HERBS OF MAGIC AND THE MYSTERIES
Herbs have long been used to help connect us to life’s unseen mysteries and to strengthen our magical workings and ensure their success. They can bring us luck, help us find love and solutions to our problems, exorcise demons, attract wealth, and divine our future. To impart their magical qualities to your spells, however, many herbs insist on being treated with respect and may require you to ask their permission, perform short ceremonies, or gather them at a particular time of day before they will agree to lend their aid to your magical efforts, so pay careful attention to the suggestions and recommendations in the sections below.
Ash
(Fraxinus spp.)
In Norse mythology Yggdrasil is the cosmic Ash tree upon which Odin hung for nine days and nine nights and discovered the runes. Ever since the time of Odin’s self-sacrifice, the Ash has been associated with magic, divination, and secret knowledge.
In Celtic tradition Ash is a tree that spans the sacred Three Worlds of Land, Sea, and Sky. The Ash is “Nion” in the Celtic Ogham alphabet, and when worn or ingested, strengthens the aspirant’s ability to transition between the worlds. Consult with or sit under an Ash to contact the High Gods or perform rites of initiation.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Ash.
Cherry
(Prunus spp.)
So we grew together,
Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
But yet a union in partition,
Two lovely berries moulded on one stem.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM
Cherries are somehow erotic, playful, and joyful at the same time, and very appropriate for Beltaine.
The Cherry is a tree of eternal beauty, renewing its gorgeous blooms year to year. In Japanese tradition it is said that the Cherry provides the elixir that gives the Gods their immortality, and it helps us mortal aspirants tie in to our immortal selves. Each Cherry tree produces many thousands of seeds to ensure that its lineage survives; thus the Cherry is an herb of immortality, birth, and rebirth, and the space beneath its leaves and branches is a wonderful place for celebrating baby blessings and memorials for the dead.
Cherry trees are very competitive; they like to show off their flowers with grace and flair. You can use Cherry blossoms and bark in incense to bring success to magical spells and path workings and float Cherry blossoms in the bath to bring success, joy-filled beauty, and glamour to an activity. The scent of Cherry helps the neophyte magic practitioner as she prepares for initiation, and it can help anyone facing a competition, test, or exam.1
Kitchen Witches can candy Cherry blossoms and use them to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and other pastries. The flowers have little taste but add a touch of Cherry magic whenever they are seen.
Candied Flowers
Gather your flowers and soak them in cold water with a few tablespoons of vinegar or sea salt for at least 20 minutes to get the parasites to drop off, then rinse well.
Make a bed of granulated sugar on a plate and set aside.
Whip together the white of one free-range organic egg and 1 tablespoon of cold water and paint each flower with the egg-white wash using a soft brush. Lay each flower on top of the sugar bed as you go.
When all the flowers have been painted, sprinkle each one lightly with more sugar and use tweezers to shake off excess. Move the flowers to a sieve and place the sieve in a very low-temperature (no more than 175 degrees) oven with the door cracked open to dry the flowers.
Once dry, store the candied flowers between layers of waxed paper in a glass jar, refrigerate, and use them to decorate pastries within a month or freeze them in a plastic container for later use.
CAUTION: As with all wild edibles, try a flower and wait a few hours to see how it affects you before consuming any more.
Here is a celebratory dish featuring Cherries. If you are lucky enough to find fresh ones at Beltaine, please use them. If not, canned ones will suffice.
Cherries Jubilee*23
2 cups fresh cherries with stems and pits removed, or one 16-ounce can cherries with the juice carefully reserved
Raw organic cane sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
¼ cup brandy
1 quart natural, organic vanilla ice cream
If using fresh cherries, simmer them in a saucepan in 1 cup of water with 3 tablespoons of sugar for 5 minutes. If you are using canned cherries, add just 1 teaspoon of sugar if they are unsweetened or no sugar at all if they are sweetened.
Melt the cornstarch in 1 tablespoon of water and add the dissolved cornstarch and 1 cup of water (or 1 cup of juice from the canned cherries if that’s what you are using) to the simmered cherries. Bring to a boil then simmer again for 2 minutes.
Just before serving, heat the brandy in a separate pot. Pour the cherries over the ice cream then light the brandy and pour it flaming over the ice cream and cherries. (The flame will be high and yellow and then gradually turn blue. Keep it going as long as you can to mystify and delight your guests by stirring it gently and distributing the alcohol. Do this outside at night for safety and maximum pyrotechnic effect.)
CAUTION: The flames will be high, so make sure that nothing flammable is directly above you or nearby, including long sleeves from ritual robes!
Dundee Cake*24
This Scottish fruitcake contains cherries and is suitable for any ritual or celebration.
1 cup organic butter
1 cup raw organic cane sugar
5 cage-free organic eggs
2½ cups organic flour
1 teaspoon nonaluminum baking powder
½ teaspoon sea salt
½ cup almonds, chopped
1 cup raisins
1 cup organic currants
½ cup mixed fruit peel
1 tablespoon organic orange rind, grated
2 tablespoons orange juice
¼ cup almond halves
Candied cherries*25
Preheat the oven to 300°F. Grease a 9-inch tube pan (angel food cake pan).
In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar, then beat in the eggs, one at a time. Sift the flour, baking powder, and sea salt into the batter (if you don’t have a sifter just put these in a fine sieve and knock it gently on the side to produce an even dusting). Stir in the chopped almonds, raisins, currants, mixed fruit peel, orange rind, and orange juice.
