The Healing Power of Trees

Knowing things like your astrological sign, planet, rune, ogham, power colors, or even totem, has become a running joke in our society. It's sadly synonymous with snake oil or even the fake television psychic Madame Cleo. It's right up there with believing the long island medium, or every paranormal, ghost busting show out there. 

In our judgmental society, you've got to hide your witchy urges under guises like, reading the newspaper, or even going to church, and you can blame so many people for that, the biggest one being Emperor Constantine, who declared that if you did not convert to Christianity, you'd be killed. This resulted in polytheists having to hide in plain sight, giving us practically every holiday we know in the modern world. It's funny how things work. 

Thankfully, this religion is making a comeback, and it's fairly common (at least where I'm located in the US) to see someone wearing a pentacle, mjolnir, yggdrasil, or even a gemstone of some kind. Why is this good news? Because no one is under the penalty of death for practicing witchcraft of any kind. however, not everything associated with this religion has been legal, though. That's a story for a different day.

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Duir-Oak

April 18 - May 15
7th Lunation, April/May

Description: The familiar oak grows from the acorn. It can grow into an enormous tree with a long life span. Its leaves can vary, but they keep to a similar shape.

Ogham: Duir 

Strength, stability, solid protection and grounding, doorway to the mysteries, fertility, spring, survival, thresholds, ancient knowledge

Class: Chieftan

Holiday: Beltane, May Day, May 1

Rune: Dagaz

Breakthroughs, radical transformation, disintegration of old forms, survival after the darkness, success, a new generation, doorways and thresholds

Totems: the bull, Venus, Mother Earth, Persephone, the daughter or maiden archetype, rabbits or hares, eggs

Astrology: Taurus

Symbol: the bull

Ruling Planet: Venus, the second house
Body Parts: Rules the throat, cerebellum, and back part of the brain
Colors: Blue and Pink
Keywords: Possessive, stable, loyal, determined, powerful, practical, materialistic, sensual, artistic, beauty, comfort

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In the Healing Power of Trees written by Sharlyn Hidalgo in which this is taken, details are given about The Duir/Oak Month; Totems, Guides, and Deities; Guided Meditation; and Oak Healing. It's remarkable, all of the things you can do with the energy of a simple tree. It shouldn't be a surprise, seeing as how the older a tree gets, apparently faces form in the bark as the spirit attempts to shine through, or so it has been rumored.  I doubt we'll ever know, either way, this is one of my favorite books and I've found it comforting on multiple occasions. 

Crochet Magick

It sounds ridiculous, right? A "magical" crochet blanket. Doesn't it sound like something straight out of harry potter? If we can get passed the 'shock' factor, we might better understand this practically unknown craft.

I was searching through google and found >this< post on tumblr. It makes sense, doesn't it? You let the project tell you what it wants to be, pour good intent into it, and gift it to the intended owner. Sure, it might not work, but so is the way of the world. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. This perfectly explains why I'm more attracted to the projects I've created with happy thoughts/intent, over the ones that have been created with ugly/depressive thoughts. I never quite understood it, and admitting the "energy" of it is off, sounds undeniably loony, but that's what it is. Charged objects are so fun. They could be anything, a necklace, talisman, stack of tarot, stuffed animal, blanket....anything. 

I thought you don't cast spells! And I don't. Instead, charging say, my diffuser necklace to help with my anxiety, coupled with the essential oil for that, helps. It aids me spiritually, as well as physically. Which makes sense, right? Pretty nifty. Charging your favorite objects with good intent, which brings us back to the subject at hand. 

Scenario: A person in your life is ill with something, and need an extra boost of love, encouragement and whatnot, so you make them a blanket. Every time they're upset, they turn to your gift. They don't know why, but they're drawn to it, and it does provide comfort. They won't admit that it's helping on a spiritual level, but it is, you know it, and they know it, and that's all you need.

As Stevie Nicks said, there is magick all around you. 

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Why charge your item:

Well you do not have to, if you do not want to. Some witches don't. However, magically charging it makes it in tune with you personally rather than just some mundane impersonal object. Not only that but you charge it with the magical properties that are important to your personal needs, desires, situations, etc. therefore making it specifically fashioned for your current living situation. In that way it can be quite an ally for you, in conjunction to other types of magic you perform. So in reality, I do not see why not. Charging an item that you wear, like a talisman, pentacle on a necklace, ring, or whatever, is to benefit you in some way.

Charging your item:

First think clearly on exactly what magical properties you want to instill into it. Maybe it won't hurt to clearly write out a list. Here is an example list: Protection, Strength, Healing, Power, Psychic abilities, Love, Attraction.....etc. You get the idea. 

