Tag Archives: Samhain

October 25, 2022 · 3:41 pm

Prepping for Samhain )O(

Merry meet all,

I shall soon be busy preparing for Samhain, especially the Ancestral Supper. One popular theme about the Ancestral supper is that everything has to be black. Ok no problem, I love the colour black. I already have a black spider tablecloth on the kitchen table. I have a black spider web table runner I can use. Black spiderweb placemats and Halloween plates will go. I may stock up on a couple of wine glasses. Now don’t get me wrong, I am not spending a fortune here. Far from it. I visit the dollar stores in October. If you are savvy enough and have an eye for the good quality items, you can find some nice Halloween dishes and decorations. 

I enjoy rum with coke, the spicy rum is most preferred. Mulled cider of course, one of my most favourite Samhain traditions of all is cider. I love to add a sprinkle of cinnamon, mugwort, rose petals, oranges, apples and nutmeg to the cauldron pot. A dash of red wine and we are all set. By the 31st, I can finally strain the hawthorn cordial. Oh I can’t wait. I still have some pumpkin bread, I baked two loaves of rosemary bread, and I might make herbed butter too. Roasted pumpkin seeds and roasted hazelnuts oh my gosh, what a treat. Truly. 

I plan to light a lot of candles. Candles lend a beautiful ambience to a dinner table. It can be a good idea to decide ahead of time about what music to play and enjoy while eating. Since the theme is an ancestral supper, the music can be that which our ancestors enjoyed. I love listening to Viking music on YouTube. Celtic music is a good choice. I am both Celtic and Scandinavian, and Irish and French Acadian. I grew up listening to good quality fiddle music. I sure have a lot to choose from! I may listen to Loreena Mckennitt and the Viking music on YouTube. This will be a special occasion now!

I plan to wear a black gown with a bodice to lace up. I want to wear my black mourning veil and a circlet. A shawl and a lovely witch hat tops it off. 

I want to decorate the back yard too. My garden is my outdoor altar. Tons of fiery leaves cover the garden, mulching and sheltering the garden from the frosty cold. I might do the outdoor bonfire ritual if the weather cooperates. The rain has scared me. I hope it doesn’t rain on October 31. Nope, no rain now. I might hang the creepy snake and spider stew wreath over the door. Glowing pumpkins topped with eerie spiders add a spooky touch. A large cauldron spewing smoke next to a skull is creepy too. 

I usually honor my late grandfather and my pets. I am not attending the Samhain ritual on the Commons. This will be a solitary Samhain. I choose to celebrate alone than be forced to deal with the crowd’s toxic bullshit. I am not truly alone. Spirit is with me. My bossy cat too – who probably sees lots of spirits in this apartment but doesn’t react to them. As long as her food bowl and litter box are taken care of by yours truly, she doesn’t care. Solitary is the way to go. 

I am all set. My cat Penny shall supervise all activities of course. She’ll get a catnip treat.! (I get the trick lol). I would love to hear what you all have planned for your festivities! Do tell. Leave a comment below. 

Blessings, Spiderwitch )O(

 

 

 

 

https://www.learnreligions.com/sacred-plants-of-the-samhain-sabbat-3879864

 

 

 

 

Live and Let Die: Prepping for Samhain

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October 24, 2022 · 1:04 pm

Samhain celebrations )O(

Merry meet all,

Today I harvested the remaining scarlet runner beans that the slugs hadn’t devoured. I cut the vines and left the roots in. The roots have good nutrients that will benefit the soil. Who knows? Maybe they will regrow next year. 

Samhain is almost here. Yesterday I baked a cake. I haven’t frosted it yet. I want to share a secret ingredient idea I had with my dear readers. I made candied walnuts. I soaked the walnuts in brandy before drying them and grinding the walnuts to a powder. The powder is a little clumpy. I added it to the blender in small batches and then froze it. I added it in to the cake batter. I can’t wait to see how the cake tastes. Today I am going to frost the cake and I promise to post about that too.

