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Banishing
Hellebore
Mon, 01/07/2008 - 19:14 — DawnBlackBotanical Name:
Helleborus spp.
Zones:
varied
Other Names:
Christe Herbe, Christmas Rose, Melampode, Black Hellebore
Native to much of Europe. Helebores are members of the family Ranunculaceae, which is often confused with members of the Rosacea family.
Propagation:
Hellebore will grow in any well-drained garden soil and is extremely shade tolerant. It is great for underplantings around shrubs and troublesome shady spots in the garden. Seedlings can be directly sowed or started indoors and transplanted no later than their second year. Sometimes it takes a few years for flowers to appear. Be patient and your Hellebore will bloom by its third year.
Divide as necessary in Mid to late summer once the root stock is big enough to be cut.
Hellebore is extremely poisonous. It is best to wear gloves when working with it to avoid absorption through the skin.
History and Folklore:
Ancient herbals distinguish between Black Hellebore and White Hellebore. White Hellebore has been identified by modern scholars as a plant now known as False Hellebore. Black Hellebore, on the other hand has been identified as Helleborus officianalis, a native of Greece and Asia Minor.
The genus name, Helleborus comes from the Greek elein, meaning "to injur" and bora, meaning "food" alluding to the plant's poisonous nature.
Melampodium, an old name for Hellebore, refers to the ancient physician Melampus who used Hellebore to cure the daughters of the king of Argos of the madness of the maenads. Where they drunk? Did the herb make them vomit themselves sober?
Some have speculated the Alexander the Great died of Hellebore poisoning while being treated for an illness.
In Christian lore, the first Hellebore grew from the spot where a little girl's tear dropped onto the snow because she had no gift for the Christ child.
According to some sources, Hellebore was an ingredient in the legendary "flying ointmenti".
Harvesting & Storage:
Wear gloves while harvesting. Harvest hellebore just after it blooms, on a moonless night, if you want to get fancy. Hang to dry and store in a sealed container away from moisture and light.
Household Use:
Hellebore will brighten up the shady corners of your garden and perhaps discourage critters from raiding it.
Magical Attributes:
Hellebore is associated with Mars and Saturn and corresponds to the element water.
It is used in magic for healing of mental/emotional afflictions and for banishing and exorcisms. It has been used also for increasing intelligence and for protection and invisibility spells. Apparently the plant was dried and powdered and scattered around the person to be made invisible. Ancient magicians also used hellebore to change the nature of other plants, to make their fruits have various unpleasant and uhealthy properties by either grafting the plants together or using hellebore as fertilizer.
This is a banefuli herb which should never be ingested and you should wear gloves when handling it.
Healing Attributes:
Hellebore was traditionally used as a cure for poisoning of livestock and was considered by the ancient Greeks to be a cure for insanity. It was also used as a powerful purgative. Its use is not advised by anyone today.
Culinary Use:
None. This is a poisonous herb.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Although Hellebore is extremely poisonous, it is also extremely unpleasant to put into one's mouth. Thus, it's not as dangerous as it could be. Animals and children who may put it in their mouth will likely spit it right back out. However, handling it extensively is not advised either because toxins may absorb through the skin.
For magical purposes, roses can be substituted for hellebore.
Bay Laurel
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 21:03 — DawnBlackBotanical Name:
Laurus nobilis
Zones:
Southern
Bay is an evergreen shrub (often referred to as a small tree) native to Asia Minor and areas around the Mediterranean.
Propagation:
Bay laurel requires mild climates and will only grow well outside year round in zones 8-10. It does make an attractive container plant, however, and doesn't get too big. Folklore says that growing bay laurel as a houseplant will protect your home from lightening strikes and disease. It must have 4 hours of direct sunlight a day and be kept relatively cool. The soil should be rich and well-drained and allowed to dry out between watering, but should receive a little extra water in the springtime. Bugs don't seem to bother this plant too much. It makes an excellent hedge and responds well to pruning.
The plant can be propagated easily from cuttings.
History and Folklore:
The world laurel comes from the Celtic lawr, meaning "verdant" and nobilis from the latin meaning "noble" or of high rank.