Pour the batter into the pan. Decorate the top with almond halves and candied cherries. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes, or until a sharp knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
In addition to adding wonderful flavor and decoration to culinary delights, the Cherry tree also has the capacity to heal many ailments. The inner bark acts as a sedative to the nerves of the respiratory tract, which is why it is added to cough remedies, and tea made from the inner bark has been used for diarrhea. To make the tea: Harvest the inner bark from branches (not the trunk) in the fall, before the first frost. Dry the bark immediately to prevent it from fermenting and metabolizing the cyanogenic glycosides it contains into hydrocyanic acid (cyanide). Steep 1 teaspoon of inner bark per cup of freshly boiled hot water for 10 minutes (do not simmer or boil, as heat destroys the cough-suppressant properties of this herb). You can also make a cold infusion of 1 teaspoon of bark per cup of cold water and let it steep for 5 hours. Take up to 2 cups a day in ¼-cup doses.
An inner bark tincture is also effective. To make the tincture: See “How to Make a Tincture”. Put 10 to 15 drops in water and take before meals to improve digestion.2
Cherry fruits are powerful antioxidants and a natural source of melatonin, which helps to regulate sleep. They also reduce the level of nitric oxide in the body, helping to relieve rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis pain, and are anti-inflammatory and can reduce the symptoms of gout. The fruits and juice can also help lower blood sugar levels in diabetics (be sure to monitor your sugar levels carefully), and sour cherries help regulate fat and glucose levels, aiding cardiovascular and liver health. Cherries contain anthocyanin, which can help enhance memory function.3 Eat about a cup of Cherries a day.
Wild Cherry Inner Bark Cough Syrup*26
1 part†27 organic licorice root (leave this out if you are diabetic)
1 part organic gingerroot
1 part organic elecampane root
1 part organic fennel seeds
1 part organic cinnamon bark
2 parts wild cherry inner bark
1/8 part chopped organic orange peel
Sweetener such as local raw honey, maple syrup, or brown rice syrup
Put the roots, seeds, and cinnamon bark (not the cherry bark) into the pot and barely cover with fresh, cold water. Simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes.
Remove from the heat, add the cherry bark and orange peel, and allow everything to steep for 4 to 12 hours (heat destroys the cough suppressing quality of cherry bark, so it should be steeped rather than boiled or simmered).
Strain out the liquid and measure what you have. Add 2 parts liquid sweetener for every 1 part herbal brew. If you have black cherry concentrate you can add that for extra flavor. Store in a capped glass jar for up to 2 weeks in the refrigerator.
CAUTION: Cherries and cherry bark are safe when used as a food and when used short-term (no more than a few days) as medicine.4
Cherry at Beltaine
Have a picnic with your lover under a flowering Cherry on May 1. Be sure to kiss them at least once! Place blooming Cherry branches on the altar and sprinkle the fresh or sugared blossoms onto food. Float a Cherry blossom or two in the ritual cup. Serve Cherries at your Beltaine feast.
Chickweed
(Stellaria media)
Chickweed’s special magic is the strengthening of relationships and of love, which is apparent in its penchant for growing in companionable clumps. You can wear it in an amulet or carry it on your person to attract a lover’s attention or to ensure fidelity in your partner.5
Pick Chickweed with the dew still on it, and eat it to increase your beauty. With its tiny flowers that look like little stars, Chickweed is an herb of the moon. Use it when doing a magical working under the moon, especially one that involves birds or animals.6 Kitchen Witches can use the magic of Chickweed in dishes to inspire and strengthen love.
Chickweed Vinegar for Salads*28
Place chickweed in a large glass jar and pack loosely. Cover it with organic apple cider vinegar, leaving an inch or two of airspace at the top. Stir to remove any air bubbles.
Cover the opening to the jar with plastic wrap (vinegar corrodes metal) and then cap. Steep for 4 to 6 weeks, shaking the jar periodically. Strain and reserve for use in salads or any dish requiring vinegar.
Spring Greens Crustless Quiche*29
In spring the chickens begin laying again and eggs are abundant. Chickweed, young nettles, and baby spinach can be used alone or in combination in this dish. Try adding the chopped fresh leaves of ramps (wild onion) if you are lucky enough to find them!
3 cups spring greens with the stems removed
Sea salt
Organic vinegar
1 cup sliced organic mushrooms
3 organic garlic cloves, minced
1 organic green onion (or a couple of chives), chopped
Organic, cold-pressed virgin olive oil
4 large or 5 small organic, free-range eggs
1 cup organic milk
Black pepper
½ cup crumbled organic feta cheese
½ cup shredded organic mozzarella cheese
Preheat the oven to 350°F. Grease a 9-inch glass or ceramic pie pan.
Rinse the nettles to remove the sting (wear rubber gloves and hold the nettles under cold, running tap water for a minute). Soak the greens in cold water with a few teaspoons of sea salt or organic vinegar added for 20 minutes to remove any parasites. Rinse the greens, then coarsely chop them.
Sauté the mushrooms, garlic, green onion, and nettle greens in olive oil with a pinch of sea salt. Drain the liquid and set aside.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, and a little sea salt and pepper. Arrange the sautéed greens in the bottom of the pie plate, distributing evenly. Add the crumbled feta and half of the mozzarella. Pour the beaten egg mixture over the greens and cheese and top with the remaining mozzarella. Place in the preheated oven and cook 45 to 50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Chickweed has a number of medicinal uses. Taken internally, a tea made from the herb helps rheumatic stiffness and joint pain, cools fevers, and acts as an expectorant for lung conditions and allergies. The tea can also be put into the eyes for pink eye and sore eyes (always filter herbal teas through an organic coffee filter before you drop any into your eyes). To calm anxiety and nervous complaints and to relieve insomnia, add the tea to your bathwater or wash with it, then apply a warm fomentation of the herb to your neck and shoulders. To make the tea: Steep 1 tablespoon of fresh or dried herb per ½ cup of water. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals. To make the fomentation: Follow the instructions.
