Latest Posts by prince-pietro - Page 5

Stellar Magic: A Practical Guide to Rites of the Moon, Planets, Stars and Constellations by Payam Nabarz

In Stellar Magic Dr Nabarz provides both the reader and the practitioner with an invaluable book filled with the rich lore of stars and a series of stunning and powerful rituals to enable a deeper awareness of the effect these have on our daily lives. Drawing on rare and out of the way materials Dr Nabarz has assembled a veritable treasure house of wisdom and lore. This is an absolute must for anyone even remotely interested in Star Lore and for any practicing magician or seeker after truth.

Okay non-European tumblr, I’m gonna explain to you why ‘white’ isn’t as simple here as it is in the rest of the world

- Shades of white in Europe range from ‘freshly fallen snow’ to ‘I am frequently mistaken as being from the Middle East’

- White European is a thing. When you fill out a form, under ethnicity, there are several options for white; white British, white European, white other. Because people make that distinction

- There are Europeans who don’t class their ethnicity as their skin colour, but as their nationality. I have family who don’t think of themselves as white, they just think of themselves as Italian and don’t really give much thought to their skin colour

- People here in Britain always question if darker skinned white Europeans are ‘actually white’. I get it a lot myself. My response is always ‘well I’m not anything else, so obviously I must be’

- Despite being white, a lot of Europeans from Italy, Greece, Spain etc, don’t feel white in the traditional sense. We’re not white like white British people. We’re not white like white Americans. We’re our own white. White British is one thing. White Italian is another thing. White Greek is another, etc

- Which is why we have this notion here in Europe of ‘nationality over race’. Being white isn’t as important as where you’re from

- So this really only becomes an issue if you’re an immigrant

- So being white in Europe doesn’t save you from racial discrimination, because sure, you’re technically white, but you’re not white white. Not the right white

- Here in England, Europeans with really blatantly foreign names, such as myself, find it more difficult to get job interviews, because they take one look at our name and don’t bother reading the rest of the CV. A guy I know was actually told by his boss to reduce the pile of CVs he had by ‘chucking away any with a name you can’t fucking pronounce’

- And then even when you do get an interview, half the time you walk into the joint several shades darker than everyone else and feel like you’ve walked into the ‘Swedish supermodel’ clubhouse and you just know you’re not getting hired

This is all basic stuff and it’s very much taken for granted here. Race and ethnicity are not as clear cut, so it can be very confusing for non-Europeans to wrap their heads around. Which is fine. But I implore you to stay in your lane, because when you say things like ‘no white person anywhere in the world ever knows what it’s like to face racial discrimination’, it’s really fucking offensive to all of the European immigrants who are denied jobs, harassed by the police and beaten by racists, because foreign is foreign to these people, and they don’t give a shit if you’re technically white. So when you mean white American, say white American. 

Pagan Musicians Masterpost

Here’s a list of pagan bands/artists for your listening pleasure! Feel free to add more if you know them:

Damh the Bard - Folk (Celtic)

Blackmore’s Night - Folk Rock (Renaissance)

Castalia - Rock (Wiccan/Greek)

Elaine Silver - Folk/Acapella (Faerie)

Emerald Rose - Folk (Celtic/Wiccan?)

Enya - New Age  (Not actually pagan, but very calming/spiritual)

Faun - German Rock (Celtic/Norse)

Fleetwood Mac - Soft Rock (Again, not pagan, but spiritual)

Stevie Nicks - Pop/Folk Rock (Lead singer of FM, very witchy)

Fugli - Folk/Spoken Word (Shakespearean Faerie)

Gary Stadler - New Age Composer/Pianist (Celtic/Faerie)

Fehu - Folk Rock (Norse)

Wendy Rule - New Age/Rock (Faerie)

Heather Dale - Folk Rock (Greek)

KIVA - New Age/Chants (Greek/Celtic)

Spiral Dance - Folk Rock (Greek/Celtic)

Heather Alexander - Irish Folk/Acapella (Celtic/Arthurian)

Lisa Thiel - Acapella/Folk (Faerie)

Moonstruck - Rock/Metal (Wiccan/Celtic)

Lucidian - Folk (Wiccan)

Llewellyn - New Age (Arthurian/Healing Spirituality)

Robert Gass - Chants (Mother Earth Spirituality)

S.J. Tucker - Folk Rock (Celtic-ish, just generally Witchy)

Spiral Rhythm - Chants (Perfect for drum circles)

Threefold - New Age (Wiccan/Celtic)

Gheorghe Zamfir - Instrumental Pop (Pan pipes)

Loreena McKennitt - New Age/Folk Rock (Celtic)

Heidevolk - Folk Metal (Norse/Celtic)

Wolfchant - Viking Metal (Norse)

Arkona - Russian Pagan Metal (Norse)

thanks for teaching me absolutely pointless things

Herb Grower’s Cheat Sheet - which ones can be grown inside, when to plant, when to harvest, and how to care for them.

thank you, school, for always taking neurological differences into your teaching, and totally getting to me and teaching me how to do everything neccesary

Truer words have never been spoken, lmao. Tbqh I think Soejima’s getting better at necks (comparing P4 art to P4Arena)

SMT + Protagonists

That warm feeling you get in your chest when you hear “Space, the final frontier—”

Reblog if you plan on getting Pokémon Moon

[Click Here for Pokmon Sun]

Oh honestly, don’t you two read?

