Tag Archives: Earth

October 21, 2022 · 1:03 pm

Root work )O(

Merry meet all,

I was just out harvesting MORE dandelion roots. They are drying now on the kitchen cupboard. I’m buying another bottle of vodka soon and tincture the roots. Or maybe I will use brandy, no, I should stick with vodka. The alcohol acts as a natural preservative.

Dandelion, Taraxacum Officinale, is so good for your health that I really question why anyone wants to spray or kill it. Dandelion root is bitter and its actions are diuretic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, hepatoprotective, and it has hypeglyemic properties. “Dandelion root is a powerful diuretic, stimulating kidney function as well as the movement of bile from the gallbladder and liver. Folklore and scientific evidence supports the use of dandelion as a diuretic with intriguing possibilities that it may help with controlling blood sugar and inflammatory processes (Castleman, 2001). Due to its diuretic properties, dandelion may help PMS (Castleman, 2001, Hoffman, 2003) and, most recently, andropause symptoms (Noh, H-Y, 2013).” *Copied and taken from the Herbal Academy website. 

Digging up a dandelion root isn’t easy. Dandelion root, like yellow dock and burdock roots, have a single long stemmed taproot. I have gotten the hang of digging up the roots. If you don’t dig it up right, the root cracks. I ease my trowel into the soil slowly, and I take all the leaves and stems in one hand, then push the trowel in and around the root. Then I tug gently and the root leaves the soil. It is an art. Now you all know why I want to dig up dandelion roots. They are full of vitamins as well as the listed above benefits. 

I bring the roots home, avoiding the curious eyes of passerby, and fill a bowl with clean water. I dunk the roots in the water in the bowl outside, then empty the bowl outside. I bring the roots in and I scrub them clean with an old toothbrush. Soon I will chop up the roots and dry them on low heat in the oven. They can’t be left on the counter for long or they will mold and be tossed to the compost pile. All of those nutrients would be lost.  I have to store them and get the vodka then I plan to make the tincture. It will be amazing! You can dry the chopped roots in the oven on parchment paper at 350 F for thirty minutes. 

I already have a tincture of burdock root and dandelion roots tincturing. I plan to leave it for 3 months! But you usually wait 4 to 6 weeks or a full moon phase, if you want to get witchy about it! You can store the roots in the alcohol for a long time. Some people make dandelion tea or wine. I would love to try dandelion wine!

I’m harvesting the elecampane root tomorrow. It better not rain tomorrow or I may do it today after all. Today’s weather is overcast and clear. I have never done this before. I don’t want to kill the plant. I know how to harvest the root, I am just not experienced enough at it. I guess this is all part of learning to be a herbalist. I watched Youtube videos to see how it’s done. It will be fine. I will dry, chop and store the roots over the winter in a labeled dated jar. I love to get artsy with the labels too. 

Digging up a plant for its roots is killing the plant. In terms of elecampane, I hope to leave the roots or new buds for replanting. I have found an amazing article all about harvesting elecampane roots. I’m going to soak the roots once dug up to see the new buds. That will tell me I can successfully replant the elecampane. I have no intention of killing the roots. I just wish I had a pitchfork but my big garden shovel will work. I’ll use my boline to gather the roots I want to harvest. The rest goes back in the soil with a sprinkle of fertilizer. 

I still have to wash the pots, harvest the beans once they turn brown and hard, and make my offering. I am almost done my garden chores. I am sad and happy at the same time. I love the harvest but the harvest signifies the finale for my garden for the year. The rich gifts the earth blesses me with makes it all worth it. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

 

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August 30, 2022 · 11:51 pm

Our Paranormal Future

Merry meet all,

Do you feel it in the air? Do you smell it or taste it in the water? I do. I know many others do because they told me online. But try to feel it in the air. I am talking about this change, something heavy in the air. It is not always heavy but I think that it represents a change, not necessarily for the better. 

I sense a change in the air. It is transitioning to autumn, fall. Yes Samhain approaches. (Which means I need to get my shit together but that is another topic). I just feel like a darkness is coming over the world. I think it goes beyond the Goddess is pissed at us for disrespecting the earth on such a huge global scale. I think that that is part of it. I would be called crazy for talking about this stuff but I can post this here. 

