HERBS OF PROTECTION
Many herbs have the ability to protect us from harm. They can keep evil Spirits at bay, repel sorcery, prevent psychic attacks, block gossip and jealousy, and even keep us from getting sick. In return for lending us their defensive qualities they ask us to protect them in return, and many times cutting them down, stepping on them, or otherwise disrespecting or neglecting them may dissuade them from helping us or prove to be a bad omen with negative consequences. So use these plants to help keep you safe, but remember to return the favor!
Ash
(Fraxinus spp.)
Ash trees span the Three Worlds of Land, Sea, and Sky, and Ash wood and keys (the winged seeds) bring power and protection from those realms. Make a wand of Ash or carry its wood to surround yourself with a shield of strength and courage.
For more on the history, lore, uses, and Beltaine practices of Ash.
Bindweed
(Convolvulus sepium)
Bindweed is a magically protective plant. Hang it on a door or a gatepost or anywhere else that strong magical shields are needed.
Bindweed is taken to ease the symptoms of someone with “yang” fever; that is, a person who is very hot and constipated and possibly has a red face and skin blemishes. Thus its main medicinal use is as a drastic purgative for constipation. In Britain and Ireland the immature shoots of Sea Bindweed (Calystegia soldanella) were pickled and used as a laxative. Hedge Bindweed (Calystegia sepium) roots were boiled in ale and used as a purgative or laxative. Field Bindweed (Convolvulus sepium) roots were also used as a purgative.1 The tea is also helpful in lowering fevers and as a liver cleanser.
To make the flowering plant or root tea: Simmer 1 teaspoon of the fresh leaves, flowers, or roots per 1 cup of water for 20 minutes. Take in 1-tablespoon doses. Add sliced, fresh Ginger root (Zingiber officinale) or a few Cloves (Syzygium aromaticum) to the brew while simmering, to moderate the effects. Follow with plenty of water or other liquids.
CAUTION: Bindweed is a strong purgative and should not be used for extended periods of time. Use only once and follow with plenty of liquids until the desired effect is accomplished, then stop. This herb is homeopathic (what it cures it also causes) and if too much is taken it can actually cause constipation. Do not use it during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Avoid it if you have stomach pain, bowel obstruction, appendicitis, colitis, Crohn’s disease, or irritable bowel syndrome and do not mix it with other laxatives.2
Bindweed at Beltaine
Pick Bindweed on Beltaine morning and weave it into a wreath with Primrose to protect the home and farm.
Birch
(Betula spp.)
Birch is a traditional wood for the Witch’s besom, Beltaine fires, Maypoles, and yule logs. It is a tree that offers psychic protection, and when Birch is the guardian, the wanderer is said to be shielded from madness and Fairy mischief.
For more information on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Birch, see here.
Boxwood
(Buxus sempervirens)
Gaius Plinius Caecilius Secundus—or simply Pliny the Younger—a lawyer, author, and magistrate of ancient Rome, wrote the following to Domitius Apollinaris of his Tuscan villa just under the Apennines.
In front of the colonnade is a terrace laid out with box hedges clipped into different shapes (distinctus concisusque buxo), from which a bank slopes down, also with figures of animals (bestiarum effigies invicem adversas buxus).
The whole garden is enclosed by a dry-stone wall, which is hidden from sight by a box hedge planted in tiers (gradata buxus).
At the end of the winding alleys you return to the straight path, or rather paths, for there are several separated by intervening box hedges (intercedentibus buxis).
In places there are grass plots intervening, in others box shrubs, which are trimmed to a great variety of patterns, some of them being cut into letters forming my name as owner and that of the topiarius (artificis).3
I vividly remember the smell of Boxwood from childhood. I was deeply drawn to the aromatic bushes in a local park, especially after a rain. Bees love them too, and anyone who wants to help the bees should consider planting Boxwood as a hedge.
Magically, the leaves are used in spells and rites involving animals.4 Boxwood incense is used to purify the home and herds.Hang a wreath of Boxwood, Blackberry (Rubus fruticosus), and Rowan, bound with Ivy, on the gatepost or door to keep evil Spirits at bay. You can also hang it in the home, but be sure to keep it away from cats and dogs as they might get sick from consuming it.
Medicinally, American Boxwood has been used by traditional herbalists as a remedy for gout, urinary tract infections, intestinal worms, chronic skin issues, hemorrhoids, headaches, HIV, and fever. The essential oil made from the wood has been used for epilepsy, and a decoction of the wood has been used for fevers, rheumatism, and syphilis. The tincture of the plant has been used for malaria and leprosy. Boxwood is also a laxative. The plant is known as Adi şimşir in Turkey, where the tea of the leaves (one glass a day) is still taken for worms and fevers and as a liver cleanser.
CAUTION: Some people experience contact dermatitis from Boxwood, and side effects from ingestion can include abdominal pain, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, tremors, loss of coordination, convulsions, dizziness, and, rarely, coma and death due to respiratory paralysis. This plant should only be used with professional guidance.5
Boxwood at Beltaine
Burn Boxwood alone or in combination with Juniper or Rosemary and use the smoke to purify the home and herds.
Clover, White Clover (Trifolium repens),
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
Four-leaf Clovers are known to bring luck, but they can also protect you from evil. Hide a four-leaf Clover in the barn to protect the cows and butter from sorcery,6 or make a wreath of Clover, Saint John’s Wort, Vervain, and Dill, bind it with Ivy, and place it under the milk pail or hang it on the barn door to keep the Fairies from “stealing” the milk. Tincture the flowers in vinegar for 3 days then sprinkle the liquid around the house to banish unwanted Spirits. White Clover is also known to stop a hex.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Clover, see here.
Elder
(Sambucus spp.)
Plant an Elder tree near your home to repel sorcery and near a grave to guard the body. Hang Elder boughs on the door or from gateposts or place it along the windowsills to repel psychic attack and make an equal-armed, solar cross with Elder twigs and red thread to protect the house and barn from chaotic wandering Spirits.
Personally, you can wear a sprig of Elder as protection from magical harm and keep a crooked piece of Elder wood in your pocket to ward off rheumatic pains. If you soak a piece of Elder wood in oil, float it in a bowl of water, and then light it, it will point to any Witch present in the room. It is said that whipping fruit trees with Elder branches will protect them against blight. This makes sense because the mature leaves of Elder are actually a natural pesticide.
See here for more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Elder.
Elm (Ulmus spp.)
Wych Elm (Ulmus glabra)
Slippery Elm (Ulmus fulva)
Elm wood is used for protection and for defensive magic. Use the wood in talismans and protective charms for children and travelers. Slippery Elm has a soothing nature when used medicinally, and the same quality applies to its magic: sprinkling it in a room, carrying it in a spirit bag, or using it in a wash or bath can block slander, gossip, jealousy, and lies directed against you. Carry a bit in your pocket to rid yourself of false friends and anyone trying to destroy or harm your love life.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Elm.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
Wild Garlic (Allium ursinum)
Garlic is sacred to Hecate, and Garlic cloves were once placed on cairns and at crossroads to honor her, but Garlic is perhaps most recognized for its protective qualities. Everyone knows that the best way to protect yourself from vampires, werewolves, demons, sorcerers, and the evil eye is to carry a bit of Garlic. Placing it over the entranceway or on a windowsill will prevent evil from entering.
During the plague years in Europe, robbers would go into the houses of the sick to steal from them. To avoid getting sick themselves they used “four thieves vinegar,” and according to legend they survived. In American Hoodoo this formula is said to protect from illness and disaster.
Four Thieves Vinegar*37 (Vinaigre des Quatre Voleurs)
According to the legend, each thief added one herb to the formula, but the garlic was the essential part. To make the vinegar, select four of the herbs from the “optional” list below and combine them with the garlic and vinegar.
Main Ingredients
Organic red wine or apple cider vinegar (enough to cover all the herbs by at least 1 inch)
4 cloves garlic, peeled and crushed (add in more garlic if you put in more than 4 of the optional herbs)
Optional Ingredients (choose at least 4)
1 teaspoon mint
1 teaspoon lavender
1 teaspoon black pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon coriander
1 large chili pepper, chopped
1 teaspoon rue
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
1 teaspoon sage
Combine the garlic cloves and the vinegar in a saucepan and simmer very gently as you chant a spell of your choice. Here is one chant suggestion:
Four thieves vinegar now I make,
Four elements bless its fate.