[I’ve entered the top photo in a contest with @ardawigs! Link to vote is ——>HERE<——-]

This past Otakon marks three years I’ve been cosplaying Hermione, and yet somehow I haven’t run out of feelings about this character. I could fill seven books about how much I love her, and another seven books about how Important she was to me growing up, and I could write a whole Dissertation about how very very very much a Black Hermione means to me

(“how much,” you might foolishly ask, and I’d say “So much that I’m getting my anxious butt on a plane to London in April to bear Witness to her existence on stage.”)

(So yeah, a whole lot, lol)

There’s really no limit to how long I could gush about her, but I’m sure I’m getting repetitive at this point, so just have some more pics lolol Photos taken and edited by AshB images, @ashbimages whom Black Hermione aLSO means a lot to, which meant that we were veryyyyy excited to collab on some #blackgirlmagic.

**I for one was Very Doubtful that there was somewhere that we could pass off for Hogwarts in Baltimore Harbor, but I’m learning that Ash is a Miracle Worker and I should never doubt her ever ever lololol more of my cosplay HERE

Can we please stop acting like mixed people are watered down versions of their ethncities

im a fucking clingy ass person so i love when other people are clingy too like yes please reassure me that you don’t hate me and you actually enjoy being around me

🔮 This blog supports male witches 🔮

Witchcraft isn’t just for women, or a women only space. Men are surely welcome to call themselves witches, if they so choose.

BLOOP

The brain is an organ. Mental illnesses are illnesses of that organ. Brain scans show that there is a physical difference between a healthy brain and a sick brain. Telling someone “You’re not really sick. It’s all in your head.” is like telling someone with asthma “It’s not real, it’s all in your lungs.” The brain is an organ that can malfunction as much as any other organ.

someone do this with me

on this day one year ago someone sewed a fried egg to a tshirt

other blogs: “this blog is a NO ship hate blog!!! I’ll ship anything and if i don’t, i don’t judge people based on their ships!!!” me: “y'all motherfuckers better get that nasty racist, homophobic, abusive, pedo shit away from me before i whip out the holy water and the crucifix and start exorcising the devil out your asses.”

A missed opportunity?

via reddit

there were a whole bunch of bulbasaurs and an ivasaur at walmart 

hope i didnt disturb somthing important 

friend: can u please stop talking about pokemon go

me: pokemon no

Making my way downtown 

Walking fast 

Egg has hatched 

And the server’s down

Plant Witchcraft: A Beginner’s Guide to Growing

I would like to start this post out by saying I am in no way a professional and have only been studying/practicing witchcraft for about a year. I just know a lot about plants and the ability to sense the health/needs of a plant comes very naturally to me (I will make a post about how to do this soon!)

EASIEST PLANTS TO GROW IN WITCHCRAFT~

IN ORDER FROM EASIEST TO HARDEST

• Chives- can grow in limited light and  space, very easily propagate (regrow)

• Mint- very hardy, requires shade and some light, start from seeds

• Cilantro- fast growing, can be planted indoors, does not transplant easily, Is NOT perpetual (dies after it flowers, wilts quickly, pretty much dead after one growing season. Info from @rwt-mystic-corner)

• Basil- can grow in small spaces, require sun, start from seeds

• Parsley- easy to grow, low maintenance and limited lights, though hard to germinate 

• Oregano (wild marjoram)- very hardy, easy to grow in winter, requires full sun

• Sage- large, hardy, start from cuttings, requires full sun

• Thyme- requires full sun, hardy, easy to propagate from seeds or cuttings

• Aloe Vera- easy to overwater, low maintenance, slow growing, little water, full sun (they are a desert plant)

• Chamomile- low maintenance, little water, full sun with some shade, easy to overwater

• Dill- start as seeds, small, easy to grow indoors, hard to overwater, requires full sun

• Rosemary- though very large, easy to grow indoors and easy to overwater

• Bay laurel- requires well-draining soil, full sun, water often, grows large, slow growing

• Lavender- hard to grow indoors, requires little water, best in dry conditions, start from seeds

• Roses- requires full sun, seasonal, grows only outside, requires fertilizer, best grown from transplants

SOURCES: Easy to grow herbs | More easy to grow herbs | Gardening resource | @thesigilwitch helped to compile this list

INDOOR VS. OUTDOOR~

THE ONGOING ARGUMENT

Pro-Outdoors

As a green witch with a strong yearning to be at one with nature, I prefer to grow my plants outside. I have a small garden (about 4’ by 4’ and 10” deep) that I have several plants in, mostly succulents. Though my garden is small, it’s very peaceful for me to have my own little space that I can survey all at once. I’ve never grown a large garden and so can’t say if it is better/worse. If you are going to plant outside but have little space to do so, a little garden is a simple solution. This also allows your plants to get more sun, fresh air and space to grow.

