Sometimes energy surrounds me and doesn’t let go. It feels curious at best, but even so, it’s typically distracting and occasionally uncomfortable. Recently, however, I had an experience that was profoundly terrifying. My husband touched my back with his hand and the next thing I knew, it was as if an entity had surrounded my whole being. It was terrifying. I’ve been hesitant to write about it, but enough time has passed since it happened, so here goes.

The energy was sticky and clingy, and I couldn’t get away from it. It spread out all over me, holding on with such an intensity that I could barely breathe. Despite my terror, I stayed present and aware throughout, but the energy felt intentional. It didn’t seem demonic or hostile necessarily, more curious than anything, as if it wanted to know something and wasn’t leaving until that purpose was accomplished.

When I was able to stay in control, I told the energy to leave and it did so. But the first time it happened, I became overwhelmed and unable to cope with how it felt. Fortunately, my husband was there, and although it wasn’t happening to him, he was disturbed enough by the experience that we were unable to speak of it until a couple of days later.

It happened several more times, but each time I pushed back, feeling into the energy to know. I felt a pressure, as if it didn’t want to leave, but thankfully, it didn’t become aggressive. I had the feeling that it really didn’t intend harm, and perhaps my pushing back allowed it to know that it went too far. So I relaxed into being when it came near, and it hasn’t visited me in a week or so.

I’ve been taking the precaution of not just shielding, but casting a circle as well wherever I am. Normally I wouldn’t go to such lengths, but until I have a better sense of what happened, I want the additional protection. I always cast a circle when performing Reiki. Some practitioners ground and center. I do that and cast a circle as well. I believe this same energy visited me when I was performing Reiki on my husband. I became overwhelmed shortly after beginning, feeling that same energy move over my back, and collapsed on my husband while he lay on the table. Then, I was fine and continued the session. A minute later, it happened again. Three times in total that day, but it’s never happened since.

It’s interesting that my husband was involved both times. It could be an energy that knows him, and simply wants to learn about me. Or it could be a coincidence given we’re together all the time. Either way, experiencing other energies can be odd, even for an empath. Energies will feel into and surround an empath all the time. It’s when we’re not paying attention that we have a difficult time staying in control. But I learned my lesson, and I’m much more cognizant of the energy around me.

I hesitate to say the energy was truly vampiric, although it surrounded me in the same way. But it didn’t feel icky, just overwhelming. In fact, I’m staying open to experiencing it again. Maybe I’ll figure out who it is next time.

~Casting circles and sending blessings to all!

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Resins

Most of the resins I use are from the trees around my home. Fir, pine, and juniper make wonderful resin for burning in a small cauldron or to mix with other herbs and essential oils. Herbal incenses are burned on censer charcoal and are used for purification, protection, cleansing, astral work, or for any intention.

Copal — purification, protection and may be substituted for frankincense
 Dragon’s Blood
 Frankincense
 Pine — from my own trees
 Fir — from my own trees
 Juniper- from my own trees
 Myrrh Gum
 Benzoin

Ritual Oils

Now in my Crone phase of life, my focus in using ritual oils is on my own spiritual alignment. I never perform spells to derive monetary gain or to influence someone else’s outcome other than to help them align. The only real exception might be a binding spell if someone is truly out of control. Spells and rituals are primarily used to keep me aligned in my Source Energy. Anything else is a reflection of ego which is illusion-based. I prefer to stay in my own non-physical essence and proceed from that standpoint and I like my craft to follow that lead.

There are two types of ritual oils that I use: essential and infused. Infused oils I make myself using herbs and carrier oils. I also use essential oils sometimes when making infused oils along with the herbs. But ritual oils are typically essential oils mixed into a carrier oil such as almond or grapeseed. For an earthy type oil, I like to use hemp oil, but it needs to be refrigerated after opening, so I typically make only enough for whatever I’m doing. Ritual oils are for a specific purpose such as astral travel or invoking Goddess energies. There are various authors such as the late Scott Cunningham who have written books about making ritual incense and oil and I recommend them highly for correspondences as well as the formulas they include.

Carrier oils can include olive, grapeseed, hemp, almond, apricot, jojoba, and coconut oil. Typically I use grapeseed and almond because they’re lighter. From there I add whatever essential oil(s) I want to use for the spell or ritual I’m involved in. Below are some examples, but you’re only limited by your imagination and creativity.

To enhance a spell or ritual for healing, you could create a ritual oil that included cinnamon and sandalwood for for example. A love ritual might include lavender and rose ritual oil. Use 1/8 cup carrier oil, or more if you’re making a larger batch, and then add the essential oils. The ritual oil can be used for anointing candles or even yourself. Anointing your third eye with an astral travel oil can be helpful for example when hedgeriding. A meditation blend can assist the witch in accessing her Higher Self. The uses for ritual oils are as varied as the reasons for using them.