Ok so… I believe we are going to see a lot of change in the near future. If you don’t believe me or in the paranormal, then go read up about Skinwalker Ranch. I do. I also believe that the paranormal has something to do with it – the aliens which I believe exists, and the spirits roaming the earth now also know about the change. Of course, they are just waiting around for us mortals to figure it all out. I not only believe that but I feel it. I imagine or understand it as a darkness growing over the world, like some people say the devil is having his way. 

I sense that if people are being good to the earth that they might survive. If someone or an organization has harmed the earth like the destruction of the amazon rainforests, deforestation, etc, then they are not going to be fortunate. The evil companies will drive us toward a mass destruction of our planet. I don’t even use pesticides in my garden. I did catch a Japanese beetle in a jar from my garden. I tossed the jar in the dumpster. But if I did use pesticides, that would throw off the balance in my garden. Balance can’t be touched or tasted or felt but it exists. I keep a balance in my garden. I grow nasturtiums which attract aphids. That draws the predatory insects to the aphids. I grow the nasturtiums because I know that some bugs want to eat the aphids such as ladybugs. I keep a balance. It keeps the insects out of my apartment and keeps them productive in the garden. I have a beautiful thriving garden.  I work with the energies and the land spirits that are already there. I also offer gemstones, coins, honey, milk to the spirits in the spring and fall. I give thanks to the spirits and the Goddess/ God for the beautiful garden I have. The gratitude I show ensures I can have a good harvest and that they will continue to help me. 

I think we should all hit the pause button and reflect deeply on not what the paranormal is about but why it is suddenly the hottest thing to hit social media. Why is it so huge right now? I believe that it has something to do with what I mentioned above. This is a good time to strengthen relationships with your chosen deity or gods that you follow. It is a good time to strengthen relationships with your mortal friends too. 

Aliens, UFOs, crop circles, cattle mutilations, poltergeist activity etc are so hugely popular now. I am on the fence about Bigfoot but I would believe in aliens way more than Bigfoot. I know that social media connects us globally. We can now have information at an unprecedented rate now and faster than ever before on earth. We all communicate globally within mere seconds or minutes. So this is why we all know so much about the paranormal and many other things of course. I am terrified about aliens. I don’t want to think that they exist. 

The greed, corruption, the huge demand of the earth’s resources, violence, crime, war (Ukraine, anyone?), and apathy sweeping over the planet now is not helping anything. It casts a dark shadow  over the earth. I don’t know what happened in Skinwalker Ranch that ignited all that activity occurring there but it is a great example of what I am talking about here. We have to remember that we are not in control of the earth like we want to believe. We need earth but she doesn’t need us. We can’t live anywhere else. I have zero intention of leaving earth and moving up the stars – where the aliens are watching over us. I serve the Goddess, she doesn’t serve me. I was meant to be here on earth. This is how it works for me. 

Not everyone believes in these things. But for those that do and that includes me! The paranormal is so hot right now. I feel that something is coming, and I also feel that whatever that is isn’t good at all. I mean if all this crazy stuff is happening, there has to be an explanation for it all and that explanation might make you uncomfortable. I am still feverishly curious. You have to admit this is all cool. 

I would love to see all your comments on what you think this is. It is ok to be a skeptic! It’s ok to believe. It is real cool when skeptics become believers. Be good to the earth, be good to your fellow man, and be good to yourselves!

I love this blog post and I have posted a link to it. It affirms what I believe. https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2016/06/the-otherworld-is-bleeding-through.html#disqus_thread

I enjoy this post as well: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/johnbeckett/2016/11/the-veil-is-shredded.html#disqus_thread

Here is a cool link to a paranormal post about Skinwalker Ranch: https://youtu.be/cxjHba9OO0I

Whatever transpires for us in our weird paranormal future, let’s hope it is for the best of all mortals and animals -or amphibians out there. I do sense a darkness coming. It is good to remember from time to time that change is good and that as long as we maintain the balance of life,  we just may be fine. I hope I am wrong but I wouldn’t be shocked if I was right. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

 

 

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July 13, 2022 · 12:27 pm

Herbal Crafts )O(

Merry meet all,

I am enjoying my herbal studies at the Herbal Academy. The flowers I’m pressing are beautiful. I plan to press a good deal more flowers soon. I”m making a flower essence out of the local summery flowers here. That includes borage, mint, lavender petals, red clover, chamomile. Mmmmm I can’t wait. I am steeping the essence outdoors in a glass bowl in my garden. Soon in another hour or two I shall strain the flowers and make the potion with brandy! Sounds good to me. 

