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TheWayoftheGreenWitch
Rituals,Spells,andPracticestoBringYouBacktoNature
ArinMurphy-Hiscock
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Dedication
Thisoneisfor:
My husband, who held my hands during the birth of our child and whorejoiceswithmedailyinourongoingparticipationinthecycleoflife
Mymother,whotaughtmethegloryofthunderstorms,thetasteofvegetablesstraightfromthegarden,andthebeautyofbeingmyself
Andmyfather,whotaughtmethejoyofbeingonthewaterwiththewindinmyfaceandtobehumble.
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Contents
Introduction
Chapter1TheModernGreenWitch
Chapter2ElementsoftheGreenWitch’sPath
Chapter3ListeningtotheEarth
Chapter4TheFourSeasons
Chapter5Twigs,Leaves,Stars,andStones
Chapter6CraftingGreenWitchMagic
Chapter7TheGardenoftheGreenWitch
Chapter8Teas,Oils,Baths,andOtherPotions:HealingwithGreen
Chapter9TheGreenWitchintheKitchen
Chapter10ExpandingtheGreenWitchCircle
Appendix1MagicalAssociations
Appendix2TheSevenCentralEnergiesoftheGreenWitch’sPath
Bibliography
Acknowledgments
Once it had begun, this book was a series of starts and stops.My secondbook,SolitaryWiccaforLife,waswrittenduringtheperiodsetasideforTheWayoftheGreenWitch,whichnecessitatedafullstopontheoriginalprojectandadramaticchangeofgearsfromthinkingaboutthefreeformgreenpathtothe more structured, specific subject of Wicca. Later, my son Liam wasunexpectedlyborntwomonthsaheadofscheduleandthreeweeksbeforetherevised deadline for The Way of the Green Witch, which then required asecondextensionofthedeadline.ThelastpartofthisbookandtherevisionstookplacewhileIwascaringforanewbornpreterminfant,achallengethatputallmyspiritualstrengthandgreenwitchpracticestothetest.All in all, this book has seen quite a few transitions, which is very
appropriateasthemainthemeofTheWayof theGreenWitch isworking toattainharmonyandbalanceinyourlife.Havingmadeitthroughtotheotherside,IknowthatI’mastrongerpersonasaresult.Severalpeoplehavesupportedme through thisproject,andwithout them
thisbookwouldnotbewhatitis:Danielle and Bridget fromAdamsMedia were there for me whenever I
neededhelp,particularlywhenthisbookwastemporarilyputasideasIwroteanother book. Their encouragement and reassurance meant a lot to me.Meredithsteppedintosmoothlypickuptheeditorialreinsandansweredalotofquestionsforme.MythanksalsogoouttothecopyeditorsandreadersatAdamsMediawhohelpedturnmymanuscriptintoaproductIcouldbeproudof.Myfriendssupportedandencouragedmethroughouttheupsanddownsof
thisbook.Withoutthem,thingswouldhaveturnedoutmuchworse.Youallknowwhoyouare,butCeri,Lu,Tal, and t! standoutaspeoplewhoneverstoppedcheeringmeonduringthisbook,celebratingeachtinymilestoneofwordswrittenandchapters finished. (Ceri andLu’s feedinguswhen thingsgotreallycrazywasatremendouslife-saveraswell.)MyhusbandRonmadesureIslept,ate,drankenoughwater,andcaredfor
our baby so that I could finish things on time.Without him, Iwould havebeenlostduringthedailywritingprocess—nevermindduringcrunchtime.Myfamily(blood,bymarriage,byinitiation,andchosen)sawmethrough
themostchallengingperiodofmylifetodate.Iloveyouall.Youareoneof
WIntroduction
hat is the basic philosophy of the green witch?The earth is her primer, thenaturalworld is her
classroom. This introduction lays out the basicframeworkfortheinformationfoundinTheWayoftheGreenWitch.
The way of the green witch is the path of the naturalist, the herbalist, thewisewoman,andthehealer.Thegiftsofthenaturalworldaremany,butthosewho embrace them are comparatively few in today’s world. With theresurgenceofnature-basedpractices,however,greenwitchesareonceagainemergingasguardiansofnatureandofhumanity’srelationshipwiththeearth.Thechallengeforthegreenwitchandwisewomanintoday’sworldishowtowalk a green path in a time of environmental stress,mass industrialization,andurbanization.Greenwitchcraft is a highly individualized practice, usually solitary and
free-form.WithTheWayoftheGreenWitch,readerscanimmersethemselvesin guidelines for walking the green path in today’s highly refined andtechnologicalworld.Fromissuessuchasthehistoryofthegreenpracticetosupportincreatinganindividual-specifictradition,tomethodsofinteractingwithtoday’snaturalenvironment,toobtainingthehighestqualityknowledgeandbenefit,TheWayoftheGreenWitchisahandbookforthegreenwitchincontemporarysociety.The green witch uses natural elements to improve the well-being of the
physical body, the spirit and soul, and the environment. The green witchpractices mainly alone by forging a personal connection with the naturalworld.Acquiringgreenwisdomintoday’sworldcanbeachallenge:howarewe to form that connection to the earth in an urbanized environment, andwithoutthestructureofaformalreligionorspiritualpractice?TheWayoftheGreenWitchoffers informationtosupportandnurture the
dailyspiritualpracticeofgreenwitchcraft—frompracticaltipsonwalkingthegreenpathinthemodernworldtoceremonies,informationonessentialherbs,plants, trees, stones, and more. Because green witchcraft is a personal
practice,thisbookisnotagrimoireofsetritualsandspells.Rather,TheWayoftheGreenWitchteachesthereadertoformulatehisorherownpracticeandholydayswiththeguidanceofhistoricalpracticeandknowledgeacquiredviapersonalobservationand interactionwith thenaturalworld.TheWayof theGreenWitch is a guide for the beginner that teaches how to connect withnature.Itisalsoamanualtohelpenlightenanddeepenthepracticeforthosewhoalreadywalkthegreenpath.
FormatandPresentationThisisnotabookofrituals.Instead,youwillfindrecipes,exercises,ritual
suggestions,anddirectionsformakingpotionsandherbalblendsforpurposesmagicalandmundane.Butyouwon’tfindspells…atleastnotexactly.Thekindsofspellsyou’ll find in thesepagesarevery looselystructured.
Thegreenwitchperformshermagicbyconnectingintuitivelywiththenaturalworldandcreatingachannelofcommunicationbetweentheworldofnatureand the disconnectedmodern humanworld. The greenwitch uses intuitionabove all other faculties in her work. This does not mean that you cannotengageinspellcraft.Farfromit.Itdoes,however,meanthatyourspellsarelikelytobespontaneousanduniqueasyourespondtowhatyoufeelisneededin each specific instance. Much of the green witch’s spellcraft is likely tofunction on the principle of sympathetic magic: by performing a series ofactions with intent and awareness, you seek to create some sort ofsympatheticchange.Thepowerofthegreenwitchcomesfromparticipatinginthemiraclethat
islife,fromattuningtotheenergiesoftheenvironmentaroundher.Thegreenwitchdoesnotseektoholdmassiveamountsofpower;rather,youseektotapinto the already existing, subtle flows of energy in and around the earth.Traditionalwitchcraftoperatesonasystemofraisinganddirectingenergyata goal, whereas green witchcraft is a more subtle practice that attempts toslowlyaligntwodisparateworlds.
Note:ThemedicalknowledgeinTheWayoftheGreenWitchisinnowayintendedtoreplacethesupervisionofaphysicianorlicensedherbalist.Thisinformationisprovidedasreferencefor therapeutic treatment only. It also adds to the store of knowledge the practicing greenwitchorwisewomanalreadypossesses.In addition, although the greenwitch and reader are referred to as “she” throughout this
text,thepathbynomeansexcludesmalepractitioners.Thepronoun“she”waschosensimplybecausemorewomenthanmenaretypicallydrawntothegreenpath.
Throughout this book youwill see that I present several lists of variouscorrespondences.Theselistsofmagicalassociationshavebeencollatedover
my years of practice and include both my own associations as well astraditionalcorrespondences.Apart frompersonalexperimentationandwork,my sources over the years have included such books as Mrs. Grieve’s AModernHerbal,ScottCunningham’sEncyclopediaofMagicalHerbalismandEncyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen, Paul Beyerl’s The Master Book ofHerbalismandACompendiumofHerbalMagick,andJamieWood’sAWiccaHerbal.
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W
Chapter1TheModernGreenWitch
hat is a green witch? Where does the practicecome from?What are the benefits of living the
green life in today’s society?This chapter defines thegreenwitch’spathanddiscussesherspiritualancestors.
A green witch usually works alone, interacting primarily with the naturalworld.Historically,agreenwitchlivedapart,usingtheenergiesofplantsandtreesaroundhertohealothers.Thosewhoneededherservicestraveledtoseeher.Thesedays,agreenwitchismorelikelytobelivinginthemiddleofacity or in the suburbs, and her garden is likely to be small. She’s likely towork inanofficeor in salesor in the service industry.Perhaps she’s in themedicalfield.Orshe’sateacherorafull-timemom.Agreenwitch isn’tdefinedbywhereshe livesorwhatshedoes tobring
homeapaycheck.Norisshelimitedtoworkingwithplants, trees,orherbs.Sheisnot,aspeoplemightassume,definedsolelybytheparticularwaysheexpresses her spirituality or by the religion she follows. A green witch isdefinedbyherrelationshiptotheworldaroundher,byherethics,andbyheraffinitywiththenaturalworld.Inessence,shelivesthelifeofagreenwitch:shelivesthegreenpath.
WhydoIusetheterm“livingthepath”insteadofsimplysaying“practicinggreenwitchcraft”?It’sverysimple.Greenwitchcraftisnotapracticeseparatefromordinarylife,likeritualmagic,forexample;itisanall-encompassing,total-immersionexperiencewhereinalloflifeisamagicalexperience.
The path of the green witch consists of aspects of both witchcraft andshamanic practice, but is neither. It is an intensely personal path thatintegratesability,likesanddislikes,theclimateofyourparticulargeographiclocation,andyourinteractionwiththeenergyofyourenvironment.Itisn’tatraditionsomuchasapersonaladaptationofanideal.
WhatIsGreenWitchcraft?
In popular perception, the practice of green witchcraft is a nature-basedexpressionofspiritualitythatfocusesontheindividual’sinteractionwiththeirnatural environment.Witchcraft itself is a practice that involves the use ofnatural energies as an aid to accomplishing a task or reaching a goal. Ingeneral,witchcraft acknowledges a god and a goddess (sometimes solely agoddess)andrecognizesthatmagicisanaturalphenomenon.Witchcraft is frequently confused with Wicca, which is a modern,
alternative,nature-basedreligion.WhileWiccaandwitchcraftpossessmanysimilarities, including reverence for nature, Wicca is a specific, formalreligion.Thereareawidevarietyofformsofwitchcraft,withvaryingdegreesof structure. For the sake of this book, the term “witchcraft” refers to thepractice ofworkingwith natural energies to attain goals,without a specificreligiouscontext.Agreenwitch,then,issomeonewholivesthegreenpathandisawareof
howtheenergyofnatureflowsthroughherlifeandenvironment,evenifthatenvironment is not the traditional garden and forest setting popularized byfairytalesandromanticizednotions.GreenwitchcraftisnotaformaltraditioninthesenseofGardnerianWicca,
DianicWicca,Feri,orotherestablishedtraditions.WhenIusethephrase“thegreenwitch tradition,” I do not refer to an unbroken line of initiates or anestablishedbodyoflore.Instead,Iamreferringtothevariouspracticesfromdiverse places that come together to inform the modern green witch andwisewoman.Becausethepathofthegreenwitchisanindividualizedsolopractice,any
modern book on green witchcraft is simply a single author’s way ofinterpreting the practice. Initiation into green witchcraft is technicallyimpossible. There exists no body of formal knowledge passed on throughcareful training, no established groupmind towhich you are connected bysacred ceremonies performed by elders. Somemodern eclectic groupsmaybase their regularpracticeon the idealsofgreenwitchcraft, but it’snot thesamething.A practitioner of green witchcraft may pass on her personal knowledge,
including her personal notes and writings, to another, but that’s not aninitiatoryprocess.Readingaspecificauthor’sideasandviewsconcerningthepathofthegreenwitchisaformofapprenticeshipinwhichyoulearnanewwayoflookingatyourworldanddiscovernewexercisesandtechniquesthatwillhelpyourefineanddeepenyourconnectiontothenaturalworldaroundyou. This process cannot be as intensely personal as traditionalapprenticeship, where the apprentice worked beside the master, but it is a
modern form of acquiring the knowledge and skills of one particularpractitioner.The concepts of healing, harmony, and balance are all key to the green
witch’s practice and outlook on life. These concepts embody three distinctfocuses:
1.Theearth(yourlocalenvironment,aswellastheplanet)2.Humanity(ingeneral,aswellasyourlocalcommunityandcirclesoffriendsandacquaintances)
3.Yourself
The earth is often singled out as the greenwitch’smain focus,which isslightly unfair. The greenwitch understands that the earth incorporates theplanetandalllivingthingsuponit,includinganimals,plants,andpeople.Inthisrespect,yes:theearthisacollectivetermforalllivingthings.However,the green witch also knows that to lump them all together means that wesometimesforgetthemoreindividualemphasiseachdeserves.Wecandecrythegeneralmistreatmentofourplanet’swatersupply,but localactionoftenhasmoreof an immediate effect onour environment thandemonstrating infrontofanofficetower.“Cleanupyourownbackyard”isaphrasethegreenwitchunderstandswell.Peoplearealsothegreenwitch’sprovince.Asmentionedearlier,wisefolk
often tended to the ailments of their local community. The modern greenwitchunderstandsthathumanityimpactsthenaturalworld,notonlythroughhowthey treat it,butalsovia theenergycreatedbymankind’s feelingsandbeliefs. Just as nature’s energy affects us, so, too, does our energy affectnature,andthateffectisn’talwayspositive.Therefore,thegreenwitchseekstomaintainharmonybetweenhumanityandnature.Shealsounderstandsthatpeople affect other people with their energy, and she strives to maintain aharmonious energetic environment in which people can feel calm andempoweredtoimprovethemselvesinapositivefashionandinteractwitheachotherineaseandlove.Finally,thegreenwitchmustfunctioninharmonywiththerealitiesofher
own life. Thismeans working out your own goals and obstacles, knowingyour own self so that you can apply your energies and skills to the best ofyourability.Yourtrueselfisnotnecessarilytheselfyouwishyoucouldbe;itistheselfyouactuallyare.Findingthistrueselfcanbearemarkablydifficultgoal. We lie to ourselves on a regular basis, often so well that we arecompletelydeaf to certain aspectsofourpersonalitiesuntil thedaywedie.
Workingwith that shadowed side of ourselves can be rewarding, however,and maintaining a harmony between our darker aspects and our positiveaspectsbringsourpersonalenergyintobalance.
WhereDoestheGreenWitchWork?Where is themoderngreenwitch found?Everywhere.Thegreenwitch isalinkbetween the naturalworld and the community ofmankind.She carriesinformationbackandforthbetweenthetwo,servingbothworlds.Thegreenwitchhealsbyrestoringbalancebetweenthosetwoworlds,byrepairingthedamaged bridge between them, and by becoming a conduit through whichloveandknowledge flow tohealeach.Agreenwitch functions inpartasamodernshaman,communicatingbetweentheworldsandcarryinginformationbackandforth,but isuniquein thatherfocusandsourceofstrengthlies inthenaturalworld,asopposedtotherealmofspirits.The modern green witch can be found in the heart of the city at the
boardroom table just as often as she is found in rural areas. Today’s greenwitchunderstands thatbalancecannotberestoredsimplyby immersingandisolatingherselfinthewild.Workandchangeoccurfromtheinsideout,andthe green witch seeking to harmonize corporate man with the wild woodknows that green energy can (andmust) exist in a cubicle, on a downtownstreet, or in a new housing development that has replaced a forest. Thechallenge is how to uncover the green energy there, and how to furthernurture that energy. Education is also vital, for if future generations do notunderstandtheimportanceofbalancingthesoulofnaturewiththerealityofthe urban landscape andmindset, then theworkwe do today in seeking torebalancethoseenergiesmaybefornothing.
WhereDidtheModernGreenWitchComeFrom?Thepracticesofthemoderngreenwitchhavearisenfromfolkhealersand
practitioners of folkmagic. Themodern greenwitch finds her foremothersand forefathers in village herbalists, midwives, healers, wisewomen, andcunning-folkwhoperformedparticularservicesfortheircommunities.Thedutiesofthesespiritualancestorsofthegreenwitchusuallyincluded
midwiferyandpreparationofthedeadforburial,aswellastheuseofvariousplantstohealmindandbody.Thesepeoplepossessedknowledgeofbothlifeand death.They knewwhat kinds ofwhat flora could create both states ofexistence.Theseearliergreenwitches,whileoftenrespected,weremoreoften
feared ormistrusted because of the knowledge they held. Theywere oftenmarginalizedby their communities and lived aloneor away from the socialcenter of the community. Even today, society is often uncomfortable withthosewhopossessknowledgenotheldbythecommonman.It isalso likely,however, that thespiritualancestorsof themoderngreen
witch chose to live apart from the center of the community because it isharder to hear what nature has to communicate to you when you aresurroundedbypeople.Beingclosertotheforestsandfieldsmadeiteasierforthecunning-folk tocommunewith theenergiesof the livingworldofgreenandtogatherwhattheyneeded.Practitioners of folk magic, those who live on the second branch of the
green witch’s family tree, are not necessarily separate from the first.Sometimes the healers were also spellcasters who performed folk magicparticular to the region (such as Pennsylvanian pow-wow), but more oftentheywerejustgrandmotherswhohadatalentfor“fixing”things.Folkmagicis composed of traditions and practices that have been handed down in ageographicor culturally specific area. Itgenerally focusesondivination forloveandmarriage,agriculturalsuccess,andweatherprediction.OwenDavies, author of the fascinatingCunning-Folk:PopularMagic in
British History, explains that as opposed to being healers, cunning-folkoriginallydealtmainlywith liftingbewitchments frompeoplewhobelievedthemselves tobe thevictimsof a curseorof some sortof spell.Witchcraftwas the soil in which the careers of the cunning-folk grew; when popularbeliefinwitchcraftended,therolesofthecunning-folkendedaswell.There are othermodern paths that resemble the path of the greenwitch.
Kitchen witches and hedge witches observe similar practices, and, indeed,sometimespeopleusethesetermsinterchangeablywithgreenwitchcraft.Allthreepathshavethreebasicthingsincommon:theyarebasedinfolkmagic,theydonotrequireaspiritualelement,andwalkersonallthreepathstendtobesolitarypractitioners.Beforewe launch into a full examinationofwhat constitutes themodern
greenwitch’spath,let’stakealookatkitchenwitcheryandhedgemagicandseehowtheyaresimilartoandhowtheydifferfromoneanother.
Kitchenwitches, who are family oriented, focus on magic performed in the heart of themodern home: the kitchen. The kitchen witch bases her magical practice in her everydayhouseholdactivities,andcooking,cleaning,baking,andsoforthallbecomethebasisforhermagicalacts.Sweepingthefloorfreeofdustanddirtmaybethesourceforasimultaneouscleansing of negative energy, for example. A kitchen witch works intuitively rather thanrituallyandmayormaynotkeeptrackofhowsheworks.
Thehedgewitch, a termusedmore in theUK than in theUS, lives close tonature, often
awayfromurbanareas.Whenyouthinkoftheclassicwisewomanontheedgeoftownwhowas visited for love charms and healing potions, you have a pretty decent idea of what ahedgewitchis.Themodernhedgewitchisusuallyasolopractitionerofaneopaganpathwhousesspellcraftasabasisforherwork.
Modernpractitionersoftentrytolinktheirpracticetosomesortofhistoryin order to create a sense of tradition, but that sense of tradition is not asimportantasthesenseofself.Thisisparticularlytrueofthegreenwitchpath.
Itiseasytolookbackandacknowledgetheinfluencesofthepastonmodernpractice,buteverygreenwitchcreatesherownpractice.Thereisnoinitiation,noadherencetoasetofrules.Livingthegreenpathisreallyandtrulyareflectionofthegreenwitch’sinnerlight.
Despite itsso-calledprogress,ourmodernsocietytendsto lookbacktoasimpler time, even though pioneer days were probably harder and moreisolatedthanlife today.Thisyearningisn’tnostalgia,whichisa longingforanairbrushedmemory.It isagenuinesubconsciousdrawtoknowledgethathasbeenobscuredbyinnovation,progress,andimprovement.Wedon’tneedto remove or reverse modern innovation and give up our sidewalks andtelevisionsetsandcomputers.Whatweneedtodoisdiscoverhowtoconnectinourmodernenvironmenttothatearlierknowledgethatiswaitingforustofind it again.Removing the technologyand replacing itwithwitchcraftandagriculture-basedpracticeisnottheanswer.Toreverseevolutionandmerelysubstitute something older is a denial of themodern world. A green witchdoesnotdeny theworldaroundher.Sheaccepts it andseeks tounderstandhow to integrate it into her spiritual practice. The green witch serves as abridgebetweenpast andpresent,newandold.The trick is to recognize thepresenceofgreenenergyasitexistsintheworldtoday,tolearnhowtoseeitasitstilloperates.
God,Goddess,Spirit:TheGreenWitch’sPerceptionoftheDivineThemainidentifyingtraitofgreenpracticeisacloseidentificationwiththeearth.Althoughhonoringtheearthandbeingawareofthenaturalworldisalargepartofthemajorityofmodernalternativespiritualities,thegreenwitchis not necessarily a member of an alternative spiritual path. The maindifferencebetweenthegreenpathandtheneopaganreligionsisthatgodformsarenotanessentialpartofagreenwitch’spractice.Whilethegreenwitchiscontenttolooktomythologyandancientreligionsinordertodeepenpersonalunderstandingofhowearthenergyhasbeenperceived throughout theages,shedoesnotnecessarilyworshipthegodsandgoddessesthatareexpressions
and representations of earth patterns and energy. The planet itself is anarchetype of nurturing, but further refinement of that archetype is notnecessary for the greenwitch. That being said, a greenwitch often finds amythologicalfigure—beitadeityorahero—whoresonateswithherpersonalbeliefsandenergy.Shefindsinspirationinthismythologicalfigure.Thisdoesnot,however,leadtoworshipofthatfigure.Whereasalternativereligionspromotetheideathatmankindisastewardor
custodian of the planet, the green witch understands that she is themanifestationof theearth itself,notmerelyacaretaker.Thatclose senseofidentificationallowshertoworkinpartnershipwiththeearth’senergies.Someonewhohonorstheearthandconsidersthenaturalworldherprimary
teacher is sometimes labeled a nature-worshipper or called a pagan. Inmodernuse, however, the terms are not generally pejorative.Theydescribepeoplewhohonorthedivineinnature.Innewagespiritualpractice,theword“pagan”isbeingreclaimedbythosewhosespiritsresonatetotheheartbeatoftheearthitself.Soisagreenwitchapagan?Manyare,butnotall.Thepathofthegreenwitchisnotbydefinitionareligiousone.Itisaspiritualpath,yes,but spirituality does not necessarily equate to religion. A green witch canparticipateinanyreligionandhonorthedivineinherownwayprovidedthatshestillhonorsnatureassacredandblessed.Thegreenwitchseesthedivinein all of nature, and each green witch interprets that divinity a little bitdifferently.Manygreenwitcheswould probably be unable to put how theyfeelabout thedivine intowords. “Is thereagodorgoddess?”youmayaskher.“Ofcourse,”shereplies.“Whoisheorshe?”youfurtherinquire.“Well,”thegreenwitchsays,“heorsheissimplyGod,andGodisinnature.”
CelebratingLifeGreenwitchcraftisnotWicca.Wiccacurrentlyenjoysgreatpopularityasanearth-wise spiritual path, and as a result many of those who honor natureassume that theyareWiccan.Not so.Wicca is a formal, structured religionwhich sets out certain tenets and moral guidelines and whose followerscelebratecertainritualsincertainways.Greenwitchcraftisanon-structured,flexiblepracticethathasnosetholidaysandnocompulsoryrituals.Thegreenwitch is adaptable. She creates her own path according to her individualstrengthsandtalentsandtheenergiesandsuppliesnativetohergeographicallocale.
Asgreenwitchcraftisnotaformalpath,practitionersarefreetoadaptwhattheylearntowhattheyneed.Thisdoesn’tmeanadaptinganexistingpath;itmeansadaptingyourselftowhatneeds
tobedone.Itmeansbeingflexibleandresponsivetoyourneedsandtheneedsoftheearth.
IfyouliveinMassachusetts,forexample,andthenmovetoNewMexico,yourpracticewillshiftasyouadapttoyournewenvironment,thenewfloraand faunaaroundyou,and thenewenergiesof the landscape.Youyourselfwilladaptaswell.Asyousettle intoanewrelationshipwith theearthas itmanifestsinNewMexico,youwilldiscoveryourselfevolvingtoreflectitinadifferentfashionthanyoureflectedtheenvironmentofMassachusetts.Green witchcraft is an ongoing celebration of life. It is a dialogue with
Mother Nature, a practice that enriches both the greenwitch and the earthitself.Theexchangeofenergyproducesmanifoldbenefitsthatmaybestatedinsimpleterms:throughthisdialogue,wehealtheearthandtheearthhealsus.Weseekharmony throughouractions.We look tobalanceenergies thatareaskew.Likeotherearth-honoringpaths,therootsofgreenwitchcraftcanbefound
intheagriculturalcalendar,seasonalshifts,weatherpatterns,andfolkmagicperformed for health or fertility. Much of the modern neopagan practicecomes from basic green witch practice. Note that the word “roots” is keyhere:whensomethingisrooted,itspringsfromasource,butitisstillstrongandanchored.Todenyrootsistodenybothfoundationandstrength.Wemayseeonlythetrunkandthebranchesofatree,buttherootsystemrangesdeepandwide.
EthicsoftheGreenWitchPathIn anypath related to the expressionof spirituality, the concept of ethics isimportant.Interestinglyenough,therearenoethicalormoralrulesassociatedwith the green witch path other than those that the practitioner alreadypossesses.Whyaretherenoethicalrulessetoutinthegreenwitchpractice?Firstof
all, the practice is so very personal that to create an overarching ethicalsystemwouldexcludesomepractitionersor force themtochangewho theyare.Greenwitchcraft isn’t about forcing an individual to change; it’s aboutchoosingtoharmonizeone’sownlifewiththeenergyofnature.Second,thegreenwitchissointunewithhersurroundingsthatasetofethicalstricturesis unnecessary. Knowing yourself to be a part of a greaterwholemakes itdifficult toact against thatwhole.Workingwith the earthmeans that to actagainst it would be counterproductive, and that includes acting against amemberoftheearth’sextendedenergy,suchasotherpeople,animals,plants,and so forth. It is difficult to act unethically when you understand how
everyoneandeverythingisaffectedbythenegativityofsuchanaction.With the well-tuned awareness that the green witch strives to possess
comes a knowledge of who and what will be affected by her actions andchoices. With this understanding, and the sense of responsibility andguardianship for life that she also possesses, a further focus on ethics isunnecessary. Nature is your mother, your father, and your best friend. Itmakesnosense toharmyourkinor friends intentionally.Thinkof the loveandrespectyouhavefortheearth.Extendthatregardtoallthecreaturesthatmakeupthenaturalworld.Humans,animals,plants,trees—theyareallpartof nature. Naturally, you treat themwith the same respect with which youtreattheearthherself.Essentially,ifyouloveandrespecttheworldaroundyou,itisimpossibleto
abuse it.Themoreempathyand sympathyyouhave foryour surroundings,thebetteryouwilltreatthem.ThisistiedintothebasicGoldenRulefoundinseveral religions. It’s ethical reciprocity: if you treat those aroundyouwithcourtesy,theywillextendthesametoyou.Whatyouputoutintotheworldreturns to you, and that goes for thoughts, acts, and energy.By loving andrespectingthenaturalworld,wewillearntheloveandrespectofthenaturalworldinreturn.
MagicasPartoftheGreenPathUsing theword“witch” invariablybringsus to theword“magic.”This isaword that can cause confusion.Magic is not illusion, nor is it the artificialmanipulationofunnaturalforces.Infact,magicisperfectlynatural:it istheuse of natural energy with conscious intent and awareness to help attain abetterunderstandingoftheworldaroundyouandtoharmonizeyourselfwiththeworld’senergies.Most green witches find the use of the word “magic” to be irrelevant.
Magic implies something out of the ordinary. But to a green witch themundane ismagical.When she senses, responds to, and gently nudges theflows of natural energy around her, nothing could be more natural. She’sperformingnaturalmagic.Natureitselfismagical.Theeverydayissacredtothegreenwitch.MarianGreen, anauthorand followerofapath sympathetic to thegreen
witch philosophy that embraces natural magic and hedge craft, states thatMagic is the art of learning to recognize these elements of change: thenaturalpatternsofflowandebb,thetimesofprogress,ofstandingstillandofretreating… .Magic teachesus todeterminewhichway the tidesofNature
areflowing,toseeonwhichleveltheyrunandwhattheycanoffereachofusat thismoment (Green,WildWitchcraft,pp. xiii). InGreen’s view,magic islearning to harmonize yourselfwith the forces of nature and understandinghowtheyflowthroughyourlife.Thisis,ofcourse,thelifeworkofthegreenwitchinanutshell.Spellcraftisseenasaperfectlynaturaloccurrencealongthegreenpath.Is
brewing a cup of rosemary tea for a headache a spell? Or is it naturalmedicine?Tothegreenwitch,itdoesn’treallymatter.Whatdoesmatteristheconscious use of the energies of the rosemary to help heal a temporaryimbalance.Itistheconnectiontothenaturalworldandtheacknowledgmentthatweareallapartofthatworldthatallowsustofunctionasalinkbetweentheworldofpeopleandtheworldofgreen.MarianGreengoesontoexplainthat by accepting each of us is just as real a part of Nature as any tree,animal, ocean, plant, or invisible life force, andbeingwilling to rediscoverskillsthatwehadforgottenallabout,anyonewithapinchofcommonsense,afairshareofdeterminationandasenseofhumour,candiscoverunexpectedtalentswithinthemselves,oncetheyarewillingtoacknowledgethattheyarethere to be awakened. It is simply by re-establishing an understanding ofNaturearoundusandbyrealigningourliveswiththoseforcesofchange,thateachofusmaydiscoverinnerpeaceandtranquillity,newmagicalarts,waysofhealingandself-awareness(Green,WildWitchcraft,p.xiv).Inshort,byopeningyourselftotheenergyofnature,andbyacceptingthat
you are a part of that grand symphony of energy and power, you allowyourselftopartakeofthatenergytorebalanceyourlife.Thenyoucanworktorebalancetheenergiesofothersituations.Inotherwitchcraftpractices,therearemethodsbywhichenergyisraised,
aimed at a target or goal, and released. The green witch uses energy in aslower, more subtle way. Seeking to be a part of the ebb and flow of theenergyaroundher,shethusdoesnotdeliberatelycollectenergytoshapeandrelease. Instead, she focusesoncultivatinga“connectionwith the forcesofnature… and thus initiating slower but permanent positive changeswithinyourself so that you can influence the world by your thoughts, words andactions”(Eason,p.18).Thegreenwitchworksfromtheinsideoutandmoveswiththenaturalflowoftheenergiesinsteadofseekingtomanipulatethem.Using theword “magic” can leadyou to viewyour greenwitchwork as
something set apart. In this book, there are no instructions for creating amagiccircleinwhichyoumustwork,nocallingondeities,nosequencesofformal ritual thatmust be enacted precisely aswritten. The practice of thegreen witch is a fluid, natural, personal practice, one that informs everymomentofeveryday.Itisimportanttorecognizeeachmomentas“magical”
andfullofpotential.Everything ismagical, in thesense that it iswondrousandunique—everybreath,everystep,everystirofyoursoup.Everyactisanactofmagic.Themagicislifeitself.This knowledge must be balanced by the understanding that as a green
witch,youcarryasacredresponsibilitytonotonlywatchovertheharmonyofyour environment, but to also remember that, as Poppy Palin says, “everypositive gesture has the potential to become a spell”(Palin, p. 8).However,thereisadangerinthepracticeofgreenwitchcraftthatfamiliaritymaybreedcontempt. Recognizing each moment as magical and full of potential, thegreenwitchmayendupdesensitizingherselftothepointwherenomomentisspecial.Bewareoffallingintothisrut.Allowyourselftomarvelfrequentlyatthe joy and power of nature as the seasons cycle through the year, at thebeautiful and frightful aspects of sunsets and storms. Every moment ismagical because it holds potential, but alsobecause it ismerely amoment.Themundane issacred to thegreenwitchbecause it ismundane.Theword“mundane”itselfisderivedfromtheLatinmundus,meaning“ofthematerialworld,” and it is the energy created by thematerial world that sources thegreenwitch’spower.