You can also mash the fresh plant with your mortar and pestle to make a poultice for sore breasts and add Chickweed to healing salves for itching, cuts, wounds, eczema, and psoriasis. For constipation blend fresh Chickweed with enough water to liquefy, or juice it in the juicer. Strain and take 1 tablespoon of fresh juice in water, three times a day, between meals.
CAUTION: Chickweed is safe to eat and use as medicine, but pregnant women and nursing mothers should avoid it as not enough is known about its potential side effects.7
Chickweed at Beltaine
Wash your face and hands in dew-soaked Chickweed on May Day morning before the sun rises. Gather Chickweed at dawn on May Day morning and eat it with the dew still on it to enhance your beauty. Harvest it under the full moon of May and wear it as an amulet to attract a faithful lover.
Clover, White Clover (Trifolium repens),
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
I know a place where the sun is like gold,
And the cherry blooms burst with snow,
And down underneath is the loveliest nook,
Where the four-leaf clovers grow.8
The four-leafed Clover is a time-honored talisman of good luck.
If a man walking in the fields finds any four-leaved grass, he shall in a small while after find some good thing.
SIR JOHN MELTON, ENGLISH MERCHANT, WRITER, AND POLITICIAN
To work as a magical charm, however, a four-leafed Clover should be found accidentally.
See for more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Clover, see here.
Ferns
(Pteridophytes)
Magical Fern seeds are supposed to be gathered at midnight on Midsummer’s Eve. In the Hoodoo tradition Ferns are protective against harm to the house such as from burglars, jinxes, and sickness. Use them as a floor wash or magical sweep and in healing and protection spells.
Eat Ferns to cultivate silence, discretion, and the ability to blend into surroundings. Bend Fern leaves into a wreath and wear them to gain powers of invisibility.
Sleep with Fern leaves under your pillow, and you will dream of the future; sleep with fern roots under your pillow, and you will find solutions to your problems within your dream.9
See here for more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Ferns.
Mandrake
(Mandragora officinarum)*30
Mandrake roots often look like a homunculus (a little man) and for this reason are considered a magical cure for sterility and impotence. Mandrake roots are used to exorcize demons, to attract good luck, to bring love, to enable prophecy, and to attract wealth.
The witch made an alliance with the plant and used the Mandragora spirit in his/her work for after agreement the root could act as a vessel for other spirits or familiars to live and feed from. The root was cleansed and fed as it was actually a living person . . . [and] the Mandragora root was used in 2 very important ways which were called the Sacrifice and you soon will understand why. The witch would transfer a life-threatening disease from the afflicted person into the mandrake root and then destroyed the root saving the patient. The other way it was used in banishing demons/spirits in severe cases of possession by caging the demon/spirit from the person in the root. Again, the root was also destroyed in a ritual to send the unwanted back where they belong.10
Considered an aphrodisiac as far back as biblical times, Mandrake (or Mandragora) was a popular ingredient in love-magic potions throughout the Middle Ages: “The potion was of such a nature that any man and woman who drank it together could by no means leave each other for four years. However much they might want to refrain, they had to love each other with their whole being as long as they lived.”11
If you want to use Mandrake as a magical aid you must treat it properly. First the root should be dug up at sunset, carefully cleaned to remove dirt, then washed with wine and dried. Next it is laid into an unglazed terra-cotta pot with paper lining the bottom and covered with a mixture of salt and any herb that fits your magical intent. A dish is placed on top of the pot, and the pot is moved to a warm location for about 2 weeks. If after 2 weeks the root is still not completely dry, cover it with salt again.*31
Once the root is dried, smudge it with a sacred herb of purification, wrap it in a white cloth, and put it into its own special wooden box. The root must be “fed” every Friday with a few sprinkles of wine and be given a new “shirt” (wrapping) at every new moon.12
In addition to its magical properties, Mandrake has a number of medicinal uses. The ancient Greeks considered it to be an aphrodisiac, and they also used it to help with insomnia, anxiety, depression, and general pain. For those purposes they added fresh or dried Mandrake root to sour wine (using about ⅓ cup of root per liter of wine) and allowed it to steep for about a week.
The fresh leaves are chewed to relieve toothache, and the dried leaves are burned and inhaled to allay coughs and headaches. Mandrake root may be added to skin-healing salves or soaked in wine to bestow sleep. Tincture the root in brandy to make a remedy for rheumatic pain. The dose is 10 drops or less at a time, and it should be used only once a week.
CAUTION: Mandrake should not be taken internally more than once a week, and larger doses could be fatal. Mandrake should be avoided by children and the elderly and by anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding or has Down syndrome, heart disease, liver problems, kidney problems, high blood pressure, overactive thyroid, myasthenia gravis, enlarged prostate, problems with urination, heartburn, GERD, hiatal hernia, stomach ulcers, ulcerative colitis, or other serious digestive disorders. Note also that Mandrake contains trance-inducing tropane alkaloids.13
Mandrake at Beltaine
Place Mandrake, tinctured in wine, in the ritual cup. Place a Mandrake root on the altar to attract love, luck, and lust.
