Use a piece of concave/convex polished metal to reflect hurtful vibrations.
Empower it by concentrating on it, allowing it to completely fill your field of
vision, and directing it to protect, focusing power and energy into it. This can
be stored in wood or ceramic boxes, wrapped in a piece of silk.
Cleanse all talismans in salt for forty-eight hours and then provide energy and
intent. The intent must not run counter to the talisman’s traditional significance.
Talismans must be concealed to retain their effectiveness, and should be worn on
your person, at the afflicted area. For example, earrings for ear disorders, or at the navel or on the belt for stomach disorders.
A message is reinforced with caresses or strokes.
Some talismans may consist of written words, on parchment if possible, though
any paper will do.
Whenever possible, talismans should be made at the appropriate phase of the
moon.
If the intent is to strengthen, the moon should be waxing.
If the intent is to remove a disorder, the moon should just past full.
The shape and nature of the object are important in that it’s difficult to cast
the message into a seemingly inappropriate object.
Infusions, brews and washes are just tea. Herbs steeped in hot water to release their volatile oils and essences into the water so the resulting liquid may be used to transfer their energies to an object, place or person. Infusions may be used in a number of ways; to sprinkle around a space or onto an object or person, to bathe an object or person, or to drink as tea. They are generally brewed when they will be used as they do not keep well. The herbs may be mixed in advance and placed in small cheesecloth bundles, ready to use like a tea bag. If you use a particular infusion often you may want to make up these tea bags and have them on hand. Mixing the herbs should be done with ritual, visualization and the appropriate time correspondences as with any magical herb preparation. The prepared tea bags should be stored in an airtight jar, in a dry, cool place.
Items needed:
A lump of Yellow Ochre
Gum from the Pinyon pine
3 cups of black Sunflower seeds. (The little ones)
3 Tablespoons ground Native Alum
Start by burning the lump of yellow ochre with an equal amount of the pinyon
gum. This will make a nice black soot. (Catch the soot on a cool ironstone plate
that is held over the burning mixture.)
Save the soot.
Next, take the sunflower seeds, still in their shells, and boil them for twenty
to thirty minutes in 8 cups of water. Remove the seeds just after splitting
open. (Do not allow them to soak in it.)
Add the native Alum after toasting it in an iron pan. Stir and simmer so that
the Alum is completely dissolved.
Simmer the liquid until it is reduced to six cups of liquid.
Dip out a cup of the liquid and scrape the soot into it. Stir until it is
dissolved.
Add the soot-dye mixture back into the greater dye.
Gently simmer until it is reduced to a desired consistency.
Use with a ‘quill’ pen or fine lined paint brush.
Ruler: Spirits of Air and the East
Type: Smoke
Magickal Form: Stick, cone, loose
The burning of incense to purify a temple or devotee is one of the oldest forms of spiritual practice. In essence, the smoke is offered as a pleasing supplication to the Gods. Assigned to the Element of Air because of the smoke, incense also contains the Element of Fire and Earth. As Air, it influences the mind and thought. Through Fire, it affects the will and actions. Through Earth, it can bring about physical change. Although incense is most commonly used for purification, it can be burned to complement and advance the results of any magickal request
The wand is a tool that is long associated with magic and Witchcraft. It is primarily used in rituals and spells to channel and direct energy. It can be used much in the way an athame (ritual knife) is used. However, a wand may be safer in houses where there are small children, and can be brought and waved anywhere without fear that local authorities will confiscate it or arrest you. While you can spend a great deal of money at your local occult shop on a delicate crystal wand etched with obscure, unknown symbols, it is not necessary. In fact, some Witches would say it is not recommended. There is a strong belief that creating your altar tools yourself imbues them with your own personal energies, making them more powerful for your use than any store-bought item.
Wands have been made of many materials. I have seen some amazing wands crafted of various metals, crystals, and even of bone. But this article will focus on wood, by far the most common material for wand crafting, past and present. This is partly for practical reasons, as wood is sturdy, inexpensive, widely available, easy to work with and beautiful. But there are magical reasons for using wood as well. Wood is an excellent conductor of energy, and, coming from nature, holds power all on its own.
Different trees are associated with different magical uses. When choosing the type of wood for your wand, you may wish to take into consideration the following correspondences between magical intent and type of wood:
ALL PURPOSE: oak, hazel, rowan.
