Be thoughtful and a dreamer

Exhibition quality German hunting knife with chiseled silver mountings and sheath, stag handle. Late 19th or early 20th century.

"Filet of fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye Of Newt, and Toe Of Frog, Wool Of Bat, and Tongue Of Dog, Adder's Fork, and Blind Worm's Sting, Lizard's Leg and Owlet's Wing. For a charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble" - Second Witch, Act IV Scene I, William Shakespeare's Macbeth.

Though, Shakespeare was a master of manipulating words, he doesn't get credit for the macabre sounding ingredients in Macbeth's witches' brew. In fact, as long as mankind has been using plants for food and medicine, we have given them interesting folk names. Throughout history, commonly used plants and herbs have been given different names based on certain attributes of the plant, it's growth habits or even specific reasons it was used for. Common dandelion has been called bitterwort, for it's strong and bitter taste, blowball and puffball because of it's seeding habits, lion's tooth for it's deeply serrated foliage and piss-in-the-bed because of it's diuretic properties. Depending on where you live, you may call Glechoma hederacea creeping charlie or ground ivy; it's also gone by gill over the ground, runaway robin, and lizzie run up the hedge because of it's aggressive runners, cat's foot for the shape of it's leaves, alehoof because it was commonly used in the making of beer and ale, and field balm because it has been used for as a general heal-all herb for balms, salves and teas for thousands of years.

Witches were specifically careful to guard their herbal secrets. They came up with odd and grisly sounding folk names for the plants they regularly used, like eye of newt for mustard seed or wool of bat for moss. Many historians believe that witches used these gruesome sounding names so that their spells and herbal remedies could not be easily copied. Back in Shakespearean times, those who were labeled as witches were usually herbalist, midwives and healers; their livelihood often depended on their knowledge of herbs and their uses. Therefore they created secret code names for the plants they used.

In some cases certain body parts were used as code for the part of the plant used in a spell or herbal remedy. For example, "eye of…" would usually refer to a round shaped blossom or seed of a specific plant; as in eye of newt, which is simply mustard seed. In some cases, an animal name was used in place of a plant name, just like the "newt" would represent mustard plant in eye of newt. Below I've listed some of the common body parts in witchy plant names and their meaning, as well as commonly used animal code names.

BODY PARTS AS PLANT PARTS Eye- Blossom or Seed Heart- Bud or Seed Beak, Bill or Nose- Seed, Bud or Bloom Tongue or Teeth- Petal or Leaf Head- Blossom Tail- Stem Hair- Dried Herbs or Stringy Parts Of Herbs Privates, Genitals Or Semen- Seeds Or Sap Blood-Sap Guts- Roots or Stalk Paw, Foot, Leg, Wing or Toe- Leaves

PLANT NAMES AS ANIMALS Toad- Sage Cat- Catmint Dog- Grasses, Specifically Couchgrass Frog- Cinquefoil Eagle- Wild Garlic Blue Jay- Laurel Hawk- Hawkweed Lamb-Wild Lettuce Nightingale- Hops Rat- Valerian Weasel- Rue Woodpecker- Peony

Secret codes among witches and herbalists There are many other animal/plant associations, and even associations to gods and mythological beings, that were used as plant code names. Like folk names, witchy plant names would have changed by region and era. By combining a body part and an animal from simple lists like these as a code, a witch or herbalist could keep the ingredients of their spell or remedy secret. For example a witch who wanted to sell her herbs might list the ingredients of a tea for insomnia as rat guts and blood of lamb, instead of just valerian root and wild lettuce sap. This would not only prevent the customer from just growing their own valerian (which is actually heliotrope) and wild lettuce, but it also had a much more official witchy sound. Even though these names were crude and sometimes vile, they made the healer sound more legit and gave the tired consumer confidence that they finally found the one magical cure.

Some of these names are still in use today! These days, there are many almanacs of magical herbs and herbal grimmoires available online or at bookstores, that list out Witch Herb/Plant names and even details their uses. Just for fun, I will leave you with a list of some of my favorite witchy plant names.

A hex for when the only justice that will be done is that which you deliver yourself.

Note: Ingredients and instructions are somewhat vague, so you can decide exactly how you want to do it. I intentionally left a lot of room for personalization in this spell.