Marigold, Pot Marigold
(Calendula officinalis)
Pot Marigold is an herb of the sun and the element of fire. To work your will in a court case, carry the blossoms in your pocket. Strew the herb around the house or around your bed to ward off psychic attacks and ill-intentioned Witchcraft. Place the flowers under your pillow to strengthen prophetic dreams and to make your dreams manifest. Make a strong tea of Pot Marigold and add it and some of the flowers to your bathwater to strengthen your will and Spirit with all the power of the sun.14
Kitchen Witches can incorporate the solar magic of Pot Marigold (Calendula officinalis) into many dishes, but be careful to use only the orange or yellow petals, because the rest of the flower is bitter. Also, some cooks seem to confuse Pot Marigold with African or Aztec Marigold (Tagetes erecta). They are not the same thing! Make sure you are cooking with the Pot Marigold variety.
You can toss the fresh petals onto green salads or stir them into egg salad. Sprinkle the fresh petals over open sandwiches. Add a few teaspoons (3 to 4 teaspoons fresh or 2 to 3 teaspoons dry) of the chopped petals to cornbread and other muffin mixes. (If you are using dry petals first soak them in milk or whatever liquid you are using.) Add Pot Marigold petals to rice dishes, herb butters, vegetable soups, herbal vinegars, herb salts, cakes, and custards like the one below.
Arabic Rice Pudding with Marigold (Calendula officinalis) Flowers*32
¾ cup white, short-grain organic rice†33
8 cups organic cow’s milk (or almond milk)
½ cup raw organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon natural vanilla extract
⅛ cup of dry, ground, organic pot marigold flower petals
Fresh berries or sliced fruit (optional)
Additional pot marigold blossoms or other edible flowers for decoration (optional)
Soak the rice in freshly boiled water for 1 hour.
Drain the rice and put it into a pot. Add 1 cup of water to the pot and bring it to a boil. Cook the rice for 10 minutes, then pour in the milk. Continue to simmer the rice, stirring frequently, until it is thick and soft. This should take about 45 minutes.
Add the sugar, vanilla, and flower petals to the pot and cook for 5 more minutes. Pour the rice pudding into a large bowl to cool or into to smaller, individual bowls. Refrigerate, and just before serving top with fresh berries or sliced fruit. Decorate the pudding with fresh pot marigold petals or other edible flowers.
Marigold and Lemon Balm Cheesecake*34
12 ounces organic cream cheese, softened
1 cup organic butter, softened
6 organic free-range eggs, separated
⅔ cup raw organic cane sugar
1 cup ground, organic almonds
2 tablespoons fresh, organic, lemon balm leaves, minced
2 teaspoons grated organic lemon zest
2 teaspoons fresh organic pot marigold petals, minced
Additional pot marigold blossoms and fresh lemon balm leaves for decorating the cake
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Beat the cream cheese, butter, egg yolks, and sugar until light and fluffy.
Stir in the almonds, lemon balm, lemon zest, and marigold petals.
In a small bowl, beat the egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the cream cheese mixture. Spoon into a greased 9-inch springform pan and place the pan on a baking sheet.
Bake for 55 minutes, or until the cheesecake is golden brown and pulls away from the sides of the pan. Cool for 1 hour, then remove the sides of the pan and cool completely. Garnish with pot marigold blossoms†35 and lemon balm leaves. Store in the refrigerator.
Pot Marigold is known to be useful in a number of healing remedies. The whole flower can be used in a tea for gastrointestinal issues, such as stomach ulcers and cramps, recurrent vomiting, diarrhea, and colitis. It is also helpful in treating fever and abscesses. The fresh juice can be taken for the same conditions and is reputed to get rid of warts. To make the tea: Steep 1 to 2 teaspoons of fresh or dried flowers per ½ cup of water for 10 minutes. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals. The juice of the herb or flowers is made by blending with water and straining out the liquid or by using a juicer if you have one. The juice is taken freshly made, alone or in water, 1 teaspoon at a time.
The fresh or dried flowers are styptic and the most potent part of the plant for wound salves, but the leaves can be used in wound ointments too.15 Use the salve for sprains, cuts, bruises, and boils. You can also apply a poultice of the leaves and flowers to anal fissures and diabetic ulcers. (I have used it on gangrene with excellent results!)
A leaf and flower tincture can be taken internally for menstrual issues and digestive upsets or applied externally to ulcers. Combine the tinctures of Marigold, Rosemary, and Ginger and gargle with the mixture several times a day for 2 weeks to treat mouth sores, bleeding gums, and gum infections. To make the tincture: See “How to Make a Tincture”. Take 10 to 20 drops in water, four times a day, between meals.
CAUTION: Pot Marigold can interfere with sedatives. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid all internal use of this herb and long-term external use. People with an allergy to Ragweed, Chrysanthemums, Daisies, and other members of the Aster family may also react to Pot Marigold. Avoid this plant for 2 weeks before a scheduled surgery.16
Pot Marigold at Beltaine
As a yellow or orange flower of the sun, Pot Marigold is very appropriate on the springtime altar. Sprinkle the petals onto your cakes and wine. Incorporate the petals into salads, and spread them on and around desserts for the Beltaine feast. Place the yellow flowers around doorways to welcome the sun on May Day morning. Use the yellow flowers to decorate your May Bush.
Marsh Marigold, King’s Cup
(Caltha palustris)
By tradition this plant should not be brought into the home until May 1. Known in Gaelic as lus bhuidhe bealtuinn, “the yellow plant of Beltaine,” Marsh Marigold is the other May Day flower (along with Hawthorn), and its blooming tells us that Beltaine has certainly arrived.