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Chapter2ElementsoftheGreenWitch’sPath
hat tools does amodern greenwitch use?Whatarethebasiccomponentsofherpractice?Where
doesshework?What isherphilosophy?All theseareexaminedinthischapter.
Like kitchen witchcraft, green witchcraft emphasizes practicality andeveryday activity. There are no special words, no unique prayers, nouniforms, no holy texts, no obligatory tools, and no specific holidays …unlessyoucreatethemforyourself.Whilethegreenpathisverymuchtheartof daily practice, it isn’t set apart as sacred. It recognizes the sacred ineverydaylife.Thepathofthegreenwitchissacred—verymuchso—butnotisolatedfromthesecular.Thesecularlifeitselfiswhatissacredtothegreenwitch.Thatbeingsaid,andunderstandingthepersonalnatureoflivingthegreen
life,thegreenwitchpathcanbesaidtofocusoncertainissuesandenergiesexperiencedinthesecularlife.Farfrombeingsimplyapracticebasedintheuse of herbs or green matter, the green witch’s practice revolves aroundworkingtowardestablishingandmaintainingharmonywithinherself,withinhercommunity,andwithnature.There are seven basic areas or energies upon which the green witch’s
practicefocuses:
1. Harmony:within the self; between humanity and nature; betweenindividuals;withinacommunityorfamily
2. Health: of the body, mind, and spirit; of the immediate naturalenvironment;ofthelargerenvironment
3.Love:oftheself;ofotherindividuals;ofhumanity4.Happiness:ofoneself;ofothers;ofthenaturalworld5. Peace: within oneself; within a community or family; betweenfactions;betweennations
6.Abundance:personal;familial;community;nation;nature.Thisareaalso includesprosperity and fertility, both of which are aspects ofabundance
7.Protection:personal;familial;community;nature
Thesesevenareasencompassmostoflife.Let’slookatthemonebyone.
HarmonyHarmony is the watchword andmain goal of the greenwitch’s practice.
Harmonycanbeseenastheenergythathelpsalltheotherenergiesflowandiscapableofbeingappliedtoanyoftheothersixareasoffocustohelpthemalong.Tomaintainharmony,youmustbalancethesixotherareasofyourlife,forwheneverythingis inharmony, theseothersixareaswillflowsmoothlyandinbalance.Ofcourseyoucanworktowardharmonyasageneralgoalaswell, and several of the rituals, spells, and recipes in this book promoteharmony.Whenyourpersonalenergyisbalancedandallthevariouspartsofyourself are in tune, you are in harmony with yourself; that’s harder toachieve than it sounds. We all possess traits that we dislike and wish wedidn’t have. It’s important, however, to acknowledge those bits of ourpersonalityandspirit,forifwedenythemthenweareattemptingtorejectapartofourself,andwethusdenypartofourownenergy.Indoingso,wedenypartofourconnectiontonature.Harmonybetweenhumankindandnatureisimportant,andfosteringthatbalancebetweenhumanityandthenaturalworldis part of the green witch’s work. Because encouraging harmony betweenindividualsisalsopartofthegreenpath,communicationwithinhumanityisoneof themostcommonways thatenergy isstirredandpassedalong.Thiscommunicationisoneofthefoundationsofsociety.
HealthHealth affects our physical well-being, certainly, but it also affects our
emotional,mental,andspiritualwell-being.Illnessisaresultof,orcreates,animbalanceinourpersonalenergywhichmustthenberebalancedinordertoreturntohealth.Listeningtoandworkingwithyourownbody’senergywillhelp you maintain a balanced and healthy mind and spirit. All of theseenergiesareinterdependentanddeservetobetakenintoaccountwhenoneoranothergoesoutofequilibrium.Thehealthofyour immediateenvironmentalso affects the health of your own body, mind, and spirit. Likewise, the
health of the environment is a concern for the green witch, for theenvironmentaffectsallofhumankind.
LoveMost people consider love to be an important part of their lives. They
spendalotofenergyattemptingtofindit,keepit,orstrengthenit.Butthere’smoretolovethantheromantickindthatimmediatelypopsintomind.Healthyloveof theself iscrucial toawell-balancedpersonalenergyand tohealthyself-esteem.Loveoffamilyandclosefriendswhoformyourchosenfamilyisalso important, for it is the loveofsuchcompanions thatsupportsus inoureverydayefforts.Maintainingpositiveandbalanced relationshipswith thesepeople is integral to our emotional and spiritual balance. Love for all ofhumanityisalsoanimportantareaoffocusforthegreenwitch,eventhoughitcanbedifficulttolovesomeoneyoudonotknowpersonallyorsomeoneyoudonot like.Lovingothers is an exampleof honoring and respectingnatureand all nature’s creatures: it is an act of honoring their very existence andtheirplacewithinnature’senergy.
HappinessLike love, many people strive for happiness and joy. There are many
differentkindsofhappiness.Yourownjoy,forexample,isonegoal,butyoucanalsoworkforthehappinessofothersandofthenaturalworld.Whilethenaturalworlddoesnotnecessarilyfeelemotionsaswedo,thereisasenseofpeace and contentment to be foundwhen an aspect of or objectwithin thenaturalworldisinharmonywithitssurroundingsorwithyou.Thisstatecanbeconsideredhappiness. It is important to remember thathappiness isverymuchapersonalthing,andthatnooneactoritemwillmakeeveryonehappy.Happinessalsoencompassestheabilitytorejoiceandcelebratetheself,andeachpersoncelebratestheselfinauniquefashion.
PeacePeace can mean a variety of different things depending on your need:
serenity, relaxation, an absence of aggression, and tranquility, for example.Like happiness, peace is a highly individual concept, and thus whatconstitutespeaceforyoumaybedifferentfromhowsomeoneelsedefinesit.Whena familyorcommunity isatpeace, it isbalancedwithin itself and in
harmony with surrounding communities. The green witch works fortranquility and peace, for in a peaceful environment energies that wouldotherwisebedirected towarddefenseorattackof somekindcan insteadbedirectedtowardmoreproductiveandpositiveactions.
AbundanceAbundanceisanareaoffocusthatencompassessuchenergiesasprosperity
andfertility.Whenyouhaveanabundanceofsomething,younolongerworryaboutit(unlessitisanabundanceofproblems!),andyoufeelsecureenoughtofocusontheareasofyourlifethatrequireyourattentioninordertobringthem intobalance. If your needs are seen to, thenyouhave the freedom tocareforothers.Aswiththeotherareasoffocus,thegreenwitchmaylooktopersonal, familial, and community abundance, as well as to ensuring thefertilityandabundanceofthenaturalworld.
ProtectionProtection involvessafeguardingsomethingprecious. Itcanbeprotecting
yourphysicalbodyorthebodiesofothers,yourpossessions,youremotionalwell-being, the soulor spiritof an individual, thewell-beingof a familyorcommunity,orprotecting thenaturalworld,either locallyorglobally.Whenwe are protected we feel safe and free to pursue other avenues of self-expressionanddevelopment.We’ll return again and again to these seven categories aswe explore the
practice of the greenwitch. Youwill see these focal areasmentionedwithrecipesandritualstohelpyouunderstandthepurposesforwhichtheymaybeused.
ToolsoftheGreenWitchBecausegreenwitchcraftisn’tanorganizedpath,therearenorequiredtoolsor equipment you must have in order to follow it. There are, however,importantitemsalmosteverygreenwitchusesinherpractice.
HerbsandPlantsWithsomuchemphasisonworkingwithnaturalenergies,itisnaturalthat
herbsandplants immediately come tomindwhenone thinksabout agreen
witchandthethingssheusesorinteractswith.Infact,manynaturalobjectsformapartofthegreenwitch’stoolkitandsupplycupboard.Chapter5looksatcommontrees,flowers,andplantsusedbythegreenwitch.
TheGreenWitch’sHandsA green witch’s hands are her most valuable tools.With her hands, she
touchesandtakes in information.Withherhands,shedispensescaring.Hersenseoftouchisakeenone.Werelyheavilyonsight,butoursenseoftouchcarriesgreatpowerandconveysequallyimportantinformationthatthegreenwitchknowsto takeintoaccount.Touchalsoallowsus tosenseenergyandforms an immediate link between the greenwitch and thatwithwhich shecommunicates, whether it be absorbing information from a plant about itsenergyandpotentialuses,or layingagentlehandon the foreheadofasickchild.Youuseyourhandstotendandharvestyourherbsandplants,preparethemforstorage,andblendthemtogether.Yourhandscanbecomeaphysicalextensionofyourthoughtsandyourwill.
TheGreenWitch’sJournalRecordingyourexplorations,fieldnotes,recipes,rituals,andresearchisof
great importancebecause this record forms themainbodyof lore towhichyouwill refer again and again inyourwork.Note that this journal is not aBook of Shadows. That term is used bymodern occultists andWiccans todescribe a record of spells and rituals andmagical information.Your greenwitchjournalwillcontainsomemagicalinformation,yes,becausethegreenwitchunderstandsthatmagicissimplyanothermethodoftouchingtheenergyoftheearth;butmainlyitwillcontainrecipes,sketches,maps,experiments,observations, and accounts of yourwork and other experiences.Over time,youwillfillmanyjournals,andtheymaybemessyandhaphazard.That’snotaproblem.Yourjournalisnotmeanttobeperfect.It’smeanttobeareal-lifesnapshotofyourthoughtsandevolvingknowledge.Recording what you learn and do means that your information will
probablybeorganizedbydate.Youwillthusrememberandunderstandwhatyoudidwhen, andwhy:The journalprovides a context foryour evolution.Don’tworryabouttheapparentmishmashofsubjectsyouwriteabout.Asthegreenwitchpathisanorganicone,itmakessensetoallowyourjournal(likea daily diary) to meander from topic to topic. Some green witches like toseparatetheirworkintobooksofrecipes,plantlore,andsoforthsotheycan
moreeasily trackdown informationwhen theyneed to refer to it. I suggestthatyouputeverythingdowninyourmainjournalfirst,thencopyoutrecipesorritualsorplantloreintoanotherbookonceyou’veperfectedthemsoyouwillhaveacleanandorganizedcopyasausefulreference.It’sgoodtohaveaplacewhereyoucanwriteeverythingdownwithouteditingasyougo:thosefirst impressionsofplants, trees,elements,andsituationscanbe invaluable.Recopyingthisinformationlatercanalsohelpyoufirmupyourimpressionsandfamiliarizeyourselfwith it.Youwillalsobeclarifyingandaddingnewinformationandresearch.When you ramble in field or forest or go for walks through your
neighborhood,make sureyouhaveyourgreenwitchnotebookwithyou. Ifcarryingyourmainjournalisdifficultduetoitssize,youmaywishtohaveasmaller field book in which to make notes while you are out. Transferinformationyouhavepickeduponyour treks intoyourmain journalwhenyou get home again. Your green witch journal will prove important andhelpfultoyouinmonthsandyearstocome.
CupAsimplecup(ceramicisideal)isausefulitemforthegreenwitch.Water
is one of the four physical (andmetaphysical) elements, and greenwitchesoftenliketohavearepresentationofeachelementnearbyastheywork.Acupreservedexclusivelytoholdwaterinthiswayhonorstheelementofwater.Inaddition, thecup isuseful todrink from ina ritual setting.While thegreenwitchpracticeisn’theavyonceremonyorformalritual,afamiliartoolsuchasacupcanlendacertainenergytoyourworkifitisreservedonlyforyourgreenwitchuse.Somegreenwitchesuseanycupfromthecupboardtheyfeellikeusingatthetime,becauseit’swhat’sinthecupthatcounts.
MortarandPestleAmortarandpestleisinvaluableforcrushingdriedherbs,seeds,orresins
and for blending materials for a variety of projects. Although mortar andpestlesetsareavailable inothermaterials,stone is theeasiest tokeepcleanandhastheweightandstrengthrequiredtocrushthingslikeresins.Metalissometimesthoughttotainttheenergyoftheherbsyoucrush,whilewoodwillabsorb oils and juices and be almost impossible to keep perfectly clean.Althoughyoumaylikethelookofasmallmortarandpestle,orwanttosavemoneybybuyingasmallersize,doyourselfafavoranddon’tgetatinyone.
They’rehardtomanipulate,andifyouusethemortartoblendmixturesyou’llbe limited to a teaspoon or two.The standard sizemortar is approximatelyfive incheshighbyabout five incheswide,withaslightly taperedpestleofaboutfourinchesbyoneinch.Youreallyshouldn’tuseanythingsmaller.
BowlsAlsoessentialtoyourworkarebowlsinwhichtomixandholdingredients
orcomponentswhileyouworkonvariousprojects.Anassortmentof smallceramic ramekinswill do formany projects, as youwon’t bemixing largebatches of things. Make sure you have a couple of large glass bowls forlarger,messier projects likemixing potpourri.Do not, however, use plasticbowls.Plasticabsorbsoilsandscents.Glassorglazedceramicbowlsarebest.
JarsandCanistersTostoreyourherbs,incenses,andotheringredients,glassorceramicjarsor
canistersareideal.Likeyourbowls,thesecanrangeinsizefromsmallspicejars to largecanisters.Coloredglassoranopaquematerialwillhelpprotectyourdriedherbsfromfadingandlosingtheirbeneficialoils.Ifyouuseclearglass,thenstoreyourjarsinacupboardsoastoprotectthemfromthelight,ormakepapercylinderstoslipoverthem.
KnifeorScissorsAnessentialgreenwitchtool is thesharpknifeusedtoharvestherbsand
otherplants.Thisknifemustbekeptextremelycleanandalwaysbesharp,foradullbladeisdangeroustoboththeonewhousesitandthatwhichisbeingcut. Ifyouareuncomfortableusingastraightknife tocutstemsand leaves,you may prefer to use a pair of good sharp shears or scissors instead,reservingtheknifeforchoppingandpreparingtheherbsathomeonasolidandflatsurfacesuchasatable.Scissorsandsecatursareeasiertohandlethana straight knife for some people, myself included. Again, sharpen themfrequently and keep them extremely clean. Like the cup, youmay use anyknifethatyoufeeldrawntousing.
StaffA staff or walking stick not only helps you as you ramble through the
naturalworld,but italsoservesasasymbolic“world tree,”whichconnectsthe material and spiritual realms. The world tree is a concept found inshamanicpractice innumerousculturesaround theworld.Theworld tree islike the world’s spine, serving as a support and a connection between theotherworldsandtheworldofhumankind.IntheNordiclore,thistree,saidtobe an ash tree (or sometimes a yew), was called Yggdrasil. In Celticmythology,therewereseveralworldtrees,whichwerehazel,oak,andotherwoods. In shamanic practice, the world tree is often represented by a tentpole,abovewhicharethestarsoftheotherworld.Thistentpoleis“climbed”by the shaman’s consciousness through a series of meditations and othermethods.The tree is a remarkable symbol.We perceive trees as being strong and
offeringusshelterorsupport,andyetwealsoseethemasbeingflexible,forsometreesbendinthewind.Therootsofatreecanreachdeepintotheearthforstabilityandfornourishment.Itsbranchesreachhighintotheskysothattheleavesofthetreemayabsorbasmuchsunlightaspossible(thisiscalledphotosynthesis) and further nourish the tree. As a result of photosynthesis,oxygen is produced and released into the air. A staff or walking sticksymbolizes all this inminiature. It is a symbol of the tree, carries a tree’senergy,andremindsthegreenwitchoftheconnectiontobothearthandsky.Some books refer to a “stang,” which is a forked staff. It is sometimes
described as a sort of altar whose long, single end can be thrust into theground,leavingtheforkedendatthetop,readytobedecoratedbythegreenwitchasdesired.Garlands,sachets,bunchesofherbsorflowers,andribbonsare all common things draped or tied onto stangs. The stang itself can bereused, while the decorations may be disposed of respectfully once yourceremonyoractioniscomplete.It is interesting tocompare thestaffand theknife.Thestaffsupportsand
servesasaconnection,whereastheknife(orotherblade)seversandharvests.They are two archetypal symbols, opposite and complementary. The greenwitchusesbothandhonorsboth thearchetypesofconnectionandsevering,unityandseparation,fortheseareintrinsictothecycleoflifeandthecyclesfoundwithinnature.
CottonorGauzeArollofnaturalcottonaboutsixtoeightincheswideandacoupleoffeet
longisausefulitemtocarrywithyouwhenyouwalkinforestormeadow.Itmaybeusedtorollherbs in, insteadofputtingtheminabag,andcanhelp
preservemorefragilecuttings.It’salsogoodforfirstaiduse,shouldyoucutyourself, scratch yourself, or incur other minor damage along the way. (Asmall,portablefirstaidkitisalwaysgoodtohaveonhandwhenyougooutwalkingandexploring,andofcourseyoushouldhaveoneathomeaswell,eitherinthekitchenorthebathroom.)
PowerBagsAsagreenwitch,youwillovertimedevelopapersonalconnectiontolittle
objects such as stones, acorns, pinecones, or fetishes, andyoumaywish tocarrythemwithyou.Sewuporbuyasmallbagtoholdthem,andslipitintoyourpurseorbackpackwhenyoutravel.Bydoingthis,youcarrythenaturalenergy of those objects along with you so that they influence your ownenergy. You also maintain the contact with their emotional and personalmeanings,whichstrengthenyouinadifferentway.Together,theseitemsformapersonalpowersourceforthepractitioner.Makesureyourbagisn’ttoobig,however:ifyoufindyourselfcarryingtoomanymagicalobjects,it’stimetosortthemoutanddecidewhicharemostimportant.Leavetheitemsyouhaveremoved from the bag at one of your personal shrines at home in order tomaintainadifferentsortofcontactwiththem(seemoreonshrineslaterinthischapter).ThecranebagoftheDruidsandthemedicinepouchoftheNativeAmericansareformsofpowerbags.
YourHome:TheGreenWitch’sSacredSpaceInthepast,thehearthservedastheheartofthehome.Itwaswhereheatandlight were created and food was prepared. Hearth magic, or hearthcraft,revolves around safety, nurturing, and protection.Most paths have a hearthandhome aspect to them, but for the greenwitch, somuchof her spiritualpractice is focused on simple home-based folk practice that hearth magicfiguresprominentlyinhergreenpractice.Most people on this path have a strong connection to their surroundings.
They instinctively seek to create an environment that supports harmony,communication,andanaturalflowofenergy.Yourhomeitselfandthespaceinwhichyoulivecanbeeasilyoverlooked
asatoolinyourdevelopingspirituality.Itisaplaceofstrengthforyou,andaplace to which you should be able to return in safety to recharge yourbatteries. Ifyourhomeisdisorganizedandhas jarringenergy,you lack thatbase of strength from which you must operate. One of your sources of
strengthandenergyisalreadycutofffromyou.
MakingYourHomeaSacredSpaceHowdo youmake your home a sacred space?Ultimately, it depends on
youandthetypeofenergythatbestsupportsyourdailylife.Hereareafewtipsand tricks thatwillmakeyourhomethebestplaceforagreenwitch tolive. These tips will help you keep positive energy flowing through yourhome.
Lookatyourdécor.Howwedecorateourhomesaysalotaboutus.However,webecomeusedtohowthingslookandsometimesmissthefactthatthelivingroomhasbeenthesamecolorforfifteenyearsorthefamilyroomhasn’tbeenrearrangedsincebeforeourfirstchildwas born. Look at your homewith fresh and critical eyes.Do the colors of thewalls stillreflectwhoyouare?Whatdoes thefurnituresayaboutyou?Walk througheachroom.Arethere places you have to struggle to get to? If you don’twant to go there because it’s toodifficult(eitherphysicallyorotherwise),thenchancesaregoodthattheenergyflowthroughthatareagetsdammeduporotherwisesloweddown.Thinkaboutrearrangingthepositionsoffurniture,pictures,andknickknacks.
Removewhat’soutdated.Ifyouaren’tusingit,throwitout.Otherwise,it’sjustoccupyingspaceandblockingenergy.Sellit,passitalongtoafriend,takeittoasecondhandshop,orfindanotheruseforitsomewhereelse.
Examine your iconography. Your paintings and photographs have a deep psychologicaleffectonyou.Takealookatthecolorsthatdominatethem,thepeopleinthem.Howdotheymakeyoufeel?Aretheyappropriateforthespacethey’rein?AsmuchasyouloveyourprintofMunsch’sTheScream,itmaynotbethebestpieceofarttohanginaplacewhereyouliketorelax.
Thinkaboutthepurposeofeachroominyourhome.Whenyoudecidewhatthethemeorpurposeofeachroomtrulyis,youcanfocusonremovingtheelementsthatdisrupttheenergy,andencouragethedesiredenergytoremain.Forexample,ifyourlivingroomholdsyourdeskorhomeoffice,storesyourhomeworkoutequipment,andistherepositoryforchildren’stoys,youcanseethatthere’salotofconflictingenergythere.Noneofitisbad,it’sjustconfused.Try to keep each roomclearly set apart for its designatedpurpose, andyou’ll find that theenergy is a lot clearer. If a roomserves adoublepurpose,maintain two separate areas andkeepthingsintheirproperplaces.
Keep it clean.Energy can seemdusty andmuddy, the sameway your physical homegetsdirty. It’salsoanunfortunate fact thatenergy turnsstaleandcangobad inanenvironmentthatisn’tphysicallyclean.Houseworkisn’texactlythemostthrillingofpastimes,butithelpskeeptheenergyofyourhomebrightandsmooth.Makesureeverythinghasaplace,andkeepitthere.Keepsurfacesfreeofdustandclutterasbestyoucan.
Purify regularly.The spiritual equivalent to physical cleaning, purification is an excellentwaytomaintainagoodenergyvibeinyourhome.It’salsoagoodwaytogetridofthebadfeelingsleftoverfromanargumentorthechaoticenergyleftafteraparty,anditremovesthestraydriftsofdeadenergythatpileupincornersorgettrappedinbadlylaidoutrooms.Seeinstructionsonhowtopurifylaterinthissectionformethodsandideas.
Sometimeswe look aroundour homes andwonder howon earthwe canmake them a haven of tranquility and joy. Starting off with a good springcleaning (even if it’s fall!) is always a good idea. If addressingyourwholehouseatonceisoverwhelming(andbelieveme,Isympathize),doitroombyroom.Tobegin,youcanchooseoneroomtoserveasaspiritualsanctuaryandrefugeforyourself.Youcanalsostartfromtheheartofyourhomeandworkoutwards.Yoursanctuarydoesn’thavetobesolelydevotedtoyouandyourpath;in
fact, so fewofushave thatoption that ifyoucanpull itoff, Ibow toyou.Mostofushavetosharespacewithmembersofourfamilyandmakedowithcarving out a little corner where we can. Even that little corner can beimportant foryourspiritualhealth,however.Don’tunderestimate thepowerof a chair coveredwith your favorite thrownext to an end table setwith acandleandasmallpottedplant,orawindowseatwithpillowscoveredinsoftor textured fabrics in colors that soothe you. If it’s your space, you have aplacewhereyoucansitandcloseyoureyes,drawthat tranquility intoyouraura,andfindbalance.Theheart of yourhome,on theotherhand, canbe easier to identify.Do
people tend to end up in your kitchen when they come over? Does yourfamilycongregateinonespecificroom,evenifanotherroomwasdesignedtobe the family room?Where people gather is likely the true heart of yourhome.It’snotnecessarilyatranquilspaceandusuallyseesalotofcomingsandgoings,alotofcommunicationandsharing.It’stheplaceeveryonewantsto be. Starting your home purification here benefits everyonewho uses thespace.
PhysicalCleaning,SpiritualPurificationThe green witch has a couple of tricks up her sleeve when it comes to
maintaining a healthy, happy home environment. The first is enhancingphysical cleaning products with a bit of natural magic. The second isunderstanding that the energy in a space has to be cleaned regularly bothphysicallyandspiritually.Thesimplestway toenhanceyourhousecleaningproducts is toempower
them.Thismeansfillingthemwithextraenergyassociatedwithaparticulargoal.It’seasytodo.Holdthecontainerofcleaningproductinyourhands,orholdyourhandsoverit,andcloseyoureyes.Takethreeorfourdeepbreathstocalmandbalanceyourself.Thenthinkoftheenergywithwhichyouwishtoempowertheproducttohelpyouattainyourgoal.Forexample,youcould
focus on happiness.Remember howyou feelwhen you’re happy, and pourthatfeelingintothecleaningproduct.Visualizeitwellingupfromyourheartand flowing down your arms and out through your hands; see the productabsorbing that energy. Now when you clean with it, you’ll be using thephysicalproducttoclean,butwhilecleaningyouwillalsobefillingtheareawith theenergywithwhich theproductwasempowered.Youcanempoweryourcleaningsupplieswithmore thanoneenergyas longas thoseenergiessupport one another and aren’t at cross-purposes. For example, you canempowerafurniturepolishwithhappiness,peace,andprosperity.Forthebestresults,chooseearth-friendlyorganicorfairtradecleaningproductsthatcarrynotoxicingredients.Youcanalsodoageneralempowermentofyoursupplies,oryoucanthink
aboutwhat eachone is for orwhat it contains, and code the empowermentthat way. Chapter 5 lists correspondences associated with the scents andessences of your cleaning products. You can use these correspondences toenergize your cleaning implements. For example, if your product is pine-scented, empower it for protectionor prosperity, both common associationswithessenceofpine.Ifyourwindowcleanerisscentedwithlemon,empoweritforloveandjoy.Ifyourdishdetergentisscentedwithapple,empoweritforhealth.Whenyouclean,youcanfurthervisualizetheenergyyouarecallinginto
thespace.Visualizingwhileyoucleanalsohelpstakeawaytheboredomandresentmentweassociatewithremovingthedustanddirtthatwilljustbuildupagainanyway.Thinkofitasgreenwitchmaintenanceofyourpersonalspace.The second dimension to keeping your space clean and bright is
purification. It’s important to clean the energyofyour living spacebecausethe energy of an environment affects the energy of the people functioningwithin it. If you’ve ever walked into a room and felt odd for no obviousreason,thenyou’vebeenaffectedbytheenergypresentinthatspace.Whileit’struethatthephysicalstateofcleanlinessaffectstheenergyofaroom,youhavetocleantheexistingenergyofaroomaswell.Otherwise,thenegativeenergywill pile up, just as dust collects on a bookshelf that youneglect toclean.Purificationcanbedoneinseveralways.Aclassicmethodistosweepthe
negativeenergyawaywithabroom.Thewitch’sbroomisoftenseenonlyasa symbol, but it can also be used as a regular tool. It can, in fact, be aremarkablyusefulitem,andit’sveryeasytouse.
BroomPurification
Thisbasicpurificationwithabroomcanbedonealmostanytimeandanywhere.Donotuseaplasticornylon-bristledbroom.Findonewithrealstrawbristles.Craftshopsandfarmsopento the public sometimes sell handmade brooms. (For a personal touch, make one yourselffollowing the directions in Chapter 6.) Keep the broom you use for purification for thatpurposealone.Don’tuseyourregularhousecleaningbroomtopurify,oruseyourpurificationbroomtosweepupthesugaryouspillinthekitchen.
1.Standinthemiddleoftheroomyouintendtopurify.Holdthebroominyourhands.
2.Takethreedeep,slowbreathstocalmyourself.
3.Begintomakeasweepingmotion,sweepingthebroomfromyourrighttoyourleft.Don’tactually touch the floor with the broom, but swing the broom an inch or so above it. It’senergyyou’resweeping,nottheflooritself.
4.Turning toyour left, slowly turn inplace.This is acounterclockwisedirection,which istraditionally associated with breaking up and banishing negative energy. Walk in acounterclockwise spiral around the room, sweeping just above the floor as yougo.Asyouwalk and sweep, visualize the energy of the room being stirred up by themotion of yourbroom,andanyheavyspotsbeingbrokenupandrestoredtotheregularflow.Seetheenergybeingtransformedfrommurkytobrightandsparkling.
5.Sweeptheentireroom,graduallywideningyourcounterclockwisespiraluntilyouendatthedoor.
6.Ifyouwish,youmayendthepurificationwithashortstatement,suchas:
Brightandstrongflowstheenergythroughmyhome.Thisroomispurified.
Anotherwonderfulway to purify a room iswith incense. The followingrecipecreatesagentleincensethat,whenburned,releasesenergyassociatedwithclearingnegativity.Formoredetailedinformationonhowtomakeanduseherbalincense,seeChapter6.
RoomPurificationIncense
Burnthisincenseonasmallself-lightingcharcoaltabletinaheatproofcenserordish.
1teaspoonoffrankincenseresin1teaspoonofcopalresin1teaspoonofdriedpowderedlemonzest3pinchesofdriedlavenderSmallglassjarwithtight-fittinglidMortarandpestle(optional)
1.Ifnecessary,gentlygrindtheresinsuntilthepiecesareinsmallgranules.Becarefulnottoover-grindthem,ortheywillbecomesticky.
2.Addalltheingredientsinthejar,capit,andshakeuntiltheingredientsarewellblended.
3.Holdthejarinyourhandsandvisualizeasparklinglightformingaroundit.Thissparklinglightispurifyingenergytoempowertheincense.Visualizethesparklinglightbeingabsorbedintotheblendofresinsandherbs.
4.Label anddate the jar.Touse the incense, light a charcoal tablet andplace itwithin thecenserasinstructedinChapter6.Takeapinchofthepurificationincenseandsprinkleitontopofthecharcoal.Placethecenserinthemiddleoftheroomandallowthepurifyingenergytofilltheroomasthesmokereleasesit.
UsingtheFourElementsInsidetheHomeBeingsurroundedbynaturemaybethefirstthingthatpopstomindwhen
youthinkofthepathofagreenwitch,butasyouhaveseen,what’sinsideagreenwitch’shome is just as important aswhat’soutside.Manyofuswholive inanurbanenvironmentdonothaveaccess towildareas.Themoderngreenwitchneedstofigureouthowtoconnecttogreenenergywithoutbeingsurrounded by nature. This can be easily accomplished in the home. Everygreenwitchisdifferent,andasthepracticeisinformal,thereisnoprescribedwaytodecorateyourpersonalspace.Dependingonyourpersonaltastesandpreferences, your home may look extremely different from the home ofanothergreenwitch.Oneoftheeasiestwaystobringtheenergyofthenaturalworldintoyourhomeistointroduceplantsintoyourspace.Bysurroundingyourselfwithitemsofpersonalsignificanceandchoosing
colorsanddécorforyourhomethatreflectyourgoalofharmonyandbalance,you reinforce your home as your place of power. Although most greenwitcheshaveoneormoreroomsornooksorcranniesinoraroundthehousespecificallydesignatedassacredlocationswheretheyworkorcommunewithnatureandthedivine,yourentirehomecanbecomesacredspace.Thehearth(the“heart”ofthehome)isalwaysafocusforthehomeofthegreenwitch,whether it’s the kitchen or another roomwhere the family gathers. This israrelyaconvenientplaceforpracticalworship.Althoughgreenwitchcraftiscertainlynotaceremonialpathandnotladenwithformalritual,acentralareathroughwhichyoucantouchthedivinecanmakeyourspiritualjourneymoregrounded.Shrinesareidealforthispurpose.The green witch acknowledges that the energy of the divine manifests
within thenaturalworld.Thebasicbuildingblocksof thenaturalworldarethefourelements—earth,air,fire,andwater.Byworkingwiththeseelements,youcanstrengthenyourconnectiontothenaturalworld,andthiscanbedoneinsideoroutside.Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstoforestsandfields,youcanworkwith the four elements indoors and balance your connection to the naturalworldthroughthem.