It has rained a lot today. It had better not rain on the most notorious, magickal night of the year, October 31st. I have plans as do the many other millions out there with hopes high in their hearts. Samhain/ Halloween is not just for kids- adults have joined in on the dark revelry. There are many rituals and  fun activities to try. Read on to learn more. 

Samhain is a time to honour the dead and our ancestors. We often perform many rituals in celebration of the season of death. The leaves trickle to the earth, bedecked in fiery heartwarming colours. A special dinner is prepared and enjoyed to celebrate the harvest. 

I love a long nature walk in the fall. I encourage you all to go on a nature walk outdoors. Observe the colours, the brown seedbeds, and the aromas of leaves, the sounds of crisp leaves falling. Gather some nature objects such as pinecones, seedbeds of your favourite flowers, dried leaves to dip in beeswax, acorns, flowers still fresh. An herbal tea can be made and enjoyed from goldenrod, scentless mayweed (wild chamomile) and asters. Dry the herbs then store them in a jar. Use them to adorn your home. 

Set up your altar. I purposely bought a lovely new altar cloth at one of my fave alternate stores, The Black Market. I love going there. The black cloth has a cool astrology circle on it with white stars and the astrological symbols. Use grave rubbings, images of ghosts, images of your ancestors, acorns, oak leaves, squash, root vegetables in a cornucopia. 

Perform a Samhain ceremony. A dumb supper is performed with one single person or the whole family present (more fun that way!). First, gather everyone around. That can be your coven or your family. Go outside, find yard trimmings or dead plants- remember those seed heads? Use them to make a straw man or woman. I go with the Goddess more so I plan to make a straw doll to represent the Goddess. This will go nicely with my Samhain offering of honey, milk and cornmeal. 

You can bring the doll inside and decorate the doll with antlers for the male God or a dress for the Goddess. Offer the straw deity doll bread and cornmeal. (I wish I had some tobacco). Then everyone else partakes of the meal. Just be sure to serve your deity doll first. 

Leave crumbs for the birds. You can return the doll outside to watch over the garden on a pole to stand guard over next year’s seedlings and burn the doll at the Beltane celebration. When you are finished with the meal, take the leftovers outside as an offering for the dead. 

Make an ancestors altar. Collect photographs, mementos, of deceased loved ones and pets. Arrange them on your altar and light candles. Light the candles in their memory and quietly sit and reflect. Pay attention to any messages you receive. Heed your dreams. You can keep the ancestor altar up as long as you want. 

Guide the Spirits. I like to light a white candle and set it at a window. You could use a seven-day candle. When you light the candle say these words: “O little flame that burns so bright, be a beacon on this night. Light the path for all the dead, that they may see now what’s ahead. And lead them to the Summerland and shine until Pan takes their hands. And with Your light, please bring them peace, that they may rest and sleep with ease.” 

Perform a seance. Samhain is the perfect time to hold a tradition. Hold a bonfire. I plan to do this one! Well yes a seance but I just love to sit out on my back step on a chilly yet dry October evening, with a fire raging in my toddler sized cauldron. Did you see what I did there? lol. Use tarot, runes, and or scrying to divine your future or find a future mate!

Invoke your chosen deities. Honour and call on the Gods such as the Crone Goddess and the Horned God of nature. Invite them in to your circle and to aid in your understanding of life, death and rebirth. 

Herbs of Samhain There are many herbs to use to celebrate Samhain. I want to bake a loaf of rosemary bread this Samhain. Rosemary is for remembrance. For more guidance, sage, pine cones, straw, mugwort, mullein, oak leaves, acorns, hazelnuts, allspice, elderberries, catnip (save some for kitty!). For more guidance on this, review my previous posts. I have been harvesting dandelion, burdock and elecampane as much as I can. 

