The tools used in this work are oftentimes already in people's kitchens. The one thing I remember about my Nana Trivett's kitchen is the flowers she kept. They were never given to her or bought; they were stolen. She'd pick a rose from a neighbor's bush down the road and bring it home to root or pluck a stem from a plant at the garden center. She always said stolen flowers grew the best, although she loved flowers of any kind. But she will never thank you for them, or they'll die. Stolen flowers bring love and luck to the household, symbolizing the simple beliefs that keep the family going. Under Nana's kitchen window was her junk drawer, which held basically everything in this chapter.
The tools used in this work are common, so no need to worry about buying expensive things. And should you be without a certain tool, make use of something you already have. There ain't no sense in buying something I recommend when you may have something better. The old folks didn't have botanicas or new age stores they could just hop on down to for supplies, and I reckon they wouldn't step foot in one anyway. Instead, they used what they had, and if all they had was scraps of newspaper, yarn, and a candle, then so be it. They made it work. All that said, while these tools aren't essential, they will make the work easier for you.
The mortar and pestle has been used in medicine and magic for thousands of years. Its ancestor was much different than the modern form of bowl and stick. Different cultures across the globe would grind their herbs down between two stones until they were finely sifted or powdered. I have one grindstone that I created myself: a large flat rock with a circular indention and a palm-sized river stone that fits perfectly into the groove. In my opinion, a grindstone is easier on your hands.
Don't be surprised if you get sores on your hand from the mortar and pestle, or at the least arthritis. Don't hurt yourself trying to get your herbs or other materials to the right consistency. Just pick out the parts that won't grind and return them to the earth. Over the years, I've used many mortars and pestles made from all kinds of materials—olive wood, aluminum, marble, concrete. My personal favorite is concrete, as it works best and doesn't stain easily, like white marble does. If you do get a heavy concrete one, a word to the wise: hold it tightly. I've had many a scare of a broken toe!
A trowel is a multipurpose, must-have tool if you plan on growing your own herbs. When digging for roots, burying works, or getting dirt, it makes the work easier for you and your hands.
In Appalachia, the broom is surrounded by superstitions. If a free-standing broom falls with no one around, unexpected company is on the way. If you sweep over someone's feet, they'll go to jail; sweep under their feet, and they'll never marry. There's also the tradition of jumping the broom at weddings for luck or fertility.
Aside from local superstition, the broom has a long history in witchcraft. The broom is used to periodically sweep the porch and lawn to get rid of any tricks that may have been placed on the property, especially at the edge. To cleanse the house of illness or evil, anoint the bristles of the broom with holy water and cast some blessed salt, then sweep the house from the back to the front, eventually sweeping the salt out the door. When a troublesome person leaves your home, throw salt and pepper in their tracks on the porch and sweep it off so they will never return. The broom can also be placed upside down, bristles up, after someone leaves, to keep them away for good.
Gloves will protect your skin from getting stuck on plants with thorns, such as roses or thistle blooms. While gloves aren't required, they can save you some time and hurt. Of course, they aren't mandatory; I've used a scrap of deerskin to guard my palm while picking herbs.
Knives are a staple in all forms of witchcraft. In Appalachian folk magic, one can use anything from a kitchen knife to a pocketknife. Like brooms, knives are surrounded by superstition. When a bad storm is approaching, go to the south side of the house and drive the hilt of a knife into the earth with the blade pointing up and facing away from the home. This is said to cut the storm or tornado in half.
One should never close a pocketknife that someone else opened or it will bring bad luck. And if someone gives you a knife of any kind, you must offer a penny to “buy” it. Otherwise, the knife could severe your relationship. Knives are used for protection, cutting away pain or fear, and to remedy wounds they cause.
For many works, you will need string or yarn of some kind. Back in the day bailing twine was often used, as sewing twine was reserved to repair clothes. My favorite material is hemp cord, although I often hoard all types of string in my kitchen drawer. The most common color used is red. The grannies would make a red dye from madder or bloodroot to dye the cords. Yarn, ribbon, and string are used to tie up sachets, bind packets, and hang charms, and can even act as charms themselves.
You will also need different types of fabric. Back in my grandmother's day, fabric was easy to get but often expensive, so old hand-me-down clothes were washed in the creek or washtub with vinegar and cut up. These scraps were then used to fix up better clothes when they tore and also for making charm bags and doll babies.
Rags can also be used to curse one's enemies, provide healing from illness, conjure up a rainstorm, and catch the morning dew to be used in love and healing works. Normally, it was just a plain old washcloth or kitchen towel that was used again and again over the years for stopping blood or as a compress, as it was thought to get stronger and stronger with each use. Handkerchiefs and flannel were the most common types of fabric used. Flannel was believed to bring good luck all on its own, so most charm bags are crafted with flannel from old shirts.
You'll need containers to store herbs for later use, and jars, canisters, and bags work well. The mason jar is probably best, as it is airtight and will preserve the herbs' medicine. These should be stored in a dark place away from direct sunlight. I rarely go out and buy boxes of jars. My herb shelf is filled with recycled jelly and peanut butter jars, mason jars from antique stores and flea markets, and medicine bottles we dug up in the woods.
Pint jars are best, but if space is tight, 8-ounce jars work just fine. If you use new jars, wash them with saltwater first to purify them, and be sure they are completely dry before filling them. The jars also need to be labeled and dated with the day the herb was harvested. The shelf life of leafy and woody herbs is two years, while spices, such as cinnamon or cayenne, have a shelf life of five to ten years. Jars can also take up a lot of room quickly, so if you have lots of different herbs maybe try using plastic or cloth bags instead.
I also keep a basket in the kitchen to dispose of old flower heads, woody herb stems, spent matches, and blessed salt that I've used. This basket is usually emptied on the full moon beneath a tree or buried at a crossroads once it's full. Bury them. Don't throw these discarded bits out or burn them, as we see this as disrespectful—especially if those herbs are spent leftovers from medicine.
Keep your family's home remedies, superstitions, and recipes in a box or a book. There's no need to remember every word of a charm or every ingredient to a brew for colic: write it down and don't be afraid to turn to it for aid. I have five journals, which I keep together in my kitchen. Each one is filled with old remedies, cures, symptoms of folk illnesses, methods, charms, and so on. most of which can only be understood by me. Like prayers, there are no instructions. I simply use the notes to jog my memory, and then I just know how to work the rest.
Candles and oil lamps gave the only light at night back in the day. In the deep hollers of the mountains, the moon's light barely makes it down past the tree limbs. Likewise, candles and lamps guide the way for this spiritual work.
Candles were rubbed with lard, butter, or oil and rolled in sifted herbs or “loaded” by carving out a hole in the bottom, filling it with the herbs, and sealing it. Lamps were loaded by placing the herbs and things in the basin with the oil. Color symbolism didn't matter here as long as it got the job done. Folks used regular white candles for anything, even cursing, because even a plain white candle can kill you. Back in the day, candles were hand dipped, and I still make my own this way. If you buy yours, wash them in vinegar to cleanse them and put them up until needed. We'll cover candle and lamp work in the next chapter.