Celtic Tree Lore - Reed/Broom - Magical and Medicinal Uses

s a healing herb, Broom has been around for some time. It was well known to the ancients and can be found in early writings of Virgil (70-19 BC). In a passage from John Gerard’s Herbal of 1597 it states. “The decoction of the twigs and tops of broom doth cleanse and open the liver, milt, and kidnies”.

Henry VIII used to drink a water infusion made from the flowers of Reed/Broom. He believed it acted as a guard against his overindulgences. Reed/Broom is often recommended in herbal remedies for bladder and kidney afflictions. Broom juice in large doses can disturb the stomach and bowels and is therefore more often used with other diuretics, rather than used alone. A word of caution: regardless of what you may read, specialized advice should be sought out in the use of Reed/Broom. Experimentation is not an alternative to be considered when dealing with any herb that is considered toxic.

In regards to magical uses of Reed/Broom ritual wands are often made of it. Sweeping the ground with Reed/Broom will clear the area of any unwanted influences. Earlier last month I used my home made broom which sits next to my front door to sweep my house as I did my cleansing.

In older times, Reed/Broom was hung in the house to keep all negative energies out. An infusion was also sprinkled throughout the house when needed to help detour poltergeist activity. Reed/Broom is most often used to expand awareness; journeys to other realms, soul retrieval, rituals to bring harmony to ones life, protection of the home, and balancing ones energies.

Celtic Tree Lore - The Medical and Magical Uses of Ivy

vy is associate with the Goddess because it grows in a spiral, which is one of her symbols. In winter we follow the spiral of energy down and within, and in the spring we follow it back up to the light, therefore it is also a good symbol for ones journey through the Wheel of the year.

Women were known to carry ivy as a means to aid in fertility as well as bring one luck. They also carried it to ensure fidelity. This is where the custom of the bride carrying ivy came from. It is said if ivy grows near where you live it guards one against negativity and disaster. Wands used in nature or fertility rituals were often entwined with ivy.

Dreaming of ivy is said to foretell of a broken engagement. If ivy is growing on a tree in your dream, grief may be in your future. If ivy is growing on a house, you will have wealth. It ivy is growing on a friend’s house it means that they will have good health. And lastly if you dream of ivy as a potted plant, you will have happiness.

Medicinally there are few remedies to be found as most ivy is poisonous. Yet there are some that claim to remove sunburn it is recommended to smear the affected area with tender ivy twigs which have been boiled in butter. It has also been used for toothaches, as an astringent , and as an aid to bring on menstruation. It also calms the nerves.

In regards to poison ivy, although it is quite irritable to humans, it serves a useful purpose. The small berries found on poison ivy fees a number of birds and small animals. They also use the tangles which the ivy form as shelter and for building nests. The oil found in poison ivy does not affect most animals yet to humans it can cause an irritating rash. It is so potent that an amount the size of a pinhead could make 500 people miserable.

This oil is not a water based fluid and therefore does not evaporate and can linger for as long as a year. Because it is an oil if it is burned it will vaporize and to those who are sensitive to it, they can get the rash simply by the smoke which would come from the vapors.

Gifts from Mother - Nature that is...

It seems that as the weather has cooled somewhat, I am once again out in my garden as much as I can be. The recent rains have softened the earth up to a point where weeding once again is not as much of a chore as it is when the ground is parched and thirsty. This morning as I was weeding one of my many beds, I noticed large bulges underneath the cover that I had used earlier in the spring when I first started the garden. I thought that such a covering would be great as it would help tremendously with extra weeding. As I trimmed back the fabric I was amazed to find many of my cannas with shoots that had grown length ways as they were unable to pierce their way through my anti weed material. I guess it works…. Yet I am not sure if I will use it in the future. I could have far more glorious cannas to enjoy had I not been so afraid of the weeds that might sneak their way into my garden. Unfortunately I doubt that I will be able to enjoy any of the deformed tentacles that had grown in the dark; hopefully next season.

With Hurricane Hermine headed our way in the next couple days and promising to bring some much needed rainfall with her, I am eager to toss out some of my harvested seeds after her departure. The ground will be soft enough that I should only have to toss and gently walk over them. I do not do all of my planting in the fall yet last year I did some and was quite pleased with the turn out. Of course there will be my annual bulb planting which will occur later in October and November but for now I think I will toss a few seeds out this week and see what happens. I have plenty to spare that is for sure.

