Eight
Although this book generally goes beyond the usual physical herbal healing, I want to present several physical formulae that may be of help. Then I will move on to the mental, emotional, and spiritual uses of herbs.
Menstrual Difficulties Tea
1 teaspoon chopped cinnamon bark
1 teaspoon chopped ginger or finely grated ginger root
Honey to sweeten
Pour one cup of boiling water over the herbs. Cover and steep for thirty to forty minutes. Strain and sweeten with honey if desired. A very old formula for the same complaint was sassafras tea, made in a similar manner.
Cold and Flu Tea
Fill a half-pint jar with local honey. Local honey is better because it helps to aid against local allergies. Add half a stick of cinnamon and the juice of a lemon slice (or the slice itself). Let this sit in a warm place for five or six days to meld the mixture. Then keep the jar in the refrigerator. To use, put a teaspoon of the mix in a cup of very hot water to soothe the throat and sinuses.
Four Thieves Vinegar
This is an ancient antiseptic formula that was said to protect thieves from the Black Plague when they were robbing the victims. It makes a good disinfectant. However, you also can take one to two tablespoons every three to four hours to ward off an illness, such as a cold. It also works for spraying down countertops and door knobs as a disinfectant.
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
½ cup lavender flowers
¼ cup rosemary leaves
½ cup sage leaves, coarsely chopped
Apple cider vinegar
Put the garlic and herbs into a wide mouth jar and pour in enough warmed vinegar to cover them. Let sit in a warm place for three to four weeks. Strain out the herbs. Pour the vinegar into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid. Let it stand in a cool, dark place; it will keep for a year.
Cider of Fire
This is a really effective mixture for keeping cold and flu away. It can also be used as a salad dressing.
1 medium onion, chopped
4 to 5 cloves of garlic, coarsely chopped
3 to 4 tablespoons freshly grated ginger root
3 to 4 tablespoons grated horseradish (you can use the bottled kind)
Apple cider vinegar
Honey
A pinch of cayenne pepper
Combine the onion, garlic, ginger, and horseradish in a wide mouth quart jar. Pour over these enough warmed vinegar to cover and sit in a warm place for three to four weeks. Strain out the herbs. Add honey and cayenne to taste. Take one to two tablespoons at the first sign of a cold, and repeat every three to four hours until the symptoms are gone.
Calendula Oil Salve
Pack a pint jar with as many calendula (pot marigold) blossoms as possible. Cover with warm almond or light olive oil. Let sit in a warm place for three to four weeks. Strain out the flowers using a piece of cheesecloth to get as much out as possible. If you want a stronger oil, replace with more blossoms and let set again. One cup of this will be used in the next formula. Bottle the rest of the calendula oil in a dark bottle, and store in a cool, dark place. This salve can be used on cuts, wounds, rashes, and diaper rash. Use in small amounts and massage in gently.
1 cup calendula oil
¼ cup grated or granular beeswax
4 to 6 drops essential lavender oil
1 pinch of turmeric powder, if you want a deeper yellow color
Warm the oil over a very low heat and stir in the beeswax; add the lavender oil. If you want a softer salve, add more oil. If you want a firmer salve, add a little more beeswax. Stir in the turmeric if you want a golden color. Pour into small jars or tins with lids; label. If stored in a cool, dark place, it will keep for up to a year. If you pierce a vitamin E capsule and add to the leftover oil, or add one drop of liquid benzoin, the oil will keep for a year if capped and kept in the refrigerator. Benzoin is a fixative, as is vitamin E.
Calming Massage Oil
1½ ounces dried lavender buds
4 ounces almond oil
5 to 10 drops essential lavender oil
Put the buds into a clean glass jar, and pour the oil over them. Set the jar in a warm, sunny place for two to three weeks with the lid on. Strain out the buds. Put the essential lavender oil into the other oil drop by drop until you reach the scent you want. To use this for massage, pour a few drops into one hand, rub hands together, and massage the body. It is a good idea to always massage toward the heart. The legs and arms are massaged from the fingers/toes upward, the shoulders and neck downwards.