Be sure to leave your carved pumpkin once you are done with it outside. I always toss my spent pumpkins in the garden. Trust me, the crows and other critters will thank you. It is cold for them and they love every bite they can get. It benefits the soil by leaving valuable nutrients in the soil for next year’s spring plantings. 

Happy Samhain! I wish you all a good celebration!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

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October 20, 2022 · 11:47 am

Pumpkin Magic )O(

Merry meet all,

Today I want to post about my favourite orange cucurbit, pumpkins! Pumpkins are everywhere. Pumpkins are famous for fairy tale magic. Autumn colored leaves blanket my garden, as squirrels and bluejays gather nuts and seeds to store for the long winter ahead. Samhain is almost here. Now let’s gather our own Magick!

10 Ways to Use Pumpkins in Witchcraft

moodymoons, ,

Long before Cinderella’s fairy godmother sent her bewitched pumpkin carriage careening towards a royal party under a reckless magic spell, this mythical fruit vined its way into the legend of witchcraft.

Here are a few ideas to bring this classic spell ingredient into your magical practice.

10 Ways to Use Pumpkins in Witchcraft

Dry roast the seeds and toss them in a mojo bag for prosperity.    The fertile abundance of seeds inside a pumpkin perfect for success mojo bags.

Use your jack-o-lantern to chase away negative energy.  Did you know jack-o-lanterns were originally carved to chase away demons?  In the spirit of this tradition, burn a charcoal disk with protection herbs like rosemary to turn away negative energy at the doorstop.

Bury your kid’s spent pumpkin in the garden to “fertilize” a wishing spell.    Never know what to do with your kid’s jack-o-lantern once Halloween is over?  The pumpkin’s magical lore makes it “ripe” for wishing magic.  Have your child write a goal for the springtime on a piece of (natural) paper, and bury it in the garden to bless his/her endeavors.   Kids move so quickly from one phase to the next, seeing their “wish” come up in the spring will remind them of how far they walked since the beginning of the school year!

Boil your cauldron.  If your kitchen-witchy, make a batch of crock pot pumpkin soup
Be sure to include plenty of “heart-warming” magical spices like chili powder or cumin.  Stir it clockwise four times and bless it for strong ties between family and friends.  Then serve it to everyone!

Leave it as an offering to the woodland spirits.  Samhain is a time to honor those who came before you. Once you’re finished with your pumpkin, take it to woods and leave it as an offering to your ancestors.   It also makes great deer food!

Use it in a group Samhain ritual.  Hollow out and carve a large pumpkin with symbols sacred to your tradition.  Light a candle inside, go around the circle and talk about your year together as a group or coven.  Discuss any remaining tensions, write them down and then agree to let them go with the start of the new Wheel of the Year.  Place a candle inside the pumpkin lantern, and one by one, burn the paper.  Watch it go up in smoke and let go. 

Save the stems.  The stem dries out and cures pretty quickly.  Leave it with your magical cabinet to boost wishing spells or prosperity spells during the next Wheel of the Year.

Draw out your inner beauty.  Mix 1/4 cup pumpkin puree with a splash of apple cider vinegar and an egg.  Use it as a mask to bring out the “enchanting” side of your inner beauty.

Place a pumpkin near your creative work space for inspiration and brainstorming.  Pumpkins connote fanciful thinking and fairy tales.  Use this energy in your work space to break out of box thinking and reach deeper.

Make a bird feeder to connect with the spirit of fire and air.  Invite winter-friendly birds near your home by making a bird feeder out a your pumpkin.  When you notice a bird near it, say a blessing and send him off with to carry a wish or prayer skyward!