BANISHING: birch, elder, juniper.
DIVINATION: cherry, fig, orange, pomegranate, willow.
FERTILITY: hawthorn, olive.
HEALING: apple, blackberry, cedar, eucalyptus, sandalwood, willow.
LOVE: apple, cherry, elm, willow.
PROSPERITY: blackberry, maple, pine.
PROTECTION: poplar, ash, elder, elm.
If you feel you will be using your wand for more than one type of spell or ritual, try using an all-purpose wood, or choosing a wood that falls into more than one category. Many Witches have several wands, each used for a different purpose, crafted from different kinds of wood. If there is a particular tree you feel a connection with, such as one that you spent much of your childhood sitting in, consider using a branch from that tree. The special bond you have forged with the tree will only lend to the wood’s power for any use.
There are several different beliefs floating around on the right way to obtain wood for a wand. Some people believe that a wand is only good if it is cut from a live tree rather than taken from “dead wood.” The thought is that the energy from a living tree will add to the wand’s power. If you are going to do this, it is best to ask the tree’s permission (a simple meditation under the tree should instill you with a strong feeling of the tree’s willingness). Leave an offering at the base of the tree, such as a coin or crystal. Another practical consideration you should make is to find out when the best time of year is to prune the particular tree you are cutting from so you will not damage the tree.
Some argue that once you take wood, it is physically dead anyway, so there is no need to impose upon a living tree for its wood. These people feel that the wood retains the tree’s power whether taken directly from the tree, or from the ground. In fact, it might even be considered better energy to take from the ground because the wood will lack any trauma that cutting may inflict. If this way of thinking makes more sense to you, obtain a wand by looking for a fallen branch. You can also, through meditation, ask a specific tree or group of trees to drop a branch for you to use, and then keep checking back in the area for the tree’s gift to you. Be sure to leave an offering in return.
Another way to obtain wood for a wand is to simply go to a hardware or craft store and purchase a dowel. The wood still comes from a tree and retains its energies, and is ready for you to begin working with it. While some purists may shun this idea, others of a more practical mind set see nothing wrong with it.
Since there is no rule or consensus on the best way to obtain the wood for your wand, you will need to trust your own instincts. However you obtain your wood, you will want to take a few things into consideration. First, make sure the wood you are using is healthy, and not rotted, soggy, or soft in any areas. Also ensure that it is not infested with insects. Second, you will want to find wood that is relatively straight. Make sure the wood section you are choosing feels good in your grip, well balanced, and that the length is satisfactory. A wand that is too long can be awkward and may cause you to knock things over as you are waving it around. A good length is from the crook of your elbow to the tip of your middle finger. Another option is to cut it to measure 13 inches; the number 13 is sacred to the Goddess as it represents the 13 lunar cycles in the year.
Once you have chosen your wood and cut it down to size, you are ready to begin your handy work. If the wood was from nature you should strip it of its bark and any leaves or twigs coming from it. You may wish to get some sand paper to smooth the wood. If it is very rough, start with a heavy grade sandpaper until you have all of the nubs and edges smooth, then go over it with a fine grade.
How you decorate your wand will be entirely up to you. Some people choose to leave the wand completely in its natural state. Or, you can leave it partially natural, but add a few embellishments. One option is simply carving magical symbols or runes into the wand. Another option is to do the same using a wood-burning tool. You can also use leather or silk cords to tie feathers to a wand, wrap animal skins around the handle, or affix it with small gems and crystals using a hot glue gun. Another addition you can make to your wand is wrapping it with copper wiring, easily obtained at a hardware store. Copper is a highly conductive metal that will give the wand that extra “zap.”
If leaving your wand in a natural state, or partially natural state, you should oil it from time to time. This practice will keep the wood from getting too dry or brittle, and protect it from humidity. The best oil to use is mineral oil. You can give it a kick and empower the mineral oil with a few drops of essential oils before rubbing it onto the wand with a soft cloth or paper towel. When it comes to how often you should oil your wand, a good rule of thumb to follow is: once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for a year, and once or twice a year after that.
Another option for decorating a wand is to paint it with craft paints. If you are handy with paint you can create a beautifully decorative, colorful wand. However, if painting the wand, don’t rub the mineral oil on it. The paint itself will seal the wood, and the rubbing could damage your handiwork.