What you'll need:

1 sheet of paper

A pen (any color, I used a black brush pen I had on hand at the time)

A burn-safe bowl

Some kind of spicy shit (I used crushed red peppers)

Something to light the paper on fire

Something to sever the connection between you and the spell (so nothing nasty can follow the link back to you)

Water to douse the embers when you are finished

Steps:

1. Create an image on the paper representing the person who has wronged you. Write words describing their crime, draw pictures, or create symbols.

2. On top of this, write anything your anger tells you to. Your anger at the person will be the fuel/energy source for this spell.

3. Finally, on top of everything, write what you want to happen to the person who has wronged you.

4. Fold the paper up so it will fit into whatever you have chosen as your burn bowl.

4. Place in the bowl and add the spicy stuff.

5. Set the paper on fire (light from the bottom to get a proper burn).

6. While the flames are at their highest, yell something like "I AM JUSTICE, MOTHERFUCKER!" Or something to that effect. Your choice.

7. Use your severing instrument to sever your ties to the spell.

8. Let the paper burn as completely as possible, then douse with water.

Before we start, I’d like to inform you that this topic has been broken down in 3 posts since I’d like to share some Spells, Deity Spells and Kitchen Magic, before the actual celebration, to make the entire thing more readable and give our fellow witches enough time to get ready!

I will also share a Mabon Masterpost with all the content I’ve posted regarding the festivity.

This is a list of spells that are a MUST for Mabon!

⛤An Acorn Mabon Spell for Prosperity

⛤Ingredients:

An acorn

Marker or paint with paintbrush

Small spell bag or sachet

Small bell (you can get these from craft shops)

⛤How to:

Cleanse your space in whatever way you prefer.

Set the magical Mabon mood – turn on music, burn incense, light a few candles, etc.

Gather your ingredients and tools.

Cast a circle, if you so choose, and invoke the elements.

Hold your acorn in your hands and envision prosperity flowing from the acorn into your hands and through your entire body like a soft orange light.

Keep the acorn in your left hand and pick up the little bell in your right.

Say the following 9 times:

“Blessings of oak, earth and the Mabon season.

Flow through this acorn into my home.

Each time the front door opens,

The Mabon bell rings and prosperity flows in.”

Now draw or paint the Mabon symbol onto the acorn

Place the acorn and bell in the small bag.

Thank the earth, Mabon spirits, and energies present. (Release your circle if you cast one).

Hang the Mabon spell bag on your front door, until the Autumn season has ended.

Then bury the acorn near the front door. Cleanse and re-use the bell.

⛤A Mabon Bath Spell for Balance

Wherever balance is needed, decide you’re ready to improve those things and cast this Mabon spell.

⛤What You’ll Need:

Sunflower petals: linked to the Sun and properties include good luck and joy. 

Also a traditional herb used on Mabon.

Chamomile: also linked to the Sun and properties include prosperity and warding off negative energy.

Rosemary: for purification, health, and clarity of mind and memory

3 crystals (of your choice, but I recommend clear quartz, citrine, and amber)

Muslin bag (optional)

⛤How to:

Cleanse the space and set the mood. Turn down the lights and turn on some music, if you choose.

Light a candle or two.

Draw a warm bath and add the herbs to the water (if you have a bag, add your herbs to the bag and then to the water. This makes clean-up much easier!)

Place the 3 crystals around 3 sides of the bathtub (not in the water, but on the tub itself).

Get in and soak while focusing on balance. 

Meditate on what balance means to you and how you could use more of it.

You can chant or repeat the following incantation:

“I invoke the energies of Mabon,

On a day of balance,

We welcome the Autumn season,

May the balance of night and day

Bring my life balance in every way.”

Soak in the bath for as long as you feel it’s necessary.

Then emerge feeling balanced within yourself and all around you.

⛤Quick Balance Spell

Mabon is observed on an equinox, a time when there are equal parts of light and day. It is the perfect time to reassess and work toward balance in all parts of your life.

⛤You’ll need:

Black candle

White candle

A pen

Some paper

⛤How to:

Set up your altar to reflect the harvest. 

Place a black and a white candle on opposite sides of the altar, and place a piece of parchment in between them. 

On this paper, write down the aspects of your life that you feel need to be brought into balance. 

As you contemplate those aspects, light the candles and say:

"As day and night are now in balance,

so to let my life find balance."

⛤Mabon Ritual

This is a ritual to honor the duality of life and death, sadness and celebration.

⛤You’ll need:

White Candle

Black Candle

A red apple

Some spring flowering bulbs

⛤How to:

 Place one white and one black candle on your altar.