Once you know exactly what you want to charge it with, find a comfortable spot inside or outside (although I prefer to do this outside), sit down and relax. Close your eyes and try to clear your mind til it is like a blank canvas. Once you have done that, pick up your item, clasp it in both hands loosely, and bring to your mouth, making sure there is an opening to breath into your item. Think of the energy running up and down your spine and then jetting down your arms, into your hands and going to the item. Feel more energy coming into you from the top of your head, down your spine and taking the same route to your hands. Then one by one, start putting the magical properties you want into the item. Starting out with something like protection....mantra the word into your item, while focusing on the word itself,especially the meaning, as you are breathing the word out loud into your item. When you sense you have filled the item with that property, move on to the next attribute you want into it, and so forth til you have fully charged it with all the attributes you want. When the item has absorbed it all, it is common to feel a tingly sensation while holding the item, or some other kind of sensation that indicates a charged object. After you've done it, do this at least a few times a year as needed to keep it nice and charged.

(Source)

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Magick: 1. An effort to make a change in ones life by using ones own personal energy and the energy of surrounding elements.

The "K" was brought back into use by Aleister Crowley in the 1900's to differentiate it from magic, the slight of hand tricks that became popular in the time. Most common belief is that Magick is evil and should not be tampered with; or is only possesed by "chosen" ones. Both of these statements are false.

Among my studies of the different forms of magick, I find the sacred arts of Abramelin to be the best foundation for developing your magickal abilities.

Protective Herb Sachet

Source: Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs 

Lavender

Power:  Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace

Magical Use: Lavender has long been used in love spells and sachets. Clothing nabbed with the fragrant flowers (or lavender placed in drawers with clothes) attracts love. A piece of paper on which you've rubbed lavender is excellent for writing love notes. The scent of lavender particularly attracts men, and lavender water or the essential oil was worn by prostitutes several centuries ago to both advertise their profession as well as to attract (through magic) customers. Lavender also protects against cruel treatment at the hands of a spouse if worn. 

These flowers are also burned or smoldered to induce sleep and rest, and are scattered about the home to maintain its peacefulness. The plant is so powerful that, if when depressed one gazes upon the plant, all sorrow will depart and a joyous feeling will settle upon the observer. Indeed, the odor of lavender is conducive to long life, and so should be smelled as often as possible if this is a concern. 

Lavender is also used in healing mixtures, carried to see ghosts, and worn to protect against the evil eye. It is added to purification baths. Despite lavender's love associations, in the Renaissance it was believed that lavender together with rosemary, if worn, would preserve a woman's chastity. 

A wish divination: Place lavender under your pillow while thinking of your wish. Do this just prior to retiring for the night. In the morning, if you have dreamed of anything relating to your wish, it will come true. However, if you did not have dreams, or if they were unconnected with your wish, it will not manifest. Lavindin is a type of lavender that was bred for its powerful scent. It is a particularly good choice for sachets and pillows.

Rose

Power: Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Love Divination, Luck, Protection

Magical Use: Roses have long been used in love mixtures, owing to the flower's associations with the emotions. A chaplet of roses worn when performing love spells (remove the thorns), or a single rose in a vase on the altar, are powerful love-magic aids. 

Rose water distilled from the petals is added to love baths. Rose hips (the fruit of the rose) are strung and worn as loveattracting beads. A tea of rosebuds drunk before sleep induces prophetic dreams. To discover their romantic future, women used to take three green rose leaves and name each for one of their lovers. The one that stayed green the longest answered the question of "which one?" 

Rose petals and hips are also used in healing spells and mixtures, and a rosewater saturated cloth laid to the temples will relieve headache pain. 

Roses are also added to fast-luck mixtures and, when carried, act as personal protectants. Rose petals sprinkled around the house calm personal stress and household upheavals. Roses planted in the garden attract fairies, and are said to grow best when stolen.

Flaxseed:

Power: Money, Protection, Beauty, Psychic Powers, Healing

Ritual Use: Flax was used in rituals to Hulda, the Teutonic Goddess who first taught mortals to cultivate flax, and to spin it into linen thread and weave it into cloth.

Magical Use: Flax seeds are used in money spells. A few can be placed in the pocket, wallet or purse, or ajar should be placed on the altar and a few coins, plus some flax seed, added. This should be repeated each day to attract money. A bit of flax in the shoe wards off poverty.

The blue flax flowers are worn as a preservative against sorcery. To protect yourself while asleep, mix equal parts flax seed and mustard seed and place this mixture next to your bed. On the other side of the bed place a pan of cold water. You will be guarded during your slumber.
Alternatively, a combination of red pepper and flax seed, kept in a box somewhere in the house, prevents evil from entering. To ensure that your child grows up to be a beautiful or handsome adult, let him or her dance among growing flax at the age of seven years.
Sprinkle the altar with flax seed while performing healing rituals, or include it in healing mixtures. To help cure lumbago, tie a hank of flax around the loins.
If you suffer from dizziness, this is a somewhat drastic cure: run naked, after sunset, three times through a field of flax. While you do this the flax will take to itself your dizziness and you'll be cured. You may get a cold, but you won't be dizzy!  

This is one of my personal creations.

