Tag Archives: roots

November 1, 2024 · 10:39 am

My Samhain Experience

Greetings darklings,

The sun’s shining brightly on this early November morning. I am in recovery mode. That’s my jack o lantern in the photo. I had an awesome Samhain experience. I want to share that here with my dear readers today. 

I performed a bonfire ritual outdoors at my backyard step two nights ago. I was trying to get hydrogen peroxide and Epsom salts to ignite. No luck. I used a candle to light my hag torches made from mullein stalks. To my surprise, it worked! It proves there is something to going old school with our Magick! Candles will always work when everything else fails. A lovely fire brewed in my cauldron. It was freezing cold outside but the fire kept me warm. I felt the presence of spirits as I sat there with my black wool cloak draped around me for warmth. The smoke rising from the cauldron was so fragrant! 

The next evening, I performed a nice ancestral supper. I cooked a pot roast to perfection. I set a plate for Spirit and myself and left food for spirit too. The turnip, carrots and garden grown potatoes were perfect too. The energy was in the air and I am sure spirits were with me. The candles burned bright and flickered a LOT. I got choked up, remembering my grandparents and several memories returned to me. Yes it was solemn and sad. I can’t believe I cooked that buttery soft truly magnificent meal. I even wore my mourning veil. I ought to make all my meals that delicious and amazing. 

Last night, I left candy out for the eager trick or treaters. Tonight I baked a loaf of pumpkin bread, roasted pumpkin seeds, carved a pumpkin, brewed a batch of rose flavoured chocolate, and made marshmallows from marshmallow root herb powder. I need to blend it more. I bought granola bars and tried a s’more with the chocolate and the marshmallow blend. It tasted great but it is not quite there yet. I am so tired from slaving in the kitchen. The marshmallows can chill in the fridge for tonight. I am tired. Real tired. The kiddies ate most of the candy I left for them. I lit a candle and left it on the windowsill for the spirits. The pumpkin will go out in the back yard tomorrow. 

I was too tired from all that to perform a Solitary Samhain ritual. I still have candy left over from last night and a bowl of freshly roasted pumpkin seeds. I have a large mason jar full to the brim with pumpkin puree. I wish I was able to share all that magic, fun and savoury food with someone. I did it all alone with the ghosts and my cat. That is part of being a true Solitary Witch, I guess. 

Now it’s November, October hangover time. I want to buy a new canister of coffee but I must wait for a few deliveries to be made to my door: kitty kibble, a dress form from Amazon and copies of my published book! I can’t wait. The Arwen dress is not finished yet. The new dress form will make sewing the dress much easier. 

In other news, my novel is an Amazon Best seller! That is awesome. I will now write a sequel to The Cult of the Spider People. It’s successful so it would be worthwhile. I bought a neat Horror Tarot deck. The images on the cards make me think of the older days of pulp fiction. 

I would love to hear how you all celebrated Samhain!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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November 6, 2023 · 10:16 pm

Root tinctures & weird fiction )O(

 

Merry meet all,

I was out foraging for dandelion roots this morning. The earth is carpeted by beautiful autumn leaves, colouring the earth in a resplendent mix of browns, golds, yellows, oranges and fiery reds. I just love it and the weather was warm enough for foraging. I look forward to drying the roots in my dehydrator. 

I enrolled in the Business course at the Herbal Academy. The workbook is on its way to me. I am sure I will learn a lot from the course. I have to decide what I plan to do with my herbalism training. This course will help me with that. I still have a long way to go. The Business course teaches everything on how to manage a herbal-based business. Good thing too, as I don’t have the first clue. 

My bound book is so beautiful and cool. I ordered book corner protectors from Etsy. The corner protectors have an octopus on them to represent a character from Lovecraftian fiction. Here is the link: https://www.etsy.com/ca/listing/1253357176/the-bookworms-from-shaggai-lovecraftian?ref=yr_purchases. I can’t wait to see how amazing my book cover will look. I have plenty to look forward to here. Now I have to write more poems to fill the pages of the bound book. 

I received the copies of Weird Tales: 100 Years of Weird and the Halloweenthology anthology my story is published in. Both books are designed beautifully. I have to stock up on coffee because I shall spend many happy hours perusing the fascinating pages of Weird Tales. Yes and I have those three past issues of Weird Tales magazine to read too. I love to read, I am addicted to the written word. I will invest in a nice bookmark to accompany the huge book, 100 Years of Weird Tales. That is quite the book. 

That is a lot to keep me busy reading during the dark half of the year. I attended a psychic fair yesterday. I can’t recall the last time I was at a fair. It was so good to be at a fair and even better to be around real mediums. I hung out with the wannabe toxic queen bee drama witches for so long. I really enjoyed the fair. I bought a Harry Potter wand. 

I’m brewing a jar of apple slices in rum. I hope to conjure a brew of Apple Spiced Liquor. The potion has to brew for a few more days then I can strain out the apples. I cannot wait to sample the potion. The apple slices look beautiful steeping in the rum. It will taste amazing. I added cinnamon and cloves to the mixture. The apple slices have an amber color and the rum looks like a deep deep red/ burgundy color. I can’t wait to taste it. 

I am also making a skullcap and ashwagandha tincture. I am blending the herbs in two separate jars but I will eventually blend them into one. The intention is to use the tincture  to calm myself, ease stress and help me sleep. The calendula oil is still steeping, as well as the lavender oil is still steeping and the echinacea root tincture. 

