively the fruit.

Magical Uses: At Beltane, the blossoms are used to symbolize love and the union of marriage. Newlywed couples will dance around a Hawthorn tree to bless and ensure a long and fruitful marriage.

Young women would eagerly await the first blossoms. When found after appropriate regard to the trees guardian spirit, a sprig of the blossom would be taken and kept as a charm to encourage the interest of a suitable husband.

It is said the Hawthorn is sacred to Fairies. Make a wish, then tie ribbons and shreds of personal belongings to the thorn, as a gift to the Fairies. The strips should be symbolically appropriate to the nature of the wish, (i.e. blue for health, pink or red for love, green or gold for prosperity) and if pleased, they would grant your wish.

Care should be taken when removing any of its branches. Damage to the tree is said to anger the guardian spirit. Any Hawthorn tree standing alone should be avoided, and only parts from trees forming hedges should be taken. In Ireland and Britain it is part of the fairy-tree triad known as the:  “Oak, Ash and Thorn”, and where all three trees grow together it is said that one may see the fairies.

The tree is regarded as a powerful symbol of protection, and often planted near a house to protect it against lightning and damage from storms.  In the past most witch’s gardens contained at least one Hawthorn tree, to protect the house against evil spirits. In Ireland it is believed that food left over from the May Eve dinner should not be wasted, but left near the Hawthorn tree as an offering to the spirits that inhabit the tree.

Hawthorn wood is excellent for making talismans and wands for protection, health and luck, as well as tools in rituals to enhance spiritual development and communication.  If you cut a piece of live wood from a tree, be sure to do so with reverence and thanks to the tree’s guardian before hand.  Another option, take the discarded branches to be found after a heavy storm. To make a talisman, strip off the bark while the branch is still green and before it dries hard onto the wood. Store it outside until you are ready to work with it, this will stop the wood from drying out too quickly. Carving is easily done on green wood before it dries. The wood of the Hawthorn is especially hard.

Another custom was to make a Hawthorn globe or charm ball from its twigs and foliage. This is made at first light on the old Celtic New Year’s Day (Samhain) and tied with a white ribbon.  The old charm ball from the previous year is then burned on a bonfire of straw, ash twigs and acorns.  This represents all the previous years troubles.  Your new hopes and aspirations can then be forged into the new globe and hung in a safe place until the next New Year.

Ritual Uses: May poles were once decorated by the Hawthorn, where witches have long danced and performed rites  It was also believed that the thorn were witches transformed. Use Hawthorn to cleanse an area before ritual, protection spells, attract love or communicate with those who have passed.

Other Uses: The wood of some hawthorn trees can be very hard and resistant to rot. It has been used for tool handles and fence posts in North America.

Warning: May interfere with digitalis medications.

References:

Note: Consult with a Physician or a certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all, have a great day!

Lisa

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News & Submissions 5/12/2011

Thursday, May 12th, 2011

Headlines:

100,000 to get Jason Pitzl-Waters on the Daily Show
In an effort to support religious equality and equal voice, we are trying to get Jason Pitzl-Waters a spot on the Daily Show to address recent attacks on minority religions. Media responds to numbers, if we show that enough people are actively interested in seeing Jason on the Daily Show then it is likely he will get on! Spread the word and let’s make it happen!

Archeology:

The Last Neanderthals?
As if deciphering human evolutionary chronology isn’t complicated enough, recent discoveries at a site in the foothills of the Ural Mountains of Russia have thrown yet another wrinkle in the developing fabric of the human ascent through the Ice Age.

While excavating at Byzovaya, Russia, an archaeological site in the cold western foothills of the Ural Mountains at the edge of the Arctic Circle, Dr. Ludovic Slimak of the Université de Toulouse le Mirail, France, along with a team of colleagues, had unearthed a total of 313 human artifacts, along with a massive accumulation of remains of mammoths and other animals, (such as reindeer, wooly rhinoceros, musk ox, horse, wolf, polar fox, and bear). Examination of the mammoth remains indicated that they had been butchered using human-made tools. But these artifacts, a stone tool technology known as Mousterian and associated most commonly with Neanderthals, were dated to about 28,500 BP, too late for the Neanderthals.  The dating didn’t seem to match the nature of the technology, as the newly discovered artifacts defined a toolkit that belonged primarily to the Middle Paleolithic period (300,000 to 40,000 years ago), and Neanderthals are generally thought to have become extinct before that time — replaced, as many scientists have suggested, by Homo sapiens (anatomically modern humans) around 75,000 to 50,000 years ago with a more advanced stone tool industry.  Read full story from popular-archeology.com

Astronomy:

Planets Jupiter, Venus, Mercury and Mars to line up in Australian sky
FORGET the hippie-era song that has Jupiter aligning with Mars and love steering the stars. The fact is, those two orbs get together all the time.

The truly remarkable event – when Jupiter lines up with Venus, Mercury and Mars in the pre-dawn sky – will be visible in Australia’s eastern sky on Friday.

The alignment of the four planets, which happens only once every 50 to 100 years, will occur just before sunrise, Sydney Observatory says. Read full story from heraldsun.com.au

History:

Boscastle’s Museum of Witchcraft celebrates a long and colourful history
An interesting day can be expected on May 14 when a famous museum in Boscastle opens its doors for a day of talks and a new book launch.