Copied with respect for copyright***

Blessed be, Spiderwitch

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October 19, 2022 · 12:26 pm

Candle Magick )O(

Merry meet all,

Candles are the purest form of Magick. I love staring at a pure bright candle flame. It just stirs my heart and warms my heart. I want to share tips and to burn candles magically and safely this Samhain:

  • Burn a white candle on the windowsill this Samhain to guide lost spirits. 
  • Store candles in the freezer for a while. The wax will drip less.
  • Burn a candle for one hour and remember to trim the wick. Never leave a candle unattended. 
  • Carve symbols or sigils into the candle wax for an added boost of Magick.
  • Carve symbols or sigils into your pumpkin to keep bad spirits away or to empower the pumpkin wtih protective Magick.
  • Use coloured candles for certain spells: black is a psychic energy and draws in energy, blue is for emotion & intuition, orange is for creativity, white is for Spirit, purple is for psychic energy, brown is for earth-related matters, red is for Mars energy and fire.
  • To release the energy of a candle, blow the candle out when you’re finished a spell. To keep the energy of a spell in the candle, snuff the candle out with a candle snuffer. 
  • Clean your candlesticks to keep them ready to use for new spell casting.
  • Gaze into a candle flame to scry your future or a message from Spirit. 
  • Burn essential oils on candles or buy the scented candles. Try not to use synthetic oils. Use natural essential oils. They don’t always cost a fortune.
  • Keep your familiars away from candles. Burn candles where your furr-milairs can’t get to them. Always practice safety when burning candles. 
  • Don’t burn your candles at your altar while wearing long billowing sleeves or near the curtains. Safety first. 
  • Grind herbs to a powder if you want to burn herbs on your candles first. The candles will sputter less. 
  • Bury the wax out in the garden when the candle is finished burning. 
  • If you do burn a lot of candles indoors or outdoors this Samhain, keep sand, a fire extinguisher or a pitcher of water nearby to avoid a fire. Getting evicted is not cool!
  • Put your intention into the candle. That will add extra power to your spell. For example, I wanted a pet cat. I burned a cat-shaped candle. Sympathetic magic! Like attracts like. 
  • Always put a positive intention into your spell workings, never negative. You want bad, you get bad. You want good Magick, you get good Magick! So be positive always! Energy always returns to the sender!
  • Spirits are around us everywhere this Samhain! Burn a candle you made yourself. Add graveyard dirt and clary sage essential oils to the candle at your altar to attract the spirits. 
  • Gather a lot of oak leaves and dry them. Once they are thoroughly dry, grind the leaves to a powder. Use the powder like an ash for your cauldron. Nestle a cauldron or a charcoal disc in the oak ash. Store the unused oak leaf ash in the fridge or the freezer to keep it from spoiling. Oak leaves have a strong energy, and represent longevity, strength, stability, endurance, fertility, power, justice and honesty.

I hope the above tips help when you cast candle Magick this Samhain! 

Blessed be, Spiderwitch 

 

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October 18, 2022 · 11:30 am

Root, bark & berry )O(

Merry meet all,

I just went out for a walk on the trail shown in the photo above. I love going for walks on the trail. I really feel the Samhain energy in the air. If you look hard at the above photo, you will see what I mean. 

This Samhain, I am once again – ok always, flying solo. I am a solitary Witch. I do everything I want to do by myself. I am not all that alone though. I can feel the presence of Spirit on the trail and in my garden. I have harvested a ton of herbs, roots and berries this fall. I leave offerings of cornmeal, coins or gemstones. I like to maintain a positive relationship with the spirits that dwell here. I never see the spirits but I feel them around, peering around the trees, watching me as I stroll down the trail. I recognized a couple of witch hazels. I love witch hazels! The witch hazel is so beautiful in my garden this fall!

I have harvested a lot of dandelion roots, burdock root, elderberries, lemon balm, lavender, sage, goldenrod, asters, wild chamomile, oak leaves for cauldron ash, and leaves for pressing. I plan to dip the leaves in beeswax to preserve them. I made a lovely jar of dark purple elderberry syrup, asters, goldenrod and wild chamomile for tea. I found several red clover buds outside. I can’t stop bringing a nature item home with me. 