Gods above hear my plea,
Allow change to come to me.
Four thieves vinegar now I make,
Four elements bless its fate.
Negativity banished from my life,
All that was wrong is now made right!
Keep chanting as you slowly add in each of the four herbs you have chosen from the list above into the simmering vinegar and garlic. Let everything cool, jar, cap tightly, and steep for 4 days, shaking at least once a day. Strain and bottle.
Use the vinegar in banishing and healing spells and in rituals for protection or as a wash to purify an area, remove negativity in times of crisis, or repel unwanted persons and entities.
The following version of the recipe hung in the museum of Old Marseille, France and was published in 1937 by René-Maurice Gattefossé in his book Gattefossé’s Aromatherapy and is said to have originated from the plague thieves themselves, who allegedly wrote it and posted it on the walls of Marseilles in exchange for getting out of jail.
Take three pints of strong white wine vinegar, add a handful of each of wormwood, meadowsweet, wild marjoram and sage, fifty cloves, two ounces of campanula roots, two ounces of angelic, rosemary and horehound and three large measures of champhor. Place the mixture in a container for fifteen days, strain and express then bottle. Use by rubbing it on the hands, ears and temples from time to time when approaching a plague victim.7
It is possible that the formula worked because it repelled the fleas that carried the plague.
The medicinal uses of Garlic are legion. Ancient China had a very sophisticated system of medicine for the upper classes, but the peasants relied on Garlic as their cure-all. Traditional herbalists in Scotland mixed mashed Garlic with Foxglove leaves (Digitalis purpurea) and butter to make a poultice for “bad knees.” The same poultice was applied to the neck to treat diphtheria.8
Garlic is known to kill more than two hundred strains of bacteria and viruses. Be sure to use old-fashioned, stinky Garlic (the genetically modified “odorless” varieties are almost useless to kill pathogens), and, for healing purposes, raw Garlic is best (to eliminate “garlic breath,” eat raw honey with chopped fresh Parsley added).
Garlic stimulates digestion, expels gas, and clears plaque from the arteries and can help regulate the liver and gallbladder and reduce high blood pressure. It can also heal intestinal infections and the flu and restore intestinal flora after a round of antibiotics. In addition, Garlic has been shown to kill the bacteria associated with stomach ulcers, especially when combined with Green or Black Tea.9
Externally Garlic is used on warts and wounds. To treat plantar warts, crush a clove and tape it to the wart every night for a few weeks. During the day soak the affected foot in a bath containing Epsom salts and a tincture or tea of Cedar (Thuja occidentalis) and Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) for an hour. For wounds, clean the area, then apply crushed Garlic, honey, and a bandage.
For sore throats and colds you can dry-roast unpeeled Garlic cloves in a hot pan until soft, then peel and eat them. For sinus infections try making a Garlic drink by blending vegetable juice, a few cloves of raw Garlic, grated Horseradish, a pinch or two of Cayenne Pepper, and the juice of half a lemon. Or blend Garlic with good-quality local raw honey and lemon juice and then strain to make a natural cough syrup for bronchitis and other lung conditions.
Garlic can also be helpful in removing worms, especially pinworms. Try stuffing raw Garlic and grated, fresh Ginger into capsules. Take 2 capsules three times a day for 2 days while fasting, and drink Ginger tea and take Ginger enemas during the process. End with a drink of ½ cup olive oil and the juice of ½ a lemon to flush out the dead parasites.
CAUTION: Garlic is an emmenagogue and should be avoided in medicinal amounts during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Garlic as a food flavoring is likely safe in pregnancy. Large amounts of Garlic could be harmful to young children. Do not use it if you have stomach inflammation, a hypothyroid condition, poor blood clotting, or acid reflux disease. Garlic can lower blood sugar in diabetics and could also lower blood pressure. Use with caution if you have those conditions. Stop using it at least 2 weeks before surgery.10
Garlic at Beltaine
Place Garlic at a crossroad to honor Hecate. Hang it over the door or place it on a windowsill to keep mischievous Spirits from entering.
Hawthorn, May Tree, Whitethorn
(Crataegus spp.)
Beware of an oak,
It draws the stroke,
Avoid an ash,
It courts the flash,
Creep under the thorn,
It will save you from harm.
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH SAYING
If sprays of Hawthorn are placed in the rafters on Palm Sunday by someone who is not a member of the family, it can protect the house from sorcery, evil Spirits, and storms.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Hawthorn, see here.
Ivy, English Ivy
(Hedera helix)
But, there’s more to Ivy than meets the eye
Fast he stealeth on, though he wears no wings,
And a staunch old heart has he.
How closely he twineth, how tight he clings,
To his friend the huge Oak Tree!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
For the stateliest building man can raise,
Is the Ivy’s food at last.
CHARLES DICKENS, “THE IVY GREEN”
Ivy growing on the walls of a house will protect it from sorcery. As protection against ill-intentioned sorcery, milkmaids would wear Ground Ivy (Glechoma hederacea) when milking the cows in the pasture. Bind a wreath of Woodbine (Asperula odorata) or Bramble (Rubus fruticosus) and Rowan with Ivy and hang it over the doorway or the entrance to the barn as protection from mischievous Spirits, bad luck, and disease. Or, with a triple cord of Ivy, bind a wreath of Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris), Butterwort (Pinguicula vulgaris), Dandelion, and Pot Marigold and place it under the milk pail to prevent the milk from being charmed away.
Ivy can also be used for divination. On Beltaine Eve in Scotland three leaves were pinned to a night shirt or gown so one could dream of a future lover. To divine your future for an upcoming year, place an Ivy leaf into a bowl of water on New Year’s Eve and leave it there until Twelfth Night. If it is still green it means that the new year will be happy. If there are black spots on the leaf it foretells sickness in the feet or legs. If there are spots at the pointed end it indicates stomach troubles. Spots in the center of the leaf mean problems in the head, and spots near the stem mean troubles in the neck area. If the whole leaf is rotten it foretells death.11
In folk medicine Ivy leaves were soaked in hot vinegar until soft and then used to poultice rashes, ringworm, corns, and bunions or worn inside a sock to treat verrucas (plantar warts). The boiled leaves were used as a poultice on chilblains, sprains, measles, and skin cancer and as a lotion for sore eyes. The leaves were also added to salves for burns and scalds and to ointments for wounds. A tea of the leaves and berries was taken for cough, bronchitis, mumps, colds, kidney ailments, and jaundice, and the ripe berries were eaten for aches and pains, coughs, and colds.12 To make the tea: Simmer 1 teaspoon of leaves or leaves and berries per cup of water for 20 minutes. Take ¼ cup, three times a day for a week, between meals.
You can also make a wash from the leaves that can be used as a treatment for ulcers, a douche for leukorrhea, or a wash for dandruff, boils, and skin irritations. To make the wash: Simmer the leaves in water for 20 minutes. You can also simmer them in butter to make a sunburn ointment.
CAUTION: In rare cases Ivy may cause contact dermatitis or mild stomach issues in some individuals. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding.13
Ivy at Beltaine
Make a wreath of Woodbine or Bramble and Rowan bound with Ivy and hang it over an entrance to ward off bad luck and disease. On Beltaine Eve pin three Ivy leaves to your nightgown or shirt to dream of your future lover. Wear an Ivy crown during your May Day rites.
Juniper, Mountain Yew
(Juniperus communis)
Stories of Juniper trees appear in many mythological and religious texts. In pre-Christian times Juniper was a symbol of the Canaanite Goddess Asherah. In the Old Testament the prophet Elijah sought shelter in a Juniper when he was being pursued by Queen Jezebel, and the apocrypha tells of a Juniper that hid Jesus, Mary, and Joseph from King Herod’s soldiers.