ElementShrines
Anelementshrineisaplacewhereyoucanconnectwithoneelementorallfour.Forexample,ifyoubuildawatershrine,youcanincludeacrystalgobletof water, a small water fountain, shells, river stones, and pictures ofwaterfalls, rainstorms,orcalm lakes.Youmayplaceasoftbluescarfundertheseobjectsandperhapsaddaclearquartzcrystalortwotorepresentice.Afire shrine may be a collection of candles in reds and golds on a crimsoncloth,perhapswithasmallcopperorbrassfigurineofalionoradragon.Theimportantthingistothinkaboutwhattheelementmeanstoyouandtogatherasmallselectionofitemsthatevokethefeelingthatelementinspiresinyou.Itisimportanttorememberthatashrineisnotanaltar.Thealtarisaplaceoffocusconsecratedtothespiritualuseofthegreenwitch.Itisusedasaplacetohold toolsandequipmentduringaspellor ritual,andaplace toworkoncharms and witch crafts. An altar can be permanent or temporary. Manywitchessetupatemporaryaltareachtimetheywishtowork.Asshrinesmaybeusedtohonordeitiesorelements,thealtarisnotrequiredforthispurpose,and thus can be consideredmore of aworkspace.Many greenwitches usewhateversurfacetheywishasanaltar,perhapsusingthesameclothtospreadovervarioussurfaceseachtimetheysetuptheiraltar.Inthiscase,theclothitselfbecomesthealtar,carryingtheenergyassociatedwithrepeatedspiritualworkings.Greenwitchesfollowtheirintuition,andsomaynotperformritualsorworkspellsinthesameplaceeachtime,choosingthelocationaccordingtowhat feels right for their purpose. For the green witch, this means that aworkbenchoracrafttablemaysometimesserveasanaltar.Thepracticalityofthegreenwitchdetermineswheresheworks,andveryoftenthesesortsoftasksareundertakeninavarietyofdifferentplaces.Potionsandsalvesmaybecreatedinthekitchen,whilethecreationofaprotectivewreathmaytakeplace in thegarage.Youmaychoose toformallyconsecrateyour temporaryaltar each timeyou set it up, or not, as themundane is sacred to thegreenwitch.Asimpleblessingwith the fourelementscanserve toconsecrate thesurface you have chosen to use as an altar. (See the Elemental Blessing inChapter6.)Asagreenwitch,youmayalsoconsiderusingastoneorstumpasa permanent outdoor altar in a corner of your yard or balcony, if you haveone.Ashrine,however, is aplace tohonor somethingor someoneor to leave
offerings, aplacewhereyoucancollect thingsofpersonal significanceandvariousenergiestoweavetogetheranenergythatisgreaterthanthesumofitsindividualparts.Ashrinecreatesalocationforacertainkindofenergy.Thewonderfulthingaboutashrineisnoonehastoknowwhatitis.Itcanbeassimple as a photograph, a candle, a seashell, and a colored ribbon groupedtogether on a shelf. You know why those particular things are together;
anyone else looking at them will likely think that it’s simply a decorativearrangement. What’s important is that the energy produced by combiningtheseobjectsaccomplishesthegoalyouenvisionforit.Anelementshrinedoesn’thavetobeinaplacegenerallyassociatedwith
thatelement.Forexample,youdon’thavetoputanearthshrineoutside,orawatershrineinthebathroom,orafireshrineinyourkitchen.Experimentwithhavingfourseparateshrinesinfourdifferentplaces.You
can try building the earth shrine in the northern part of your house, the airshrinetotheeast,thefiretothesouth,andthewatertothewest,whichishowthey’re usually associated with directions in various traditions of Westernoccultism.Orthinkaboutthekindsofenergyyoufeelinvariousareaswithinyour home, and site a shrine accordingly even if it’s not in one of thetraditional directions. If you have a room where a lot of thinking andcommunicatingtakeplace,trysettinganairshrinethere.Ifyouhavearoomwhereeveryonerelaxesandfeelsatpeaceafteralongday,trysettingupanearthorwatershrinethere.Makesuretohaveoneshrineforeachelementsothatyourhomeremainsbalanced.
Ifsomepartofyourhomeislackinginacertaintypeofenergy,youcansetupashrinetoanappropriateelementtobalancethatlack.Ifthere’saroomwherepeopletendtolosetheirtempersorenergyrunstoohigh,theremaybeanexcessoffireenergythatarisesfromitsdécororasaresultofhowtheenergyflowsthroughit.Trysettingupanearthshrineorawatershrinetobalanceoutthefireenergywithstabilityortranquility.
Youcanalsoexperimentwithcreatingasingleshrinetoallfourelements.Place this shrine where it feels right to you. This may be near your ownpersonalsanctuary,nearthedoorsothatitisthefirstthingyouseewhenyouenter and the last before you leave, or near the center of your home. In ashrinetoallfourelements,youdon’tneedtocollectmultiplerepresentationsof a single element. Instead, choose one or two objects to symbolize eachelementandgroup them inanarrangement thatpleasesyouand feels right.Shrinesarefluidthings;youcanaddobjectsasyoufeeldrawntoorremoveobjects when you feel they no longer serve their purpose. Make sure,however,thatyoualwayshaveatleastoneitemtorepresenteachelementatalltimes.Traditionally,asmalldishofsaltorsandholdstheenergyofearth,acandleholds theenergiesof fire,a smalldishorglassofwaterholdswaterenergy, anda stickof incenseor a fresh flowerholds the energiesof air. Ifyou’re worried about salt or water being knocked over, try a small pottedplant or a stone for earth and a shell for water. Light the candle and theincense only when you are in the room. Doing this once a day for a fewminutescanhelpyoucollectyourthoughtsandyourenergies.Itgivesyouamomentofpeacetocommunewiththesefourbasicbuildingblocksofnature.
ThemedShrinesBy creating shrines in different places, with each shrine focused on a
different energy, you can create “vortices” of specific energies that canbalance out a surplus or lack of those energies in your home. Think aboutcreatingashrinetooneormoreofthebasicareasuponwhichthegreenwitchfocuses.Ifyouwishtobringmoreprosperityandhealthintoyourhome,forexample,whynotcreatea shrinewithobjects that representabundanceandhealth?
TheGreenWitch’sOutdoorSacredSpaceIfyouarefortunateenoughtobeanurbangreenwitchwithabitofgreen
spacebehindorinfrontofyourhome,thereareafewthingsyoucandowiththisspacetomakeitvibrantandmoresacred.Ifyouownor rent land, thenyoumayconsider creatinga small outdoor
sacredspaceinwhichyoucanrelax,rebalance,andreconnectwiththenaturalworld. While most people who hear the words “outdoor sacred space”envision a large circle, perhapswith standing stones and a full, flourishinggarden,thegreenwitchknowsthatsacredspacerequiresnothingsoelaborate.Asmallcorner,agardenbench,orevenasinglestonesetintoasmallflowerbed can serve as your sacred space.Youmay dreamof turning your entirebackyardintoatemple,but,inreality,youryardismorelikelytobetakenupby a play area for the children, a toolshed, a pool, or storage. Perhaps youshare your green space with others; this will also limit your activities andaccess. Inpractical terms,establishingoutdoor sacredspacecanbeanevenbiggerchallengethancreatinganindoorsacredspace.Ifyoufinditachoretokeepyour indoorspace tidy, thenanoutdoor spacewillbenodifferent.Anentirebackyarddedicatedassacredspacemeansthatyou’llhavetokeeptheentirespaceneat,tidy,healthy,andwell-maintained.Sacredspacedoesn’thave tobeobvious. Itcanbeasmallarea thatonly
yourecognizeasbeingdedicatedtoyourspirituality.Youcanchooseasetofplantsthatsymbolizeyourpracticeandplantthemtogether.Youcanplaceastoneamongtheplants,orasmallall-weatherstatue,oratrellisuponwhichyoucanhangatinysetofwindchimes.Chooseanythingthathasmeaningtoyou.Yoursmallcornerofoutdoorsacredspaceshouldofferyouaplacetositor stand to pause and clear your mind, to touch Spirit, and to rebalanceyourself.Youmayalsofindinspirationinsacredplacesfoundinnature.Areassuch
asstreams,pools,andlakesaresometimesseenassacred,forwaterisoften
associated with the otherworld. Perhaps a small fountain or other waterfeatureappeals toyouandcanbecomeyourownsacredspace.Single treesandgroveshavealsobeentraditionallyseenassacred.Youcanplantaspecialtreeorbushinyoursacredspace.Mountainsarecommonlyheldtobesacred.Whilebuildingamountainorevenanearthmound ishighly impractical (ifnot impossible), youmightwant to represent amountainwith one ormorestandingstonesinanysizeofyourchoosing.Even“planting”asmalltwelve-inchstoneintothegroundcanmakeaspacesacred.Ifyoudon’thave land, thereare stillwaysyoucanconnect tonature. In
The Modern-Day Druidess, Cassandra Eason writes, “there are gardens,balconies, parks, camping grounds and places you can find on days orholidaysinthecountryside.InwinterIuseacircleofpottedplantstoserveasanindoorgroveandmakethemostofeverymomentofsunshinetogooutinthewoods”(Eason,p.8).Themoderngreenwitchintheurbansettingcansometimesfeellost.Other
optionsarealwaysavailable.Visityourcityparksorpublicgardenstofindaplacethatfeelscomfortableandcalmtoyou,aplacewhereyoucanachievereconnectionandrebalancing.Setupacontainergardenonyourbalcony(seeChapter7fortipsandideasongreenwitchcontainergardeninginthecity).Carefully selectedhouseplants can also furnishyouwith a connection to asacredspacewiththefeelingofoutdoors.
EarthSpirits:TheGreenWitch’sAlliesNomatterwhatheraccesstonature,thegreenwitchworkscloselywiththeearth. You can live on the forty-seventh floor of a high-rise apartmentbuildingandstillhaveameaningfulrelationshipwiththeearth.Amongthegreenwitch’scommonalliesareearthspirits.Earthspiritscan
be valuable partners and aides in your practice. An earth spirit is anintelligence or awareness attached to a particular place, a plant or tree, anaturalobjectsuchasarockorstream,oraspecific typeofweather.Theseintelligencesaresometimescalleddevas,sometimesfairies.Oftenwesimplyrefer to them as “earth spirits,” “spirit of,” or “force of” something. It isimportanttounderstandthatthesespiritsarenotdeities.Doallgreenwitchesrecognizeorworkwithearthspirits?No.Somegreen
witches are comfortable talking about fairies or devas, whereas others rolltheireyesandgetdowntohoeingthegarden.Mostdorecognizethatnaturehasanintelligence,orasenseofspirit,thatvariesaccordingtothelocation.Notallofusgiveanameorclassificationtothatsenseofspirit.
Howeachgreenwitchworkswiththesespiritsorforcesdependsonhowsheperceives them.Mostgreenwitcheswill agree that connectingwith thevariousforcesandenergiesofnatureisakeyaspectoftheirpractice,butit’slikelythatnotwogreenwitcheswillbeabletoagreeonhowtodoit,orevenwhatforcestheyconnectto.Thisshowshowhighlyindividualizedthegreenpractice is. One thing thatmost greenwitcheswould agree on is that theystrivetoworkinharmonywiththeseforcesofnature.Howyouvisualizethesespiritsiscompletelyuptoyou.Youmayseethem
as tinypeopleororbsof light.Youmaynot see thematall,butexperienceemotionsorsensationswhenyouarenearthetree,flower,standingstone,orphenomenonwithwhich the spirit is associated.Whetheryourvisualizationmatchesothervisualizationsisunimportant.Whatisimportant is that ifyouchoosetoworkwiththem,youmusthonorthespiritsasalliesinyourgreenwitchworktoattunetothenaturalworldandtorebalanceandharmonizelife.Youcanencounternature spirits inmanyplacesand throughavarietyof
methods.Thesimplestmethodistoreachoutandconnectwiththespiritofasingleplant, thenasktheplantspirit for informationontheplant’susesandproperties. In his bookPlant SpiritMedicine, EliotCowan stresses that theenergy possessed by each individual plant is entirely personal. Theinformation and/or gift the spirit of that plant offers to you is exactlywhatyou need at that moment. This gift is not necessarily energy that istraditionally associated with the plant. For example, if you project yourawarenesstoarosebush,theenergyyoureceiveinreturnwillnotnecessarilybelove.Thespiritoftherosebushmayperceivethatyourequiresomethingdifferentandofferittoyou.Thekeytoworkingwithnaturespiritslikethisistobeopentowhattheyofferyouwithoutexpectationsorpreconceivedideas.Referring to lists of correspondences associated with particular plants isuseful for getting a general idea of how to use the plant’s energy, but it ismuch more useful to communicate directly with the spirit of the plant toacquire your own understanding or interpretation of the energy and how itmay be applied. The green witch never assumes she knows something, orpresumesthatsheiscorrect,ortakessomethingatfacevalue.Itisimportanttoseekoutyourownexperienceandbuildyourownopinionsasyoudeepenyourunderstandingofanelement,aprocess,orasituation.Chapter3offersaseries of exercises designed to help you take in information and energythroughyour senses, and avarietyof techniques for interactingwithnatureandacquiringinformationfromplantspirits.Becausetherearedifferentwaysofworkingwithplantenergy,everygreen
witchwill develop her ownmethod of absorbing and applying that energy.Employing plant energies in the practice ofmedicinal herbalism is perhaps
the most common method of using natural energy, but the practice ofhomeopathyandtheuseofBachFlowerRemediesarealsopopularmethodsofworkingwiththeenergyofflowers,plants,andtrees.
Formoreinformationondifferentkindsofearthspiritsandhowtoworkwiththem,youmaywishtorefertosuchbooksasEnchantmentsoftheFaerieRealmbyTedAndrewsorPlantSpiritMedicinebyEliotCowan,dependingonhowyouperceivethesenaturespirits.
LivingtheGreenLifeFundamentally,greenwitchcraftisanattitude,anapproachtolife.However,therealsoexiststheopportunitytoexplorethegreenpaththroughritualandthe creationof spells and charms.Ritualoffersus theopportunity to attuneourpersonalenergytotheenergyaroundusinamorestructuredmannerandtoexperiencethenaturalenergyofoursurroundingsinadifferentwaythanwedoinoureverydaylife.
OathoftheGreenWitchIf you recognize yourself and your beliefs in the previous pages, then
perhapsthepathofthegreenwitchiscallingtoyou.Ifyouwishtoformallydeclareyourselftobeonthispathandtolivethegreenlife,youcantakethisoathoruseitasabasisforwritingyourownmorepersonalversion.
LordandLady,SpiritsofNature,Elementsaroundme,BlessmeasIwalkthepathofthegreenwitch.Maymyeveryactionbeforthegoodofall,ForHumanityandNaturealike.Bringmewisdomandpeace,SerenityandbalanceasIwalkthispath.GrantmetheconfidencetodotheworkyourequireofmeAndstrengthtobeartheburdenslifeasksofme.IsweartoguardtheSoulofNature,ToworkwithNature,TohonorNature,Andallwhocomprisenature’smultitude.
ThesethingsIpromise,andthisIaskofyou,Onthisday,inthisplace.Asagreenwitch,Isoswear.
Ifyouwish,youcanmakethispledgeaneweachyearatatimemeaningfultoyou,atthebeginningorendofeachseason,forexample,toreaffirmyourcommitmenttoyourpathandwayoflife.Chapter4looksatthefourseasonsandvariousactivitiesorritualsyoucanperformtofurtherattuneyourselftothechangingenergiesoftheyearlycycle;makingthisoathpartofoneorallfourseasonalcelebrationscankeepyourcommitmentfreshinyourmindandspirit.
PrayeroftheGreenWitchIftheideaofadailyprayerappealstoyou,thisisalovelywaytobeginor
endyourday.Tryprayingaloudorinyourheartinaspacethatissacredtoyou,eitherby formalblessingandconsecrationorsimplyblessedbyuse indailylife.
LordandLady,SpiritsofNature,Elementsaroundme,BlessmeasImovethroughtheworldtoday.MayIbringjoyandtranquilitytoeverylifeItouch.Maymyactionsbringonlyharmonytotheworld.MayIhealpainandsootheanger,MayIcreatejoyandbalanceasIwalkmypath.Supportmeandguideme,spiritsofNature,Thisdayandalldaysaheadofme.ThisIaskofyou,asagreenwitch,Andthankyouforyourmanyblessings.
The practice of the greenwitch doesn’t have a lot of bells andwhistles,fancy tools, or complicated rituals. Perhaps more than any other path ofwitchcraft,thepathofthegreenwitchrestsonyourphilosophyoflivingandhowyouinteractwiththeworldaroundyou.Forthisreason,yourprayers,therituals you perform, and your sacred spacemust be personallymeaningful.
Creating a personal practice that accurately reflects who you are and yourdesiretoworktocreateharmonyintheworldaroundyouisthekeytolivingasatisfyingandfulfillinglifeasagreenwitch.
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Chapter3ListeningtotheEarth
hereare severalmethodsbywhichyoucanattuneyourself to nature, even in today’s busy,
industrializedsociety.Thischapterintroducesmethodssuchassensingenergyandsharpeningyoursenses.
In green witchcraft, one of the most important practices is constantlyreestablishingyourunderstandingofnatureasitisnowaroundyou,natureinyour personal surroundings. Maintaining contact with your physicalenvironmentiscrucialtomaintainingameaningfulindividualpractice.Ifyoulosetouchwithyourenvironment,youlosetheonethingthatconnectsyoutoyournaturalsurroundings.Greenwitchcraft isalwaysabout thenow, about thecurrent stateofyour
environment.Beingawareofyourenvironmentmeansknowingtheenergiesmovingthroughit,theenergiesitproduces,itshealthandrateofvibration.Italsomeans being aware of how your own energy andmental or emotionalstate fit into your surroundings. If you’re not aware of the current state ofyourenvironment,thenhowcanyouevaluatewhatsortofworkisrequiredofyou?Youmaythinkyouknowyourenvironment,butyoumightbesurprisedwhen you stop to create a new relationship with it. One of the basicfoundationsoflivingthegreenwitchpathisforgingaconnectionwithnatureandnatural forces. It is imperative thatyou forgeaconnectionwithwhat itactuallythere,andnotwhatyouassumetobethere.
Traditionhasaplaceinyourpractice.Honoringthepastconnectsyoutothatlonglineofpractitionerswhohaveworkedintimatelywithnature.However,tohonorthepastwithoutunderstandinghowthepresentfunctionsandaffectsyouistoseeaforestandmisstheindividualtrees.
As a green witch, you constantly reassess your connection to theenvironment around you, to individual energies and objects within thatenvironment,andalsototheplanetitself.Browsingthroughbooksaboutgodsand goddesses will help you understand the allegories cultures have
developed to explore and explain humankind’s relationship with the planetandaculture’snatural surroundings. Itmaybeespeciallyhelpful to lookatthe earth-related deities of the cultural groups who are native to yourgeographical location. Understanding how earlier peoples perceived theirrelationship to the earth and their surroundings can help inform your ownunderstanding of how the area has evolved or remained constant. Forexample,ifyouliveinNorthAmerica,findoutwhattribeslivedwhereyoulive now. What did they believe about nature? How did they work withnature?
ResearchingthePastIt is useful to understand history, if only to understand how you and yourenvironmenthavereachedthepositionyouoccupytoday.Don’tlimityourselfto researching traditional practitioners ofwitchcraft or herbalism, however;read history books, geographic studies, geological analyses, and botanicalpapersthatfocusonwhereyoulive.Readaccountsofsettlersandhowtheyrelated to the land to discover how they used the bounty of nature in theireverydaylives.
HowMuchDoYouKnowaboutYourNeighborhood?Complacencyhasnoplaceinthelifeofagreenwitch;youmustbeopenandawareatalltimesinordertobeasintunewithnatureaspossible.Ifyouliveinanurbansetting, then thatcity’senergy is theenergy towhichyoumustopen yourself in order to be in tune with your neighborhood and yourenvironment. It is crucial to interact with your natural environment as itactuallyis,notthenatureyouimagineoridealize.Theenvironmentyouknewyesterday or last month is no longer the environment that surrounds you:energy is in a state of constant change.Thus, thegreenwitchmust alsobeaware,andalwaysadjustingherknowledge.Youmay think you know your neighborhood, but it’s useful to take the
time to see it inanewway.Useallyour senses toexplorewhereyou live.Askyourselfthefollowingquestions.Answerthemhonestly:
•Howdotheseasonschangewhereyoulive?Whatchangescanyouseeandfeel?
•Whatinfluencedoesthemoonhaveonyou?Whatisthephaseofthemoonrightnow?
•Whatwildplantsarenative toyourneighborhood?Nameat least tennativeplants.
•Ofthosetenplants,whichareindigenoustoyourareaandwhichwereimported?Whenweretheyimportedandbywhom?
•What trees aremost commonly found in your neighborhood?Again,whichareindigenousandwhichweredeliberatelyintroduced?Whenandbywhom?
•Whatwildlifeisnativetoyourarea?•Isthewaterthat’schanneledtoyourtaphardorsoft?• What type of soil does your neighborhood have? Is it chalky, clay,sandy,orother?Isitalkalineoracidic?
Whatyoudon’tknowmaysurpriseyouandperhapsdisappointyou, too.You may know the name of the street that crosses yours, or what park isnearest toyou,butwhat isbasicandintegral toyournaturalenvironment isoften unknown or unrecognized. Taking the time to learnmore about yourneighborhoodwillgiveyouagoodsolidbasefromwhichtolearnmoreabouthowyournaturalenvironmentfunctions.Makeapointoffindingouttheanswerstothequestionslistedabove.Write
theanswersinyourgreenwitchjournal.Walking around your neighborhood with enhanced awareness can teach
you more than you thought you knew. Engage in the following exercises,which are designed to help you observe asmuch as you can andmake themostofeachexperienceasyougatherinformation.
InteractionExercises
Whenobservationisdonewithintent,youwilldiscovermoreaboutyourneighborhood.Forthis exercise, first choose a stone or a plant that you’re familiar with. Allow yourself toexperienceitagainasifforthefirsttime.Answerthefollowingquestions.
Writeyouranswersinyourgreenwitchjournal.
•Whatdoesthisstoneorplantfeelliketothetouch?•Howdoesitsmell?•Whatdoesitlooklike?•Whatsoundsdoesitmake?•Howdoesittaste?(Caution!Trytocatchthetasteontheair.Neverplaceanunidentifiedplantorobjectinyourmouth.)
Onceyou’vedonethisexercisewithafewplantsorstonesyou’realreadyfamiliarwith,try
oneyou’venotexperiencedbefore.Noteson theseexerciseswillserveas thebasisofyourgreenwitchloreandbecometheheartofyourpersonalpractice.
SensingEnergyAlthoughthegreenwitchusesherbsfortheirmedicinalqualities,themagicalqualitiesofthenaturalworldarealsoverymuchherfriends.Ifyoulookattheuses traditionally associated with various herbs throughout the ages, themedicinalbenefitsoftenparallel themagicaluses.This isbecause,whileanherbhasacertainchemicalmakeupthatdeterminesitseffectwhenappliedtothephysicalbody,italsopossessesauniqueenergythataffectstheemotions,spirit,andenergyofaperson.
Exercise:SensingEnergy
Perform this exercisewith a plantwithwhich you are familiar, then try itwith somethingyou’veneverseenorhandledbefore.Trustyourobservations.Forthisexercise,you’llneedtheplant,plusyourgreenwitchjournalandapenorpencil.
1.Taketheplantinyourhand.Ifitisadriedorharvestedherb,holdapinchinyourpalmorholdyourhandoverit,palmdown.Ifitisalivingplantthatyouhavecorrectlyidentifiedassafetotouch,gentlytouchitwithyourfingers.Ifyoucannotidentifyit,holdyourhandaboveortothesideoftheplantwithyourpalmtowardit.
2.Closeyoureyesandimagineyourpalmglowing.Focusonthesensationofyourpalm.Itmay tingleorgrowwarmor cool.Thatmeansyou’re focusingon the energyyourpalm iscreatingnaturally.
3.Visualizetheplantglowing.
4. Visualize the glow of energy collected in your palm gently stretching out to touch theglowingenergyoftheplant.Asthetwoenergiesmeet,askyourselfwhatyousense.Doyoufeel a specific emotion? Do ideas drift into your head? Thoughts or vague hunches? Payattention.This isamethodforcollectingobservationsabout theplantbysensing itsenergywithyourownenergy.
5.When you feel you have observed enough, send the plant a feeling of gratitude for itscooperation,thenvisualizeyourenergydisengagingfromthatoftheplantanddrawingbackintoyourpalm.
6.Openyoureyesandshakeyourhandfirmly,asifyou’reshakingwateroffyourhand.Thiswillhelpyougetridofanyexcessenergyhangingon.
7.Writeyourobservationsinyourgreenwitchjournal.Whatwastheexperiencelike?Whatsortofobservationsdidyoumakewhilesensing theenergyof theplant?Did theplant feelenergetic, calming, nurturing?Write down everything that comes to you and don’t worryaboutwhether itmakessenseornot.Yourobservationsof theenergyof theplantarevalidbecause they’reyours.Everyone interactsdifferentlywith theenergyofaplant. If lavenderenergizes you, then that is one of lavender’s energy benefits in your practice, even thoughmost bookswill tell you that lavender generally projects feelings of peace and tranquility.
Acquiringfirst-handknowledgeisimportantforagreenwitch,asitshapesandrefinesyourpractice,personalizingitinawaythatmakesittrulyunique.
GroundingWhen you work with energy, it is importnat to ground. Grounding meansconnecting your personal energy to that of the earth and allowing arebalancingofyourenergytooccur.Ifyouarenervousorexcited,youmayberunningtoomuchenergythroughyourbody.Theearthisagoodplacetoshunt that extra energy. If you are lethargic or dizzy, youmaybe sufferingfromalackofenergy,andtheearthhasplentytosharewithyou.Onceyouaregrounded,youcanabsorb the energyof the earth to replenishyour lowenergylevels.Togroundyourself, takethreedeep,slowbreaths.Nexttakeamomentto
feel your own energy flowing through your body. Focus on a point in thecenterofyourchestandvisualizeasmallgreenglowing light there.This isyourenergycenter.Nowvisualizeatendrilofgreenenergygrowingfromthatenergy center down toward the earth. Let it reach down past your feet.Visualize it growing into the earth itself, spreading into roots and twistingthroughthesoil.Takeamomenttofeelhowsolidandstableyourrootis intheearth.Now that you have formed a connection with the earth, you can either
allowyour excess energy to flow down tominglewith that of the earth ordrawsomeoftheearth’senergyuptoreplacetheenergyyouaremissing.Grounding is good to do when you get up in the morning, last thing at
night, before you do any energywork, orwhenever you feel a little out ofsyncwiththeworldaroundyou.
TheFourElementsThe four physical elements form the building blocks of a green witch’sunderstanding of theworld around her. They represent the rawmaterial ofnature. The flow and interaction between the four basic elemental energiesformthebasisofchange,transformation,growth,evolution,anddevelopmentin our environment and in our lives. Each element has a specific energy.Traditionally,theyhavethefollowingassociations:
•Earth:grounding,abundance;receptiveandpassive•Air:communication,intellect;projectiveandactive
•Fire:passion,creativity;projectiveandactive•Water:emotion,sensitivity;receptiveandpassive
While these traditional associations areuseful andahandy shortcut, howyouperceivetheenergyofeachelementinfluencesyourpersonalpracticeandhowyouinteractwiththeworld.
Exercise:SensingtheFourElements
This exercisehelpsyoubuild apersonal relationshipwith eachelement.Beforeyoubegin,reviewthepreviousenergy-sensingexercise.
Smalldishofearth(Note:makesureit’srichearth;ifallyouhaveisdrypottingsoil,useadishofsaltorastoneoracrystal.)SmalldishofwaterHandfan(orasmallpieceofcardstock)VotivecandleinacandleholderMatchesand/oralighterSmalltowelYourgreenwitchjournalandapenorpencil
1.Beginbysittingquietlyatatableoronthefloorwiththesuppliessetoutinfrontofyou.Takethreedeepbreaths.Asyouexhale,visualizeanytensionleavingyourbody.
2.Visualizeyourfingertipsglowingwithyourpersonalenergy.Visualizethesampleofearthglowingwiththeenergyofearth.
3.Gentlyreachoutandrestyourfingertipsonthesoil(orsaltorstoneorcrystal).Closeyoureyesandallowyourpersonalenergytocontactitsenergy.
4.Whileconnectedtotheearthenergy,observeasmuchasyoucanabouthowitmakesyoufeel.
5.Whenyouarefinished,withdrawyourfingersandbrushthemoffifnecessary.Shakeyourhandtoremoveanyexcessenergyoroddsensations.Openyourjournalandwritedownallofyour observations.What observations did youmake about the energy of earth?Howdid itmakeyoufeel?Whatdiditmakeyouthinkof?
6.Pickup thehand fanorcard stock inonehand,andholdyourotherhandout,palmup.Visualize the palm of your hand glowingwith your personal energy. Close your eyes andslowlybegintowavethefanorcard,creatinganaircurrentdirectedatyourotherpalm.Astheairmoves,seeitglowwiththeenergyofair.Allowtheenergyoftheaircurrenttomeetthe energyofyourpalmandobserve the sensationsyoupickup.Vary the speedof the aircurrent and observe whether that makes a difference to your observations.When you arefinished, set aside the fan and shake your hand to remove any excess energy or oddsensations. Write down your observations about the energy of the element of air in yourjournal.
7.Light thevotivecandle.Again,visualize theenergyofyourpalmglowing.Visualize theflameofthecandleglowingwiththeenergyoffire.Holdyourhandbesidetheflameatasafeandcomfortabledistance,andreachouttotheenergyoffirewithyourownenergy.Observeasmuchasyoucanabouttheenergyoffire.Whenyouarefinished,snuffoutthecandleand
shakeanyexcessenergyoffyourhand.Writedownyourobservationsabouttheenergyoftheelementoffireinyourjournal.
8.Bringthedishofwatertowardyou.Visualizeyourfingertipsglowingwithyourpersonalenergy, and see water glowing with the energy of the element of water. Slowly touch thesurfaceofthewaterwithyourfingertipsandallowyourpersonalenergytoengagewiththewater’s energy. Observe as much as you can about the energy of water. When you arefinished,withdrawyourfingersandwipethemonthesmalltowel,thenshakethemtoremoveanyexcessenergy.Writedownyourobservationsabouttheenergyoftheelementofwaterinyourjournal.
Foradifferentexperience,trytofindalargenaturalmanifestationofeachelement’senergywith which to interact. Interact with the energy of the summer sun to gain a differentexperienceof the energyof fire. Stand in a rain shower or snow stormor next to a strongflowingrivertogainadifferentperceptionoftheenergyofwater.Buryyourlegsandfeetinsandortakeoffyourshoesandworkyourtoesinfreshlyturnedgardensoiltointeractwiththeelementofearth.Standoutsideonawindydaytoexperiencethepowerofair.Writedownyourexperiencesandobservationsinyourgreenwitchjournal.To keep yourself attuned to the basic energies produced by the elements, perform this
exerciseatleastonceayear.Foradeeperunderstandingofthecyclesofenergyinyourarea,interactwiththeelementsonalargescaleonceeveryseason.Doingthiswillhelpyoubetterunderstandhow the local energies interact andhow their levels andpresence ebb and flowwiththecycleoftheyear.
WorkingwiththeFourElementsAlthough the four elements are always present, you can choose to
recognize them in your practice by formally inviting one or more of theelementstoaidyouinyourgreenwitchwork.Thisformalinvitationisoftencalledinvokingtheelement.Invokinganelementisaconsciousactthatdrawsthatelement’senergyto
youinyourenvironment.Invokinganelementcanbedoneifyouwantthatelement’sparticularaidorenergytoblendwiththeworkyouaredoing.Forexample, if you are creating a garden sachet for fertility in your vegetablegarden, then youmay invoke the element of earth to be presentwhile youconstruct the sachet andweave the elemental energy into the energy of thesachettohelpsupportandreinforceit.Manygreenwitches like toworkwith a symbol of each element nearby,
which honors the elements and creates a balanced atmosphere in which towork. Aswe learned in Chapter 2, each element is traditionally associatedwith a cardinal direction.You canbalance the overall energyof an area byintroducinganelementalenergythatislacking.Asmallcollectionofallfourelementalsymbolssupportsthebalanceofallfourenergies.Italsoprovidesthegreenwitchwithasourceofelementalenergiesfromwhichshecandrawinhermagicalwork,ifempoweredtobythosesources.Thosesymbolscanbe
assimpleasasmallcandleforfire,afeatherforair(orastickofincensetorepresent both fire and air together), a stoneor greenplant for earth, and asmallglassofwater.Youcansetthemintheirproperdirectionsorinanywaythatappeals toyou.Thereasonweworkwithsymbolsof theelementsis toreinforceourpersonalconnectiontothebuildingblocksofreality.Instead of placing your elemental symbols according to one of the
traditional directions, you can create amore accurate connectionwith yourowngeographiclocation.Whereisthelargestbodyofwaterinyourvicinity?Wherearemountainranges?Whereareplainsacrosswhichthewinddriveswithnothingtostopit?Wheredoesthesunseemtoshinemostbrightly,withthemostheat?Youmaywanttoreassignelementalassociationswithspecificdirections.This toocanaffecthowyouconductpersonalpractice.It’smucheasiertoenvisionsummoningtheelementalenergyofwaterfromtheeastifyou’reontheeastcoast,ortheelementalenergyofearthfromthemountainrangesouthofyouifyoulivenorthofone.Ifyourwindscomefromthewest,thenyoumightthinkofassigningairtothewest.Rarelydoallfourelementsslotneatlyintonewplaceswhenyoudothis,however.Ifbothwaterandairare comingatyou from the eastwhereyou live,you’ll have to thinkaboutwhat has a stronger association for you, and assign the less appropriateelementtoanothercardinalpoint.Ifyoudothis,makeapointofmeditatingon that element and its new direction regularly until you’ve constructed aclearassociationbetween the two.Thiswillhelpyouworkwith theenergylateron.Youcanalsohavesymbolsofallfourelements inyourworkspacewhere
youdogreenwitchworkandformallyinvokethepresenceofallfour.Ifyouchoose to invoke all four elements, you’ll have a powerful pool of energyfromwhichtodrawwhileyouworkandthatcansupportyourmagicalgoal.