There are so many herbs outside in my garden and the nature trail. I sure have my pick of plants. Borage, lavender, chamomile, lemon balm, burdock, goldenrod, clover, and many others. I love living here as it makes my studies at the Academy much easier. The herbs I need grow in abundance around me. This encourages me to be more sustainable in my practice and to be an earth steward! Right now, I am loving the ample sunshine and loving that that will aid my floral essence in my garden. The bowl of flowers must absorb the sunlight. It is crucial to the floral essence being made properly. I plan to strain the flowers with a strainer outdoors. I am sure the glass bowl of flowers soaking in water will have some bugs in it!

I plan to do a bookbinding project of the herbal course material too. I will finish it this coming weekend. I just have to complete some stuff before that. It really is a weekend project. I promise to show photos here once I am done. I already have the supplies and I have bound/ covered the book covers in bookbinding cloth. I am not anywhere near done. I have to sew the folios together and still cover the book covers with more layers. That will give it a nice seamless look. I hope this goes well. I want to decorate the pages with pressed flowers and of course, butterfly stickers. 

There are so many crafts I can do! Flower pressing, flower essences, bookbinding, or making floral handmade paper – I am only limited by my imagination! I am covered in mosquito bites. I’m also waiting for the delivery of a beautiful embroidered leather binder from Etsy. It’s traveling as I type from the UK to Canada. I hope I don’t have to wait too long. I am using the binder for my materia medica. I can’t wait! It’s so beautiful. I think my herb notes deserve to be stored in something truly beautiful. 

On top of the herbal crafts I mentioned above, I am also helping the other plants in my garden grow to their very best. I’m growing veggies too. Celery, tomatoes, squash, parsley, coriander, lovage, basil, mint, pumpkin, potatoes, a carrot or two, beans, root veggies like turnip and radish and beets. I’m also growing chives, shallots, tons of nasturtiums, raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry. The haskap berries are past their season now. The bean vines are so aggressive. I bought two poles to support the scarlet runner bean vines. They are growing a little too well. The elecampane is yet to flower. The flower buds are formed. I am just waiting on pins and needles for it to blossom! 

I bought a big tool chest from Canadian Tire. It doesn’t hold hammers and nails. Instead, the huge chest holds all my craft supplies. I now have more room in my broom closet. It filled up fast. I got the big chest on sale. I just love it. Everything I need is finally in one place and I have a place for everything! I can now enjoy doing more herbal crafts with a lot less stress. I just love the big ‘pirate’ chest. 

I wish you dear readers would let me know what herbal crafts you are doing now. Do let me know in the comments below. 

BB Spiderwitch

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June 10, 2022 · 12:45 pm

Litha

Merry meet all,

 We had a big rainstorm over the last 2 days. It was amazing how much rain there was. I just checked my garden and everything survived. Now the sun is shining his hardest. 

A word of caution here: Pretty Litter is the biggest money grab scam EVER. Yup I will never buy cat litter from them again. My Mom gave me money for cat litter. I had already bought a bag of cat litter. They withdrew the money as if they had every right before I could even get to the store to buy the shoes. I checked my account thanks to a mobile app. The money was gone and I knew who the rat was. Pretty Litter has some dodgy crap excuse and some serious erroneous self-entitlement attitude problem. They stole the money, refuse to issue a refund despite me making it amply clear I never wanted a second box of cat litter. They refuse to refund my Mother. They never sent a second box of cat litter. I am so contacting the Better Business Bureau to report their sorry butts. I bet I won’t get the second box of cat litter either. I never received a confirmation email. They now have some unbelievable non refund policy. They ever withdraw even a dime from my account again. They will regret it. I just reported them to the Better Business Bureau. I feel so good right now. 

