7

MAGIC OF THE DRAGON AND THE HAG

Dracaena^*11 and Mullein

 

Plants evoke wonder, not only because of their beauty and ingenious ways of survival, but because they offer humans such a multitude of uses. This wonder has led certain plants to be cherished as sacred or magical, and their uses have been passed down in stories and rituals for generations.

DRAGON’S BLOOD—A MAGICAL AID

Dracaena is one of the oldest living trees on Earth and was a sacred tree of the Guanches of Tenerife in the Canaries, who once used it to embalm dead bodies. Dracaena trees have a distinctive shape: a large base, then a pulled-together middle. In the upper reaches of the tree the branches spread out again to form an umbrella-shaped top. The plant is struggling in its native habitat and is an endangered species.

Dragon’s Blood is the resin of the tree Dracaena draco, which was once reputed to contain the blood of elephants and dragons. Dracaena resin is used as medicine, varnish, incense, and a dye, and in alchemy and magic. According to Maude Grieve’s book, A Modern Herbal, the resin was once used to treat syphilis. Dragon’s Blood has also been used for internal injuries such as trauma, postpartum bleeding, and menstrual problems. In magic, Dragon’s Blood is said to quicken spells and add potency to any working. As incense, Dragon’s Blood is said to clear negativity. A woman may burn it while sitting near an open window at night to draw back a straying lover. Place the herb near the bed to cure impotence in a man. The powdered resin may be strewn under carpets, in entranceways, on windowsills, and anywhere you want protection from ill wishes or negative energies.

Caution: Do not do sprinkle the resin in living spaces if there are infants or pets that might be harmed by its strength. Note that adulterants, unrelated plants, and even synthetic substitutes—any of which may be poisonous—are commonly sold as “Dragon’s Blood.”

Dragon’s Blood belongs to Mars and is of the Fire element. It is sacred to the Hindu god Shiva and appropriate to use in a ritual to honor him.

The ancient Romans, Greeks, and Arabs used Dracaena cinnabari (Cinnabar) as a dye and in paints, as a remedy for lung and gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, and skin problems such as eczema, and for wound healing.

Dracaena terminalis is the variety used in China to make red lacquer. The roots can be made into a sugary syrup and also an intoxicating drink. This variety has been used to treat fevers and diarrhea.

Croton draco is the Mexican variety (Sangre del Drago) that has been used as a wound herb.

Make Dragon’s Blood Ink^*12

You can use Dragon’s Blood ink to write in your own Book of Shadows (a secret book wherein you record all the little practices and inspirations that have helped you achieve your magical ideals). The ink is also used in fire spells, where you write your wish on a piece of paper or a light-colored tree bark, such as birch, and give it to the fire.

 

1 part powdered resin from true Dracaena draco

1 part gum arabic

13 parts alcohol

Mix the resin with the gum arabic, then very slowly blend in the alcohol, until everything is fully dissolved. Filter through cheesecloth and bottle. For best results, do this under the waxing moon.

In African-American hoodoo and New Orleans voodoo, the herb is used to make a trick bag, gri-gri, wanga, nation sack, mojo hand, or root bag to attract luck, money, or love.

Making a Mojo Bag^*13

To make the bag use an appropriate color, such as red flannel for love mojo, green flannel for money mojo, white flannel for a baby blessing, light blue flannel for a home blessing or for spiritual peace, or orange to incite change. Mojo bags may also be made of leather or cotton cloth.

The bag should contain at least three symbols of your need, such as a petition paper with your wish written upon it (write it in Dragon’s Blood ink for greatest effect), a seal or sigil (best drawn with Dragon’s Blood ink), coins, crystals, stones, herbs, and roots. The total number of ingredients should equal an odd number: 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, or 13. Add Dragon’s Blood resin to strengthen your bag.

After it is made, you must “fix” your bag. Smoke it with incense or in the smoke of a candle, or breathe on it to bring it to life. Make a petition to your patron god or goddess for aid, then tie, wrap, or sew the bag shut. This step is called “tying the mojo,” and most practitioners use a miller’s knot for this purpose.