While it is not necessary, it is common for people to add a special tip to a wand. This can be something such as a pinecone, acorn, or, more commonly, a crystal. Whatever you choose, you might want to take into what purposes the wand will be for. If you are creating a wand out of pine to use specifically for empowering prosperity charms, you may want to choose a pinecone. If your wand is made of willow and will be used to draw loving energies into your life, you may want to consider a dried rose or rose quartz crystal. I find that for all-purpose wands the best tip is a clear, terminated quartz crystal. These easy to obtain stones can be used for any intent, and are like energy amplifiers. They are both projective (project energy) and receptive (receive energy), and the terminated (pointed) tip really helps to focus the energy.
To affix any item to your wand tip, you have several options. The first is to simply use masking tape, though most people are not satisfied with the appearance, or of using such an unnatural material. Another option (my personal favorite) is to wrap a piece of fabric or animal skin smeared with some glue so that it is half on the item and half on the wand. I have not had good results using glue alone without the skin or fabric, as it doesn’t hold well and repeated leave you with a clumped-up tip full of glue. The final option is to use the copper wiring and simply wrap and loop it around the tip and then around the wand until it holds.
One thing to keep in mind at all times when you are crafting your wand is the positive magic and rituals for which it will be used. As you work on in, feel the energies of the wood mingling with your own power that you are pouring into it, and it will serve you well for years to come. You will find that your hand-crafted wand is more personal and more powerful for your own use than anything money could buy.
Gooo0d Afternoon, my dearies! How are you doing today? I hope super fantastic. I have had a busy morning around here. Started a little of my Spring cleaning today! I need a maid, someone please!!!! I moved furniture, then got the little step stool and climbed on top. I started washing the walls down. Here comes Razzy and decides she doesn’t want her Momma wearing socks today. She hates for me to wear socks anyway. She will catch me with them on and pull them off my feet and hide them. So here she comes (she is a big as the step stool), she slaps at my ankles. Next the little (ha!) fart throws her big paw over my foot and just starts nibbling on my ankles. Gee, I am glad she friendly. I sit my bucket down and she knew I was getting down. She took off and ran to hubby and hit him head on. She knocked the breathe out of him. When I got to the living room, he was panting for air and she was curled up like a little angel.
Then when I got throw playing with Razzy, I had to go and give the pitbull his medicine. I also took him for a walk this morning. His scars are healing up nicely and he is starting to put some weigh on his back leg. He is so loveable. And he just wants someone to love him in return. I sit down and he rolls all over me, loving and licking. I have to keep him under control because he gets so excited by someone wanting to care for him. I am afraid if he gets to wound up, he will hurt himself and he has done wonderfully. I don’t want that to happen.
You ever get tired of doing the same old thing, day after day??? I do. I try to think of new things on the site to do to keep it interesting. Today, we are having a Funday Sunday. What does that mean? WE ARE GOING TO HAVE SOME FUN!!!! We are going to play “WITCH.” I am going to take each letter of Witch and post some info that correspondences with it. Say for instance, W – Warding – then I would write a little bit about Warding. Then two or three more W’s. Then I would move on to the “I.” There is going to information, invocations, potions, spells, rituals and no telling what else. So let’s have some fun and hopefully you will enjoy playing Witch today!!!! Oh, if you have a suggestion for one of the letters, feel free to post it in the comment section. I will then copy and paste it on the site and give you proper credit. So let’s get those brooms a stirring and play witch!!!!
More Whats Up Comments
This is a tremendous time of transmutation. All of the prior elements are coming together for a final burst of creative output. You have seen a clear view of your own needs and the posture of significant others. Now the accumulation of that input is leading to a deep, core change within you. In this phase, you will naturally be inclined to seek higher guidance so that you can emerge from this transformation successfully. The Disseminting Moon favors sharing what you have learned (and are learning) with others.
This is a tremendous time of transmutation. All of the prior elements are coming together for a final burst of creative output. You have seen a clear view of your own needs and the posture of significant others. Now the accumulation of that input is leading to a deep, core change within you. In this phase, you will naturally be inclined to seek higher guidance so that you can emerge from this transformation successfully. The Disseminting Moon favors sharing what you have learned (and are learning) with others.
