Herb craft

Herbcraft: Forget-me-not

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Forget-me-not / Myosotis Arvensis
This is a sweet small blue flower, from the plant family Boraginaceae.
There are many species of Forget-me-not, growing in Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. Loving damp moist soil usually found in woodlands or by rivers.
The name Myosotis comes from the Greek meaning mouse’s ear.
According to Greek Mythology, Zeus thought he had names every plant when a small blue flower called to him Forget-me-not. He then used this name for the pretty blue flower.
In fairylore it is said to mark the place where fairies buried their treasure, but also can be used by the fairies as a decoy.
Symbolising true, never-ending love and fidelity, also representing truthfulness in a relationship.
In folklore this flower has been worn in the absence of a lover to show fidelity.
It is said a man was swept away picking some from a riverbank for his lover. His last words carried on the breeze “forget me not”
Native to North America and 1st known to be used in homeopathy in 1398 in England to treat King Henry IV.
Used today in homeopathy to treat cough with night sweats, chronic bronchitis, and inner chest and lung infections.
The herbalist Henry Lyte 1529-1607, uses the name scorpion-grass when referring to the forget me not.
This can only be used in homeopathy as a tincher as the plant is toxic and highly poisonous if ingested in any other way.
Lots of love Freya Witch x

Herb craft

Smudging!

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Here is a basic introduction to smudging.

Smudging is a way of clearing a space usually preformed before spell craft.
In recent years this practice has become much more popular within many communities.

You can smudge with a number of herbs amongst some are sweet grass and lavender.
More popular and my two favourites are Sage and Palo Santa.

Sage has been used since ancient times,
Used in ancient Roman, Greek and Egyptian medicine.
Very different to White sage. Romans offered a great ceremony when gathered, as Sage was sacred to the God Jupiter. The name Salvia is related to the Latin word salvere, meaning to heal, preserve or redeem.
European traditions denote Sage with wisdom, long life and even immortality.

In magical practice sage is known to be lucky and used often in spell craft for protection, cleansing and prosperity.

White sage dates back to the ancient practices of the native Americans.
Used to send prayers and when working with spirit. White sage grows in California. This is the one commonly used in smudging and the one I will be using today.

Palo Santa
This is not a leaf or flower but wooden sticks.
This tree is closely related to frankincense.
The smell is there very noticeably even before burning.
Different to white Sage which clears the space. Palo Santa adds to the space as well as cleanse away negative energies.
Filling your space with positive energies.
Palo Santa is also known to boast your immune system as well as relieve emotional stress, and works as a repellant to an array of insects.

You can read about basic herbs and their magical use in spells on my Herb-Craft page