Now “feed” your bag by sprinkling it with alcohol such as whisky, Florida water, or perfume (use your own bodily fluid for a sex magic bag). A tiny dab will do. You must keep feeding your bag periodically to keep it alive.

The mojo bag is worn hidden from sight. It may also be hidden somewhere in the house. Hiding is important because if someone else touches the bag, that could kill its spirit.

MULLEIN, HAG’S TAPERS

Mullein (Verbascum spp.) is an invaluable plant with many healing properties. When I first moved into the house I live in, there was no Mullein in the yard, so I went outside and called it in, singing of my need. Within a year it started to appear. However, Mullein refuses to grow where I scatter the seeds. It prefers to pop up in the most unpredictable places, usually from cracks in the cement patio.

Mullein has many other names: Aaron’s Rod, Blanket-leaf, Candlewick, Feltwort, Jacob’s Staff, Old Man’s Flannel, Shepherd’s Club, Velvet Dock, Velvet Plant, Punchón, Gordolobo, Wild Ice Leaf, Our Lady’s Flannel, Hedge Taper, Torches, Candelaria, and Quaker’s Rouge. Many of these names refer to the use of Mullein as a torch or a wound herb. Quaker’s Rouge refers to the custom of young ladies rubbing their faces with the slightly irritating leaves to make their cheeks glow.

A few centuries ago, before there were flashlights, our ancestors carried torches or lanterns. Those who lived in country areas also made use of Mullein, a common wayside plant, to light their way on dark nights. I like to imagine the old women of the village winding down a dark country road, maybe on their way to a witches’ coven, leaning on their walking sticks and trying hard not to stumble on roots and stones. Being poor, they are dressed in the simplest black, and they carry hag’s tapers to light their way.

Making Hag’s Tapers

To make hag’s tapers you must seek out old mullein stalks. The plant likes to grow in disturbed ground, so they will often be found near roadways and train tracks. Cut the tall stalk at the base and dry it upside down in an old paper bag^.*14

Once the stalks are dry, soak the heads in a mixture that is half hot melted wax and half hot oil, melted lard, or suet (I like to save old beeswax candles and melt them down for this purpose). Lift the heads out of the oil and wax mixture and allow them to dry slightly, then dip again. Repeat a few times.

When the flower heads are fully waxed and dry, you can light the tip of your hag’s taper, and use it as a torch in a religious procession or any time you want to take a walk in the dark. Through experimentation I have found that the tapers yield five minutes of light per inch of flower head burned.

Mullein and Magic

The wise old women that I referred to would no doubt have been aware of Mullein’s magical gifts. With its bright yellow flowers and torch-making properties, Mullein is said to drive away evil spirits and to protect a person from ill-intentioned sorcery. The root is an aid in grounding a person and can be carried on your person or worn as a charm, or the tincture can be rubbed onto your body.

According to Frazer in The Golden Bough, Mullein was once passed through the Midsummer fire to make a charm to protect the herds. The powdered leaf can be used as a substitute for graveyard dust, according to ancient grimoires.

Mullein for Coughs and Other Lung Conditions

Think of Mullein leaf when there is a tight cough, especially if there is stubborn “stuck phlegm” that is hard to budge. A tea made from Mullein leaf alone or combined with soothing Marshmallow root (Althaea officinalis) or Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) is a great expectorant, especially if there is dry cough and congestion.

To make the tea: Steep one teaspoon of leaf in one cup freshly boiled water for about half an hour. Take a quarter cup at a time, every few hours, up to two cups a day.

Caution: Some people may be sensitive to the hairs on Mullein leaves. Filter the tea through an organic coffee filter to prevent further irritation of a sore throat.

Mullein leaf can be combined with Elderberry (Sambucus nigra, S. canadensis) in tinctures as a lung tonic to help with bronchitis, coughs, and other respiratory conditions.

Dry asthma and chronic lung conditions may be helped by the leaf tea and also by inhaling the smoke. Mullein leaf is a good emergency medicine for those having a severe asthma attack. Set the dried leaves on a hot plate and inhale the smoke to calm respiratory spasms.