A few drops of this formula can also be used for a relaxing herbal bath. Just take care not to fall while getting in or out, as the oil will make the tub slippery.
Achy Joints Rub
Be very careful with this formula—don’t touch any delicate body parts, the eyes, or face. Wash your hands thoroughly after using it.
½ cup light olive or almond oil
1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
A few drops of essential wintergreen oil
Beeswax, grated or granular
Combine the first three ingredients, and warm over low heat. Since it is impossible to strain out the cayenne, let it settle to the bottom. Pour the oil, excluding the cayenne at the bottom, into a pan. Add grated or granular beeswax to the oil in the pan until it is thick enough to make a salve. Pour into small jars or tins; label. Rub a small amount on painful joints to soothe and relieve. Always carefully wash your hands afterward.
Fever Tea
If treating a child ages three to six, give them ¼ cup of tea every two hours. If under age three, give one teaspoon per year of age. For a persistent or high fever, see a doctor. An adult can take ½ to one cup of this tea every two hours.
One part catnip leaf
1 part elderberry flowers
1 part spearmint leaf
Honey to sweeten
Put the three herbs into a glass quart jar. Pour boiling hot water over them. Cap and let steep for 30 to 45 minutes. Strain out the herbs. Pour out and heat the amount needed, adding honey to taste at this time. Recap the remaining liquid.
Clover Tea
Purple or red clover is not as popular with bees as white clover. However, an infusion made from red clover blossoms can be helpful for bronchial problems. It is also an old formula for cancer, although I doubt its efficacy in that department.
1 ounce of red clover blossoms
1 pint boiling water
Let steep for 30 to 45 minutes. Have the patient drink a cupful of this hot tea every hour.
Pregnancy Tea
Tea from raspberry leaves has been used for centuries by pregnant women to help with morning sickness and to help ease the troubles of childbirth. The dried leaves are crumbled and put into a teaball or strainer; fill the cup with hot water and let steep for at least five minutes. Sweeten with honey if desired. It can be taken several times a day.
Chest Congestion Cough Syrup
Slice one cut raw onion and put into a small stainless steel or glass cooking pan with a lid. Add enough raw honey to cover the onion (about half a cup) and simmer, slowing until the onion bits are almost dissolved; leave the lid on during this cooking; the process takes about 20 minutes. Strain and store the syrup in the refrigerator. Can be taken up to once every half hour in one tablespoon doses for adults.
Medicinal Basil Pesto
½ to 1 cup olive oil
1 to 3 garlic cloves
½ cup fresh basil leaves
½ cup fresh dandelion leaves
1 cup fresh cilantro leaves and stems
½ to 1 cup walnuts
¼ cup grated hard Parmesan cheese
Combine the oil, garlic, and fresh greens in a blender or food processor until smooth. Add nuts and cheese, and pulse again until the desired consistency. Freeze in an ice cube tray for proportion size. Then empty frozen cubes into a freezer bag. Use on crackers, pasta, or in soup.
Thyme Cough/Cold/Chest Syrup
2 to 4 ounces thyme leaves
1 quart water
1 cup honey
Combine thyme and water over very low heat, simmering with the lid ajar. When liquid is reduced to 2 cups, strain the strong tea and add the honey, stirring until melted. Store in a glass jar in the refrigerator for up to four weeks. Use ½ to 1 teaspoon every couple of hours until the cough stops.
Turmeric Arthritis/Bursitis/Immune System
¼ cup turmeric root powder
almond oil
almond milk
honey to sweeten
To make the base of this mixture, combine the turmeric power with ½ cup water in a pan. Boil, then simmer until a thick paste is formed. Cool and scoop this paste into a glass jar and store in refrigerator. To make one serving, combine ½ to 1 teaspoon of the paste, 1 teaspoon of almond oil, and 1 cup of almond milk in a blender. Add honey to sweeten. Blend to make a frothy drink. Cinnamon and ginger may also be added.