Con-Outdoors

Winds, heavy rain or a hot/cold front can easily kill off more delicate herbs and plants. Animals like birds, cats and mice might be attracted to outdoor gardens, and though these animals are delightful to be around, they rarely leave your garden at peace. Planting outdoors is all-in-all a less controlled environment and, though it is more natural, can be tough with little experience.

Pro-Indoors 

If you live in an apartment or can’t plant outdoors, an indoor garden is ideal for you. Plants used in witchcraft like herbs and flowers can be easily grown indoors provided they have enough light and proper care. Having plants inside can really help create a safe space and keeps them from the harm of rain and unwanted animals or bugs. It also gives you easy surveillance of your plants.

Con-Indoors

Plants can easily die if they are strangled by too much care, and beginner gardeners can be over-bearing. The biggest problem with growing indoors is that most plants require 4-6 hours of full sunlight a day and windows are just unable to provide this amount of light. Also, keeping plants in small pots tends to strangle new growth, and limits a plants ability to grow very large. While your plants might be kept warm in the winter, it’s less worth watching large plants struggle indoors.

Conclusion~

Indoor planting is good for beginners or those with little outside space or building ability, but don’t be too over-bearing and make sure they get enough light and fresh air. Outside gardening is better if your plants are healthy and hardy and should be left to more experienced gardeners with enough space to tackle the project.

HOW TO PLANT ANYTHING~

IF YOU DON’T HAVE A “GREEN THUMB”

My Experience

Even though I consider myself a green witch, I also struggled with this in the beginning. Before I really learned to read the health of my plants, they would die without me even knowing it. I thought, “I can’t even keep a cactus alive!” Well, cacti are actually quite hard to care for if you don’t know what to look for. In fact, everything is. Plants are hard to care for if you don’t know what to look for. So first, do your research. Plants have two basic needs: food and water.

Research

Research how this plant grows in the wild. If it grows in the desert, it probably needs a lot of sun and little water. If it grows on the rainforest floor, it needs to be consistently moist and doesn’t need much light. It is important to replicate plants’ natural conditions to keep them healthy. Research is everything.

Food

Plants need sun, and most need lots of it. Plants have to have sun or they can’t produce enough “food” for themselves and they starve. 4-6 hours of good window sun is enough for most plants. If a plant is growing in an odd direction, growing too tall or dropping leaves at the bottom while wilting, it is probably not getting enough sun. Slide it towards a window or put it outside on sunny days.  

Water

On that note, plants need water. This is by far the biggest thing “black-thumb” people struggle with! If you buy the wrong kind of soil, it can drown a plant even if you never water it. If you over-water in the winter, your plant may freeze. Again, think about the plant in the wild. A good tip is to see how thick the leaves are! A cactus is essentially one big leaf, and they are very thick and round, therefore they need very little water because they store it in their “leaf.” A big tree with many leaves or a stalky plant needs a lot of water because it can’t retain any. If a plant is yellowing, mushy or dropping leaves while others remain plump, it is being overwatered. Do not water it again until all the soil feels bone-dry. If it is being under-watered, a plant will be wilted, brown or yellow and the soil will be very dry.

SOURCES: Growing herbs indoors 

PLANT IDENTIFICATION~

WHAT IF I CAN’T I.D. MY PLANT?

Help

A lot of people struggle with this and, if you didn’t buy your plant as a baby from a store that includes labels, then you might not know what your plant even is! Stores like Home Depot, most plant nurseries and private growers label their plants and how to care for them. But if you find yourself not knowing what your plant is, here are some helpful tips.

I’ll divide this plant identification into 2 categories: simple and advanced.

Simple I.D. information

(simple identification tools such as types of leaves, plant anatomy, and easy to use interactive identification)

How to I.D. leaves

How to I.D. flowers

Quiz for determining plant species

Types of Plants

Popular Houseplants

Advanced Resources

(requires knowledge of dichotomous keys, latin names and meanings, and some complex plant anatomy. These are probably more accurate.)

Understanding Latin Binomencalture

Latin Nomenclature of Plant Species

Dichotomous Key to Plant Families

How to Google your Plant-

Of course, Google is always your best friend! If you can determine the type of leaf, flower, color or species from the easy-to-use guides, you can just google it!

SOURCES: The ask this information came from asked by @fuzzzyuniverse

WHERE TO GET HERBS IF YOU CAN’T PLANT THEM~

CONVENIENCE OF STORE-BOUGHT HERBS

Most local supermarkets sell herbs with other spices, in small containers, either ground or whole. While these herbs have already been preserved and possibly seasoned, it is a quick, easy and time/money-saving option for any witch. There is a certain magickal property to growing your own herbs, but it is by no means necessary! I don’t grow any herbs at all; I buy them all from the store. Preparing your own herbs goes much farther than just being able to grow them, and knowing it has been done right by a professional is certainly magickal. They work just fine and are often more enjoyable to smell or eat because they have been grown professionally.