MeditatingontheElementsSometimesbrainstormingwithothergreenwitches(orWiccansandother
neopagans) can help you create a new set of associations for something.Relaxing and thinking about a single element at a time can also yield asurprisingvarietyof images, thoughts,andpersonalcorrespondences.Ifyoudothiswork,don’tforgettohaveyourgreenwitchjournalnearbytorecordideasastheyariseinyourmind.Sit comfortably in your green witch space or in another familiar and
comfortablearea.Chooseanelementandbegintofree-associate.Don’tdoallfour elements in one session, however; do themon separate days.Here are
sometraditionalelementalassociationsthatcanhelpyougetstarted.ElementalAssociations
Water
Cardinaldirection:west CleansingBlessing DreamsPsychicenergy LunarenergyVisions EmotionsTwilightandsunset AutumnequinoxIntrospection CupChalice CauldronFlow TidesCurrent SeaOcean RiverStream PondLake RainSnow IceHail ReflectionsMirrors CirculationSensuality BlueGreen TransportationTradeandcommerce NourishmentLife MerpeopleElemental:undine
Earth
Cardinaldirection: Forestnorth(sometimeseast) Field CropsSeeds HarvestFallowfields SoilSalt RockCrystal WintersolsticeWisdom SourceofallWarmthandcomfort ColdandaloneBud BlossomLeaves FruitCornandgrain SacrificeDeath MidnightMystery BlackBrown GreenDarkness SilencePeace Rest
Solidity ProsperityAbundance FertilityGroundedness MountainsMetal GemsandstonesBones SkeletonEvergreen TreeElemental:gnome
Air
Cardinaldirection: Breatheast(sometimesnorth) Wind NewbeginningsBirds CommunicationThought Inspiration (literally“tobreathein”)Voice IntellectIntuition LogicFeathers HollowChimes HurricanesMovement CirculationFlow AspirationImagination VisualizationDawn FirstlightSpringequinox ChildhoodSound WandStaff SpearBowandarrow BirdsButterflies FlyinginsectsWingedfairies Elemental:sylph
Fire
Cardinaldirection:south HeatLight BurnCook ProtectionCreation DestructionCreativity InspirationPassion TransformationEnergy LustLife BloodSummersolstice GrowthStrength IntentionWillpower FertilityNoon Wand
Staff KnifeSword AngerElemental:salamander
Foranexcellentexcursionintotheworldofthefourelements,thehistoryandtraditionbehindthem,andwonderfulexercises,readMargieMcArthur’sWisdomoftheElements:TheSacredWheelofEarth,Air,Fire,andWater.
SensesWhile everyone interfaces differently with the world around them, we allacquireinformationviaourfivesenses.
VisionMostpeopleareprimarilyvisual,andifweloseoursighteventemporarily
we tend to panic. In social situations of every kind,we take our cues fromotherpeople.Seeinghowtheydress,theirbodylanguage,andtheirphysicalappearance shows us how to behave appropriately. Seeing different colorsalsostimulatesusindifferentways.Here are someexercises tohelpyoudevelophowyouuseyour senseof
sight:
•Sitinfrontofawindow,anduseitasaframeforwhatyouseethroughit.Examineeverythingwithinthisframe,takingasmuchtimeasyourequiretoreallylookatwhatyousee.Ifyoulike,dividethewindowinto quarters and examine the view, quarter by quarter. Look attextures, colors, and light and shadow. Allow yourself to really seethingsindetail,thingsyouusuallyjustglanceatandtakeinduringasplitsecond.
•Lookatacolorphotoofanapple, thenatarealapple.Howare theydifferenttoyoureyes?Howaretheythesame?
•Setaneverydayobjectonatableinfrontofyouandlookatitcarefully.Thenholditaboveyournormaleyelevelandlookupatit.Setitonthe floor and look down at it.Move it to the left, then to the right.Howdoesthepositionoftheobjectchangehowyouseeit?
Sound
Soundisoverwhelminglypresentinourlives.Traffic(cars,airplanes,etc.),thesoundsofradioandtelevision,andthenoiseandconversationsofcrowdssurround us nearly all the time. Our world is very rarely truly silent. Thesoundofwindthroughtheleavesofa treeorofwater lappingtheshorelineare sounds that speak of very specific environments that call up specificemotionalreactions.Hearinghelpsusfillinwhatourvisionrevealstous.Ifoursenseofhearingistakenawayfromus,wefeellost,butit’salsotruethatifweareinanareathatistooquiet,wecanbecomeuncomfortable.Hereareexercisestohelpyoudeepenyoursenseofhearing:
• Sit in a familiar place in your home and close your eyes. Listendeliberatelyandwithawarenesstothesoundsofyourhome.Whatdoyouhear?Howmanydifferent soundsdoyouhear?Where are theycoming from?Canyou identify them? (Donot attempt this exercisejustbeforeyougotobed,oryouwillfindthatyourattunementtolittlesoundswillcauseyoutobedistractedbynoisesallnight.)
• Sit in a public place like a mall or a restaurant and perform thisexerciseagain.Doitwithafriendbyyoursidesothatyoucanrelaxandnotworryaboutwhat’sgoingonaroundyou.Howarethesoundsdifferent?Howisthewayyoulisteninpublicdifferentfromhowyoulistenathome?
•Sitoutdoorsandperformtheexercise.Doyoufinditmoredifficulttoidentify outdoor sounds? Where do they come from? Do you hearmoreorfewersoundsthanyouhearindoors?
TouchChildrenarealways touchingeverything theyencounter.Aswegrowup,
however,we learn that it isn’t socially acceptable topickup everythingwesee andhandle it.Our concern for personal space also forces us apart.Thesenseoftouchcanbefurtherbrokendownintospecifickindsofsensesthattheweoftenconsidertocomeundertheheadingoftouch:theperceptionofpain,theperceptionoftemperature,theperceptionofpressure,theperceptionofbalanceandequilibrium,andtheperceptionofbodyawarenessorlocation.Try these exercises to explore your sense of touch. If possible, do them
withyoureyesclosedsoyouarenotusingsight to influenceyour senseoftouch:
•Gatherafeather,asmallbowlofsalt,an icecube inasmallbowlor
glass,apieceofwood,andasatinribbonandset themonatableinfront of you. One by one, explore the touch of each item. Take asmuch time as possible exploring the feel of each item.Don’t try toanalyze the sensations: just observe and accept them, enjoying thesensory input. Pick the item up; stroke it with your fingertips, withyourpalm,withthebackofyourhand.Runitalongyourforearmoryourcheek.Holditinyourhandsandfeelitsweightandshape.Howdoesitfeelifyouholditstill?Howdoesitfeelifyoumoveyourhandwhileholdingit?
•Findapatchofsun.Moveyourhandintothesunandfeelitswarmth.Moveitbackintotheshadowsandfeeltheabsenceofheat.
•Setabowlofwarmwaterandabowlofcoldwateronthetableinfrontofyou.(Makesurethewarmwaterisn’tscalding.)Sinkthefingersofonehandintothebowlofwarmwater,leavethemthereforaminute,thenremovethemandputthemintothebowlofcoldwater.Howdoesthe temperature contrast feel?After leaving your fingers in the coldwaterforaminute,dipthembackintothewarmwater.Doesthewarmwaterfeeldifferentnow?
TasteOursenseoftasteisoftendrownedinexcess.Fastfoodandcannedmeals
haveloweredourstandardsoftastetosuchanextentthatifwetasteacarrotfreshlypulledfromtheearth,ourtastebudsareoverstimulatedandwelosethecomplexityofflavor.Evenmorecommonisbitingintoafreshapple.Thetangyflavorsurprisesour tastebuds,whichhavebecomeused to thedullerflavoroffruitstoredforperiodicreleaseoverthewinterandspring.Produceimported from other areas often travels for days and loses the depth of itsflavor.Wehavebecomeaccustomedtodull,chemical-liketastes.Toremindyourtastebudsofsingleflavors,dothefollowingexercise:
•Washanddryyourhands.Ona table, setouta smallbowlof salt, asmall bowl of sugar, a small bowl of an herb such as rosemary(preferably fresh, but dry will do), a segment of orange, a slice oflemon,aglassofwater,andasliceofplainbread.Sitdownandtouchyour finger to thesalt, then touchyour finger toyour tongue.Allowthe tasteof thesalt tospreadacrossyour tongue.Howdoes it taste?Can you describe it without using the word “salty”? Cleanse yourpalatebytakingasipofwaterandatinybiteofthebread.Repeatthe
actionwiththesugar, thencleanseyourpalateagain.Continuealongthrough the foods, taking the time to allow each flavor to sink intoyour tastebuds. Imagineyouare tasting each food for thevery firsttime.
• Repeat the above exercisewhen you take the first bite of your nextmeal.Tasteeachitemonyourplateslowlyandcarefully,andimagineyou are tasting each one for the very first time. This is also awonderfulexercisetoperformwithseasonalfoodssuchaslocalfruitthat has just been harvested. Strawberries grown locally and pickedduringstrawberryseason, forexample,haveaveryspecial taste thatcannotbereplicatedbyhothouseberriesgrownacrossthecountryinoff-season.
SmellWe usually underestimate the power of our sense of smell. Smell is a
delicate sense that picks up minute shifts in air currents, and it’s oftenoverwhelmedinthecitybyexhaustfromcars,dirtandrefuse,perfumesandoverscented soaps, and the general effluvia of thousands of people livingclose together. Alternatively, when we travel to another area, such as theseashore or the countryside, we can be overwhelmed by the odors theresimplybecausewearenotaccustomedtothemorbecausetheyarenotdilutedorcoveredbyotherscents.Try these exercises to help deepen your understanding of your sense of
smell:
• Sit in a familiar place in your home and close your eyes. Breatheevenly.Asyou inhale, noticewhat scents you are smelling.What isthegeneraloverallscentofyourhome?Canyoufurther identify theindividualsmellsthatconstitutethatoverallscent?
•Repeat thisexercise inapublicplace,witha friendalong tokeepaneyeonwhat’sgoingonaroundyou.Whenyoucloseyoureyes,howwouldyouidentifythelocationsimplybyitssmell?Canyouidentifysmaller,individualsmells?
•Repeatthisexerciseoutdoors.Doyoufinditeasierormoredifficulttoidentifyindividualsmellsoutside?
TheSixthSense
Alongsidethefivebasicphysicalsenses,thereisanothermethodweusetogatherinformation.Thisisthesensewecallthesixthsense.Oursixthsensetellsus that someonebehindus is staringatus;even thoughwecannotuseoneofthefivephysicalsensestoconfirmit,wecansenseit.Thegreenwitchknowsandunderstandsthat thissensecannotalwaysbeexplained.Shealsoacknowledges its existence and accepts information acquired via the sixthsense.There are various explanations for how the sixth senseworks. Somesaythatourpersonalenergyfield(sometimesreferredtoastheaura)picksuptheenergyfieldsofotherthingsandinformationpassesbetweenthem.Living in anurban setting,we tend to becomedesensitized to the sights,
smells,andsoundsofourregularlocation.Agreenwitchshouldneverallowherself to become desensitized, however, because thismeans shewillmissminuteshiftsinenergy,changesthatmaysignalaproblemofsomekind.Theold adage “familiarity breeds contempt” has some application here aswell.Cultivatingoursixthsensecanhelpusavoidthetrapofdesensitization,foritallowsusanalternatemethodbywhichinformationcomestous.
AcquiringInformationIfwe take all six of our senses together,wemay call this sensory input
observation.Onceweobserve,however,wemusttheninterpret.Forthegreenwitch,theessentialpartofinterpretationrestsinheremotionalresponsetotheobservation.Whenyouwatch a sunset, howdoes itmakeyou feel?Howdoyou feel
whenyoufeelthefirstflakesofsnowfallingonyourcheek?Whatemotiondoesthesoundofababycryingstirinyou?Whatmemoriesdoesthetasteofgingerbreadevoke?Understandinghowthesensesevokeemotionsgivesyouinsightintohowthesensescanbeusedinyourgreenwitchwork.In working with plants, Eliot Cowan says, “There is no substitute for
experience.”He is absolutely correct.You can study dozens and dozens ofbooksforyearsandyears;butuntilyouactuallygooutandinteractwiththatplant,theinformationremainstheoretical.Thereareavarietyofdifferenttechniquesthatyoumayusetogettoknow
aplantand itsenergy:Youcan touch theplant, smell theplant,prepare theplant,blendtheplantwithotherplants,andsimplycommunewithit.Sittingnexttoitandreachingouttotouchitsenergyisaverysimpleandrewardingform of communication. Green witches understand instinctively that plantsarebothaliveandaware.Cowansaysthat“mostplantswillteachanyonewhoisinterested.”Talkto
them, but more important, listen to them. Cowan encourages people tocommunicatealoudwithplants,becauseithelpsopentheirmindsandkeepsthemgrounded.Chooseaplantandstudyit.Drawitinyourjournal.(Don’tworryifyou’re
notagreatartist.Noonewilleverseethisexceptyouunlessyouchoosetopassiton.)Drawwhatyouseewithyourphysicaleyes,thenonanotherpagedrawtheimpressionsyoureceivefromtheplant.Lookaroundtheplantatitsenvironment.What kind of ground is it growing in?What other plants arearound it?Make note of all these things.Don’t forget tomake note of thelocation,date,andtime,andaquicknoteabouttheweather.
OceanofPDF.com
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Chapter4TheFourSeasons
wareness of the solstices and equinoxes and howthese are reflected in your own geographical
locationformtheaxisofthegreenwitch’spractice.Thesolaryearismadeupoffourdistinctseasons,eachwithresonance for thegreenwitch.These fourseasonscanprovidethebasisforpersonalpracticeandthecreationofauniquetraditionspecifictoyouasantheindividualgreenwitch.
While thegreenwitch is free to celebratewhateverholidays (orholydays)shewishes,manygreenwitcheshaveadoptedthemodernneopaganseasonalcycle referred to as the Wheel of the Year. The Wheel of the Year iscelebratedoneightholydayscalledsabbats:thefoursolsticesandequinoxesplusfourCeltic-basedfirefestivalsreferredtoasthecross-quarterdays,eachonefallingbetweensolsticesandequinoxes.TheWheelof theYear isbasedon theagriculturalcycle.Themythology
surroundingithasbeentakenfromvariouscultures,althoughmostlyfromtheBritish Isles. For this reason, the agricultural cycle as represented by theWheel of the Year matches the cycle as it occurs in that area. Whileagricultural and seasonal cycles in other parts of the world (around theMediterranean Sea, for example) do not precisely match the story of theseasons as it is told through theWheel of theYear, theWheel of theYearnevertheless provides an important symbolic and archetypal sequence thatparallelsthenaturallifecycle.Thecircleoflifeasseenthroughthesowingofaseed, thegrowthofnew life,maturation,harvest,death,and rebirth is thesamenomatterwhereyoulive.Eveninaplacethatisgreenyear-round,theseasonalcycleasreflectedbytheWheeloftheYearcanhaveadeepspiritualmeaning.If theneopaganWheelof theYeardoesnot strike a chord inyourheart,
thenthefoursolsticesandequinoxesmakeanexcellentbaseuponwhichyou
canwork toattuneyourself to the seasonal cycle as itmanifestswhereyoulive.Itcanalsobecomeasolidbaseuponwhichyoucanconstructyourownuniquesequenceofholydays.Whyarefestivalsandholydaysimportant,particularlywheneveryday is
sacredtothegreenwitch?Holydaysprovideuswithastructureandremindustopausetoreconnectwiththeseasonalsequence.It’struethateverysingledayof theyear is sacred in itsownway,butdays suchas the solsticesandequinoxesallowustopauseandreassessourdailylives.Bycommemoratingtheseasonalshifts,wecantakethetimetomarkthechangesintheenergyofour environment and to formally reconnect ourselves with nature’s energy,whichhelpsusrechargeourspiritualbatteries.Whileitmaybeeasyenoughto remember to look for the sacred and themagical in your daily life, theformalholydaysallowyoutheopportunitytostepbackfromyoureverydaylifeandlookatthebigpicture.Onaday-to-daybasis,wetendtolosetrackofwhereweare,andovertimeweloseoursenseofhowthingsfitinwithoneanother;seeingthelargerpatternoftheyearisasimportantasexperiencingmorepersonalandspecificinteractionseveryday.Thefourseasonsalsoallowustoformallyrecognizetheflowofseasonal
energy and honor it. Set aside some time on or around the first day of theseason tomeditate upon the changes in energy that you are feeling in yourenvironment. Meditate on the part of the life cycle the season represents.Belowaresuggestedmeditationsforthesolsticesandequinoxes.Theyfollowthetraditionalsymbolicassociationsofeachseason.Itisimportanttofeeltheriseandfallofseasonalenergy,theebbandflow
of energy, the different “flavors” of seasonal energy. This is key toharmonizingtheselfwithnature.Naturehasrhythms;youhaverhythms.Toharmonizemeanstomatchyour
personalrhythmswiththerhythmsofyourenvironment.Thismaximizesyourinteractionwithnaturesothatyoucancommunicatemoreclearlywithit.Observeandnotetherhythmsoftheweatherwhereyouliveonaregular
basis.Theweatherhasgreatinfluencebothoveryourenvironmentandoveryourownpersonalenergy.
TheFourSeasonsNomatterwhereyou live, yourweather cycles forma recognizablepatternover a full calendar year. The vegetation grows and falls back in a patternovertheyear.Theanimalpopulationfollowscertainbehavioralpatterns.Asthe earth’s angle and distance from the sun change, the seasonal cycle
embodies the basic relationship between light and dark. The concept ofdarknessisnecessaryinthenaturalcycle:Withoutdarkness,therecanbenofallow period during which the earth regains its strength, seeds will notgerminate,animalswillnotbeartheiryounginseason.Whenweobservethefourseasons,wecancategorizetheclimateshiftsand
environmentalresponsesthatoccuroverthecalendaryear.Whenweobserveacertaineventhappeninginthenaturalworld,forexample,wecansay,“Ah,nowitisspring.”Thateventmaybedifferentforyourneighbor,forsomeonein the next time zone, or someone in the other hemisphere or south of theequator.We all have personal associations with seasonal events that reallybringhomewhattimeofyearitis.Theseassociationsarepartofourpersonalconnectionwiththenaturalworldaroundus.Inancientcultures,theseasonswereoftennamedaccordingtothenatural
phenomena of the geographic location and were often calculated throughobservationofthemovementsofstarsandplanetsoreventssuchasfloodingorthemovementsofherds.Today,insomeareastheseasonsareclassifiedbytemperature(thehotseason,thecoldseason)orbymeteorologicalevents(therainy season, thedry season). InNorthAmerica andEurope, there are fourseasonsthatbeginonspecificdaysandatspecifictimes.Climatechangesarecreatedby theorbitof theeartharoundthesun.Asearthorbits thesun, theearth’ssurfaceisexposedtomoreorfewerofthesun’seffects.Thisiscausedbytheangleofdeclinationoftheaxisoftheplanet.Theamountofsunlighttriggersbehavioralresponsesinplantsandanimals,includinghumans.InNorthAmerica,althoughtheseasonsaredeterminedbytheastronomical
positionofthesunandtheearth,meteorologically,thedatesMarch1,June1,September 1, and December 1 are used to mark the beginning of spring,summer, fall, andwinter. If thesedatesmakemore sense toyouwhereyoulive and correspond to how seasonal differences manifest in yourenvironment,whynotusethem?Thepointoflivingasagreenwitchistobein tune with your surroundings. Adhering to a date simply because it is astandarddatedoesnotalwaysmakesensewhen it comes tocelebrating thechangingseasons.IfspringarrivesearlierorlaterthanMarch21inyourarea,asreflectedintheplantandanimalkingdomsandinyourownsoul,thenbyallmeans,celebratethebeginningofspringatadifferenttime.Springdoesn’thavetocomeonthesamedayeveryyear,either.PerhapsoneyearyousensethatspringhasarrivedonApril2,forexample,andthenextyearyoufeelthatithasalreadyarrivedonMarch12.Trustyourinstinct.Itisrespondingtotheenergiesflowingthroughyourlocale.As the green witch lives a practical life, the four seasons offer both
practicalandspiritualopportunitiesforlearningmoreaboutnatureandliving
inharmonywithit.Thebeginningsofthefourseasonsarespecificpointsatwhich to pause and evaluate your life. This isn’t only useful for spiritualevaluation;it’salsogoodforpracticalpurposes,suchascuttingbackthedeadgrowthinthegarden,pruningtrees,harvestingthelastofyourcrop,washingwindows,clearingoutthegarage,anddoinggeneralhousecleaning.Solsticesandequinoxesarejustdates.Thetruefeelingsoftheseasoncan
arrive earlier or later than the calendar indicates. It is up to you as a greenwitchtoobserve,trust,andchoosetocelebratewhenyoufeeltheseasonhastrulyarrived.Remember,thekeytodevelopingyourownpersonalpracticeisforging your own connection with the energy flow of the year as it isinfluencedbytheweatherandclimatewhereyoulive.Ifyoulivesouthoftheequator,rememberthattheseequinoxesandsolsticesarereversed,andusetheappropriatemeditationforyourseason.
TidesoftheYearTheseasonaltidesechothenaturalcycleintheinnerlifeofthegreenwitch.
1.Springequinoxtosummersolstice:thegrowingtide2.Summersolsticetoautumnequinox:thereapingtide3.Autumnequinoxtowintersolstice:therestingtide4.Wintersolsticetospringequinox:thecleansingtide
Thesefourtidesmaybeseenasstagesofourlives.Thecyclicnatureofourlifeisreflectedinourrelationshipsandcareersandwhatwelearnaswegrow.We can see it as a spiral.While ceremonial magicians use the energies ofseasonaltidesintheirmagic,thesetidesgivethegreenwitchopportunitiestolookinsideherselfandseeallnaturereflectedinminiaturethere.
CelebratinginYourOwnWayInyourpersonalpractice,it isbettertoobservehowyoufeelforayearandbaseyourownfestivalsonthoseobservationsthanitistoconsultabook,findout that it is the fall equinox, read that it is associated with endings andharvests, and celebrate accordingly. But what if you think of fall as abeginning?Whilecelebratingtheage-oldassociationscanbepositive,inthatitnurturesasenseofunitywithyourancestorsandwiththeearth,itcanalsobecounterintuitiveifitdoesnotcoincidewiththeenergiesofyourgeographic
locale.Agreenwitchseekstohonortheenergiestowhichsheisseekingtoattuneherself.
Greenwitchcraftisaboutbeinghands-on,aboutnurturinganddevelopingourrelationshipwiththenaturalworldaroundus.Thegreenwitchmakesherowntools,growsandharvestsherownherbs.Bydirectlyinteractingwiththenaturalsequenceofseasons,youcreatealargerpractice.Byunderstandinghowtheyearebbsandflows,yougainadeeperunderstandingofhowlifeitselfweavesandunravelstheweboflife.
So how do you celebrate a solstice or an equinox? There is no right orwrongway.Therearenotraditionsthatmustbemarked,noritualsthatmustbeenacted.Everygreenwitchcreatesherowntradition,herownexpressionoftheseasonsandhowtheychange.Thatuniqueexpressionwillreflecthowtheseasonaffectsherspirit,herheart,andherbody.The most basic way to celebrate the solstices and equinoxes involves
allowingyourselftointeractwiththenaturalenvironmentaroundyou.Spendthedayoutdoors.Goforawalkthroughyourneighborhoodandlookathowthingsarechanging.Ifyouprefer,youcancelebrateindoors.Gatherseasonalgreenery and decorate your home. While some green witches believe thatnature’sbountyshouldbeleftoutdoorsandappreciatedinitsplaceandnotbeharvestedforsomethingasminorasdecorating,othersadvocateusingflowersand greenery as they are available and always with a sense of harmony,responsibility,andfairuse.Meditating at each seasonal shift is one of the most direct ways of
experiencingtheenergyofthenaturalworldandtracingyourownresponsetoitsebbandflowthroughout theyear.Use thefollowingseasonalmeditationoutlineasthebasisforyourmeditations.Appropriateseasonalvariations(aslistedinthesectiononeachseason)aregiven.Usingaconsistentmeditationwithonlysmalldifferencesaccordingtotheseasonallowsyoutoeasilysensethe minor differences that come out of the meditation that you mightotherwisemissifyoufollowedadifferentsequenceeachtime.
SeasonalMeditationOutline
Ideally,thismeditationshouldbedoneoutside:inyourgarden,inaprivateandsecurespotinapublicpark,evenonyourbalconyorinyourpatio.Ifyouhaveaccesstoforestsorfields,thesetoomakeidealplacesinwhichtoencounterandattunetotheenergyofspring.Ifyouchoosetomeditateinapublicplace,makesurethatyouarecomfortableandfeelsafeenoughtoallowyourself thefreedomtomeditate. Ifyouareconcernedaboutothers interfering,gosomewhereelseordothemeditationinyourhome.Settleyourselfcomfortablyandcloseyoureyes.Visualizeafinegreenmistrisingfromthe
ground and radiating out from all the growing things around you. Take three slow, deepbreaths.Eachtimeyouinhale,visualizethatmistofverdantgreenenergyflowingintoyourlungsandspreadingthroughyourbody,bringingwithitthefeelingofcomfortandrelaxation,ofonenesswithyoursurroundings.Asyouexhale,releaseanytension,stress,orworryyou
maybefeeling.Allow your personal energy to expand slightly so that it merges with the natural green
energyaroundyou.Directyourawarenessdownwardintothesoil.Allowittosinkdeepintothe earth, slowly and gently.Do not force your energy, but let it sink and sift through theparticlesofearth.Whenyoufeelcomfortable,stopandfeeltheenergyofthesoilaroundyoucradlingyou,enfoldingyou.
Inserttheappropriateseasonalvisualizationhere.
When you feel it is time to return to normal consciousness, offer the soil around yourawarenessasmallgiftofgratitude(emotionisenergy,afterall),thenallowyourawarenesstoslowlyriseupthroughthesoiltoreturntoyourphysicalbody.Afterspendingtimewithintheearth like this,youwillprobablybe so relaxed that slowmovementwillbenatural toyou.Makesurethatyoutakethetimetoreturnthoroughly.Donotsimplysnapyourselfback,oryouwillbedisorientedandyourpersonalenergywillbeunbalanced.
Once your awareness has returned, ground yourself (see Chapter 3) and take three deepbreaths.Openyoureyesandgentlymoveyourarmsandlegstowarmthemupandtoreaffirmyourphysicalform.Standupslowlyanddoafewgentlestretchestoloosenupyourmuscles.Writeasummaryofyourexperienceinyourgreenwitchjournal.Howdiditfeeltointeract
with the earth at this season? Did the interaction teach you anything new? Did you learnanything new about your geographic location? Did you pick up any insight from theexperience?Writedownyourthoughtsandquestions,anyvisionsyoumayhavehadornewunderstandingsyoumayhavecome to.Makenotesonhowyou feel as this seasonbegins,whattheenergyofthelocationyouchosefeltlike.Remembertonotetheweather,too.Infutureyears,youcanmakereadingnotesinyourwitch’sjournalthebeginningofyour
seasonalcelebration.Comparehowyoufeelnowtohowyoufeltinpreviousyears.Whatarethesimilarities?Whatarethedifferences?
TheVernalEquinoxThemovementof the seasons isaneverendingcycle.Although in reality
thereisnoplacethatwecanfirmlypointtoasthebeginningoftheseasonalcycle, spring is often seen as the first season in the sequence. This comesfromthefactthatearliercalendarsbegantheyearinthespring.Springisalsotraditionallyassociatedwithnewbeginnings, sowing,childhood,andyoungthings in general. Spring is a time of potential, a time for planning andplanting, and a time formakingwishes aboutwhat youwant the future tohold.Thevernal equinox canbe likened to thedawnof theday.New lightemerges, touching the landscape with a gentle glow, and life brims withwonderfulpossibilitiessimplywaitingtoberealized.Thevernalequinoxtakesplaceat themomentwhennightanddayareof
equallengthforthefirsttimeafterthewintersolstice.Fromthismomenton,thesunwillbeintheskyforafewmoreminuteseveryday,andnightswillslowlybecomeshorter.
SpringMeditation
Perform thismeditationonor around the springequinox. If thedayof theofficial equinoxdoesn’tworkforyou,tryitaroundthetimeofyearwhentherearemanynewthingsemerginginthenaturalenvironmentwhereyoulive.Beginthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.Onceyouhavereachedaplaceofcomfortdeepinsidetheearth,breatheinthatenergyand
feel it fill your body. Feel the soil’s energy at this time of the spring equinox. Feel thepotentialthatvibratesintheearth.Reachoutandsensethefirstmovementsofrootsandseedswhere they curl in safety, absorbing the soil’s energy andusing it tonourish their own lifeforce, growing stronger in their sleep. Sense the slow awakening of these roots and seeds,thinkaboutthepotentialtheyhold,theluxuriouslifetheywillsoondisplay.Remain cradled by the energy of the soil as long as you like, enjoying the feeling of
potentialandthefirststirringsoflife.Finishthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructureabove.
TheSummerSolsticeThesummersolstice,ormidsummer,marksthemomentwhenthesunisat
its highest. It is the day when the sun spends the most hours above thehorizon.Traditionally,thisdayisassociatedwithexpansionandgreatenergy.Thesummersolsticemarksthebeginningofsummer,aperiodintoday’sbusyworld thatwe nostalgically associatewith play and relaxation and summervacations. Conversely, it is also associated with hard work, for in theagriculturalcyclethefieldsmustbetended.Cropscontinuetomaturequicklyandwithgreatstrengthandcaneasilygrowoutofhand.
SummerMeditation
Performthismeditationonoraroundthesummersolstice,orwheneveryousensesummerhasarrivedwhereyoulive.Ifthisdoesn’tworkforyou,tryitaroundanothertimeofyearwhenthingsareinthemiddleofaperiodofgrowthandexpansion.Beginthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.Onceyouhavereachedaplaceofcomfortdeepinsidetheearth,breathethatenergyinand
feelitfillyourbody.Feelthesoil’senergyatthistimeofthesummersolstice.Feeltheenergyofnourishmentandgrowth that vibrates in the earth.Sense the expansion, the throbof life as it flows throughroots and stems. Explore the interactive system of minerals, nutrients, water, and fertiledecomposedvegetablematterthatfeedsthenewgenerationofplantlife.Sensethefeelingofvitality, of life, of expansion and increase, of reaching up and opening out, the flow ofpassionateandjoyfulcreationthatpulsesthroughtheland.Remaincradledbytheenergyofthesoilaslongasyoulike,enjoyingthefeelingofvitality
andfertilelifearoundyou.Finishthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.
TheAutumnalEquinox
Asatthevernalequinox,theminutesofdayandnightarepreciselyequalatthemomentofautumnalequinox.Fromthesummersolstice,theminutesofdaylighthaveslowlydecreasedandtheminutesofnighthaveincreased.Fallistraditionallyassociatedwithharvestandthanksgivingforthebounty
of theearth,whichhasbeen tendedfromevenbeforeplantsbegantogrow.Fall also incorporates themes of sacrifice, loss, and gentle regret, for thepreciousdaysofsummerhavepassedandwinternowapproaches.Autumnisatimeofweighing.Whatisnecessarytokeep?Whatcanbeleftbehindasthecyclepassestoatimeofscarcity?
FallMeditation
Performthismeditationonoraroundtheautumnalequinoxorwheneveryousensethatfallhasarrivedwhereyoulive.Ifthisdoesn’tworkforyou,tryitaroundthetimeofyearwhenthings are in themiddleof aperiodof fulfillment andharvest andnearing the endof theircycle.Beginthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.Onceyouhavereachedaplaceofcomfortdeepinsidetheearth,breathethatenergyin,and
feelitfillyourbody.Feelthesoil’senergyatthistimeoftheautumnalequinox.Feeltheenergyofcompletion
and contentment that vibrates in the earth.Reachout and sense the fullness, the feeling ofachievement as it flows through roots and stems. Explore the gentle, slowermovement ofenergy throughout the soil and the roots of plants as the cycle of producing fruit and seedcomes to an end on the surface of the earth. Sense the feelings of contentment, of life, ofpleasureandsatisfaction,ofappreciationandofferingthatpulsethroughtheland.Remaincradledbytheenergyofthesoilaslongasyoulike,enjoyingthefeelingofplenty
andserenityaroundyou.Finishthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.
