Camomile

Everyone knows camomile, though I’m not certain everyone realises just how awesome this little plant is. Camomile (Chamaemelum) comes from a Greek word for “ground apple” due to its specific, sweet scent. It is native to Western Europe and North America.

You can sow camomile from seeds in spring, patting it lightly into the soil rather than covering it, as it needs lots of sunlight to germinate. Pick a sunny place for it to grow in well-drained soil, so that its cheery domed centre can face the Sun. It is known as Physician’s Plant due to its restorative properties when planted near diseased plants. Its strong scent makes for a fantastic insect repellent and therefore pest control. You may choose to plant it near cabbage, potatoes, celery, leek, onions, or garlic for these properties. It is best to harvest the flowers when they are mid-bloom, when the petals are horizontal rather than facing downward. They then have to be dried quickly in thin layers, so that they preserve their natural colour and do not crumble (Kapusta, 2012).

Camomile is probably best known as a soothing tea. It can indeed be used this way to aid sleep and relaxation. Tea can also be used to treat indigestion and to aid the digestive system (Linford, 2010). Moreover, it has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and painkilling properties, which make it great for treating skin irritation and inflammation if used in baths or as a wash, or mouth infections if used as a gargle. In Slavic countries, camomile plants were used to make mattresses which were supposed to relieve pain if slept on (Kapusta, 2012). To make camomile tea simply steep a heaped teaspoon of fresh or dried flowers in boiling water for 3-5 minutes. However, excessive consumption can cause vertigo or vomiting (McVicar, 2006).

There are other uses for this lovely plant. Some prefer to have a camomile lawn instead of usual grass. Though it can require more upkeep, you will be rewarded by much more fragrant lawn in the summer. Its sweet scent also makes it a good addition to herb pillows, and it can be made into a condition to brighten fine hair (McVicar, 2006).

In terms of magical use, camomile can aid relaxed meditative state and sleep, which would make it a great addition to dream pillows or spells focused on dreamwork. It’s associated with the Sun, possibly due to its sunny centre. This might make it well suited for summer and spring rituals which focus on the return of the Sun. It’s also associated with purification, happiness, and luck. Burn it, bathe in it or wear it as part of your spell-work in these areas.

References:
Kapusta, J. (2012). Apteczka Domowa. Warsaw: Buchmann
McVicar, J. (2006). Jekka’s Complete Herb Book. Leicester: Silverdale Books.
Linford, J. (2010). A Concise Guide to Herbs. Bath: Parragon Book Ltd.

Rosemary

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.

Plant Spirit Ally Challenge

The month of May marked the beginning of the Plant Spirit Ally Challenge, hosted by Hagstone Publishing. I thought I would share some of my experiences of the event.

I chose African Violet as my ally to work with. This plant has accompanied me since my childhood, I had it throughout house moves, and at university. I thought it was about time I deepen my connection with it. The only downside of my choice was that many of the challenges required ingestion of a plant, which is not something advisable with this particular violet.

The challenge begins with relatively easy tasks, making it approachable. As the tasks increase in difficulty, you spend more time working with your ally and learning more about them. I found this really helps the relationship grow quickly as the focus is fairly intense when tasks are done daily.

Within the first week, I meditated with my violet, made offerings of crystal charged water and service, drew it, and overall gave it a lot more attention than I have for a while. I meditated with it again afterwards, and the experience simply did not compare. I received a lot more information from its spirit, regarding its use and properties, as well as spiritual correspondence. Some of it matched what I read online, such as using it to strengthen connection to the Divine, spiritual protection or love, but some of it was new, such as using it to help with divination. I also believe I was introduced to the archetypal spirit of the African Violet, which came as a bit of a surprise. This is the kind of personal gnosis that makes your practice more exciting and more personalised.

One of my replanted violet offshoots – part of the offering of service.

I must say, I particularly enjoyed researching lore then writing my own myths for the ally. Although it might seem a bit abstract, the process relies on your knowledge and understanding of the plant and its symbolism, allowing you to express them more creatively. My myth and poem were not very long, but they were personal to me. I still have a few outstanding tasks that I am planning to undertake at a later date. In some cases I’ve done the tasks but with a different ally, and I would very much like to repeat the process with different plant spirits.

Overall, this was a fantastic experience that brings tangible results very quickly. It propels you into a novel approach of getting to know your ally, with fun activities that allow you to form a much closer bond. I would highly recommend it to anyone starting their journey with plant spirits, particularly since the challenge can be approached flexibly in terms of preferred tasks and the time frame, while still keeping you motivated. The materials and the accompanying guide can be found here. I hope that you, dear reader, will give it a go (if you haven’t done so already) and discover the joy it brings.