HELPFUL GARDENING TIPS~

AWESOME LINKS N’ STUFF

Herb list from @thebluechicory HERE | More about indoor growing | Micro-gardening tips (outdoors)

I hope this had been of some help to you! If any links are broken or you would like me to add/edit something, just shoot me a message. Happy growing!

For the beginning witch, Herbal Chart By Use and How To Use Them

How to use~

Elemental spells (for people who are stronger with one element than others)-

Earth Spell: Place the appropriate herbs in a bag and take it to a wild place. With your hands dig a small hole in the Earth and pour the herbs into it. Visualize your need strongly. Cover your herbs and leave the area. It is done.

Air Spell: Stand in an open place atop a hill or mountain, far from tall trees, buildings, and other hills. Hold the appropriate herbs in your power hand and facing north blow a little of them to that direction. Turn East and repeat, then south. At the west blow all the herbs from your hand. Visualize strongly your need, stating it in words if you wish.

Fire Spell: Write or make a symbol of you need on a piece of paper cut into a triangle. While visualizing your need, place the appropriate herbs in the center of the paper and crumble it tightly so that the herbs are trapped inside the paper. Anoint with oils if you wish. Build a roaring fire in an outside pit or fireplace. Through the herb packet into the fire. As it touches the flames firmly visualize your need. Continue to do so until the packet has been consumed by flames.

Water Spell: Take the appropriate enchanted herbs to a river, spring, lake or seashore. Hold them tightly in your power hand and visualize your need. With sweeping motion, scatter the herbs onto the water. The power has been sent.

Others

Charms and sachets - Fill a small bag, of the correct color or material, with herbs to make a charm or sachet. You can carry the charm with you, hang it in the house or car, or bury or burn it, depending on the purpose, and the spell you are performing. 

Incense- Herbs can be burned as a ritual incense, such as the sage smudge used to clear negative vibrations from a space. 

Bath - Make a sachet, and place it in your ritual or healing bath. Fragrant herbs like lavender make a very relaxing bath, and you can use certain herbs to alleviate skin and other conditions, such as using eucalyptus in a bath when you have a cold or flu. 

Oils - Place herbs in an oil, let them steep for a few days, then strain. You can make annointing oils for you ritual work, beauty oils for your hair, skin and nails (try coconut or jojoba), or flavor oils for cooking and seasoning, such as steeping rosemary in olive oil. 

Teas- Use herbs to make teas for healing illness. Some herbs can be used to mildly alter consciousness, such as valerian or kava kava which can facilitate trance like states. 

Smoking- You can make herbal smoking mixtures which will also facilitate altered states of consciousness. 

Chart~

Kitchen Herbs

*Anise* Planet: Mercury/Jupiter Element: Air Main magickal uses: Contacting other planes, divination, love, passion, preventing nightmares, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification Other magickal uses: Clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, fertility, gain, good luck, happiness, money, weddings Lore: Paul Beyerl attributes anise to Mercury and Apollo, and suggests that it be partnered with amber stones for best effect.

*Basil* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: Consecration, divination (esp. about love), exorcism, fertility, fidelity, good luck, happiness, harmony, love, money, passion, peace, prosperity, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, strength, success, tranquility Other magickal uses: Clairvoyance, commanding, courage, dragons, grieving, hatred, honesty, Imbolc, initiation, inspiration, invokation, prevents theft, rituals for the dead, spell-breaking Lore: Paul Beyerl says that basil is attractive to dragons, salamanders, and other fire-oriented creatures. It is sacred to the Hindu god Vishnu and his avatar, Krishna. Magickal herbals occasionally refer to it as St. Joseph’s Wort. Many cultures used basil in herbal medicine, which is not covered in this article.

*Bay* Planet: Sun Element: Fire Main magickal uses: Clairvoyance, consecration, divination, dreams, exorcism, healing, love, passion, protection, psychic protection, purification, wisdom, wishes Other magickal uses: endings, good luck, harmony, Imbolc, inspiration, justice, knowledge, magic, memory, money, overcome opposition, peace, psychic development, release, spell-breaking, strength, success, tranquility, transformation, Winter rituals, Yule Lore: Bay leaves come from a tree also called the laurel, and have a strong tradition as a Greek sacred plant. When the nymph Daphne wanted to avoid the passions of Apollo, she turned into the first laurel tree, which Apollo then adopted as his sacred tree. Wreaths were made from the leaves, which were also chewed and burned by Apollo’s prophetic priestesses at Delphi. It is not suggested, however, that you try chewing bay leaves, as they are rather volatile, and the amount you would get from chewing might be too much for those not trained in the use of visionary herbs. Other gods include Aesclepius (the god of healing and Apollo’s son), Ceres, and Cerridwen.