Garlic Ear Oil
1 to 2 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Combine garlic and oil in the top of a double boiler. Warm over very low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the oil smells like garlic. Carefully strain all garlic through a sieve with cheesecloth. Pour the oil into small glass dropper bottles and store in the refrigerator for several months. To use for ear infections connected to colds and respiratory problems, gently warm the bottle in a pan of hot water to barely warm. Put several drops in both ears and gently massage the ears. Repeat every 30 minutes until the pain stops. Mullein flowers may be used in place of the garlic.
Motion Sickness Balls
2 tablespoons ginger root powder
1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon cinnamon powder
honey to sweeten
Combine the ginger, cocoa, and cinnamon in a bowl. Mix in enough honey until mixture is like bread dough. Add ½ teaspoon water and knead a few minutes. If necessary, add more ginger or cocoa powder. Roll into pea-sized balls. Dry at room temperature. Keep in a cold, dark place like the refrigerator. Take 2 to 3 balls an hour before traveling, then as needed.
Sage Sore Throat Gargle
1 tablespoon dried sage leaves
1 to 2 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon goldenseal root powder
a few grains of cayenne
½ cup apple cider vinegar
Pour ½ cup boiling water over the dried sage. Cover and let steep 45 minutes. Stir in salt, goldenseal, and cayenne, then the apple cider vinegar. Gargle a teaspoon of this every 30 minutes to one hour. Don’t swallow—it tastes bad!
Migraine Tincture
1 tablespoon California leaf and flower
1 tablespoon lavender buds
1 tablespoon feverfew leaves
80 proof alcohol (or apple cider vinegar)
Put finely chopped herbs in a clean dry glass jar with a lid. Pour enough cider vinegar to cover the herbs by two inches. Put in a warm sunny place for 4 to 6 weeks; shake daily. Strain the herbs into a clean jar; cap and label. This should keep up to a year. For frequent headaches, take ½ teaspoon two times a day for up to three months. Discontinue for 3 to 4 weeks. Women should not take when pregnant and should discontinue during menstruation as it can stimulate bleeding.
Gypsy Cold Remedy
½ cup elder flowers
½ cup peppermint leaf
½ cup yarrow flowers and leaf
Put chopped herbs in a clean glass jar with a lid. Pour boiling water over the herbs, filling the jar. Let steep for 45 minutes to make a very strong tea. Strain out the herbs. Warm and sip throughout the day.
Eye Packs
2 chamomile tea bags
water for tea
These help with eye strain, dark circles, and puffiness. Place two chamomile teabags in hot water and let sit a couple of minutes. Remove and let the bags cool until tolerable to the skin. Place a tea bag on each eye. Drink the tea while relaxing with tea bags in place for 15 to 20 minutes.
Gypsy Fever-Reducing Tea
1 cup elder flowers
1 cup yarrow flowers and leaf
1 cup peppermint leaf
Chop herbs and put in a clean glass jar with a lid. Cover with boiling water and steep for 45 minutes. Strain out herbs. Drink ½ cup every 30 minutes to bring on a good sweat and continue until fever lessens.
Kidney Stone Relief Tincture
½ teaspoon California poppy flower tincture
1⁄3 teaspoon Jamaican dogwood bark tincture
¼ teaspoon juniper berry tincture
½ teaspoon marshmallow root tincture
1⁄8 teaspoon dandelion root tincture
1⁄8 teaspoon turmeric root tincture
Add tinctures to one ounce water. Drink one ounce every 20 minutes until pain subsides.
Live Forever Salve
This is good for poison oak, poison ivy, or poison sumac.
1 pound of lard
1 cup of Live Forever leaf (Sedum purpuream) leaves, washed and dried
Over medium heat in a skillet, cook the herbs until the leaves are brown and the lard turns green. Strain and put into a clean jar with a lid. Apply as necessary.
Horehound Lozenges
The green herb is mixed with honey as a good remedy for all chest complaints. It can also be used as candied lozenges for hoarseness, cough, and catarrh. To make lozenges:
1⁄3 cup of dried leaves
4 cups brown sugar
1 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon butter
Steep leaves in two cups of boiling water for an hour and strain. To this add two cups of liquid, add the brown sugar and cream of tartar. Heat to a temperature of 220º Fahrenheit. Add one teaspoon butter (do not stir) and pour into buttered pans. Mark into squares and cool. Large doses of horehound will also expel worms.