I used 1/2 cup of dried rose petals, dried lavender buds, and organic flax seeds. I don't/can't grow my own plants to dry and use in these sorts of things, so we went to a place that has dried herbs for 'cheap', and bought the seeds at the grocery store. While I use it for aromatherapy purposes, I suppose the added benefits couldn't hurt either!. The pentacle on the front is for added protection. I don't want something horrible to be attracted to me because of this bag, so although the seeds have protective qualities, I wanted to ensure further that my husband and I would be safe.

When putting the herbs together, put them in an old nylon, and tie off the top. This'll prevent them from poking through the cloth you chose. These little pillows are excellent to help you sleep, especially if you use chamomile flowers. For me, I use it for the aromatherapy benefits, for others, they might appreciate the added knowledge of what flax can promote during a ceremony. 

About Me

Let's start this off with, I'm 25 years old. I've been a practicing pagan since 18, and have been eclectic in my practices. I don't conduct rituals or cast spells, I pray occasionally but focus mainly on what the earth has to give me. I have no idea how to classify myself, but if I had to, I'd go with kitchen witch and green witch. Why do I feel I'm a mix of both? I prefer working with anything my garden will provide and making something out of them like an excellent meal or beauty product. I'm very big into essential oils, and have been feeling extremely balanced, centered, and even connected to the earth ever since. If I do not have access to something by my own doing, I'll happily purchase it, one of my most recent ventures was flaxseed, rose, lavender, and chamomile pillows! It was extremely fun to make and they're very, very soothing as well. Having the opportunity to work directly with the dried herbs made my day. 

That's all for now, though. It's raining outside so I'm going to set a couple of jars up to catch the water. 

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Edit: I used to try to educate people on the positivity that can often stem from paganism, and share the history, but that threatened too many people. I was openly made fun of by family for my religious choice. Sure, I was overzealous with it, but they could have calmly sat me down and explained to me how they felt, instead of talking to their friends about me, and making fun of who I am. I won't name who it was, since all you need to know is that it was family, and family shouldn't treat you like this. Please don't ever hide who you are. I'm just now getting back to who I was. Changing yourself to appease other people will never make you happy! Always be true to yourself, so long as you love who you are. 

If you're the person making fun of your family: take a good, hard look at yourself. If you feel the urge to say "that person needs to learn more about their religion" because of symbols they may have tattooed onto their body, from differing cultures, don't say anything at all. Keep it in and research what you think you know about it. There are so many branches of this religion, just like Christianity, and each has its own symbology, lore, practices, and whatnot. It's constantly evolving and redefining what even us practitioners know. In this religion, we're all always learning, always growing, always reinventing, and never 'masters'. If you think you've learned all there is, you're wrong. Remember, assuming tends to make an ass out of yourself.

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When I was a child, my father would instill his love of nature, in me. He'd let me collect stones, and even help me break them open for me when I thought there might be quartz inside. He and I really bonded over this love, and I think that's what led to my religious choice. For as long as I can remember, he's never been one to feel comfortable sitting in a church, praying to someone he's questioned his entire life. Instead, he'd rather be out in the forest, watching the leaves sway against a blue sky, or sitting somewhere, safe observing the chaotic beauty of a storm. Even to this day, I'll never forget the look of absolute glee on his face, while we took the family ATVs out and explored the family cabin's land. Hopefully, that's something I'll be able to do with my future children. I learned so much in those days, and that's something I'll forever cherish. My mom would catch these moments on film. She learned alongside me and never once attempted to beat religion into me. The only choices of mine that she's hated are my tattoos, but she's accepted them nonetheless, because I'm her child.

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I don't cast spells not because I'm not a witch, but because I'm a practical person. I believe that if you want a change in your life, you have to be it. I believe that if you want more money, you work to get it, not cast a spell so it magically finds its way to you. I believe in Karma, and reincarnation as well. I also believe in psychic phenomena, ghosts, and an afterlife. I do believe that everything has an energy, especially if it came from the earth, and sometimes, you're able to tap into that energy, but I'm not dependent on it. As I said, I'm eclectic in my beliefs and practices.

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I do read tarot and cast runes, when the moment strikes me. I never use a ouija board as it's known to be directly connected with evil on several different occasions. If you think you want to use one, please do your research and take as many precautions as humanly possible. Always remember the law of three and never cast curses. Do unto others, as you would want done unto you. Harm ye none, and do as ye will.

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Being a witch does not give me the right to look down on other religions. I respect all and try to learn as much as humanly possible.

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I'm complicated and hope this blog will be a useful resource for anyone who respects me and uses it responsibly.

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Kitchen Witch: Kitchen witchcraft, or kitchen witchery, is a form of witchcraft practiced concurrently with tasks centered on the kitchen, such as cooking and baking, and making use of readily available items for rituals and spells rather than purpose-bought or purpose-made elements.

Green Witch: A Green Witch is normally someone who practices Natural Witchcraft. Someone who works with the Earth and the Universe around them. A Green Witch also works with the energies of natural objects like stones,gems,herbs,animals,and the elements.