*Caraway* Planet: Mercury Element: Air Main magickal uses: Fidelity, love, memory, passion, preventing theft, protection, retention, sensuality Other magickal uses: consecration, fertility, gain, honesty, keeping secrets, peace of mind, weddings

*Celery seed* Planet: Saturn/Mercury Element: Earth Main magickal uses: Psychic development Other magickal uses: Beauty, divination, fertility, love, passion

*Cinnamon* Planet: Mercury/Sun/Mars/Uranus (take your pick!) Element: Air/Fire Main magickal uses: Clairvoyance, consecration, divination, energy, good luck, love, money, passion, peace, prosperity, protection, psychic development, success Other magickal uses: communication, happiness, harmony, healing, inspiration, knowledge, meditation, purification, spirituality, tranquility, wisdom Lore: Paul Beyerl suggests that cinnamon be paired with tourmaline for best effect. Cinnamon is important as a purification incense in China. Do not use externally on the body, as it irritates the skin.

*Cloves* Planet: Sun/Jupiter Element: Fire Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, divination, exorcism, keeps away negative forces, love, memory, money, passion, peace of mind, protection, psychic protection, purification, stopping gossip Other magickal uses: cleansing, friendship, psychic development, release, spell-breaking Lore: Cloves were originally grown in China, and made their way to Europe in the fourth centure CE (Common Era). They, like cinnamon, are not grown in the United States, but are imported.

*Coriander* (also called Cilantro) Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: love Other magickal uses: clairvoyance, divination, fertility, gain, health, keeping secrets, passion, peace, protection, retention, weddings

*Dill* Planet: Mercury Element: Earth/Fire Main magickal uses: love, protection, psychic protection Other magickal uses: Blessings, confidence, determination, dreams, fertility, gain, harmony, keeping secrets, money, passion, peace, prevents theft, retention, rest, sleep, tranquility Lore: Some hold that Dill is such a Mercurial herb that it should not be used when Mercury is in retrograde. It has a long tradition of use as a protection against magic: an old rhyme says, “Vervaine and dill/ Hinder witches of their will.” (Another version says, “Trefoil, vervain, St. John’s Wort, dill/ Hinder witches of their will.” In either case, this is specifically meant against evil witches: the healers actually used all of these herbs.)

*Fennel* Planet: Mercury Element: Air/Fire Main magickal uses: confidence, courage, fertility, longevity, love, Midsummer, protection, psychic protection, purification, strength Other magickal uses: Commanding, consecration, divination, energy, gain, meditation, Summer rituals, virility Lore: Fennel was used by the Saxons and by Jewish mystics as an asperger and purifying herb. It also had a history of use by the Greeks, Romans, and Germans, and it followed colonists to the New World. Aoumiel associates it with the God.

*Garlic* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: exorcism, magic, passion, protection, spell-breaking, strength Other magickal uses: clairvoyance, commanding, confidence, consecration, courage, divination, healing, longevity, money, overcoming opposition, prevents nightmares, purification, stopping gossip, success, weather (fair) Lore: Garlic is one of the few “herbs” whose powers have survived into modern superstition, where it gives protection against vampires. (Silver RavenWolf says that it is also helpful against psychic vampires.) The Greeks attributed it to Hecate, the primary goddess of magic. It is also sacred to the Great Mother, Cybele. Its use actually goes back even further to the Sumerians. Besides its strong psychic protection, it also protects health when eaten regularly. It was beloved in most ancient societies that had it, to the extent that the builders of the Pyramids were paid partially in garlic, and at one point went on strike to get more (according to graffiti inside the Pyramids, left by the workers). *Ginger* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: love, passion, psychic protection Other magickal uses: cursing, health, psychic development, sensuality, success

*Lavender* (a stretch, but it appears in some gourmet recipes) Planet: Mercury Element: Air Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, happiness, healing, love, Midsummer, money, passion, peace, peace of mind, protection, psychic protection, purification, tranquility Other magickal uses: blessings, chastity, divination, dreams, energy, gentleness, good luck, grieving, harmony, keeping secrets, magic (esp. to increase the duration of a spell), meditation, memory, psychic development, retention, ritual, sleep, stability, virility, weddings Lore: Attributed by some to Hecate, Saturn, and snake goddesses. Aoumiel also calls it attractive to elves.

*Lovage* Planet: Venus/Sun Element: Earth/Water Main magickal uses: love Other magickal uses: beauty, cleansing, consecration, money, passion, protection, psychic protection, purification Lore: The main uses concern love and beauty, hence, one assumes, the name “Lovage.”

*Mace* Planet: Mercury Element: Air Main magickal uses: Clairvoyance Other magickal uses: fertility, gain, good luck, love, protection

*Marjoram* Planet: Venus/Mercury Element: Air Main magickal uses: grieving, happiness, love, money, protection, psychic development, psychic protection,tranquility, weddings Other magickal uses: Animals, cleansing, courage, dreams (of love), harmony, peace, rituals for the dead, success Lore: Attributed to Venus by the Romans, but also sometimes to Aphrodite, Thor and Jupiter. In case you’re confused about the use for both grieving and happiness, it is meant to restore happiness to the grief-stricken.