I have dried the dandelion roots and the plantain leaves and seeds. I stored the seeds, roots and leaves in jars but I left the lids off. I want the herbal goods to have a chance to fully dry to avoid mold. I waited hours for it all to dry. It takes that long. If you don’t wait that long from morning to night, everything will be moldy and ruined. It takes patience and I have to stay home all day but I enjoy drying herbs – leaves, roots, seeds, bark in my dehydrator. I do not know how I ever managed to live without it. 

Before the frost hit my garden, I spread the last of the straw mulch over the garden. The leaves now cover the garden like a thick beautiful blanket. My soil, the beneficial insects and the roots of my herbs and other plants are now well protected. I harvested the echinacea seed heads. The frost has hit my garden but I know that even though the snow falls and the garden is laid to rest, in the spring it will be born anew. 

I would love to hear about your garden preparations for winter and tincture making. The Herbal Academy is offering a course in tinctures currently. https://theherbalacademy.com/product/tincture-making-101-mini-course/ 

Blessings Spiderwitch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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September 11, 2023 · 11:19 am

Mabon: history, herbs and gems )O(

Merry meet all,

It never rains but it pours. The rain is pouring hard here. Today’s post is about herb and gemstone correspondences for Mabon, a magical time of year. I love Mabon, the second harvest Sabbat of three powerful Sabbats. The Crone prepares for her long cold rest and drawing back her power of abundance and fertility. This is a good time to be grateful for the abundance we receive from the earth. 

The History of Mabon: 

‘History

To start, Mabon is one of the eight sabbats of the Wheel of the Year that marks the transition out of summer into the autumn season. Named after the God of Welsh and Celebrated on September 21st, this is a time that celebrates the balance of the equal light and dark as we slowly begin to prepare for shorter days and longer nights as winter approaches. 

Symbolically, this is the time when the Goddess moves into her crone stage as she grows older and begins to lie down and withdraw her power from the land, leaving it cold and still. However, many also choose to celebrate this festival by honoring the goddess Demeter, as well as Persephone, as it is said that Demeter’s grief in losing her daughter to the underworld is also what caused the earth to transition from its warm and abundant peak into a long and stagnant winter. 

Aside from this, energetically speaking, Mabon is a beautiful time of reflection and movement. It is a time to complete goals, cleanse away old energies, and let go of what is no longer serving you. Not to mention, it is also a good time for making changes in our lives and planting seeds of intention that will grow and rise in the spring. Therefore, it is a great time to reflect on your path and your goals and begin taking larger steps towards bringing them to fruition. ‘ 

Credit given to: https://spiritnest.com/blogs/news/a-mabon-celebration-celebrating-the-second-harvest?_pos=1&_sid=cd273c50b&_ss=r&utm_source=Shopify+Subscribers&utm_campaign=41bed93904-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2016_12_03_COPY_04&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_6db5b07b64-41bed93904-60519593&mc_cid=41bed93904&mc_eid=7f0f546ded

Herbs, flowers and berries:

September is a month of abundance and harvesting the earthy goodness all around us. You can use the herbs you gathered to decorate your Mabon altar and your home. Gather herbs in the morning on a dry day. Always cut the stems and stalks on an angle. Use a good pair of clean sharp scissors or a boline. Give thanks to the plant spirit and only harvest what you need. Wash off any dirt or bugs and dry your herbs by dehydrating them in a dehydrator or on a mesh screen. Take a plant identification book with your or an app to help you identify and harvest the correct plant. Don’t get anything that is poisonous. An app such as Seek is good. Take a magnifying glass, a bag to store the snipped herbs in and wear good walking shoes, also bring insect repellent and don’t harvest from a diseased plant. Don’t harvest anything that has been sprayed, or is at risk of being endangered. 

Sunflowers, corn husks, any flowers growing in your garden or in your area such as goldenrod, red clover, St. John’s wort, rose petals, Chinese lanterns, yarrow, blue cornflower, thyme, lavender, sage, basil, burdock, elderberries, or rosemary. All these herbs, flowers and berries are potent. Pumpkins, gourds, potatoes, onions, wheat, acorns, dandelion roots, burdock roots add a rich healthy earthiness to a Mabon harvest. Feel free to add bones, pomegranates, cider. 

Gemstones:

Gemstones have been used to heal people and empower their lives since time immemorial. Black tourmaline, hematite, sunstone, citrine, amber, quartz, agates and petrified wood are ideal. Match the colours of the gemstones to the shades of Mabon. Leave a few gemstones in your garden as an offering to the nature spirits for protecting and nurturing your garden. They can decorate your altar. Use browns, gold, reds and orange colours. 

The next post will focus on the ways to celebrate Mabon. This is sure to inspire you! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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May 4, 2023 · 11:44 am

Beltane Wishes

Merry meet all,

Happy Beltaine!!!!! Beltane is the third of the three spring Sabbats. Flowers are in bloom everywhere here despite the cold snap.

I ordered gold fairy lights for the bookcase. I know that will look amazing. Stringing up the fairy lights is my next challenge. Scotch tape and push pins are my best bet, most likely. The fairy lights are eighteen feet long. I plan to use the fairy lights outside in the garden too. That will look amazing at night. I need to grow some flowers that bloom at night, such as moonflower! 

I finished gluing the moss to the entire bookcase- the side facing out. That is the side that everyone will see, so that gets the moss and decorations. I also kept to one colour plan- gold, browns, moss green, reds and oranges. That is basically the autumn colours but it could also represent the entire green growing season. I foraged, prepared and attached two more pinecones. By ‘prepared’, I meant cleaning the pinecones of any potential pests. I soaked the pinecones in cold water and vinegar for thirty minutes then baked them in the oven at 225% for almost two hours. The sap dried on the cones and they lay more flat. I glued them to the moss on the bookcase. 