Marsh Marigold is used to attract money and wealth by sympathetic magic. Place an offering of Marsh Marigold flowers (or other yellow flowers), honey, oranges, and yellow butter under an old tree and ask the tree Spirit to help enlarge your fortune.
This plant also has some medicinal applications, but use it very carefully at first to see how you react to it. It can be very irritating both internally and externally.
Dr. Withering says: “It would appear that medicinal properties may be evolved in the gaseous exhalations of plants and flowers, for on a large quantity of the flowers of Meadow Routs being put into the bedroom of a girl who had been subject to fits, the fits ceased.”
An infusion of the flowers was afterwards successfully used in various kinds of fits, both of children and adults.
A tincture made from the whole plant when in flower may be given in cases of anemia in small, well-diluted doses.17
The plant has also been used by homeopaths to treat skin eruptions and uterine cancer, as described in John Henry Clarke’s Materia Medica.
Marsh Marigold. N. O. Ranunculaceae. Tincture of fresh shoots and flowers.
Clinical. —Cancer. Pemphigus.
Characteristics. —This is an unproved remedy, but it has irritant properties like the other Ranunculaceae. Hansen gives as indications: “Pemphigus; bullae are surrounded by a ring, much itching. On the third day they are transformed into crusts.” Cooper has used it with excellent effect in a case of uterine cancer, giving single doses of the tincture at long intervals.”18
The tincture has been used for pain, cramps, menstrual disorders, bronchitis, jaundice, liver problems, constipation, fluid retention, high cholesterol, and low blood sugar. Some people put Marsh Marigold directly on the skin to treat warts. Make a tincture using the instructions and then try just 2 to 3 drops of it in water to see how you respond.
CAUTION: Do not use Marsh Marigold if pregnant or breastfeeding. It can cause diarrhea and severe irritation of the stomach, intestines, bladder, and kidneys. When Marsh Marigold comes in contact with the skin, it might cause blisters and burns. Wear gloves when picking it.19
Marsh Marigold at Beltaine
On Beltaine hang a bunch of Marsh Marigolds, stalk upward, in your home, strew the flowers before the door, and wind them into wreaths to hang on the May Bush. Their yellow color welcomes and honors the sun.
Mushrooms
(Fungi)
The Mushroom is the Elf of Plants—
At Evening, it is not—
At Morning, in a Truffled Hut
It stops upon a Spot
As if it tarried always
And yet its whole Career
Is shorter than a Snake’s Delay
And fleeter than a Tare—20
Mushrooms have been the allies of humanity for millennia, and our bodies and brains interact with them in profound ways. In ancient Greek lore Mushrooms were sacred to Dionysus and Pan and were said to be food for centaurs, satyrs, and maenads. They were eaten during the rituals of the Orphic Mysteries.
The Eleusinian Mysteries, rites performed in ancient Greece at the village of Eleusis, near Athens, to honor Demeter and Persephone probably featured mushrooms or may have incorporated Ergot (Claviceps purpurea), a hallucinogenic grain Fungus.
Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria) is a shamanic hallucinogen of the Finno-Ugrian people, the tribes of northeastern Siberia, and tribes of the American Pacific Coast. It was also used by berserkers of Scandinavia, who were warriors that ate the mushrooms before battle to gain insuperable courage. The ancient Aryans collected Fly Agaric under the full moon and pounded out the juice, which was filtered and mixed with water, milk, and honey and taken during religious rites.21
Following is an account from the Sami tradition of Finland that could be the origin story of Christmas:
In the arctic amongst the Sami and Siberian tribes the reindeer eat the somewhat psychedelic mushroom Amanita (red with white dots), and the shamans among the herders ate the mushrooms too.
The shaman was traveling around with a reindeer sled gifting dryed amanita mushroom to the people. Because of the amount of deep snow the shaman had to enter through the smoke escape in the roof.22
According to Ozark mountain lore Mushrooms should always be picked at the full moon. If they are anything like trees, that will be the time they are the juiciest (tree sap rises during the full moon).
Mushrooms are a found in Fairy lore as well. Look for a natural circle of Mushrooms that seems to pop up on the lawn overnight after a spring rain. If you find one, it’s probably a Fairy ring—a place where the Fairies dance. Depending on your outlook, these rings are either a cause for rejoicing or a place to avoid. If you step inside one you might be abducted by the fey and not be seen again for at least seven years!
Some varieties of Mushrooms such as the Psilocybin (Psilocybe spp.), a.k.a. “magic Mushrooms” or “shrooms,” are powerful magical teachers and provide a gateway to the mysteries, but you need to be very careful when you use them that way, and you may want to go on your journey with an experienced guide. I have included many “cautions” below for several Mushroom varieties, and while I don’t mean to scare you, my point is that you need to be very respectful of the Fungi among us and never treat them casually. Did you know that Fungi are actually more closely related to animals than they are to plants? (I am ever grateful to the Psilocybin because they gave me my “eyes.” Ever since I tried them years ago I’ve been able to see a face on every stone and tree, if I but care to look).
It was often the poets who told the stories that depicted otherworldly places and the beings who belonged there. The common folk also passed along stories of faeries and their beautiful lands. It is entirely possible if not probable that some of these myths and stories were the result of a few hours under the influence of a mushroom. It is notable that one loses time in the world of faerie, as one does under the influence of the mushroom. The faeries can confer secret knowledge and they can also be tricksters, just as the mushroom spirits can bring a journeyer to a place of deep wisdom or lead them into delusion. There are numerous Irish stories that speak of magical substances that confer special knowledge and the ability to speak poetically. There is a definite connection in the Irish stories between the ingestion of a special substance and poetic brilliance.23
Psilocybin Mushrooms are found most abundantly in the United States from late May to early October in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas. They can also be found in other areas; you will need to do some research to see if you have them locally. Look for them in fields where there are mature cow patties.