*Mustard seed* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: fertility, health, love, passion, protection Other magickal uses: commanding, cursing, exorcism, gain, good luck, sensuality, spell-breaking, strength, success, virility

*Nutmeg* Planet: Jupiter Element: Fire/Air Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, divination, money Other magickal uses: dreams, fertility, gain, love, meditation, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, rest, sleep

*Onion* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: exorcism, protection Other magickal uses: Clairvoyance, cleansing, contacting other planes, divination, healing, lunar rites, magic, purification, spell-breaking Lore: The link to the moon seems to be mostly due to color and shape. In protective magick, just as in cooking, onion is often combined with garlic.

*Oregano* Planet: Venus Element: Air Main magickal uses: happiness, tranquility Other magickal uses: Animals, grieving, harmony, love, peace, protection, psychic development, weddings

*Parsley* Planet: Saturn Element: Earth Main magickal uses: divination, happiness, passion, protection, psychic development, purification Other magickal uses: clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, contacting other planes, fertility, good luck, invokation, meditation, rituals for the dead, speed Lore: Sacred to Persephone, parsley was used in the victory wreaths of the Isthmian games by the Greeks. Some also attribute it to Aphrodite and Venus, and with Mother goddesses. Parsley was thought to come from from the blood of Archemorus, a servant of Death.

*Pepper* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: cursing, exorcism, passion, protection Other magickal uses: commanding, sensuality, spell-breaking, stops envy Lore: Stings the eyes when burned.

*Peppermint* Planet: Venus Element: Air Main magickal uses: cleansing, consecration, dreams, happiness, healing, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, purification, release, renewal, rest, sleep Other magickal uses: Animals, divination, endings, energy, exorcism, good luck, grieving, spirit offering, success, transformation Lore: Mints are sacred to the god Hades, because (as happened with Daphne and Apollo–see *bay*) a young lovely named Minthe was transformed into a mint to keep her from Hades’ embrace. Peppermint is also sometimes attributed to Zeus. Paul Beyerl suggests pairing peppermint with topaz or chalcedony for best effect.

*Poppyseed* Planet: Moon Element: Water Main magickal uses: dreams Other magickal uses: Binding, clairvoyance, consecration, cursing, fertility, prosperity Lore: In Greece, poppies belonged to Hypnos and Somnos, sleep gods. (Remember “The Wizard of Oz?” “Poppies will make them sleeeeep!”) They are also associated with Ceres. If you eat poppyseeds shortly before taking a drug test, you may test positive for heroin, which comes from opium, a kind of poppy. This kinship may also explain some of its magickal functions.

*Rosemary* Planet: Sun Element: Fire Main magickal uses: cleansing, confidence, consecration, courage, exorcism, good luck, grieving, happiness, healing, knowledge, love, memory, passion, peace of mind, prevents theft, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, release, ritual, rituals for the dead, water rites/sea rituals, weddings Other magickal uses: blessings, dreams, endings, energy, elves, fidelity, honesty, inspiration, invokation, longevity, meditation, new moon, prevents nightmares, sleep, strength, transformation, wisdom, Yule Lore: Rosemary is associated in Shakespeare’s play “Hamlet” with remembrance, so its link to memory is old. Even older are its associations with general magic and healing, with feminine power–folklore had it that a healthy rosemary plant grew where a woman was head of the family–and with goddesses, especially of the sea. Catholic healers associated it with Mary. Aoumiel calls it attractive to elves. Its reputation is that of an all-purpose herb that will help with practically anything.

*Saffron* Planet: Sun Element: Fire Main magickal uses: Clairvoyance, divination Other magickal uses: cleansing, commanding, consecration, exorcism, healing, magic, psychic development, purification, spell-breaking, weather (raises wind)

*Sage* Planet: Mercury/Jupiter Element: Earth Main magickal uses: cleansing, healing, longevity, money, passion, prosperity, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, wisdom Other magickal uses: business, clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony, energy, happiness, inspiration, keeping secrets, knowledge, love, Mabon, meditation, peace, retention, Samhain, tranquility, weddings, Yule Lore: The kind of sage found in the kitchen was brought to the New World by colonists, and was especially popular among Germans. It should not be confused with sagebrush.

*Savory* Planet: Venus Element: Air Main magickal uses: passion Other magickal uses: Animals, attracts males, happiness, love, satyrs, sensuality, virility Lore: Savory is ruled by and named after the satyrs, thus its many ties to sexual affairs. It was a favorite of the Romans for parties.

*Spearmint* Planet: Venus Element: Air Main magickal uses: consecration, happiness, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development Other magickal uses: Animals, dreams, endings, exorcism, healing, good luck, release, renewal, rest, sleep, spirit offering, success, transformation Lore: see *peppermint.*

*Star Anise* Planet: Mercury/Jupiter Element: Air/Water Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, good luck, protection, psychic development Other magickal uses: consecration, contacting other planes, divination, exorcism, fertility, gain, invokation, justice, love, money, passion, preventing nightmares, psychic protection, spiritual places Lore: Primarily used in Japan, around temples and burial sites. It is also called Chinese Anise.