Tea Bags and Raisins
Raisins are a good remedy for recurring boils and carbuncles. They are also a good and gentle source of iron.
Tea bags are also a handy remedy for boils and pockets of infection. However, the tea bags must be the caffeinated type; the non-caffeinated kind will not work. My sister, a retired nurse, often used this remedy (with unofficial) doctor’s approval in the nursing homes where she worked.
Carrot Poultice
Shred and heat in enough water to cover the carrots. Strain and spread on a clean cloth. Check that the mixture is not too hot on the skin. Place over the infected body part. Remove when cool to the touch. Carrots are a very strong antiseptic.
Potato Poultice
Cool a baked potato so it doesn’t burn the skin. Cut it in half and tie the potato over a boil or infected spot to bring the infection to a head.
Lemon Balm Tea
This is best when the lemon balm is fresh with its delightful lemon fragrance. Drink as a tea to induce a mild perspiration and ease the pain of a fever. It also helps revive a tired brain.
Itchy Scalp
The orange-scented leaves of bergamot are made into a tea that can be used as a diuretic. Mixed with apple cider vinegar it is also used for dandruff or an itchy scalp.
Panic Attacks
1 part California poppy flowers and/or seeds
1 part chamomile
½ part marshmallow root
Prepare as an infusion or tea. This is a very gentle formula that can be drunk as much and as often as needed. To make a good medicinal tea, pour boiling water over the herbs, cover, and steep for five minutes. Strain and drink, using a little honey to sweeten if desired.
Burns
My grandmother would immediately plunge the burned area in cold running water to keep the heat from going farther into the skin. Third-degree burns and staph infections require a doctor’s care. Dry the area gently, then apply aloe vera gel to the burned area and let it dry there. Aloe vera is a disinfecting, cooling, and healing herb. I keep both a plant and a bottle of the aloe vera gel.
St. John’s wort salve is also good for healing burns, even sunburn. It can also be used for cuts, rashes, and wounds.
To make a salve, begin by making an herb-infused oil. Choose cold-pressed almond oil, light olive oil, or jojoba oil. Using a double-boiler pan with a lid, combine the herb and oil in the top pot. Bring to a low simmer and heat for 30 to 60 minutes. Check frequently to be certain the oil isn’t overheating. The lower the heat, the longer the infusion, and the better the oil. Strain through cheesecloth or muslin. Wring out the cloth thoroughly to get every drop.
To make a salve, use this oil. To each cup of herbal oil, add ¼ cup of beeswax. Heat until the beeswax is melted. Put one tablespoon of oil into the freezer for a minute to check if it is too soft or hard. If too soft, add more wax. If too hard, add more oil. Remove from heat and pour into small glass jars or tins.
To make St. John’s wort salve, make an herbal oil using one part calendula flowers, one part comfrey leaf, and one part St. John’s wort leaf and flower. Add beeswax to the oil and pour into jars.
Nerve Tonic
To make an herbal tea or infusion, you need a quart jar with a tight-fitting lid, boiling water and herbs. Put the herbs in the jar; fill the jar with boiling water and cap. Use twice as much fresh herbs as dried. Strain out herbs. Store in the refrigerator for three to four days. Left out, it will sour.
3 parts lemon balm
1 part chamomile
½ part chrysanthemum flowers
½ part rose petals
¼ part lavender flowers
Honey to sweeten, if desired
Drink daily for two to three months. Drink one cup three or four times a day.
Cough and Sore Throat Syrup
To make a syrup, you can substitute maple syrup or vegetable glycerin, although I prefer using honey. The family’s recipe for this syrup with honey always tasted better than when made with other liquids. Use two ounces of herb mixture to one quart water. Over low heat, simmer down to one pint. Strain the herbs from the liquid, and put the liquid back into the pan. To each pint of liquid, add one cup honey. You can add more if you prefer it sweeter. Warm together only enough to blend well. When this is done, you can add two drops of peppermint or a small amount to help preserve the syrup and to relax a cough. Remove from the heat, bottle, and label. Syrups will last weeks, even months, if refrigerated.
