Herbal Amulets

Herbs are often worn or carried in order to tap their specific powers. Following are several traditional herbal amulets, some of which are questionable, some fanciful, but all fascinating and potentially useful.

• To See Ghosts: Carry lavender and inhale its scent.
• To Allay Fear: Carry a mixture of nettle and yarrow.

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, (hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com), and can be found in it's entirety here: Herbal Amulets

Mistletoe Lore

According to the Celtic mythology of trees, Mistletoe is the tree of the day after the Winter Solstice (Aprox. December 23).

• Latin name: Viscum Album
• Celtic name: It is said that Mistletoe is too sacred to have a written word.
• Latin name :Loranthaceae Phoradendron flavescens
• Folk or Common names: Mistletoe, Birdlime, All Heal, Golden Bough, 
• Parts Used: leaves, berries, twigs

Magical History and Associations: Mistletoe is one of the Druid's most sacred trees - as Ovid said, "Ad viscum Druidae cantare solebant. (The Druids are wont to sing to the Mistletoe.)." In Druidic lore Mistletoe is an herb of the Winter Solstice and is the special plant for the day after Yule. The Druids gathered their Mistletoe at Midsummer or at the 6th day of the moon....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: More Mistletoe Magick and Lore

Mistletoe Magick

Ruler: Apollo, Druids, Venus
Type: Herb
Magickal Form: Berries, Leaves, Wood
Use for: Fertility, protection, love, healing, luck, and invisibility

Mistletoe is another important plant that is used in many holiday traditions surrounding the winter solstice. Druids believed that anything found growing on an oak tree had been sent from heaven and mistletoe found on oaks was especially sacred.

Said to lose its power once it touches the ground, mistletoe is a holy herb and sacred to many deities. Mistletoe was perceived as being in a category all its own....

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Cinnamon Cures and Remedies

Cinnamon is one of the all time great "go to" spices when it comes to old herbal remedies, however it is rarely used alone. Most often, cinnamon is used as an added ingredient to herbal teas or other preparations. Because of that, most of the entries here are recipes with many other ingredients. It is likely that the addition of cinnamon is often for flavor, however it does have a warming effect on the body and may add punch to the prescription.

Some of these remedies are benign and might actually work, for example: cinnamon tea for a cold and the lovely tea for indigestion. Others might be downright dangerous - check out the cures for Blindness and Syphilis. As always, if you decide to try one or more of the following remedies, please use common sense and educate yourself beforehand. Remember, these cures are old and were used in an era of ignorance and superstition....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Folk Medicine Remedies and Cures, and can be found in its entirety here: Cinnamon Cures and Remedies

Door Unlocking Spells

There are many, many good reasons that have nothing to do with theft for why one would need to open a locked door to which one does not have a key. Of course, should one possess the right to enter, summoning a locksmith might be easier. Just in case, however, you find yourself outside a locked door without a key, without anyone willing to let you in, and without access to a locksmith...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Door Unlocking Spells

Holly Tree Lore

Each month of the Celtic Lunar calendar bears the name of a tree. Holly is the 8th Moon of the Celtic Year - (July 8 - Aug 4).

• Latin name: English Holly - ilex aquilfolium; American holly - ilex opaca.
• Celtic name: Tinne (pronounced: chihn' uh)
• Known as:  Tree of Sacrifice
• Folk or Common names: Holly, Aquifolius, Bat's Wings, Christ's Thorn, Holm Chaste, Hulm, Hulver Bush, Scarlet Oak, Kerm-Oak, Holy Tree.
• Meanings: Holly actually means "holy".
• Powers: Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magick
• Ruling Planet: Mars and Saturn
• Element: Fire
• Stone: Ruby, Bloodstone
• Birds: Cardinal, Starling
• Color: Red
• Deity: Lugh, Tannus, Thor, Danu 
• Parts Used: Leaf, berry, wood.
• Other: The Holly is an evergreen tree.
• NOTE: Holly berries are poisonous!

The Holly tree (of which there are well over 150 species) can grow (albeit very slowly) to be as high as fifty feet and is native to most of Central and Southern Europe. Its white, star-shaped flowers bloom in the Spring and it bears shiny red berries in Autumn which last throughout the Winter season. The leaves of the Holly are shiny, dark green in color, elliptical in shape and have spiny points. In order to produce berries, both a male and a female tree are required. Only the female tree produces berries which, although lovely to look at, are poisonous....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Holly Magick and Lore

Heather Lore

Heather is sacred to the Summer Solstice  (Aprox. June 20).

• Latin name: Calluna vulgaris
• Celtic name: Ura (pronounced: Oor' uh)
• Folk or Common names: Common Heather, Ling, Scottish Heather
• Parts Used: herb, flowering shoots.

Magical History and Associations:

Heather is associated with the sun, and with the planet of Venus. Its color is resin colored and its element is water. Heather's bird is the lark, and its animal association is the honey bee....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Heather Magick and Lore

The Incantation To Plants

The following is an "Incantation To Plants," written by the Greek physicians of Alexandria (which explains both the usage of Greek and Egyptian gods), which would be used while watering or collecting plants.

You were sown by Cronos

Made welcome by Hera,

Protected by Ammon,

Born of Isis,

Nourished by Zeus of the Rains....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Widdershins, and can be found in its entirety here: The Incantation To Plants

Romany Rosemary Divination

A sprig of rosemary can be used to divine a yes or no answer to a question. First, ask the question seven times. Then pluck a leaf from the sprig and say, "Yes." Pluck another leaf and say, "No." Continue alternating yes and no...

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Gypsy Magick and Lore, and can be found in its entirety here: Romany Rosemary Divination

Camphor Cool Off Spell

Camphor is a substance frequently taken for granted. It's used in many lotions and cosmetics because of the cooling sensation it provides. Camphor, botanically related to cinnamon, is considered a sacred lunar plant. In Marco Polo's time it was bartered for with gold...

... I am so sorry but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Camphor Magick and Lore

Magickal Uses of Camphor

Ruler: Moon, Buddha
Type: Extract from tree
Magickal Form: oil, whole chunks

Obtained from the evergreen tree, this fragrant white compound holds many spiritual properties. In voodoo rituals, it is burned for love and attraction. It is one of the most sacred substances to offer to the moon goddess on a new moon to thank her for her abundant blessings.

Camphor is also used in cleansing and purification rituals. Use it to get rid of unwanted passions or unwanted admirers....

... I am so sorry but this post has been combined with another and moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients. It can be found here: Camphor Magick and Lore

Primrose Lore and Magicks

Ruler: Freya

Planet: Venus

Element: Earth

Often associated with the month of February, Primroses attract fairies to the garden.

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to a brand new website Magickal Ingredients, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found here: Primrose

Primrose Lore and Magicks

Ruler: Freya

Planet: Venus

Element: Earth

Often associated with the month of February, Primroses attract fairies to the garden.

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to a brand new website Magickal Ingredients, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found here: Primrose

Dictionary of Herbal Intentions

• Beauty: Avocado, Catnip, Ginsing, Maidenhair

I'm so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my website, shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in it's entirety, here, on the brand new mini-site hosted there called Magickal Ingredients.