Want to be a Witch, yet don’t want dangerous items in your home? We’ve assembled this comprehensive kit to meet the beginning Witch’s needs, without compromising safety.
Includes:
1 Rubber Athame. Painted black handle, silver blade. Very flexible. You can swing this about in Circle with no fears about hurting anyone!
Exclusive! The incredible Collapse-a-Wand! Hand-wrought of authentic wood-grained expanded foam, with a special adhesive patch for attaching the Power Stone of your choice (see below).
2 Battery-operated Candles (1 black, 1 white). No more concerns about flowing gowns catching fire.
1 package Glade Stick-ems. Fresh, floral scent, without the concerns of burning incense. No messy ash to clean up!
1 shaker Mrs. Dash. Get all the flavor and zip of salt, without the sodium!
1 Quality Fold-a-Cauldron. Easy-to-assemble, genuine simulated cast iron corrugated material. Complete instructions.
1 Fabric Rainbow Disk. No sharp corners to be concerned about. The perfect centerpiece for your own Altar. No worries of offending anyone, as could happen with those misunderstood pentagrams.
3 Assorted colors soft vinyl “Power Stones.” Focus the energy of crystals. Perfect for attaching to your Collapse-a-Wand!(Choking hazard. Not recommended for children under 3 years of age)
1 Booklet, “How to Be One with the White Light, Because There Is No Dark Side, Luke” subtitled: “The Absolutely, Completely Comprehensive Guide to Everything Possible that a Witch Needs to Know to cast Any Spell at All”
BONUS! Order now, and we’ll send you our exclusive Fill In The Blanks Book of Light! All the spells you’ll ever need, and YOU fill in the names and dates! Quality softcover binding.
All packaged attractively in a lovely carry-case, which unfolds to become your altar cloth.
Rush out and get yours today!
— by René Friberg, aka RaeVynn Sands
This is a tremendous time of transmutation. All of the prior elements are coming together for a final burst of creative output. You have seen a clear view of your own needs and the posture of significant others. Now the accumulation of that input is leading to a deep, core change within you. In this phase, you will naturally be inclined to seek higher guidance so that you can emerge from this transformation successfully. The Disseminting Moon favors sharing what you have learned (and are learning) with others.
Thank you Bobbie, for sending these photos of this beautiful giraffe. She is so precious and you are right I am enjoying them very much. Keep that camera clicking, sweetie. I could use picks like these every day. Thank you.
Everyone has an “EXCELLENT” day,
Lady A
Turok’s Cabana
|
This is a tremendous time of transmutation. All of the prior elements are coming together for a final burst of creative output. You have seen a clear view of your own needs and the posture of significant others. Now the accumulation of that input is leading to a deep, core change within you. In this phase, you will naturally be inclined to seek higher guidance so that you can emerge from this transformation successfully. The Disseminting Moon favors sharing what you have learned (and are learning) with others.
To see spirits, old European grimoires recommend mixing together aloe, pepper, musk, vervain and saffron, and burning this in a cemetery. We can adapt this for other locations (like those in which the spirit lived) by adding a bit of sweetgrass or tobacco to a specially prepared incense. Create the incense on the anniversary of the death of the individual you wish to contact. This is the burned at 11 am, in the safety of a magick circle that also holds symbolic items to connect you to the entity.
An incantation to encourage the spirit’s presence is:
“Guardians of the Spirit realm,
hear and guide my plea.
When the witching hour rings true,
bring my relationship, name of person to me.
Other souls who hear my call,
are not welcome in this place.
Only the one known as name of person may enter sacred space.”
Repeat the request three times, twenty minutes apart, then wait quietly for indications of a presence. Signs include the scent of flowers, or favored cologne, a cool wind, movement of curtains, and candles going out or twitching erratically. Once you feel sure the spirit is with you, do not make it tarry overly long. Take care of your business, say farewell, and thank the guardians for their assistance before closing the circle.
A Word of Caution:
Spiritual entities should not be banished or called for amusement. It is best
to contact a knowledgeable, experienced psychic for advice or assistance
before undertaking any spells of this type. It is used for communication,
and understanding the purpose of spirits. The best times are in-between
times, such as noon, midnight, dusk and dawn. Halloween. Seasons of late fall
and winter. When the Moon is in Libra. Eclipses. Wednesday.
