In paganism and in Wicca, many herbs have magical connotations along with their everyday uses in the kitchen. As with the crystal of the week safety is rather important so if its not something that would be used in everyday cooking such as Thyme, Mint or other things, don’t use it without talking with a doctor -period- end of story.
This week its going to be Catnip, lets get into the scientific side of things:
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Nepeta
Species: N. cataria
Catnip, or nepeta cataria, has also been known as catswort, catwort, and catmint throughout time and in different areas of the world. Catnip is a short lived, perennial plant that blooms from late spring into autumn. It resembles typical mints with its coarse-toothed leaves that range from triangular to elliptical in shape. This plant also has small fragrant flowers that are pink in color, or white with small spots of pale purple. This plant is rather drought resistant, and also seems to be rather deer resistant. However it prefers full sun.
A warning to those who decide to plant this in their own gardens: This plant grows fast and spreads quickly so it is best to plant it in above ground containers -lest it take over your entire garden. Catnip is also good for your garden as it helps to attract lacewing “flies” which eat aphids and mites. It also seems to repel mosquitoes, cockroaches, and termites. It does, however, attract butterflies and around 2/3rds of the worlds cats.
As with any plant this can cause allergic reactions so be careful with it. Its oil is sometimes used as an insect repellent. It has been used for human sicknesses and pains in the past in the forms of teas, juice, tinctures, infusion, or poultice, and has also been smoked for the same reasons. However use with humans has fallen off due to the growth of modern medicine.
Also as we know, this plant has a strong effect on cats. Truth is it only effects roughly 2/3rds of cats; However this has been shown to include leopards, cougars, servals, and lynxes -along with lions and tigers, however these last two aren't as consistent. About one-third of cats are not affected by catnip and this behavior is hereditary. Other plants that can have a similar effect on cats include valerian root and leaves; silver vine, or matatabi, which is popular in Asia; and Tatarian honeysuckle wood. Many cats that do not respond to catnip however, do respond to one or more of these three alternatives.
Now on to the more mythological and spiritual uses and meanings. While catnip doesn't seem to have any myths or legends to its name it can still be used in cooking by turning it into teas or as garnishes for food but what else can it be used for?
In the past catnip has been used for stress relief and aiding in digestion. Its commonly known as “Cats best Friend.” Its currently used in:
Friendship or Family Spells
Feline Magics
Attracting Friendly Spirits
Luck, Happiness, Beauty, Dream, and Tranquility Spells
It can also be used in sachets for protection and dream work
Psychic work
Offerings to Bast or other Deities associated with felines
As you can see it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is generally associated with water, Venus and the feminine. However every path and practice may view it differently as no path is truly identical.Join us next week with Sage.
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Okay, here is our Herb intended for the week. Again, so sorry about missing last week.
In paganism and in Wicca, many herbs have magical connotations along with their everyday uses in the kitchen. As with the crystal of the week, safety is rather important so if its not something that would be used in everyday cooking, such as thyme, mint or other things, don’t use it without talking with a doctor - end of story.
This week its going to be rosemary, lets get into the scientific side of things:
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. rosmarinus
Rosemary or Salvia rosmarinus has also been known as Anthos which means flower in Greek. The name rosemary comes from the Latin ros marinus, which means dew of the sea. It can also be known as Compass Weed, Elf leaf and Polar plant.
So rosemary is an evergreen shrub that was originally found in the Mediterranean and Asian regions. and often thrives near the sea. It is considered invasive in some places. It can survive in cooler climates, and even withstand droughts. In warm climates they can flower throughout the year, however they typically flower in the later spring through summer in cooler climates. These plants can be difficult to propagate with seeds, but once started will often last upwards 30 years.
As with any plant this can cause allergic reactions so be careful with it. These plants are pest resistant, and once grown can be shaped into low hedges and even small topiaries. This makes it a really pretty plant, and a good addition to an herb garden due to its uses in cooking.
On to the more mythical and spiritual uses. Rosemary was a sacred plant to the Roman, Greek and Egyptian people. To this day it is also used for war commemorations and funerals, mostly in Europe and Australia, as a symbol of remembrance. It was also mentioned in Hamlet and Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare in reference to remembrance as well.
Rosemary can be used for:
Encouraging health and vitality
Stimulating the mind and memory
Enhancing or drawing out love and passion
Purification and protection
This can be done through baths, incense, sachets, poppets, spell bottles and in a good many other ways.
As you can see, it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is generally associated with Fire, the Sun and the Masculine. However, every path and practice may view it differently as no path is truly identical. Join us next week with Basil.
Your friendly Tide walker, signing off! Stay safe out there!
In paganism and in Wicca, many herbs have magical connotations along with their everyday uses in the kitchen. As with the crystal of the week, safety is rather important; so if its not something that would be used in everyday cooking such as Thyme, Mint or other things, don’t use it without talking with a doctor - end of story.
Now first off, before we begin with the science, I’m admittedly going to go on a bit of a rant here. Sage itself has a long history in many, many, many cultures. Different types of sage have been used in both closed practices, and in open practices. As Pagans, Wiccans and or Witches, we should always be conscious of what we use in our crafts, and what belongs to those few closed practices. One of the largest controversies in recent years has been the use of White Sage by Non-Native/Indigenous American peoples.