In more recent times Juniper was used as a protection against evil. It was burned in Scotland to ward of the evil eye, added to incense in Tibet to exorcise demons, and planted beside people’s homes throughout Western Europe to ward off Witches.14
In Scotland, after the house is cleaned from top to bottom, Juniper is burned in the hearth and carried to every room of the house on New Year’s Eve as a type of ritual purification by smoke. As William Milliken describes it in his book Flora Celtica:
Juniper is another tree whose branches were sometimes hung above the doors and windows on auspicious days or burned in the fire. Juniper burning, which formed part of the New Year rituals in some parts of the country, seemed to have a dual purpose. Not only was it supposed to ward off witches and evil Spirits but, at a more practical level, it cleansed the house of pests and diseases. The branches were dried beside the fire the night before, and when all the windows and doors were shut, fires were lit in each room until the whole house was full of their acrid smoke. When the coughing and sputtering inhabitants could stand it no longer, the windows were opened, and the process was repeated in the stables.15
In Britain and France, Juniper is traditionally burned to ward off evil Spirits, plague, and sweating diseases, and boughs of Juniper are hung in the barn to prevent the cows from being bewitched. It is considered very unlucky to cut down a Juniper tree, and even dreaming of the tree is an ill omen (but to dream of the berries means good luck).16
Juniper is the herb that gives gin its distinctive flavor, and in medieval times it was also used to flavor whiskey.17 You can make your own homemade Juniper gin by following the recipe below.
Juniper Gin*38
Feel free to use all of the herbs listed below or select just the ones you like.
1 (750 ml) bottle of vodka
2 tablespoons dried organic or wildcrafted juniper berries†39
¾ teaspoon organic coriander seed or ground coriander
¼ teaspoon organic fennel seed
3 organic green cardamom pods
3 organic black peppercorns
¼ teaspoon ground, organic allspice
1 fresh organic bay leaf
1 sprig fresh organic rosemary
1 sprig fresh organic lavender (or 1 teaspoon dried organic lavender flowers)
1 piece fresh organic lemon peel, white pith scraped off
Clean a glass bottle with hot, soapy water and rinse well.
Add the berries, seeds and herbs of your choice, and lemon peel to the bottle and pour in the vodka. Shake and then infuse overnight. The berries and seeds will rise to the top, so just make sure they’re covered with vodka. Allow the mixture to steep for a day or two, shaking the bottle at least once a day. Strain it once to catch all the solids, then run it through a coffee filter or a cheesecloth a few times to improve the clarity, and bottle.
A quicker, simpler version of Juniper gin is to use 1 liter of vodka, the peel of half an organic lemon, and ¼ cup of Juniper berries with maybe a sprig of Lavender (Lavandula vera) or Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) added in. Try experimenting and adjusting the spices to your liking and consider the magical properties of the herbs you choose. This brew would make a lovely drink for the ritual cup, especially during the warmer summer months. Float a fresh edible flower on top when you serve it.
In the spring and summer when flowers are in bloom, I like to make a floral cologne scented with Juniper. I use gin as the base because the scent of Juniper in it is so refreshing. A small touch of Cedar is nice too. (If the scent of gin is too much for you, try using vodka instead and add in a few teaspoons of Juniper berries.)
Fragrant old-fashioned Tea Roses are also great for the base, along with Honeysuckle flowers (Lonicera periclymenum), Dandelion petals, Red Clover blossoms, Daisy (Bellis perennis) petals, Linden flowers (Tillia spp.), Marigold blossoms (Calendula officinalis), Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), Sage flowers (Salvia officinalis), Rosemary, Thyme, Yarrow flowers, and just a touch of Lavender. In other words, mix and match whatever is blooming profusely in your garden. Of course you will want to consider the magical properties of each herb and flower that you put into the mix. To make the cologne: Simply place the herbs and flowers into a large glass jar, pour in the gin or vodka until the flowers are just covered, cap the jar, and let it sit in the sunlight and moonlight for a day and a night. (The best time to make this floral brew is during the waxing moon or full moon.) Strain and keep in a cool, dark place. You can spritz the cologne on your face or clothes or use it as a floral cordial with a little bit of raw, local honey as a sweetener, and maybe a hint of lemon.
In addition to its protection, purification, and flavoring properties, Juniper is known to have a few healing qualities as well. There is mention of the use of Juniper berries in an Egyptian papyrus dating to 1500 BCE in a recipe to cure tapeworm. The Romans used the berries for stomach complaints, while the medieval herbalist Nicholas Culpeper recommended Juniper berries for a wide variety of conditions including the treatment of flatulence, for which Juniper oil is still used today.
A tea made from the berries improves digestion by increasing stomach acids and can be helpful for relieving intestinal inflammation and cramps as well as gout and rheumatic pain. The tea is also a urinary antiseptic and can ease chest congestion and conditions that cause edema. To make the tea: Steep 1 teaspoon of crushed berries per ½ cup of freshly boiled water for 10 minutes. Take ¼ cup, two to four times a day, between meals.
The berries can also stimulate contraction of the uterine muscles, which can be a boon to women giving birth, but the same berries can cause a miscarriage, so pregnant women should avoid them until the onset of labor.18
Juniper oil can be used as a liniment for bone and joint issues, but use it sparingly as it can cause inflammation in some people. If it does, try diluting it with olive oil. You can also add the oil to your bathwater or put a few drops in a cup of freshly boiled hot water, cover your head with a towel, and inhale the steam for bronchitis and other lung infections.19 To make the oil: Barely cover the berries in oil and bake in a slow oven (no more than 200°F) for a few hours. As a rule I use cold-pressed organic olive oil, but other oils, such as almond oil, apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil, and the like, are also favored by massage therapists.
CAUTION: Juniper is most likely safe when used as a food. However breastfeeding and pregnant women should avoid it as it could cause a miscarriage. The berries should not be taken in large doses or for more than 2 weeks as prolonged use can damage the kidneys and may cause seizures. Anyone with weak kidneys or kidney disease should avoid them. Juniper can increase urination as it fights off bacteria and viruses, so do not take it with other diuretics. Avoid Juniper if you have stomach or intestinal problems or high or low blood pressure as it could exacerbate those issues. If you are diabetic you should use it with caution as it could cause a sudden drop in blood sugar. Do not apply Juniper oil to large or deep wounds. Avoid Juniper for 2 weeks before a planned surgery.20
Juniper at Beltaine
Burn Juniper alone or with Boxwood or Rosemary and use the smoke to purify your home.
Marsh Marigold, King’s Cup
(Caltha palustris)
Marsh Marigold is said to magically protect the home from lightning strikes during the month of May.21 Use its powerful solar energy to ward off evil of all kinds. Hang it on the door and keep a bunch in the house to repel sorcery and psychic attack.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Marsh Marigold, see here.
Mistletoe, All-Heal, Bird Lime, Golden Bough, Holy Wood
(Viscum album)
Ad viscum Druidae cantare solebant
(The Druids are wont to sing to the Mistletoe)
OVID
Mistletoe was revered by the ancient Druids. Modern anthroposophical medicine uses Mistletoe found on Oak trees as a cancer treatment called “Iscador,” and studies have shown that the most potent antitumor activity comes from Mistletoe found growing on Oak. I believe the Druids knew that, because they only called for a ritual of thanks when they found it growing on an Oak tree (Mistletoe is also found on Poplar, Apple, and other trees).
The one ancient Druidic rite that we actually have on record is the ceremony of gathering the Mistletoe, as related by the Roman naturalist, Pliny the Elder.
The Druids—for that is the name they give to their magicians—held nothing more sacred than the mistletoe and the tree that bears it, supposing always that tree to be the robur. Of itself the robur is selected by them to form whole groves, and they perform none of their religious rites without employing branches of it; so much so, that it is very probable that the priests themselves may have received their name from the Greek name for that tree. . . . The mistletoe, however, is but rarely found upon the robur; and when found, is gathered with rites replete with religious awe. This is done more particularly on the fifth day of the moon, the day which is the beginning of their months and years, as also of their ages, which, with them, are but thirty years. This day they select because the moon, though not yet in the middle of her course, has already considerable power and influence; and they call her by a name which signifies, in their language, the all-healing. Having made all due preparation for the sacrifice and a banquet beneath the trees, they bring thither two white bulls, the horns of which are bound then for the first time. Clad in a white robe the priest ascends the tree, and cuts the mistletoe with a golden sickle, which is received by others in a white cloak. They then immolate the victims, offering up their prayers.22
“Robur” is Quercus robur the Pedunculate Oak, or English Oak. The ritual was done on the “fifth day of the moon” which is five days after the first appearance of the moon (the waxing moon), and two white bulls were sacrificed in thanks. That’s a pretty hefty sacrifice; probably the equivalent of two Lexus automobiles today.