I glued fake ivy leaves and pink flowers and leaves to the bookcase. I drew runes on to small round wooden pieces and glued the wood mini logs to the bookcase, leaves and moss. It looks so cool. The mini logs look like natural wood and may be created from real wood. I believe they are, and look like they were always there. I await the fairy lights. The faeries must be overworked today, because the delivery is taking a long time. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I can’t wait for the frost to leave. I am so anxious to get my plants in the ground outside. The soil is deeper, leaving more room for the roots. They are exposed to the elements of earth, air, fire, water and Spirit. They can grow more strongly and as big as they want. It is still cold out. It is so hard waiting. I have a lot of work to do in the garden. I can’t wait for the cold snap to end. I need to clean up the garden, rake the leaves away, and move the spreading raspberry canes to a new home/ spot. They can take over there and would still receive sun. I need to buy several bags of soil and work that into the soil that is already there. I have to tidy up the garden supports. Then, once that is done, and the earthworms are up to the task of working through the soil, I will make my annual twice a year offering of cornmeal, honey and milk and pray to the God and Goddess for a bountiful and beautiful growing season. 

Then I move my seedlings outside to their new homes. This is the part that I look the most forward to. None of this can happen till the frost ceases. I want to grow datura from seed outdoors. It is a poisonous plant but witches are not supposed to be scared right? I also want to start it outdoors to protect my cat from it. I will regularly fill the bird feeder, stir up the compost and tend to my herbs and flowers and veggies. I can’t wait to get started. 

I know lovage will grow well near rhubarb. I plan to get a new lovage seedling from a garden centre. It is easier to start with a seedling and faster. I want to see how well the lovage will grow near the rhubarb. The elecampane main crown root had two new buds (or maybe more) and I hope new stalks come up this summer. I didn’t use the syrup so I won’t make more. The plant needs to get established and it is clearly trying to do just that. 

Once Jack Frost bids goodbye, I plan to be ready and armed with bags of soil and my new cute pink garden trowel in hand. I wish you all a lovely Beltane! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

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May 2, 2023 · 9:50 am

Bewitched Bookcase )O(

Coltsfoot in spring

 

Merry meet all,

Hello my dear readers! I have been so busy the last two days. I decided that since it’s spring, I needed to spruce up my kitchen. The bookcase was so much work to put together but it was so worth it! I am here to tell you how I created my beautiful spring bookcase. So sit back, have a cup of tea and read on…

I found the bookcase I liked on IKEA. The one catch was that the shelves aren’t wooden. I found a way around that. I might buy green placemats at the Black Market if they have them. The shelves are white steel, Epoxy/polyester powder coating. The bookcase is also made of wood. I got my Mom’s help to assemble the bookcase. We then realized I couldn’t paint the bookcase after it was assembled. Ok. So I had to paint the wood before we put it all together. I already had the perfect shade of moss green paint ready to go. So after she left, I set about preparing to paint. I gathered paint brushes, patience, the paint, a drop cloth and black garbage bags. The bookcase is an open shelf unit. 

It is still freezing outside. But I had to entertain a cat and paint a bookcase. Anyone who has a pet cat or dog knows how hard that can be. I barricaded myself in my bedroom with the bookcase and the paint supplies and got to work. First I cut up an old bedsheet, and 5 or 6 black garbage bags. I taped the garbage bags to the bedroom furniture and to the office chair to avoid paint stains. I put down the drop cloth. The drop cloth was so aggravating. The shelving sections kept sliding on the cloth. There was some paint on the floor by the time I was done. I did my best to avoid a big mess. The back door was open all day to let Penny see out the screen window. Eventually I finished and let the shelving units dry. I had taped a small section on the shelving units so I could turn them around and avoid paint on my hands which happened anyway. The next morning, I had to clean up my apartment which resembled a war zone because Mom was coming over to finish assembling it. 

 

 

 

 

 

Ugh. I made myself some coffee and tidied up the apartment. I touched up the shelving units and checked them over. They looked great. I washed the floor, threw away the garbage, and cleared an area to work in. We assembled the bookcase. We enjoyed tea and lemon bread as we worked. Penny stayed out of my way as we assembled and I painted the bookcase, which I really appreciated. She returned home. Now I was ready for the final and most fun step: decorating it!

I gathered the artificial moss, butterfly and insect stickers, hot glue gun and glue sticks, the pinecones I found outside, bird feathers, the birdhouse I painted and decorated, acorns, white glue, paint brushes, etc. I used the hot glue gun to adhere the moss to the bookcase. The colour of the shelving unit is perfect for the moss, which is why I selected it. Here is a sneak preview of how it looks: 

 

 

 

 

 

I have finished gluing the moss to the bookcase shelving units. It was the most time consuming part of the project. I am currently preparing the pinecones for the bookcase. I soak them in a solution of vinegar and water for half an hour then bake them to kill the mites and pests for a few hours. This is done to avoid having an infestation in your home. I also clean my paintbrushes when I am done using them. These extra steps go a long way in taking care of your crafting tools. 

I hung a hook from the bookcase. I hung the birdhouse up on the hook. The birdhouse is now accepting winged/ feathered occupants. I will glue the pinecones to the moss once they are dry. I use the timer on my phone to keep track of how long something is in the oven. Cellphones are so useful!

I still have to add the leaves and the fairy lights. I am so happy with it all so far. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I love it and I think it looks great! I installed a paper towel holder under the kitchen sink, have stocked the new beautiful bookcase with the books and what I had stored there before. I love how it looks. I still have a lot of moss to glue on and more pinecones, acorns, feathers, butterflies and the birds. I love how it looks. I would love to hear how you are all celebrating Spring!