*Tarragon* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: commanding, confidence, courage, passion, protection, strength Other magickal uses: Animals, calming, keeping secrets, love, peace, prevents theft, retention, sensuality, virility Lore: The Latin name, “Artemesia dracunculus,” means “little dragon of Artemis.” It seems to carry many of Artemis’s qualities, in both her Olympian (courage and strength) and pre-Olympian (passion and sensuality) forms.

*Thyme* Planet: Venus Element: Air Main magickal uses: clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, courage, divination, dreams, exorcism, faeries, happiness, healing, love, money, prevents nightmares, protection, psychic development, purification Other magickal uses: compassion, confidence, contacting other planes, grieving, magic, meditation, Midsummer, passion, release, renewal, rituals for the dead, Summer rituals, wishing Lore: Thyme has strong ties to faery lore. Paul Beyerl pairs it with pearls.

*Turmeric* Planet: Mars Element: Fire Main magickal uses: passion Other magickal uses: commanding, confidence, courage, exorcism, magic, sensuality, spell-breaking, strength *Vanilla* Planet: Jupiter Element: Fire Main magickal uses: love, passion Other magickal uses: Energy, new moon

Others

*Animals* marjoram, oregano, peppermint, savory, spearmint, tarragon, wintergreen

*Beauty* celery seed, lovage

*Binding * ginger, mustard seed, pepper, poppyseed

*Blessings* dill, lavender, rosemary

*Business* sage

*Calming* tarragon

*Chastity* lavender

*Clairvoyance* anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, garlic, lavender, mace, nutmeg, onion, parsley, poppyseed, saffron, sage, star anise, thyme

*Cleansing* anise, cloves, lavender, lovage, marjoram, onion, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme

*Commanding* basil, fennel, garlic, mustard seed, pepper, saffron, tarragon, turmeric *Communication* cinnamon

*Compassion* thyme *

Confidence* dill, fennel, garlic, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric

*Consecration* anise, basil, bay, caraway, cinnamon, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, parsley, peppermint, poppyseed, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme

*Contacting other planes* anise, onion, parsley, star anise, thyme, wintergreen

*Courage* basil, fennel, garlic, marjoram, rosemary, tarragon, thyme, turmeric

*Death rituals (rites for the dead)* basil, marjoram, parsley, rosemary, thyme

*Determination* dill

*Divination* anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, fennel, garlic, lavender, nutmeg, onion, parsley, peppermint, saffron, sage, star anise, thyme

*Dragons* basil, tarragon

*Dreams* bay, dill, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, peppermint, poppyseed, rosemary, spearmint, thyme

*Elements* Air–anise, caraway, cinnamon, fennel, lavender, mace, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, savory, spearmint, star anise, thyme Fire–basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, nutmeg, onion, pepper, rosemary, tarragon, turmeric, vanilla Water–lovage, poppyseed, rosemary, star anise Earth–celery seed, dill, lovage, parsley, sage, wintergreen

*Elves* rosemary

*Endings* bay, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint

*Energy* cinnamon, fennel, lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage, vanilla

*Envy, stopping* pepper

*Exorcism* basil, bay, cloves, garlic, mustard seed, onion, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, spearmint, star anise, thyme, turmeric

*Faeries* thyme

*Fertility* anise, basil, caraway, celery seed, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, mace, mustard seed, nutmeg, parsley, poppyseed, star anise

*Fidelity* caraway, rosemary

*Friendship* cloves

*Gain* anise, caraway, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, mace, mustard seed, nutmeg, star anise

*Gentleness* lavender

*Good luck* anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, lavender, mace, mustard seed, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, star anise, wintergreen

*Gossip, stopping* cloves, garlic

*Grieving* basil, lavender, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, thyme

*Happiness* anise, basil, cinnamon, lavender, marjoram, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, thyme

*Harmony* basil, bay, cinnamon, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage

*Hatred* basil

*Health/healing* bay, cinnamon, coriander/cilantro, garlic, ginger, lavender, mustard seed, onion, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, thyme

*Honesty* basil, caraway, rosemary

*Initiation* basil

*Inspiration* basil, bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage

*Invokation* basil, parsley, rosemary, star anise

*Justice* bay, star anise

*Keeping secrets* caraway, coriander/cilantro, dill, lavender, sage, tarragon

*Knowledge*bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage

*Longevity* fennel, garlic, rosemary, sage

*Love* anise, basil, bay, caraway, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, ginger, lavender, lovage, mace, marjoram, mustard seed, nutmeg, oregano, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme, vanilla

*Lunar rites* onion, rosemary, vanilla

*Magic* bay, garlic, lavender, onion, saffron, thyme, turmeric

*Meditation* cinnamon, fennel, lavender, nutmeg, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme (Yes, there they are! Go and meditate on “Scarborough Fair.”)