This craze in recent practices stem from an ancient Native American ceremonial practice called smudging. Smudging itself is different from cleansing your space and you can use other herbs -carefully- to cleanse a space. However, unless you yourself belong to one of these Ancient tribes -and thus the mostly closed practice- you should not be using White Sage to “smudge” your space.
Due to the demand for this plant that once was plentiful in the Americas, it is now on a watch list and grows closer and closer to being on the Endangered list every year, due to hundreds of people harvesting it from the wild which is where the majority of White sage comes from. This plant is now nearly impossible to find outside of reserves and is a target of poachers. Taking cuttings of this plant from reserves now carries hefty fines and the danger of jail time, but still it is cut and taken. One woman even had to call the police as strangers entered her property to take cuttings of this plant.
So please, please, please: Do not use White Sage. There are many other breeds of sage, and many other plants that can be used that have the same magical meanings.
Now after that heavy topic onto the scientific side of sage;
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Salvia
Species: S. officinalis
Sage, or Salvia officinalis, has also been called garden sage, common sage, or culinary sage throughout the years and is a perennial, evergreen dwarf shrub or bush. It has with woody stems with grayish green leaves, and blue and or purple flowers. It is a member of the mint family, and native to the Mediterranean region, though it has been naturalized in many places throughout the world. It has a long history of medicinal and culinary use, and in modern times it has been used as an ornamental garden plant. The common name "sage" is also used for a number of related -and unrelated- species of plant.
This plant flowers in late spring or summer, and depending on the type of sage, it can require a range in sunlight and in watering. As with any plant this can cause allergic reactions so be careful with it.
Sage has been used in both cooking, and as a medicinal aid throughout throughout the years. In Ancient Rome, it was believed to be a holy herb and was used in religious rituals. It was also believed to ward off evil, snake bites, and to aid in increasing fertility in women.
Now, on to the more mythological and spiritual uses and meanings. While Sage doesn’t seem to have any myths or legends to its name, it can still be used in cooking as garnishes for food, and to flavor things as it has a slight peppery taste but what else can it be used for?
Cleansing through smoke or with water infusions
Carrying as a sachet or in a horn for protection, or to promote wisdom and clarity
Financial spell work
Healing spells and rituals
Easing grief
As you can see, it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is generally associated with air, Jupiter and the masculine. However every path and practice may view it differently as no path is truly identical. Join us next week with Thyme.
The Herb That Once Had a Remedy for Everything
There are some plants that quietly occupy our gardens without asking for attention.
Betony is not flashy. It does not produce enormous blooms or dramatic colours. Yet for centuries it was considered one of the most respected medicinal plants in Europe.
The old herbalists held Betony in such high regard that a common saying emerged:
“Sell your…
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Now, this article was supposed to be out last week and so this week we are doing a double post for our herbs. My apologies for not getting this one out last week but here we are.
So for our first post this week is thyme, so onto the scientific.
Order: Lamiales
Family: Lamiaceae
Genus: Thymus
Species: T. vulgaris
Common Thyme or cooking thyme (T. vulgaris) is a woody evergreen shrub that is highly useful as a ground cover that is small, highly aromatic, has grey-green leaves and clusters of purple or pink flowers that bloom in the early summer. This is a rather hardy plant, that ranges from southern Europe to the western Mediterranean to southern Italy. It has also been used in cooking and for medicinal use over the years. This plant is often described as being spicier than Oregano and sweeter than Sage.
Thymus itself is a large genus, with around 350 different plants with in it, so if you are planning on buying this plant to go in your garden for both cooking and spell work; make sure that it is the correct plant. Some of these herbs are still safe for cooking but some may not be.
This plant grows best in warm, and sunny spaces and is best planted in the spring. These plants are a perennial so may appear to die in the fall and winter, but should come back from the roots in the spring. These are rather drought resistant and do prefer well drained soil.
Now on to the spiritual side.
In Ancient Egypt, thyme was used in the process of embalming their dead. While in Ancient Greece, it was used in both baths and incense in belief that it was a source of courage. It was also used by the Romans to purify their rooms. In the middle ages of Europe, it was used both for granting courage usually in the form of a gift of the leaves from a lady to a knight, and in warding off nightmares by putting sprigs under a persons pillow while they slept.
These days thyme is often used for
Healing spells and baths
Purification spells and rituals
Aiding with courage, sleep and psychic abilities
Protection sachets and spells
Prosperity spells or candle work
Drawing inner love in and strengthening existing love
As you can see, it is a rather useful herb for any witch or pagan. These days it is associated with the planet Venus and element of water. It is also associated with the Roman deity Mars, and the Greek deity Ares. Thyme is also associated with working with the Fey/Fae, and with the Feminine. However, every path and practice may view it differently as no path is truly identical, such as the fact I personally find it more closely tied to air and the masculine.
Stay safe and have fun, See you in the second herb post for the week.
It was a beautiful evening so we studied outside and went to meet Hawthorn, our #herboftheweek, up close. #herbhutstudygroup #hawthorn #crataegus #hedgerowhippy #cultybraggancamp https://www.instagram.com/p/BxdUe_mJYpl/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=y7t31gsye6fr
