Herbal Witchcraft

Angelica Archangelica Native to the north and north-eastern Europe, Iceland, Greenland, Russia and the Himalayas; Angelica also grows wild in Scandinavia and north Asia. Recorded in ancient texts and implemented as medicine in Iceland for more than 1,100 years, Angelica was once even forbidden by law to steal.  Commonly grown in personal gardens for the health of the home, Angelica was believed to protect against evil, illness and the plague. Angelica contains components that aid in stimulating digestion, help to lower blood pressure, regulate menstruation, aid in childbirth, ease cramps and pains related to periods and gas, help calm stomach ulcer inflammation, and relieve symptoms related to the cold and flu. Angelica is an antimitotic, antiproliferative, chemopreventative, antiulceragenic, antibacterial, antiviral, antitumor, antitussive, emmenagogue, diaphoretic/sudorific, aromatic, bitter, carminative, cordial, expectorant, nervine, stimulant, stomachic, a...

On August 21, 2017 there will be an eclipse. But not just any eclipse, a total solar eclipse. What does this mean for Witches, and Magick? It means that for a moment in time, "time" as we know it halts. For less than a minute, supercharged Energy is available and this window is more powerful than either the Spring or Fall equinoxes. In this second of time, Earths Energy equals that of a total annual cycle of all Seasons, in addition to the unification of Solar and Lunar Energy. This unique eclipse is occurring during the waning period of the year, as we are on the side of the Summer Solstice in which Winter is nearing. It is appropriate during this time to rid oneself of the negative, unwanted, unhealthy, baneful, and otherwise dead things and Energies that are in our life. During the eclipse, it is good to be completely attuned to the Earths Energy of ALL four seasons, and to be capable of working with this amount of Energy in your small window of time. Be p...

Lughnasadh, pronounced  "Lúnasa" in Irish, is originally a Gaelic festival marking the beginning of Fall and is the first of the three Harvest festivals (Samhain being the third and last). Traditionally celebrations began on the eve of August 1st. Lughnasadh means "commemoration of Lugh" however, according to ancient myth, Lugh (pronounced "Loo") honored his foster mother Tailtiu (Tailte,  also known as Talti)  on this day; after she died of exhaustion from having cleared the fields of Ireland for mankind to cultivate. Lughnasadh marks the beginning of Fall, when the Suns descent towards the dark days of winter becomes noticeable. The first fruits of Summer are ready for harvest, as are the grains. The essence of this festival is joy of life, celebrating what Summer is giving us, and appreciating the warmth of the Sun before Winter starts slowly drawing nearer. Traditionally Lughnasadh was celebrated in Ireland, Scotland, and the Isle ...

Eucalyptus globulus; native to Australia, it is one of the most widely cultivated trees on earth. Traditionally used by the aborigines for treating fevers, and for chewing the roots for hydration. Eucalyptus was naturally distributed throughout Tasmania and southern Victoria, with isolated occurrences on King island and Flinders island; naturalized in Spain, Portugal, Cyprus, southern Africa, New Zealand, Macaronesia, Hawaii, California, and western Georgia. Eucalyptus has been used as medicine for hundreds of years. In traditional Chinese medicine, among other uses, it is implemented topically in massage, as a hot compress, added to the bath water, in skin care; as well as through direct inhalation, diffuser & vaporizer methods. Eucalyptus was found to be beneficial in the treatment of Whooping cough and Emphysema through steam inhalation by 19th-century American doctors. In 1855, the French government sent Eucalyptus seeds to Algeria to aid in the eradication...

Dandelion, Taraxacum officinale, has been found recorded in medicinal use since 659 BCE. Native to most of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa; Dandelion has been naturalized world-wide. Mostly viewed as a weed by society, its medicinal qualities are only known to those of us in pursuit of the knowledge and use of herbs as medicine. Historically added to Spring salads as an aid in digestive, kidney, & immune support after a long hard winter surviving mainly on preserved foods. Dandelion was consumed in small quantities in ancient Celtic, Roman and Greek civilizations to help balance ones appetite for the various foods offered in the meal. In northern America many Native American tribes implemented Dandelion for various uses as medicine including a detox cleanse, as a healing poultice or compress, in a decoction to ease stomach upset, ingesting the leaves for alterative effects, steaming the leaves and applying them topically for the treatment sore throats, in a tea a...

Clove (Syzygium aromaticum); in Latin is "Clavus," meaning Nail. Clove is native to the Maluku Islands in Indonesia. First introduced in Europe in the 4th Century AD as a "Luxury" spice, the Cloves origin was kept a secret. Fought over for hundreds of years, Clove was once as valuable as oil. The current main producers of Clove are Indonesia and Madagascar. The first recorded history of Clove as medicine is in 240 BC, used in Chinese medicine as a treatment for diarrhea, hernias, and more. Ayurvedic medicine incorporates Clove for bad breath, tooth decay, and halitosis. Clove was traditionally implemented to prevent nausea and indigestion, to relieve hiccups, and enhance blood circulation & liver function. The Clove tree can reach up to 12-15 meters in height, and it is the immature flower buds that we harvest and use for medicinal and culinary purposes. The essential oil of clove is derived through distillation. The leaves, stems an...

Bay Laurel, native to the Mediterranean and Asia Minor, has been in medicinal use for hundreds of years. Cultivated in Britain since the 1500's, Bay Laurel was also well renowned by ancient Greek and Roman cultures. Seen as noble, wreaths were made of the leaves to adorn the heads of the victorious. Dioscorides implemented the leaves, berries, and roots of Bay Laurel in medicine; he believed the leaves to be a vomitive, the berries pectoral, and the roots to alleviate kidney stones. Galen considered Bay Laurel to be a good remedy for liver ailments. St. Hildegarde described the plant to have multiple medicinal uses in the treatment of fevers, asthma, migraines, gout, palpitations, angina pectoris, and liver & spleen afflictions. In medieval times, monks recorded Bay Laurel as a medicine for relieving stomach problems, colic, & renal disease. Bay Laurel is an analgesic, aromatic, emetic, emmenagogue, diuretic, stimulant, carminative, expectorant, sudorific, ...