*Memory* bay, caraway, cloves, lavender, rosemary

*Money* anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, dill, garlic, lavender, lovage, marjoram, nutmeg, peppermint, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme, wintergreen

*Nightmares, preventing* anise, garlic, rosemary, star anise, thyme

*Opposition, overcoming* bay, garlic

*Passion* anise, basil, bay, caraway, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, garlic, ginger, lavender, lovage, mustard seed, nutmeg, parsley, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, sage, savory, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme, turmeric, vanilla

*Peace* basil, bay, cinnamon, coriander/cilantro, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage, tarragon

*Peace of mind* caraway, cloves, lavender, rosemary

*Planets* Sun–bay, cinnamon, cloves, lovage, rosemary, saffron Moon–poppyseed Mercury–anise, caraway, celery seed, cinnamon, dill, fennel, lavender, mace, marjoram, sage, star anise, wintergreen Venus–lovage, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, savory, spearmint, thyme Mars–basil, cinnamon, coriander, garlic, ginger, mustard seed, onion, pepper, tarragon, turmeric Jupiter–anise, cloves, nutmeg, sage, star anise, vanilla Saturn–celery seed, parsley

*Prosperity* basil, cinnamon, nutmeg, poppyseed, sage, spearmint *

Protection* anise, basil, bay, caraway, cinnamon, cloves, coriander/cilantro, dill, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, mace, marjoram, mustard seed, nutmeg, onion, oregano, parsley, pepper, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, star anise, tarragon, thyme

*Psychic development* anise, basil, bay, celery seed, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, lavender, marjoram, nutmeg, oregano, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, spearmint, star anise, thyme

*Psychic protection* anise, basil, bay, cloves, dill, fennel, ginger, lavender, lovage, marjoram, rosemary, sage, star anise

*Purification* anise, basil, bay, cinnamon, cloves, fennel, garlic, lavender, lovage, onion, parsley, peppermint, rosemary, saffron, sage, thyme *

Release* bay, cloves, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint, thyme

*Renewal* peppermint, spearmint, thyme

*Rest* dill, nutmeg, peppermint, spearmint

*Retention* caraway, dill, lavender, sage, tarragon

*Ritual (general)* lavender

*Satyrs* savory

*Sea/water rituals* rosemary

*Sensuality* caraway, ginger, mustard seed, pepper, savory, tarragon, turmeric

*Sleep* dill, lavender, nutmeg, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint

*Speed* parsley

*Spell-breaking* basil, bay, cloves, garlic, mustard seed, onion, pepper, saffron, turmeric

*Spirit offering* peppermint, spearmint

*Spirituality* cinnamon

*Spiritual places* star anise

*Stability* lavender

*Strength* basil, bay, fennel, garlic, mustard seed, rosemary, tarragon, turmeric

*Success* basil, bay, cinnamon, garlic, ginger, marjoram, mustard seed, peppermint, spearmint

*Summer rituals (Spring Equinox through Fall Equinox)* fennel, lavender, thyme

*Theft, preventing* basil, caraway, dill, rosemary, tarragon

*Tranquility* basil, bay, cinnamon, dill, lavender, marjoram, oregano, sage

*Transformation* bay, peppermint, rosemary, spearmint

*Virility* fennel, lavender, mustard seed, savory, tarragon

*Weather* garlic (fair), saffron (raise wind) (Note: since you don’t get any rain-making herbs, one of the very few shortcomings of the kitchen herbal, I will tell you that another folk method of bringing rain is to dip a broom into water and shake it out in the air. Or, you can go the modern route and wash your car.)

*Weddings* anise, caraway, coriander/cilantro, lavender, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, sage

*Winter rituals (Fall Equinox through Spring Equinox)* basil, bay, rosemary, sage

*Wisdom* bay, cinnamon, rosemary, sage

*Wishes* bay, thyme

Credits:

http://windspirit57.tripod.com/id4.html

and

http://www.wejees.net/herbs.html

Whipped cream, anyone?

…well.

Reblog with your Hogwarts house and your Pokemon Go team, I wanna test a theory…

GOP Platform Proposes To Get Rid Of National Parks And National Forests

By Jenny Rowland / Think Progress 7/15 The Republican platform committee met this week to draft the document that defines the party’s official principles and policies. Along with provisions on pornography and LGBT “conversion therapy” is an amendment calling for the indiscriminate and immediate disposal of national public lands.

The inclusion of this provision in the Republican Party’s platform reflects the growing influence of and ideological alliance between several anti-park members of the GOP and anti-government extremists, led by Cliven Bundy, who dispute the federal government’s authority over national public lands.

“Congress shall immediately pass universal legislation providing a timely and orderly mechanism requiring the federal government to convey certain federally controlled public lands to the states,” reads the adopted language. “We call upon all national and state leaders and representatives to exert their utmost power and influence to urge the transfer of those lands identified.”

The provision calls for an immediate full-scale disposal of “certain” public lands, without defining which lands it would apply to, leaving national parks, wilderness areas, wildlife refuges, and national forests apparently up for grabs and vulnerable to development, privatization, or transfer to state ownership.

Keep reading