4 parts fennel seed
2 parts licorice root
2 parts slippery elm bark
2 parts valerian
2 parts wild cherry bark
1 part cinnamon bark
½ part ginger root
1⁄8 part orange peel
Make into a syrup. Take 1 to 2 teaspoons every hour or two throughout the day or when having a bout of coughing.
Ginger Syrup/Jam
Good for a cold, stomach cramps, motion sickness, coughs, or menstrual discomfort.
Peel a large clump of fresh ginger root. Grate it and put in a pan. Add just enough honey to barely cover the ginger. Simmer over low heat for 10 to 15 minutes, until the ginger root is soft and mushy. Honey will taste strongly of ginger. Do not strain. The ginger will be soft and add texture. Pour into a glass jar and refrigerate. Can be eaten as a jam.
Use 1 tablespoon as needed, or add 2 to 3 tablespoons to a cup of hot water for hot ginger tea.
Anticold Salad
Combine finely cut tomatoes, red onions, mashed garlic buds, vegetable oil, and lemon juice. Eat at least once a day when a cold starts.
Anti-Flu/Cold Remedy
Use gloves when handling cayenne pepper and avoid touching your eyes, face, or private parts. Cayenne is almost impossible to remove from the skin once you touch yourself.
1½ teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
1 cup boiling water
1 cup apple cider vinegar
Grind the salt and cayenne together to make a paste. Add the boiling water; steep and cool. Add the vinegar to the water. Most adults can take a teaspoon to a tablespoon every half to one hour.
Achy Joints Rub
½ cup light olive oil
1 tablespoon cayenne powder
⅛ cup beeswax
Few drops of wintergreen essential oil
Mix the oil and cayenne in top pan of a double boiler; heat to a very low simmer with just a few bubbles rising. Do not overheat. Simmer gently for 30 to 60 minutes. Mix in the beeswax and essential oil. Pour into small jars.
Rub a small amount over achy joints for pain. Do not cover the joint as the held-in heat will make you feel like your skin is on fire! In fact, instead of using your bare skin to apply, use a rubber glove or piece of fabric. Do not put near anyone’s eyes, face, or private parts.
Magickal Combinations
The success of a spell or wish is influenced by many things, starting with the deep intent you have clearly in mind. The mind, the body, the emotions, and the spiritual path all must work together to gain your goal. If any of these are out of balance, they are all affected. To help strengthen the spells I’m giving you additional information on stones and colors that will help stir the mental, emotional, and spiritual sides of you to heal and work the spell more effectively.
Stones by Color
Black: binding; defense by repelling dark magick; transforming negative spells and thoughtforms into positive energy; general defense; release from feeling bound
Blue: Harmony; understanding; journeys or moves; healing
Brown: Contacting Earth elementals; success; amplifies all Earth magick and psychic abilities; common sense
Green: Marriage; relationships; balance; practical creativity particularly with the hands; fertility; growth; money
Indigo: Discovering past lives; understanding karmic problems; balancing out karma; stopping undesirable habits or experiences
Orange: Change your luck; power, control of a situation
Pink: Healing; true love; friendship
Purple: Breaking bad luck; protection; psychic and spiritual growth; success in long range plans
Red: Courage to face a conflict or test; energy; taking action
White: Spiritual guidance; being directed into the right paths; calmness; becoming centered; seeing past all illusions
Yellow: Power of the mind; creativity of a mental nature; sudden changes
Clear quartz crystal: Psychic work; helps with divinations; amplifies the power raised during all spellwork
Lodestone or magnetite: Drawing power; ability to attract what you desire
Moonstone: Gaining occult power; soothing the emotions; rising above problems; Moon deities
Pyrite or fool’s gold: Money; prosperity; total success; sun deities
There are four important inner biomagnetic sheaths, or auras, around the human body. Each is linked with vital body chakras or power centers. To realign these sheaths and power centers, place certain stones on the body, or wear jewelry with power stones in it.