Enjoy Beltaine!

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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October 22, 2022 · 9:15 pm

Elecampane Root Harvest )O(

 

Merry meet all,

Yesterday I harvested the elecampane root. It was a great day. I turned the actions of digging the elecampane root up into a ritual.  The weather was sunny and relatively warm. I gathered together all the tools I need: a garden shovel, a garden trowel, and a stainless steel bowl to wash the roots after. 

I dug a large ring around the root ball. I removed the leaves and rocks from around the plant. Then I dug in with my garden shovel in a ring. I dug away all the soil surrounding the roots. I loosened the soil with the shovel and eased up the roots. I had to remove more small rocks that served as an edging around the plant. The elecampane plant was quite established. 

I removed the roots from the soil. I held the amazing elecampane roots in my hand. Wow. I felt the weight of the roots in my hands. It was so cool. I removed and cut up a long tree root from the soil and a rock. That may have been why the elecampane roots didn’t grow deeper. I carried the roots and the main crown to the back stone step. The roots were smaller than I anticipated. Undaunted, I proceeded to wash the roots. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I scrubbed the roots clean with a toothbrush. I cut roots off from the main crown. I rinsed the water and cleaned them again. I noticed that there were a couple of buds on the main crown. I brought the roots inside to clean them again. I planted the main crown back in the soil. I left an offering of cornmeal and fertilizer. I was so excited and emotional. I have a strong emotional connection to the earth. It hurt me to even dig up the roots. The scent of the elecampane root was amazing! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I returned the rocks to edge the elecampane plant and scattered the leaves over the soil. I hoped the main crown would grow new roots in the soil. I had fun with my fresh rich elecampane roots in the kitchen. They smelled so good and left the scent on my fingers. I cleaned them and chopped them. I arranged the roots on parchment paper on a cookie sheet. I dried the roots in the oven overnight at a low temperature. I removed them from the oven in the morning. The roots were dried, and a pale white colour. I stored them in a jar. I didn’t get as much as I wanted. Since the root crown has rooted again and there were new buds on it, I will get new growth next spring. I may have to wait a year or two to harvest more roots. It will be worth it. 

I am not sure what to do with the elecampane roots. I stored the seeds in a jar. I want to grow a lot more elecampane. Next spring, I will clear away tree branches, roots, rocks and weeds to make a clear space to grow more elecampane. Elecampane is medicinal for lung health and digestion. I am trying to build up an apothecary. This project will take patience. I already have fifty jars (a slight exaggeration) full of herbs: roots, seeds, bark and berries). 

I planted the nettle, mugwort and rue. The herbs will root themselves and emerge in the spring, just like the elecampane roots! I checked the next day and the elecampane main crown resisted when I gently tugged on it. That was exciting!

I love harvesting medicinal roots. My life is more exciting gathering medicinal roots. I hope it’s the same for you. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch 

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October 13, 2022 · 12:53 pm

Halloween Horrors

Merry meet all,

Samhain creeps closer and closer! Our most cherished time of year is almost here. Pumpkins appear on front porches and skeletons ward off unwary children. I am busy preparing for Samhain. 

Elderberries chill in my freezer, dandelion roots dry out in pumpkin shaped bowls, and chrysanthemums fill glass dishes with their sunny petals. To see my kitchen is to understand a herbalist lives here. Jars and jars of dried herbs clutter the shelves. Empty jars waiting to be used fill baskets. A true herbalist lives here. My kitchen is small and cluttered, but I have it down to a system. Elderberries, chrysanthemums and dandelions are good herbs for Samhain. The elderberries and dandelion roots are good for combating illnesses during cold and flu season. 

How to Harvest Dandelion Roots:

The best time to dig up roots is in the autumn and spring. I prefer the autumn, as I like to leave the flowers for the bees. Dig around a dandelion plant under the leaves. I never wear gloves while I’m gardening. I loosen the soil and dig under the plant, feeling for the long root. The root resembles a carrot, both are taproots. As you dig, that loosens the soil and as you feel for the taproot, you can tell if it is long. Give a very gentle pull and it should all come loose in your hand. Then pull the root out and shake off the soil. Wash the roots outside in a large dish full of clean cold water. Empty the water out and scrub the roots clean with an old tooth brush, then chop and dry them. If dried properly, they should keep for a year. It is very easy to do! 

My blog post is up and haunting the Horror Writers Association annual Halloween blog event! I posted about how writers can portray their characters, either a witch or a warlock, use the most deadliest herbs in a scene accurately. In other words, how to write about them using the herbs and make it really believable. Wolfsbane, belladonna  or mandrake are potent and deadly. If a character ingests the herb whether by incense smoke or not handling it properly, then gets sick then is expected to be fine, it is then not believable. I am helping the writers to write about their characters using these notorious herbs the correct way. Here’s the link: https://horror.org/halloween-haunts-bane-herbs-in-fiction-by-heddy-johannesen/

I wrote a short story (2000 words) about a night of trick or treating gone all wrong for a publication. I hope they want to publish it. The story was a lot of fun to write. 

Here is the blog post for you to read and enjoy!

Bane Herbs in Fiction

Heddy Johannesen

Do you want to write about bane herbs in your stories? Let me navigate that dangerous territory with you. I will discuss how you can write about bane herbs in your novellas and horror novels accurately. This post tells how to have your character using these herbs, if that character is a witch, warlock or one of the cunning folk, you can portray your character using these herbs the right way if you read this.

Bane herbs mean poisonous or toxic herbs. The most beautiful plants are often the deadliest. The plants listed below fall in that category. That is the illusion they cast. Never ingest the plants listed below in any shape or form. The symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, faintness or difficulty breathing, even death. Surprisingly, most of the following herbs also contain medicinal qualities.