I’m leaving an offering of cornmeal, milk and honey on Samhain eve. I like to do this ritual in my garden in the spring and fall. I harvested a few witch hazel seeds from my tree but I plan to scatter them out on the trail. Since we lost an elderberry shrub to Hurricane Fiona, I’m going to propagate the elderberries this winter from a few canes once it goes dormant. 

I like to work in harmony with the nature spirits. I am the only one in the neighborhood who does, but I am pretty sure I am the only witch around here. I am so lucky too because the herbs, roots and berries I need for the Herbal Academy all grow in abundance on the trail. They were there all along and now I finally recognize them. It saves me lots of money. This weekend, I also plan to finally harvest the elecampane root! I can’t wait. 

I hope you all had a wonderful harvest this fall. Let me know all about it. 

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 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 12, 2022 · 12:07 pm

Autumn wonders

Merry meet all,

I am proud to announce I graduated from the Intermediate level at the Herbal Academy. I look forward to new challenges and learn about new ways to use herbs in the next level, Advanced. I am sure there will be many challenges ahead for me. Bring it on!

I found new  fun ways to use herbs this summer. I dyed a big pile of plain muslin cloth with goldenrod. The fabric dyed a beautiful muted gold/ yellow shade. I’m infusing garlic cloves and garden grown basil in vinegar. I made a potent rose petal elixir, I concocted a St.John’s wort tincture and two salves, and I plan to make a jar of elderberry syrup. I look forward to using my herbal potions and learning more about herbs at the Herbal Academy. This fall I have a grow light. I just transferred the herbs I began from seed and my root cuttings of mint, basil, rue, nettles calendula, thyme and dill. The thyme and dill are growing in a yogurt container so their deep roots have room to grow. The other herbs were transferred to a deeper pot. They are all growing under the grow light. I wonder how I ever managed without a grow light. Grow lights are awesome! I’m trying to grow root veggies too. I hope that goes well. 

I even used herbs on my witch’s broom. I know that cinnamon brooms can be bought online. Why not do it yourself? I coated the broom with glue and dabbed the ground cinnamon onto the broom then I sprinkled cinnamon essential oil. It has dried in a large clear plastic bag for two weeks. The broom that I also made myself smells lovely now. Argh I do believe I have been stung by the very nettle I just transplanted. I grew a big lovely pumpkin vine but no pumpkins. The bees love the male flower pollen but all their hard work is for naught. Every female pumpkin flower has turned brown, shrivelled and died. There are many male pumpkin flowers. The tomatoes are finally growing and the scarlet runner bean vines are flush with beans. I plan to harvest all the herbs from my garden soon and bring the rosemary and oregano in for the winter. 

I’m harvesting lovage which I did earlier and made a lovely jar of lovage salt! Lemon balm, lemon basil, lavender, calendula, mint, sage, borage leaves, chamomile, chives, raspberry leaves, astilbe seeds, elecampane seeds and roots, dandelion roots, cucumbers, shallots, kale ( may overwinter it). The nasturtiums are annuals. I will miss them, I find the leaves so tasty. I will be busy this fall harvesting roots, flowers and seeds!

Being near this abundance of nature sure saves me money for studying at the Herbal Academy. It’s expensive enough to purchase and store the herbs. I have to have enough jars and room to store the jars. I don’t have enough room so I just don’t splurge on a huge amount of herbs at once. I buy 5 grams or more at least and then I can just refill the labeled and dated jars in my apothecary. 

I have to make sure I downloaded all the PDFs for the Intermediate level at the Herbal Academy. I left a glowing testimonial on how much I enjoyed the fun yet mentally stimulating. Herbs have taken over my life. Maybe I should say this course has taken over my life. I find I don’t have much time to do all the other things I need to do, like get back into my writing horror fiction for one. I hope I can manage it all. 

The fall season is off to a great start. On top of that, Mabon and Samhain are not far away. I can’t wait. I look forward to hearing about how all of you readers are spending your fall season too. Comment below!

