Oil of Earthworms!

I just discovered a wonderful video series called the Victorian Pharmacy.  One of the ancient recipes they offer is Oil of Earthworms. 

Ewwwwww!  Gross!

Other than that yicky recipe, it is a wonderful series full of beauty, herbal lore & the promotion of natural remedies from our ancestors.

I invite you to watch The Victorian Pharmacy



There are 4 episodes on youtube. Enjoy!!!


Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

Spiritual & Medicinal Herbalism

Over the past 2 years, I've been studying Western Herbalism & have recently finished my Family Herbalism Certification.  Now, I move on to Community Herbalism & clinical practice.  

 

All of this study, practice & research has led me to a theory:

 

There is little difference today between the practice of medicine & the practice of folk healer or shaman:

Physician	Shaman
Begins study in teen years & maintains professional knowledge through continuing education	Recognized by early teens & apprenticed/studied since that time; modifies practice based on experience & further study
Prescribes medications & behavior modification for healing	Prescribes medicinal/magical herbs & behavior modification for healing
Uses ritual to establish authority during healing process	Uses ritual to establish authority during healing process
Bases decisions on tests & intuition	Bases decisions on tests & intuition
Knowledge is based on experimental data & tradition that is tested for validity	Knowledge is based on experimental data & tradition that is tested for validity
Has varied success rates	Has varied success rates
Treatment carries risks	Treatment carries risks
All patients eventually die	All patients eventually die

Now, obviously, there are GREAT differences in the way these healers think.  Those immersed in conventional Western medicine are rooted in science, where traditional healers are rooted in mystery.  

Wise men & women of the past & present were & are very connected to the land.   

Most of our modern medicines have their roots in the practices of these respected healers, but have completely abandoned the mystery & spirit of the land from which their practices are rooted.

Most of us have been living immersed in the idea that these experts are responsible for health.  We have forgotten that 80% of the time, our bodies will heal themselves if we just support them & get out of the way.

We have been so disconnected from our own bodies & nature that we have developed a collective amnesia.  We have forgotten how to commune with nature, how to recognize healing & nourishing plants.   

Even we, who call ourselves Witches, tend to rely on the study, experience & advice of others rather than our own intuition & experience. 

So, what are we to do?

It is time we reconnect!

The best way to know nature is to spend time with her.   

Plants have spirits, unique energy.  They WANT to connect with us.  Our genes are programmed to connect with them.  Together, we can heal.

It is high time that we, witches, women & men of the Earth, start chatting up our plant allies.

If the thought of having a chat with a daisy makes you feel silly, think of this:

Plants and people, actually all living beings, have, at the very core of their being, within their very DNA, particles of light that can become coherent.  These particles of light are called biophotons.  Biophotons are ultra weak light rays, that do not break apart, but maintain a beam of light that radiates out & interacts with other biophoton rays in the surrounding environment. The theory, presented by Fitz Popp, German biophysicist, is that this light carries with it a certain intelligence that is the foundation for communication between living things.   So, when you’re with plants, animals, basically any living being, you ARE communicating!  Biophotons are only one method of communication.  We also know that everything carries with it a vibration from the movement of atoms & sub-atomic particles. 

Using these principles, it is pretty easy imagine our communication with any living being.

But, even if we acknowledge the possibility of communicating with flora & fauna, we are also conditioned by our upbringing & society to classify everything using a system of hierarchy. 

Typical Western Hierarchy:

Deity

Self

Other Humans Like Us

Other Humans Unlike Us

Mammals (divided into edible & non-edible animals or predator & prey, etc.)

Avian Creatures

Sea Creatures (also divided)

Reptilian/Amphibian Creatures

Insects

Plants

Bacteria & Fungi & Viruses

One of the biggest impediments to our communication with plants, animals & even other humans is this notion of hierarchy.  

As soon as we start to classify one person or life form as being greater than another, we begin to distance ourselves from that living being. 

In order to open ourselves to the wonders of the world, we need to abandon our ideas of hierarchy & think less of food chains & higher levels of evolutionary development & begin to think In terms of the interconnectedness of all, the web of life.

So, it's time to reconnect, how do we go about it?