Supplies:
One purple candle, holy water, Oreo cookie, one favored pet toy, stalks of fresh mint. NOTE: Purple is the color associated with the dead. The Orea cookie, with its white and black coloring stands for the darkness before the Fire Mother and the Light of Spirit. (It also happened to be my pet’s favorite food). Mint is used to banish negative energy as well as provide protection for the spirit of the deceased during his or her journey to the Summerland.
Instructions: Band the stalks of the mint together with string or a rubber band. Lightly crush the mint, once, in your hand. Dip the leaves in the holy water and sprinkle over the altar, then sprinkle around the area in a clockwise direction. Return to the altar. Sprinkle the candle (avoiding the wick). Hold the candle in your hands and close your eyes. Think of your pet being happy in an environment that he is or she loved. In your mind, surround your pet with favorite toys and food. Know that your pet is safe and in the arms of the Goddess and God. Focus loving energy into the candle. Take a deep breath, relax and open your eyes. Place the candle back on the altar and light, saying:
“I love you and I release you to the happy,
loving place where Your Spirit belongs.”
Allow the candle to burn completely out. Bury mint, candle end, food, and toy on your property, or place on the grave.
The day after you pet has passed away, you may not feel so good physically, which is to be expected.
Excerpt from:
“Rite of Passage” The Ultimate Book of Shadows for the New Generation Solitary Witch by Silver RavenWolf
Well did you think I had run off? Not quite. It has been a rough week. I decided to really get laid back today. I slept late, didn’t get up to 11:00. Said “Good Morning to the beautiful Sun.” Perhaps it is because I haven’t seen the Sun in so long. It seemed exceptional bright today.
I wanted to rest and relax today because tonight is the Full Moon. I hope everyone has planned out what they are going to do. Remember your power is at its fullest. So that spell that needs a little extra zip to it, do it now. For myself, I am going to do a little Moon meditation. Then recharge my battery. After that I am going to bless the outside of my home and also the refuge. Then I will go inside each and smudge every window and door in both places. Then I was also do a warding at my home.
Let’s talk a little Moon magick and about being a witch. Ok, ok! You might wonder why I go to all this trouble every Full Moon. It is simple I am a Witch. The Aura of a Witch is especially bright. It is like you are a 100 watt light bulb on the planet for everyone and everything to see. There are some things that you don’t want to see your Light bulb (Aura). Like not so good witches, psychic vampires and other entities that are not so nice. As long as your light bulb is showing, you are leaving a direct path to you and your home. So you much hide your light bulb. You must protect it.You should know the main way of doing this when you are out and about on the town, is by shielding. Since we shield ourselves, we need a place we can sort of relax. So we bless our homes. We go outside each Full Moon and walk the perimeter of our homes. Asking the Powers of the Universe to protect our homes and keep all evil and negativity without. Then when we are through with the outside, we do to the inside.
If you are a witch that does a lot of rituals and spells on a regular basis, the inside is very important. Every time you do a spell or ritual, you have a magickal residue left over. If that magickal residue is not gotten rid of, it will built up. It can have an effect on you, your relationships, the feel of the home’s atmosphere and most of all your magick. So it is very important that you smudge your home to get rid of any magick residue laying around. You start in the middle of each room. Say a short blessing of your choice. The start at the corner of the room. If you are like me, the directions of North, South, East and West change from room to room. Smudge clockwise, starting with the corner to your left. Smudge the corner and as you walk to the next corner, continue to smudge along the wall. Do not stop smudging until every room in your house is complete. Then let the smudge stick or incense burn itself out.
Last but not least, do the warding. Warding might sound hard but it is simple. Start in the middle again, say a prayer of your choice (preferably short this time). After you have finished your prayer, make the sign of the pentagram. Working clockwise again, go to your first doorway or window, repeat your little prayer and in midair draw the sign of the pentagram. Do this at each window in the room and the doorway on the way out. Also be sure to include your front entrance and your rear entrance.