In the last couple years I have loved the multitude of flowers and herbs I have been able to grow simply because I have started to harvest my own seeds. They have also produced in abundance to the point that I have also been able to share my garden with others. At times it has been a bit of a hit and miss procedure. I liken it to the blind leading the blind but I have slowly learned a few tricks of the trade. The few wise gardening women I have been blessed with meeting along the way have helped lending me a few secrets and tricks of the trade. I have grown a few of my own little secrets also.

I have learned that some seeds are so small that if one does not put the flowers into a paper bag or other container as they dry that many of the seeds will be lost. After a couple days in a warm dry place the flower can be lightly shaken and most if not all of the seeds will fall into the container you have offered.

Seeds are often in plain sight. Take my sunflowers for instance. They are simply obtained by allowing the flower head to dry and then removing the seed. I usually cut and hang them upside down in a warm dry place. In fact this is the procedure I use with most of my plants. I have learned that if they are allowed to dry too long that removing them can be quite difficult and painful if gloves are not worn. I have also arranged the dried heads to hang from trees and use them as a source of bird food when I have had more than enough seeds to last me for the next season.

I have found the best method to store your little treasures is in a paper envelope. This is due mainly because they must be kept dry until they are planted. If the seeds are dried completely they can be kept in a glass jar, yet be sure that they are dry as any moisture will allow mold to start and thus the seeds will be ruined. Plastic bags or containers are also not a good idea as they also tend to trap moisture. The paper envelope helps to wick any moisture that may attempt to make its way in.

Lastly, some put their seeds into the refrigerator. This is not necessarily if you keep them in a cool dark place yet it will not hurt them either as long as you do not freeze them. It is thought that keeping the seeds in a refrigerator can up to double the life of one’s seeds. I do not worry about this much as I plant mine the next year anyway. Cultivating ones seeds from ones garden is not only economical it is also a way to perpetually expand ones garden; each year making it that much more beautiful and enjoyable. It is also a wonderful way to commune with nature and in some form give back to Mother Nature. I have found that working with the earth in such a way brings blessings of all forms.

Over the last few years I have always bought the beautiful mums in the fall and since I hate to waste anything each fall I plant any mums I have hoping that they will return to me the next year so that I can enjoy them again. I have never been able to get one to survive let alone bloom a second time. This year will be different. I bought a meager little purple mum last year towards the end of season and kept it in the house until finally after Samhain, I decided to once again attempt to replant it. This time I put it under my elm tree. This is the tree where we built the tree house for the grandkids as well as I have worked on clearing it out and working on a rock garden.

As spring came this year the sweet William were in abundance and in summer the Echinacea or coneflower was beautiful. As fall is setting to be upon us, I have noticed that the mum I planted last year is making its presence known. I had noticed that it did not wither and die and then small buds appeared all over it and the other day I realized that one of those buds had bloomed. I was ecstatic with joy. Most definitely the fae are helping me to tend these flowers and have blessed them greatly.

Celtic Tree Lore - Medical and Magical Uses of Vine

ictures of grapes were once drawn or painted on garden walls as a symbol to promote fertility in one’s garden. It was also thought that if one at grapes or raisens that this act would increase fertility.

Intoxication from wine was thought to be the possession of the self by the spirit of the vine. It is often used in spells for grounding, working with the faery realm and reaching deeper levels of consciousness.

Dreaming of blackberries or grapes on the vine are said to speak of abundance to come. If the vine has green leaves it means one will have success soon. If you are walking through a vineyard in your dreams it indicates coming prosperity.

When it comes to medical used of vine there are many. A common cure for burns was to dress the wound with nine bramble leaves which had been dipped in spring water. Each leaf had to be dipped three times to make it work. The Greeks used blackberries as a remedy for gout . They were also used to treat insect bites, sore throats and teeth issues. The bark and root of the blackberry is still used for their astringent properties.

In reference to grapes the medicinal uses are even more. Grape juice is said to have restorative powers that aid well in cases of exhaustion and anemia. The cuttings of the grape vine in spring can be boiled with sugar into a syrup and then taken. This syrup is good for pregnant women and their longings.

The grape is also a good source of laxative and diuretic. Fasting using grape juice and grapes has been suggested by naturopathes to help with chronic diseases.

Celtic Tree Lore - The Magical and Medicinal Uses of Oak

s one would expect, most parts of the Oak tree can be used in some way for medicinal uses. Some examples of such remedies are as follows: Placing bruised Oak leaves externally to wounds help to reduce and ease inflammation. In older times, the thin skin from the acorn was used to cover open cuts and/or wounds. The acorn could also be ground to a powdered substance and mixed with wine and taken as a diuretic.