Grounding energy from the crown of the head to the feet: Smoky quartz
Opening and cleansing all: Amber, malachite
Cleansing and protecting all: Garnet, tourmaline
Aligning in general: Yellow kunzite, kyanite
It is also possible to make gem elixirs or essence. To make an elixir, place a cleansed stone into a glass bowl with spring water or filtered water. If the stone is friable or the dust considered toxic, put the stone into a small glass jar and then into the glass bowl. Set in the sunlight for twelve hours. Remove the stone and pour the elixir into a clean glass bottle with an airtight lid. To keep for more than a week, add 50 percent brandy or vodka as a preservative. Store in a cool, dark place. Be sure to label.
To make a dosage bottle, add seven drops of the mother elixir to a glass dropper bottle. Fill with ⅓ brandy to ⅔ water if taking by mouth or putting on the skin. If using in the eyes, omit the alcohol. Take seven drops three times a day. Following is a list of stones and what their elixirs do.
Agate, Blue Lace: Eye infections
Agate, Moss: Fungal infections
Amazonite: Balances the metabolism
Amber: Antibiotic, deals with throat problems
Beryl, Golden: Gargle for sore throats
Bloodstone: Release constipation and emotional stagnation
Charoite: Excellent cleanser for the body
Fluorite: Breaks up blockages; anti-viral
Hematite: Strengthens boundaries in the sheaths
Herkimer Diamond: Aids psychic vision and dream recall
Jadeite: Eye conditions; brings peace
Jasper, Green: Restores biorhythms
Kunzite: Opens the heart
Malachite (tumbled only): Harmonizes physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual
Tourmaline, Black: Releases toxic energy from the emotions, mind, and body
Stones by Magickal Powers
Agate: Regains balance in life; settles conflicts; courage, good luck
Amazonite: Self-confidence
Amber: Draws off negative energy
Amethyst: Cleans the aura’s shields and protects them; draws in divine energy; helps to gain spiritual blessings; removes tensions and stress
Apache Tear: Keeps the aura from absorbing negative energy
Aventurine: Change of luck
Bloodstone: Spiritual cleanser; binds troublesome people
Carnelian: Repelling ill-wishing
Citrine: Cleans and aligns the auras; prosperity
Fluorite: Psychic shield
Fossils: Surviving problems
Garnet: Relieves depression; courage
Hematite: Court cases, lawyers; overcoming obstacles; will power
Iolite: Handling unwanted situations
Jade: Shields against negative vibrations
Jade, Black: Guards against negatives
Kunzite: A very spiritual stone that dispels negatives and removes obstacles
Labradorite: Prevents energy leaks
Lapis Lazuli: Spiritual growth
Magnitite: Alleviates negative emotions; attracts love, commitment, and loyalty
Malachite: Lifts spirits when totally discouraged
Moonstone: Uncovers secrets and deceptions; helps in gaining psychic abilities; reveals secret enemies
Obsidian: Stops psychic attacks
Peridot: Dissolves jealousy
Pyrite: Prosperity
Quartz, Clear: Cleans, protects, energizes; guardian angels; inner guidance; inspiration; solving problems
Quartz, Rose: Finding true love
Quartz, Smoky: Grounds energy and dissolves negative patterns
Sard: Handling family problems
Selenite: Pinpoints issues and lessons that need to be worked on and leads to ways to solve them
Tiger’s Eye: Resolves dilemmas and internal conflicts
Tourmaline: Psychic shield; helps in dealing with fear; release guilt
Tourmaline, Green: Heals holes in the aura
The stones do not have to be faceted or expensive. They do not even have to be tumbled smooth, large, or of the best quality. As you can see in the lists, some stones are multi-functional so you don’t even need a different one for each spell unless you are trying to do more than one spell at a time (which isn’t advised). Handle several stones of a kind to see which feels right to you. You can keep them in a plastic bag with a label until you can differentiate between the types of stones. Most of the stones can, and should be rinsed in water to cleanse them of all vibrations except yours. One exception is calcite, which is too soft to endure water. You can cleanse calcite by surrounding it with quartz crystals for twenty-four hours.
When your spell is completed, and you empty the used herbs on the ground, pick up and cleanse the used stones again. Stones shouldn’t be wasted; they are not an infinite resource.