If you have a character possibly using one or more of these plants and think that character won’t be affected, whether they’re fighting off a horde of werewolves or zombies, you’re wrong. Just in case a savvy reader calls you out on your error, that is why I am here. Don’t let this scare you. Again, never ingest the plants on this list. Use caution and common sense. The plants listed below all have varying degrees of toxicity.

*Flying ointments don’t make a person fly. It is an ointment prepared with the intention to make a person feel like they are flying, usually applied to a person’s skin while performing a meditation. It’s not advised that said person doing the meditation operate heavy machinery afterwards.

Now, grab a coffee and your herbal basket and stroll with me.

Belladonna (atropa belladonna)

Belladonna is known for Atropos, one of the three Fates who cut the threads of life with her shears. Indeed, this plant lives up to its reputation as it provides a deadly poison which causes hallucinations. Belladonna contains the alkaloids tropane, hyoscine, hyoscyamine and atropine.

The berries are sweet but deadly. The symptoms include difficulty in swallowing and speaking, vomiting, drowsiness, slurred speech, hallucinations, confusion, and agitation. The root has the highest concentration of toxins but the berries are most potent.

Magical properties and uses: inducing visions; aiding astral projection incense; oils; flying ointment

Datura (datura stramonium)

Datura is known as thorn apple. The tropane alkaloids are similar to deadly nightshade and henbane. They can cause confusion, delirium, and hallucinations, drowsiness, coma and pupil dilation.

Magical properties and uses: reversing hexes; protection; astral travel; invisibility; enchantment; and magical power

 

Elder (sambucus nigra)

Respect your elders! Elder is a large shrub to treat with respect due to its’ dual natures to heal and poison you. The berries contain cyanide yet this plant can boost your immune system. Elder contains cyanide inducing glycosides. Once cooked or used in a dehydrated form, the sweet purple berries can be made into jams, syrups and tinctures. Yet it is advised to treat Elder with caution.

Magical properties and uses: banishing; exorcisms; protection; healing; prosperity; peace; beauty; love

Foxglove (digitalis spp)

Foxglove is a stately plant. It can be deadly even in small amounts. Foxglove contains cardiac glycosides called digitoxin, digitalin,  digitonin, digitalosmin which produce aglyconen and a sugar. The aglycones affect heart muscles. It causes slowing of the heart, and/ or massive heart attack as the heart tries to get enough oxygen to the brain. Foxglove is an emetic herb.

Magical properties and uses: protection; communion with the Underworld; faery connection; courage; heart healing

Mandrake (mandragora officinarum)

Mandrake is a magical plant. It is a stemless perennial with a coveted fleshy taproot. Witches love growing mandrake in their witchy gardens. The root is notorious for having special powers. Lore says that the root emits a terrible scream when it is uprooted. The lore also tells that a dog was tied to the plant, the dog was offered a bone then the dog would uproot the root to get to the bone. The root would be removed from the soil and the poor dog suffered the terrible maddening scream and possibly be driven mad. The root has aphrodisiacal powers and is reputed to be shaped like a man.

Mandrake belongs to the nightshade family of plants. It contains the constituents of tropane alkaloids, hyoscine and atropine. The effects of those compounds are hallucinogenic, narcotic, emetic and purgative. The effects are similar to deadly nightshade and henbane.

Magickal powers and uses: protection; prosperity; fertility; exorcising evil; love; health

Rue (ruta graveolens)

Rue is known as an herb o grace. Rue is grown in many gardens as an ornamental plant and as a medicinal herb. Rue contains the rutine constituent, a glycoside that has furocoumarins alkaloids, tannins and essential oils. If one rubs it on their skin, they can contract dermatitis. Rue can cause vomiting, diarrhea, acute gastroenteritis, and liver failure.

Rue is used in folklore to guard the home and prevent evil spirits from entering the home. It was worn on a belt to keep witches away.

Magical properties and uses: health and mental powers; encourages peaceful vibrations; reverses hexes; guarding the home

Wolfsbane (aconitum napullus)

We now come to the most beautiful, oldest and deadliest of all the bane plants. Wolfsbane’s principal alkaloids are aconite and aconitine, aconitine being the most toxic compound found in the plant. Even accidental ingestion can result in severe gastrointestinal upset and slowing of the heart rate. Wolfsbane has an unpleasant bitter taste. The entire plant is poisonous.

Magical properties and uses: protection from evil and werewolves; predators; invisibility

I hope you enjoyed reading about these ‘notorious’ herbs, their many properties and uses. Just don’t forget to read the warning labels.

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

 

 

 

 

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October 11, 2022 · 2:09 pm

Seeds, herbal torches and potions- oh my!

My witch hazel in bloom!

Merry meet all,

Don’t you love the month of October? I feel so much magic in the air. I have a pumpkin, a pot of bright yellow chrysanthemums outside, a jar of pumpkin spice, and witchy magazines to read this fall! Bring it on! I am ready. I hope you are too. 

It’s my goal to save as many seeds as I can from my garden this year. So far, I have saved Shasta daisy, elecampane, echinacea, tickseed, dill seeds, lavender, lemon balm, yarrow, marigold seeds and witch hazel! Yes I did save witch hazel seeds. The flowers of my witch hazel are shown in the photo above. The witch hazel seeds are glossy, slippery, and deep black. I have 5 seeds and in the spring, I plan to scatter them outside in the ground on the nature trail. Some seeds need the cold of winter to germinate. 

