Category: Book of Spells

WOTC Extra – A Little Earth Magick, Spells & More (by Scott Cunningham)

A Little Earth Magick, Spells & More

(by Scott Cunningham)

To heal

Healing with the earth works through the process of transference. The wound or disease is transferred magically to another substance, usually an organic one, which is then buried. As it rots, it releases the wound or disease.

To remove a disease or heal a wound, rub the afflicted part with an apple or potato. Then, as quickly as possible, dig a hole in the ground, put it in, and cover it over with earth. It is done.

One note here might be wise. Healing magic should always be used in addition to conventional medicine and never as a replacement. Doctors are the only people qualified to help your body heal itself.

By all means perform healing magic for yourself or friends, but not in place of qualified medical attention. The medicine of today was the magic of yesterday.

The earth bed

If you are sick, find a spot where the earth is bare, uncovered by concrete, plants, and leaves— pure fresh soil.

Sit or lie down on the earth. Mentally see your wound or disease sinking into the earth. Feel the pain and anguish, the physical and emotional effects of the problem running down into the ground beneath you.

Sense the rhythm of the earth— feel the steady beat of nature pounding away. It should pulsate in tune with your heart, pounding until you feel your whole body undulating with energy.

Then feel it coming— cool, deep, soft energy rising from the ground up into you.

Rise, dust yourself off, and check to see if you feel different.

If you are bedridden or otherwise cannot do this, have a dish or pot of fresh soil in your sickroom. Earth gives off healing vibrations and its presence will aid your recovery.

A simple method would be to place a potted plant in your sickroom. Not only will the plant lend its own healing energies (ivy is great and will cause no strange looks) but the soil in which it is placed will aid you as well.

To lose your troubles

Take a handful of earth and gaze into it; pour into it all your problems. Outline, in minute detail, all of those problems plaguing you.

When you are finished, throw the dirt behind you and walk away from it, not turning back.

An earth charm

Tie up in a small green square of cloth some fresh, rich soil.

Firmly tie this so no earth can escape.

Carry this with you if you have troubles with stability, security, and self-control. If you are apt to let your emotions rule your life or if you are constantly angry or nervous, this amulet of earth will help.

Earth scrying

Fill a small flat vessel at least seven inches in diameter with earth. Sit relaxed and gaze not only at, but into the soil. You will eventually begin to notice symbols staring up from the earth.

An earth protection bottle

Into a long, small bottle pour fresh, clean soil. Fill it to the top and cap it. Place this bottle near the entrance, preferably in a window, to guard against evil entering into your home.

In past ages earth was thought to confound evil spirits and demons, who had to count every grain of earth in the bottle before entering the dwelling.

Today, evil spirits are seen as negativity that floats around the earth in large quantities. This negativity can enter your home. This earth protection bottle can, therefore, be useful in blocking negativity from entering your house.

A long-term earth spell

This spell is ideal if you are a good gardener, and if you have a need that you don’t mind waiting several months before it manifests.

Take a seed from a plant that is symbolically related to your need. Over a pot of soil or a special plot of land, hold the seed in your power hand and visualize your need strongly.

Speak to the seed. Tell it why you need its help to make your need come to fruition.

Then plant the seed, giving it loving encouragement and water.

Tend to the seedling when it appears and be sure that the plant doesn’t die due to your own neglect or carelessness. If this happens, your need won’t manifest. At least not until you do another spell.

If the plant grows up healthy and happy, expect your need to arrive. Once it has, take very good care of your magical plant, for it not only represents your need, but it also is now a growing, living thing, which you brought to life in order to fulfill your need.

You are responsible for the plant. Take care of it and it will sing to you alone all the secrets of earth magic.
 

Source

Earth Power: Techniques of Natural Magic
Scott Cunningham

Skin moisturization: smooth legs with 3 raw ingredients

Are you ready for summer season?

Whether you want to tread with your legs bare in hot weather or smooth and snuggly during the winter, here is a simple combo that is good for even the most sensitive of skin (and especially for not drying your skin out after a shave).

Lemon, coconut oil, and sugar – that is all you will need.

3 raw ingredients for skin

Instructions: follow ratio’s above and apply to wet skin like a smooth lather, than shave.  Afterward, apply as a smooth lather again and rinse off.  This will help seal in the moisture, naturally.

Enjoy! Check out Eupterra Foundation’s In-Home Spa section for MOAR!

Have any of your own great raw recipes?  Let us know~

Herbal at-home spa recipes

Here are a few more raw ingredient orientated at-home spa recipe ideas.  Using a combination of fruit, tea, eggs, honey, and other easy to obtain natural products, these simple steps allow you to experience personal care-time at home.  The recipes definitely follow a more herbal way, which keeps things easy and on the affordable side.