Oils/herbs I use most frequently by Element:

EarthAirFireWater CypressLavenderBasilChamomile VetivertLemongrassCinnamonEucalyptus HorehoundLemon VerbenaFrankincenseJasmine MugwortYarrowJuniperLemon SagePeppermintMyrrh MarjoramRosemarySpearmint Anise StarRose GeraniumYlang-Ylang Sweet OrangeSandalwood BayMelissa

Oils by Purpose or Intention:

Note: I’m only including the purposes for which I use these oils. There are many, many other magickal purposes a witch may have and is more than capable of using her own vast research library to choose her own.

HedgeridingDivination/IntuitionHealingAlignmentProtectionPurification CinnamonSweet OrangeCinnamonCinnamonBasilChamomile SandalwoodMandarin OrangeEucalyptusLemongrassCinnamonBasil SageJasmineRosemaryYarrowCypressLavender MugwortCinnamonSandalwoodLemonEucalyptusLemon LemongrassSpearmintMyrrhFrankincenseMelissa MugwortPeppermintBayLemon verbena SageRosemaryJuniperCinnamon SandalwoodMyrrhCopal PineFrankincense Sandalwood Dragon’s Blood Copal 
 From the tables above, I think about my magickal intention and choose the essential oils, herbs and resins that best support my efforts. From there I look at the corresponding Elemental influences to see if there’s anything else I can add such as a crystal or thorn or something else that might bring additional vibrational support. And always remember that these things are just here for support. You are the power and the magick.

Smudges

My favorite herbs to use for smudges are sage and mugwort. Cedar is nice, but I rarely have any. Mugwort is particularly useful in hedgeriding and it goes crazy in the garden if I let it, so I typically have a lot of mugwort on hand. I’ve seen flowers used, but I don’t use them. Occasionally I add a sprig of rosemary to the smudge when I want something pungent.

Sometimes I use thread to wrap the herbs into a bundle, other times I use thin hemp cord. Embroidery floss works in a pinch and there are lots of great colors to use. I find my smudges either burn or they don’t. It’s probably how I pack them together, either too tight or too loose. Sometimes I just burn sage in a small cauldron on charcoal. I’ve also made some incense disks that burn nicely on charcoal. Or, you can simply throw some herbs on charcoal. Select herbs based on your intention and appropriate correspondences (day, element, planetary hour, etc), grind them together in your mortar with intention, chanting aloud if you like, and then burn some in the cauldron and either cast the rest to the wind, bury it in the ground, or cast it out over water to release your intention to the collective consciousness. So you get a little spell work in with your smudging. Witches multitask better than anyone.

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Ogham runes, or staves as they’re also called, are another language from my Druid ancestors used for communication or divination.

RuneNameLetterTreeMonthMeaning

BeithBBirchDecember 24 to January 20adaptability, stability, express creativity, explore new directions, good fortune

LuisLRowanJanuary 21 to February 17Value intuition when making decisions. Look beyond the surface. Magickal protection and healing rune.

FearnF/WAlderFebruary 18 to March 17Stand in your own power, have courage of convictions. This rune embodies strength and wisdom.

SailleSWillowMarch 18 to April 14Psychic ability, intuition, and imagination are facilitated by this rune. The rune of Seidhr, of the Volur.

Nuinn/NionNAshApril 15 to May 12Renewal and rebirth; finding your place, spiritual ascent and transformation

Huathe/UathH/YHawthornMay 13 to June 9Growth through trial, balance and breakthrough, stay centered to remain on your path

Duir/DairDOakJune 10 to July 7Strength, power, understanding, liberation and finding new avenues

TinneTHollyJuly 8 to August 4Balance and strength during difficult times, staying the course, rely on internal balance

CollC/KHazelAugust 5 to September 1Express creativity born from inspiration, divination, convey knowledge and widsom

Quert/CeirtQ/KwAppleSeptember 2 to September 29Beauty, love, abundance, difficult choices, new perspective, healing

MuinnMVineSeptember 30 to October 27balanced life, inner purpose and development, protection, trancework

GortGIvyOctober 28 to November 24Tenacity, strength, perseverance in difficult situations, self-transformation, resistance

NgetalNg/GwReed/BroomNovember 25 to December 23Approach change with flexibility, stay centered in chaotic situations, cleansing, healing

StraifZ/Sw/TsBlackthornUnexpected challenge, turning difficulty into advantage, rebirth, awakening

