Merry meet all,
I’v gone herb crazy. I’m storing burdock seed pods (very sticky) in a brown paper bag for spring. Last night, I brewed a jar of elderberry. jam. I harvested ripe Chinese lanterns, lemon basil, catnip, and mullein. I found more mullein in a big gravel patch and I shall collect it soon. I stored brown mullein seed pods in a large brown envelope- labeled, of course. Always label the bag or jar with the type of herb you are using and the date. You will be glad you did six months from now when you can’t remember what you used. Goldenrod, asters, elderberries. raspberries, mullein, burdock, and Queen Anne’s lace all grow on the nature trail. I wish I knew this stuff years ago. But now I do and all these wonderful medicinal herbs are available at my fingertips- and the swing of my scythe. Ok so my scythe is a boline but it works. I gathered crab apples and made two big jars of applesauce. I stored pumpkin in chunks in the freezer. I will puree the pumpkin later. Autumn is the ideal time to store food preserves.
Since I began studying at the Herbal Academy, everything has changed. I have gone totally herb crazy ( more so than I was before), and I see them all around me now. It’s like the plants are saying, ha! we hid in plain sight. That will help me with my studies at the Herbal Academy. The lemon verbena will hopefully bloom in the garden soon. The chard is growing nicely. I’m using polytunnels this fall to grow chards and other greens in my garden during the cold season. I’m growing carrots indoors. I did eat a wild carrot, also known as Queen Anne’s lace, and it had no averse effects on me. I just mistaked it for an orange carrot. I plan to grow the carrots in a pot indoors. I have a hard time with it outdoors. I just planted the gorgeous deep reddish brown chrysanthemum flowers in the garden. I hope they. make it. I can’t wait to store the flowers.
Mabon is the second harvest Sabbat. I celebrated the Harvest Moon last night. I gazed at the luminous moon then sat at my altar. I lit a candle and incense, and expressed my gratitude for the abundance I have received. I plan to do a Mabon Ritual tomorrow. I hope that you all enjoyed the Harvest Moon and celebrate Mabon. Celebrate the coming of autumn.
I’m a solitary Witch. I practice my Craft my way. I have no set way for anyone to perform a ritual. That’s why you don’t see me telling you how to perform rituals or rites. I believe that you can perform it anyway you choose to. I am not telling you what to do. If you are truly keen on a ritual, it can be fond in books or by searching online. I choose to be a solitary because of the way the local pagan community here treats me. I love being alone. I feel a lot better living this way. However, Mabon is a time to express our gratitude to the gods for the abundance and blessings we receive. I prayed at my altar and you can choose to do so yourself or in a way that feels right to you.
Blessings, Spiderwitch