Now that we have all that do, we can relax a bit around the house. When I had my group on MSN, I kept my shield up 24/7. Yes, you heard right. There were some nasty witches in that group. The funny thing and they would give their self away. They would bitch because my shield was up constantly. Hmm, how would you know if my shield was up? And beside what business did you have with me that you couldn’t discuss. Instead you are trying to poke in my brain. Tells me a lot, that person is up to no good. So my shield stayed up, all the time. But now, I do let it down occasionally. One of the main reason I can do so comfortably now is because I have a super familiar. She guards me like a hawk and the minute something is trying to get to me, she goes nuts. So she is my security system. Razzy is going to be an excellent alarm system also. I was in the bathroom with her (not on the toilet either, lol!). I was curling my hair and all of a sudden she started taking her paws and swinging at the Air. I really didn’t know what to think but Kiki came running and I then knew what Razzy was doing.
That’s another thing, get you a good familiar. Make a connection with them and your life will be unbelievable. Full of love, companionship, understanding, friendship, I could go on and on.
But I won’t because I have talked more than I was planning on it. I have some articles I am typing up. I had some ladies request a posting on pet’s passing rite. So I am going to try to be a Witch of my word and get that done next.
Remember to get out and enjoy our Lady Moon tonight. Take a moment just to bask in Her Greatness, let your Spirit soar.
The Brightest of Blessings to You and Yours,
Lady A
by Karl Lembke
The following ritual was found in a musty, dusty old fragment of parchment lodged between the musty old pages of a musty, dusty old book in a musty, dusty old library whose musty, dusty old dust hadn’t been disturbed by the presence of man in many a musty, dusty old century. It took a great deal of effort to translate the original writings. After months of effort and research in language libraries, it was finally determined that the weird script was not some arcane, forgotten language, but English, written by someone with a very bad case of caffeine jitters.
Another fragment indicated that this was once part of a book, entitled “The Mystery of the StarBuck”.
Stand, facing east, holding your coffee cup, filled with the mystical brew, in your power hand, and assume a posture of wakeful alertness.
Bring your coffee cup to your forehead and intone:
“LATTE”
Lower your coffee cup to the vicinity of your navel:
“MOCHA”
Bring your coffee cup to your left shoulder:
“CAPPUCHINO”
Bring it across to your right shoulder:
“FRAPPUCHINO”
Clasp your coffee cup in both hands over your heart chakra:
“ARABICA, OH MAN!”
Extend your arms to the sides, and intone:
“BEFORE ME, MRS. OLSON”
“BEHIND ME, JUAN VALDEZ”
“AT MY RIGHT HAND, M J B”
“AT MY LEFT HAND, THE BROTHERS HILLS”
“FOR ABOUT ME SWIRLS THE COFFEE AROMA”
“WITHIN ME SINGS THE CAFFEINE HIGH”
Drink the coffee, in communion with the spirits of the Sacred Coffee Bean. This last step may be usefully repeated as long as you like.
25 Wolfmonath
Sementivae Feria: Seed Blessing
Colors: and brown
Element: Earth
Altar: Upon cloth of green and brown set all the seeds for the next year, with the seeds saved from last year’s garden in the center.
Offerings: Give seeds to poor and gardeners.
Daily Meal: Vegan.
Sementivae Feria Invocation
Hear us, Ceres, Mother of the Grain,
You whose breath stirs the seed in the ground,
Though Earth sleeps now in her bed of stone,
We ask for her blessing on these seeds
Which will soon be sowed.
These are our hopes, our dreams,
Our aspirations, all promise and possibilities,
Waiting dry and dormant to be awoken.
Though we will not wake them today,
Soon the time will approach when they shall
Come into the embrace of the warm soil
And blossom into manifestation.
Bless our seeds, Great Ceres,
Mother of the Corn, Spark of the Plowed Earth,
Bless their promise, and ours as well.
(All cry, “Hail Ceres!” Then all surround the seeds and hold their hands over them, and together sing Ohm and Ah in harmonies, to carry Ceres’ blessing. The seeds are then placed in a special basket shaped like a cradle, and covered with a cloth, and sung to.)
Chant: Carry our wishes
Carry our hoping
Carry our blessing
Till you be awoken
By Diane Downs
For all our modern accomplishments, we are still searching for natural flea control methods, a safe, effective means to control fleas. Unfortunately, many flea products on the market contain ingredients such as carbaryl (Sevin), a nerve-paralyzing chemical that is endowed with a host of other side effects. DDVP (dimethyl dichlorovinyl phosphate), which is found in plastic flea collars, numbs an insect’s nervous system and sometimes has the same effect on a susceptible pet. Or there is that increasingly familiar synergist, piperonyl butoxide, recently used extensively as a booster in most all the new pyrethrum products. It has been associated with liver disorders. On the other hand, if fleas get out of control, your pet—particularly if it is very young, old or unwell—can die of flea-induced anemia.