Blessings, Spiderwitch

 

 

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October 31, 2021 · 12:11 pm

Abandoned ghost town spooks skeptic

Merry meet all,

Here’s a spooky ghost story for Samhain!!! Enjoy. 

Graveyard in the woods: Abandoned Nova Scotia logging village so spooky skeptic won’t visit alone

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The scorched, leafless Inspiration tree is one of the milestones hikers can use to measure their progress when hiking to Roxbury, an abandoned logging village in Annapolis County.
The scorched, leafless Inspiration tree is one of the milestones hikers can use to measure their progress when hiking to Roxbury, an abandoned logging village in Annapolis County. – Contributed

STORY CONTINUES BELOW THESE SALTWIRE VIDEOS

Leafless trees close in and choke out the midday sun as David Whitman and his daughter, Lori, tread further into the dense forest.

The two are exploring the remains of Roxbury, an abandoned Annapolis County logging and farming village described as “lost in the woods” by locals.

“At first glance, there is not much to see,” says Whitman.

Whitman, a retired schoolteacher, is now referred to as the ‘Mayor of Roxbury’ after writing his first self-published book about the area called ‘Lost in The Woods: The Lure and History of Roxbury,’ which came out in 2005.

David and his wife Paulette Whitman are both writers that aim to preserve local Nova Scotian history. - Contributed
David and his wife Paulette Whitman are both writers that aim to preserve local Nova Scotian history. – Contributed

His interest sparked in the once-thriving settlement destroyed by a forest fire and abandoned in 1904, in the late 1950s and early 1960s. It was here where he spent hours fishing at a nearby river with friends.

Related:

“I was always intrigued by Roxbury as a kid. The village is about four miles off the main road, in the middle of nowhere. And when I began teaching school in Halifax, I started to research the area where very little is known.”

Over the years, he went digging for facts, church and school records, deeds, newspaper reports, and interviewed descendants of those that had once called the area “home.”

Whitman discovered a mysterious and tragic past.

The dirt trail that leads to the Roxbury settlement deep in the woods. - Contributed
The dirt trail that leads to the Roxbury settlement deep in the woods. – Contributed

Originally, he says, Roxbury was known as Durland’s Settlement, named after Thomas Durland, the first English Loyalist settler in the early 1800s. His brother Charles followed with his family, and by 1865, there were 15 families in the settlement, with a population around 60.

But the settlement stretches further back. The Mi’kmaq were the first inhabitants, followed by French Acadians fleeing from British soldiers after refusing to pledge British allegiance – known as the Expulsion from 1755 to 1764.

“About 60 French Acadian exiles took to the river and hid on South Mountain,” Whitman says.

“The Mi’kmaq became their allies, but many Acadians did not survive the freezing winter.”

Remains of stone walls from the Loyalist days. - Contributed
Remains of stone walls from the Loyalist days. – Contributed

Acadian gold?

Rumours persist, says Whitman, that the Acadians, while fleeing, left stashes of gold under Mile Rock on Roxbury Road.

“There have been some treasure hunters over the years, but nothing retrieved or at least made public.”

While piecing his second book together on the area, Whitman says he interviewed many who reported “strange voices” while alone on Roxbury Road.

“Legend has it some of the French Acadians were planning to come back and get this gold, so I think it plays on the imagination which can run wild out there when no one is around,” he dismisses with a nervous laugh.

When the Loyalists arrived (1775 to 1783), they built permanent structures over the Acadian nomadic-style homes using rocks from the mountain.

Shreds of lumber remain from the former logging and farming village. - Contributed
Shreds of lumber remain from the former logging and farming village. – Contributed

“By 1904, most of the residents had moved out with the lumber industry depleted and the serious forest fire.”

Whitman explains to produce blueberries, they burned the land, but a fire got out of control and spread over hundreds of acres, torching Roxbury.

Today, the scorched, leafless Inspiration tree echoes this history.