Plant Spirits and Allies

Animism is the belief that all things have a spirit. This can include spirits of places, such as meadows or forests, spirits of natural features, such as stones or plants, spirits of everyday objects, such as lamps or your house, etc. There can, of course, be some debate as to where one spirit ends and another begins. Is is that every room, or every wall, or every brick in every wall has its own spirit, or is it all of the above? If a plant reproduces to make more versions of itself, are those still the same spirit or are they new ones? Do they develop their individuality over time? Whatever your specific views may be, many agree that such spirits can make powerful allies if we build relationships with them.

In Shamanism, relationships with plant spirits are particularly important. They can provide valuable information and support when it is needed. The plant can reveal information on its healing properties, and the spirit itself an greatly aid the healing process. Some argue that experiences generated by certain natural psychedelic substances taken to aid shamanic journeys, are in fact messages from the plant spirits conveyed in the form of visions (Baghramian, 2015).

In order to learn from a plant spirit, one should find a plant they feel called to, observe it for a while, and begin talking to its spirit. Permission should be sought to take a part of the plant away, and this should be done in a respectful way which will not harm the plant. One can then journey to meet the plant spirit in non-ordinary reality and converse with it (Baghramina, 2015). Another method is to find a plant one is attracted to while holding their intention or question clear in their mind . An offering can be made to the plant, though it is important that it is suitable and does not harm the plant or wildlife around it. While sitting in a meditative state with the plant, attention should be paid to any messages that are received. These messages can be visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, or cognitive, and as such present themselves as seeing, hearing, feeling or knowing (Farmer, 2009).

With time and patience, plant spirits can become allies who are willing to aid us in our endeavours. However, as with any relationship, there has to be some give and take, some reciprocity, and efforts should be made to maintain the relationship. With time, you may even be able to ask your plant spirit ally to perform certain tasks for you, such as warding your home for example (Sebastiani, 2017).

There are many ways to deepen our relationship with spirits and allies. So, in the spirit of making these alliances (terrible pun intended), why not challenge yourself to explore something different. May marks the beginning of the 30 Day Plant Spirit Ally Challenge, organised by Hagstone Publishing. I’m excited to try it!

References:
Baghramian, A. (2015). The Magic of Shamanism. Barcelona: Guid Publicaciones.
Farmer, S. D. (2009). Earth Magic: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others and the Planet. London: Hay House UK Ltd.
Sebastiani, A. (2017). By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn: The Theory and Practice of Effective Home Warding. Smashwords Edition.

Common Sage

As a witch, you more than likely have stumbled upon the idea of smudging with sage, and maybe even done it yourself. Smudging is a Native American practice that uses white sage, and has recently been surrounded by much talk of cultural appropriation. Luckily, with over 750 species of sage out there, there are other choices.

Its Latin name Salvia comes from the word ‘salveo’, which means ‘to save’ and refers to the widely recognised medicinal uses of this plant. Salvia officinalis also known as Common Sage or Garden Sage, is probably the most commonly used type of sage in cooking, and therefore the most easily obtainable one.

It is a fairly hardy plant, able to survive most winters outside. Seeds should be planted in spring and are easy to grow, with little maintenance needed and no common pests or disease that you need to worry about. It needs full sun and well drained / dry soil.

My garden sage, in need of some TLC after winter.

Sage is an antiseptic. It can be made into a gargle when infused as a tea to aid sore throats and throat infections. However, drinking the tea for more than a week or two at a time can cause symptoms of poisoning due to the herb’s strength.

As witches, we also value its cleansing and protective properties. It can be used in a cleansing bath, before or after a ritual, or maybe even as a part of it. To infuse your bath simply add 7-8 drops of sage essential oil to a full bathtub. Alternatively, you can get a small bit of muslin or similar fabric and fill it with dried sage. Tie it with a string and attach to the tap, so that water flows through it as you’re filling your bath. Sage can also be grown, harvested and dried into a cleansing stick or burned as incense to cleanse your space. Personally, I like to cleanse the house every couple of weeks with it, as I find it really lifts the energy at home. Similarly, a couple drops of essential oil can be added to home made cleaning products, to obtain the same cleansing and protective effects. Other magical correspondences include healing, wealth and wisdom.

Resources for this post:
Jekka’s Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar
A Concise Guide to Herbs by Jenny Linford
Traditional Herbal Remedies by Jenny Plucknett
The Kitchen Witch by Soraya