A Few Activities to Connect with Nature

•      Take a walk in nature

•      Grow plants

•      Visit a local nursery

•      Taste fresh herbs

•      Head to a botanical garden

•      Meditate in a garden

•      Take a Wild Weed Walk

Connecting With a Particular Plant

       Abandon Hierarchy – remember we live in a Web, all connected

·         Spend Time & fully connect (lay directly on the ground)

·         Maintain skepticism, but suspend disbelief

·         Use all your senses

·         Consider the automatic connection that occurs with respiration –                   oxygen/carbon dioxide

·         Be aware of the tendency to anthropomorphize – useful to a point

·         Notice & Identify your feelings using feeling words

·         Observe aerial view of the habitat –  a clue to plant’s properties

Sun	Shade	Partial Sun/Shade
Drying	Moist	Balancing
Warm	Cool
Masculine	Feminine

·      

           Use a 10x magnifying glass to observe the details

·         Touch

·         Taste

·         Smell – most stimulating to memory (genetic memory also)

·         Observe throughout cycles (day/night, seasons)

·         Communicate

o   Meditation works nicely at first

o   Verbal communication isn’t usually effective unless you are a "natural" plant communicator

o   Use light, breath, sound, care, offerings

·         When you get bored, stay! Only then will you open to the next level

·         Record your experiences

o   Journal your feelings & findings

o   Photographs

·         Return & Repeat

If you continue these exercises & those that come to you from your intuition, you will soon find plants calling to you in your dreams...honor them, look them up.  You may be amazed at how accurate plant dreams become once you deeply connect with these allies!

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

Bath of Visions

Well, I'm all done with Family Herbalism & am on to Community Herbalism.  Whew!  Time for a bath.

One of my favorite baths is a Bath of Vision.  I've used this multiple times & it has been quite consistent in bringing on a vision in coordination with meditation.  The first time FREAKED ME OUT it was so powerful. I would be very careful to cleanse & shield your area prior to doing this & then soak, relax, get into your meditative state & delve into the world of dreams.

Bath of Vision

Add 20 drops of Clary Sage & 1 ounce of dried Mugwort leaves (in a muslin bag) to a warm bath.  Pour yourself a small glass of your favorite wine*.  Light a stick of your favorite incense.  Put on some peaceful music that keeps a steady tempo (I like Reiki music or shamanic drumming for this purpose).

Sink into the bath & use whatever method brings you to your meditative state (I love Christopher Penczak's Inner Temple Meditation) & let the visions come to you.

It is best to ground & center after any vision work, but I've found it very important after a vision bath! 

*Most resources suggest that "clary sage enhances the effects of alcohol, so it is not wise to imbibe during use.  I'll leave this up to you, but remember The information presented on Hidden Witch is for entertainment & education purposes only & is not a substitute for good judgment or medical advice. 

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

Herbal Shampoo & Conditioner

Using this wonderful template from Mountain Rose, yesterday I created my own herbal shampoo/body wash.

Not only is this healthier & less expensive, the scent & feel is so wonderfully luxurious that I thought I'd share the recipe:

HiddenWitch Herbal Shampoo

8oz distilled water

3oz Castile Soap

1Tbsp dried Nettle

1tsp dried Sage

2tsp dried Basil

2tsp dried Rosemary

20 drops Rose Essential Oil

10 drops Rosemary Essential Oil

1/4 tsp Olive Oil

Make an infusion of the herbs & water - almost boiling water poured over the herbs, cover & allow to sit overnight.  Decant herbs (strain & squeeze out all the goodness from the herbs).  Compost the herbs & reserve the tissane.

Add to the tissane the castile, oil & essential oils & pour into an old shampoo bottle that has been well cleaned. 

Shake before using.

This produces a liquid, not a gel-type soap.  It is very bubbly & smells amazing!

I don't use commercial conditioners, but instead use Queen of Hungary water from the recipe in Rosemary Gladstar's book as a rinse.  This step is really important, because the shampoo opens the follicles of the hair shaft & your hair will feel really dry (clean) & is more fragile in this state.  The vinegar rinse closes the shaft & brings the amazing softness & returns the strength of your hair.