These magic Mushrooms have properties similar to those of lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and mescaline. Their hallucinogenic effects typically start within 20 to 40 minutes of use, then disappear within 3 to 6 hours. Psilocybin Mushrooms have been shown to be helpful in the treatment of mental health conditions such as alcohol dependence, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), anxiety, suicidality, and depression. There is growing evidence that they may also be helpful for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).24 In general those who partake of Psilocybin experience a lessening of ego, a sense of profound awe, and a mystical union with the divinity in all things.
CAUTION: About one-third of Psilocybin users will experience an episode of extreme fear, delusions, or paranoid thinking at some point during a session, usually if a high dose has been taken. These are due to an altered sense of time, place, and recognition. Other effects can include dizziness, a slight increase in blood pressure or heart rate, unusual body sensations, mood changes, fatigue and yawning, nausea and / or vomiting, muscle pain, fever, and a widening of pupils. In very rare cases the mental states can persist for a long time. No deaths have been reported. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and anyone with psychosis or schizophrenia should avoid this mushroom.25
Fly Agaric is poisonous. So much so that if you take it without proper processing, you will need immediate medical intervention, an antitoxin, and intravenous glucose. In other words, don’t try this at home. Please remember that from this Mushroom’s perspective, the best thing is for you to be dead. That way it can fruit and feast on your remains!
The Sami have found a way to safely process the Fly Agaric that involves reindeer, as described below.
While living amongst the Saami, his hosts started feeding reindeer with fly-agarics, which the deer consumed with some relish. Waiting for nature to take its course, the fruits of micturition were collected in a bucket . . . boiled up in a pot . . . and shared round.
“I don’t drink and I’ve never taken any drugs” he told me. “But I took some when they passed it round. Well, you have to, don’t you? They expect it. Anyway, I was high as a kite I was, high as a kite. There was an old eighty-year-old grandmother with us, and I fancied her, that’s how high I was. High as a bloody kite!”26
CAUTION: The side effects of Fly Agaric can range from nausea and twitching to drowsiness, low blood pressure, sweating and salivation, auditory and visual hallucinations, mood changes, euphoria, relaxation, loss of control of bodily movements, and loss of equilibrium. In cases of serious poisoning the mushroom causes delirium, characterized by marked agitation with confusion, hallucinations, and irritability followed by periods of central nervous system depression. Seizures and coma may also occur in severe poisoning. Symptoms typically appear after around 30 to 90 minutes and peak within 3 hours, but can last for several days. Actual death is rare.27
In the majority of cases recovery is complete within 12 to 24 hours. The effect is highly variable between individuals, with similar doses potentially causing very different reactions. Some people have exhibited headaches up to 10 hours after a session. Retrograde amnesia and drowsiness can result following recovery. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and anyone with an underlying psychosis or severe mental illness should avoid Fly Agaric.28
Mushrooms and Fungi can be used for the body as well as the mind. In addition to eating fresh young Puffballs (Lycoperdon perlatum, Bovista nigrescens) and burning them to pacify bees with the smoke while collecting honey, the people in Neolithic Orkney applied the powdery spores found in mature Puffballs to wounds and cuts to stop the bleeding.
CAUTION: Although young Puffballs are edible and appear to be very safe, inhaling Puffball spores can cause breathing problems and pneumonia-like symptoms and even change chest X-ray results. When applying the spores as a styptic, wear a bandana or other face mask over your nose and mouth. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid large amounts as food.29
Traditional herbalists in Britain used Wood Ear (Auricularia auricula-judae), a.k.a. Jelly Ear, a Fungus that is found mostly on old or dying Elder trees, for throat conditions and coughs by first boiling the Fungus to a jellylike consistency. In northwest Ireland the same Fungus was simmered in milk to make a jaundice cure. This Fungus has many other health benefits as well. It cleanses, tonifies, and builds the blood; lowers cholesterol; and moistens the lungs. It also removes stone and gravel from organs and can even help prevent cancer.
Wood Ear is an edible mushroom and a staple of Chinese cooking. It appears to be very safe. However, to avoid bacterial contamination, do not soak the dried Fungus for more than 2 hours in the refrigerator before using. If you are buying or foraging fresh ones, make sure they are not sticky, smelly, or slimy.
Wood Ears can be foraged from mid-fall to early winter (and throughout the winter in southern climates) and again in the early spring. They can also be purchased dried year-round in Chinese markets.
Chinese Hot and Sour Soup Made with Wood Ear*36
5 dried organic wood ear mushrooms (or fresh ones if you have them!)
4 dried organic shiitake mushrooms
8 dried organic tiger lily buds
4 cups organic chicken stock
⅓ cup diced organic bamboo shoots
⅓ cup lean ground pork, shredded
1 teaspoon naturally fermented soy sauce
½ teaspoon raw organic cane sugar
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon ground organic white pepper
2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons organic cornstarch
3 tablespoons water
8 ounces firm tofu, cubed
1 organic, free-range egg, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon organic sesame oil
2 tablespoons organic scallions, thinly sliced
Soak the dried mushrooms and tiger lily buds in warm water for 20 minutes. Trim off the stems and slice the mushrooms. Shred the tiger lily buds by hand.
Put the mushrooms, tiger lily buds, chicken stock, bamboo shoots, and pork into a saucepan. Bring to a boil, turn down the heat, and then simmer for 10 minutes.