The “golden sickle” mentioned in the ritual could not have been made of gold because that metal is too soft and was more likely made of bronze or gold-plated brass or bone. The Mistletoe had to be cut by a Druid high in the tree and was dropped onto a white cloth held by another Druid below. If it fell and touched the earth for any reason, it was considered a very bad omen.
Mistletoe is worn as a crown by Jack in the Green, a dancer who personifies the Spirit of the vegetation when traditional Morris dancers welcome in May. It is also hung on the door as a symbol of peace and protects the home from storms and evil sorcery. Place a sprig under the mattress of the baby’s cradle to keep the baby from being taken by Fairies (be sure to put it somewhere the baby can’t reach) or hang it over an adult’s bed to bring pleasant dreams. Adding a bit of Mistletoe to any herbal spell will enhance its power. Cutting down a tree with Mistletoe growing on it brings bad fortune.23
Mistletoe has numerous healing properties, most notably its ability to inhibit tumors and increase the growth of killer cells. The leaf and twig tea of Viscum album seems to show a greater effect on human leukemia cells (Molt-4), while Korean Mistletoe (Viscum coloratum) is most effective on L1210 leukemia when used fresh. A tincture of Mistletoe is a significant remedy for murine tumors, Lewis lung carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma 38, and C3H adenocarcinomas of the breast.24
Use Viscum album for the following recipes. To make the tea: Simmer 2 teaspoons of twigs, flowers, and leaves, fresh or dried, (do not use the berries; they are poisonous) per cup of water for 20 minutes and take 1 tablespoon every few hours. To make the fresh juice: Blend 2 ounces of fresh leaves and twigs with ½ pint of springwater and strain. Take 1 tablespoon every few hours. To make the tincture: Using either the powdered leaves or the dried leaves and twigs, follow the instructions in “How to Make a Tincture”. Take 5 to 10 drops, three times a day, between meals.
Viscum album has been shown to help with convulsions, delirium, neuralgia, urinary tract disorders, and heart conditions. It can strengthen glandular systems, promote hormone balance, regulate blood pressure, and stop the internal bleeding caused by typhoid fever and dysentery. It can also lessen the spasms of epilepsy and inflammation of the pancreas and act as a heart tonic in cases of typhoid fever. In addition, it has been shown to ease heavy menstruation, heart palpitations, hot flashes, and menopausal anxiety.
Homeopaths use a Viscum album tincture for petit mal epileptic seizures and for epileptic aura. Knowing this, I was led to a discovery of my own. When I had my herbal practice a client came to me complaining of vertigo and hallucinations. She had been to her regular doctors, who seemed unable to diagnose the problem, so I urged her to try a tincture of Viscum album, and it actually resolved the neurological symptoms—as long as she kept taking it.
Eventually she stopped taking it, and her symptoms worsened once again, until finally she was confined to a wheel chair and was having convulsions. Her jaw became so badly locked that she could hardly speak, and it was only after a spinal tap was performed that the origin of the problem was detected: she was suffering from Lyme disease, and the spirochetes were hiding in her spinal fluid. After a treatment of antibiotics she regained her neurological health. While Mistletoe does not remove the spirochetes of Lyme, it does address the neurological symptoms, and I now think of Viscum album as another herb in our pharmacopoeia for the disease.
CAUTION: The berries of all species of Mistletoe are poisonous and large doses can produce convulsions, especially in children. Avoid American Mistletoes as they are poisonous. Frequent or long-term use of Viscum album could cause liver damage and make existing liver problems worse, and pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid it. Persons with autoimmune diseases such as multiple sclerosis, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other such conditions should not use it as it can cause the immune system to be more active. For this reason, persons with organ transplants should also avoid it as it could cause rejection of the organ. Stop taking it 2 weeks before a planned surgery.25
Mistletoe at Beltaine
Mistletoe enhances all magical workings. Place a tea of Viscum album (European Mistletoe) in the ritual cup. (Do not do this with the native American variety (Phoradendron favescence); it is poisonous!) Put Mistletoe on the altar and add a sprig to herbal charms and amulets.
Nettle (Urtica spp.)
Common Nettle, Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Dwarf Nettle (Urtica urens)
If they would drink nettles in March
And eat Mugwort in May,
So many fine maidens
Would not go to clay.
TRADITIONAL ENGLISH SAYING
The Book of Secrets of Albertus Magnus, a sixteenth-century magical text, states that holding a sprig of Nettle and a sprig of Yarrow will dispel deep fears, fantasies, and visions. This makes sense because hot prickly Nettles are an herb of Mars, and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is named after the hero Achilles. Both plants embody a warrior Spirit.
Magically, Nettles protect the house from storms and placing them into the fire during a storm repels lightning. To cure a fever pull up a Nettle stalk—preferably one that is growing in a shady area as it will be the most potent—while saying the name of the sufferer and the names of the sufferer’s parents.26 You can also use a Nettle wash to consecrate a ritual blade or any weapon.
Nettles are a wonderfully warming herb for the dangerous transition periods between fall and winter and winter and spring, when so many of us fall ill. Use them in soups and quiches and as tea or broth, especially when coughs and colds appear. I like to dry them in a slow oven (about 200°F) until they are crumbly and then keep the crushed leaves in a jar with a tight lid to be added to stews and other dishes all year. Pick the young leaves—be sure to wear gloves—and rinse them in cold water. The sting will disappear almost immediately.
Onion and Nettle Cheese Bake*40
A traditional recipe from Brittany
1 pound organic onions, cut into rings
Enough organic flour to coat the onions
4 ounces organic butter
2 cups fresh nettle tops, blanched and chopped (scald well-rinsed nettles in boiling water or steam for a short time)
2 cloves organic garlic, peeled and chopped
6 medium organic tomatoes, skinned
1 pint cheese sauce†41
2 cups grated cheese
1 uncooked pie crust
Preheat the oven to 400–450°F.
Coat the onion rings with flour.
Melt the butter in a skillet, add the nettles, and then fry the onion rings in the mix until slightly browned. Add the garlic and sauté for a few minutes longer.
Pour the onion mixture into a pie crust and add the tomatoes and cheese sauce, sprinkle the grated cheese over all.
Bake for 1 hour or until slightly browned on top.
Nettle and Wild Onion Rice Balls*42
3 cups short-grain organic brown rice
4½ cups water
Vinegar
1 cup wild nettles
½ cup wild onion greens, minced
3 tablespoons cold-pressed olive, sesame, or sunflower oil
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 tablespoons gomasio (ground sesame seeds and salt)
Tamari or other preservative-free soy sauce
Rinse the rice three times and drain in a sieve.
Put the rice into a large pot with the water and bring to a boil. Cook on low heat for 45 minutes. Turn off the heat and allow the rice to sit in the covered pot for another 20 minutes.
As the rice cooks soak the onion greens in vinegar water (about 1 tablespoon of vinegar added to a quart of water) for 20 minutes, then rinse carefully. Rinse the nettles to remove the sting and chop them. Combine the nettles and onion greens and sauté in the oil on medium heat until soft. Set aside.
Stir the rice until fluffy. If it is still firm, add a bit more water and cook for a few minutes longer. Mix in the sautéed greens, sea salt, gomasio, and tamari and shape into balls.
Another option is to moisten sheets of pressed nori seaweed and roll up each ball in the seaweed. Serve on a plate decorated with edible spring flowers.
Nettle leaves and seeds can be used in a number of healing remedies. They are great for treating cold conditions such as coughs as well as bronchitis and rheumatic complaints. Rich in iron, they support the kidneys, bladder, and blood. Nettles are also a natural antihistamine that will benefit hay fever and an anti-inflammatory that can help with joint pain and osteoarthritis.
