Tag: Herbal

The Magick Of Bay Leaf

Written By Priestess Hypatia

For Witches of the Craft

19/12/2019

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Burn and banish with Bay

Burning of bay leaf has been used for banishing negative energies and cleansing space for eons!

An herb with a beautiful ancient history bay leaf is used to communicate with the Gods themselves.

About:

Bay leaf also known as laurel is a hardy evergreen tree with deep green foliage native to the Mediterranean region. When the leaves are dried they can be used in cooking, infusing the food in beautiful aromatic herbal earthy flavors or can also be used as an incense.

History- The first record of banishing using Bay Leaf:

This was the sacred plant of Apollo one that was used by the Pythia in the temple to Apollo at Delphi. It was Apollo’s desire and near obsession of the Nymph Daphne that drove Daphne’s father, who happened to be a river God, turning her into a bay tree to protect her from the lustful grasps of Apollo.

As a regret for his actions the God Apollo wore a crown of bay to banish his stupidity and to encourage valor and honor.

Magick:

Below is a wonderful way to use bay leaf to bring positivity in your life. Incidentally you can also use it for divination by writing what it is you desire to see on the leaf.

For banishing however you can try this method below. I carry dried bay leaves in a small mojo bag to banish bad energy around me and keep me safe when I’m out and about.

  • Ingredients- Dried Bay leaf, candle, fireproof bowl, lighter, pen.
  • Set up you altar space as usuall and then with the fire and bowl (i use a copper bowl to harness the energy) to the right that would represent the bowl of salt and the bay leaf and marker to the left that would represent the athame and wand.
  • Wrote the things you wish to banish, on one or so leaves. I like the number 3.
  • Write- whatever it is that you want to banish, be gone, no longer need such as toxic relationships, toxic thoughts, toxic actions and habits, procrastination, fear, anger, temper etc, things that debilitate us in our life and stunt our growth.
  • Light one by one and say “I release my attachment to old thoughts and patterns” (remember bay leaves catch on fire very quickly because of the volatile oils).
  • Drop the bay leaf into the fireproof container ( be careful) and visualize all the negativity literally being banished in the plume of the bay smoke. This is the best bit. It can feel so liberating!
  • Once this is done, dispose of the ashes outside of your home back into the earth to be neutralized by the Great Mother, and as you do say “Be gone” 3 times as loud as possible, releasing this negativity from your life for good!

Note: Begin to meditate by clearing your mind and relax into the stillness that you have created. Allow your thoughts to leave your head just like the smoke going up.  Breathe in the feeling of peace, possibilities, and newness. Be alive, be aware and remember to be you.

It’s always good to replace the banished negativity with something positive.  I find it easier by creating a happy memory, sing a little song, or ring some bells, my favourite is drumming. Some even like to dance.  Bring a little cheer and happines into your home, mind, and body. This is where the change happens . For an extra relaxing experience I often like to take a bath after a ritual with beautiful essential oils.

Let’s Talk Witch – Herbal Preparations

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Let’s Talk Witch – Herbal Preparations

An herbalist’s definition of an herb differs from that of a botanist. The botanist defines an herbaceous plant as one with a fleshy stem that dies back in the winter. The herbalist, however, considers all medicinal and cosmetic plants as <!=-1″>herbs. This broad definition of <!=-1″>herbs includes trees, shrubs, mushrooms, lichens and, of course, fruits and vegetables that have medicinal properties. In many of my recipes, you will find items that you consider food rather than herbs, such as apple juice or <!=214″>shiitake mushrooms.

There are countless different herbs and combinations of herbs that are used for health and healing. But even the most potent herb can become worthless if not properly prepared. Fortunately, there are only a few basic kinds of preparations that are used in treating illnesses and wounds herbally; these are the delivery systems for the healing powers of <!=-1″>herbs.

These preparations transform dried or fresh herbs into something that can be taken internally, such as a tea or capsule, or applied externally, as in a skin salve or a massage oil. In many cases, more than one preparation is applicable for a specific treatment.

Some preparations, such as tinctures and body oils, can be made from either fresh or dried <!=-1″>herbs. The best method for extracting an herb’s properties varies from herb to herb. For example, <!=222″>Saint-John’s-wort, oat berries and <!=99″>feverfew lose most of their properties when dried. A significant portion of the <!=-59″>essential oils in fragrant herbs such as <!=183″>peppermint and <!=61″>chamomile is lost in even the most careful drying process. On the other hand, herbs that contain a great deal of water-<!=75″>comfrey and <!=54″>calendula flowers, for example-are sometimes best when used in dried form; otherwise, the final product will be too diluted.

Whenever one type of preparation is better than another to treat a specific condition, the reason is explained in that chapter. For example, if an <!=13″>aloe vera lotion is better for a burn than a salve is, you will find out why this is so.

Most of these preparations can be bought ready-made from natural food stores-either as individual herbs or in blends of several different herbs. If you feel ambitious enough to make your own concoctions, I have also provided a number of recipes. When deciding which preparation is the most suitable for you, consider availability, cost, convenience and, of course, effectiveness.

Many herbal recipes will use as their basic ingredient not herbs, but <!=-59″>essential oils derived from <!=-1″>herbs. These oils carry many medicinal properties of the herbs from which they are extracted. They are easy to use but are also highly concentrated, so they must be diluted and used moderately to prevent overdoses. As a result, they are mostly used externally, and appropriate cautions are given throughout this book. Do not confuse <!=-59″>essential oils with vegetable oils such as olive oil, which are used as carrier oils in skin products.

Treatments are divided into internal preparations and external preparations, as the nature of the ailment generally determines the nature of the treatment.

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Casting Spells by Burning Herbs

Magick spells are cast by burning herbs (incense), thus releasing their magick power into the atmosphere (fumigation).

One of the most ancient methods of casting spells is consciously, carefully and deliberately  burning herbs. This method incorporates all four primal elements into one spell. By applying the power of fire, herbal power (which has been nourished by Earth and by water), is transformed into smoke (air) and dispersed into the atmosphere to provide magickal solutions and fulfill magickal desires. If you burn incense on a metal pan or burner, then you incorporate what many consider to be the fifth element, metal, into your spell as well.

Modern incense frequently taken the form of sticks and cones, which require a little technical know=how. However, incense is an ancient, ancient art. If cave people had the technology to create fine, viable incense, of course you do, too. The material original incense was loose dried herbal material, ground and powdered. Most magick spells assume incense will be in this form.

Mortars and pestles are ancient magickal, medical and culinary tools. They may be used to break down and blend herbal material. Once upon a time, incense was created by repeated grinding with a mortar and pestle, and then sifting with a sieve (also an ancient magick tool). However, if you desire the fine powder that many spells specify, a coffee or spice grinder, particularly an old-fashioned manual one, can make life easier.

If you prefer stick incense, blanks may be purchased and doctored to your taste.