RuisRElderCycles of renewal, the Wheel, moving from one phase to another

AilmASilver/White Fir/PineThe future is clear, new projects, purification, clarity of purpose and self

Ohn/OnnOGorseStay on your path, harmony, share knowledge, stay centered and focused, prosperity and positive results

UrUHeatherLove, wealth, passion, creative expression

EadhadhEPoplarFaith, self-determination, steadfastness through difficulty, self-transformation

IodhadhIYewTransition, renewal, transformation, passage, new beginnings, past life awareness and connection

EabhadhEaAspenconflict resolution

OrOiSpindle Treeright thinking, fulfilling responsibilities

UilleannUiHoneysuckleLive life to the fullest, honor your needs

IfinIaPineSelf-transformation and personal responsibility, honor and respect for others

EamhanchollAeWitch Hazelunknown as of this printing

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I love herbal oils. They’re simple to make. I use the Simpler’s method, by adding about 2/3 herb to a jar and cover up to the top with my oil of choice. If I’m using fresh herb, then I wilt them a little to get some of the water content out of them before pouring oil over them. Water content of fresh plants can dilute the strength of the infused oil. It can do the same with alcohol tinctures so I use Clear Springs when tincturing fresh herbs to offset any water content they might still have. I can always dilute with water or glycerin later to reduce the alcohol to a more manageable level. If I’m using dried herb, I tincture with 100 proof vodka. I should probably put that on the tincture page when I make one.

Neuralgia Oil

I made this oil by researching neuralgia. I sort of have it in my feet because of constant swelling over the course of thirteen years from RA. St. John’s Wort and Vervain as nervines, act on the nervous system to control pain. Mullein flower deals with pain and inflammation. So, I put equal parts in a jar and covered them with grapeseed oil. Grapeseed is delicate and light and it absorbs into the skin well. I put the jar out in my sand bucket that I use in the summer for my infusions.

Some folks say to put it in a dark cupboard, but I like the solar infusion method instead. I try to remember to shake the jar every day. I typically have several infusions going at once so with them all in the same sand bucket, there’s a better than average chance that I’ll remember to shake them.

Anyway, the oil should sit there for a month or so, then strain it. Now, for the salve:

Neuralgia Oil Salve

Salves are ridiculously simple to make. Heat a cup of herbal oil. Add 1/4 cup beeswax. I use beeswax pearls instead of the slabs. I don’t like grating the slabs or even trying to cut the smaller ones. Eventually, my bees will let me have some of their beeswax, but we’re not there yet. Until then, I buy and use the pearls. They melt easily and it’s simple to measure them out.

When the beeswax is melted, do a spoon test. Dip a spoon into the mixture, taking out a small amount on the spoon. Put it in the refrigerator and if in 1–2 minutes it’s the consistency you like, then you’re good to go. Otherwise, either add a little oil, or add more beeswax. While you’re waiting, add a few drops of essential oil if you like.

When you’re happy with the consistency of the spoon test, then pour your oil mixture into containers. I like small round tins, but small jars work too. I get some of my jars in the canning section of the grocery store, and my tins and amber dropper bottles from Specialty Bottle. They have really cool stuff and it’s reasonably priced. And, where I live, it’s only a day away with ground shipping.

St. John’s Wort/Arnica Oil

Another oil for my RA..it’s great for pain and inflammation. St. John’s Wort and Arnica are wonderful infused into grapeseed oil. Almond oil is another oil that can be used. Apricot is another light feeling oil which absorbs into the skin well. I don’t like greasy oils that don’t absorb in. It’s one reason I don’t care for olive oil as well as grapeseed, although medicinally, it’s probably the best oil to use.

I blended equal amounts of St. John’s Wort and Arnica and filled 2/3 of the jar, covering it with grapeseed oil up to the top. Again, I shook it daily (okay, not daily) and set it out in the sand bucket for a month. It’s lovely, and the oil seems to help the pain I have in my elbow, but I haven’t made any salve yet, which I should definitely do.

General Herbal Oil for Salve

So this is what happens when I walk around my property. I begin gathering herbs. I can’t help myself. And then I bring them back and I infuse or tincture them into something. One afternoon, this is what I gathered:

• calendula flower — good for rashes, promotes cell repair/growth, and heals wounds
• comfrey leaf — heals tissue
• mullein leaf/flower — bruising and pain
• dandelion leaf/root — joint pain
• plantain — draws toxicity, sooths inflamed tissue

I used almond oil for the menstruum, again fresh wilting the herbs to reduce their water content, then put them in a jar two-thirds full, and then covered the herbs with almond oil up to the top. I put it in the sand bucket with the other oils so that they can all wait together for me to remember to shake them. A month or so later I strained and bottled it. I haven’t made the salve yet.

