Yearly Archives: 2016
Latin Name: esmaralda/esmaraldus
Ruler: Venus
Type: Mineral
Magickal form: Raw, polished
Element: Earth
Color: Green
Number: 4
Birth stone of: May, Taurus, and the Vine Moon
Magickal Properties: Wealth, Pleasure, Successful Love, Memory
This precious gemstone draws love and admiration. The color of life and nature, the emerald represents all that we hold dear, deep affection, caring souls and life’s pursuits for a fuller, richer future.
It is the birthstone of Taurus and as such, attracts sensual pleasure and wealth. It is also the stone of the Vine Moon in Celtic astrology (Sept 2 thru Sept 29).
The emerald is known as a “stone of successful love”. It is said to provide for domestic bliss and to instill both sensitivity and loyalty within the self and within others.
It can be used to enhance the memory and to stimulate the use of greater mental capacity. The emerald helps to combine intelligence with discernment, allowing for the choice of “right” action to be the only choice available.
Emeralds can be used to open, to activate, and to stimulate the heart chakra, while helping to quiet the emotions. It is a stone to bring harmony to all areas of ones life.
It can also assist in inciting one to activity and to facilitate intensity and focus in ones actions. It can be used to eliminate negativity from ones life and to bring forth the positive actions required to assist one in remaining centered in the practicality of ones lifework.
It can help to bring awareness of the unknown to conscious recognition, helping one to access the laws of order within the universe and to eliminate from ones life that which impedes progress.
It can help one to maintain the rhythmic breathing conducive to entering and to attaining depth in the meditative state. After the meditative state, it helps one to maintain the cool brilliance of the deliberate reflection and to emit the radiance of the light.
It is also said to bring beneficial consequences in matters involving legal affairs.
From: Love is in the Earth
Scientific name: Zea Mays.
Common names: Indian Corn, Maize, Squaw Corn
Type: Vegetable
Ruler: Sun, Aztec and Mayan deities, Earth Mother
Planet: Venus and Saturn
Element: Earth
Magickal Form: On or off the cob, popped, white, yellow, blue, red
Parts used: Seeds, silk, husks
Magickal Properties: Fertility, Protection, Luck, Divination, Prosperity
Corn can be used for spells protection, luck, and in divination. Corn on the altar represents the power of the Corn Mother, She who blesses and nourishes all Her earthly children. Corn on the cob represents the phallic gods and draws creative or sexual energy.
Often Corn husks and Wheat straw are used to create what are called ‘Corn Dollies’. These are usually in the shape of a doll or are woven into various other shapes and are carried as charms or put on an altar. Corn dollies can be hung from the rafters of a house to offer protection for the house and all those who dwell within. Corn can also be used in many forms of fertility magic. Corn silk is a very powerful ingredient when added to love spells; it is designed to attract the person you desire.
Corn can be worn as jewelry or in amulets to make the wearer closer to the spirit of the earth. Corn can be used to divine the future. An old folk spell said that if a damsel found a blood-red ear of maize, she would have a suitor before the year was out. Financial or love wishes that are shouted out as popcorn is popping will come true.
- Eat yellow corn on the summer solstice (June 21) for blessings of prosperity
- Consume white corn for spiritual insight
- Scatter blue corn meal to purify and bless a space
- Hang red corn above doorways at harvest time to protect rewards that have been reaped
Corn is a sacred Druidic herb of Mean Fomhair (also called Mabon) and of Samhain. Corn is associated with the element of earth and the planets Venus and Saturn. Because Corn was such an important part of the food supply of many early cultures, almost every ancient religion had a Corn God or Goddess.
Some of these Corn deities are: Annonaria, Roman Goddess protector of the Corn supplies; Cerklicing, the Latvian god of fields and Corn; Kurke, the Prussian God of Corn; Nepit, an Egyptian Corn Goddess and Neper an Egyptian Corn-God; Nodutus, the Roman god who was held responsible for making the knots in the stalks of Corn; Nzeanzo, the Sudan god of rain, medicine, Corn, fertility and metal-working; Robigo, a Roman Goddess of Corn; Iyatiku, the Pueblo Corn Goddess; and Gabjauja, the Lithuanian Goddess of Corn (with the advent of Christianity She was, as were so many other Pagan deities, reduced to a demon).
Important note:
Remember that when harvesting Corn for magickal uses it is important to say thank you to the grain spirits:
“Mother of Corn
I harvest thee.