When I'm done, I rinse my hair with lukewarm water & it feels so thick & soft!  Much nicer than any commercial product.

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

Free Herbal Seminar - Kiva Rose

This week I had the opportunity to attend an online seminar on Folk Herbalism held by Herb Mentor & Kiva Rose. 

What a wonderful hour!  Kiva discussed the importance of folk medicine in its various forms & how to support the sustainability of these traditions.  Then, she introduced us to a plant ally of hers, Evening Primrose.

The seminar is available for free replay until 5/22/11, so check it out:


Root to Fruit Webinar Replay

Evening Primrose

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

Herb Webinar!!

Mountain Rose & Learning Herbs are teaming up to provide a free herbal webinar with Rosemary Gladstar on Wednesday, March 23rd.

To register, go to: herbwebinar.com

Hope to find you there!!

Wild & Bright Blessings,

~*Rhi*~
    )O(

Rose Glycerite

Valentine's Day seemed the perfect day for making Rose Glycerite.

Ruled by Venus & the Element Water, Rose has always been associated with love.  Deities associated with Rose are Hathor, Hulda, Eros, Cupid, Demeter, Isis, Adonis, Harpocrates & Aurora. 

Rose also has the power to heal & calm (along with increasing psychic strength, divination, protection & luck).

My Rose Glycerite was made with the intention to heal of past wounds inflicted by me & others, so it has been infused with the intention of self-love. 
First, I placed a handful of dried red roses into a small jar, then I covered them with vegetable glycerine & put in a small, rose quartz bead.

Next, I cast sacred space around the Love Altar that resides in our bedroom, placing the potion on the altar.  After lighting the candles, I placed a rose quartz generator on top of the jar.

To raise energy, I meditated on opening my heart chakra & then chanted Ohm with the jar nestled in my sports bra, between my breasts (sounds a little odd, but it's a great way to transfer vibrations!) & the generator in my lap.  Following my instincts, I then chanted my name, the word heart, the word, love & the word healing, over & over until the jar was warmed by my heat & the vibrations. 

Finally, I opened the jar & chanted these words directly into the potion.  With every inhale, I experienced the wonderful fragrance of roses.

Lifting the circle, at the end, I felt a deep peace.

The jar of Rose Glycerite will need to sit for 4-6 weeks under the generator quartz, in a dark place to mature.  Each day, I will open the jar, stir the mixture & chant love into the potion. At the end of maturation time, I will decant the concoction into an amber or blue vial, adding a tablespoon of brandy as an additional preservative.

Of course, on the 19th, I will be taking my new creation out under the Full Moon!

Once it is mature, Rose Glycerite has amazing heart-healing (emotional) properties.  It is especially wonderful for self-forgiveness & for overcoming childhood traumas.  You only need a drop or two & it can be taken directly on the tongue or placed into a bottle of water for sipping.

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

Connecting With Plant Spirits

As an eclectic, green witch, I am learning a lot about the power of our plant friends. This week, I am excited & honored to be teaching a workshop on Spiritual Herbalism to a wonderful group of witches here in Central Florida.  

Here is just a taste of our workshop:

Connecting With Plant Spirits

The best way to know our plant friends is to spend time with them.   

Plants have spirits, unique energy.   

Think of a child communing with a flower.  There is magick in that moment.  Spend some time with your plant friends, get to know them better.  It will drastically improve your herbal workings!

If this makes you feel silly, think about this - Plants and people, actually all living beings, have, at the very core of their being, within their very DNA, particles of light that can become coherent.  These particles of light are called biophotons.  Biophotons are ultra weak light rays, that do not break apart, but maintain a beam of light that radiates out & interacts with other biophoton rays in the surrounding environment. The theory, presented by Fitz Popp, German biophysicist, is that this light carries with it a certain intelligence that is the foundation for communication between living things.   So, when you’re with plants, animals, basically any living being, you ARE communicating!  Biophotons are only one method of communication.  We also know that everything carries with it a vibration from the movement of atoms & sub-atomic particles. 

Using these principles, it is pretty easy imagine our communication with any living being.

But, even if we acknowledge the possibility of communicating with flora & fauna, we are also conditioned by our upbringing & society to classify everything using a system of hierarchy.  