“The tree is aptly named Inspiration because if you make it that far, you might as well keep going,” says Whitman.

There is an 18.7-kilometre in-and-back trail described as “difficult” on All Trails, which features a lake and cuts through the settlement.

Roxbury lay dormant for several years, attended only by nature. Then, in the 1920s, families set up homesteads, including Whitman’s father.

“Roxbury had a school, church, post office, sawmill and grist mill. The last family moved out in 1927,” notes Whitman.

Andrew Rosengren and the Thygesen family were the last homesteaders.

“Then in 1948 through to the late 1950s, lumbering activities by J. H. Hicks and Sons and Max Napthal interrupted the settlement’s slumber. And in the 2000s, forestry work from Bowater Mersey and Lafarge Canada Inc.”

Lost in The Woods: The Lure and History of Roxbury, by David Whitman, published in 2005. - Contributed
Lost in The Woods: The Lure and History of Roxbury, by David Whitman, published in 2005. – Contributed

Haunted woods

So, what’s left there now? Stone foundations, deep round wells, shreds of lumber.

“But people go there a lot to hike,” says Whitman.

Yet Whitman says he will “never walk there alone.”

The supernatural skeptic that claims, “there is a scientific explanation for everything” admits he has heard “through the trees,” a sound the resembles the “wailing of a man.”

Other interviewees of Whitman reported “strange noises” or “figures.”

It is not a place for the faint of heart, he says.

Roxbury: A return to a ghost town, by David Whitman, published in 2015, with a foreword by John DeMont. - Contributed
Roxbury: A return to a ghost town, by David Whitman, published in 2015, with a foreword by John DeMont. – Contributed

“I have not been back there for a while. Not by myself, especially to the graveyards. There was always something about them. There is one graveyard where a man lost his wife in childbirth, and he would visit and cry on their graves.”

In one cemetery, a headstone peeks through the vegetation with just one bold word, “Baby.”

“In my second book, ‘Roxbury: A return to a ghost town,’ I interviewed people that say they could feel or even see someone watching them. It gave them an intense feeling that they should not be there,” he adds.

The book, published in 2015 with a foreword by John DeMont, includes photographs by witnesses, capturing “blurred images of a young girl in a white dress” floating through the cemetery and disappearing into the trees.

“This place can stir the imagination, especially in the graveyards that are in the middle of the woods,” Whitman says.

“People that do not know the history or have not read the books go back there and treat it just as a hike or a tour, but those that know the area are reluctant to go by themselves.”

Dormant wooden cottages in the area – designated by the province as a Provincial Park Reserve – have left a ghostly imprint on many people, including former students of Whitman, who he says will “never talk about what they heard or saw” because it was so frightening.

Whitman is part of Friends of Roxbury that gathered funding for interpretative signage to preserve the lumber settlement’s history. As a result, he no longer needs to give tours in a place he describes as “isolated and creepy.”

Credit given to https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/communities/graveyard-in-the-woods-abandoned-nova-scotia-logging-village-so-spooky-skeptic-wont-visit-alone-100631334/?utm_medium=Social&utm_source=Facebook&fbclid=IwAR1Ihr9t5VZUmMwVHfwMDRr0cP4kDo-62eGGc6RiFohuTYRrY_eyUn6UkYI#Echobox=1635594565

Wow. This is a great ghost story. This is partly why I love living in Nova Scotia. For every wave that washes in, there’s a ghost story!!

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October 25, 2021 · 5:10 pm

How to Enjoy Samhain Safely

Merry meet all,

Samhain is only days away!! I bet you are all excited. I want to share tips on how to better enjoy our fave time of year! Mm I enjoyed roasted acorn squash and reheated mulled cider for lunch. You can watch and subscribe to Lair of Voltaire for the recipe. See link below. 