A tea made from rinsed Nettle leaves and Violet leaves is beneficial for treating fevers and nervous conditions. To make the tea: Steep 2 to 3 tablespoons of leaves per cup of hot water for 20 minutes. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals. The tea can be applied as a wash to burns and other skin conditions as well.
You can also chop and sauté the spring-gathered greens and add them to oatmeal as a warming and nourishing food for invalids or tuck them inside egg white omelets to calm the nerves and promote sleep. Juicing the leaves and roots and blending them with organic raw honey makes an effective syrup to soothe coughs and asthma. Take 1 to 2 tablespoons in water, four times a day, between meals.
CAUTION: Avoid Nettles during pregnancy as they could cause uterine contractions and miscarriage. Diabetics should monitor blood sugar carefully when using this herb as it can lower blood sugar. It can also cause blood pressure to drop so use with caution if you have low blood pressure. Nettles increase urine flow and could cause issues for those with kidney problems and for those using lithium salts.27
Nettles at Beltaine
Use a Nettle rinse on your ritual tools as you prepare for your Beltaine rite. Hang bunches of Nettles on gateposts and doorways to keep unwanted visitors and Spirits away. Eat mineral-rich Nettles at your Beltaine feast to build strength at the change of seasons.
Plantain
(Plantago spp.)
And, you, Waybread [Plantain], mother of herbs,
open to the east, mighty within;
carts rolled over you, women rode over you,
over you brides cried out, bulls snorted over you.
All you withstood then, and were crushed;
So you withstand poison and contagion
and the loathsome one who travels through the land.28
Plantain is a powerful herb of protection. Hang it in your home or in your car or make a Plantain brew, add it to your bathwater along with a few leaves, and soak in its protective energies. Put a little Plantain into any spell or working to increase its power.
Medicinally, traditional Scottish herbalists applied crushed Plantain leaves to wounds to stop bleeding and to Nettle stings to stop pain. In cases of tonsillitis they applied a poultice of the leaves to the throat.29
The juice of the fresh leaves can help treat lung problems, gastrointestinal issues, bladder problems, stomach ulcers, and eye irritation (be sure to filter carefully through a coffee filter before placing in the eyes). You can take 1 tablespoon fresh juice in milk or water three times in a day.
Chew the fresh leaves and pack them into the gums to pull out gum infection or use them to poultice insect bites, wounds, and hemorrhoids. For wounds with embedded glass or grit, add a bit of Cayenne Pepper to the Plantain poultice. The Cayenne opens up the capillaries and helps to push out the debris.
Plantain is a good addition to healing salves and ointments. For a burn salve mix Plantain with young Black Currant leaf (Ribes nigrum), Elder buds, Angelica root (Angelica archangelica), and Parsley (Petroselinum crispum). For a skin healing salve mix Plantain with Celandine (Chelidonium majus), Elder buds and very young leaves, and Houseleek (Sempervivum tectorum).
A tea made from the leaves helps coughs, bronchitis, phlegm buildup, gastrointestinal irritations, bladder problems, stomach ulcers, eye irritation (be sure to strain carefully through a coffee filter before placing in the eyes), and any condition where there are profuse discharges such as diarrhea, vomiting, and heavy menstruation. To make the tea: Steep 2 teaspoons of leaves per cup of freshly boiled water for 20 minutes and take up to 1½ cups a day in ¼ cup doses, between meals. You can also use the tea as a douche.
Apply the tincture (see here for instructions) to toothaches, ear pain, chronically itchy skin, wounds, and poison-oak.
CAUTION: Plantain can lower blood pressure and may cause diarrhea. Some people may experience allergic skin reactions, and persons who are allergic to melons may be especially sensitive to this plant. Avoid if pregnant or breastfeeding. Plantain has a lot of vitamin K and helps blood to clot, so it will interfere with blood thinners.30
Plantain at Beltaine
Soak in a bath with protective Plantain tea added to the water before your ritual. Hang it somewhere in the house or ritual space to ensure that kind Spirits attend. Add Plantain to herbal amulets and spells to increase their potency.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary is protective against evil Spirits and malevolent Fairies; wards off injury, storms, and bad dreams; and brings success in projects and in love—put a sprig under your pillow to dream of your future mate. It is also an emblem of fidelity for lovers and is worn in bridal crowns, carried in bridal bouquets, and wrapped with ribbons and given out as gifts to wedding guests.
Rosemary is especially associated with remembering, and recent scientific studies have determined that even the scent of the herb can improve memory.31
There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies. That’s for thoughts.
WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, HAMLET
In remembrance of a loved one who has passed on, wrap Rosemary in a white cloth or white paper and place it in or on top of the coffin. Wear a bunch of Rosemary to the funeral or incorporate it into a funeral wreath.
Burn Rosemary with crushed Juniper berries as a protection from disease or use it as a substitute for Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) in religious rites. You can also make a strong tea of Rosemary and add it to the bathwater before you do a ceremony, use it to decorate the altar, and burn it as incense to purify an area, especially during rituals of death and dying.32
Why not incorporate the magical virtues of Rosemary into a bread you can share at your Beltaine feast like the one in the recipe below?
Rosemary Oat Bannock*43
1 cup organic rolled oats
1 cup organic oat flour
3 tablespoons raw organic cane sugar, plus a bit more for sprinkling
¼ teaspoon sea salt
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced (or 1 tablespoon dried)
1 teaspoon grated zest from an organic orange
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled
½ cup organic cream or milk, plus 1 tablespoon for the wash
1 organic egg yolk
Preheat the oven to 400°F and grease a cast-iron skillet or a baking sheet.
In a large bowl mix the oats, flour, sugar, salt, rosemary, and orange zest. Cut in the cold butter using two knives. Stir in the ½ cup cream and mix well.
Work the dough into a rough ball and place on a surface dusted with oat flour. Knead lightly until everything holds together well. Divide the dough in half and roll each half into a ¼-inch-thick circle, using a rolling pin or a bottle.
In a separate bowl mix the egg yolk with a tablespoon of cream. Brush the egg-yolk mixture on top of each bannock and then sprinkle with sugar. Cut each flat circle into four wedges and arrange ¼ inch apart in the cast-iron pan or baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes, or until the edges are crispy. Optional: add a second egg brushing and sugar sprinkling halfway through the baking.
In addition to its culinary uses, Rosemary has a number of medicinal applications as well. When taken as a tea the leaves and flowers stimulate the liver and the digestion, increase circulation, relieve depression, and slightly elevate blood pressure. The tea can also be used as a mouthwash for halitosis. To make the tea: Steep 2 teaspoons of flowering tops and leaves in 1 cup of freshly boiled water for 20 minutes. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals (see “Caution”).
Steep a large sprig of Rosemary in a bottle of white wine for a week and use the infused wine as a rub for gout and paralyzed limbs. When consumed the wine slows the heart as it stimulates the kidneys, brain, and nervous system (see “Caution”).
Rosemary can be added to salves for eczema, wounds, and sores. Smoke a blend of dried Rosemary with Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara) to palliate asthma and other lung conditions. For alopecia and hair loss, mix 3 drops of Rosemary essential oil with 3 drops of Lavender oil,*44 2 drops of Thyme oil, and 2 drops of Cedar wood (Cedrus) oil and add these to a base of Grapeseed and Jojoba oils. Massage into the scalp for 2 minutes each night and then wrap a warm towel around the head to open pores and increase absorption.
CAUTION: When taking Rosemary as tea or in wine, do not exceed 1 cup per day (adult dose) in ¼-cup doses. Overdose could be fatal. Do not exceed food amounts if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have a bleeding or bruising disorder, or are prone to seizures. People who are allergic to aspirin could also react to this herb.34
Rosemary at Beltaine
Burn Rosemary alone or with Boxwood or Juniper, and use the smoke to purify your home. Rosemary is a solar herb; place it on the altar to honor the sun. Wear a crown of Rosemary during your Beltaine rite to attract love and luck and to repel unwanted Spirits.