When an adult flea lays an egg, this whitish speck drops into a carpet, a crack in a wood floor, the upholstery or a dusty corner. After a period of time (which varies according to species), the egg develops into a larva which feeds on tiny amounts of dust, debris or other organic matter. Outdoors, this larva takes up residence in the yard, usually in a shady spot, where it feeds on vegetable or animal matter. The hairy, legless larva then spins a cocoon and eventually emerges as a hungry adult, ready to jump on the nearest warm body for a meal of blood.
Because the egg, larva and cocoon stages are of various lengths in various flea species (the general range from egg to adult is 28 to 42 days), your initial attack should consist of a conscientious three- to five-week program. In this way, you’ll gradually get ahead of the massive number of fleas and eggs now sharing your pet and probably your home. If your pets stay outdoors, you can probably follow only the instructions concerning the yard, the animals and their living quarters.
The first step in natural flea control—and one you will repeat often initially—is to vacuum your house thoroughly. Not just the carpets, but under throw rugs, all floors, corners, upholstery, pillows, sofa cushions, under couches, mattresses—the works! (And don’t forget the basement.) Then either immediately burn the vacuum bag or seal it securely inside a plastic bag and dispose of it. Remember, all that dust inside the bag makes a fast-food feast for larvae. After patting yourself on the back for already cleaning up hundreds, maybe thousands, of fleas, eggs and larvae, wash all throw rugs, pets’ bedding and your bedding in water as hot as the fabric allows.
At this point you’ve made encouraging progress, but unless the next steps are taken, you’ll soon lose ground. To kill the tiny pests the vacuuming missed, sprinkle garden-grade diatomaceous earth in rugs, under sofa cushions, under mattresses and in your animal’s bedding. After three to four days, repeat the vacuum-and-wash cycle (again destroying the vacuum bag) and reapply diatomaceous earth.
While all this activity is taking place, your canine or feline friend needs some immediate attention too. Cat or dog, a bath is in order, followed by a rinse water cooled to lukewarm—and you could add a few drops of a safe herbal flea repellent oil to that rinse. When your pet is dry, a thorough brushing, combing or even vacuuming (if the process is not too terrifying to Puff or Fido) is in order. (Pick up a special flea comb from a pet store. It not only removes fleas, but helps monitor the extent of your flea problem.)
To permanently eradicate outdoor fleas requires both immediate and long-term activities. First, sprinkle garden-grade diatomaceous earth over the lawn, under bushes and in shady areas. The effectiveness of this natural product (made from the shells of tiny sea creatures called diatoms) comes from its ability to scratch the fleas’ exoskeletons and cause the insects to dehydrate and die. Reapply seven to 10 days later.
Over the years, MOTHER’S readers have offered their own nontoxic means of flea control. Here are some popular remedies.
Feed your dog or cat one clove of garlic a day. In addition to discouraging fleas, it will prevent some types of worms. Don’t, however, give garlic to pregnant pets, because it sometimes causes spontaneous abortion.
Brewer’s yeast (also called nutritional yeast) is available at most health food stores. Give large dogs one tablespoon once a day mixed into, or sprinkled on top of, their food. Try one teaspoon for cats and small dogs. Some animals love it. Others take a while to develop a taste for the yeast, but most end up begging for it.
A touch of vinegar in your pet’s water is touted as a control for both fleas and mange. With all of the above, however, it’s best to start such dietary programs long before the flea season hits.
You can also try a saltwater dip to discourage fleas. If you live near the sea, your dog might learn to love swimming in the ocean. Some especially energetic dog owners go so far as to provide small saltwater pools for their dogs to romp in.
Finally, our readers recommended putting a light six inches over a bowl of water containing a little dishwashing detergent. The heat attracts the fleas, which fall in the water and drown.
Since fleas are such persistent and prolific creatures, we recommend you combine all these natural remedies in your war against them.
MotherEarthNews.com
Witches Of The Craft® 
You must be logged in to post a comment.