The bark of the Oak is the part most used when creating medicinal treatments. The bark is best collected in April or May from a young Oak. Lay the bark in the sun to dry it naturally before chopping it. Add 1 oz of bark per quart of water and boil it down til it I measures approximately one pint. One can use this mixture as a gargle for sore throats or applied to bleeding gums. It can also be applied as a hot compress for inflamed glands or in ones hot bath for frostbite. Ground down to a fine powder, the bark of the Oak can be used as a medicinal snuff that when inhaled can cease nosebleeds. A pinch of the powdered Oak bark mixed with honey and taken in the morning is said to aid in the discomfort of menstrual problems.

When it comes to the magical attributes of the oak tree, the number of uses are likewise many. One of the major qualities of the Oak is protection. Examples: Carrying a small piece of an Oak with you said to bring you a sense of security and/or luck as well as protect you from harm. Two Oak twigs tied together with a red thread to form an equal cross is considered a talisman that one can wear or hang in the home to give protection, security and also strength. Acorns placed on the window ledge will guard a home from lightning strikes. Catch a falling Oak leaf and it is said to bring you luck and prosperity and also keep you from catching a cold during the coming winter. In the old days young women would place 2 acorns in a bowl of water to find out if she had found true love. If they moved together it was yes if they drifted apart it was a no. Oak leaves burned in the home helps to clear way negative energies.

Druids used the oak tree for divination purposes and also in planning the next season’s farming. An old proverb relating to this explains:

If the Oak’s before the Ash,
Then you’ll only get a splash;
If the Ash before the Oak,
They you might expect a soak.

In some tales the wand which Merlin carried was made of the top most branch of an Oak tree.

Powers and Attributes given to the Oak are ancestry, fertility, healing, health, justice, longevity, loyalty, luck, prosperity, protection, self confidence, strength, subtlety, success, wisdom, and wit.

Celtic Tree Lore - The Magical Attributes of the Hawthorne

any magical attributes are connected with the Hawthorne tree. Its connection and uses during Beltane were discussed earlier in regards to the Maypole as well as its connection with the faery folk. Medicinally parts of the Hawthorne can be used to treat such ailments as hypertension and heart problems. Such medicine is derived from the leaves and fruit of the tree. May blossom wine can also be created by the blossoms of the tree. This was more than likely a popular concoction during Beltane as the blossoms of the Hawthorne are said to be highly erotic to the male gender. 

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In regards to the performance of magic, it is said that a wand made from the wood of a Hawthorne will hold great power. The Hawthorne is said to be the tree from which magical powers enter the manifest world from beyond lending to the belief that such a wand would hold much power.  Such a wand is used for strengthening ones own magical powers as well as for protection and cleansing.

The Hawthorne is also considered a guardian which stands between the realms. It holds connection with the wee folk and is said to be a means of entry into the faery realm. Sprigs from a Hawthorn tree were often given to children as they slept as a means of protection. It was used as the wood for funeral pyres also. It was thought that as the wood burned the souls would escape through the thorns making their way to heaven. Likewise it is often used in spells regarding communication with those who have passed.

 

The Hawthorne is said to hold the power and attributes of cleansing, defensive protection, family, fertility, happiness, marriage, prosperity, purity, reconciliation, and wisdom. Thus it can be used in any spell with such holds such a theme. Its white or pink flowers which appear May through June as well as the red fruit which appears in Autumn can all be used. Other names for the Hawthorne are May, Maybush, Quickthorn, Whitethorn, or Haw bush.

The Beauty of Fungus

To say the word Fungus... one immediately goes to thinking of nasty... gross... things that you do not want to be touching.. Yet to me, when I hear this word I immediatly think of mushrooms, toadstools, and such.  This time of year they pop out all over our yards..... Fairy rings can be seen popping up before the time of the full moon in hopes that the wee folk will come and play amongst them. 

At my blog The Picture As Janie Sees It I often post my photography I have take or the nature that surrounds me.  This year I was lucky to have plenty.  Fungus or Shrooms as I like to call them were in abundance.  I am amazed at how they can not be seen at one moment then you turn around and there they are.  For any of you who have ever hunted Morels you know exactly what I am talking about.  For those of you who haven't you are missing a treat.  Morels are a safe wild mushroom that grows in abundance in wooded areas in early spring.  The perfect time to go hunting.... when a oak leaf is the size of a squirrels ear.  Or in early April. 