Stir in the soy sauce, sugar, sea salt, white pepper, and vinegar. Combine the cornstarch with 3 tablespoons of water, add a little of the hot soup to the cornstarch, and then return the mixture to the pan. Heat to boiling, stirring constantly. Add the tofu and cook for 1 to 2 minutes.
Just before serving, turn off the heat and stir in the egg gently and slowly. Then stir in the sesame oil. Pour into individual bowls and sprinkle each serving with freshly chopped scallions.
Ergot is a micro Fungus that grows on damp grains and was once used to speed or induce labor and to procure abortions.30 This is the Fungus that may have caused the hallucinations and visions in the young women of Salem, Massachusetts, that led them to accuse local women of being Witches. The early Salem colony was entirely dependent on grain coming in from England, and during the weeks it took to get the grain to America it often grew damp in the ship’s hold, leading to the growth of the Fungus.
CAUTION: Ergot is poisonous and could be fatal. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, muscle pain and weakness, numbness, itching, and rapid or slow heartbeat, which can progress to gangrene, vision problems, confusion, spasms, convulsions, unconsciousness, and death. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it, as should anyone with heart, kidney, liver, or peripheral vascular disease. Do not take it with antidepressant medications or cough medicines containing Dextromethorphan as both cases will produce extreme anxiety. Many other drugs have severe interactions with this Fungus as well. Do your research before using it.31
Mushrooms are also immune enhancers, and modern herbalists use several varieties to enhance immune function and to fight diseases such as cancer. One such type is Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor), which is a woody bracket polypore Fungus that grows on dead logs worldwide. It is used for its immunomodulatory effects as a concurrent treatment for lung cancer, gastric cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer. Turkey Tail also has antibiotic, antifungal, antioxidant, and antiviral properties and shows promise in treating colitis and diabetes.
CAUTION: Turkey Tail should be avoided by women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Diarrhea, darkened stools, and darkened nail pigmentation have been reported by some individuals, but cancer patients have taken 1 gram a day for 10 years with no side effects.32
Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) is a woody polypore Fungus that grows on live trees and is used in Chinese medicine to support immune function in patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy for cancer. Reishi is also a time-honored remedy in Asia to prevent aging and increase longevity, and it has been shown to prolong life in lung and colon cancer patients.
Reishi can also be taken to treat flu, asthma, bronchitis, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, kidney disease, liver disease, chronic fatigue, insomnia, exhaustion, HIV/AIDS, prostate cancer, and herpes. Colorectal adenoma, clogged arteries, diabetes, and shingles-related pain have also been helped by this Mushroom.33
CAUTION: Reishi can be taken safely as an extract for up to a year, but the powdered form should not be taken for more than a month or liver damage could occur. In some individuals it can cause dryness of the mouth and throat, itchiness or rash, stomach upset, nosebleed, and bloody stools. Do not combine Reishi with medications for high blood pressure or anticoagulants. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and anyone with low blood pressure or a bleeding disorder should avoid it. Do not use it during the 2 weeks before surgery.34
Shiitake (Lentinus edodes) and Maitake (Grifola frondosa) are also used in cancer treatments. Best when used together, these Mushrooms are found to strongly stimulate immune response and reactions. Besides boosting the immune system, Shiitake is taken for HIV/AIDS, to lower blood cholesterol levels, and to treat hardening of the arteries, diabetes, eczema, colds, flu, and prostate and breast cancer. It is also used for hepatitis B, herpes, high blood pressure, and digestive disturbances.35
CAUTION: Shiitake can cause stomach discomfort, blood abnormalities, and skin inflammation in some people. It may also cause an increased sensitivity to the sun, allergic skin reactions, and breathing problems. Pregnant and breastfeeding women and anyone with an autoimmune condition such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or other such conditions should avoid it as it can overstimulate the immune response. It could also make the blood disorder eosinophilia worse.36
Maitake can lower blood sugar, so diabetics need to monitor blood sugar levels carefully when using it. Pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid it, and it should not be used during the 2 weeks prior to surgery, as it can also lower blood pressure.37
In conclusion, tree Funguses are generally safe, and there are no lethal varieties growing in the United States. If you have difficulties with them, it will likely be because you are on other allopathic medications. Please do your research carefully.
Mushrooms at Beltaine
Seek a circle of Mushrooms growing in a field of grass and dance around or inside it. Add Magic Mushroom tea to the ritual cup (but only if you are in a safe place with congenial friends and lovers and after checking all the cautions above!).
Rue, Witchbane, Herb of Grace, Herb of Repentance
(Ruta graveolens)
Rue is traditionally known as the Herb of Repentance and the Herb of Grace. If you feel sincere sorrow for your misdeeds and carry a bit of Rue on your person, you will achieve forgiveness in both this world and the Otherworld.38
For best magical effect Rue should be gathered in the morning as the first sunbeams hit. To ensure that your lover will never leave you, take one of their right shoes and put your name on the sole. Place Rue in the toe of the shoe and then hang the shoe over your bed with a red cord. Your lover will not abandon you as long as the shoe is in place. You can also eat a little bit of Rue to keep you from talking in your sleep.
Rue is an herb that can “bless, curse, help, or harm.” To curse a person, place, or thing, throw a bunch of Rue at them saying, “May you rue this day as long as you live!”39 According to Albertus Magnus, an alchemist and magician known to many as the greatest German philosopher and theologian of the Middle Ages, placing Rue on a person will frustrate them but not cause great harm. Albertus is also known for creating a number of recipes that make the most of Rue’s therapeutic and disinfectant qualities. Here’s a sampling:
A Good Salve for Itchy Hands.