WinterSolsticeThewinter solstice is the shortest day of the year, when the sun’s noon
heightisthelowestthatitisallyear.Althoughthehoursofnightoutnumbertheminutesofdaylight,fromthismomenton,thesunbeginstoregainitslosttime.Winter in the life cycle is traditionally associated with apparent death,
whichisnecessarytoenabletherebirthassociatedwithspring.Withoutdeath,therecanbenonewlife.
WinterMeditation
Performthismeditationonoraroundthewintersolstice,orwheneveryousensethatwinterhasarrivedwhereyoulive.Ifthisdoesn’tworkforyou,tryitaroundthetimeofyearwhenthingshavereachedapointofrest,ofapparentdeathorcessationofmotion.Beginthemeditationasoutlinedintheseasonalmeditationstructure,above.
Onceyouhavereachedaplaceofcomfortdeepinsidetheearth,breathethatenergyinandfeelitfillyourbody.Feel the soil’s energy at this time of the winter solstice. Feel the energy of quiet and
stillnessthatpermeatestheearth.Reachoutandsensethedarkness,thefeelingofslownessasit flows through roots and stems. Explore the barely perceptible movement of energythroughoutthesoilandrootsastheworldaboveliessleeping.Sensethefeelingsofrelaxation,ofincubation,ofdreamsandthebreathofwhatmaybecomethattricklethroughtheland.Remaincradledbytheenergyofthesoilaslongasyoulike,enjoyingthefeelingofwarm
stillness and sleeparoundyou.Finish themeditationasoutlined in the seasonalmeditationstructure,above.
WorkingSeasonalRitualsMeditations are one method of interacting with the energy of the season.Ritualsareanother.Because green witchcraft is informal, the popular neopagan practice of
usingaritualcircletosettheritualsiteapartfromthemundaneworldisuptothe greenwitch herself. In occult traditions, the circle represents protectionfromnegative forces that could interfere inyourwork. In thegreenwitch’spractice, however, we do not require protection, for everything is part ofnature.Instead,thosewhochoosetouseacircleuseittodesignateanareaofpurityinwhichtowork,asacredplacesetapartfortheritual.Ifyouchooseto delineate your ritual area in this fashion, you may simply walk theperimeter of your space with the intent of marking it. No further formalaction,visualization,orwordsarerequired.
SpringEquinoxEggRitualforWelcomingCreativeEnergyintoYourLife
This ritual is designed to gather up some of the abundant, fertile energy of nature in thespringtimeanddirectittowardanareaofyourlifewhereyoucoulduseashotofproductive,creativeenergy.Thisspellappealstothespringmaidenandtheyouthfulsunfortheirblessingsandenergy;
Ihavedeliberatelyusedsymbolicfiguresinthisritualsothatyoucanvisualizethemasyoudesire.AsIhaveexplainedinpreviouschapters,becausegreenwitchcraftdoesnotworshipanyspecificdeities,youarefreetoinvokedeityenergyasyouseefitandaccordingtoyourreligionofchoice.Inthisandotherrituals,ifyouwishtoappealtoadeitywhomyouworshiponaregularbasis,thenbyallmeanssubstitutethatgodorgoddess.Before beginning this spell, color your uncooked egg according to your personal color
associations.Forexample,iftheareaofyourlifewhichrequiresenergyiscareerrelated,youmightcolortheeggbrownororange;ifitisrelatedtoromance,youmaywishtocolortheeggredorpink.Performthisritualinyourhomeatyouraltar,orwhereveryoufeelcomfortable.Oneuncookedegg,coloredaccordingtoyourpreferenceOnesmall,palegreencandleSmallpieceofparchmentPen
HeatproofdishMatchesorlighter
1.Createsacredspacehoweveryouprefertodoso.
2.Lightthecandleandtaketheeggintoyourhands.Say:
MaidenGoddessofSpring,light,andlife,YouthfulGodoftheSun,exuberantandjoyful:Blessthisegg,andfillitwiththepowerofspring,oflife,Offertileandcreativeenergy.Maymylifebeenergized!
3.Settheeggnexttothecandle.
4.Usingthepen,writeontheparchmentthesituationorareaofyourlifetowhichyouwishto direct the creative energy of spring. When you have finished writing, hold the paperbetweenyourhandsandempoweritwithyourneed.
5.Carefullytouchthecornerofthepapertothecandleflameuntilitcatchesfire.Dropitintheheatproofdishandallowthepapertoburncompletelytoash.
6.Allowthecandletoburndowncompletely.Lettheeggrestbesidethecandle.
7.Whenthecandlehasgoneout,taketheeggandthebowlofashesoutdoorsanddigaholeintheground.Placetheeggintheholeandsprinkletheashesofthepaperontopofit.Burythesecarefullyandwithreverence.Theenergyoftheeggandtheearthwillslowlybegintoinfusethesituationinyourlifethatyouaskedtobeenergized.
SummerGardenBlessingRitual
Making flower chains is a wonderful way to combine play, work, and creativity. Takeadvantageoftheabundantandluxuriousenergyofexpansionandgrowththatmanifestsinthesummertime to bless your gardenwith this ritual.Before you begin, select a place in yourgardentoserveasaplaceofoffering.Gathertheleavesandflowersyouwillbeusingfromyourgardenorthewild(rememberingtoharvestresponsibly).
Donotbuythemfromaflorist.
WandorstaffStang(forkedstafforstick;seeChapter2)Twelveflowers(yourchoice;wildflowersandweedsarefine,butmakesurethestemsareatleastfourincheslonganddonotselectanythingwithtoxicleaves)Twelveleaves(yourchoice;aslargeaspossible,withfirmstems)Knifeorscissors(optional)Pitcher,bowl,cup,orwateringcanfullofwater
1.Withthestafforwandinyourhand,circlearoundorwalkthroughyourgarden.Holdthewandorstaffinfrontofyou,itsbaseclosetotheground.Visualizethelifeenergyasitrisesup from the soil through the plants’ roots to nourish the stems, leaves, flowers, and fruit.Circleorwalkthroughthegardenasecondtime,stillholdingthewandorstaff,butthistimeraisedhighersothatthetipreachesintothesky.Visualizetheenergyofthesunandtherainnourishing theplants fromabove.Circleorwalk through thegardena thirdand final time,nowholdingthewandorstaffhorizontally.Visualizetheenergyofeachindividualgrowingplantexpandingtojoinwiththeotherplantsaroundit,formingthewholeofyourgarden.
2.Laydownthewandorstaffinfrontofyourchosenplaceofoffering.Takeupthestang,andinsertthesingleendintotheearthfirmlysothattheforkedendstandsuprightandstable.
3.Sitorkneelinfrontofthestangandtakeuponeoftheflowers.Stripawayanyleavesorgreeneryalongthestemandtrimittoapproximatelysixincheslong.Withyourfingernail(ortheknifeorscissors,ifyouprefer),makeasmallverticalslitinthestemaboutaninchortwobelowthepetals.Don’tmaketheslittoolong;ahalf-inchoughttobeenough.Dothesametotheotherelevenflowers.
4.Holdthefirstflowerjustbelowthepetals.Pickupasecondflowerandcarefullyinserttheendofthestemintotheslit inthefirstflower.Carefullypull thestemofthesecondflowerthroughtheslituntiltheslitinthesecondstemhaspassedthroughthefirststem’sslit.
5.Pickupathirdflowerandinsertitsstemintotheslitonthesecondflower.Repeatuntilalltwelveflowershavebeenassembledintoachain.
6.Gentlyhangtheflowerchainonthestangbylayingeachendoveroneofthebranchessothatthemiddleofthechainformsagentleswag.Ifthechainisnotlongenough,simplyhangitovertheforkitself.
7.Ineachoftheleaves,makeatinyslitinthestemoftheleaf.
8.Takeoneleafandholditinyourhand.Takeasecondandgentlyinsertthestemintotheslitof the first leaf. Pull the second stem through until the slit passes through the first slit.Continuewiththeremainingleaves,untilyouhaveanotherchain.
9.Gentlyhangtheleafchainonthestangbylayingeachendoveroneofthebranches,sothatitliesalongtheflowerchain.Iftheleafchainisnotlongenough,simplyhangitovertheforkorgentlytwineitaroundtheflowerchain.
10.Laybothyourhandsonthechainsandsay:
PowersofWindandEarth,PowersofSunandRain:Bytreeandflowerandleaf,Withmyhandsandheart,Iblessthisgardenwithlifeandlove.
11. Take up the pitcher or bowl ofwater andwalk through your garden, gently sprinklingdropsofthewaterthroughout.Keepsomewaterback.Returntothestangandpourthelastofthewateratitsbasewhereithasbeenthrustintothegroundandsay:
Igivethankstotheearthforitsbounty,itsprotection,anditssupport.Blessedbetheearthandthosewhowalkuponit.
12.Ifyoulike,youcansitbythestangandmeditateforawhileorsimplyenjoybeinginyourgarden.You can alsoweed,work the soil, thin out some plants, or dowhatever gardeningneedstobedone.Leavethechainsonthestangforatleastaday(oraslongasyoufeelrightinleavingthem).Removethemwhentheyhavewilted,butdonotthrowthemout.Addthemtoyourcompostpile.
AutumnEquinoxHarvestRitual
Thisritualhonorstheearth’sproduceandbountyandallowsyoutoparticipateintheseason’senergybyperforming theessentialharvestingaction.Youcanharvestsomethingfromyour
owngardenorsomethingwild.Ifyouhavealottoharvest,choosethefirstorthelastitemyouplantoharvestforthisritual.Theharvestingtoolwilldependonwhatyouareharvesting.
Sharpknife,secaturs,scissors,orshearsSmallbottleorbowlofwater
1.Standingnexttowhatyouareharvesting,reachoutwithyourhandandsensethatplant’senergy.
2.Say:
Ihonoryou,Earth’sChild.Ihonoryourgrowth,yourflower,andnowyourfruit.Ithankyouforyourenergy.Blessedbe,Earth’sChild.MayIwhoharvestyourfruitbeblessedbytheact.
3.Withtheharvestingtool,cutthefruitofftheplant.Sensetheenergyoftheplantwhenyouhaveharvesteditsproduce.Honorthedifferenceyoufeel.
4.Pourthewateratthebaseoftheplantinthanks.
IceRitualfortheWinterSolstice
Thisritualisaphysicalreminderthatspringwillalwaysfollowwinter.Ifyouliveinaregionwithno snow,makeabatchof icecubesprior to the ritual anduse those.Ametalbowl isrecommendedbecauseitwillbestreflectthecandle’sflame,althoughitwillgrowverycold,sobeawareofyourfingerswhenyouholdit.Ifit’swintrycoldwhereyoulive,performthisritual indoors.Otherwise, the iceandsnowwillnotmelt,and thepointof theritualwillbelost.Performthisritualinyourhomeatyouraltarorwhereveryoufeelcomfortable.Bowl(preferablymetal)Icecubesorchunksoficeandsnowfromoutdoors(approximatelyonecup)Candle(red,orange,oryellow)incandleholderMatchesorlighter
1.Place thesnowor icecubes in thebowlandsitorkneelnext to it.Light thecandleandplaceitbehindthebowlsothatyoucanseetheflame’sreflectiondancingintheiceorsnow.
2.Say:
Astheseasonturns,andthesunshines,Ihailthelightthatreturnstotheland.Darknessebbs,lightagainflows,Anddaybydaythelandwillgrowwarm.Welcomeagain,BrightSun!Mayyourbeamscaressthelandandtransformicetowater,Snowtorain,coldtowarmth,Andwintertospringagain.
3.Allowthesnoworicetomeltuntilitiswater.Lookatthereflectionofthecandleflameonthewaterinthebowlandthinkaboutthewarmthofthesun.Feeltheenergyofthesnowasitmelts,theenergyoftheflameasitemitslightandheat.Observethecommunicationbetweenthetwo.
U
Chapter5Twigs,Leaves,Stars,andStones
sing the bounty of nature in a personal spiritualpractice offers the reward of knowledge and
insightacquiredthroughexperience.Thischapterlooksat how the green witch uses the various elements ofnature, including the sun and moon, trees, stones,flowers,andherbs.
The greenwitch’s way of livingmay exemplify her philosophy, but in theend,it’showoneacquiresknowledgethattrulyinformsourpractice.As you have seen in the previous chapters, a green witch interacts with
natureitselftoreceivethefullbenefitofitsteachings.Readingaboutnature,watching television documentaries, and listening to lectures may all beexcellentways to acquire knowledge, but first-hand experience of nature isalways the best teacher. Folkwisdomcomesdown fromour ancestorswhoobserved the cycles of nature and drew conclusions from the pool ofknowledgethusacquired.Forexample,ourancestorsknewthatthick-skinnedonionsmeantahardwinterahead.Observationsofweatherpatternsallowedthem topredictwhen to sow,when toharvest,when to travel, andwhen tostayathome.Atatimewhenbeingintunewiththelandandtheclimatewaswhatensuredtheirsurvival,payingattentiontohowthingschangedandhowtheystayedthesamewasanecessity.Themodern greenwitch doesn’t operate in the same kind ofworld.We
haveweathernetworksnowthatshowusthemeteorologicalpatterns.Inourlocal grocery store, we can buy produce imported from all over the worldyear-round.Theearthisnolongerourdirectsourceofsustenance,andsowepaylessattentiontoit.However,toignorethewisdomoftheearthistocutourselvesofffromavastnetworkofenergythatwecanaccesstohelpusinourdailylives.ByusingthetechniquesofacquiringinformationoutlinedinChapters 2 and 3, themodern greenwitch can establish a new relationshipwiththenaturalworld.Thisnewrelationshipwillenhanceyourlife.
Nothingcomesfree.Thereisalwaysanexchangeofenergy.Whatdoyouexchangeforthiswisdomthatyougleanfromnature?Yourdedicationtoyourwork.Yourwillingnesstoworktohealtheearthanditscreatures,includinghumankind,and to restoreharmonybetween them.Yourwillingness topassyourknowledgeontoothers.Thesourcesof thegreenwitch’s information,wisdom,andpowerare the
differentaspectsofnatureandthenaturalsystem—theluminariesintheskyabove, the plant world, the mineral world. The animal world also offersdepthsofwisdom,butworkingwithanimalsismoreproperlyshamanicwork.SeeMichaelHarner’sTheWay of the Shaman and other books for how toworkwithpoweranimals.
LuminariesThesun,themoon,andthestarshavelongbeenlookedtoforpowerandaid.Wicca, the most prevalent form of modern nature worship, places greatemphasis on working with the phases and energy of the moon. The greenwitchknowsthatwhileseedsmaybesownaccordingtolunarphasesandthattheysproutandarenurturedinthedark,theyalsogrowandthrivethankstothewarmthandenergyofthesun.Thesunenableslifetothriveonthisplanet.Itprovidesheatandlightand
nourishes us on a very basic level. InPlant Spirit Medicine, Eliot Cowanwrites that we “receive our energy by eating the sunlight in plants andanimals. Every heartbeat and every step you took todaywas fueled by thesun”(Cowan,p.67).Wedependonthesunforourlife.Veryoften,however,wetakethesunforgrantedornoteitsexistenceonlyinconnectionwiththeweather.However,thegreenwitchwholivesinanurbansettingcanalwaysconnectwiththesun,evenifthereisn’tascrapofgreenspacearound.In theWestern occult tradition, the sun is usually associatedwith power,
success, prosperity, health, joy, family, creativity, growth, and expansion.Solar energy changes throughout the day. The energy of the earlymorningsun, for example, is not the same as the energy of high noon, nor of lateafternoon.Dawnandsunsethavecompletelydifferentenergies.Generally,thefour key solar points (dawn, noon, sunset, andmidnight) correspond to thestagesoflifeasseeninthefourseasons:birth,maturity,oldage,anddeath.Donot, however, let this stopyou fromworkingwith the sun all day long.Thereareotherfactorsthatyoucantakeintoaccount,andyourowninstinctismoreimmediatelypertinenttoyourownworkthantraditionalassociations.Ifyoufeeldrawntousingsolarenergyatsunsettolaunchanewproject,then
byallmeansdoit!Solarenergycanalsobeaffectedbywherethesunisintheearth’sorbit.As
theearthmoves,twelvedifferentconstellationsofstarspassaboveus,andthesun appears to move through them. Depending on which constellation ishighest at a given time, the sun is said to be “in” that constellation. Forexample, the sun moves into the constellation of Cancer, the Crab, on thesummer solstice. These constellations, of course, make up our astrologicalzodiac,which is a traditionalmethodofdivination that uses thepositionofstars and luminaries to determine hidden information and influences.Whenthesunis“in”eachconstellation,thatconstellation’sassociatedenergyissaidtoaddaslightlydifferentspintothebasicsolarenergy.
ZodiacEnergyCorrespondences•Aries,theRam:action,newbeginnings•Taurus,theBull:manifestation,materialthings,physicalcomfort•Gemini,theTwins:communication,intellectualwork•Cancer,theCrab:family,nurturing,thehome•Leo,theLion:success,luxury,leadership•Virgo,theVirgin:practicality,organization•Libra,theScales:society,people•Scorpio,theScorpion:passion,justice•Sagittarius,theCentaurArcher:study,exploration•Capricorn,theGoat:business,foundation•Aquarius,theWater-Bearer:invention,innovation•Pisces,theFish:spirituality,mysticism
Atdifferenttimesoftheyear,stellarinfluencesaddadashofflavortosolarenergy.Eachperiodofthezodiaclastsapproximatelythirtydays,andthesuntransits into the next constellation on or around the twenty-first of eachmonth.Appropriately enough, in astrology, these are called sun signs. (Themoonalso appears topass through these constellations, and lunar energy issimilarlyaffectedbythestellarenergy.Inthisinstance,theyarecalledmoonsigns.)
MeetingtheSun
Themostbasicwaytoexperiencethesun’senergyistogooutsideandstandorsitinthesun.Beverycareful, however.Donot lookdirectly into the sunandbe sure toprotectyourselffromsunburnbywearingprotectiveclothingand/orsunscreenofanadequatelyhighSPF.
To receive solar energy, settleyourself comfortably ina sunny spot andcloseyoureyes.Visualize a fine greenmist rising from the ground and fromall the growing things aroundyou.Takethreeslow,deepbreaths.Eachtimeyouinhale,visualizethatmistofverdantgreenenergyflowingintoyourlungsandspreadingthroughyourbody,bringingwithitthefeelingof comfort and relaxation, of oneness with your surroundings. As you exhale, release anytension,stress,orworryyoumaybefeeling.Open your awareness to the warmth of the sunlight. Just receive it, let it in. Absorb
whateverenergyitofferstoyou.Howdoesitfeelphysically?Emotionally?Spiritually?Doesthesunlighthaveamessageforyou?Takeaslongasyouwishtocommunewiththesunanditsenergy.Whenyouarefinished,
takeafinalthreedeepbreathsandopenyoureyes.Besuretostretchandshakeoutyourarmsandlegsbeforestandingupormovingsuddenly.Inyourgreenwitchjournal,writeasummaryofyourexperience.Howdiditfeeltotouch
theenergyof the sun?Didyoupickupany insight from theexperience?Writedownyourthoughtsandquestions,anyvisionsyoumayhavehad,anysuddenunderstandingsyoumayhavecometo.Toachievefurtherinsightintothesun’senergyandhowitchanges,hereareexercisesfor
exploringandattuningtosolarenergy:
•Foroneday,pauseforatleasttenminutesatdawn,noon,sunset,andmidnighttoobservethe movement and feeling of the energy where you live. Write your observations andexperiencesinyourgreenwitchjournalandcomparethedifferentenergiesofthekeysolarpointsoftheday.
•Foroneday,meditateateachkeysolartime.Openyourselftothesun’senergyandsenseitasdirectlyaspossible.Beawareofwhathappens.Makenotes inyour journalaftereachmeditation.Wait aday, thencomparehowyou feltor the informationyou receivedaftereachmeditation.
• For one day, perform the same basic ritual at each key solar time. Write down yourexperiences and feelings after each ritual. Wait a day and compare similarities anddifferencesinthefourrituals.
• For a deeper exploration, do the same exercises once during each season.How does thesun’senergychangeoverthecycleofaday?Duringtheyear?
TheMoonThemoonisusuallyassociatedwiththehidden,moremysteriouspractices
ofwitchcraft.Lunarmysterieshavetheirplaceinthelifeofthegreenwitch,who knows that ordinary life itself is a sacred mystery. Traditionally, themoon’s energy is associated with feminine power, dreams, psychic ability,mystery and hidden knowledge, travel, children, spirituality,mysticism, theseasandoceans,andtransformation.Thephasesofthemoonareimportantinagriculturalpractice.Sowingand
harvesting were once done according to the phases of the moon, and(depending on the individual) sometimes still are. Scientifically, this mayhave something todowith themoon’sproven influenceonwaterandotherfluids. Plants are composed of a large amount ofwater,which implies thattheirlifecyclewouldbeaffectedbythemoon’sphases.
These basic rules may be applied to gardening during the phases of themoon. In general, plant things whose strength lies above groundwhile themooniswaxingandthosewhosestrengthliesbelowgroundwhilethemooniswaning.
Newtofirstquarter:plantleafyannualsandherbs
Firstquartertofull:plantfloweringannuals,above-groundvegetablesandfruit,andvines
Fulltothirdquarter:plantperennials,rootvegetables,andbulbs
Thirdquartertodark:weed,maintain,cultivate,fightpestsanddisease
Ifyoupayattentiontothephasesofthemoon,youcanalsodeterminegoodtimestoperformbothspiritualandsecularactionsinyourgarden.Thephaseslistedbelowcorrespondtophasesinthelifecycleofaplant:
Newmoon:seeds
Crescentmoon:shootsandsprouts
Waxingmoon:growthandflowering
Fullmoon:fruit
Waningmoon:harvest
Darkmoon:cuttingdownadeadplanttopreparefornewgrowth
Themoonappearstomovethroughtheconstellationsjustasthesundoes,andmoon signsare also said tohaveaneffecton theworkyoudo inyourgarden.Somesignsaremorefavorableforcertainkindsofworkthanothers.Themoonappearstopassthroughalltwelveconstellationsinapproximatelytwenty-eightdaysandspendsadayandahalftothreedaysineachsign:
Plant:mooninCancer,Scorpio,andPisces
Harvest:mooninAries,Gemini,andLeo
Cultivate:mooninVirgo,Sagittarius,andCapricorn
Anygreenwitch interested in how the plantworld responds to the lunarcycleshouldkeepafarmer’salmanachandy.
MeetingtheMoon
Toexplorethemoon’senergy,dotheexercisesformeetingthesun,butatnight.Makenotesofyourexperiences.Trythesevariationsontheexercisetofurtherexplorelunarenergyanddeepenyourattunement.Performthisexerciseatthesamehourofthenight,fourtimesduringonelunarcycle:duringthewaxingphase, at the fullmoon,during thewaningphase, and at thedarkmoon.Make
notes of your feelings and experiences in your journal.Howdoes the lunar energy changeduringthecycle?Perform this exercise on the fullmoon for all thirteenmoons in the calendar year.How
doesthelunarenergychangeastheseasonsshift?
WorkingwithGreenEnergyorMagicA largepartof thegreenwitch’spathconsistsofusing thenatural energiescontainedwithinplants and trees to attaina certaingoal,be itmedicinalormagical.Thosewhofollowapathlinkedtonaturalmagichavelongknownthat we can weave these energies into our everyday life to harmonizeourselvesorotherswiththeenergyflowoftheworldaroundus.Trainingyourselftoworkwiththeseenergiestakesmorethanmemorizing
alistofcorrespondences.Asalways,hands-onexperienceisthebestwaytolearnhowyouworkmosteffectively.Interactingwithaplantwhileitisstillgrowingandinteractingwithitsenergiesafterithasbeenharvestedwillgiveyouagoodideaofwhatthisplantcanbeusedforandtowhatapplicationsitsenergy isbest suited.Booksonherbs, floweringplants, indoor andoutdoorplants, and trees can be useful as references and general guides, but,ultimately, your energy readings and your instinct that will determine howyou can best use the energies of the natural world. (Please note that I amreferringtothemagicalapplicationoftheseitems,notmedicinalapplications.Tobecomecompetentinherbalmedicine,youmusttakeaccreditedcoursesinmedicinalherbalism,and/orworkresponsiblywithareliablebook.)Thefirstthingyouneedisatleastonegoodhandbookonthenativeflora
whereyou live.This isn’t abookon themagicalormedicinal applications,butsimplyaguidebooktoidentifyingtheplantsandtrees.Beforeyoubegintoworkwithplants,youshouldknowthebasicrulesof
wildcrafting.Wildcraftingistheharvestingofplantmatterfromthewild,asopposed to harvesting cultivated plants. Why wildcraft? Because there aresomeplantsyoucan’tgrowinagarden.Theydefy thecultivator’shand. Inaddition, few greenwitches are able today to plant every single herb, tree,flower, or shrub they wish to use in their practice. When we practicewildcrafting, we are using plants responsibly. The basic rules for ethicalwildcraftingareasfollows:
Neverharvestallofanything.Infact,don’tevenharvesthalfofit.Agoodruleofthumbistoharvestonlyaquarterofwhatyou see, as longas there isplentyof it and it isgrowingabundantly, and then only if you absolutely need it. It’s better to go back for more freshmaterialthantobestuckwithahugepileofdriedherbyouharvested“justincase.”Youwillprobablythrowthemout.Don’twastethem.
Remember that harvesting wild plant matter can very easily lead to trespassing onsomeoneelse’sland.Lookforsigns.Whenindoubt,ask.
Pickingprotectedplantsisillegal.Makeapointoffamiliarizingyourselfwiththelocallawsonharvestingwildflora.Findoutwhattheprotectedspeciesofyourareaareandhelpprotectthem.
Thinkclearlyatalltimes. Ifyou travel toharvestwildplants, research thespecific regionyou are traveling to. Know the roads and paths, the dangers and the safe areas.Make anitineraryandsticktoit.Ifyou’regoingintoaforestorintosomeunchartedland,tellsomeonewhereyouaregoingandgivethemacopyofyouritinerary.Carryacellularphonetocallforhelp ifnecessary.Wearawristwatchandkeep trackof time.Bringacompass.Wearsturdywalkingshoesandappropriateclothing.Carrynutritioussnacksandplentyofwater.
Whenyouknowwhatplantsarenativetoyourarea,youcanbetterengagein wildcrafting and further explore your connection to the natural energieswhereyoulive.Here’sasetofcommoncorrespondencesforvariousnaturalenergies.I’ve
chosentoclassifyplantmatterastrees,flowers,andherbs.Attheendofthechapterthereisalsoareferenceforstones,asthesearealsooftheearth.
IMPORTANT: Although I occasionally include traditional medicinal herbal lore asadditional information, if you are interested in using herbs as medical or therapeuticsupplements,youmustrefertoareliablemedicinalguide.IuseJohnLust’sTheHerbBook.Christopher Hobbs’s Herbal Remedies for Dummies offers a good overview of herbalremedies.
TreesTreesarethepillarsofourworld.Theyanchorourgroundandseemtoholdupthesky.Theyformthebackboneofthegreenwitch’spractice.Whilewetendtofocusonherbs,wealsoworkwithwood,oftenwhensomethingmorephysicallystableorpermanentisrequired.Thegreenwitch’sstaffandstang,for example, aremade ofwood, as is themore traditionalwitch’s tool, thewand. Sticks and twigs form the basis of many protective amulets, as dorounds cut from the cross-section of branches and inscribed with symbols.Treesalsohavemanypracticaluses,suchassupportingplantsandservingasnaturalfences.Woodisalsousedtobuildhomesandfurniture.Followingaresixteentreesofusetothegreenwitch,plussomeassociated
lore.ThesetreesgrowinvariousareasofNorthAmerica.Thepartsoftreesusedincludebark,leaves,andinnerwood.
Birch(Betulaspp).
The traditionalwitch’sbroom ismadeof birch twigs.Magically, birch isassociated with cleansing, protection, and purification. It is also associatedwithchildren;cradleswereoftenmadeofbirchwood.
Oak(Quercusrobur).Oakisoneofthosetraditionalwoodsthatarefirmlyentrenchedinfolklore
andismagicallyassociatedwithdefense,thunder,strength,courage,healing,longevity, strength, protection, and good fortune.Because thewood is verystronganddurableandpossessesacertainreputationforindestructibility,oakhasbeenusedinhomeconstructionandinshipbuilding.Thebarkisusedtotan leather and as a dye. Acorns, the fruit of the oak tree, are symbols offertility.When found growing in oak trees,mistletoewas considered to beparticularlypotentbythedruidsandimportantintheirmagicalwork.
Maple(Acerspp.).Mapleisanotherpopulartreeusedforcabinetryandbyartisans.Itisalsoa
sourceofdyeandmaplesugar.Magically,mapleisusedforlove,prosperity,lifeandhealth,andgeneralabundance.
Pine(Pinusspp.).Commonlyused inbuildingandconstruction, thepine isoneof themost
widely-found trees in North America. Its resin is used for the creation ofturpentine, and soaps, and the production of rosin.Amber, one of themostbeloved gems for magical jewelry, is fossilized pine sap. Pine oil, anotherproductofthepinetree,iscommonlyaddedtohouseholdcleansingproducts,proofthatthescentisassociatedwithasenseofpurification.Magically,pineisusedforcleansingandpurification,healing,clarityofmind,prosperity,andprotectionfromevil.
Cedar(Thujaoccidentalis–yellowcedar;Juniperusvirginiana–redcedar).Anotherpreciouswoodthatisrecognizedbymanyculturesasmagicaland
powerful, cedar has been known throughout the ages for its protectivequalities as well as its ability to repel insects and pests.With its aromaticscent, cedar was often given as an offering. Yellow cedar, found in NorthAmerica,growsinaroughlyconicalshapeandisoftenusedinhedges.Theother kind of cedar found in North America is the red cedar (juniperusvirginiana). Magically, cedar is associated with healing, spirituality,
purification,protection,prosperity,andharmony.
Rowan(Pyrusaucuparia,Sorbusaucuparia).Rowanisalsoknownasquicken,hornbeam,witchwood,andmountainash
(althoughitistechnicallynotatrueash,itissocalledduetothesimilarityoftheleaves).Rowanberrieshavebeenusedinbrewingandthebarkhasbeenusedfortanningandasadye.Curiously,rowanissaidtobeeitherafavoriteof witches and fairies or anathema to them. Magical associations includeimproving psychic powers, divination, healing, protection from evil, peace,creativity,success,andchangeandtransformation.
Poplar(Populusspp.).Also known as aspen, poplar’s magical associations include prosperity,
communication,exorcism,andpurification.
Ash(Fraxinusexcelsior).Ash is one of the trees considered by some European cultures to be the
World Tree. Magically, ash is associated with water, strength, intellect,willpower,protection,justice,balanceandharmony,skill,travel,weather,andwisdom.
Willow(Salixalba).The white willow, also known as the weeping willow, has long flexible
branchesthatarewovenintowhatweknowaswicker-work.Longassociatedwith themoon, thewillowhas agreat affinity forwater and is often foundgrowingnear it. In folklore, thewillow is associatedwith theGoddess andfemininecycles.Thankstotheabilityofcuttingstoeasilyandquicklyrecoverfrom trauma, willow is also associated with growth and renewal. Magicalassociations of willow include love, tranquility, harmony, protection, andhealing.
Witchhazel(Hamamelisvirginiana).Alsoknownassnappinghazelnut,forthespontaneouscrackingopenofits
seedpods, witch hazel has long been used as a poultice for bruises andswellings. Witch hazel extracts are used for their astringent properties.Magicalassociationsincludeprotection,healing,andpeace.
Honeysuckle(Loniceracaprifolium,Lonicerapericlymenum).Alsoknownaswoodbineorhedge-tree,thehoneysuckleisassociatedwith
liminalortransitionalstates.Thescentofhoneysuckleflowersisstrongestinthe evening. Magical associations include psychic awareness, harmony,healing,prosperity,andhappiness.
Apple(Pyrusmalus).AppletreesarefoundallovertheNorthernHemisphere.Theirwidespread
availability and fertile abundance bring tomind their association with life,longevity, and fertility. The fruit is used in cooking, baking, and brewing.Folklore associates the apple with the afterlife, fairies, creativity, and theotherworld. Magically, apples and apple trees are associated with love,healing,harmony,andlongevity.
