Jul 2019 – Moonlit Path

Deep in the cold waters of the Baltic Sea there was once a lavish castle, made entirely of amber, and ruled by the beautiful queen Jurate. Jurate was a sea goddess, and some say a mermaid. She was also prone to fits of bad temper, often punishing those who disturbed the sea-life under her command. Local fishermen would make annual offerings of fish – one of each kind – to calm her stormy moods. If they were foolish enough to forget the offering, Jurate would release her czetlice to punish them. Czetlice were stunning mermaids, with snow-white skin and long hair, half naked in their fish scales. They would sing their song, luring unsuspecting fishermen into the icy water, and once the fishermen were crazed with lust, they would crush them with their deadly embrace:

Oh young, handsome fisherman
leave your nets, come aboard
here we’re always dancing, mating
our singing will sweeten your sorrows.

One day, Jurate came across one such young fisherman, Kastytis, who was catching too many fish, disrupting the balance of the sea. She was planning on punishing him, but once she saw his handsome face she immediately fell in love. The two became lovers and would spend a lot of time together in her amber castle. Unfortunately the match was not approved of. In some versions either Perun or the unnamed king of the sea destroys the castle in a jealous rage, either by lightning or a quake.

What happens to Jurate after varies from version to version. In the most optimistic stories, Jurate manages to save Kastytis from under the rubble, bringing him back to the shore safely. A less fortunate ending tells of the lovers meeting their end in the collapsed structure, while another version tells of Jurate being chained to the ruins as punishment, mourning her lover ever since. Regardless of the ending, it provides a reason for why the Baltic Sea still brings ashore pieces of amber, as they are either all that remains of the once magnificent castle, or tears that Jurate cries in mourning.

Adapted from Bestiariusz Słowiański (2018) by Witold Vargas and Paweł Zych.

Rosemary (Rosmarius Officinalis) is another common herb you may find in your garden, or at least in your spice cupboard. Its Latin name means “sea-dew”and may refer to the plant’s appearance and preference to grow close to the sea.

Rosemary tends to be easier to cultivate from cuttings than from seeds. It needs a well-drained soil and a sunny spot in the garden. Don’t cut it back in autumn as it may not recover during frosts. It’s unlikely to suffer pests and can be harvested all year round (McVicar, 2010).

There are a few Christian legends associated with the plant. In one of the stories the plant gains its fragrance when Virgin Mary spreads baby Jesus’ clothes on its bush to dry. In another story Mary was resting during her journey to Egypt and hung her robes on a rosemary bush. When she removed them, the previously white flowers have turned blue (Linford, 2010). In a different version of the story Mary was hiding from soldiers, kneeling behind a rosemary bush with her cloak spread over it (McVicar, 2006).

Rosemary is linked to memory and remembrance, as mentioned in Shakespeare’s “Ophelia”. It is also seen as protective against evil in many cultures, and symbolic of friendship and love (Linford, 2010). Couples would carry rosemary as a sign of fidelity in Elizabethan times. Throughout history it was often used to freshen and cleanse air during sickness (McVicar, 2006), which links to its protective and cleansing qualities.

Rosemary essential oil has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, and can be rubbed onto joints to help poor circulation. It can be applied externally to the forehead to aid headaches, or a few drops can be added to a bath to soothe muscles and help lift mood, however it should not be used internally. Rosemary tea, on the other hand, can be drunk in small doses to aid digestion or used as mouthwash. Care should be taken, as extremely large doses of rosemary can be dangerous and have the potential to cause abortions and convulsions (McVicar, 2006; Plucknett,1996).

Traditionally, we can see that rosemary was used for love and fidelity, thus we can incorporate it in those spells if needed, or hand-fasting rituals. There are also potent purifying and protective properties which can be used in smoke cleansing, protective charms and wards. This can include incorporating sprigs of the herb or anointing objects with its essential oil. Lastly it can be used to aid memory when studying, in spells linked to memory or learning, and by extension to aid dream recall.

References:
McVicar, J. (2006). Jekka’s Complete Herb Book. Leicester: Silverdale Books.
Linford, J. (2010). A Concise Guide to Herbs. Bath: Parragon Book Ltd.
Plucknett. J. (1996). Traditional Herbal Remedies. Bristol: Parragon Book Service Ltd.