In spring thou wilt
A maiden be.”
Collected from various sources, including Magickal Winds
- Animals: stag, jackal, elephant, ram, scorpion
- Birds: heron, crow, robin
- Colors: dark blue-green
- Deities: Ishtar, Astarte, Demeter, Kore, Lakshmi, Horned God, Belili, Hathor, Hephaestus
- Flowers: calendula, marigold, cosmos
- Herbs: pennyroyal, thyme, catnip, uva ursi, angelica, burdock
- Nature Spirits: Frost Faeries, plant faeries.Stones: opal, tourmaline, beryl, turquoise
- Trees: yew, cypress, acacia
Power Flow:
To let go; inner cleansing. karma and reincarnation. justice and balance. inner harmony.
From: Moon Magic
Art by Jane Haworth
- Scientific Name: Primula vulgaris, Primula veris
- Common Name: Primrose, Cowslip, Key Flower, Herb Peter
- Ruler: Freya
- Planet: Venus
- Element: Earth
- Magickal Properties: Fairies, Protection, Love
Often associated with the month of February, the Primrose flower symbolizes patience, kindness and gentleness. The Primrose also brings the meaning of belonging, and nurturing. Primrose is used magically as a symbol to meditate upon to draw protection and love, Oil of primrose has been used to cleanse and purify in the Druidic tradition. This wildflower is also used to symbolize the beloved guest.
Primroses attract fairies to the garden.
- To invite the fairy folk to visit and to get fairy blessings hang a spray of primroses on your door.
- Eating primroses is said to help you see fairies.
- In Ireland and Wales primroses were thought to be fairy flowers that could give the power of invisibility.
- Celtic lore says rubbing primrose flowers over your eyelids can give you a way into the fairy world.
If you grow primroses in your garden, take very good care of them. Unhealthy primroses upset the fairies and it is not recommended to have cross fairies. If kept indoors, Primroses are said to bring sickness and sorrow, perhaps this is because they generally do not grow well indoors and upset the fairies.
On May Day, a string of primroses was used to decorate doors and thresholds. It was believed that fairies couldn’t pass over or under the string of flowers. When milking cows, primroses rubbed on the udder was thought to increase production and protect butter from being stolen by the little folk.
The pendant flowers of the cowslip, Primula veris, were sometimes called “Key Flower” in England because they were thought to resemble a hanging bunch of keys. The association with keys may also have led to another common name, “Herb Peter,” because the symbol of St. Peter is a bunch of keys. Ancient Norse peoples celebrated this primrose as a symbol of the goddess Freya, known as the “Key Virgin.”
In England, April 19th is known as “Primrose Day” in honor of Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, who loved the flowers. Every year, visitors to Westminster Abbey lay primroses on his statue. Primroses are the County Flower of Devon, where they grow profusely.
According to the “language of flowers” Primroses symbolize youth or young love, or mean “I can’t live without you.” Lilac-tinted primroses signify confidence and red primroses symbolize unappreciated merit. In the Chakra System, it is believed that the Primrose combines the solar plexus and heart chakras.
The flowers of some primroses, especially Primula vulgaris, are edible. They can be eaten raw in salads or as an edible garnish, and can also be made into conserves (preserves). P. vulgaris flowers can be combined with yeast and sugar and fermented into wine.
In their native Europe, primroses have long been prized for their medicinal and culinary uses. Traditional folk medicine utilizes the primrose to treat a number of ailments, such as:
- headaches
- wounds
- cramps
- spasms
- paralysis
- rheumatic complaints
In traditional herbal medicine, cowslip wine, made from P. veris, was used as a sedative. When the flowers were boiled with sugar to make a syrup, the concoction was used to treat palsy as well as nervousness. The juice of the flowers, either used alone or combined with other ingredients into an ointment, was supposed to be effective at treating facial spots and wrinkles.
An old gypsy cure for skin complaints on the face: take three primrose leaves and boil them in a pint of water, drink the water.
Scientific research indicates that primroses contain saponins and salicylates, which many have expectorant and anti-inflammatory effects. The roots and flowers have also been used as emetics, sedatives, antispasmodics, and astringents.
Though primroses are toxic to dogs, cats, and horses — and may cause vomiting if ingested — primroses are edible for humans. Leaves and flowers may be eaten raw or cooked, used as a herb, or as a garnish. The flowers can be used to make wine and syrup.