In the center, place one red apple to represent Avalon, the Land of Apples where some traditions believe Mabon was held captive

As a symbol of rebirth, also have on hand a small bowl of spring-flowering bulbs

Light the candles and say:

"You walk the paths of darkness and

light,

You do not fear the coming of the night.

Again you'll rise from the mists of

Avalon,

For you are Mabon, the Great Son."

As a lasting tribute to this holiday, plant the bulbs. When they bloom in the spring, you'll remember Mabon and the cycle of birth, death, and rebirth.

⛤Isidora⛤

From there, we move into the fall and come to the Autumnal Equinox and my favorite time of year. September brings the second harvest - more fruit, lots of gourds, and the rest of those autumn vegetables. Of course, there are some plants that will continue on well into the winter, but this is when most of the produce comes off the vine, and we begin storing them up for the colder months. The year begins to slide more noticeably toward winter, the leaves start to turn, and when the equinox comes, the day and night are equal once again.

This is a time for restoring balance. If things are feeling off in your home or in your life, take steps to restore that equilibrium and re-establish your routines. Cleanse your home of any lingering “summer grump” and make sure you air the place out once the weather isn’t so blazingly hot. I mean, who doesn’t love a bit of fresh autumn air in the house, especially when it has that little tinge of burning leaves to it? Mm, chef kiss, perfection. I mean, in 2020, we’re all sick of that because of the wildfires, but STILL. Do that end-of-summer cleanout, get ready for back-to-school if you have little ones, and start changing out your wardrobe.

There’s still time for a bit of last-blast outdoor fun, if you’re so inclined. Provided that the weather cooperates, you might plan one more beach day or camping trip or afternoon at the lake. Visit a farmer’s market or a harvest festival and have some fun. Visit that pick-your-own-produce farm again and bring from some seasonal fruits and veggies. I love apple-picking at this time of year, and it’s probably the thing I miss most about living in Pennsylvania. (Also, Stayman Winesaps are the tastiest apples on earth, and nothing you can say will change my mind.)

Go on a walk or a drive to view the changing leaves. Oh, and mark the day you first see leaves starting to turn. That’s a fun thing I do every year, I call it Turning Day. If there are maple trees in your area, those will probably be the ones that change first, so look for those. You can use fall foliage, acorns, and gourds to start decorating your home - real or silk, whatever works best for you.

This is another big holiday for bonfires as well - honestly, bonfires are pretty much part of ALL the holidays, they’re just fun - so if you can attend one or have one safely, that’s something to consider. Or maybe just have one more picnic or cookout before the weather turns too chilly for it to be feasible. Have a fall feast for your near-and-dear with lots of lovely seasonal produce and pies, maybe a roast fowl or brisket or fish, whatever you like best.

Speaking of food, this is my baking season. It’s finally cool enough to have the oven going without suffocating myself in the heat or running up a four-figure energy bill trying to keep the indoor temperature manageable. So if you’re a fan of baking, why not give that a try? There are plenty of recipes to choose from, like soda bread, pumpkin bread, spice cake, maple cookies, and so on.

Keep that sense of community going by making a little bit extra and sharing it with friends and neighbors. Some people do their autumn feasting around the equinox instead of in November, when Americans celebrate Thanksgiving. There is a holiday in September called Harvest Home that directly corresponds to this, so if you’d rather skip Thanksgiving but you still want to feast, that’s something to look into.

Start stocking your shelves for the winter too. Put up pickles and preserves. Refresh your canned goods and non-perishables, maybe save a few bottles of whatever libations you made earlier in the year. If you have kids, celebrate the idea of this gathering-in with a scavenger hunt. Have them help you find signs of autumn or needful items for the pantry.

As the year turns and the harvest comes in, meditate upon your own personal harvest. This might be a journaling activity. You’ve sown, you’ve tended, you’ve reaped. Now what is your harvest? What have you learned from the year? What abundance has entered your life? What have you lost? What surprised you? What didn’t go quite as you planned? What are you thankful for? What do you regret?

Meditate also upon the balance in your life. Do things FEEL balanced? Or are they out of whack? If so, how can you address this? Do you feel you need to change things, or is it more prudent to let them reach equilibrium on their own? What outside factors are affecting that balance, and what can you reasonably affect on your own?

- Hex Positive, Ep. 011 - Secular Celebrations (November 01, 2020)

Other Posts In This Series:

Imbolc

Spring Equinox

Beltane

Midsummer

Lughnasadh

Autumn Equinox

Samhain