The Summer Solstice approaches! My garden is in full gorgeous green swing. It already is summer in my garden. Everything is in bloom and every insect in creation is enjoying it. Litha is the summer solstice and marks the beginning of the summer season. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night of the year. It marks the height of the sun’s power. 

The God is now in his power and the Goddess brings forth abundance. The crops are full. Ancient Witches and pagans  celebrated Litha with torch processions and maintaining a balance between the Elements of Fire and Water. Herbs were gathered for their healing powers. 

Decorate your altar with fresh flowers, herbs and fruit. Perform a re dedication ritual to the God and Goddess. Burn a candle to show a devotion to the Horned God. 

Litha is also known as Midsummer. Now is a good time to perform faerie Magick. They are out and about now. Offer them blessings and they will help you in your garden! 

SYMBOLS OF LITHA

Colors:  Blue, green, yellow, pink, purple (look to nature for the colors of Litha, as seen in the sky, woods and flowers) 

Foods:  Honey, elderberry, strawberry, fennel, thyme, fresh greens, mead, light wines 

Stones:  Peridot, diamond, emeralds, lapis lazuli  

Symbols:  Bonfire, sunwheels, flowers  

Flowers & Plants:Oak, mistletoe,, elderflower, lavender, pine, fern, pine, rose 

Deities:   Aphrodite, Astarte, Freya, Ishtar, Helios, Llew, Holly King, Lugh, Sol, Ra, Zeus, Thor  

WAYS TO CELEBRATE LITHA 

  • Make floral wreaths for your front door

  • Host a bonfire and potluck for family and friends 

  • Gather and dry herbs to use throughout the coming year

  • Take time to meditate and give thanks for the blessings you have in your life 

  • Create an ‘invisibilty’ amulet from seeds of ferns gathered on midsummer eve 

  • Build a Faerie House in the woods, to invite their goodwill into your life 

 

https://www.mabonhouse.co/litha

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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April 22, 2022 · 11:33 am

Spring Tides

Merry meet all,

Happy Earth Day!!! Every single day should be Earth Day, in my opinion. But I am glad to celebrate it today. I’m sipping herbal tea. I have no lights turned on, the kettle is unplugged. Well OK I’m on the computer but I have to be to type this post. I watered my many green seedlings this morning. My kitty is perched on a pile of papers, watching everything that moves. Mmmm this herbal tea of chamomile, meadowsweet, lemon balm, passionflower and vervain is delicious! 

I successfully completed the latest section on the nervous system in the Intermediate Course with a perfect grade – 100%! I have other good news. My poem, The Frightened Spirit, is slated to be published in the upcoming issue of Polar Borealis #21! I’m attending StokerCon 2022 which is on May 12-15th and I can’t wait! I even submitted an author reading of me reading my published short story The Grimm Pumpkin. This is all good news. 

I have to practice my botanical drawings more. Once spring really is here, and flowers are in bloom, like when the weather actually warms up and stays warm, I will draw more. Spring in Nova Scotia is like an extended winter season. The Herbal Academy wants me to go foraging. It’s not time here for that yet. I’ll be patient. Speaking of wild flowers, the sunny flowers are coltsfoot not dandelion. I thought they were dandelions but my app identified them as coltsfoot. They are two different plants. Dandelion is safe to consume and coltsfoot has a toxin. 

This website says more about it here: 

Coltsfoot preparations have liver toxic alkaloids that may have the potential to cause cancer. Some sources, such as RX List, report that “Coltsfoot is considered UNSAFE. It contains chemicals called hepatotoxic (toxic to the liver) pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) that can damage the liver or cause cancer.”Mar 22, 2020
I’m mentioning this to show you how easily one plant can be mistaken for another. I use the app Seek to aid me in identifying plants. I almost harvested the coltsfoot but I may be reluctant to do so now. There is insufficient evidence to support whether it is a safe herb to consume. I hope the bees enjoy coltsfoot. Power to them!
A book came in the mail that I am so excited to get to read. The book’s titled Poltergeist: A New Investigation into Destructive Haunting by John Fraser. This book focuses way more on poltergeists than on ghosts. The author aims to prove the existence of the more noisy spooky poltergeists. I think I will enjoy this book. That debate can go on for forever. It is hard to prove both exist let alone one over the other. The book is nonfiction. 
I hope you all enjoy spring. Blessings to all, Spiderwitch