Elder(Sambucuscanadensis,Sambucusnigra).Elder is alsoknownaswitchwood. It is said that bad luckwill fall upon
anyonewhodoesnotaskthetree’spermissionthreetimesbeforeharvestingany part of it. Folklore associates the elder with the crone aspect of theGoddess and with witches, and thus elder wood is rarely used to makefurnitureoras firewood for fearof incurring theirwrath.Medicinally,elderbarkisusedasadiuretic,apurgative,andemetic.Theberriesareusedasalaxativeanddiureticandalsoinduceperspiration,andtheleavesareusedasan external emollient for irritated skin, sprains, and bruises.An infusion ofelderflowerstakenasateaencouragesthebodytoperspire,thushelpingthebodytoworkthroughacoldorillness,andalsohelpsloosenchestandsinuscongestion. Elderflower water makes an excellent topical application forirritated skin, including problems such as sunburn and acne, as well as aneyewash.Magically, elderwood is associatedwith as protection (especiallyagainstbeingstruckbylightning),prosperity,andhealing.
Yew(Taxusbaccata).Yew is poisonous, which may be one of the reasons it is so closely
associatedwithdeath.ItisaEuropeantreethatfigureslargelyintheloreofwitchcraftandnaturalmagic.Theyewproducesaveryhardwoodandwasused where construction required an unyielding, inflexible structure.Magically,itisassociatedwithspiritsandtheotherworld.
Hawthorn(Crataegusoxyacantha).Also known as may tree, mayflower, thorn, whitethorn, and haw, the
hawthornshrubwasoftenusedasaboundarymarker.Infact,“haw”isanoldwordforhedge.Hawthornisamagicaltree.Ifitgrowstogetherwithanoakandashtree, it issaid that thefairyfolkcanbeseenamongthe trees.Evenwhereitgrowsalone,hawthornisconsideredtobeafairyfavorite.Likeoak,the hawthorn produces hard wood and great heat when burned. Magicalassociations include fertility, harmony, happiness, the otherworld, andprotection.
Hazel(Corylusavellana).ThehazeltreehaslongbeenassociatedinEuropeanfolklorewithwisdom.
GodsandmythologicalfiguresassociatedwiththehazelincludeThor,Brigid,and Apollo. The nuts and branches are used for magic, and the hazel isassociatedwithluck,fertility,protection,andwishgranting.
TreeAttunementExercise
Beforeyoubegin,refreshyourmemoryonsensingenergytechniquesinChapter3.Pickatree.Standnexttoit.Holdonehandaboutaninchawayfromthebark.Extendyour
awarenessandfeeltheenergyofthetree.Afteryou’vefinishedthisexercise,makenotesinyourjournal.Withthesametree, touchthebark.Explorehowthetreefeels toyourhands.Bendclose
andsmellthetree.Closeyoureyesandlistentothesoundsthetreemakesinresponsetotheenvironment.Lookcloselyatthetreeandseethedifferenttextures,colors,andmarkings.Ifithasfruitandyouknowittobesafe,tasteit.Makenotesinyourjournal.Dotheseexerciseswithdifferentkindsoftrees.Compareandcontrastyourexperiences.Dotheseexerciseswithdifferenttreesofthesamegenus.Whatarethesimilaritiesbetween
thetrees?Whatarethedifferences?
CollectingandUsingWoodSomepeoplehavedifficultywiththeideaofcuttinglivewoodawayfroma
treeorbushbecause theydon’tknowhow todo itproperly.Whenyouusefreshwood,youcapturealotoflifeandenergy,whichmaybeexactlywhatyou’re looking for inyour ritualworkor anypractice thatwill involve thiswood.Deadfalliswoodthetreehasdiscardedasnolongeruseful.Thismaynot be the kind of vibrant, living energy you’re looking for. It depends onyour personal view of working with the world of nature. If you cut freshwood,you’lllikelyhavetoletitdry,assapandjuicescangumupyoursawandsandpaper.
So why use fresh wood? The answer is simple: your magical intent isimplementedassoonasyouchoosethetreefromwhichyouaregoingtocutsome wood. By selecting the tree, you are presenting your request to theenergyofthetreeitself.Asyoucut,you’refocusingonyourgoal.Fromtheveryfirstmove,you’reempowering it inconjunctionwith the tree, if ithasagreedtodonateitswoodtoyourcause.Howdoyouaskthetreeforhelp?Putyourhandsonthetreeandpresent
yourintentiontoit,speakingeitheraloudorinyourmind.Thinkthroughwhyyouneedthewood,exactlyhowitwillbeused,andforwhatgoal.Allthesethoughts and feelingswill flow through your energy into the energy of thetree.Thenwait.Treesoftenneedabitoftimetoabsorbyourrequest,fortheyfunctionatadifferent rate thanwedo.Sometimes the treewillacceptyourrequestrightaway,thoughatothertimes,youmaynotgetapromptsenseofacceptanceordenial. In thatcase, thank the tree for its time,and tell ityouwill return inadayor two.Whenyoucomeback,placeyourhandson thetreeagainandreachoutwithyourenergy.Restateyourneedandwaitforananswer.Sometimesallthetreeneedsistime.The tree won’t tell you in words, of course, if it’s all right to cut its
branches.Instead,you’llgainasenseofpeaceoragreement.Or,alternatively,youmaygetasenseofmaybethisisn’tsuchagoodidea.Inthatcase,thankthetreeagainforitstimeandconsideration,wishitwell,andfindanothertreetoask.
FlowersFlowers are the pretty parts of plants that carry valuable and essentialreproductiveinformation.Technically, theyconstitutepartofanherb,shrub,ortree,butIseparatethemherebecauseweoftenthinkoftheflowerastheidentifyingaspectofaplant.Also,innaturalmagic,thefloweritselfisoftenthepartused.Flowers can be dried whole to be used in wreaths or arrangements or
pressed andused in amagical collageor in potpourri.Whendried, flowerscan also be crumbled and used in herbal blends for such things as teas,sachets,andsprinklingpowders.The flowerof a plant carries a tidybundleof energy, for it is the sexual
organ of the plant, how the plant reproduces. Do dried flowers carry adifferent energy than fresh flowers do? Yes and no; the intrinsic energyremains,butitsexpressionisdifferent.Forcertainritualsorcharmsyoumaywantthevibrancyoffreshflowers,whereasforothercharms,suchassachets
or powders, youmay prefer dried flowers, which tend to exhibit a slower,longer-lastingenergy.Herearetwentyflowerscommonlyfoundinagreenwitch’sgarden.They
arealsousedmagically.
Carnation(Dianthusspp.).Alsoknownas gillyflower, the carnationhas awonderful healing energy
andmakes an excellent gift for the sick.Carnations are usedmagically forprotection,strength,energy,luck,andhealing.
Daffodil(Narcissusspp.).Alsoknownasnarcissusandasphodel,thedaffodilisanexcellentflowerto
use in charms for love and charms for fertility. Magically, the daffodil isassociatedwithluck,fertility,andlove.
Daisy(Chrysanthemumleucanthemum).Alsoknownas fielddaisyand theeyeof theday, thedaisy iscommonly
associated with love and flirtation. We have all plucked the petals from adaisy—“he loves me, he loves me not.”Magically, the daisy is associatedwith love, hope, and innocence. Use the daisy in magic associated withchildrenaswell.
Gardenia(Gardeniaspp.).Gardenia is an excellent flower that attracts tranquil energy to a placeor
individual. Adding gardenia petals to a healing sachet or using them in ahealingritualincorporatesthistranquilenergyandhelpsthehealingmoveatacontrolledpace.Gardenia isalsocommonlyused in lovespellsandcharms.Magically,gardeniaisassociatedwithharmony,healing,love,andpeace.
Geranium(Pelargoniumspp.).Grownindoorsorout,geraniumscarrystrongprotectiveenergyandextend
thisenergy through theareaaround them.Redgeraniumshave traditionallybeen associated with protection. Rose geranium is used in love spells.Magically,geraniumsareassociatedwithfertility,love,healing,courage,andprotection.
Hyacinth(Muscariracemosum,Hyacinthusnonscriptus).Both grape and wild hyacinths have a lovely spring like scent. The
perennialwild hyacinth, also known as the bluebell, is smaller and daintierthanthecultivatedgrapehyacinth.Hyacinthsbloomforonlyashortperiodoftime,butinthatshortperiodproduceavibrantenergy.Hyacinthsarenamedfor the youth of Greek legend, beloved of Apollo, whose accidental deathApollo commemorated by creating the flower. Hyacinths are magicallyassociatedwithlove,happiness,andprotection.
Iris(Irisflorentina).Alsoknownas flags, the iris isa lovelyspringflowermagicallyusedfor
purification and blessing as well as wisdom. The three petals are said tosymbolize faith,wisdom, andvalor.The root is calledorris root, andwhenground up it produces a mildly sweet powder used as a scent fixative inpotpourri.Orrispowderisalsousedinlovespellsandforpeaceandharmony.
Jasmine(Jasminiumspp.).Alsoknownasjessamin,jasminepossessesaheadybutdelicatescentthat
is usually stronger at night. Because of this, it is often associatedwith themoon and feminine energy. Jasmine, which has long been associated withseductionandsensuality,isaperfumer’sprizedingredient.Magically,jasmineisassociatedwithlove,meditation,spirituality,harmony,andprosperity.
Lavender(Lavandulaspp.).Another perennial favorite, lavender is used frequently in magical and
nonmagicalapplications.Thankstoitsgentlescent,itisanidealherbtouseinconjunctionwithmagicforchildren,foritencouragesrelaxationandsleep.Magically, lavender is associated with peace, harmony, tranquility, love,purification,andhealing.
Lilac(Syringavulgaris).The sweet,wild scent of lilacs in late spring is a heady experience. The
flowersof this shrubareusuallywhiteor shadesofpurple.Magically, theyareusedforprotectionandbanishingnegativeenergy.
Lily(Liliumspp.).
Thelilyfamilyisverylarge.Ingeneral,liliesareassociatedwithprotectionandtheeliminationofhexes.Dayliliesbringtomindtheconceptofcycles.In some cultures, lilies are associated with the concept of death and theafterlife,supportingtheassociationwithrebirthandcycles.
Lilyofthevalley(Convallariamagalis).This tiny cascade of white or cream-colored bell-shaped flowers has a
delicatescent.Magically,itenhancesconcentrationandmentalabilityandisusedtoencouragehappiness.
Pansy(Violatricolor).Alsoknownasheartsease,love-lies-bleeding,love-in-idleness,andjohnny-
jump-up, the pansy is a hardy, cheerful-looking plant with multicoloredflowersrelatedtotheviolet.Itbloomsthroughoutthesummerandcomesinbothannualandperennialvarieties.Magically,itisusedforlove,divination,communication,andhappiness.
Poppy(Papaverrhoeas).Alsoknownasthecornpoppy,theredpoppyisabrightflowerwithafurry
greenstemand leaves.Although the redpoppy isagentlenarcotic in largequantities,itisthewhitepoppythatistoxicandthesourceofopium.Poppyseeds areused in cooking andbaking, and sometimesoil is extracted tobeused incookingaswell.Magically, thepoppy isassociatedwith tranquility,fertility,prosperity,love,sleep,andinvisibility.
Rose(Rosaspp.).Acrossculturesandthroughouthistory,theroseisoneofthemostfamous
flowers.Itsscentisunmistakable.Folkloreandliteraturehavemadetherosesynonymouswithlove,althoughthatisfarfrombeingtheonlyassociationitcarries.Rosescreateanatmosphereofbeautythatencouragesclosenesswithnature. The rose is a very feminine flower and is edible if unsprayed andpreparedcorrectly(seeChapter9forrecipesusingrosesandotherflowers).Itis unfortunate that artificially scented rose products are heavy and overlysweet,fortherealflowerhasagentlescent.Magically,theroseisassociatedwithhealing,divination,tranquility,harmony,psychicability,spirituality,andprotection.
Snapdragon(Antirrhinummajus).Snapdragons have a lovely innocent energy.Magically, they are used for
protection, particularly from illusion or deception, or to reflect negativeenergytoitssource.Plantsnapdragonsalongtheperimeterofyourgardentoprotectit.
Sunflower(Helianthusspp.).AlsoknownasPeruvianmarigold, thesunflower is,ofcourse,associated
with the sun and its energy,whichmeans it carriesmagical associations ofhappiness, success, and health. The sunflower is also associated withwelcome and family. The plant’s abundant seeds carry the magicalassociations of fertility. Sunflowers are excellent in a celebration ritual orduringasummersolsticeritual.Germinate theseedsandthenplant themtoincrease the energy of abundance in your garden in general. (Be sure youchoosespecificseedsmeantforplantinginsteadofplantingrandomseeds,soyouwillknowwhatsizeofsunflowertoexpect!)
Tulip(Tulippaspp.).Thechaliceorcuplikeshapeofthetulipmakesthisfloweridealforusefor
prosperityandabundancemagic.Thetulipisalsoassociatedwithprotection,love,andhappiness.
Violet(Violaodorata).Alsoknownas sweetviolet, theviolet is adelicate flowerused for love,
peace, hope, harmony, protection, luck, sleep, and tranquility.Use violet incharmsandsachetsdesignedtomaintaintranquilityandtoencouragepeace,particularlyamongpeople.Combinevioletwithlavenderforachild’sherbalpillow to aid sleep and calmnightmares.Violet also has aspects of fertilityandabundance,whicharereflectedinhoweasilytheplantpropagatesitself.
HerbsGenerally, a plant referred to as an herb possesses some sort ofmedicinal,culinary, ormagical value. Botanists and gardeners sometimes differentiateherbs fromotherplantsby thestem: if theplanthasa“woody”stemabovetheground,it’snotanherbbutatreeorashrub.Accordingtothisdefinition,mintisanherb,butrosemaryisnot.
In themagicalandspiritualworld,however, the term“herb” isusedasacatch-all for the bits of trees, flowers, spices, and all sorts of plants.Herbsthusformsuchahugeportionofthegreenwitch’spracticethattheentirenextchapterisdevotedtowhatyoucandowiththem.Thefollowinglistofherbscomprisessomearomaticandculinaryherbs.
Allspice(Pimentoofficinalis).Also known as pimento or Jamaican pepper, the dried allspice berry is a
common staple in the kitchen spice rack. Called “allspice” because itincorporates flavors such as clove, cinnamon, and pepper, it is a commonflavoringforspicecookies.Thesweetyetspicyaromais releasedwhenthedried berry is crushed. Allspice berries make wonderful additions toprosperityblendsandanymagicfocusingonincreasingenergy,love,healing,andluck.
Angelica(Angelicaarchangelica).Alsoknownasarchangelorangel’sherb,thisfragrantplanthasbeenused
throughout the centuries for improving digestion, flavoring wines andliqueurs,andmakingcandy.Magically,itisparticularlypowerfulwhenusedforprotectionandpurification.
Basil(Ocimumbasilicum).AlsoknownassweetbasilandSt.Joseph’sWort,basiliscommonlyfound
inspiceracksandinkitchengardensalloverEuropeandtheAmericas.Itisextremelyversatileintheculinaryartsandisanexcellentall-purposemagicalherb as well. Basil is used for prosperity, success, peace, protection,happiness,purification,tranquility,andlove.
Bay(Laurusnobilis).Also known as sweet bay and sweet laurel, bay was used to crown the
victor of games in ancient Greece and Rome. Bay is magically associatedwithsuccess,wisdom,anddivination.Writeawishonabayleafandburnit,orsleepwithitunderyourpillowfordreamsthatoffersomesortofguidanceastohowtopursueyourgoal.(Ifyouburnthebayleaf,makesureyourareaiswellventilated,forthesmokecanbemildlyhallucinogenic.)
Chamomile(Chamaemelumnobile,Matricariarecutita).Also known as manzanilla, chamomile (both the Roman and German
varieties) is another versatile popular magical and medicinal herb. It isexcellent for soothing stomach problems, headaches, and nerves and is anideal herb to give to children. Magically, it is used for prosperity, peace,healing,harmony,andhappiness.
Calendula(Calendulaofficinalis).Although sometimes identified as the pot marigold, calendula is not the
common marigold (Tagetes spp.). Calendula is edible, whereas the gardenmarigoldisnot.Calendulahasbeenusedmedicinallytotreatskinirritations,such as eczema, bruises, scars, and scrapes. Magically, it is used forhappiness,prosperity,love,psychicpowers,andharmony.
Cinnamon(Cinnamomumspp.).Cinnamon isoneof themust-havemultipurposeherbs in agreenwitch’s
stock. It possesses a great amount of energy, and a pinch can be added toanythingtorevupthepowerlevel.Itisalsoexcellentforspellsandcharmsinvolving money. Magically, cinnamon is associated with success, action,healing,protection,energy,love,prosperity,andpurification.
Caraway(Carumcarvi).The seed of the caraway plant is excellent to use for protection against
negativity.It’salsoagoodantitheftherb,soaddsometothegardensachetsyouplaceoutdoorstokeeplittleanimalintrudersfromnibblingatyourplants,aswellasinprotectivesachetsorcharmsinyourhome.Magicalassociationsincludehealth,mentalabilities,protection,fidelity,andantitheft.
Clove(Syzygiumaromaticum).The small dried bud of the clove plant is used in cooking, baking, and
magic. Magically, clove is associated with protection, purification, mentalability,andhealing.Addthreeclovestoasachetorcharmtotieinprotectiveandpurifyingenergytokeepthecharm’sactionpureandfocusedforalongerperiodoftime.Asachetofrosemary,angelica,sage,threecloves,andapinchofsalttiedshutwithredthreadorribbonisagoodall-purposesachettohangaboveadoororinyourcartoturnawaynegativityandprotectthearea.
Comfrey(Symphytumofficinale).Alsoknownasbonesetorknitbone,comfreyisrenownedasahealingherb.
Magically, it isassociatedwithhealth,healing,protectionduring travel,andprosperity.
Dill(Anethumgraveolens).Alsoknownasdillweed,dillcomesintwoforms:seedandweed,whichis
thefeatherydriedleavesoftheplant.Eithermaybeusedingreenwitchwork.Dill is magically used for good fortune, tranquility, prosperity, lust, andprotection.
Ginger(Zingiberofficianale).Wildorcultivated,gingerrootisanidealherbtoaddtoritualsandspells
because it acts like a booster for the power involved. Like the energy ofcinnamon, the heat of the ginger revs up the energy associated with yourwork. Ginger can also be used to jump-start love, stimulate finances, andincrease the potential for success in just about anything. Medicinally, it isusedforcalmingthestomach,fightingcolds,andsuppressingnausea.
Marjoram(Origanummajorana).Also known aswintersweet,marjoram is similar to oregano, but sweeter
and milder. Marjoram was used by the ancient Greeks to crown newlymarried couples. It is used for happiness, protection, love, and joy,particularlyinfamilyenvironments.(Oregano[Origanumvulgare],asimilarherb,isusedforlove,courage,andaction.)
Mint(Menthaspp.).Thereisawidevarietyofgreenorgardenmints,whichareversatileherbs
togrowinagardenoronthekitchenwindowsill.Aninfusionof the leaveswill help ease most headaches, stimulate the appetite, and aid digestion.Magical associations are prosperity, love, joy, fertility, purification, andsuccess.
Mugwort(Artemesiavulgaris).Also known as artemesia and sailor’s tobacco, mugwort is another
ubiquitouswitchyherb.Adecoctionof the leaves is said tohelpopenyour
mind before you try divination. Magically, it is associated with propheticdreams anddivination, relaxation and tranquility, protection, banishing, andconsecration.
Nutmeg(Myristicafragrans).Medicinally, nutmeg quells nausea and soothes digestive problems
(although it can be toxic in large doses). Magically, it is associated withpsychicabilities,happiness,love,money,andhealth.
Parsley(Petroselinumcrispum).InancientGreece,parsleywasusedforsuchvariedpurposesassprinkling
oncorpsestoneutralizethesmellofdecayandformakingvictors’crownstocelebrate success. It is magically associated with power, strength, lust,purification,andprosperity.Boththeseedsandtheleavescanbeused.
Rosemary(Rosmarinusofficinalis).Practical applications of rosemary include use as a skin tonic applied
externallyandasahairrinsetoaddshinetodarkhairandsootheitchyscalp.An infusion taken as a teawill help ease a headache.Magical associationsincludeprotection,improvingmemory,wisdom,health,andhealing,
Sage(Salviaspp.).Sage is perhaps the herb most commonly used for purification and
protection.Aninfusiontakenasateawillhelpsettleasourstomachandeasedigestion and can help calm anxiety as well. Magical associations includepurificationandprotection,wisdom,health,andlonglife.
Verbena(Verbenaofficinalis,Verbenaspp.).Also known as vervain, enchanter’s herb, herb of grace, and van-van,
verbenaisanexcellentall-purposeherb.Medicinally,aninfusionofverbenahelps calm headaches, eases stress, and makes a relaxing bedtime tea.Magically versatile, verbena is associated with divination, protection,inspiration, abundance, love, peace, tranquility, healing, prosperity, skill inartisticperformance,andthereversalofnegativeactivity.Makeaverbenaoilby infusing the fresh plant in a light olive oil or grapeseed oil to use as astandardblessing/protectionoil.Addcrumbledverbena leaves toanysachet
toroundoutthepositiveenergiesyouaredrawingtogether.Itisanexcellentall-purposeherbtoaddtoanycharmbagorspelltoencouragesuccess.
Yarrow(Achilleamillefolium).Also known asmilfoil,millefeuille, yarroway, or bloodwort, yarrow is a
commongardenherbgrownforitsattractivesilveryfoliage.Theleavesandstemofyarrow,harvested in late summer,have traditionallybeenusedasapoulticetostaunchblood.Magically,itisusedforcourage,love,andhealing.
MiscellaneousGreensThere’smore out there than the obvious green things. The following threeitemsarecommonbutoftenoverlooked,particularlybyanurbangreenwitch.Thereareseveraldifferentkindsofeachmoss,fern,andgrass,ofcourse,buthere’swhatthey’reusuallyassociatedwith.
Moss.Mossisatypeofplantthatisthefirsttogrowinaseeminglybarrenarea.
It’salsotenaciousandsurvivesintheoddestplaceswhereyouwouldn’tthinkanythingcouldgrow.Mossprefersahumid,shadyenvironment,andcanandwill grow on trees, rocks, dead wood, and soil—anywhere theremay be asmall crack or gapwhere particles of soil can collect. It can growwith noapparentplacetorootwhatsoever,whichispossiblebecausemosstechnicallydoes not have roots. Moss absorbs water through its leaves. Because itsurvives with little maintenance and in improbable locations, moss isassociatedwithperseverance,patience,nurturing,andgrounding.Because itislusheveninseeminglyinhospitableareas,it’salsoassociatedwithserenityandcalm.
Ferns.Ferns are lovely ethereal plants that range from fragile to remarkably
sturdy. They grow in a variety of climates and settings, depending on thegenus and species. They’re often associatedwith invisibility, love, chastity,protectionfromevil,andunlockingdoors.
Grass.
Grassissocommonthatmostgreenwitchesoverlookit.Grassisn’tfoundonlyonourlawns;it’salsofoundtallandwavingbytheroadsideorgrowingthrough cracks in alleywaysor vacant lots.Likemoss, it is associatedwithserenity.Grassalsohasaquirkyhumor:ifyouwantittogrow,itwillresist,whereasifyoutrytogetridofit,itwillkeeppoppingup.Grassisatrickster.It’salsohighlyadaptable.
StonesLast, but certainly not least, let’s look at stone lore. Although they’re notusually thought of as growing things like plants and trees, stones aresometimesreferredtoas“thebonesoftheearth.”Small,nonperishable,andconvenient,stonesandcrystalsconstituteaveryusefulelementofthegreenwitch’s practice. Don’t overlook working with gems and crystals simplybecausetheydon’tpopupinyourbackgardenlikeregulargraniteandclaydo.Stoneshavemultipleusesingreenmagic.Theycanbeempoweredontheir
ownandcarriedor left inspecificareas.Theycanalsobewornas jewelry,added to potpourris and herbal blends, powdered and added to incenses,addedwholetoincenseswhiletheymature(butremovethembeforeyouburnthe incense), added to oils, tucked into potted plants, and buried. Thepossibilitiesareendless.Formoreinformation,lookatsuchbooksastheaccessibleCunningham’s
EncyclopediaofCrystal,Gem&MetalMagicbyScottCunningham.Herearetwentystonesofusetothegreenwitch:
Mossagate.Mossagateisusedforhealing,forcalm,andforstressrelief.Mossagate
looks like strands ofmoss caught in ice or in a translucent, blurry crystal.Likemostgreenstones,itisassociatedwithnature.
Treeagate.Treeagateismuchlikemossagate,exceptinsteadoflookinglikestrands
ofgreencaught in translucentcrystal, it looks like strandsofgreen twiningthroughanopaquewhitestone.
Amethyst.
Amethyst is purple quartz and is associated with psychic power, truth,balance,protection,andhealing.
Aventurine.Aventurine is a green opaque stone with tiny flecks of gold in it. It is
associatedwithluck,prosperity,andhealth.
Bloodstone.Bloodstoneisagreenopaquestonewithflecksofredinit.Magically,itis
associatedwithhealth(especiallyoftheblood)andprotection.
Carnelian.Carnelianisamilkyorangestone.Magically,itisassociatedwithsuccess
andmanifestation.
Citrine.Citrine isyellowquartz andoftenappears asyellow iceor isyellowand
white. It is found in points and as a tumbled stone. It works to calmnightmares,aidsindigestion,focusesthemind,andenhancescreativity.
Hematite.Hematiteisadullsilver-coloredstone.IntheMiddleAges,itwascalleda
bloodstone,soifyoucomeacrossareferencetoabloodstonemakesureyouknowwhichstoneisbeingreferredto.Hematitehasironinitandmagicallyisassociated with grounding excess or unbalanced energy. It also deflectsnegativityandisthusassociatedwithdefense,healing,andjustice.
Jade.Usually green, this stone is associated with wisdom, prosperity, fertility,
health,andprotection.
Jasper.Found in many colors, jasper is most commonly red. It is good for
groundingandstabilizingenergyandforprotectionandcourage.Buryjaspers
in the fourcornersofyourgarden todeepen itsconnection to theearthandsecureitsenergyformorebalancedgrowthandyield.
Lapislazuli.A deep blue stone with flecks of gold, lapis lazuli is associated with
leadership,communication,stressrelief,creativity,joy,andharmony.
Malachite.A deep green stone with bands or circles of lighter green, malachite is
associatedwith fertilityandearthmysteries.Malachite isawonderful stoneforgreenwitchestoworkwith,forithelpsstrengthenyourconnectiontotheworld of nature. Try carrying or wearing a piece of malachite while youcommunicatewith theworld of green,whether you are tramping through afield or digging in your backyard. See how it affects your work and yourperceptions.
Moonstone.Amilkywhite stone, sometimeswith overtones of green, peach, or gray,
themoonstoneismagicallyassociatedwithprotectionduringtravel,children,love,andpeace.ItalsohasaconnectiontotheGoddess.
Snowflakeobsidian.An opaque black stone with spots that look like white or pale gray
snowflakes, this stone is used for protection.Regular obsidian,which is allblack,isalsousedforprotection.Iprefertousesnowflakeobsidianingreenwitchwork,asitremindsmeofwinterandmidnight,twoimportantpartsofthenaturalcycleofdaysandseasons.
Clearquartz.An easily obtained stone, a clear quartz crystal looks like ice, oftenwith
smallinclusions(whichdonotaffectthestone’senergyatall).Quartzcrystalamplifies energy, stores power, enhances psychic ability, and absorbsnegativity. It has become immensely popular and can be found in tumbledformand inpoint form (which ishow itgrows)and isoften set in jewelry.Quartzcrystalisanexcellentall-purposestonetoworkwith.
Rosequartz.Anothercommonstone, rosequartz looks likepink ice.Likeotherquartz
crystals, rosequartz amplifies and stores energy.Rosequartz is specificallyused toboost self-esteemandencourageself-love, foremotionalhealing, tofoster affection, and to transform negative energy into positive, supportiveenergy.
Smokyquartz.Smokyquartzisagrayquartzusedforgroundingandtoclearobstacles.It
strengthensintuitionandhelpsmanifestthoughtintoaction,goalsintoreality.
Sodalite.Adarkbluestonewithwhiteorgrayveins,sodalite isusedforbalancing
emotionsandenhancingwisdom.
Tiger’seye.Aglossy,satiny,brownstonewithbandsofsatinydarkgold,thetiger’seye
isusedforstrength,courage,luck,andprosperity.
Turquoise.Apalebluestonewithfineblackorgraylinesrunningthroughit,turquoise
isanexcellentchildren’sstone,foritprotectsandstrengthensgently.Italsohelpsfocusthemindandwill.
CleansingStonesBeforeyouuseastone,itisimportanttocleanseandpurifyit.Cleansingis
a physical removal of dirt or debris; justwash the stone in plainwater andscrubitwithaclothorbrushifnecessary.Purifyingthestonemeanscleaningitsenergy.Beforeyouuseastoneforanymagicalpurpose,itshouldalwaysbepurified.Thereareseveralwaystopurifyastone:
•Leaveitinsunlightormoonlightforaspecificperiodoftime.•Bury it in a smalldishof salt forone to threedays.Salt is anaturalpurifier.Neverusesalt tocleansea stone thathas iron in it, suchas
hematite,orifitissetinmetal,forthemetalwillrust.•Buryitinasmalldishofdirtforameasuredperiodoftime.Earthwillaccomplishthesamepurposeinthesamewaythatsaltdoes,thoughitmaytakelonger.
• Immerse the stone in water for a measured period of time.Movingwaterwillpurifyitfaster,althoughleavingthestoneinasmallbowlofwater for a longerperiodwillworkaswell.Youcanadda smallpinchofsalttothedishofwatertospeedtheprocess,unlessyouarecleansing a stone set inmetal or a stonewith iron content, such ashematite.
Howlongyouleavethestonetopurifybyyourchosenmethoddependsonhowmuchforeignenergyisclingingtoit(seebelow).
AttuningtoStonesBefore you use a stone for amagical purpose, get to know its particular
energy so thatwhen you test its energy later on, you have an idea of howmuchpurificationitrequires.When you first bring a stone home from a rock shop or from the great
outdoors,cleanseandpurifyitusingoneofthemethodslistedaboveforonefullweektoensurethatithasbeencompletelyclearedofanyforeignenergy.Don’t worry; you cannot remove the innate energy of an object, so it’simpossibletooverpurify.Whentheweekisup,prepareyourselfbyfindingaquietspaceandsettling
downwiththestoneandyourgreenwitchnotebook.Takethreedeepbreaths,releasingtensionandfocusingonthestoneinyourhandwitheachexhalation.Beginby testing theenergyof thestonebyusingoneof theenergy-sensingmethodsgiveninChapter3.Howdoesthestone’senergyfeeltoyou?Makeasmanyobservationsandassociationsasyoucan.Remembertowrite themdown.Whatisimportantisthatyouaremakingpersonalobservationsabouttheenergy,notthatyouhitonthesamecorrespondencesthataretraditionallyassociatedwiththestone.Onceyouhaveanideaofhowtheenergyofthestonefeelstoyouwhileit
iscompletelynaturalandunaffectedbyanyotherenergy,youwillbeabletoevaluatethestonebeforeanyfutureusetodeterminehowmuchpurificationitwillneed.Everyone sensesenergy inadifferentway,butperhaps the stonewill feel particularly heavy or negative to you, or youwill gain a sense ofwrongness, or simply a difference fromwhat you expect to feel when you
nextpickituptouseit.Ifthestonefeelsdrasticallydifferent,purifythestoneforalongerperiodoftime.Ifyouhaveusedthestoneforapreviousmagicalpurpose,itisimportanttopurifyit,evenifitwasforthesameintention,foras the stone is used it can collect other energies. As you become moreexperienced in sensing energy, you will be able to identify how muchpurification a stone needs by comparing its current energy with what youknowitsbasenaturalenergyis.
EmpoweringStones
Toprepareastoneformagicaluseonceithasbeenpurified,youmustprogramorempowerit.This step aligns the stone’s natural energy with your magical intention.While the stone’snaturalenergieswillfunctionevenifyoudonotempoweritwithyourmagicalintention,theywillfunctioninaccordancetoyourdesiremuchmoreefficientlyifyouprogramitwithyourpreciseneedandmagicalgoal.
1.Toprogramastonewithyourintention,holditbetweenyourpalms.Closeyoureyesandtakethreedeepbreaths,centeringyourselfandfocusingonyourmagicalgoal.
2.Visualizeyourgoalasalreadyachieved,whichmeansyoushouldtakeaminuteortwotodaydreamabouthowterrificyou’llfeeloncethesituationisthewayyouwantit.
3. Now visualize a sparkling light forming around your hands. This sparkling light is theenergysummonedfromwithinyoutoempowerthestone.Itisenergyprogrammedwithyourmagicalgoal.Imaginethesparklinglightbeingabsorbedintothestone.