My witch hazel tree is flush with flowers. The whole tree or shrub I should say, is gorgeous. I have stored the seeds in jars and labeled paper envelopes. I have been feeling especially crafty in the last few weeks. I am REALLY bitten by the herbal bug. I’m brewing jars of burdock root + dandelion root tinctures, hawthorn cordials, gingered honey, and for the first time I made mullein herbal torches. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making mullein torches is easy. They were known as hag torches. Mullein grows wild where I live. To make the torches, cut and dry mullein stalks. Measure how long you want the torches to be. I have a small pot I have dedicated for melting beeswax in. So the torches are small. You can make your torches be whatever size you want. Melt a lot, like a LOT, of beeswax in your double boiler. You can add essential oils to give your torches a nice fragrance. I chose essential oils that correspond with autumn: cinnamon, clove, rosemary, etc. Dip the torch stalk into the beeswax to ensure they are fully and deeply coated. Sprinkle on herbs that correspond with autumn! Choose marigold petals, chrysanthemum, mugwort and sage. Press the herbs lightly down to make sure they stick. Let them dry on a wire rack. They make great offerings to Hekate! I suggest you burn them outdoors to avoid a fire in your home. 

October is not complete without pumpkins! I have half a pumpkin in my freezer, a squash to puree, pureed pumpkin in my fridge. I baked a lovely pumpkin bread which I enjoy with cinnamon butter. Yummy! I tried to make elderberry mead. It turned into a syrup. I will try again next year!

I have a recipe for Pumpkin Spice Herbal Latte. Mmm I am making it tomorrow and I can’t wait. I still have to harvest the elecampane root and wash the grow bag. Then I have to store the garden knick knacks, clean and sterilize my garden tools, and store everything away for winter. The garden lawn chair cushions will be stored in my Mom’s basement. 

I began nettle from seed in a large pot under my grow lights. I transplanted a few nettle seedlings into the garden. I believe they rooted which means I will get nettle next summer. I am very relieved the nettle is outside because it really does sting! I grew tired of being constantly stung by the nettle. Stinging nettle has its name for a reason. My mint is growing nicely in the pot along with what I believe may be mugwort and rue. They will overwinter indoors. I am not sure if rue would survive the winter. I am planting garlic this fall!

I stocked up on extra jars to hold all my herbs. I had a great harvest this year. In fact, my herb harvest was so successful it has led to me making a big decision about my garden. I am now not growing as many vegetables as I used to. I do better growing herbs. So herbs it is, it is a lot less effort, they are not as bothered by pests, and I don’t waste as many seeds. The soil is not that deep as I would like. The soil is very good quality but not that deep. Herb roots don’t need a lot of depth. 

Having a herb garden and such an abundance of herbs on the nature trail helps me financially. It would cost me a fortune to pay for all the herbs I require for the Herbal Academy. I could never afford it all. It is easier on my wallet for sure. I love living here and I consider myself truly fortunate. 

Blessed Be, Spiderwitch 

Links of Interest:

How to Make Hawthorn Tincture

How & When To Prune Rosemary For Big, Bushy Plants

27 Garden Plants You Can Easily Propagate From Cuttings 

Homemade Wildflower Seed Bombs To Beautify Forgotten Landscapes

How To Prepare Your Garden Beds For Winter

 

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October 2, 2022 · 3:33 pm

Herbal Allies

Look at these lovely dandelion roots!

Merry meet all,

Oh shiver me timbers. It’s cold here today. It’s also finally October! (so, who cares about the cold?) Pumpkins rest on the front decks and porches of many homes. People turn up the heat and dig out their winter woollies, in anticipation of the cold weather fall brings. My cat is napping under the blankets, and I’m sipping hot tea. I’m wearing a wool cardigan and a pair of slippers. I even wear wool cardigans with my pyjamas. That is how we Maritimers do things here. 

Now is the time for preparing soups, stews and other hot meals. We can use certain herbs and spices to keep us healthy through the fall and winter too. Since I have been studying at the Herbal Academy, I have become acquainted with a few amazing herbs. Astragalus, liquorice root, Eleuthero root, elecampane, elderberry, echinacea. I am of course familiar with lemon, ginger, white onion and these are very potent and very good to have on hand through the cold season. The other herbs above are powerful allies in fighting colds and flus in their own right. 

I’m brewing a jar of hawthorn cordial. The ingredients are steeping in a jar. The ingredients are hawthorn berries, an apple, ginger, cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon, lemon zest, hibiscus, honey and brandy. I didn’t have any pomegranate and the strawberries went sour. I know the other flavours will lend a rich taste to the cordial. Hawthorn is well known for being a good heart medicine. I added all the ingredients, stirred it well with a wooden spoon and it will now steep for four weeks. The fruits, herbs and spices are powerful aids for easing digestion at the end of a day. 

Confession: I was just out on a walk. Hurricane Fiona tore up a lovely elderberry shrub. I walked along the trail to help the shrub. I was saddened to discover the shrub lay dead on its side. I found a patch of dandelion and dug it up, roots and all.  I cleaned the roots and chopped them up then left them to dry with the other root pieces. The day before I also harvested dandelion & burdock root. The roots loaded with medicinal properties are  drying out in my kitchen. I plan to make a dandelion and burdock root tincture. I will savour every drop! Dandelions are best harvested in the fall and spring. The energy of the plant returns deep down to the roots, and then the roots contain more inulin and less fructose. 

I also harvested plantain seeds, astilbe seeds and lady’s mantle. They are drying in open jars. I just collected about 4 seedpods from my beautiful witch hazel. The leaves are turning green to gold. Such a magical tree! The witch hazel flowered too. I shall do my best to produce a photo of the golden spidery flowers. 