So that’s enough for now..I’ll post some more later..

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The thing about teas..

Some herbs are infused, some are decocted. Roots are decocted. There are several ways to do this, but I put them in a quart of cold water and then bring to boil on low heat. Yes, it takes a while, but you should watch it anyway so it doesn’t get carried away on its way to boiling. When it starts to boil, drop the temp down so that it simmers for typically 20 minutes or so, but don’t worry if it goes longer. Longer is stronger, so there’s that.

Infusions are for more fragile herbs and some roots with high volatile oil content such as valerian and goldenseal. I pour boiling water over the herbs in a mason jar and then put the lid on tight, letting it steep for 15 minutes or so. Again, if it’s longer that’s fine.

Now, some of my teas are a combination of herbs as with the first tea listed. I decoct first, then remove the mixture from heat to infuse the remainder.

Teas can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of days, but mine never last that long.

~Blessings to all!

Menopause Support Tea

Might as well put this one first..I made it into a tincture as well.

• 2 T black cohosh root emmenagogue, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, antirheumatic, alterative, nervine
• 2 T licorice root expectorant, demulcent, emollient
• 2 T dong quai root uterine tonic, antispasmodic, alterative
• 2 T St. John’s Wort aromatic, nervine, astringent, resolvent, sedative, diuretic, vulnerary

Roots are decocted, not infused (except for valerian and goldenseal). So, add the root herbs to a quart of cold water in a covered pan on low. Bring to a boil slowly, and simmer for 20 minutes.

Remove pan from heat and infuse the St. John’s Wort by adding it to the hot decocted mixture. Re-cover the pan, leaving it off the element, and let infuse for 15 minutes or more. Strain and drink.

This helped my hot flashes somewhat. And it tastes wonderful!

Lemon Balm Tea

• 2 T lemon balm diaphoretic, calmative, antispasmodic, carminative, emmenaogue, stomachic
• 1 T chamomile tonic, stomachic. anodyne, antispasmodic, stimulant, bitter, aromatic
• 1 T spearmint stimulant, antispasmodic, diaphoretic, aromatic, carminative, nervine, anti-emetic
• stevia sweetener

Infuse into 1 quart of boiling water, steeping for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink

Crone Tonic Tea

• 1 T oatstraw
• 1 T horsetail
• 1 T nettle leaf
• 1 T red clover
• 1.5 T motherwort

I made this on my 58th birthday..

Infuse into a quart of boiling water, steeping for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink.

Feminine Divine

• 1 T spearmint healing
• 1 T lemon balm healing, Feminine Divine
• 1 T holy basil Spirit, Fire, purification, Feminine Divine
• 1 T chamomile purification, healing, Water, Feminine Divine
• 1/2 T dandelion leaf divination
• 1/2 T mugwort strength, protection, psychic powers, astral travel, hedgeriding

I love this tea. I make it in bulk, so feel free to adjust the amounts any way you want.

Infuse herbs together into a quart of boiling water, letting steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain and drink. If making it ahead, add about a tablespoon of herb to a cup of boiling water. It’s wonderful!

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I wanted to create a page for some herbal teas and salves I’ve created. Then I decided to nest some pages beneath this one. That way, it will be easier to organize everything. I’ll have a pages for teas, oils, salves, tinctures, and some cannabis preparations. I’ll add recipes and formulas from time to time. I tend to free-wheel things a bit when I’m creating a tea or an oil. I keep track of what I use, and then if I like it, I write it down for posterity. I’ll include magickal properties if I know or can find them, as well as medicinal properties of the herbs.

I think the best teas are created by walking around my property, gathering various herbs that I see, and bringing them back to brew a cup to sip and enjoy. I might gather a little spearmint, followed by some chamomile, a little holy basil added in, along with a pinch of lemon balm. I might add a stevia leaf for natural sweetness, gathering everything to take back to my kitchen where my favorite cup awaits. I steep the herbs, and when done, I sit back and enjoy a lovely cup of tea. It’s the interaction with the herbs that brings the magick. It’s gathering with love and respect these wonderful life-affirming herbs and drinking in their essence that heals and nourishes our body and our spirit.

So check back from time to time. I’m going to figure out a way to list the pages on the widget side of the blog. I’ll be adding more recipes and formulas as I create them. If I find something I like from another herbalist, I’ll include that too, with a link back to their blog or website, or wherever I find it.

~Herbal Blessings!

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