Stones make charm bags and poppets more powerful, which is why I’ve listed them. You can go only by the color of the stones if you wish, but more energy is drawn to your project if certain stones are used.
The following list for the planets will help you decide on the weekday, if you want to further fine-tune your project and energy. This list will also work if you desire to use a certain hour of the day.
Planetary Notes
Sun–Sunday
Personal power, health, success, self-confidence, vitality, courage, authority, dignity, fame, self-knowledge
Color: Orange or gold
Stones: Yellow jasper, topaz
Herbs: Angelica, bay, calendula, frankincense, juniper, rosemary, St. John’s Wort, sunflower
Moon–Monday
Dreamwork, the inner self, psychic knowledge, dream working, childbirth, fertility, past life recall, imagination, subconscious mind
Color: Violet, silver
Stones: Moonstone, pearl, abalone, selenite
Herbs: Jasmine, almond, iris, lily, lotus, moonwort, mugwort, violet, white sandalwood
Mars–Tuesday
Courage, motivation, victory, aggression, achievement, energy, action, assertiveness, strength
Color: Scarlet, red
Stones: Garnet, ruby, carnelian, bloodstone
Herbs: Honeysuckle, basil, cactus, cayenne, dragon’s blood resin, galangal, garlic, ginger, hawthorn, nettle, red sandalwood, rue
Mercury–Wednesday
Communication, knowledge, business, divination, business success, learning
Color: Yellow
Stones: Quartz, opal, Herkimer diamond, yellow calcite, yellow jasper
Herbs: Bergamot, caraway, cinnamon, dill, gum Arabic, gum mastic, horehound, lavender, marjoram, mullein, peppermint, star anise, savory, thyme
Jupiter–Thursday
Prosperity, honor, expansion, career, ambition, luck, material success, spiritual growth, humor
Color: royal blue, purple
Stones: Sapphire, turquoise, blue topaz, lapis lazuli
Herbs: Borage, carnation, cedar, cinquefoil, dandelion, fir, hyssop, magnolia, maple, meadowsweet, oak moss, pine, popular, sage, sassafras
Venus–Friday
Love, the arts, friendships, artistry, attraction, music, pleasure, sensual delight, beauty, balance, compassion.
Color: Green
Stones: Emerald, malachite, apatite, green fluorite
Herbs: Catnip, coltsfoot, feverfew, lemon verbena, lilac, myrtle, passion flower, peach, periwinkle, raspberry, rose, tonka bean, vanilla, vervain, violet
Saturn-Saturday
Grounding, protection, stability, karmic lessons.
Color: Indigo, black
Stones: Jet, onyx, hematite, smoky quartz
Herbs: Balm of Gilead, boneset, comfrey, cypress, dill, garlic, hawthorn, hyssop, patchouli, rosemary, St. John’s Wort, valerian, vetiver
I’ve given you a wide variety of herbs and stones to use in your spells or prayers. Choose the ones that you feel good about using and/or are within your budget. The power of your intent will be what makes them all work together to fulfill your wish.
You can see in illustrations that poppets and charm bags don’t have to be very large. In fact, small is often better. You can pin a small charm bag to the inside of your bra or easily carry it in your pocket. A poppet can just as easily fit into a drawer. That way no one sees it and thinks you are up to some negative mischief. Fill most of the poppet or charm bag with cotton balls or quilt batting. You will be putting a lot of your intent energy into the spoonful of herbs you will add.
The poppet is primarily used for healing on yourself or others. You can draw on facial features. Poppets are stuffed with appropriate herbs and a stone (or stones) placed inside where the illness is. The poppet will require two cut pieces of muslin or fabric, so just sew up the sides first and leave a small opening to stuff in the herbs and stones. Then finish sewing the poppet shut.
The same procedure is used with a charm bag. Sew three sides shut, stuff in the herbs and stones, then sew the packet closed. You can also use fabric glue instead of sewing. The charm bag needs only one piece of fabric cut, as it will be bent in half, the two sides sewed or glued together, and then the top closed after the herbs are inside.
Following are some examples for both poppet and charm bags. You can choose different herbs and stones if you wish. You also can change the chant or make up your own. The most important part is to be clear in your intent and concentrate on it very hard while holding the finished poppet or charm bag.