Primroses are mainly pollinated by bees but attract other long-tongued pollinators such as hoverflies, brimstone, and small tortoiseshell butterflies.
Collected from various sources including Garden Guides
Planet: Uranus
Sign: Aquarius
Zinc is the metal of magical revelation. It appears innocent and ordinary in its physical state, but on the other levels zinc is an extraordinary event with powerful transformational properties. One of the most fascinating metals to work with in energy magic.
The metal zinc is associated with the planet Uranus. According to medical astrology Uranus rules the potential of the nervous system, the rhythmic processes of the nervous system and the lower extremities. If these processes don’t work properly they can cause agitation, nervous excitement, restlessness, panic and irritation, a great mobility, spasms and cramps, stammering, rhythmic disorders in for instance the heart or nervous asthma.
The renowned Dutch naturopath Mellie Uyldert states “all restlessness body and soul, which is caused by an electric charge that is too high, can be calmed down by zinc.” And the homoeopath E.B. Nash teaches: “What iron is for the blood is zinc for the nerves.”
Uranus is the only planet with a divergent rotation axis; in astrology Uranus is connected with renewal, moderation, revolution, originality, progressivity. The god of heaven and cosmos Uranus granted man the divine flame (electricity, intuition, sudden insights) and the feeling for cosmic rhythms. In fact Uranus gave man cosmic consciousness, and in the realization of each and everyone having a divine core …freedom, equality and brotherhood were born.
Aquarian people connect with like-minded people no matter their background or differences, and they are led by their intuition instead of outward authority. Aquarians are quick-witted with a lot of (electric) brain activity, like inventors, advanced technicians.
Medical astrology places the potential and the rhythmical processes of the nervous system under Uranus. Zinc as metal was discovered in the same timeframe Uranus was discovered. Everyone (equality!) could buy objects of this material because of its low price.
Magickal uses of zinc:
Use zinc in rituals, spells and amulets promoting originality, relying on flashes of insight, renewal, inventions, advanced technics (computer, space-ships), cooperation within a like-minded group, humanism, freedom, moving out of stress.
A zinc pendant or little zinc plate on a necklace – or a zinc supplement – can calm down a surplus of electricity. Possible symptoms are: nervous stress, restless legs, nervous asthma, hyperventilation, stammering, nervous heart complaints, epilepsy, cramps, agitation.
For the same reason eat food with a lot of zinc, like whole grains, fish, meat, eggs, nuts and beans. Or drink water in which a piece of zinc has been laid for 6 to 24 hours.
Sources: Spheres of Light, Real Magick and Magic Spells and Potions
Scientific Name: Cosmos bipinnatus
Folk or Common Names: Mexican Aster
Type: Flower
Ruler: Jupiter
Element: Air
Month: October
Numbers: 2 and 8
Parts Commonly Used: The flowers
Magickal Qualities: Harmony; Order; Balance; Simplicity; Confidence
The name Cosmos comes from the Greek kosmos, meaning order, harmony, or the world. The cosmos flower was said to have been named by Spanish mission priests in Mexico who grew them in their mission gardens. The priests felt that because of their symmetrically aligned petals these flowers should be named after the Greek word for “ordered universe.” However, when one closely observes the plant, it not only expresses order and harmony in the blossom’s symmetry, grace, and simplicity, but also in the symmetrically balanced, regularly-doubled production of leaf and blossom stems.
The “cup” of the Cosmos in full bloom is exactly the shape of a dish antenna, and is even “aimed,” at the sky at much the same angle as these wave receivers. The fully-open Cosmos blossom often turns this “dish antenna” somewhat towards the sun. When the wind blows, the blossoms turn their undersides to the direction of the wind so that the inner, fertile disc is sheltered behind a round “parasol” of ray florets.
The gestural shape of the blossom, a broadly opened cup turned towards the sun and the heavens indicates a character of openness and receptivity to messages from outside of the earthly realm.
Because the name Cosmos comes from the Greek word for harmony and order, and the cosmos flower is generally thought to be the symbol of order, harmony, peace and modesty.
- A gift of cosmos flowers will bring good luck.
- When given as a gift to a romantic partner, these flowers are commonly meant to represent the notion of walking together hand in hand, or to express the joys that love and life can bring.
- Plant them in your garden to attract fairies.