The Greek word for Bay is dhafni, after the nymph Daphne who was changed into a bay laurel tree by Gaea (or her father Peneus, or herself, depending on who's telling the story) to protect her from the unwanted advances of Apollo. The tree is sacred to Apollo and it is said that the Oracle at Delphi chewed the leaves and inhaled the smoke when seeking visions. It is also associated with honor and glory and kings, heroes, triumphant athletes, poets and other great men and women were crowned with it to signify their greatness in both ancient Greece and Rome. Garlands of bay laurel were traditionally bestowed upon the winners of the Pythian games in Greece and later the Olympic games (prior to the change, olive leaves were used).
Today, grand prix winners are given wreathes of laurel. The world laureate as in poet laureate and baccalaureate (lit "laurel berry") are additional reminders of the high status of this tree.
Laurel wreaths were worn for their protective properties. They were believed to protect against the anger of sky Gods and the Emperor Tiberius always wore laurel during thunderstorms to prevent his being struck by lightening. Doctors also wore laurel as it was considered helpful in curing nearly everything.
Harvesting & Storage:
Harvest the leaves as needed. This is one herb that's better dried than fresh, as the fresh leaves are much more bitter. They may be pressed to dry, like you would press flowers. Properly dried leaves are bright olive green. Store them in darkness in an airtight container. Throw them out after two years, or when they turn brown, whichever comes first.
Household Use:
Bay leaf is very aromatic and holds it shape and fragrance well when dried making it a nice addition to many potpourris, wreaths and other herbal crafts. It blends well in aromatherapy combinations with bergamot, cederwood, lemon, rosemary, and patchouli.
It can also be added to sachets to keep moths out of your closets. A bay leaf dropped in a bag of flour may also help keep bugs out of that.
It is also a useful addition to shampoos and is recommended for hair loss, dandruff and greasy hair.
Magical Attributes:
Laurel is sacred to Apollo and should decorate any altar to him. Its spicy fragrance, and association with the sun makes it appropriate for any festival of the sun. Bay laurel is also associated with Aesclepius, Ceres, Zeus, Fides, Hermes and Cerridwen. It is considered masculine, and is ruled by Leo, the Sun and the element of Fire.
Bay leaves can be used to sprinkle water during any rituali, a branch of many leaves may be used in a group situation. Dip the branch in the water and wave it toward the group, spraying them with water three times.
Bay leaves may be added to any spelli or potion designed to enhance psychic ability and is a great addition to a psychic dream pillow.
Laurel wreaths may be worn by healers during healing ceremonies and while treating the sick in order to increase the positive healing energy and protect against negative energy that may be hanging around the sick room. Bay leaf can also be burned in the sick room after the illness has passed to purify it and drive out any residual sickness vibes.
It is exceptionally useful as a smudge during banishing and exorcism rites, especially those involving poltergeists. Mixed with sandlewood, it is useful for breaking curses.
When you finally get rid of that roommate, ex-spouse or family member who you thought would never move, smudge the house with bay to ensure they won't return. Even if you aren't really happy about them going, if you know it's best for everyone, cleanse the home of their presence for closure.
Bay laurel may be carried to protect against any number of misfortunes and to bring luck in athletic competitions.
To ensure that you will see your lover again, and neither of you will be tempted to infidelity, go together to a bay laurel tree and pluck a leaf, break it in half and each keep one half.
Write a wish on a dried bay leaf and then burn it and your wish will come true.
Healing Attributes:
Bay laurel has verified bactericidal and fungicidal properties.
The essential oil can be added to massage oils for arthritis and muscle aches and pains. It can also be added to salves for bruises, itching and other mild skin irritations.
A poultice of the leaves and berries, simmered till soft, can be placed on the chest to relieve head and chest colds.
A tea made of the leaves and/or berries aids in digestion, helps to rid the body of impurities and makes a good general health tonic. It is particularly helpful to women who are having trouble urinating after childbirth. Pregnant women, however, should not use bay laurel beyond the little bit we might use in cooking.
