Old Names For Herbs - A to Z

In the old days, herbalists and midwives didn't use textbook botanical names for herbs. Medicinal and magical plants had colorful descriptive names. Often, old books about magic and herbal healing use the folk names instead of the names commonly used today, and it can be confusing. So, here is an alphabetical listing of those names, along with the common and botanical names in current use. You'll notice that some plants have a variety of names, and some names refer to a variety of plants.

• A Hawk's Heart: Heart of Wormwood Artemisia absinthium
• A Lion's Hairs: Tongue of a Turnip [i.e., the leaves of the taproot] Brassica napus
• A Man's Bile: Turnip Sap Brassica napus
• A Pig's Tail: Leopard's Bane Arnica montana
• A Titan's Blood: Wild Lettuce Lactuca virosa
• Aaron's Rod: Goldenrod Solidago Virgaurea -or- Great Mullein Verbascum thapsus
• A Bone of an Ibis: Buckthorn Rhamnus cathartica
• Absinthe: Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium
• Adder's Fork: Bistort Polygonum Bistorta
• Adder's Mouth: Chickweed Stellaria Media
• Adder's Tongue: Dogstooth Violet Erythronium multiscapoideum

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, and can be found in its entirety here: Old Names For Herbs

Insomnia Spell - Hecate's Bath

Once upon a time, according to legend, Hecate had a temple in the ancient city of Colchis, surrounded by vast botanical gardens. Her priestesses, including her most famous devotee Medea, were famed for their botanical knowledge. No doubt they could concoct a sleeping potion or two. This simple bath uses two of Hecate's sacred materials - honey and lavender - to soothe the way to sleep and encourage healing dreams....

... I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Apothecary, and can be found in its entirety here: Insomnia Spell - Hecate's Bath

Magick and The Solar Eclipse

Throughout the year, the sun waxes and wanes. At the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, the sun is only visible for a few short hours. Days become longer and at the Spring or Vernal Equinox, day and night are equal. At the Summer Solstice, the sun is visible for the longest period of time (the longest day of the year). Days start to become shorter and at the Autumnal Equinox, day and night are equal again. Finally, as the sun wanes, we are at the Winter Solstice again.

During a solar eclipse, we experience what might be called a "micro year". The sun is whole, then partially or completely hidden, and then visible again. Within just a few minutes, an energy similar to a complete cycle of solstices and equinoxes can be felt....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, The Pagan Calendar, and can be found (along with even more great information on Solar Eclipses in its entirety here: The Solar Eclipse and Magick

Sky Divination

Go outside at night when the sky is clear. Ask a question. If the stars seem to glow brighter, or if a shooting star races across the sky, the answer is yes. If nothing seems to occur after fifteen minutes, or if clouds blot out the stars, the response is no.

Before going to bed, walk outside, look up at the sky...

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

Hello Auntie Moss

Auntie Moss has come to stay with us here at Gypsy Magic. How cool is that?

Who is she and where did she come from? She is a wonderful little old village witch who got a really bad rap from Ursula LeGuin in her Earthsea book "Tehanu." The description in the book reads like this:

"Aunty Moss was a dour creature, unmarried, like most witches, and unwashed, with greying hair tied in curious charm-knots, and eyes red-rimmed from herb smoke." She was further described as, "unpredictable, unreliable, incomprehensible, passionate, ignorant, sly, and dirty."

The one thing said about her that was true is "she was following her heart, it was a dark, wild, queer heart, like a crow, going its own ways and on its own errands." What the book neglected to say was that she is a wise and wonderful witchy woman who has never steered me wrong.

Lucky for us, I was able to find an actual picture of her, and she did graciously agree to be of help to those of you who ask for advice and insight. You'll find her at the bottom of the page (here at Gypsy Magic). Go ahead, scroll down, ask her something, you know you want to!

New Beginnings

For this spell, you need:

• 1 amethyst cluster
• 2 crystal points
• 1 bag of sea salt
• Black Bag
• Black votive candle in candle holder and matches
• Candy or something sweet to eat

You can make a new start any time, but some times are better than others. When the moon is new, she lends her energy to new beginnings.

The first month of the New Year is also a wonderful time to have a new beginning....

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 its entirety here: New Beginnings

Colors And Their Meanings

• Black: The meaning of the color black is mystery and protection. It is the color of the clergy, and witches use it to cloak themselves and safeguard their mysteries.
• White: White is a holy color, and it symbolizes purity, innocence, wholeness and completion.
• Gray: The color gray is an unemotional color. It is detached, neutral, impartial and indecisive - the fence-sitter. Gray is reserved, quiet and conservative. It has a steadying effect on other colors around it.
• Gold: Gold is the color of kings, gold symbolizes wealth, success, achievement and triumph and status. It is related to the sun....

I am so sorry to do this to you, but this post has been moved to my new website, Magickal Ingredients, hosted at shirleytwofeathers.com, and can be found in its entirety here: The Magickal Meanings of Colors

Animal Symbols in Magic

Animal magic is use of an animal for its symbolism and energies. Animals can also be animal spirit guides. Similar to spirit guides, they are used for their strengths, skills, and guidance. Using animal symbols in your spell work can be very effective. They can be used to represent persons or situations, and/or to add strength and ability to what it is you are working to achieve. Here is a listing of many common animals and the general properties associated with them. You can also use this list as an aid when decifering dreams, omens, shapes in tea leaves, etc.

• Alligator-aggression, survival, adaptability
• Ant-team player, worker
• Armadillo-active, nocturnal, protection
• Bat-guardian of the night, cleaner
• Bear-power, adaptability
• Bear Paw-strength, mobility
• Beaver-builder, gatherer
• Bobcat-fierce, loner, intensity
• Buffalo-sacredness, life builder...

... 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: Animal Symbols In Magick

Apple Energy Banishment Spell

• Cut an apple in half horizontally, so that the star in the center is exposed.
• Rub one half of the apple with a mint leaf while visualizing what needs to be banished.
• Write your problem on a slip of paper....

... I am so sorry, but this post has been moved to my new website, Book of Shadows, and can be found in its entirety here: Apple Mint Banishment Spell

An Easter Monday Bìcáben

In the old days (back in the 1800's), this is how the Hungarian Gypsies celebrated Easter Monday. They made a wooden box or receptacle called the bìcáben, pronounced like the English gypsy word bitchapen and meaning the same, that is ~ a sending, a thing sent or gift.

In this, at the bottom, two sticks were placed across, "as in a cradle," and on these were laid herbs and other fetish, or meaningful stuffs which every one touched with the finger...

,,, 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: An Easter Monday Bìcáben