- Spend time in meditation with the flowering plants in the garden, and to attune your mind to messages from beyond.
It is said that Cosmos flowers will attract fairies, particularly if grown in a “wild” or uncultivated corner of the garden. This is also the environment where Cosmos is most at home, roadsides and waste places being the natural habitat of this freedom loving flower. It is interesting to reflect that “roadsides and waste places” are recognized in traditional cultures worldwide, as sites for spiritual epiphanies, encounters with spiritual beings in disguise, vision quests, walkabouts, and other metaphysical and transformative experiences of the . . . Cosmos.
The Cosmos has a form and gesture that is graceful, airy, and mobile. It is responsive to every breath of wind or touch by another living thing. It opens outwards in a generous gesture, expanding, trusting, and risking.
At the same time, it is protective of its innermost, female reproductive parts until they are fully ripe and ready to be released. It has an expansive signature in its bounty of blossoms and multitude of seeds that emerge from each blossom.
The blossom’s color signature shows a yellow center, symbolizing a strong solar plexus chakra, with a radiating aura of mauve or magenta, which seems to symbolize the sacralizing of the will by spiritual awareness. This suggests aid to those who feel afraid to assert their will in the world, because they are never quite sure whether their motives are informed enough by the highest possible consciousness.
Along with their harmonious symbolism, cosmos are also representative of October births and 2nd wedding anniversaries, and are frequently given as simple tokens of affection on these particular events. In 1999 the World Kindness Movement in Tokyo adopted the cosmos bipinnatus as the emblem for the organization.
Medicinal and Herbal Uses:
Some botanical sources state that cosmos has “no known uses” (or hazards) as food or medicine, others catagorize it as a weed. It seems extremely benign. Being both highly attractive to insects, and not causing any kind of allergies or skin irritation in humans, it is clearly lacking in irritants. Similarly, being scentless, it seems to lack any significant volatiles.
Compiled from various sources including Flower Info and The Flower Society
Scientific Name: Eucalyptus spp.
Folk Name: Blue Gum Tree
Type: Tree
Ruler: Moon and Mars
Element: Water
Parts Used: Leaf, Essential Oil
Basic Powers: Protection, Cleansing, Healing
Eucalyptus is bound to the Moon and Water. It is used magically for protection, purification, and health. The clear bright scent of this plant lends itself perfectly to the cleansing of temples, homes, and the human aura.
- Use leaves stuffed in sachets, pillows, and charms and carry or put in your bed to maintain good health, or anoint a sachet with Eucalyptus oil.
- Place leaves in a mesh bag and hang under the faucet for purification rituals.
- Place leaves around the house for health and protection from illness and unwanted energies.
- Ring a blue or green candle with leaves or flowers for healing energies.
- Cut a branch off a Eucalyptus tree and hang in a sickroom for the healing energy.
- Eucalyptus fragrance is very soothing to highly charged emotional states.
- Use leaves or oils to clean and balance a place or a person.
Note: This post was compiled by Shirley Twofeathers for Magical Ingredients, you may repost and share without karmic repercussions, but only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
What it celebrates:
- Second Harvest, The Mysteries, Equality and Balance
- Day and night are equal and the God prepares to leave His physical body and begin the great adventure into the unseen.
Symbols of Mabon:
- Acorns; Apples; Autumn flowers; Corn; Cornucopia; Dried seeds; Gourds; Grains; Harvested crops; Horns of plenty; Leaves; Marigolds; Nuts; Oak sprigs; Pine and cypress cones; Pomegranates; Red poppies; Wine, Wreaths.
Altar Decorations:
Any of the symbols of Mabon, including acorns, autumn leaves, pine cones, pomegranate, statue of the Triple Goddess in her Mother phase.
Activities of Mabon:
Making wine, gathering dried herbs, plants, seeds and seed pods, walking in the woods, scattering offerings in harvested fields, offering libations to trees, adorning burial sites with leaves, acorns, and pine cones to honor those who have passed over.
Spellworkings of Mabon:
- Protection, prosperity, security, and self-confidence.
- Also those of harmony and balance.
Foodstuffs:
- Acorns; Apples; Beans; Berries; Bread; Corn; Cornbread; Dried fruits; Goat; Grains; Grapes; Hops; Horn of plenty; Indian corn; Nuts; Pomegranates; Roast goose or mutton; Root crops (onions, carrots, potatoes, etc); Seeds; Squash; Sunflower seeds; Wheat bread and wheat products.