I stored a big harvest of lavender in a big brown paper bag, sage and hyssop from my Mom’s garden. I made a sage wand with some of the sage. I have a recipe for a sage oxymel and I may try that with it or save the garden sage for cooking. I hope I got seeds! The sage is growing well in my garden. 

I harvested LOTS of elderberries before the hurricane. Some of the elderberry shrubs survived the hurricane, much to my relief. They look wilted now. However, they have all fall, winter and into spring to recover, provided there are not more storms like Hurricane Fiona! I hope not. I plan to make elderberry syrup and elderberry mead! I bought a fermentation kit. I can’t wait to get started but I have to get some champagne yeast first. 

I harvested some purple aster, goldenrod, more German chamomile, and wild chamomile from the trail. It is not true chamomile but it is not poisonous. They will make a nice autumnal tea, rich in health boosting properties. When I come home from the trail, I am usually covered in burdock seeds! Fortunately, they are easy to remove. I leave the seeds outside. They may grow into a beautiful burdock plant! The nettle is growing well in my kitchen thanks to the grow lights. It stings my fingers sometimes.  

I harvested a huge amount of lemon balm from my garden. I am sure I can find something to use it for!

Now, I will go in more detail about the herbs to demonstrate their potency. 

Astragalus is best prepared as a decoction. You simmer the herbs in water in a pot then if you choose to, let it cool.  Astragalus mongholicus aids the respiratory system. It can be used in decoctions, infusions, soups and stews. 

Burdock is a good herb/ tonic for the liver. 

Chamomile is an excellent nervine and adaptogen. The tiny flowers right down to the roots are potent! Chamomile is usually consumed to relax and release the stresses of the day. 

Dandelions are loaded with nutrients. I can’t understand why people are so hellbent on getting a plant brimming with medicinal properties out of their yards. I made a lovely Scandinavian dandelion syrup with the yellow flowers. This fall, I shall make a tincture! Dandelions contain vitamins A, C, K D, E & B. They also contain potassium. Dandelions detoxify the liver as does burdock. Dandelions slow down aging, reduce blood pressure and lowers cholesterol. What is there to complain about? I plan to add dandelions as a serious addition to my diet for as long as I can. I will save some for the bees!

Ginger root is fiery and spicy. I drink ginger tea to ease nausea and stomach problems. It also acts at least for me as a nervine. A nervine helps support the nervous system. Other herbs that are nervines are chamomile, oat tops, skullcap and lemon balm. 

Elderberry is fickle. Elderberries are poisonous to the unwary traveller. I am studying at the Herbal Academy. I know that the tiny dark purple berries and in fact, the whole shrub from the berry to the root contains cyanide. Never eat them raw! It is best to cook them and/ or dry them then add them to tinctures, jams, meads and syrups. That removes the toxin and then they boost your immune system. 

Elecampane roots contain inulin. I saved the seeds in a jar. I am waiting till mid-October to harvest the roots. That will be a post here of its own. The roots of elecampane contain the most inulin in the fall. The energy of the plant travels downward to the roots.

–Medicinal Action and Uses—Diuretic, tonic, diaphoretic, expectorant, alterative, antiseptic, astringent and gently stimulant. It was employed by the ancients in certain diseases of women, also in phthisis, in dropsy and in skin affections. Its name ‘Scabwort’ arose from the fact that a decoction of it is said to cure sheep affected with the scab, and the name ‘Horse-heal’ was given it from its reputed virtues in curing the cutaneous diseases of horses.

In herbal medicine it is chiefly used for coughs, consumption and other pulmonary complaints, being a favourite domestic remedy for bronchitis. It has been employed for many years with good results in chest affections, for which it is a valuable medicine as it is in all chronic diseases of the lungs asthma and bronchitis. It gives relief to the respiratory difficulties and assists expectoration. Its principal employment as a separate remedy is in acute catarrhal affections, and in dyspepsia attended with relaxation and debility, given in small, warm and frequently repeated doses. It is, however, seldom given alone, but most frequently preferred in combination with other medicines of a similar nature. It is best given in the form of decoction, the dose being a small teaspoonful, three times a day.

The root used not only to be candied and eaten as a sweetmeat, but lozenges were made of it. It has been employed in whooping-cough. It is sometimes employed in the form of a confection for piles, 1 OZ. of powdered root being mixed with 2 OZ. of honey.

In the United States, it has also been highly recommended, both for external use and internal administration in diseases of the skin, an old use of the root that has maintained its reputation for efficacy.

Externally applied, it is somewhat rubefacient, and has been employed as an embrocation in the treatment of sciatica, facial and other neuralgia.

Of late years, modern scientific research has proved that the claims of Elecampane to be a valuable remedy in pulmonary diseases has a solid basis. One authority, Korab, showed in 1885 that the active, bitter principle, Helenin, is such a powerful antiseptic and bactericide, that a few drops of a solution of 1 part in 10,000 immediately kills the ordinary bacterial organisms, being peculiarly destructive to the Tubercle bacillus. He gave it successfully in tubercular and catarrhal diarrhoeas, and praised it also as an antiseptic in surgery. In Spain it has been made use of as a surgical dressing. Obiol, in 1886, stated it to be an efficient local remedy in the treatment of diphtheria, the false membrane being painted with a solution of Helenin in Oil of Almond.

Credit given to A Modern Herbal website about elecampane.

Goldenrod is a beautiful yellow flower. I dyed fabric with goldenrod this summer. It is an ideal herb for helping support your sinuses. It’s drying on a rack in my kitchen. I have never tried goldenrod tea before. It is good for helping urinary tract infections, treating or preventing kidney stones, and acts as a diuretic. 