Rowan, European Mountain Ash, Quicken Tree, Quickbeam (Sorbus aucuparia)
American Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana)
According to Irish tradition, the first female human was created from a Rowan tree. In Devonshire and Worcestershire, Rowan is brought into the home on Holy-Rood Day (May 3), which is probably the remnant of an old Beltaine custom. On the Isle of Man a Rowan cross made without a knife was tied to the cow’s tail on Beltaine Eve (the injunction to not use a knife is likely because metal is offensive to the Fairies). In Scotland tiny equal-armed solar crosses of Rowan twigs were bound with red thread and hidden in clothing as a protective amulet to repel sorcery and the evil eye. For the strongest magic the wood had to be gathered on May Eve.
For magical protection you must find a Rowan that you have never seen before, cut the twigs using a kitchen knife, and then carry the twigs home by a route different from the one you came on. Carry the berries in your pocket to ward off rheumatism and the evil eye and hang Rowan and Honeysuckle branches in the barn to protect the cattle and a Rowan wreath over the door lintel to protect the house.
Rowan can be used magically with animals as well. A necklace of Rowan berries tied around a pig’s neck will make it fatten more quickly and a collar of Rowan on your dog, horse, or cow protect will them from harm. You can also use a Rowan whip on your horse, so it won’t be bewitched.
Woe to the lad,
Without a rowan-tree gad.
TRADITIONAL YORKSHIRE SAYING
Use Rowan wood to bake a bannock for your ritual feast (see here for an oat bannock recipe).
Rowan Berry Liqueur*45
This is a traditional recipe from Wales. Obviously you will gather the Rowan berries in the fall, but this drink is magical for the ritual cup at any time of year. Float a few fresh Rowan blossoms in the brew when you serve it at your Beltaine rite. The reason for the sweeteners is that Rowan berries, while healthy for you, are very bitter.
1 cup fully ripe rowan berries
2 cups brandy
2 cups cold water
4 cups raw organic cane sugar (or 2 cups raw honey)
Gather the fresh berries in September or October, just after the first frost, when they have a deep color and are fully ripe.
Place the berries on a flat surface and dry until they are shriveled. Steep the berries in the brandy for at least 1 week.
Make a syrup with the water and sugar or honey, heating and stirring it until the sugar (or honey) melts completely, then remove from heat. When the syrup has cooled add in the Rowan berries and brandy and pour the mixture into a large glass jar with a tight lid. Store in a cool, dark place and allow to steep, shaking the jar every once in a while to distribute the ingredients. Do not drink until Yule or later (at least 6 months is a good amount of time to steep).
Used medicinally in Britain and Ireland, Rowan berries were eaten to treat and prevent scurvy (they have more vitamin C than lemons) and as a blood cleanser and vermifuge. A tea of the berries was used as a sore throat gargle, and the young leaves were used to poultice sore eyes.35
While the ripe berries of Sorbus aucuparia are red and the ripe berries of Sorbus americana are bright orange, both have the same medicinal properties and are gathered after the first frost when the berries are fully ripe. Don’t wait until the second or third frost to pick them as the berries might be ruined.
A vitamin C–rich brew made from the berries can be taken as a tea or used as a gargle for sore throats. To make a fresh-berry tea: Simmer the fresh ripe berries for 20 minutes and strain. Take up to 1 cup a day in ¼-cup doses, between meals. To make a dried-berry tea: Soak 1 teaspoon of dried, ripe berries per 1 cup of water for 10 hours and take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals.
The juice of the fresh, ripe berries is laxative and makes an effective sore throat and tonsillitis gargle when added to water. To make the juice: Place the ripe or rehydrated berries into the blender with enough water to blend and then strain or use a juicer if you have one. Put 1 teaspoon of fresh berry juice in water and gargle as needed.
The cooked berries are antidiarrheal and can be made into a jam that can be eaten as a remedy for diarrhea.
Rowan Berry Jam*46
4 pounds rowan berries, with the stems removed and soaked for about 20 minutes in water with a tablespoon of vinegar to remove any parasites, then rinsed well
3 pounds organic apples, peeled, cored, and quartered
Organic cane sugar or raw local honey (see instructions for amount)
Springwater
Place the rowan berries and apples into a nonaluminum large pot (there should be room enough for everything to reach a rolling boil and not be overcrowded). Barely cover the fruits with cold water and, using medium heat, bring the fruit to a boil, stirring with a wooden spoon from time to time.
Reduce the heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes, or until the fruit is soft.
Allow everything to cool down, then measure how many cups of fruit you have.
Add 1 pound organic cane sugar or ½ pound raw local honey for every 2 cups of jam.
Return to the pot and simmer for about 10 minutes, or until the sweetener is dissolved.
Pour into hot, sterilized jars, and seal.
Take 1 tablespoon of the jam, three to five times a day, to treat diarrhea in adults and children.
A syrup made from the ripe berries, sliced fresh Apples, and a raw, local honey can be taken for colds and chest conditions.
Rowan Berry Syrup
Rowan berries
Thinly sliced organic apples (I suggest tart Granny Smith apples for this)
Raw local honey
1 organic lemon
Remove any stems and soak the berries in water with a tablespoon of vinegar added for about 20 minutes. Rinse well.
Put the berries into a large, nonaluminum pot with the thin apple slices.
Add enough cold water so the water is about halfway up the amount of fruit you have in the pot.
Bring to a boil, crushing and stirring the fruit.
Turn the heat down to a simmer for 20 minutes, once again stirring and crushing the berries from time to time.
Remove from heat, and while the mixture is still hot pour in about half the volume of honey.
Stir well and then strain through a sieve. Add a few tablespoons of lemon juice as a preservative.
Keep in the refrigerator for about a week, or freeze.
Take 1 tablespoon 3 to 5 times a day, as needed.
CAUTION: Use the fresh, uncooked, or processed Rowan berries sparingly. Large amounts can cause stomach irritation and pain, vomiting, queasiness, diarrhea, kidney damage, and other side effects. Avoid if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.36
Rowan at Beltaine
Gather Rowan twigs on Beltaine Eve and bind them with red thread into small, equal-armed solar crosses. Hang the crosses over windows and entrances, and put them on windowsills and in the eaves and other places. Wear one hidden under your clothing as magical protection from ill-intentioned sorcery and bad Spirits. Use Rowan wood gathered on Beltaine Eve to make a staff, wand, statue, or other magical object. The Fairies despise iron, so why not make your athame*47 out of Rowan wood?
Rue, Witchbane, Herb of Grace, Herb of Repentance
(Ruta graveolens)
For the ancient Greeks, Rue was a magically protective herb. It was grown around Roman temples dedicated to Mars and was considered sacred to him and to Diana and Aradia. Use it to purify objects made of iron, Mars’s metal, before consecrating them for ritual use.
In the Middle Ages and later, Rue was considered a powerful defense against Witches, earning it the common name of “Witchbane.” With this in mind, carry it with you to ward off ill-intentioned Witchcraft and sorcery.
In medieval times Rue was added to flower bouquets to protect against the plague and other diseases. (Remember the old “pocket full of posies” nursery rhyme?)
It is an herb of the Sun, and under Leo. It provokes urine and women’s courses, being taken either in meat or drink. The seed thereof taken in wine, is an antidote against all dangerous medicines or deadly poisons. The leaves taken either by themselves, or with figs and walnuts, is called Mithridate’s counter-poison against the plague, and causes all venomous things to become harmless.37
Adding Rue to a charm bag or protective amulet will repel disease and the bites and stings of snakes, wasps, bees, and scorpions and help to keep your mind sharp. Rue can also offer you protection by helping you develop second sight. Simply rub it (or the oil) over your third eye (the spot in the middle of your forehead, just above the nose) to encourage your psychic abilities.38
In addition to a knack for protecting, Rue is also an effective herb for clearing away negativity. Burn it to drive away malignant entities from an area or steep it in a crystal bowl in the full sun for 4 hours and use the Rue-infused water to asperge a ritual site. For a fun and protective activity before a ritual, fill a bowl with water and salt and use a branch of Rue dipped in the water to sprinkle celebrants.
For more on the lore, history, uses, and Beltaine practices of Rue, see here.