Teai can also be used to calm nerves.
Adding bay laurel to your bath tea aids with vaginal infections, perineal healing after childbirth and urinary tract infections.
Never never ever use the essential oil internally.
Culinary Use:
Bay leaf is a popular culinary herb. It is slightly bitter and strongly aromatic. It shouldn't be eaten whole, however, as the leaf has sharp edges that can cut your mouth. Instead, add it to soups, stews, roasts, sauces and other dishes that simmer for awhile and remove it just before serving or add to a bouquet garni. This allows the flavor to infuse into to the dish. For a stronger flavor, the leaf can be crushed and added to dishes. It also makes a good pickling spice.
Laurel berries have a robust flavor all their own and can be used to flavor meats and sauces.
While most herbs should be added at the end of cooking for the best effect, bay imparts the best flavor when simmered for a long time. The leave should be removed before serving.
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
There are many plants that are called laurel or bay that are not. The California bay tree Umbellularia californica is not the same plant, but has a similar flavor and can be used just like common bay laurel in many cases. It is also called California laurel, Oregon myrtle or pepperwood. Indian bay leaf Cinnamomum tejpata looks quite similar, but tastes more like cinnamon. West Indian Bay leaf is allspice.
Some similarly named plants are poisonous and should not be used under any circumstances. Mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia, is one of these.
Always check the botanical name of any plant you use and never use one you aren't absolutely sure isn't exactly what you want.
Nicotiana
Sat, 01/05/2008 - 14:24 — kitchenwitchBotanical Name:
Nicotiana spp
Zones:
tropical
Other Names:
Tobacco
Nicotiana is better known as tobacco. An excellent choice for a moon garden, Nicotiana’s blooms are in their finest glory in the evening with a strange luminescence and a pleasing scent.
Propagation:
Alli of these plants are poisonous so plant them where children and pets will not have easy access to them!
Scatter the seeds after the first frost, but don’t cover them as light helps germination. Plant 12-18 inches apart. Likes nitrogen fertilizer. All species can be grown in pots indoors.
Hornworms enjoy eating tobacco species and may or may not be a problem. But they turn into really neat moths, so sharing is good.
N. alata Average sun, soil and watering is all it needs and it is reasonably shade tolerant. It is an annual, in temperate areas, but it will reseed. Flowers in the summer. Water only during dry spells.
N. sylvestris It needs to be protected from winds. An annual, may reseed in mild areas. Otherwise, collect the seeds in the fall. Flowers in the summer. Tolerates a bit of shade. Water only during dry spells.
N. tobacum can be grown only where temperatures do not fall below freezing. Prefers well-drained, rich soil and lots of sun. May take several weeks to germinate. If you are planning to smoke it, stop fertilizing a month before harvest so as not to taint the flavor. Biannual.
N. rustica grow like N. tabacum. Requires 14 hours of daylight to flower!
Apricots and tobacco don't like each other, so it's best to plant them separately.
History and Folklore:
N. alata
Native to Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay and Argentina, N. alata was introduced to North American and European gardens in the 1800s. Jean Nicot, from whom the genus name Nicotiana was derived, first introduced flowering tobacco to the French court.
Nicotiana tobacum and N. rustica
Christopher Columbus’s sailors were amazed when they discovered the Natives’ habit of smoking tobacco. The idea of ingesting smoke for pleasure was a foreign one to European culture and the Natives were mockingly referred to as chimneys.
According to legend, tobacco was first presented to Queen Elizabeth I by Sir Walter Raleigh after his famous adventures, and she bet him he could not tell how much smoke was in a pound of tobacco. He weighed the tobacco and then the ashes after smoking and declared that the difference in those weights was the answer. The Queen paid up saying that although she’d heard of many who had turned gold into smoke, he was the first she knew of who had turned smoke into gold. In 1618, Sir Walter became the first man to have a last smoke before his execution.
Other sources say that Sir John Hopkins, or a member of his crew, may have been the first to introduce it to European culture in the 1560s.