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April 19, 2022 · 7:00 pm

A Cauldron of Soil Spell )O(

Merry meet all,

The invasion has begun! It is inescapable. Penny has run out of play room too! Oh my what am I to do? Did I get your attention? Ok I’m referring to the invasion of seedlings that have taken over my home, Goodness there are so many plant pots in here. Burn a candle and light some incense! Play relaxing music. 

This post is about how to create your own soil mixes for your own tender seedlings. You DO have young green seedlings in your apartment right? lol

Well let’s get started. I like mixing up the soil.

Ever notice that plant pots are round in shape? I like to think of the planters and plant pots as cauldrons. They have a lot more to do with cauldrons than you think. This may just change the way you garden from now on. Grab a cup of tea and join me. 

I mentioned the benefits of purchasing and using good quality soil in the last post, right? There is a good reason for that. It helps your plants get off to their best start, off to the races running. or, in this case, growing. Let’s take it a step further. 

Set down newspaper on the counter or wherever you choose to work in your home. Put the plant pot or seedling plant pot on the newspaper. Be willing to get your hands dirty. I love getting my hands right into the soil but that’s just me. Place a pitcher full of cold water nearby. Open the bag of soil. Next tip: I put a cloth grocery bag (plastic bags are banned here). It keeps the bag from spilling or making a mess. Just don’t forget about it but you won’t, will you?

Mix the soil into the plant pot. As you do this, envision that you are filling the pot with the energy of the Goddess. (Use a round pot for this.) You will see why now. The pot is round, so is a cauldron. The pot is deep ( well, most of them are). So is a cauldron. The cauldron is the deep earthy womb of the Goddess. The pot is too once it is full of soil. Once it is full of soil, meditate and reflect on the earthy goodness of the soil from the Goddess and the pot too. Mix that soil up in your hands. Smell it, feel it, cradle it in your hands. Visualize the energy traveling from your hands to the soil. Feel the energy traveling from the soil to you. I always do feel the energy of the soil. That is why I never wear gardening gloves. I love feeling the connection.

Stir the soil with a wooden spoon or your own eager hands. Loosen up any clumps and remove rocks. If you want, depending on what stage of growing your seedlings you are at, you can add fertilizer. Mix in bonemeal, bloodmeal, worm castings, coffee grounds or ground eggshells. Be sure to stir thoroughly. As you do, mix well and visualize. Direct the energy of your intention into the soil. 

If you choose, you can put the seedling into the plant pot THEN fill it with the soil. After that, when you have centered the seedling into the pot, and placed it in deeper than it was before in the starter pot, add the soil. Be sure to visualize, direct the energy and feel the soil in your hands. Grow with love and you will get love. The DNA of the future plant is contained within the seed. So planting a seed truly is an act of magic! 

Once the seed is planted, in a matter of days a cotyledon emerges, a tiny sprout. That sprout can grow into an oak tree, parsley or a pumpkin. Don’t crowd your seedlings – their tender roots need room to grow. I watched my Mother transplant over three dozen cherry tomato plant seedlings. Some of the starter pots contained up to five seedlings! They are all growing in their own pots now, much less crowded. 

A plant is a living being with feelings. Treat the plant like that and you will be rewarded many times over with a plant happy to grow and bloom and/ or bear fruit or seeds! If it is thirsty, water it. If it droops, place it in more light. If it is crowded or rootbound, repot it. I can sense when a plant is thirsty. You can also use your hair dryer to blow for a few seconds on your plants. That signals to them that they should grow strong stems. If it is warm enough where you live, leave the window open. The wind that wafts in will help them grow! 