Saint John’s Wort
(Hypericum perforatum, Hypericum pulchrum, Hypericum humifusum, Hypericum elodes, Hypericum tetrapterum)
Trefoil, vervain, John’s-wort, dill,
Hinders witches of their will.39
In Germany, Saint John’s Wort was one of the protective herbs burned on Walpurgisnacht (May Eve) to repel evil Witches. In Celtic Brittany it was considered the perfect balance of fire and water. According to Celtic cosmology, fire and water are the basic building blocks of creation, making this herb a very special magical ally. If the herb was found by accident it could even prevent fever and abduction by Fairies. (However if you stepped on it you could arouse a Fairy horse that would abduct you and carry you far from home.40)
The idea that finding Saint John’s Wort prevents abduction by Fairies may have derived from the fact that Saint John’s Wort helps with mild depression. The starlike flowers bloom at the height of summer, when the sun’s rays are strongest, and bring light into the darkness of a troubled soul.
In British tradition Saint John’s Wort repelled ghosts and evil sorcery and guarded the home from fire and lightning. It blooms in June, close to the summer solstice when the sun is at its height, but in open fields and meadows with a lot of sun you may find it blooming earlier, especially in southern areas. By ingesting or working with this plant you are bringing the power, majesty, and glory of the sun into your life.
Ideally it should be gathered when it is in full bloom, with the dew still on it. If gathered properly it is said to ensure marriage or conception. Wear the flowers as a protective amulet to repel ghosts and evil Spirits and hang a bagful pierced with a pin, over your bed, to dream of your future lover.41
St. John’s wort doth charm all the witches away.
If gathered at midnight on the saint’s holy day.
And devils and witches have no power to harm
Those that do gather the plant for a charm:
Rub the lintels and post with that red juicy flower
No thunder nor tempest will then have the power
To hurt or to hinder your houses: and bind
Round your neck a charm of a similar kind.42
Traditional herbalists in Britain and Ireland used Saint John’s Wort medicinally to treat scratches and bleeding. The plant itself tells you that it is meant to be used this way. If you crush the fresh yellow flowers between your fingers, they turn blood red while the leaves appear to be pierced by tiny holes, which are actually tiny sacs of oil, indicating its use for puncture wounds.
Hypericum pulchrum and Hypericum humifusum were used for stomach upsets, and on the Isle of Man, Hypericum pulchrum was taken for nervousness and “low spirits.” The English herbalist John Gerard, author of The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes (1597), recommended it for “melancholia,” which is still the most common use of the herb today.
In Ireland, Hypericum elodes, which they called Birin Yarragh (Dysentery Herb), was used to treat diarrhea in humans and cows. Hypericum tetrapterum was used to stop bleeding.43
One of the folk names of this plant in Scottish Gaelic is Achlasan Chalium Chille, meaning “Armpit Package of Saint Columba,” which is a poultice of the herb that is placed in the armpits to relieve nervous conditions and terrors. A poultice can also be used to stop bleeding.
Mix Saint John’s Wort with Germander (Betonica pauli) and Goldenrod (Solidago spp.) in salves for wounds, bruising, burns, psoriasis, and other skin conditions. A tea of the leaves and flowers taken internally calms the bladder and promotes sleep. It also relieves cramps and menstrual disorders and is used for mild (not chronic or severe) depression, seasonal affective disorder, anemia, nervousness, headaches, jaundice, and chest congestion. Mix it with Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) to relieve hot flashes and menopausal depression. To make the tea: Steep 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and flowers per ½ cup of boiled water for 5 minutes. Take ½ cup on rising and another before bed.
Saint John’s Wort can be taken for at least 12 weeks, but wear sun-block if you are using it in the light half of the year. Side effects such as insomnia, or vivid dreams, difficulty sitting still, nervousness, irritability, stomach upset, tiredness, dry mouth, dizziness, headache, skin rash, diarrhea, and skin tingling can occur.
CAUTION: Saint John’s Wort causes photosensitivity. If you are taking it for long periods of time, it’s best to stop 1 month before you are likely to be exposed to a great deal of sun (in the Northern Hemisphere that would typically be in April). It also causes photosensitivity in cows and can even poison them. Avoid during pregnancy and breastfeeding and if you have Alzheimer’s, ADHD, bipolar disorder, major depression, infertility issues, or schizophrenia. Stop taking at least 2 weeks before surgery. Saint John’s Wort has many drug interactions, so be sure to check for contraindications if you are on any medications.44
Saint John’s Wort at Beltaine
Hang Saint John’s Wort in the home and around the ritual circle to repel ghosts, evil Spirits, and negative thoughts. Wear it as a crown or in an amulet to ward off sadness.
Sweet Flag
(Acorus calamus)
Sweet Flag has a long pedigree as a sacred herb of protection. In Europe during the Middle Ages it was strewn on the floors of homes and churches to improve smell and repel insects. Pieces of the root were carried in the pocket to ward off lightning, and amulets made of the root were said to repel disease. It was also added to love potions, garnering it the nickname, “Venus Plant,” and was an ingredient in some Witches’ “flying ointments.”
One of the earliest records of Sweet Flag can be found in the Bible when God gave Moses instructions to make a holy oil of myrrh, frankincense, cinnamon, calamus, cassia, galbanum, and sweet spices to anoint the tabernacle and the ark of testimony.45
During Green Week (Zielone Swiatki) in Poland, Sweet Flag rushes are placed on the floor as protection for the house. The herb is also used in healing rituals: chew the root or powder and burn it as incense or string the seeds and wear them. You can also add Sweet Flag to an herbal spell to strengthen and bind it, or place the root in the four corners of the kitchen to ward off hunger and want.46
Medicinally, Sweet Flag is stomach oriented. It improves appetite while relieving gastritis and hyperacidity. Smokers can chew the root to induce mild nausea when they try to smoke a cigarette. Speakers and singers can chew the root to keep the throat healthy. Make a strong tea and add it to the bath to combat sleeplessness and nervous tension.
To make a tea to drink: Steep 1 teaspoon of chopped roots per ½ cup of freshly boiled water for 5 minutes, or simmer the same amount of root and water for 2 to 3 minutes. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals. To make a tincture of the roots: See here for instructions, then take 10 drops, three times a day, between meals. To make a tea for the bath: Simmer 1 pound of the roots per 5 quarts of water for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain and add to the bathwater.47
CAUTION: Sweet Flag lowers blood pressure and heart rate, so avoid it if you have low blood pressure or a heart problem. Also avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Stop using 2 weeks before surgery.48
Sweet Flag at Beltaine
Put the roots in the four corners of the kitchen to ward off hunger and poverty. Add the roots and seeds to herbal spells and wear them in a necklace for healing. Place the rushes on the floor or in the ritual circle to seal in protective energies. Put the flowers on the altar.
Sweet Woodruff, Wild Baby’s Breath, Master of the Woods, Waldmeister
(Galium odoratum)
Used in mojo bags for protection and for bravery in battle, Woodruff is sacred to Saint Walpurga, an abbess and missionary who is celebrated at the German Walpurgisnacht, a feast held on the night of April 30 and the day of May 1. It can be used to escape pursuers, as Walpurga was said to have done when pursued through the woods each year by hounds. Carry it and use her trick of standing in a triangle carved into a stump top, and your pursuers will simply pass you by.49
In the Middle Ages, Sweet Woodruff was strewn on floors to repel insects and to protect the house from evil sorcery, but you can use the plant as a protection against any evil influence. Carry Sweet Woodruff on your person or hang it on doors, over entrances, or on gateposts to protect those who pass by from physical or psychic injury.50 Sweet Woodruff also attracts wealth and bestows a cheerful nature.
Kitchen Witches can use Sweet Woodruff to bring wealth and protection to the home, especially at the new moon. Try the following recipe.
Magical Prosperity Cake*48
1 cup, plus 2 teaspoons (about 3 handfuls total) sweet woodruff leaves (dried or wilted) and flowers.†49
2 cups organic light cream
4 large organic eggs, yolks and whites separated into two separate containers and kept at room temperature
¾ cup raw organic cane sugar
2 tablespoons cold water
8 tablespoons organic butter, melted
¾ cup of whole wheat, spelt, or all-purpose organic flour
2 teaspoons organic lemon zest
¼ teaspoon sea salt
Organic powdered icing sugar for dusting
Three days before making your cake, soak 1 cup of the dried woodruff in the cream. Stir well, cover, and allow to sit in a warm place for 24 hours. Then transfer it to the fridge and after 2 days, strain the plant material from the cream and set the cream aside.