Take meadow rue, boil in olive oil, mix a little bees-wax therewith, so that it becomes a salve. Grease the hands with it, and soon they will be all well.
A Receipt for Man and Beast against Injuries.
Take alder tree bark, two handfuls; wormwood, two handfuls; rue, two handfuls; small sage two handfuls; garlic, two handfuls; caraway, two handfuls. Mix these all together, and fumigate stables, outhouses and other apartments therewith. It is a good disinfectant.
For Impure Air.
Take three shrubs of rue, three of hazelnut, and three of junipers. Fumigate with these.40
In addition to its magical and purifying properties, Rue has healing qualities as well. The fresh or dried herb can be taken as a tea to promote menstruation and to ease coughs, cramps, fevers, and colic. Upset stomach, diarrhea, heart palpitations, pleurisy, atherosclerosis, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Bell’s palsy are also within its medicinal sphere. To make the tea: Steep 3 teaspoons of fresh, chopped herb or 2 teaspoons dried herb per cup of water for 20 minutes. Take no more than ½ cup per day, in ¼-cup doses, between meals.
Add Rue leaves to poultices and salves for itching skin, sciatica, gout, and rheumatic pain and place crushed leaves on the temples for headache and warm fomentations on the chest for bronchitis. Add raw honey to steeped leaves or to the fresh juice and make a gargle for sore throat or a tea for colds, flu, and stomach upset.
The fresh juice can also be dropped into the ear for an earache (place a cotton ball in the ear to hold the liquid in) or directly into the eyes to relieve strain and sharpen vision (1 drop two to three times per day and no more). Do not take more than 1 teaspoon of the fresh juice in a day. You can also make an alcohol tincture of Rue, dilute it with 10 parts water, and apply it to sore eyes or eat a tiny amount, about a quarter teaspoon, in a daily salad with other greens to help strengthen the eyes.
CAUTION: Some people may experience contact dermatitis when handling Rue. Overdose of the herb could lead to sleep problems, dizziness, kidney and liver damage, vomiting, and even death. Rue causes uterine contractions that could lead to a miscarriage, so pregnant as well as breastfeeding women should avoid it. Rue should also be avoided by people who have gastrointestinal, urinary tract, or kidney problems or any kind of liver disorder. Rue increases photosensitivity, so be cautious about combining it with any medication that also causes sensitivity to sunlight.41
Rue at Beltaine
Wear a crown of Rue and sprinkle it around the ritual circle to bring in blessings and forgiveness.
White Bryony, False Mandrake, English Mandrake, Wild Hop
(Bryonia alba)
White Bryony has magical properties similar to those of Mandrake and can be employed as a substitute for Mandrake in magical workings (see “Mandrake” on pages 106–8).
The roots of bryony grow to a vast size, and have been formerly, by impostors, brought into a human shape, carried about the country, and shown for mandrakes to the common people. The method which these knaves practised, was, to open the earth round a young thriving bryony plant, being careful not to disturb the lower fibres of the root; to fix a mould, such as is used by those who make plaster figures, close to the root, fastening it with wire to keep it in its proper situation; and then to fill in the earth about the root, leaving it to grow to the shape of the mould, which is effected in one summer.42
Use it in amulets and spells for fertility and abundance, or wrap money around the root to cause your finances to multiply. You can also hang the roots in the house or barn to protect it from storms.
This herb is probably too dangerous for internal use (see “Caution”). I do not recommend it as an herbal remedy and strongly suggest that you stick to magical workings with this plant! However homeopaths believe that the herb can be safely taken in dilute, homeopathic doses and consider it a polychrest (a remedy with a broad spectrum of uses). Some of the indications for the homeopathic dilution (a very dilute tincture) are muscle and joint pain improved by rest and indigestion with nausea, vomiting, and intense thirst.
CAUTION: White Bryony juice is a strong purgative that can cause gastritis and blistering, and eating the berries could be fatal. The herb also lowers blood sugar levels, so diabetics and those with hypoglycemia should avoid it.43 White Bryony contains bryonin, which is emetic and poisonous and can cause sickness or death. Livestock may be poisoned by consuming the fruit or leaves. Pregnant and breast-feeding women should definitely avoid it.44
White Bryony at Beltaine
Wear it as an amulet or display it on the altar. Use it like Mandrake (see here) to attract luck, love, and lust.
Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow is used for divination spells and oracles. The following is an old Irish divination charm for finding one’s future partner.
Gather nine stalks of Yarrow after sunset on May Eve, Midsummer’s Eve, or at Samhain (Halloween) and recite the following verse:
Good morrow, good morrow, fair yarrow;
And thrice good morrow to thee;
Come tell me before tomorrow
Who my true love shall be?
The clothes that s/he wears,
and the name that s/he bears,
And the day that s/he’ll come to wed me.
Another way Yarrow can be used to divine your future mate is to place it in a sachet under your pillow. When you go to sleep you will dream of your soon-to-be love. But you must not speak one word between picking the plant and going to sleep.
Yarrow stalks are also used to cast a reading from the I Ching, or Book of Changes, an ancient Chinese oracle text. The best Yarrow stalks for divination will be from your own local area, because the energy of the plants will be most in tune with your own life energy. Gather the stalks when the plant is mature, strip off the flowers and leaves to use later for medicinal purposes (no reason to waste anything!), and dry them. You will need fifty Yarrow stalks to cast an oracle. As with any magical divinatory tool, keep the stalks wrapped in cloth or in a special bag or wooden box when they are not in use. Consult the I Ching for instructions on casting a hexagram for divination.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Yarrow, see here.