I hope this post inspires you to get growing your own plants! Let me know in the comments below. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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March 28, 2022 · 4:26 pm

Seeds of hope

 

Merry meet all,

I’m busy sprouting seeds. I have sprouted way too many seeds but this does mean that I get a better harvest come autumn. !! I have sprouted brandywine tomato, Scotch Bonnett peppers, kale, leeks, german chamomile, lavender, cucumber and purple echinacea. I can’t wait to grow them in my garden! I have too many starter seeds here. The more, the merrier. 

Tomorrow I plan to sign up for the Botanical artwork class at the Herbal Academy. I’m buying the sketchbook for the course too. I want to get the apothecary labels for bottles and jars too. I can’t print in color. I want to order rue and yarrow seeds. Yarrow is good for our health and rue is witchy and guards the home!! 

I also want to grow lemon basil, and start growing the witchy seeds I ordered months ago. Black cumin, howden pumpkin and vietnamese cilantro are just a few. It sounds so tasty! I have a few big starter pots sporting my tender seedlings. I don’t have enough starter pots for the seeds. I have successfully pre-germinated chamomile seeds on a damp paper towel in an old pet food bowl. It worked!! There are so many tiny chamomile seedlings I can’t even count them all. They will grow into the beautiful daisy like apple scented herb we all know and love. It is too exciting!

I sterilized a pot from the garden and washed it well. I use bleach to kill any possible insects/ insect eggs that may have hibernated in the pot over winter. Then once clean, I filled the pot with soil. The pot was 12 inches in diameter. I put pre-germinated parsley seeds, and added sage seeds, basil, dill, radish and carrot. Mmm I can just taste it. The pot sits on my kitchen counter. I just can’t wait for the seeds to germinate and fill the pot with their earthy goodness. I may move the pot out once the warm weather arrives. But for now, the pot is indoors. It is too cold yet. I want to plant  potatoes in a grow bag. I can start that in mid-April. I have to grow the tubers at my Mom’s to protect them from ravenous raccooons. The masked thieves just bite a potato then toss it. It’s wasted. Nope not this year. I will be ready for those bandits. 

I want to start nasturtium seeds early this year. If I wait till later in the summer, they will take forever to get growing. The time to start seeds is now. I have lovely scarlet runner beans in air dried brown pods. I plan to grow those this year too along with green beans and purple beans. The purple beans turn green when cooked! 

That is a good start to spring! Beginning a plant from seed saves you tons of money later. It can be expensive to buy lots of transplants. There is a time and place to transplants though. I do it too but later in the season when the perennials have filled the garden. I know what to plant and where I can plant. Put your intention into the seed starting! Happy planting!

 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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August 16, 2021 · 3:00 pm

Witches Herbs

Merry meet all,

I just finished reading the book titled The Witching Herbs by Harold Roth. This wonderful book is meant for anyone who aspires to grow the bane herbs, or poisonous herbs in their gardens. Don’t grow any bane plants until you read this book. It will save your life. You really need to understand on a very sound and deep level how to work with the plants and not kill yourself or someone else in the process. I don’t want anyone growing any mandrakes, belladonna or nightshade without reading this book. I can’t emphasize enough how crucial this book is to your health and safety. 

I am growing mandrake from seed! It is stored up high where it gets the fresh air and sunlight from the window. But it is up high where my cat can’t reach it. That is for her safety. Mandrake is a toxic plant and I will never let anything harm her- and me, as well. I want the mandrake for the root and I have just the spot to plant it. I have to wait till it is big enough to defend itself from slugs. Then it gets planted out. I almost grew wolfsbane. Wolfsbane is a plant that is exceedingly toxic. It goes by a few names such as wolfsbane, aconite, aconite – it’s botanical name and monkshood. Yet people grow it in their gardens! If you get that plant on your skin and touch your face, you can die right on the spot. The juices of the lovely but toxic plant can’t get into your bloodstream. I pitched the seedling container that had the wolfsbane seeds in it to the compost bin. There is too much risk in growing it. Children, animals and people all frequent the garden. No way would I risk harming them. This is why it is so vital to read that book. 