Today I also embarked on yet another creative project. In the past, I made a Summer Solstice lantern. This fall I made an Autumn Equinox lantern (even though it’s October). I painted the jar brown. I had previously dried flowers, leaves etc, that were associated with fall. I selected fiery red stag horn sumac leaves, a lovely white daisy, an oak leaf, red maple leaves, gorgeous golden tickseed, a golden maple leaf, and a lovely dandelion flower. The warm autumnal colors of fall shine on the jar. I coated the jar with a deep brown paint mixed with Mod Podge to make the paint adhere to the jar. I left it to dry overnight. This morning I added the pressed leaves and flowers. I coated them with Mod Podge to make them stick. I wound a brown twine wire cord to the jar to make the handle. I secured the wire with a hot glue gun. 

These herbal allies will support you all fall and winter with their health boosting properties. I can’t wait to get started using these herbs this fall. I hope you all find your own herbal allies. Tell me all about it. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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September 21, 2022 · 1:01 pm

Autumnal garden activities )O(

Merry meet all,

Tomorrow is the Autumn Equinox. It surprised us all  here in Halifax. The leaves are showing those famous fiery colors. The elderberries ripen on the stems, the queen Anne’s lace, goldenrod and burdock slowly go to seed. The sky is overcast here, and everyone is scrambling to get ready for hurricane Fiona. 

I was out in my rain soaked garden this morning. Slugs clung to leaves while wasps sipped pollen. This is a bittersweet time for me. The squash and tomatoes are setting fruit late this season, I am not sure why. It could be because we had a heatwave this summer. You would think that heatwave would have been beneficial for sun loving tomatoes but no. The tomatoes are growing now. Ah well. 

I have to put my garden to sleep for the cold winter ahead and I am sharing how I plan to do that in this post today. My witch hazel flowers late in the year. I love my witch hazel. I plan to buy a huge bag of soil and arrange the soil around the trunk, then I will add a big bag of worm castings into the soil to leave nutrients for the witch hazel. I might even buy some wood chips to act as mulch. I am trying to think of what else I can leave there as a nutrient rich compostable mulch for the roots to feed on all winter. I would have to remember to remove the wood chips because the lungwort blooms wonderfully under the witch hazel in the spring. 

The leaves cascade to the earth every autumn. I usually just keep the leaves there all over my garden all winter. They act as a natural mulch/ blanket that protects my garden during the harsh winter. I rake them away in the spring. I may sprinkle worm castings, bonemeal, eggshells and coffee grounds all over my garden. 

The leaves of the plants, the vines, flowers and whatever I don’t harvest naturally dies back. This is the most free natural compost ever. I have a wooden compost box. I will store the faded dead leaves, branches, stems in the box. Most of the foliage I leave where it is to act as a natural compost and soil nutrients all winter. I spread the soil I used to grow the potatoes over my garden. The soil was amazing! The soil was loose, loamy, obviously nutrient rich and dark black. I loved it and I am sure the garden did too. The rain washes away the soil so it was nice to add rich soil to the garden. 

I still have to harvest the celery, lemon basil, raspberry leaves, mint, tomatoes, healthy disease free witch hazel leaves and beans. The red flowers of the scarlet runner beans are growing so well now. The pollinators are busy. The beans also grow overnight it seems. The leaves I keep on the soil are a nice refuge for hardworking insects too. I’m letting the purple coneflower go to seed. The bees love purple coneflowers. The nasturtiums are still blooming, and I watched as a wasp visited one fiery nasturtium bloom this morning. The wasps built a nest on the inside of the shed door. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I harvested the beautiful Chinese lanterns in the photo above. I am amazed at how rich the colours are. I’m waiting and hoping the calendula blossoms soon. I have no idea why it takes so long. I harvested and pressed the lovely yellow heliopsis and I have pressed many other flowers. I want to make a Samhain/ autumn candle lantern like I did with the  Summer Solstice lantern. I want to paint the jar a rich deep Burgundy colour so the autumn colors really pop out. Yup I think it will be gorgeous. 

Pressed purple coneflower

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I still have to harvest the elecampane roots, seeds and flowers. The stalk is turning brown. I will harvest in October. 

I have recipes to make elderberry mead, hawthorn cordial, elderberry syrup, cranberry sauce . They are perfect for guarding the health of your immune system all winter. Winter is known for the time when colds, flus and illnesses spread. Those recipes are sure to boost your immune system! Elecampane has inula in the roots. I can’t wait to harvest elecampane and feel like a true herbalist. I have harvested mullein root, and I want to harvest dandelion and burdock after a cold snap. The winter squash has a flower now. I don’t understand why it waited till now but plants follow their own calendar, not the calendar we impose on them. 

Elecampane

 

What to Forage in Fall: 30+ Edible and Medicinal Plants and Mushrooms

I’ve included the recipes here for your own convenience. I hope you try them and let me know in the comments below how it went. I am available here if you have any questions on how to make herbal remedies to guard your health and your family’s health this coming fall season. Now is the time to stock up on ginger, onions, elderberries ( remember: they are not edible raw!), echinacea tinctures, etc. But more on that later! Blessed Mabon to everyone! Or, if you prefer, Happy Autumn Equinox! 

Blessings, Spiderwitch

How To Clear The Garden In The Fall – What To Do With Your Plants & Soil!

How to Make Elderberry Mead

https://theherbalacademy.com/homemade-bug-bite-salve/

https://theherbalacademy.com/homemade-fire-cider/

https://theherbalacademy.com/herbal-cough-syrup/

https://theherbalacademy.com/foraging-goldenrod/

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