Thanks to John Rolfe, husband of Pocahontas, tobacco was soon the mainstay of the Virginia colony’s economy. Rolfe is also credited with breeding stronger, sweeter tobacco than the original variety used ceremonially by the Natives.
The Arab word tabaq meaning “euphoria producing herb” may be the origin of the word “tobacco”. The location, Tobago, in the West Indies, from whence tobacco was first discovered by Europeans may also be the origin of the name. The Spanish word tobacco originally referred to a pipe.
To dream of tobacco means that one will have success in business and failure in love.
To see it growing indicates a pleasant surprise.
To see the dried leaf in a dream indicates a good crop or coming prosperity.
To smoke it tells of good friendships.
Harvesting & Storage:
Household Use:
Steeped leaves from any species, make an excellent insect repellent. Make a strong tea and spray it on your other garden plants to deter pests. N. rustica is best, N. tobacum second best.
Magical Attributes:
American Natives traditionalists hold tobacco (N. tobacum and N. rustica) with special reverence. In some traditions, visitors were offered a smoke as a form of hospitality and a smoke was shared at the beginning of special rituals. Sharing a smoke marked alliances and contracts, sworn friendships and the beginning journeys and wars.
One traditioni maintains that upon creating all creatures, the Great Spirit gave each a special power. Man was created last and there was no special powers left, so the Great Spirit gave man tobacco. Alli the other spirits wanted it and asked to trade their powers for it, but the Great Spirit refused saying it was Man’s to give away or keep as he pleased. So when Man wants help from or to honor a Spirit, he leaves offerings of tobacco leaves or burns them to call the spirits to him.
Rules associated with tobacco vary by tradition. The northernmost Native groups did not use tobacco. Some groups used it recreationally as well as for spiritual purposes. In some cases women could not smoke and in some traditions they weren’t even permitted to approach the plant. Most of the Southern American groups reserved tobacco only for spiritual purposes and, in many Amazonian groups, only Shamans could smoke.
N. rustica is the species most associated with Shamanic practice. It is very strong and not recommended for recreational use by any means! It has the highest level of nicotine of any of the Nicotiana species. Use with caution ceremonially. Do not try to smoke the ornamental varieties.
The smoke from the burning leaf can be used for smudgingi sacred spacei, much like white sage. Nicotiana can be used as a substitute for other members of the nightshade family in a spelli.
All species of Nicotiana make appropriate burnt offerings to animal spirits, but keep them far away from corporeal animals!
Healing Attributes:
Use with great caution! Never eat it. It is highly addictive when smoked, chewed or sniffed and poisonous if eaten. It can be smoked for weight loss, to relieve fatigue and stress. N. tobacum and N. rustica are used. They are highly addictive and regular use is linked to heart disease and cancer.
A poultice of wet leaves can be applied to stings and to relieve itching and swelling. Nicotine can be absorbed into the skin.
Tobacco was prescribed as a wonder drug by many European healers until well into the 1700s, as a poultice, in pill form, chewed and swallowed, smoked, sniffed or drunk as tea for aches and pains, swellings, snakebites, depression, to ease hunger, thirst and bad breath. By the 1800s there were plenty who viewed tobacco as a poison and blamed on its use such maladies and impotence, brain damage, sterility, blindness and ‘dull senses’.
Culinary Use:
None Poisoni!
Consumption may produce nausea, vomiting, sweating, heart palpitation, hallucinations, death
Practical Kitchen Witchery:
Alli Nicotiania species are poison!
N. tobacum is highly addictive! Addictive constituents and poisons can be absorbed through the skin.
Nicotiana should not be used or handled by pregnant women or people with heart problems or nervous disorders.
Keeping Nicotiana in the garden in northern climes is impractical. I have planted a few varieties myself and they are beautiful, but seeds invariably remain unripe when the snow comes to kill them off and you always have to buy more the following spring. If you do live in the south and have a corner of your garden well protected from curious kids & critters, this is a highly recommended plant, especially if you've got a moon garden theme. Nicotiana attracts hummingbirds by day and hawk moths by night.
All content copyright Dawn Black unless otherwise stated. No content may be distributed electronically or in print without express permission from the author.
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