I harvested the mugwort in my garden. The mugworts grew six feet high! I’m drying the leaves and stalks indoors. The leaves look so pretty on the branches as they slowly dry to a crisp. When it is ready, I will store the leaves in jars. I can’t wait. I bought a new set of jars just for that purpose. I am also drying chamomile. I will store the chamomile in jars too. I don’t crumble the leaves and flowers before I store them. They remain potent for a longer time when you do it that way. Just before you are about to use them, then you crumble the herbs. I plan to store more herbs this fall. I am just waiting to harvest them just before the frost. 

Mugwort is a VERY invasive plant. I uprooted the strong healthy roots of the mugwort patch and put the mugwort into a planter. It will choke out anything else that grows nearby. Mugwort is best grown when it is contained. I hope the mugwort grows well in a container. The planter pot is very very deep. The roots were quite large so I needed a container that could accommodate the big roots. I have never seen such strong healthy roots such as the mugwort roots in my life. I have another plant I at first believed to be a poppy but now I think it is another mugwort. I don’t recall planting mugwort there but more mugwort is OK with me!

Today I cut off all the browned pea vines from 2 pots I was growing them in. I snipped away any remaining stems and tossed it all in the compost. I stirred the soil in the planters and added Gaia Green Organics fertilizer! This fertilizer is a miracle worker in your garden. It’s improved my plants and soil! My comfrey came back when I added it to the soil! I thought my comfrey died! It’s been given a second chance. I planted the sad looking onion seed sets that looked all wilted at the back of the garden into the plant pot. I added the fertilizer. The peas also fixed nitrogen into the soil. The onions might grow better now that they are exposed to more sunlight and are receiving more nutrients! I sure hope so. I am growing potatoes and my shallots grow better near the potatoes. I planted beans and chard in the second planter. I also fed them fertilizer and water in the pots. I was busy in my garden. I also just planted a few turnip seeds in another planter where I have potatoes growing. By the time I harvest the potatoes the turnips will really get going if the bugs keep off. 

I harvested 4 pickling cucumbers so far! My tomatoes are growing too. I trimmed the bottom leaves that touch the ground to avoid the risk of disease. I also fertilized each tomato plant. Now they are growing yellow flowers and tomatoes! Many of my other herbs and flowers are growing beautifully! That is a post for another time. The bees keep visiting the lemon balm, cucumbers, and astilbe, clover and dandelions to pollinate. The lemon balm patch in my garden is huge. It is why everything else in my garden is growing well. Ok by me. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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December 3, 2013 · 10:04 am

New Moon Ceremony

Lunar witch

Merry meet all,

Today is New Moon. The New Moon symbolizes new beginnings and that the full moon is returning. Perform this rite to honor the New Moon. You can do this if you are in a coven or if you are a solitary practitioner. 

Cast a circle and create your sacred space. If it is possible, perform the circle as sacred. Smudge your circle and use salt and smoke to establish the boundaries of the circle. 

The tools you need are a white pillar  candle wrapped in a protective black cloth. You will also need a hand-held mirror with silver and white ribbons tied on it if you wish. You can also coat your candle in oil and sprinkle silver glitter on the candle. You will need a small bowl of Blessing Oil handy. If you are short on supply, mix olive oil or water and rosewater together for an oil. 

Hold the ceremony at sunset. Face west and watch the sunset. Once the sun dropped down below the horizon, you can see where the new moon is rising. You should be able to see the moon if the night is clear. Hold up the candle and say aloud:

Welcome New Moon! / We honor your return/ The cycle spins and the moon phase waxes and wanes. Thank you for blessing us with your energy!

Place the candle on the altar and light the candle, facing the moon. Say:

Today is a new day and a new month begins. 

Warm the Blessing Oil and look in the mirror to see the moon behind you, shining in her glory Anoint yourself and your coven mates with the oil. As you do, say:

May the blessings of the moon be with you. 

Grant yourself the blessings of the moon. I like to think that by performing our rituals outdoors, that the moon shines her energy down on our altar tools, and imbues them with the energy. When you are ready, close the circle and cease the ritual. You can perform a healing ritual or another magical workings. Follow this with a Cakes and Ale ceremony. 

Blessed be,
Lady Spiderwitch )O(

 

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