Although I strongly suggest that if you do not know what you are doing.... don't... Many Shrooms are poisonous and without proper identification can be a severe health hazard.  Yet still even if you can not partake of this delicacy that nature has, you can still marvel at its beauty and its manner of sneaking up on us when we least expect them.  Next time you see a shroom peeking its head out of the grass waiting for that perfect moment to spring itself into existance.  Allow it the priviledge of doing just that.  And pay attention to when it finally does emerge.  you may be surprised by the beauty you discover in a gross little thing we call "fungus".

Sage - Nature's cleanser

Last summer, while trolling the garden center at the nearby Home Depot, I came across a beautiful plant sitting off in the corner all alone.   A wonderful sage bush.  I quickly scooped it up with visions of exactly where I would plant it.  When it came time to check out, the girl not being able to find a price on the large plant sold it to me at the price of culled wood, which was a meager $4.25.  I had truly found a bargain.  I planted the bush on the dike of the pond, where I could see it easily from the back porch.

Sage or salvia officinalis as it is officially named is a common herb. Besides its abundant use in culinary methods, it is also used frequetly in cleansing rites.  When bound tightly together and dried sage smudge sticks are excellent for such purposes.  Remember that sage burns very hot.  After lighting the sage, let it flame then blow it out as it is the smoke which you want.  Pass the smoke then over the area which you wish to cleanse.  It is an excellent way to rid negative energies that may be liingering. 

Sage has also been known to aid in healing.  Many have found relief from sinus problems and even migraines through the use of Sage Tea or the inhaling of the smoke.  This is due mainly to the antibiotic agents that have been found in sage. 

I was new at growing sage, yet this plant took little if any effort and soon grew into a beautiful bush covered with wonderful purple flowers.  As fall came I decided to harvest some of the stalks for sage bundles.  It granted me a total of twelve bundles, each an average of 8-10 inches long. It brought me great joy to have my own home grown sage bundles available.   It has returned once again this summer.  Although it is not as magnificent as last summer, mainly due to over pruning by myself, yet it still is just as beautiful.  It has been a faithful teacher for me in the early lessons of my herbalism.  I look forward to many more years as its pupil. 

Recipe of the Week: The Witch Bottle

The witch bottle is an old spell of protection. The bottle when created, becomes a trap for any forces that may come ones way wishing them harm. From spirits, to thought forms, to simply negative energies. It can be a powerful tool in shielding yourself from the unseen. There are many forms of the witch bottle. These variations range from protection, to blessings, to curses. However in today's use, most times we see the witch bottle as a form of protection for the maker of the bottle.

I remember my first witch bottle. Not knowing much I stumbled over various recipes and versions of execution. Like any magic, a personalization can bring more power and energy than any other ingredient. I came to the conclusion that a combination personally created would serve the best purpose. It has served me well over the years.

A small jar is needed. This can be an elaborate bottle to a simple cleaned out jelly jar. The ingredients are the energy which lends the strength to the magic. Items that are of yourself such as your hair, clipping from your nails, urine (esp. at the time of a woman's menstrual cycle) and semen are all part of who you are and will represent yourself.

Next, items such as small rusty nails, pins and/or needles, broken glass, razor blades, rose thorns, red wine, sea salt, rosemary, sage, basil, mistletoe, garlic, yarrow, and rue can be gathered to be included in the ingredients. Do not feel that all these items are needed. Use what you feel led to use, including others not listed if so inspired. Keeping in mind that the items included will represent a shield that is to ward off any negativity that may come your way.

Combine all the ingredients chosen into the jar. Tightly secure the lid, wrapping with red thread or string. Seal the lid and string then with black wax. The bottle is then to be buried in the far corner of your property. There are several chants that can be said during this rite. I penned my own as I wished to make it as personal as possible.

The Witch bottle is said to destroy negativity and evil. The pins,needles, razor blades, etc are said to impale evil, the urine and or red wine drown evil, and the rosemary and other herbs send it away from your property.

I prepared and buried my witches bottle approximately 5 years ago under a small oak that I was nursing into growth. The oak has grown since then, yet still it watches over the spot. Lavender and Rosemary also accompany the area. It has become a special area for me.

Blessings
Raelin

Here Comes the Sun

There is nothing like a summer shower to break the heat. We have been fortunate enough to have approximately 3 weeks of cooler weather with a nice rain thrown in here and there. Once again our yard is green and lush like it was at the beginning of spring. Birds are more abundant and seem to be more active. New flowers have bloomed and flourished also since the beginning of our cooler wet spell. Yet it seems that summer is not quite finished with us yet.