Despite the fact that things can get messy, I personally find enjoyment in mixing together the various ingredients and seeing how they feel between my fingers, and start to work.  That and, from personal experience, I believe all natural beauty products work and feel much better than those synthetically derived, and these raw ingredient recipes use stuff straight from the source!

So here are they:

DIY at-home spa recipes

Instructions: Combine the ingredients in respective proportions in a blender or in a bowl, and use each according to its purpose. For the last recipe, I recommend for 1 cup of Epsom salt, 1/4 cup of essential oil (and you may not even need that much depending on how big your bath is).

Some people say cooking is chemistry.  Spa recipes may not be that different!

What raw ingredients do you like to use (or like to see used) in beauty products?

~~~

If you like using herbalism in your beauty regimen and are interested in learning more recipes or learning about “facial yoga”, check out this fun e-book:

Lleaon’s Anti-aging Beauty Secrets – DIY skin care recipes, aromatherapy, herbs, and facial yoga.

Authored by Lleaon Rao, it is worth a look through, and I personally recommend it as a keeper :) having learned much about the usage of various ingredients through her and my own knowledge of ethnobotany.

For more on essential oil uses, check out Eupterra Foundation’s series.

Avocado Banana Hair Treatment

Did you know that your hair can be treated to have more hydrated smoothness and be more silky using a mask?

This is an effective one for you to try!  Avocados and olive oil are renown for being good foods for natural beauty treatment and your well-being overall.  The following is a hair mask that is a little messy, but works quite well if you prefer using ingredients in the raw.

avo banana hair mask

Want more simple spa rituals like these, check out Eupterra’s suggestions on essential oils, Ayurveda, and more!

5 stress-fix Ayurveda rituals

5 stress-fix rituals to unwind your mind and body

When the stressors of life tip yours out of balance, it can affect your emotional and spiritual health.  Through the therapeutic techniques of Ayurveda and the power of touch, breath, and essential aromas – proven to reduce stress – you can help restore balance every day, leaving a lasting impact on your life.  Here are 5 easy rituals to get you started.

ayurveda_kerala_by_rooniel-d555p9i

1)      Just breathe

1-10 minutes

You can feel less stressed anytime, anywhere, by simply rolling an essential oil (personally essential to you) onto your inner wrists, bringing them to your nose, and breathing in the aroma.  For deeper relaxation, do alternate nostril breathing:

  • Roll some essential oil onto your wrist and place the index and middle finger of that same hand on the point between your eyebrows.
  • Use your thumb to close your right nostril and inhale through your left.
  • Use your ring finger to close your left nostril and exhale through your right.
  • Inhale through your right nostril.
  • Close your right nostril and exhale through your left.

Repeat for 1-10 minutes.

*Note: lavender, tangerine, and sage are good essential oils I recommend using off the bat. However, to find the best essential oil that fits you, here is a guide that can help if you wish to explore more on this topic: Learn How to Use Essential Oils Ebook!

2)      Give your hands a break

1-2 minutes

To help release tightness caused by keyboarding and texting, smooth your favorite lotion on your hands and forearms, and use your thumb to massage the muscular area at the base of your other thumb.

  • Press and hold any tense areas.
  • Massage your inner forearm with your thumb from wrist to elbow.
  • Press and hold any tense areas near your elbow-flex and extend your wrist while pressing to help reduce muscle tension.
  • Repeat on your other hand and forearm.

This technique I have used since my days of playing concert piano during my teenage years and childhood.  After straining a couple of tendons, doing this repeatedly helped bring circulation back to the damaged areas and regain full motor control of both my hands, so I highly encourage it!

3)      Save your neck

1 minute

For every hour of sitting, do this for one minute and your body will thank you!

  • Stand up and roll your favorite essential oil over the back of your neck.
  • Inhale while lifting your chin up to the sky, and exhale dropping your chin to your chest.
  • Inhale brining your head back to the center, and exhale turning your head to the left.
  • Inhale bringing your head back to the center, and exhale dropping your right ear to your right shoulder.
  • Inhale bringing your head back to center, and exhale dropping your left ear to your left shoulder.
  • Inhale bringing your head back to center.

4)      Treat your feet

5 minutes

Smooth some body lotion onto your foot and rotate the ankle 10 times in both directions.

  • Use your thumb to massage the arch from heel to toe 3 times.
  • Massage any tender areas with circular motions.
  • Massage the pad of each toe with circular motions.
  • Massage the outside of your arch with a gliding motion, and your sole in circular motions.
  • Massage your heel using your knuckles.
  • Stroke your foot from toe to ankle to promote circulation, and finish by pulling each toe gently.
  • Do the same for your other foot.