Changing Your Luck Charm Bag
Herbs: Basil, frankincense, equal amounts of each. Grind the basil fine, but don’t grind the frankincense. Frankincense has a tendency to ball into a sticky mess, so try to purchase it in powder form or very small granules. Create a charm that says “money,” “good luck,” or something similar. Fill the charm bag and seal it, either by sewing or gluing. Hold the bag between your hands and concentrate very hard on your intent of changing your luck.
Chant: “Bad luck now leaves me. I shed no tears over the parting. Open my life to accept good luck.”
Influence Someone to Repay a Debt Sachet
Herbs: One part each: clove, ginger, jasmine, allspice
Add a small piece of hematite and tiger’s eye. Seal the bag. Hold the bag between your hands and concentrate on the person repaying the debt.
Chant: “What was given in trust shall be freely returned. What was mine shall be mine again.”
Healing Poppet
Herbs: One part each jasmine and myrrh. Two drops gardenia oil.
Stuff the herbs into a cotton-filled poppet along with a small piece of fluorite or beryl. Say: “I name you (name of sick person).” Concentrate of the person being healed and whole again.
Chant: “I call in the Light of healing to fill the body, mind, and spirit of (name). The Light cannot be denied its healing powers. No one and nothing can stop it from its cleansing path. I draw down the Healing Light! I draw down the Light!”
Put the poppet in a safe place, out of sight. Hold the poppet and repeat the chant for seven nights. When the healing comes, empty the herbs onto the ground. Retrieve and wash the stone carefully so it can be used again. The poppet can then be disposed in whatever manner you wish.
Herbal Teas
Dried herbs, especially for teas, should be kept in airtight containers. Most herbs require using one teaspoon dried herbs or two tablespoons fresh herbs to one cup of water. When drinking the tea for pleasure, not medicine, adjust the herbs to suit your taste.
Make an infusion by pouring boiling water over the herbs and allow them to steep for ten to thirty minutes. Keep the tea container tightly closed or covered.
A decoction is the preferred method for brewing most roots, barks, and hard nuts or seeds. Make by simmering the herbs in boiling water for fifteen to thirty minutes. Keep the pot tightly covered.
Spicy Flavors
Nutmeg: Don’t use too much; spicy flavor
Cloves: Hot, spicy, aromatic; add only a few buds
Cinnamon: Warming, fragrant, pleasant
Ginger: Energizing, warming; avoid too much or the tea will taste hot
Lemon Flavors
Lemon peel: Bitter if brewed too long
Lemon balm: Good when fresh; rather bland when dried
Lemongrass: Fragrant, delicious and high in vitamin A
Orange peel: Very tangy and fragrant but bitter if brewed too long
Mint Flavors
Spearmint: Classic mint, blends flavors well
Peppermint: Strong, calming flavor
Wintergreen: Woodsy mint
Tart Flavors
Rose hips: Refreshingly tart
Hibiscus: Very tart and rich in vitamin C
Sweet Flavors
Licorice: Sweet flavored
Anise seed: Licorice flavored
Fennel: Sweet licorice flavored
Vanilla bean: Chop for a rich vanilla flavor
Flowers
Chamomile: Fragrant and bittersweet; bitter if brewed too long
Roses: Mildly relaxing, delicious flavor
Lavender: violet color and pungent flavor
Woodsy Flavor
Star anise: Wonderful with a slightly licorice flavor
Birch bark: Woodsy refreshing “root beer”-like taste
Sarsaparilla: Richly fragrant with vanilla-like odor and flavor
Heavenly Flowers Tea
4 parts spearmint
3 parts lemongrass
2 parts hibiscus
1 part rose hips
Infuse for twenty minutes, then add a little honey or sugar.
Inspire-Mint Tea
4 parts rose hips
2 parts chamomile
1 part spearmint
1 part wintergreen
Infuse for twenty minutes, then add a little honey.
Sweet Relaxation
3 parts spearmint
2 parts chamomile
½ part passion flower
½ part rose
¼ part lavender
Infuse for twenty minutes.