Although July gave us a nice break from the heat and reminded us of the wonderfulness of fall, August came in and seems to be telling us that summer is not over just yet. The 100 degree plus temperatures are said to be heading back our way this week. The added heat has already given a nice boost to the grass and mowing is going to be a chore that will need to be tended with before the week is over.

The heat has also once again urged the sunflowers to once again grow and bloom their big beautiful yellow flowers. Lifting their faces towards the sun at the start of day and turning them slowly as if to follow it throughout the day to bask in all its warmth and sunshine. Being an avid bird lover, sunflower seeds are something that are abundant at our home. Throughout the yard small seedlings can be found. Not just underneath the obvious bird feeders yet also throughout the yard from where the birds have dropped them, the seeds seem to be everywhere. Many of these seedlings are mowed over or plucked from their place in the ground. Yet this year many have been allowed to grow and bloom.

Thanks to my granddaughter, who shared her left over pumpkin seeds with me a couple years back, I have learned the joy of cultivating the seeds of many plants and using them the next year around. Thus, the large yellow flowers that eventually drop their faces from the sun and lean over as if in exhaustion due to the weight of the seeds that have grown to cover their face, are then cut and dried. When fully dried the seeds are then extracted and kept until the next year to once again start the cycle over.

Granted many of my sunflowers are not grown in this manner yet from the seeds that have dropped from the birds, yet there are a few that still are planted from the seeds that have been recycled from the years past. This is still a project in the early stages. With flowers only being on a 2nd or 3rd generation. Yet I look forward to the years when I can enjoy the flowers that have been grown from seeds that have been taken from a plant, that can claim the first seeds as a long distant relative.


Much like an aloe vera plant given to me, which came from a plant that is over 30 years old. Many a new growth has been taken from her and many have enjoyed her remedies. Imagine 30 years. Silly maybe, yet to pass something, even a plant through time excites me.

Blessings
Raelin

My Secret Garden

There is that place for all of us where we go and escape when the stress of everyday life seems to become too much. It is a place that helps us to drift away and find the solace that we so desperately need at that moment. For some it is a good book that takes them away to some other world other than their own. Some lose themselves by closing their eyes and allowing their ears to do the traveling while their favorite music plays softly for some and loudly for others. Each one of us feels that our secret place is the best. And for each individual this fact is true. As we each have our perfect fit.

For myself, I feel that I am truly blessed. On an early morning, just as the sun begins to peek over the horizon, or at the end of a busy day, I can go to my special place and it always seems that all the worries just pass and life is just pleasant. I am speaking of my yard, yet to me it is my secret garden. From the moment we laid eyes on our property I knew that it was special and that it would hold a dear place in my heart.

It is a large yard of about 3 acres with a small pond just off to the side. Willow trees circle the pond while large and small bullfrogs line its bank. A variety of birds have called it home and frequent the bird feeders that are scattered through out. Our many cats and kittens can be seen running and playing in the coolness of the morning or lounging in the heat of the afternoon. The sounds are simply that of peace. Although we have a few neighbors near, we are off the beaten track of the noisiness of a city or the road of a busy highway.

As the years have passed we have worked hard on tending it. Many of the willows that circled the pond initially were damaged in an earlier ice storm. However this clearing made room for other things. Smaller flowering shrubs and scads of wildflowers now grow in their place. A tree house has been built in the large elm and a small wild flower bed is tended beneath her. The squirrels frequent the woodpile nearby as well as the feeder that is consistently filled with their favorite morsels. Large fairy rings fill the yard near the time of the full moon and gifts left under the small oak, which I tended from a sapling, are welcomed by the bunnies that also enjoy the lavender and rosemary that grow along side. We have had an abundance of wild animals visit throughout our time here. Deer, geese, turkey, roadrunners, coyotes, turtles, armadillos, to just name a few lend their presence on occasion. It is a refuge. Not only for us yet for anyone or anything that comes to visit.

It will change even more as time passes and become even dearer to my heart. For it is my place of peace. Where I know I can go and all my troubles for that time will be gone, or at least made lighter. It is a place where my head is cleared and my thoughts once again run freely and uncluttered. Yes, I do love nature and all her glory. For she is where we all first came from. Our sweet dear mother earth. How in her simplicity she shows us her wonder. And just like a mothers soft words, her beauty calms us once again.

Blessings Raelin

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