Mullein Flower Oil for Ear Infections^*15

An oil made from mullein flowers is excellent for bacterial infections in the ear, “swimmer’s ear,” and so on. The flower oil can also be used to treat ear mites in animals and to help soften accumulations of earwax in humans.

Mullein flowers tend to open individually along the stalk, so you will need to revisit your plant daily and gather the blossoms as they pop open.

Fill a brown or blue glass jar with the flowers and just barely cover with good-quality oil (I like cold-pressed olive oil). Screw the lid on the jar tightly and leave it outside in the hot sun for twenty-one days. The flowers will rot inside the jar, forming their own alcohol as a preservative.

After twenty-one days or so, strain the contents of the jar through cheesecloth, and bottle the oil.

To apply the oil: Warm slightly in a pan or by holding a tablespoonful over a candle flame for a few seconds, then use a dropper to put the oil into the ear and pack with cotton. Leave in overnight. Try adding a few drops of garlic oil for severe infections.

Caution: If the eardrum is ruptured, do not place the oil into the ear!

Mullein for Swollen Lymph Glands

Dry Mullein leaves can be simmered slightly in hot water until soft, cooled, and then applied to a swollen lymph gland, or the fresh leaves can be bruised slightly and laid on the area. Swollen glands in the throat will be helped if Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea, E. angustifolia) is taken internally at the same time.

A poultice of Mullein combined with one-quarter part Lobelia (Lobelia inflata) is very helpful for swollen glands. Make a fomentation by steeping Mullein leaves alone or with a little Lobelia, then soak a cloth in the tea. Fill the soaked cloth with the plant matter, fold, and apply to a swollen gland.

Drink the tea or take the tincture of the root or flower concurrently for greatest effect.

Caution: Some people may experience contact dermatitis from handling Mullein leaves.

Mullein for Healing and Soothing Pain in Muscles and Bones

My teacher, William LeSassier, taught me to use Mullein for sore muscles and traumatic injury where there is pain and swelling, such as whiplash. He would combine Mullein root, flower, or leaf with Chamomile (Matricaria recutita, Chamaemelum nobile) leaves and flowers and Sage (Salvia officinalis) to make a poultice. Slipped disks, old fractures that are still painful, pain in the hips, small broken bones in the hands and feet, problems with spine alignment, arthritic pain, sprains, and joint pains can all also be helped by a Mullein poultice. Take a few drops of the root tincture concurrently, several times a day.

Mullein Poultice

If you’re using fresh herbs, just put them in the blender with a little water and grind them up coarsely. If you’re using dried herbs pour a little boiled water over them to soften them.

When the leaves are soft enough, pour them into a bowl and add a handful of powdered slippery elm bark (Ulmus fulva, U. rubra). (If you don’t have slippery elm on hand use spelt or buckwheat flour.). Then mix with your fingers until you have a “pie dough” consistency.

Form into a ball and roll onto a clean cloth with a rolling pin (if you don’t have a rolling pin use a glass bottle).

Apply to the affected area for one hour, then discard the poultice.

The flowers can be taken as tea or tincture for recent injuries. Old chronic injuries, resulting in sharp pains in the joints, neck, or spine, arthritis pain, sciatica, nerve damage, and broken bones may benefit from the root tincture taken internally (about fifteen drops in water every few hours).

Herbalist David Winston has used Mullein for facial nerve pain, combined with nervines such as Saint-John’s-Wort (Hypericum perforatum) and Jamaican Dogwood (Piscidia piscipula).

Mullein and Your Skin

Steep the leaves in vinegar and hot water, then cool and apply to skin inflammations and hemorrhoids.

Mullein and Your Bladder

Mullein is mildly astringent and can reduce inflammation in the bladder. Think of it in cases of recurring bladder infections, cystitis, or benign prostatic hypertrophy. The root may help tone the bladder when there is weakness such as bedwetting, adult incontinence, or prostate inflammation (provided the condition is not related to sexual abuse or emotional trauma). Take half a teaspoon of the tincture in a quarter cup of water or a quarter cup of the root tea before bed.