4.Atthispoint,sayaloudwhatyourgoalisandwhatthestoneistobeusedfor.Forexample,you may say, “This stone brings me prosperity,” if you are programming it for financialsuccessorabundance.Somepeoplefinditeasiertorepeataphraselikethisoverandoverinordertoraiseandfocustheenergyuponwhattheyareempowering.Itendtobeaveryquietgreenwitch,soIquietlywhispermychosenphraseoverandoveruntilthewordsbecomeastreamofsound.Ivisualizethatsoundbeingdirectedintothestone.
5. Once the energy has been absorbed into the stone, it has been programmed with yourmagicalintentionandempoweredforthatuse.
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Chapter6CraftingGreenWitchMagic
agicallorebasedinthegreenworldisthecentralbody of knowledge in the practice of green
witchcraft.Thischapterexaminespracticalandmagicalapplications, crafts, and spells combining the variouselementsof thenaturalworld,plus tipsonpreparationandstorage.
Chapter5explored theenergiesofvariousaspectsof thenaturalworldandtheirmagical associations.This chapter takes that knowledge a step furtherandshowsyouhowtocreatecraftsandprojectsdesignedtoachievecertainmagicalgoals.Whenselectingtheherbsandothernaturalelementsthatyouintendtouse
inyourcrafts,itisessentialtoalwaysfullyresearchtheherb,magicallyandmedicinally.Carefullyreadtherecommendedmethodsofpreparationinyourreferencebooksandpaycloseattentiontocautionsandnotes.Certainherbs,forexample,aresafetouseexternally,butaretoxiciftakeninternally.Ifyouintendtoburntheplantmatter,verifythatthesmokeissafetoinhale.Inyourgreen witch journal, describe any herb you intend to use, and if there issomethingtoremember,addanotetothelabelofyourpreparation.Ifyouarecrafting an herbal preparation for someone else, inform yourself of theirsensitivitiesandallergiesbeforehandandwriteoutafulllistofingredientsfortheirreference.Althoughoneofthegreenwitch’sgoalsistohealothers,itisneverwiseto
justgiveout teasorotherpreparationsunlessyouare trainedasaqualifiedherbalist. This is especially true if the preparation is intended formajor orchronicproblems.Ifsomeonecomestoyoucomplainingofastomachupsetoraheadache,however,youcanuseyourjudgmentandthefolkknowledgeyoupossesstosuggestatreatment.
CollectionandStorageofHerbsandPlantsCheckyourstockofpreservedherbsandplantseveryyeartoseewhatyou’relowonandwhathasgonebad.Whenyouharvestplantmatter,alwaysmakesurethatyouknowwhatpartoftheplanttoharvest,whetheryouuseleaves,stems,flowers,ortheroot.Nevercollectanentireplant.Neverpullitupbytherootsandtakethewholethinghome.Takeonlywhatyouneed,andmakesure that it’s less than a quarter of what’s available. In harvesting, less ismore.Neverassume thatyoushould lay inahugestockofsomething.Youareunlikelytouseitallandyou’llendupthrowingseventy-fivepercentofitout.Mostgreenwitchprojectsandcharmstakeonlyapinchorspoonfulofanherb.It isessentialtonoteinyourgreenwitchnotebookwhatplantyouareharvesting, where it is being harvested, the date, and how much you aretaking.Ifyou’renotusingtheplantmatterfresh,thenitmustbedriedbeforeyou
storeit.Beforedrying,shake,brush,orwashoffanydirt.Toairdryit,laytheleavesorflowersoutonanoldscreenoroncheeseclothandallowittodryinawell-ventilatedarea.Youcanalsobundlethestemstogetherwithanelasticband or string and hang the bunch indoors in a dry place with good aircirculation,outofdirectsunlight.Tuckasmallcardwiththenameoftheherbinthebundletohelpyouidentifytheplantonceit’sdry.Don’tleaveabundleofherbshangingfortoolong,oritwillbecomedusty.Toprotectitfromdust,orifthestemplanthasseedsorfragilebitsthatmayfalloffasitdries,slipitinapaperbagandsecurethebagaroundthestemswithstringbeforehangingittodry.Toprepareaplantforstorage,striptheleavesoffthestemsoverasheetofnewspaperoracleancloth.Youcanalsodryplantmatterintheoven.Chopupthestemsroughly,then
scatterpiecesofstem,plusleavesandflowers,inasinglelayeronabakingsheet coveredwith parchment and place it in a barelywarmoven (100 °F)withthedoorcrackedopenforanhourortwo,dependingonthethicknessoftheherbyou’redrying.Checkfrequentlyandremovedriedmatter,leavingtheresttocontinuedrying.If youwish to use theherbs like rosemaryor peppermint fresh at a later
date,youcanpickthemandstoretheminthefreezer.Forshort-termstorage,youcansimplytumblesturdyleavesintoasmallpaperbag,folditover,andstore it in thefreezerdoor.Besure towrite theherb, thedate,andwhere itwasharvestedonthebag.Tokeepherbslonger,rinsethemundercoldwater,blotdrywithapapertowel,chopthemroughly,andspreadthemonabakingsheet. Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the herbs have frozen, thenstore them in Ziplock freezer bags. Thismethod keeps the leaves separate.
Markthebagclearlywiththeherb,thedate,andwhereyouharvestedit.Touse, simply open the bag and take outwhat you need. If leaves or flowershave frozen together, take themassout andchopoffwhatyouneedwith aknife.Tofreezeindividualportionsforcookingmagic,choptheplantfinelyandpacka teaspoonor tablespoonof theherb intoeachcompartmentofanice cube tray.Runabit ofwater into each compartmentover theherb, andfreeze. When the herb cubes are frozen, pop them out and place them inZiplockbags.Again,markthebagswiththesameinformationasabove.Remember thatwhen you harvest plantmatter an exchange of energy is
required.Thismeansthatyoumustgivesomethingbackinexchangeforwhatyouaretaking.Bringalongabottleofwaterandoffertheplantafewdropswhenyouharvestsomeofit.Thanktheplantforitskindnessinsharing.
Opaquecontainersarebestforstoringherbs.Ceramiccanisterswithtightsealsanddarkglassjarsareideal.Keepanassortmentofcontainersofvarioussizesonhand.Kitchenshopsareagreatsourceforjars,bowls,tins,mortarsandpestles,andotherusefulgreenwitchparaphernalia.Youmayalsowanttoinvestinacuttingboardandchoppingknivestobeusedspecificallyforyourgreenwitchwork.
PreparationMethodsHerbsandplantmatteraremostcommonlyprepared foruse inan infusion,whichyoumaybetterknowastea.Teasaren’tusedonlyforconsumption,ofcourse, which is why books on magical and spiritual applications use theword “infusion.” In this book, if I use the word “tea” I’m referring tosomethingyou’lldrink;ifIusetheword“infusion”I’mtalkingaboutaliquidthatyou’lluseinsomeotherapplication.The basic preparation is known as a “simple,” which is a single-herb
preparation. This is the best and easiest way to access the energy of anindividualplantandthesafestwaytotestnewherbsfortheireffects.Thefourmethods given below explain how to extract and preserve the energies andbenefitsofvariousherbs:
1.Infusionistheprocessbywhichleavesand/orflowersaresteepedforaperiodoftimeinwaterofaparticulartemperature.Asthewatercools,theherbalmattersteeps.Thisisagentletechniquethatallowsthewaterto extract the benefits and energies from fragile herbal matter. Aninfusioncreatestheweakestextraction.2.Decoction is theprocess bywhichdenser herbalmatter is boiled inwaterforaspecificperiodoftime.Thistechniqueisusedforrootsandtwigsandbark.Adecoctioncreatesaslightlystrongerextraction.
3. Enfleurage is themethod bywhich oils and energies are extractedfromherbalmatterbysoakingtheherbinanoilorafat,eitherheatedoratroomtemperature.Theresultisanessentialoiliftheliquidisatroomtemperature,andapomadeif the result isasolid.Youroilwillvary instrengthdependingonhowlongyousaturateyourherbalmatterandhowfrequently you change the depleted herbal matter for fresh. Withoutprofessionalequipment,itisdifficulttomakeaperfume-gradeessentialoilwith a strong scent at home.While scent is an important aestheticelement, its strength does not necessarily correspond to how muchenergyisheldintheessentialoil.Amagicaloilmaynot,therefore,haveastrongscent.Essentialoilsareusedexternally.(Toavoidseriousillnessoraccidentalpoisoning,neveruseahomemadeessentialoil internally;onlyusemedicinal-gradeessentialoilsfromareputablecompany.)4.Maceration is the process by which herbal matter is steeped in asolvent such as vinegar, alcohol, or glycerin. The result is called atincture. Tinctures are commonly used formedicinal purposes, usuallyby adding a few drops to a glass of water or spoonful of honey andconsuming it.Tincturescanalsobeusedmagically.A tincturewill lastformanymoreyearsthanthedriedherb.Adriedherblosesitsflavorandmagicalpotencyafteronetothreeyears,whereasthetincturepreservestheherbalextract.
OtherHerbalPreparationsIn bothmedicine andmagic, there are a variety ofways to apply herbal
energies. The four methods described above result in liquids of varyingviscosity.Todeliverthoseliquidsinmethodsotherthanpouringordrinkingthem, they are often combined with another base to offer a more flexibleapplication.Theresultsofmixingtheseliquidswithanotherbaseincludethefollowingpossibilities:
Salvesarecreatedbymeltingbeeswaxandaddingaliquidextract(usuallyanoil)toit,thenallowingittocool.Infusionsanddecoctionsarealmostuselessinpreparingasalvebecausetheyaren’tstrongenoughtocarrytherequiredenergyorextract.Salvesarerubbedintothebodyoranobject.
Liniments are liquids that are usually alcohol based. A liniment is designed to be rubbedbrisklyonthebody.
Soapstakeyour liquidextractsandcombine themwithabaseof fatsdesigned to raisedirtfrom a surface, enabling it to be washed away. Magical soaps are particularly interestingbecause they also pull negative or undesirable energy from an object and allow it to be
washedaway.Amagicalsoapremovesundesirableenergiesandleavesdesiredenergies.
ElementalBlessingAlthough everything has an innate energy and you empower everypreparationorcraftobjectyoucreatewithyourintention,sometimesit’snicetosealorenhance thecombinedenergies.Performinganelementalblessingupon anobject canhelp dedicate it to the purposeyou intend it for. It alsosends a signal to your own psyche that your work is finished and is nowperformingthefunctionforwhichitwasdesigned.
ElementalBlessing
Thisblessingcanbeperformedasthefinalstepofanyprojectoruponnewobjectsoritemsintendedforashrine.Inessence,thisactpurifiestheobjectandthenblessesitwithpositiveenergy.Thefollowingblessingiswrittenwiththeassumptionthattheobjectyouwillblessissmall
enoughtobeheldinyourhands.Ifitisnot,placeitonornexttoyourworkspaceandadjustyouractionsaccordingly.Ifyouhavepreviouslycleansedtheobjectyouintendtobless,orifyouhaveempoweredit,
youmayskipsteps2through6.
Smalldishofsaltorearth(orasmallcrystalorotherstone) Stick of incense in a holder, or herbal incense and a self-lighting charcoal briquette in aheatproofdishCandleincandleholderSmalldishofwaterMatchesoralighterObjecttobeblessed
1.Arrangeeachelementalsymbolonyourworkspace,eitherinasquareorinaline.Lighttheincense and the candle.Take threedeepbreaths to release stress soyou can focusonyourtask.
2.Pickup theobjectwithonehandor lay itonyourworkspace infrontofyou.Withyourotherhand,takeapinchofthesaltorearthandsprinkleitgentlyovertheobject(ortakethecrystalorstoneinyourhandandtouchittotheobject),saying:
ByearthIcleanseyou.
3.Pickupthecandleandpassitaroundtheobjectinacounterclockwisedirection,saying:
ByfireIcleanseyou.
4.Pickuptheincenseandpassitcounterclockwisearoundtheobject,saying:
ByairIcleanseyou.
5.Touchyourfingertipstothewaterandsprinkleitovertheobject,saying:
BywaterIcleanseyou.
6.Closeyoureyes,takethreeslowbreaths,andfocusontheobject.
7.Takeanotherpinchofearthandsprinkleitovertheobject(ortouchthestonetoit),saying:
Youareblessedbyearth.
8.Pass theobject carefully over the candle flame,making sure not to burnyourself or theobject,saying:
Youareblessedbyfire.
9.Passtheobjectthroughthesmokeoftheincense,saying:
Youareblessedbyair.
10.Touchyourfingertipstothewaterandsprinkleitontheobject,saying:
Youareblessedbywater.
11.Holdtheobjectupintheair,orifitistooheavyplaceyourhandsuponitwhereitlies,andsay:
IasktheGreenSpiritof theUniversetoblessthisobject inthenameofEarthandofallNature.
GreenWitchCraftsThegreenwitchusesnature’sbountytocreatemagicalitems.Sheusuallyenjoyscrafts,fortoher,makingsomethingsymbolizesthebringingtogetherofdisparateenergiestoformanewweavededicatedtoaspecificpurpose.Theseitemsaredesignedwiththerestorationormaintenanceofharmonyinmind,asthegreenwitchisalwaysstrivingforharmonybetweenherselfandnature.
HerbalIncenseIf you use incense in stick form, then you are familiar with the sweet andgentlesmokecreatedbylightingoneendofthestick,gentlyblowingouttheflame,andrestingthestickinacenserorincenseboattosmolderslowly.Herbal incense is a completely different experience. It is a wonderful
method of experimentingwith the bounty of nature.When you create yourownherbalincense,youcanmixandmatchthekindsofmagicalenergiesyouwish toweave together, tailoring them precisely to your specific goal.Youcanmakeasmuchoras little asyou like, empowering theblendwithyourownpersonalenergy.Herbalincensemustalwaysbemadewithdriedherbs.Freshherbswillnot
burncorrectlyandwillrotifyouattempttostorethem.Iftheonlysampleofthe herb youwish to use in your blend is fresh, then spread the herb on abakingsheetandplaceitinabarelywarmovenforforty-fiveminutestoanhour,watchingitcarefully.Alternatively,youcanspreadtheherbinasingle
layeronapapertowelandmicrowaveitforthirtysecondsonhigh.Checktosee how dry it is.You canmicrowave in ten-second increments for furtherdrying. Some green witches, concerned that the microwave damages theherb’senergy,recoilinhorrorattheideaofmicrowavingtheirherbs,whereasothergreenwitcheshavenoqualmsaboutusingmodernequipmentsuchasamicrowave, a juicer, or an electric coffee grinder to prepare their magicalsupplies. It’s your choice.As amodern greenwitch, usewhat you have atyourdisposal,solongasyoufeelcomfortablewithit.
BlendingHerbalIncenseBeforeyoublendherbalincense,it’simportanttodosomeresearchtofind
outwhatkindsofherbsandflowersarebestforyourrecipe.Beforeyoumixand burn any herb or combination of herbs, it is important to look up thetoxicityofeachplant.Ifit’spoisonoustotouchoreat,chancesarethesmokeisalsopoisonoustobreathe.Don’ttakechances.Onceyouhaveashort listof theherbsyou’d like touse inyourmagical
incense,takeanhourorsotolightasinglecharcoalbriquetteanddropatinypinchof eachherbby itself onto the ignited surface.Burningherbalmatterwillnotsmell likethefreshherb.Infact, itusuallysmellslikesomesortofvariationonburning leavesor grass clippings.Testing eachherb alonewillgiveyouanideaofwhatitsmellslike.Asitburns,makenotesinyourgreenwitchjournalaboutthesmell,thedensityofthesmoke,howquicklytheherbisconsumed,andwhatkindofenergyyousenseitgivingoffasitsmolders.Also make a note of how you react physically to the herb. It is better todiscovernow in a test run thatyou reactbadly to a certainherb thanwhenyou’reattemptingtouseitmagically.Onceyou’vetestedeachherb,you’rereadytoworkwithproportions.Do
youwanttoaddmoreofoneherbandperhapsonlyapinchofanother?Muchofthegreenwitch’sworkisintuitive,whichmeansthatyou’llfeeldrawntosomething without necessarily having solid information or reasoning tosupportyourfeeling.Oneoftheplaintruthsaboutusingherbalincenseisthatitdoesn’talways
smellassweetasstore-boughtstickincense.Addingresininanequalamounttoyourherbalblendwillnotonly improve the incense’sburn rate,butwillalsoprovideamoreagreeablebasenotetoyourburningincense.Resinshavebeenusedforcenturiesinvariousculturesassweet-smellingofferingstothegods.Theycarryvariousmagicalassociationsjustasherbsdo.Before adding one or more resins to an herbal blend, however, drop a
singlegrainoftheresinoratinypinchofpowderontoacharcoalbriquettetoacquaintyourselfwiththescentoftheresinonitsown.Makenotesinyourjournalastothescentoftheresinasitmeltsonthecharcoal,thedensityofsmoke itproduces, theenergy itgivesoff,andhow itmakesyou feel. (Seeinstructionsonhowtousecharcoalbriquetteslateroninthischapter.)While the release of certain energies is the primary goal of green witch
magic,aestheticsarealsoimportant.Tothatend,Iadviseusingoneormoreofthefollowingresinsasabaseforyourherbal incense(rememberthat theamountofresinshouldequalthetotalamountofherbalmatter).
Copal.Thisresincomesinvariousshadesofwhite,gold,andblack,andthescent
isslightlydifferentforeachkind.Goldencopalismostcommon,andifyoupickupapacketmarkedsimply“copal,”that’swhatit’slikelytobe.CopalisthepetrifiedsapoftheBurseraodorataandhasanappealingsweetscentthatmakes an excellent base for floral or lighter herbal incense blends. Copalcarries an energy that is particularly good for love, house blessings,dedications, meditation, protection, celebration, solar energy, and creatingsacredspace.
Frankincense.One of the most popular resins, the golden-toned frankincense is the
solidifiedsapoftheBoswelliacarteriitree,sometimescalledtheolibanum.Ithasaslightlyspicy-sweetscentandmakesanexcellentall-purposebaseforjust about any herbal incense. Frankincense is traditionally associated withsanctity, purification, meditation, protection, joy, celebration, solar energy,andconsecration.
Myrrh.Another common resin, myrrh is brownish and has a darker, slightly
bittersweetscent.ItcomesfromtheCommiphoramyrrha,orgummyrrhtree,and carries themagical associations of sanctity, honoring the dead and thespiritworld,purification,andhealing.Myrrhaddsabitofextrapowertoanyherbalincense;addingjustagrainortwowilldothejob.
Benzoin.This grayish resin is usually found in powdered form. It comes from the
Styraxbenzointreeandhasalight,clean,slightlysweetscent.Itisexcellentforpurifying,healing,prosperity,andattractioningeneral.
Styrax.Sometimes spelled storax, this black resin is a softer, earthier resin than
those listed above. It comes from the Liquidambar styraciflua tree. It isexcellentforhealingandgrounding.
Dragon’sblood.ThisredresinisthepetrifiedsapofthepalmtreeknownasDaemonorops
draco,or thedragon’sbloodpalm. It isoneof thekey ingredients inviolinstain. It is remarkablystickyandwillcling toyour tools.Dragon’sblood isfrequentlyusedforprotection,purification,andasageneraladditiontoyourspellsasanall-purposepowerboost.
Sandalwood.Often blended into herbal incenses or used as a base, sandalwood isn’t
technicallyaresin,butapowderedorshreddedwood.Availablebothinred(Adenanthera pavonina) and white (Santalum album), sandalwood isgenerallyassociatedwithspirituality,purification,meditation,peace,healing,andprotection.
Resins are usually sold by weight in packets of rough grains or chips.Generally,itisbesttopowderyourresinbeforeblendingitwithyourherbalmatter.Thiswillentailabitofgrindingonyourpartwithastonemortarandpestle(woodisunsuitableforgrindingresins)orusingasmallcoffeegrinderreserved only for grinding herbs and resins.The powdered resinwill blendbetterwiththedriedherbsandyieldasmootherburn.Whenyoucreatearecipeforherbalincense,lookatthepurposeforwhich
you are creating it and select a combination of herbs and resins that willsupportthatgoalwiththeirenergies.Forexample,aprosperityincensemayincludeonepartbenzoinastheresinbase,withonepartherbalblendofmint,basil, andcinnamon, all ofwhichare associatedwithprosperity.Likeotherwitches,greenwitchesoftenliketoworkinmultiplesofthreeontopoftheirbaseingredient.ThreeisanumberassociatedwiththeGoddess.Youmayalsolike toworkwith amultipleof four tohonor the four elements.There’snofirmrule,however,astohowmanyorhowfewresinsorherbstouseinan
incense; usewhat you feel drawn to using.But remember thatmore is notnecessarilybetter.Thebasicstepstoblendingherbalincensearesimple.Ifnecessary,gently
grindtheresinuntilthepiecesareinsmallgranules.Becarefulnottoover-grind them,or theheatproducedby themortarandpestleorcoffeegrinderwillmaketheresinsticky.Crumbleorpowderthedriedherbsandplacethemin the jar with the resin. Cap it and shake until the ingredients are wellblended.Don’tforgettowritethefinalrecipeinyourjournal,alongwiththemagicalpurposeandthedateonwhichyoublendedit.Tofurtherenhanceyourherbalincense,youmayadduptothreedropsof
essentialoiltothemixturebeforeyoucapandshakeit.Again,consideryourmagicalgoalandchooseanappropriateessentialoil.Youmayusetheoilofan herb or resin that is already a part of your blend to strengthen thatparticularscentoranotheroil toaddadifferentenergyto theblend.Donotusemorethanthreedrops,ortheincensewillbetoowettoburn.Onceyourherbalincenseisblended,youmayuseitrightawayorleaveit
tositandallowtheenergiestoblendforaweekorsobeforeusingit.
EmpoweringHerbalIncense
You can use the incense as it is. However, like any other magical craft or preparation,empoweringthe incensewillweavetheenergies togetherbetterandfocus themspecificallyuponyourmagicalgoal.There are twoways to empower your herbal incense.Most greenwitches employ them
both.Thefirstistovisualizeyourmagicalgoalasyougrindandblendeachherbandresin.Thismethod allows you to program each component separately. The secondmethod is asfollows:
1.Holdthejaroffinishedincenseinyourhands.Takethreedeepbreathstofocus.Thinkofyourmagicalgoal.
2.Visualizeasparklinglightformingaroundthejarinyourhands.Thissparklinglightistheenergythatempowerstheincense,theenergyassociatedwithyourmagicalgoal.
3.Imaginethesparklinglightbeingabsorbedintotheblendofresinsandherbs.Theherbalincensehasnowbeenenergizedwithyourmagicalgoal.Itisempoweredforthatuse.
BurningHerbalIncenseHerbal incense is burned on small, round charcoal briquettes that are
availableatNewAgeandreligioussupplyshops.Toburnherbalincense,youwillrequirethefollowingthreethings:
1. A small, round briquette of self-igniting charcoal (this is NOT
barbequecharcoal)2.Aheatproofcenserwithalayerofsandorearthinit3.Alighterorlong-stemmedmatches
Self-ignitingcharcoalbriquettescomeinvarioussizes.Idon’trecommendthehalf-inchsize,astheyareeasytosmotherwithaspoonfulofincenseandprone to falling apart or exploding if not handled correctly. I recommendbuyingtheone-inchbriquettesandusinghalfabriquetteatatime(youreallydon’t need a whole briquette for a single spoonful of herbal incense). Abriquettewillburnforforty-fiveminutestoanhour,andburningaspoonfulofherbalincensedoesn’ttakelongatall.Caution: Never, ever use outdoor barbeque charcoal, as it releases
dangerousfumesthatcanbefatalwhenusedindoorsorinapoorlyventilatedspace.Asinglespoonfulofincenseisusuallyallyou’llneedtoreleaseitsenergy
into your space. A scant teaspoonful sprinkled on a glowing charcoal willrelease a cloud of smoke. Unlike stick incense, herbal incense burns all atonceuntil it isgone,andthusreleasesmoresmokeandscentoverashorterperiodoftime.Theenergyandscentlingerinthespace,however,sothere’sno need to keep piling on the incense blend to produce a steady supply ofsmoke.Ifyoutrytoburntoomuchincense,theroomwillbecometoosmokyandit’slikelytosetoffyoursmokedetector.Withherbalincense,alittlegoesalongway.Whenyouuseherbalincense,you’reactuallysmolderingit,notburningit—there’snoflameinvolved.Thebitsofresinmeltandtheherbalmatterturnsblackandcracklesaway.Ifyouchoosetousematchestolightthecharcoal,long-stemmedmatches
arepreferablebecauseshort safetymatchesburndown tooquickly.A long-handled barbeque lighter is ideal for lighting charcoal briquettes. Althoughthere are a few brave souls who hold the charcoal with fingers while theylight it, Idon’t recommend this forobvioussafetyreasons.Thebestway tolightcharcoalistoholditinonehandwithapairoftweezersorasmallpairoftongswhileyouapplytheflametothecharcoalwithyourotherhand.Holdthe flame to theedgeof thebriquette, andas it catches fire itwillbegin tosparkle. If your charcoal is particularly quick, those sparkles will begin tomoveacrossthesurfaceofthebriquette,firingtherestofthesurface.Ifyourcharcoal is very denselymade or slightly dampbecause of humidity in theenvironment, youmay have to hold the flame to different areas to light asmany as possible before they combine to ignite the rest of the briquette.Rememberthatyourtweezersortongsaremetalandwillconducttheheatof
thecharcoalbriquetteonceitbeginstoignite.Whenthebriquettehasfullyignited,layitdowncarefullyonthelayerof
sand or earth in your censer. You can use almost any heatproof dish as acenser,aslongasithasalayerofmaterialtoabsorbtheheatofthecharcoal.Tobeon thesafeside,youcanputa trivetorheatproofcoasterunderyourcensertoprotectyourtableoraltarfromheatdamage.Wait until the sparkles have finished coursing across the surface of the
briquette and the surface has begun to glow faintly red.At this point, yourcharcoal is ready to receive a teaspoonful of herbal incense or a pinch ofresin.Somepeopleprefertowaituntilthereisathinlayerofgrayashontopofthebriquettebeforesprinklingincenseonit.Don’t just pile a heaping spoonful of the herbal incense on the charcoal
briquette.Sprinkleitgently,visualizingthegoalforwhichyou’vecreatedtheblend.Asolidchunkofincensecansmotherthecharcoalbriquette.When the incense has finished burning, you can wait fifteen or twenty
minutesfor thesmoketodissipateabit, thensprinkleanotherhalf-teaspoonofincenseonthecharcoal.Whenthishasburnedaway,leavethecharcoaltoburnoutonitsown.Itwillturntograyash.Allowthisashtocool,thenstiritgentlyintothesandorearthinyourcenser.Keepingasmallbottleofwaterorasecondbowlofearthorsandnearbyto
smother the charcoal and incense should it somehow get out of control isalwaysanintelligentprecaution.
StoringHerbalIncenseWhenyoumakeyourfirsttrialbatchofherbalincense,makeitinasmall
quantitysothatifyoudon’tlikeityouwon’tbestuckwithawholebottleofthestuff.Markdowntheproportionsoftherecipesothatifyoulikeit,youcanincreaseiteasily.Ikeepmyherbalincenseinsmallspicejarsinadarkcupboard.Ialsouse
4-ounce(125ml)canningjars.Babyfoodjarsarealsoideal,soifyouhaveachildorknowsomeonewhodoes, ask for empty jars,wash themwell, andmakesurethey’recompletelydrybeforeyouusethem.Alwaysmakesuretoclearly label the jar.Write thenameof the incense and thedateon the capwithagreasepenciloronaself-sticklabel.Nomatterhowfirmlyyoubelievethatyou’llrememberexactlywhattheblendisforbythescentorthelookofthe incense, I guarantee that youwon’t. The date is important because youwillbeabletolookatyourgreenwitchjournalandseewhatelsewasgoingon when you blended that incense (and perhaps exactly what inspired the
blendinthefirstplace).Threetofiveyearsfromnow,you’llknowthatyouhavetomakeupafreshbatchformagicaluseandthrowtheoldoneout(orusetheoldoneforperfumepropertiesonly).
SuggestedRecipesfortheSevenCentralEnergiesoftheGreenWitch:
Happiness:frankincense,lemon,orange
Harmony:lavender,whitesandalwoodpowder,jasmine
Health:myrrh,benzoin,hyssop,eucalyptus
Love:copal,rose,jasmine,cinnamon
Peace:frankincense,lavender,violet
Prosperity:frankincense,pine,basil,mint,cinnamon
Protection:dragon’sblood,rosemary,clove
SpellandCharmBagsSpell bags, which are small fabric bags into which you place a variety ofobjects and items chosen for theirmagical associations, areused invariousmagicalapplications.Spellbagscanbemadeinanysizeandusedanywhere.You can hang one above the door, tuck one into your car’s glovecompartment, tuck them in drawers, handbags, bedposts… the only limit isyourimagination.Hereisabasicsmallprotection-charmproject.Useitasabasisforcreating
yourownspellbags.
ProtectionCharm
Thisspellbagisdesignedtobehungaboveyourfrontorbackdoor,whicheverisusedmorefrequently.
Two3x5-inchpiecesofredorblackfabricThreadtomatchNeedlePinsOnesnowflakeobsidianOnetspcarawayseedsOnetspmugwortOnepinchofsaltOne12-inchlengthofredyarnornarrowribbonIron(optional)
1.Makeasmallhemalongoneoftheshortsidesoftherectangleasfollows:Foldtheedgeof
oneofthe3-inch-longsidesofoneclothrectangledown inch,wrongsidetowrongside,andpressintoplacewithyourfingersortheiron.Usingarunningstitch,sewtheedgedown.Repeatontheotherpieceofcloth.
2.Placetheclothrectanglesfacetoface,rightsidetorightside,matchingedges.(Thefoldededgewillbefacingoutonboth.)Pinintoplace.
3.Usingarunningstitch,sewalongthethreerawedgesoftherectangle.Leavethesidewiththehemsopen.Turnthepouchrightsideout.
4.Foldtheyarnorribboninhalf.Securethefoldtotheoutsideofoneofthesideseamsofthepouchwithacoupleofsmallstitches.
5.Intothissmallpouch,placethesnowflakeobsidianandtheherbs.
6.Tiethespellbagshutwiththeyarnorribbon.Hangfromasmallnailaboveyourdoor.
By using a tie on the spell bag, you can open it and add other items asneededtosupplementthemagicalenergy.Spellbagscanalsobesewnshut,likesmallpillows,althoughifthisisdonetheyshouldnotbeopened.If there comes a timewhen the spell bag is no longer required, or if the
usefulness ispast, thenundoorunpick the spellbagandseparate the itemsinside. Dispose of them separately, adding the herbs to your garden orcompost.
DreamPillowsAnotherformofspellbag,thedreampillowallowsthegentleenergiesoftheherbs to interact with your own energy while you sleep. Tuck the dreampillow under your bed pillow, hang it on your bedpost, or set it on yourbedside table. Made on a larger scale, dream pillows can become herbalpillows.Whenmakingdreamorherbpillows,theamountofmagicyouapplyisup
toyou.Anidealwaytoreinforcethemagicalgoaloftheherbsinthedreampillow is tochooseclothofanappropriatecolor. Ifyouadda ribbon to thepillowforhanging,chooseanappropriate length toslipover thebedpostorhangonanailinthewallbyyourbed.
SweetDreamsPillow
Thispillowisdesignedtoencouragerelaxationandsootherestlesssleep.
One8x4-inchrectangleofcloth(yourchoiceofcolor)ThreadtomatchNeedlePins
Cottonbatting(aboutthesizeofyourfist,ortwo4x4-inchsquares)Ribbon(optional;forlength,seeabove)OnetbspvioletsOnetbspspearmintTwotbsplavenderSmallbowlIron(optional)
1.Blendtheherbsinthebowlwithyourfingertips.
2.Foldtherectangleofclothoverontoitselfsothatyouhaveasquareofdoubledmaterial.Ifyouareusingafabricwithadesign,makesurethedesignisontheinside.Pinthetwopiecestogether.
3.Usingarunningstitch,sewalongtwoofthethreeopensidesofthefabricsquare,leavingonesideopen.
4.Foldapproximatelyaquarter-inchoftherawedgeoftheopensideoutanddownsothattherawedgefacestherestofthepouch.Finger-presstheedgesothatitstayscreased,orusetheiron.Turnthefabricpouchrightsideout,sothattheseamsaretotheinside.(Therawedgeofthepressedsideshouldbeinsidethepouch.)
5.Teaseoutyour cottonor cottonbatting so it is fluffier and larger.Place theherbs in thecenterofthecottonandfoldtheedgesinwardsothattheherbsarerolledinsidethecotton.Ifthecottonbattingisflat, layoneof thesquaresdown,pour theherbs in themiddle, laythesecondsquareontop,andsecureallfoursideswitharunningstitch.