On to the tips:

  • You might be attending a party or two. You may need (or not) a costume. Take it from an experienced sewer. It’s so much less time consuming and less maddening to buy a costume at the thrift shop than to sew one. If you wanted to sew yourself a costume, I would suggest beginning a few months ago. Anything can go wrong in sewing. Buying the costume ready made spares you that. Make sure you are comfortable in your costume too. And make sure it is something you will wear more than once. If you do only intend to wear it once, then donate it. Why should a one time item take up that space in your closet?
  • If you can, you may have accessories at home to match your new costume. This can save you money. It costs more to sew a costume than to buy one. If you want specialty fabrics, then you are looking at spending a lot. I buy a lot of broadcloth cotton because it is $5.00 per meter. Silks, chiffon, velvet and linen are astronomically expensive. Five or six meters of fabric can easily run you up to a hundred dollars. I was gifted a black wool cloak. There is no way I would have sewed it otherwise. So if you can, and are crafty, consider making or acquiring cheap accessories. Masks can affect how best you see everything. At night, everything is in shadow. Consider this too. Masks aren’t safe. Wear comfortable shoes. 
  • This may go without saying but if you have a black cat, please keep your kitty indoors where it is safe. Raccoons and owls eat cats, your cat might get hit by a car, or catnapped, or lost, or get a disease or be attacked by another cat. There are all kinds of dangers out there. So keep Fido indoors. It is one night. Even one fun night out can be a hazard for your fave feline. Or pooch, lizard or guinea pig. 
  • If you are on duty to hand out candy to adorable costumed trick or treaters, consider offering organic snacks or treats. I might say this because I have teeth that crack from those hard caramel chews and now no longer eat them. But I’m not you. Raisins are a good treat. If you still want to get candies for kiddos, there are plenty to choose from at the local drugstore. Chocolate is good. I confess I can’t resist it either. I just don’t prefer the caramel chews. (They ruin my teeth which has resulted in expensive dental bills). 
  • Honoring your loved ones this year doesn’t have to cost a fortune. The local dollar store has everything you need. That includes picture frames which are quite nice for photos of your deceased loved ones. They sell affordable candles, incense, trays and other dishes. I bought a bottle of rubbing alcohol and long matches. I already had a jar of Epsom salts. I found and gathered sand at the local small beach. I performed a banishing ritual. I wanted to use the Epsom salts and rubbing alcohol in my extra large cauldron. It cost about $5.00. Not bad. I love shopping at the dollar store. Being a Witch doesn’t have to mean spending a fortune. I found a discarded Tim Hortons coffee cup and used that to scoop the sand into the plastic bag. I needed the sand to quickly extinguish the fire in my cauldron if it got out of control. Another good life saving item to have on hand is a fire extinguisher. 
  • Getting evicted from your apartment due to fire is never cool. Safety first. Always. 
  • I know you already know this, but it’s a good idea to check out your little sister’s Halloween candy haul or your own kid’s haul before letting them eat it. There are all sorts of weird crazy people out in the world now. Accompanying little kids as they sweet talk neighbours into offering sweets is a good safe idea. They shouldn’t go alone. I read stories online all the time about people who go crazy and commit crimes. I don’t have children of my own but if I did, I would go with them as they tricked and treated and check ALL of their candy. Yup. Make sure that the kids’ outfits are safe and warm and comfy and their masks fit well too and let them see easily. It’s a weird world now. 
  • Be sure to social distance, sanitize your hands and wear Covid masks. It is a very good idea to keep a bottle of Echinacea tincture on hand too. Now is the time to stock up on lemons, raw ginger and jars of natural honey for the cold season. These ingredients will always outdo and outlast NeoCitran. NeoCitran does nothing as it has none of the nutrients that lemon and honey does. Lemon and honey are antibacterial and antimicrobial. They naturally boost the immune system. My throat felt scratchy. I drank a glass of water with a drop of Echinacea tincture and the feeling in my throat was gone. !! 

Have fun this Samhain (or Halloween, if you prefer)!!! I hope these tips help. 

BB Spiderwitch

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