Drinks:
- Wine, Ale, and Cider.
Colors :
- Red, Deep Gold, Orange, Brown, Maroon, Violet, Russet, Yellow, and Indigo.
Animals:
- Dogs, Wolves, Stag, Birds of Prey (especially the Blackbird, Owl, and Eagle), Salmon, and Goat.
- Mythical Creatures: Gnomes, Sphinx, Minotaurs, Cyclops, Andamans, and Gulons.
Tarot Cards:
- Judgment
- The World
Stones:
- During Mabon, stones ruled by the Sun will help bring the Sun’s energy to you.
- Clear quartz, Amber, Peridot, Diamond, Gold, Citrine, Cat’s-eye, Aventurine. Yellow Topaz, Carnelian, Sapphire, Yellow Agate, Lapis Lazuli, and Amethyst.
- Also, river or stream stones which have been submerged for the Summer may be used.
Plants:
- Vines, Garlands (made of these various plants), Gourds, Pine Cones, ferns, Acorns, Wheat, grains, Dried Leaves, Corn, Pomegranate, Ivy, Hazel, Hops, Cedar, Marigold, Milkweed, Thistle, and Tobacco, Walnut leaves and husks, Bittersweet, Rose hips, Oak leaves, Dried apple or apple seeds, Sunflowers.
Herbs:
- Myrrh, Thistles, Tobacco, Oak Leaves, Hazel, Mums, Hops, Acorns, Marigold, Roses, Sage, Milkweed, honeysuckle, Solomon’s Seal, sage, Asters, Ferns, Honeysuckle, Benzoin, Passionflower, Pine, and Cedar, Rue, Yarrow, Rosemary, Saffron, Chamomile, Rose hips, Sunflowers.
Incense:
- Aloes Wood, Oak moss, Cinnamon, Cloves, Benzoin, Jasmine, Frankincense, Myrrh, and Sage, Black pepper; Patchouly.
Dieties:
- All wine Deities (especially Dionysus and Bacchus)
- Mother aspect of the Triple Goddess, Persephone, Demeter, Ceres, Bona Dea,
- Thor, Modron, Morgan, Snake Woman, Epona, Pamona, Muses, Mabon, Thoth, Thor, Hermes, Thoth, Hotei, Sky Father,
- John Barleycorn, The Green Man, the Wicker-Man, the Corn Man, Harvest Deities, and Aging Deities.
Other:
- Burial Cairns, Rattles, and Sun Wheels
Taboos:
It was considered unlucky to cut down the very last of the Harvest, and so was also left to stand in the field by some traditions.
Note:
This post was compiled from various sources by Shirley Twofeathers, you may repost and share it only if you give me credit and a link back to this website. Blessed be.
- Nature Spirits: Trooping faeries
- Herbs: Copal, Fennel, Rye, Wheat, Valerian, Skullcap
- Colors: Brown, Yellow-Green, Yellow
- Flowers: Narcissus, Lily
- Scents: Storax, Mastic, Gardenia, Bergamot
- Stones: Peridot, Olivine, Chrysolite, Citrine
- Trees: Hazel, Larch, Bay
- Animals: Snake, Jackal
- Birds: Ibis, Sparrow
- Deities: Demeter, Ceres, Isis, Nephthys, Freyja, Ch’ang-O, Thoth
Power flow:
Rest after labor; Balance of Light and Dark. Organize. Clean and straighten up physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual clutter.
From: Moon Magic
Art by Jane Haworth
- Nature Spirits: Dryads
- Herbs: Chamomile, St. Johns wort, bay angelica, fennel, rue, orange
- Colors: Yellow, gold
- Flowers: Sunflower, marigold
- Scents: Frankincense, heliotrope
- Stones: Cat’s eye, carnelian, jasper, fire agate
- Trees: Hazel, alder, cedar
- Animals: Lion, phoenix, sphinx, dragon
- Birds: Crane, falcon, eagle
- Deities: Ganesha, Thoth, Hathor, Diana, Hecate, Nemesis
Power Flow:
Energy into harvesting; gathering, appreciating. Vitality, health. Friendships.
From: Moon Magic
Art by Jane Haworth
I think it's time to go shopping... maybe even buy some really cool stuff at one of my online shops!!