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Line an 8 x 8-inch square pan with sheets of parchment paper (or grease and flour the pan). Leave a generous amount of paper sticking out from the sides to make it easier to pull the cake from the pan.
In a large bowl beat the egg yolks, sugar, and water together for about 5 minutes or until creamy and the sugar is dissolved. Recite the following as you continue to mix in the ingredients.
Money, wealth, possessions,
In great measure,
My pocket, purse, and home,
All filled with treasure,
Wealth as needed, come to me
As is my will so mote it be!
Drizzle the melted butter into the egg yolk mixture and mix well. Fold in the flour, lemon zest, sea salt, and the extra 2 teaspoons of sweet woodruff (crumbled finely) then blend until fully combined. Add the sweet woodruff–infused cream and mix it in gently. (Keep chanting!)
In a separate bowl whisk the egg whites on high speed until they hold stiff peaks. Fold them into the egg yolk and flour mixture. Stir very gently with a large spoon just a dozen or so times, leaving large clumps of egg whites in the batter. Do not overmix!
Pour the mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the edges are set, the top is a warm brown, and the center is still a bit wobbly, about 50 to 55 minutes. Leave the cake in the pan at room temperature until completely cool, then remove it from the pan. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours before serving. It’s best left overnight. Dust with powdered sugar and some edible May flowers and serve.
Sweet Woodruff can be used medicinally as well. Traditional herbalists in the highlands of Scotland poulticed wounds and cuts with Galium odoratum and took a tea of the dried leaves for fevers, colds, and lung conditions.51
The herb can be used internally to prevent and treat lung, stomach, liver, gallbladder, and urinary disorders. Steeped in milk it eases insomnia and anxiety; taken as a tea it supports the liver and digestion. It is also anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic and can help treat migraines. It can also be used externally to poultice hemorrhoids. To make the tea: Steep 2 teaspoons of dried herb (use slightly more fresh herb) per 1 cup of freshly boiled water. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals. A cold extract can be made by immersing 2 teaspoons of dried herb per cup of cold water. Steep for 8 hours and strain, then keep in a capped jar in the refrigerator for up to a week. Serve warm if desired.52
CAUTION: Sweet Woodruff should not be taken for long periods or used in large quantities. It can cause headaches, blackouts, dizziness, vomiting, and liver damage if taken for more than a few weeks. Avoid medicinal quantities if you have a bleeding disorder as this plant can inhibit blood clotting. Avoid it if you are pregnant or breastfeeding and do not take it for 2 weeks before a planned surgery. This herb is not recommended as medicine for children.53
Sweet Woodruff at Beltaine
Strew Sweet Woodruff on the floor or inside the ritual circle as protection from evil influences. Carry it, wear it, or hang it on doors and gateposts to ward away sickness and injury. Drink May Wine with Sweet Woodruff in the ritual cup and serve it at the feast to attract wealth and happiness.
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Blue Vervain (Verbena hastat)
Vervain is a profoundly magical plant. In ancient times it was tied into small bundles and used by Roman priests and priestesses to ritually sweep and cleanse the altar. Druids steeped it in water and sprinkled it on worshippers. In Britain, Vervain was once worn to protect against ill-intended sorcery and the evil eye, and the roots were hung around the neck to stop bad dreams.54 On Beltaine, Vervain is carried to the four corners of the farm where a bit is given to the Land Spirits as a blessing.
Vervain should be picked during the dark moon at the rising of the Dog Star, just before it flowers. It is cut with a golden sickle and raised high with the left hand. After saying a prayer of thanks, leave a gift of honey, milk, or cider on the earth for her sacrifice. When gathering Vervain recite the following traditional rhyme from Lancashire.
Hallowed be thou, Vervain,
As thou growest on the ground.
Wear Vervain on your person to protect you from enchantments or sprinkle it in your home or burn it as an incense to bring peace, protection, sweet dreams, and wealth. To dispel anxiety and fear, put a white candle on an altar and surround it with seven sprigs (or piles if cut and dried) of Vervain. Light the candle each morning when you rise, saying:
Spirit of Vervain
Turn away from me all that is evil,
Protect me from all harm.
I commend myself to your care,
In complete trust this day.
Put out the candle and start your day. Do this every morning until your fears disappear.
To maintain your youth and beauty, go outside on the night of the full moon and light a black candle. Place the candle next to a bowl of water with 1 teaspoon of salt and 2 teaspoons of Vervain. After stirring the salt and herbs, dip a piece of petrified wood in the water, then pass it through the candle flame chanting the following:
Candle, herb, rock, water and salt,
Hear me as I sing my song,
Age is not what I desire,
It is to youth that I aspire.
Repeat this chant seven times, and as you sing touch the petrified wood to your feet, hands, shoulders, and crown of the head. When you have done this seven times, toss the rock into living water (a stream, river, lake, pond, or the sea).
Vervain is sacred to the Goddess Diana and is used in love spells. Make a tea of the plant and wash your hands in it or put it in the bath. You will then cause love to arise in the person you touch. Vervain can also work to ease the pains of love. Drink the juice to cut sexual desire or burn the dried plant to dispell the ache of unrequited love. To make dreams and wishes come true, make a strong Vervain tea and wash or bathe in it.55
Vervain has many healing applications. Externally, it is used to poultice ear infections, wounds, abscesses and burns, arthritic pains, joint pain, dislocations, bone bruises, and itching. Taken internally as a tea or tincture it can purge gravel from the bladder, increase breast milk, help lower fevers, and treat conditions such as asthma, angina, jaundice, whooping cough, edema, mastitis, and headaches. As a kidney and liver cleanser it can benefit skin eruptions such as eczema, and as an emmenagogue it cleans the lymph system and female organs and can help with menopausal symptoms.
Vervain can also be used for depression and seizures, digestive and urinary tract issues, gallbladder pain, arthritis, and gout. Homeopaths use the tincture for constipation, poison oak, nervous conditions, insomnia, mental exhaustion, and epilepsy.
To make the tea: Steep 1 tablespoon of the herb (leaves and/or roots) per cup of freshly boiled water for 20 minutes. Take ¼ cup, four times a day, between meals.
To make the tincture: Place the fresh plant (leaves and roots) into a glass jar, barely cover with alcohol, cap, and steep just until the plant matter wilts, then strain. Take 15 drops in water, three to four times a day, between meals.
Note: This is a bitter herb. Try combining it with Lemon Balm, Thyme, or Peppermint if the flavor is too intense for you.
Blue Vervain is mildly tranquilizing and very helpful for fevers and colds involving the upper respiratory tract. For a sinusitis tea: Mix 1 part Gentian root (Gentiana lutea), 3 parts each of European Elder flower, Primrose flower, and Sheep Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), with 3 parts Vervain, boil in water for 20 minutes and take ¼ cup, three times a day, between meals.
CAUTION: Vervain may cause digestive upset or skin rashes in some individuals.56
Vervain at Beltaine
Burn Vervain and carry the smoke around the boundaries of your land as an herb of blessing and purification. Use a small bunch to ritually sweep the altar as you prepare for your rite. Use a small bundle of Vervain to aspurge the celebrants in your ritual with springwater. Offer Vervain to the four corners of your property as a gift for the Land Spirits. Wear it in crowns and amulets to avert the evil eye and ill-intentioned sorcery.
Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium)
Yarrow can be strewn across the threshold to protect the home from evil sorcery, placed in the cradle (under the mattress) to protect a baby, and worn as a magical shield. White Yarrow flower essence is also very protective and can be taken by mouth. To make the essence: Soak the flowers in a crystal bowl of springwater and place the bowl in the sun for 4 full hours on a cloudless day. Preserve the flower essence with 10 percent brandy and take 4 drops under the tongue, four times a day, between meals. Drinking the tea, washing with it, or adding it to the bath is also protective.
For more on the history, lore, uses, and Beltaine practices of Yarrow, see here.