To celebrate the anniversary of its 60th year, the Museum of Witchcraft has gathered together the memories of 50 people who have a connection with the museum and published them in a book called The Museum of Witchcraft – A Magical History.

Together with the book launch there will be talks throughout the day under the moniker The Guardians of Cornish Magic. Read full story from culture24.org.uk

Native American:

Sacred Languages
A relation to the sacred is inherent within many indigenous languages. The justification for the renewal of tribal languages is often the belief that language contains meaning that is not well understood or translated into English, or other languages. For many tribal cultural programs, language is a major strategy for renewing culture and identity. There is great wisdom in this viewpoint, but what can it mean? Read full story from indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com

News:

Spain: Earthquake rocks Lorca, Murcia, killing 10
Hundreds of people have spent the night outdoors in the southern Spanish town of Lorca after an earthquake which killed at least 10 people.

The magnitude-5.2 tremor toppled several buildings after striking at a depth of just 1km (0.6 miles), 120km south-west of Alicante.

Lines of cars lay crushed under tonnes of rubble and a hospital was evacuated as a precaution.

Wednesday evening’s quake came about two hours after a 4.4-magnitude tremor. Read full story from bbc.co.uk

Religion:

County Board Considers Wiccan-Proof Prayer Policy
Prayer may soon be part of the Frederick County, Md., commissioners’ public meetings.

Republican Frederick County Board of Commissioners President Blaine Young suggested implementing the prayer at the start of the meetings. Read full story from nbcwashington.com

Religious belief is human nature, huge new study claims
London (CNN) – Religion comes naturally, even instinctively, to human beings, a massive new study of cultures all around the world suggests.

“We tend to see purpose in the world,” Oxford University professor Roger Trigg said Thursday. “We see agency. We think that something is there even if you can’t see it. … All this tends to build up to a religious way of thinking.”

Trigg is co-director of the three-year Oxford-based project, which incorporated more than 40 different studies by dozens of researchers looking at countries from China to Poland and the United States to Micronesia. Read full story from cnn.com

Science:

Mind Reading: Technology Turns Thought Into Action
An old technology is providing new insights into the human brain.

The technology is called electrocorticography, or ECoG, and it uses electrodes placed on the surface of the brain to detect electrical signals coming from the brain itself.

Doctors have been using ECoG since the 1950s to figure out which area of the brain is causing seizures in people with severe epilepsy. But in the past decade, scientists have shown that when connected to a computer running special software, ECoG also can be used to control robotic arms, study how the brain produces speech and even decode thoughts. Read full story from npr.org

Media:

Dr. Andy Thomson – Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith

Why We Believe in God(s): A Concise Guide to the Science of Faith — Dr. Andy Thomson from Kurt Volkan on Vimeo.

Blogspot:

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Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!

Lisa

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Hump Day Herbs – Garlic

Wednesday, March 30th, 2011

Garlic

Botanical Name: Allium Sativum

Folk Names: Ajo, Clove Garlic, Poor Man’s Treacle, Stinkweed

Native to Central Asia, garlic is a species in the onion family Alliaceae.

The ancient Greeks placed garlic at cross-roads as a supper for the goddess Hecate, or for protection to ward off demons. Greek midwives would hang garlic cloves in birthing rooms to keep evil spirits away. Athletes would take large amounts of garlic before competition, and soldiers would consume garlic before going into battle. Roman soldiers ate garlic to inspire and give them courage. Egyptian slaves were fed garlic to keep up strength. Tibetan monks were forbidden from entering monasteries if they had eaten garlic. Nicholas Culpeper, (botanist/herbalist/astrologer) linked garlic with the planet Mars. A fiery planet also connected with blood. Dreaming that there is “garlic in the house” is known to mean you will discover hidden secrets.

Deity: Hekate

Element: Fire (Courage, Exorcism, Health, Lust, Protection, Strength)

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars (Courage, Exorcism, Hex-Breaking, Lust, Protection, Sexual Potency, Strength)

Powers: Anti-Theft, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Protection

Medicinal Uses: Garlic has been used to prevent health problems including colds, flu, menstrual pain, high blood pressure, coughs, gastrointestinal problems, atherosclerosis, and bronchitis. It has been proven to kill various fungal infections, viruses, bacteria, and intestinal parasites. Also labeled as an antioxidant, garlic may help prevent certain cancers such as colon cancer and can improve the effectiveness of the immune system. Most popular, garlic is used for its effectiveness of cardiovascular wellness, as well as treating atherosclerosis, high cholesterol, respiratory infections, and triglyceride levels.

Magical Uses: Garlic is known to be extremely protective. It is excellent in a new home, hang braids of garlic to ward off thieves and evil. For protection while sleeping,  place under a pillow or make into a wreath placed above the bed.  Eating and wearing garlic is said to improve agility, courage, and physical endurance.

Ritual Uses: The bulb, stem, and flowers can be used in spells and as an amulet for protection. Burn the powdered herb to break spells and curses. Place with silver in a sachet of leather to bring money. Scatter around the home to promote lust.

Other Uses: Studies have found that concentrated garlic kills ticks within thirty minutes. Dehydrated garlic is used as a nutritional supplement in pet food to repel fleas and ticks.

References:

Note: Consult with a Physician or certified herbologist if you are seeking medical remedies. The information is not intended as medical advice. PagansWorld.org is not liable for the misuse of the herb listed above.

Thanks for stopping by! Well wishes to you all and have a great day!

Lisa

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