Typical Western Hierarchy:

One of the biggest barriers to our communication with plants, animals & even other humans is this notion of hierarchy.  

As soon as we start to classify one person or life form as being greater than another, we begin to distance ourselves from that living being.  

In order to open ourselves to the wonders of the world, we need to abandon our ideas of hierarchy & think less of food chains & higher levels of evolutionary development.  

We must begin to think In terms of the interconnectedness of all, the web of life.

We, mainstream Americans, have been disconnected with this web for many generations.  We have lost our ability to communicate with nature.  


So, how do we reconnect?

We build this relationship as we would build any relationship.  We spend time together with open minds & hearts.
 

A Few Activities to Connect with Nature

•      Take a walk in nature

•      Grow plants

•      Visit a local nursery

•      Taste fresh herbs

•      Head to a botanical garden

•      Meditate in a garden

•      Take a Wild Weed Walk

Once we are comfortable being away from our technology (leave the iPod at home, please!), we can begin to build a relationship with a particular plant.


Simply notice a plant in your surroundings that draws your interest, & start connecting:

Connecting With a Particular Plant 

• Abandon Hierarchy – remember the Web
• Spend Time & fully connect (lay directly on the ground)
• Maintain skepticism, but suspend disbelief
• Use all your senses
• Consider the automatic connection that occurs with respiration –   oxygen/carbon dioxide
• Be aware of the tendency to anthropomorphize – useful to a point
• Notice & Identify your feelings using words
• Observe aerial view of the habitat –  a clue to plant’s properties

Sun	Shade	Partial Sun/Shade
Drying	Moist	Balancing
Warm	Cool
Masculine	Feminine

• Use a 10x magnifying glass to observe the details
• Touch
• Smell – most stimulating to memory (genetic memory also)
• Taste
• Observe throughout cycles (day/night, seasons)
• Communicate 
• Meditation works nicely at first
• Verbal communication isn’t usually effective
• Use light, breath, sound, care
• When you get bored, stay! Only then will you open to the next level
• Record your experience
• Journal your feelings & finding
• Photographs
• Return & Repeat

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(

Mighty Oak

Today was a beautiful in Central Florida, so I headed to one of my favorite spots, Gemini Springs.

The Sun was shining & I quickly settled in to spend some time with my new friends, the oak trees:
 

 My favorite tree:

When we 1st met, I went to sit in the center of this oak.  Because of my arrogance, I was thinking about what I could gain from being close & inside this magnificent being.  I immediately felt like I was intruding.  Upon looking around, I saw hundreds of footsteps & even some carving in the bark.  Now, I visit the tree & offer it healing energy & honor while picking up trash that others leave.  We are becoming fast friends & I always feel welcomed by this beautiful tree.  I make sure to be completely calm & centered before I approach this very sensitive & abused being. 

Here are some quick impressions from visiting these Mighty Oaks:

Resilliant

Strong

Prolific Reproducer

Heavy & Hearty Bark

Adaptable

Water Loving

Hefty,Not Showy

Sheltering

Nourishing

The oak is home to resurrection fern, Spanish moss & bromiliad plants.  He offers food to animals in the form of nuts. 

I like to meet & get to know a plant prior to looking it up, so when I got home I pulled out Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, here is a bit of what is listed:

Oak is masculine, associated with the Sun & Fire.  He is associated with the deities Dagda, Dianus, Jupiter, Thor, Zeus, Heme, Janus, Rhea, Cybele, Hecate, Pan & Erato.

Oak's Powers are Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility & Luck.

Some say the words oak & Druid are related.  Religious idols were fashioned from oak & witches often danced beneath the branches.

A few magical uses for Oak:

Oak is used magically for protection.  One form is to make an equal-armed cross with 2 oak twigs & red thread, hang it in your home.

Place acorns in windows to guard against lightening.  

A piece of oak carried is said to protect a person from all harm.  

Catch a falling oak leaf & you're protected from colds all winter.  Or carry an acorn for good health, youthfulness, fertility & strengthening sexual potency.

Carry any piece of oak to draw good luck.

Speaking of good luck, here is the path I found on my way home:

Wild & Bright Blessings!

~*Rhi*~

    )O(