5)      Take sanctuary

20-30 minutes

Take a personal retreat from stress with 2 tablespoons of a bubble bath or sugar scrub and a warm bath.

A_slice_of_life_by_gilad

  • Lay back in the bath and place a cool, damp washcloth over your eyes.
  • Focus on your breathing.
  • Take deep breaths, expanding your diaphragm, and think of something you are grateful for or someone you love.
  • Be aware of the way love feels in your body and your heart chakra – your body’s center of sympathy, compassion, and love – located in the center of your chest.
  • Repeat the words “harmony and balance” to yourself, while you continue to relax and breathe deeply for a few minutes or more.

If you would like to learn more about Ayurveda techniques, check out the Eupterra series here!

Let’s Try This Again, Wishing All Of Our Brothers & Sisters of the Craft A Very Beautiful & Blessed Thursday!

fantasy green Challenge

Dedication to the Goddess

The Goddess brings us no more or
less than we are to her
She is the power for us to find
ourselves
She is the light that guides our
ways
She is the hand that extends when
we are lost
She finds our heart and soul
For she knows what we hide
She bears all for us
For she is Mother and we are child

—JoAnne Spiese, A Witch’s Prayerbook

 

Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal Mint

Mentha pulegium of LamiaceaPennyroyal

Of all the edible flowers and plants out there, there is one that sticks out to me as both extremely useful, and yet so feared for its potency at times that it seems people shy away from using it even though it could really help in terms of living a sustainable lifestyle.  I think, just like anything with natural medicine, one must take a scientific approach before deciding one way or another on a plant being useful to them or a specimen to keep away from and simply acknowledge.

Pennyroyal Uses

One of the lesser known and most potent members of the mint family, pennyroyal is a very poignant flowering plant whose dried leaves and oil have numerous uses by people both present and in the past.

A member of the Lamiacea family, Pennyroyal was used as a culinary herb, folk remedy, insect repellant, and emmenagogue (or menstrual flow stimulant) among the Greco-Roman and European cultures.  Frequently misunderstood, the essential oil of Pennyroyal can be used in aromatherapy, but if ingested, can be highly toxic to humans and animals affecting liver and uterine functions.

Background

Despite this fact, in the past dried leaves of Pennyroyal were actually used as a cooking herb and flavor for wines by the Greeks and Romans.  Even in the Medieval Ages, the leaves were used to flavor pudding.  As English settlers colonized Virginia, the herb was widely relied upon for pest eradication and as a tea that would treat many conditions and disease such as smallpox and tuberculosis.

Uses

Although in the modern day, pennyroyal could probably not stand a chance against RAID or other cans of mosquito repellant or bug killer, the flowering herb does have many utilities I would like to at least speak of due to its usefulness.

  • Insect Repellant: I have personally used pennyroyal essential oil as a way of preventing mosquitos from biting me, as they are very prone, and have had a good amount of success.  Since I wear it on the skin, it has never bothered me, but I would not recommend contacting any hand that touches or rubs the oil to the mouth, for the oil can be toxic even in very small doses.
  • Aromatherapy:  Pennyroyal has a very potent mint scent to it.  This can be used in aromatherapy to help clear up a cold, flu, or just making a place smell really, really clean.
  • Pest Control: Although I have used pennyroyal essential oil before to clear out some unwanted fleas brought in by my dog, I would advise caution on where you dabble it and how much.  Since the oil is toxic to humans and animals, it is personally recommended that you use it only on items or in ways that no one or furry family member will ingest.  Otherwise, it really does the trick in sending those fleas packing! They can’t stand the stuff.

A Word of Caution

Pennyroyal was used famously in the past as a menstrual flow stimulant and an abortifacient or abortion inducer.  It was usually turned into a tea, or some women have even taken the essential oil down directly.  This is most certainly NOT RECOMMENDED, as multiple deaths have been attributed to an overdose of even a minute quantity of this plant’s oil.  When it comes to uses involving this plant’s potent properties taken internally, I cannot recommend any use other than the three listed above, for as of now I have not heard of any safe dosage amount to be used by people of this plant

Final Note

If one were to ask me about what I thought in regards to Pennyroyal, I would say that I think it is one of the most intriguing members of the mint family.  Its strong scent and potency as well as the curious history it has had through its uses have made it a plant that is quite memorable.  Around my home, I frequently carry a bottle of pennyroyal essential oil in my medicine cabinet since discovering it during my days of studying ethnobotany in college.  I have found it to be very useful at times, and if you are a fan of natural replacements for things such as bug spray, this might be a convenient plant oil for you.

For more information on this herb, check out Eupterra’s article.