6.Tucktheherbsinthecottonbattinginsidethefabricpouch.Pintheopensideclosed.Ifyouareaddingaribbonhanger,foldyourpieceofribbonandinserttheendsintotheopensideofthepouchandpin themintoplace.Sewthepillowclosedwitha runningstitch,sewing theribbonintoplaceasyougo.
7.Tuckyournewdreampillowunderyourbedpilloworplacenexttoyourpillowbeforeyousleep.You can increase the size of this pillow.The larger youmake it, however, themorecottonbattingyouwillneedtoprotecttheherbsinside.Youmayuseasmanyorasfewherbsasyoulike.
Suggestedblendsfordreampillows:•Peace:lavender,poppy,gardenia•Harmony:chamomile,violet,calendula•Happiness:honeysuckle,sunflower•Love:rose,jasmine,gardenia•Health:eucalyptus,nutmeg,carnation•Prosperity:cinnamon,orange,basil•Protection:geranium,sage,clove
GardenSpellBagI separate this bag out from the general spell bags because it calls for aslightly different approach. Because a garden spell bag is designed todecompose and fall apart, it calls for a different set of ingredients and
supplies.Agardenspellbag isacharmdesigned tobehungoutsideorburied ina
particularplace.Thesebagsaregenerallymadeforprotectionoftheproperty,protectionforaparticularareaonthepropertysuchasaspecialplantorbed,or to increase the fertility of the garden in general.Because these bags arehungoutdoorsintheelements,they’regenerallysmall;thisisforconvenienceaswellasaesthetics.Asthebagdecomposes,theherbsyoustuffedinitstartfalling out of it. Herbs falling out of a large bagwould become untidy. Asmallerspellbagensureslessofamess,aswellasalower-profilecharm.Ifyou want to make a larger protective charm of some kind, think about asteppingstone(seebelow)orsomethingmadeofamorepermanentmaterial.Anotherreasontokeepthisgardencharmsmallerthanaregularspellbag
ordreampillowisthatyouwillbefillingitcompletelywithherbs,notusingbattingorstuffing.Tomakethecharm,cutouttwosquaresorrectanglesandsew them together, as directed above.Eliminate the stuffingor batting, andsimplyfillthebagwithherbs.Sewthelastsideshut,addingaloopasdirectedinthedreampillowprojectoraribbontieasinthespellbag,andhangitinanappropriateplaceoutdoors.Whenyoudesignagardenspellbag,besuretoselectamaterialwovenof
natural fibers, preferably 100 percent cotton, although wool and silk areacceptable.Naturalfiberwillensurethatthematerialdecomposescompletelyandwithoutdamagetotheenvironment.Youcanchoosethecoloraccordingto your magical intention or use a neutral color, like white or unbleachedcotton.Remember,however, that therainwillsoakthepillowandtheherbsinside will stain the fabric; the sun will also bleach it, affecting the coloralmost immediately. Do not, therefore, expect your garden charm to lookbeautifulformorethanafewdays.Theprocessesofbleachingorstaininganddecompositionarepartof themagic: thegradualdestructionof thephysicalcharmreleasestheenergy.Whenthefabrichaswornthrough,youcanchoosetoburythebaginaselectedspotorinyourcompostheap.Replacinggardencharmscanbecomepartofyourregularmagicalmaintenanceofyourgardenspace.Youcaneithermakethesamespellbag(andwritedownthenewdateinyourgreenwitchjournalsothatyoukeeptrackofhowoftenyouhavetoreplace the charm) or you can evaluate your garden’s current needs anddesignanewone(again,notingthedateandnewsuppliesyouuseandwhy).Ifyouaddastonetoyourgardenspellbag,youmaychoosetoburyitwith
therestoftheremainsortoreuseitinyournextcharm.Reusingthestoneisaniceway tomaintaincontinuitywith theenergyofyourgarden,even if theherbs you use are different. Do not include metal charms or addnonbiodegradable substances to the herbal mixture, as they can poison the
garden.
MakingaBroomIn Chapter 2, I showed how to use a broom to purify an area. Finding anatural-bristle broom can be a challenge in the city.But there’s no need todespair.Makingherowntools isa time-honoredpracticeforawitchofanykind,andmakingabroomisparticularlyeasy.
TwigBroom
Gathertwigsandalongerstickfrombelowthetreeswhereyoulivesoyourbroomisatooltied into theenergyofyourparticulargeographic location.Tied inwithyourownpersonalenergy,thisnaturalenergywillcreateabroomvibratingwithnaturalgreenwitchpower!Tryto identify the trees from which you gather your twigs. The more you know about yoursupplies,themoretunedintotheirenergyyou’llbe.Ifyouhavetreesonyourownland,savetwigsandalongstickduringyourannualpruning.
Otherwise,youcanusuallywalkresidentialstreetsinthefallandgathertwigsfromthepilesofprunedmateriallyingonthecurbsideforrubbishpickup.Asktheresident’spermissiontotake thebranchesand twigs if they’re lyingonprivateproperty. If thewoodyoupickup iswet,allowittodryinaprotected,ventilatedspace,suchasagarageoryourbasement,foracoupleofweeks.Whenmaking a broom, it is important towind the leather tightly around the twigs.The
tensionispartofwhatkeepsthetwigsontheendofthebroom.
Onestoutstick,approximatelyfivefeetlong,between and1inchindiameter
Twigsapproximately18incheslong,nothickerthan incheach(enoughtomakea3-inchpilewhenyougatherthemtogetherinyourhands)WoodglueFourfinishingnailsHammer
Leatherstriporcord,fivefeetlong,atleast inchwideSandpaperNewspaperSaw(optional)Workgloves(optional)
1.Coveryourworkareawithnewspaper.
2.Takethefive-footstickanddecidewhichendwillbethetopofthehandleandwhichendwillbethesweepingend.Ifthestickhasbarkonit,decidewhetheryouwishtostripitofforkeepiton.Ifyou’reusingabranchbrokenoffatree,youmaywishtosawthetopendflat.Sandthetopendofthehandlesothatnosharpedgesorsplintersremain.
3. Sort through the pile of smaller sticks and cut or break off any that have other twigsstickingoutatoddangles.Trimthemalltoroughly18incheslong.
4. Take one of the thicker twigs and set it against the bottom end of the broom’s handle.Overlaptheendsofthetwigandthebroomhandlesothatapproximatelyfivetosixinchesof
thetwigislyingagainstthebottomfiveinchesofthebroom.(Thetwigwillextendaboutafootpastendofthebroom.)Dotwoodgluealongthoseoverlappingfiveinchesandpressthetwig against the broom.Laying one end of the leather strip across the twig, add a drop ofwoodgluetosecureit tothewood.Holdingit togetherfirmly,hammeroneofthefinishingnailsthroughtheleatherstripandthetwigintothebroom.
5.Spreada thin layerofgluearoundthebottomfive inchesof thebroomandbegin toaddadditional 18-inch twigs, overlapping the top five to six inches of each twig against thebottomfive inchesof thebroom.Place thesecond twigover the leatherstrip, then thenexttwigunderit.Makesureyoumaintainaconsistenttensionontheleatherstrip.
6.Whenyoureachthefirsttwigagain,dotsomemoregluealongthetopfiveinchesofthefirstlayeroftwigsandcontinueaddingmoretwigs,stillalternatingtheleatherstripaboveandbelowtwigs.Remembertokeepthetwigswrappedtight.Don’tworryaboutmakingsuretheendsofthetwigsareperfectlyeven.Thisisahandmadebroomandatoolofmagicdesignedtosweepairandenergy,notanevenfloor.Itdoesn’thavetobeperfect.
7.Whenyouhavereachedthehalfwaypointofthesecondlayer,oppositewhereyoustarted,holdtheleathertautandhammerasecondfinishingnailthroughitandthetwigintothefirstlayeroftwigsandthehandlebelow.Continueaddingtwigs.
8.Continueaddingthetwigstothebroom,dottingmorewoodgluealongthetopsofthetwigsasyoubeginanotherlayer.Keepwindingtheleatheroverandunderthetwigs.
9.Whenyouaresatisfiedwiththethicknessofthetwigendofthebroom,orwhenyoucometotheendofyourpileoftwigs,hammeranothernailintotheleatherandthetwigsthroughtothebroomhandle.Dotmoregluealongtheinsideoftherestoftheleatherstripandwraptheleatheraroundandaroundthetwigs.Pullittight.Securetheendoftheleatherwithafinaldotofglueandonefinalnail.
10.Allowthebroomtorestflat(notdangling)onatableorfloorforatleastthirty-sixhours,oruntilthegluehascompletelydried.Ifyouwishtofurtherdecorateyourbroombywindingleatheraroundthehandle,addingfeathersorshellsorstones,orbycarvingit,dosowhentheglueisdry.
11.Beforeyouuseyournewmagicalbroomfor the first time,empower itbyholding it inyourhandsandvisualizingasparklingwhitelightglowingaroundit.Seethesparklingenergybeingabsorbed into thebroom. Ifyou like,youmayfurtherbless itwith the fourelements(seetheElementalBlessinginthischapter).
SolidPerfumeorBalmThismagicalcrafttakesanoilofyourchoice(preferablyanessentialoil)andmakes it a solid balm,which can be used as amagical perfume. The term“balm”indicatescomfortofsomekind,aswellasasolidsubstancethatmeltswhenappliedtothewarmthoftheskin.Itisimportanttorememberthatbalmsaremagicalinnature,whichmeans
that the energiesof theoils actupon the energyof the individualwhousesthem.
MagicalBalm
Makesurethejar,tin,orcontaineryouchoosetocontainthebalmhasawideenoughmouthforyoutoreachinsidewithyourfingers.Chooseacontainerthatisn’ttoodeepandmakesurethatthelidclosestightlytopreservethecontentsaslongaspossible.Alsobesuretocarefullyresearchtheoilsyouwishtouse.Youdon’twanttousetoomuch
ofanoil,likecinnamon,thatcanirritateyourskin.Alwaysconsideryourskin’ssensitivity.Whenapplyingthebalm,useonlyasmallamount.Scoopupabitonyourfingertipandrub
itgentlywithacircularmotionontheareawhereyouwishtoapplyit.Donotallowthebalmtocomeincontactwithyoureyes.Washyourhandsafteryouhaveusedthebalmoraftertheritualactivityyouwishtobeenhancedbythebalm.Remembertolabelthetinorcontainerclearlywiththenameofthebalm.Writetherecipe
inyourgreenwitchjournal.Inthesummer,keepyourbalminthefridgeforacoolingsensationwhenyouapplyit.
Balmsshouldnotbeappliedtotheskinofchildren.
1½tspbeeswaxbeadscupsweetalmondoilorjojobaoil
5to9dropsessentialoil(s)ofyourchoice1tspvitaminEoil(optional)SmalljarorcontainerSmall,clean,emptycanSaucepanandwater
1.Placethewaxbeadsandthejojobaoralmondoilinthesmall,cleancan.DoNOTcoverthecan. Place the can in a saucepan filled approximately half-full with water. (This creates adoubleboilerandkeeps theflammableoils fromcomingintocontactwithflameorheatingcoils.)Setthesaucepanonthestoveovermediumheatandallowtheheatofthewatertomeltthebeeswaxandalmondorjojobaoil.
2.Removethesaucepanfromthestove.Wearingovenmittstoprotectyourhands,removethecanfromthewaterbath.SwirlinthedropsofessentialoilandthevitaminEoil.Asyoudothis,empowerthemixturewithyourmagicalintent.
3.Allowthemixturetocoolslightly.Asitcools,thesurfacewillsolidify.UsingachopstickoraPopsiclestick,stiritgentlytorecombinethesolidwiththeliquid.Asyoustir,reinforceyourmagicalintent.
4.Whenthemixturehascooledbutbeforeitiscompletelysolid,pouritintothecleanjarorcontainerandsealit.Labelitwiththecontentsandthedate.
5.Tousethebalm,scoopasmallamountontoafingertipandsmoothontoyourskin.
Suggestions:
Forameditationbalm, use3dropsof lavender,3dropsof sandalwood, and2dropsofviolet.Ruba smallamount intoyour templesand the insideofyourwrists.This isalsoanexcellent blend to use for relaxation and to aid sleep, and it thus doubles as a peace andharmonybalm.Forapurificationbalm,use2dropsoflavenderoil,3dropsoffrankincense,and3drops
of jasmine.Dota smallamountonyour thirdeye (in thecenterofyour forehead),onyourchest,andon thesolarplexus.Usewheneveryouwish toclearnegativeemotionorenergy
fromyouremotionalorphysicalbody.Foralovebalm,use3dropsofroseoil,3dropsofjasmine,2dropsoflavenderoil,and1
dropofvanillaoil.Dotontheinsideofyourwrists,overyourheart,atthenapeofyourneck,andbehindyourknees.(Notethat thisbalmisageneral loveblend.Itcanbeusedforself-loveandaffectionaswellasanyothersortofpurposeassociatedwithlove.)Foranabundancebalm,use1dropofcinnamon,2dropsoforange,3dropsofmint,and2
dropsofpine.Rubasmallamountinthepalmsofyourhandsandonthesolesofyourfeet.Forahealingbalm,use2dropsofrosemary,2dropsofeucalyptus,2dropsofmyrrh,and
2dropsofsandalwood.Thisbalmcanbeusedforspiritual,emotional,andphysicalhealing.This is particularly good used on the chest or back. Avoid using this balm near eyes ormucousmembranes,oronthinorsensitiveskin,becauserosemaryandeucalyptuscanirritate.Forahappinessbalm,use1dropoflimeoil,2dropsoflemonoil,2dropsofroseoil,and
2dropsoflavenderoil.Applytothewristsorthebackofthehands,theknees,thefeet,andoveryourheart.Forabright,citrus-basedhappinessbalm,use2dropsoflimeoil,2dropsoflemonoil,2dropsoforangeoil,and2dropsofbergamotoil.
GardenSteppingStoneThismagicalcraftincorporatesherbs,gemsorcrystals,andanyothernaturalelementyouwishtoinclude.I have included twodifferentkindsof stepping stones.The first calls for
youtomixandpouryourownconcrete;thesecondusesapremadeconcreteor stone slab purchased from a garden center. Each method produces adifferentmagicalsteppingstone,butwithimaginationyoucansubstituteonesetofmagicalsuppliesfortheother,orcomeupwithyourowncombinationsforyourowngoals.Once your stepping stone is decorated and varnished, keep it inside for
another week to ensure that it has completely cured. During the pouringprocessandwhilethestoneisdrying,donotmovethemold.When you place your stepping stone outside, consider carefully the area
bestsuitedforit.Whilethesearecommonlycalled“steppingstones,”theyareoften very unsuitable for being actually walked on because of the raiseddecorationssetintothemandthedetailyoumayputintoembellishingthem.Placingtheminagardennearapatioorwalkwaywheretheycanbeseenbutnotdisturbedisoftenthebestchoice.Although these stepping stones are theoretically weatherproof, to avoid
crumblingorbreakageyoumaywishtobringtheminsideforstorageifyoulive in a climate with a severe winter. Inspect your stepping stone everycoupleofweeksorsotoseehowit’sholdinguptotheelements.Ifyouusetoomuchwaterinyourconcretemix,thesteppingstonemayslowlycrumbleaway. If that happens,make a note in your greenwitch journal to use lesswater next time, and declare this stepping stone to be a time-release spell.
Whenithasdegradedbeyondrecognition,ortoapointwhereyounolongerwish to display it, then remove it with respect, thank it for its work, anddisposeofitinthetrash.Donotburyit,asnotallthesuppliesyoumayusewillbebiodegradable.
ProtectiveSteppingStone
Place this stone inyourgardenorbyyour frontdoor toextend itsprotectiveenergy to thearea.Thismagicalcraft isbestdoneoutside,andit’sbest towearanapronoveryourworkclothes.Whileitwillonlytakeapproximatelytwohourstomakethebasicstone,itwilltakeatleastthreedaysforittodry.
NewspaperAluminumfoilpieplate(atleasttwoinchesdeep)Smallbagofconcretemix(quick-setting,oraspecialstepping-stoneblend)WaterMeasuringcup1-footx1-footpieceofscreeningRubberglovesBucketPaintstirrerFourobsidianstonesintheshapeofarrowheadsOnetbspeachofthreeprotectiveherbs(yourchoice;tryangelica,rosemary,andcloves)Oldservingspoon(optional)TwigorPopsiclestick(optional)Acrylicpaintsandbrushes(optional)Clearvarnish(asprayvarnishiseasiest)(optional)
1.Spreadthenewspaperoveryourworksurfacetoprotectit.
2.Cut the screening to fit insideyour pie plate.The screeningwill serve to reinforceyoursteppingstoneoncethestoneisdry.
3.Blendtheherbstogetherandsetthemaside.
4.Usethepaintstirrertomixtheconcretepowderwiththewaterinthebucket.Aproportionoffivepartsconcretetoonepartwatergenerallyworkswell,butreadthedirectionsonyourbag.Addmorepowdertothickenit,morewatertothinit.Themixtureshouldbethickandwet,butnotsplashy;morelikedrop-cookiedoughthancakebatter.Donotmakeuptheentirebag.Useonlyasmuchasyouthinkyou’llneedtofill thepieplate(withabitextra just tomakesure).
5.Pourorspoontheconcreteintothealuminumpieplate(themold),fillingitapproximatelyhalf-full.Tapthemoldtoreleaseanyairbubbles,andusethestirrer tosmooththeconcreteout.
6.Lay the screeningon topof the concrete in themold.Pourmore concrete on topof thescreening,fillingthemoldtoapproximatelytwo-thirdsfull.Tapthemoldagaintoreleaseanyairbubbles.
7. Sprinkle the herbs on top of the concrete, visualizing their protective energy spreadingthroughtheconcrete.
8.Pourmoreconcreteontopoftheherbs,fillingthemoldcompletely.Tapthemoldathirdmagicaltimetoreleaseanyairbubbles.
9. Leave the mold to rest for approximately thirty minutes to one hour (check with theinstructionsonyour bagof concretemix).Thiswill allow it to set slightly andgiveyou afirmersurfaceintowhichtopressthestones.
10.Placethefourobsidianstonesinastarburstshapeinthemiddleofthestone,withtheflatendsformingasquareinthecenterandthepointsfacingtheedgeofthecircle.Firmlypressthemintothesurfaceoftheconcrete.Asyoudo,visualizethearrowsrepellinganynegativitythatapproachesthestone.
11.Ifyoudesire,useatwigoraPopsiclesticktodrawsymbolsorwritewordsonthesurfaceofthestone.
12.Nowsetthesteppingstoneasideinasafeplacetocureforatleasttwodays,preferablythree.Again,verifytheinstructionsonyourbagofconcrete.Youmaywanttoleaveitlongertobeonthesafesidesoyourstonewon’tcrumbleifyoutakeitoutofthemoldbeforeithascompletelydried.
13.Popthestoneoutofthemoldbyturningitoverandplacingitonthenewspaper-protectedsurface.Gentlyloosenthesidesandpeelthealuminumpieplateawayfromthestone.Turnthestoneoversothattheobsidianstarburstisontop.
14.Ifyouchoose,youmaypaintthestone.Oncethepaintshavedried,coatallsidesofthestonewithaclearvarnishtoprotectthesurface.
HappinessSteppingStone
Thisstoneattractsjoyandlaughter.Placeitbyyourfrontdoortoinvitethisenergyintoyourhome.With thisproject, it isbest tousea smallpre-cast stoneasabasebecauseyou’llbecovering theentiresurfacewithyourchosengemsandcrystals.This techniqueusesmortarandgrouttoaffixthedecorationstothepre-caststone.
Blankpaperlargerthanthepre-caststeppingstoneandpencilPlainpre-castconcretegardensteppingstoneAselectionoftumbledgemsandstonessuchascitrine,tiger’seye,moonstone,sodalite,orrosequartzThin-setmortarPaintstirrerWaterBucketorcleanplasticice-creamcontainerMortartrowelTilegroutOldrubberspatulaSpongeHeavyrubberglovesSoftcloth
1.Tracethesteppingstoneontheblankpaper,thensetthestoneaside.Onthepaper,arrangethestonesinapleasingpatterninsidetheoutlineofthesteppingstone.Useenoughstonestofill the outline almost completely, but the gems should not quite touch each other. Set thepaperandstonescarefullyaside.
2.Rinse theblanksteppingstone inwater to removeanydirt.Washing itunder thegardenhosewillworkwell.
3. In the bucket or plastic ice-cream container, mix the thin-set mortar according to thepackagedirections.Donotmixuptheentirepackage.Blendonlyasmuchasyouthinkyou’llneedforthisproject,withalittlebitleftoverjusttobesure.You’llneedtocoverthesurfaceofyourpre-caststonetoadepthofapproximately½inch.
4.Using the trowel, spread a - to½-inch layer ofmortar over the damp surface of thesteppingstone.Thedepthwilldependonthesizeofyourgems.Thelargerthegemstones,thedeeperthemortarmustbetoholdthemsecurely.
5.Preservingyourpattern,carefullytransferthestonesfromthepapertothemortaredsurfaceofthestone,pressingthemintothemortarsothat theylierelativelyevenly.Makesurethatyouleaveabitofspacebetweengemsforthegrout.
6.Setthestoneinasafeplacetocureforatleasttwelvehours.Washoutthebucketyouusedforthemortar.
7.Inthecleanbucket,mixthegroutaccordingtothepackagedirections.Again,donotmixtheentirepackage.Mixonlyenoughtocoverthestonetoadepthofapproximately½inch,plusalittleextratobesure.
8.Scoopthegroutontothesurfaceofthegemsandsmoothitoutwiththespatula.Makesureyouworkthegroutincarefullybetweenthegems.Spreadgroutonthesidesofthestoneaswell.Whenyouare finished,use the spatula to smooth the topof the stone to removeanyexcessgrout.
9.Using a damp sponge, gentlywipe any remaininggrout off the topof the stone and thegems.Wipe from themiddleoutandacross tobe sure thatall thegrout is smootheddownbetweenthegemsaswellaswashedoffthetopsofthem.Rinsethespongefrequentlytokeepitcleananddamp.Becarefulnottowashorscrubawaythegroutbetweenthegems.
10.Leavethestonetodryforapproximately24hours.Polishitwithasoftcloth.
OceanofPDF.com
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Chapter7TheGardenoftheGreenWitch
ultivatingherownherbsisoneofthegreenwitch’spractices. This chapter looks at the basic
components of the greenwitch’s garden, plus variousmethods of incorporating such a garden in today’sworldofcitystreetsandhigh-rises.
Workingwithnaturedoesnot alwaysmean immersingyourself in thegreatoutdoors. As many modern green witches are discovering, both out ofnecessityandintheirdesiretoadapttotheneedsofthemodernworld,therearemanyothermethodsofinteractingwithnature’senergy.Creativesolutionsare required in urban areas. How does the green witch approach moderngardening,particularlyinanurbansetting?The wilderness is not the antithesis of civilization. The two are
environmentalextremesthatcomplementeachother.Peoplerequireasecureenvironment in order to function well, and so over the millennia we havecarvedoutsectionsofthewildernessandorganizedthem.Thecityisnotevil,and the wilderness is not automatically good. Because the modern urbangreen witch understands this, part of her calling involves bridging the gapbetween“wild”and“civilized.”Purchasingdriedherbs touse inyourpractice isnot ideal.Thispromotes
thecycleofcommercialism,andwhilemoneyisindeedaformofenergythatflows throughour society, buying the product denies you the experienceofparticipating in your dialogue with nature. There will always be someproducts youwill not be able to growwhereyou live.Notmanypeople inNorthAmerica, for example, can grow cinnamon.You don’t have to breakyour back and your budget trying to forge a personal energetic connectionwithhighlyexoticplantsthatwon’tgrowwhereyoulive.Dowhatyoucan,whenyoucan.Growingplantswhoseenergyyoucanworkwithoffersyouamore than adequate opportunity for a deeper dialogue experience andinteractionwithnature.The garden is an important element of the green witch’s practice. This
chapterlooksathowtheconceptofthegardenfunctionsinthemodern,urbangreenwitch’sreality.Readersofthisbookhaveaccesstomanyvarietiesofherbsandplants,all
growable according to region and climate. I live in the northeastern part ofNorthAmerica,soa lotofmyexperienceandrecommendationswill reflectthat. While similar climate conditions stretch into the Midwest, there arevarietiesofgreenthingsfromthesouthandwestofNorthAmericathatIcanonlyimaginegrowinginmyzone.Agardeningclimatezonemapcanbeanimmensehelptoyouasyouplan
your garden. Climate zones are determined by maximum and minimumtemperatures,whichinturndeterminewhatplantscanthriveinthearea.YoucanseetheUSDANationalPlantHardinessZoneMapontheUnitedStatesNational Arboretum web page, the introduction to which can be found atwww.usna.usda.gov.
GreenandBlackThumbsNoteveryoneisblessedwithagreenthumb,oranyothergreenfingerfor
thatmatter.Fortunately,agreenthumbisn’trequired.Evenifyourgardeningthumbisblack,sotospeak,thatwon’tdisqualifyyoufromyourgreenwitchpractice(andit’sagoodthing,too;otherwisetherewouldbealotfewergreenwitches in this world). There is a certain pleasure in participating in theprocess of growing things, but if gardening isn’t one of your talents, thendon’t stressover it.Everygreenwitchhasher strengths.Youdon’thave toexcel at interactingwith every stage of a plant’s life from seed to compostpile.Iworkbetterwithgreenthingsoncethey’vebeenharvested.
WhyGreenThings?The practice of green witchcraft is innately tied to the agricultural cycle,which dictated the rhythm of the lives of our ancestors. The agriculturalsocieties of yesteryear focused on the seasonal changes of soil and crops.Witchcraft’s concern with fertility, sowing, tending, and reaping(metaphoricallyandotherwise)isrootedinthatagriculturaltradition.It thusmakesacertainkindof sense that thegreenwitch,havingchosen
one of the less ceremonial paths of witchcraft, has a strong spiritual andpersonalconnectiontonatureandtheland.Theconnectiontonatureisalsoapracticalone.Thewitch’sgardenprovidesareadysourceoffoodaswellascomponentsofspellsandingredientsforvariousremedies.
Byworkingwithagarden,indoorsorout,thegreenwitchisinteractingwithnatureonapersonalbasis.Hands-onpracticeoffersyoutheopportunitytophysicallyfeelyourconnectiontonature.Itgivesyouthesimplepleasureofworkinginharmonywiththenaturalcycle.
Working with a garden of any kind also allows you to meditate on theconcept of harmony and balance in a completely different way. There is averyrealgiveandtakeofenergyinvolvedintendingagarden.Thetimeandcareyouputintomaintainingthegardenisdirectlyreflectedinthegarden’shealthandwhatyouharvest.Likeaperson,agardenisalsoinaconstantstateofchange. Just asyou solveoneproblem inyour life andanotherpopsup,whatyoudototendyourgardenoneweekmaybedifferentfromwhatyoudothenextweek.Thesunmaybeatdownwithoutmercyforweeks,dryingyourprecious plants to a crisp, only to be followed by amonsoon-likeweek ofpouring rain that nearly drownswhat you’vemanaged to salvage.Workingwithagardenisacontinuouslessoninpatience,acceptance,andrecognitionthatnature functionsasan independentsystemthatoperatesnomatterwhatwehumansdo.
TheHarvestfromtheGreenWitch’sGardenAreherbsyoubuylesspowerfulthanthoseyougrow?Arethespicesyouuseoff your kitchen shelf any less powerful than those from your garden? Itdependsonwhoyouask.Hands-onworkallowsagreenwitchtounderstandtheenergyandpowerofaplantfromseedtodriedform.However,eventhegroundspicesonyourspicerackoriginallycamefromanaturalsource.Beingpractical,thegreenwitchuseswhatshehasonhand.InChapter6,Itouchedon the basics of harvesting and storing your own herbs.You don’t have toharvest theplant yourself inorder touse its energy.Youcan reachout andtouchtheenergyoftheherbandmakeapersonalconnectionwithpurchasedherbs.Ifyouwantsomethingthatisn’tlocal,youcanbuyitfromanherbalist,ametaphysicalsupplyshop,oronlineIfyoubuyherbs,however,besuretousethemonlyformagicalpurposes;don’tbetemptedtomaketeaunlessthepurchasedherbiscertifiedasbeingsafeforinternalconsumption.Asforfreshversusdried, theenergyissimilar, thoughindifferentforms.
Thinkoftheenergyofaliveplantasrunningwater,whereasthedriedherb’senergy might be like the water in a cup. As long as the plant is alive, itsenergyflows.Onceharvested,theenergyoftheplantislikewatercaughtinacup.Itisstillwater,andithastheenergyofthewater,buttheenergyisstillinsteadof flowing.Whatyouneed todowith theenergyofaplantorherband where and how you need to do your work will help you determine
whether to use fresh or dried. Using fresh plant matter in a sachet, forexample,isn’tagoodideabecausethefreshleaveswillmoldandrot.
GardenDesignTheurbangreenwitchfacesseveralchallengeswhenitcomestogardening
andcreatingapersonalspaceinwhichtocommunewithnature.Inacityorsuburb,manypeopledonothaveanidealspaceinwhichtolayoutagarden.Ifyoudon’thaveastripofearthsomewherealongthepathtoyourfrontdoor,or if you’re bound to an apartment and have no land at all, you may besurprised to findout thatyou in facthaveseveraloptions.Checkwithyourcityhallorenvironmentaldivisiontoseeifyourcitysponsorspublicgardenspace.Youcanapplyforoneofthesegardenplots,whichareusuallyfencedoffandprotected,oftenforfreeoratalowrentalcost.Youmayhavetotraveltoit,butyoucangrowwhateveryoulikewithinlegalparameters.If you prefer something closer to home, you can create a balcony or
window garden. The container garden is the green witch’s answer to thechallenge of limited space and high-rise or apartment living. One of thewonderful thingsaboutcontainergardeningonabalconyor inawindow isthatifthecontainersortheplantsthemselvesaresmallenoughtomoveeasilyifanythinggoeswrong,youcanalwayschangeyourarrangement.Keepnotesinyourjournalonwhatplantsrespondwelltothelightingandenvironmentofyourchosengardenspace.Alsokeepnoteson theevolutionofyourgardenover the seasons. Next year, you can create a more successful garden orexperimentwithsomethingcompletelynew.Yourhaveseveraloptionsincontainergardening.Youcansetupawindow
box indoors on awindowsill, hang awindowbox outside yourwindow, orgrowplantsinpotsonyourpatioorbalcony.Agoodruleofthumbistousesmall containers in a small space. You can group them to create a largerarrangement, but huge planters tend to overwhelm small spaces. Likewise,don’t fill those small containers with large-leaved plants, which will alsovisually overwhelm the space. What you will be able to grow in thoseplanters,however,dependson several factors.Hereare somequestionsyoumustanswerbeforeyoustartplanting:
Whatwillbe thepurposeofyourgarden?Doyou intend togrowherbs to cookwithorvegetablestoeat?Isyourgardentobeapeacefulretreat,yourpersonalconnectiontonature,yourpowerplace?Ifyouplanwellenough,youcancreateasacredspacewhereyoucancarryonyourgreenwitchdialoguewithnature.Watering,weeding,andcaringforawindowboxcanbeasrewardingassittinginthemiddleofanationalpark.
Whenwillyoubeusingyourspace?Willyoubegardeningorenjoyingyourspace in the
daytimeorintheevening?Becausesomeplantsbloomandreleasetheirscentafterdark,yourplantselectioncanreflectyourschedule.
Realistically,howmuchtimewillyoudevotetomaintainingyourgarden?What isyourbudget?Doyouwantyourgardentoreflectthestyleoftherestofyourhome?Doyouwanttodosomethingdramaticallydifferenttocontrastwithyourusualstyle?
Answeringthesequestionsandmakingalistofwhatyouwanttogetoutofgardeningwillhelpyoudeterminewhatkindofgardentodevelop.Onceyouhavedefinedthepurposeofyourgarden,youcanbegintofocus
on how youwill go about creating the garden.Make awish list of all theplantsyou’dliketoworkwith.Thepurposeofthegardenwillhelpyouruleoutcertaintypesofplantsandfocusonothers.Findouttheidealclimatezoneforeachoftheplantsyouwanttogrow.Someofyourwishlistwillinevitablybe crossedoff becauseyoudon’t live in the right kindof climate.Readupcarefullyon theplants that remainonyour list.Somewillbeeasy togrow,whereas otherswill be challenging and energy-consuming.Howmuch timeandenergyyouhavetodevotetoyourgardenwilleliminateotherplantsonyourwishlist.Next,considertheprojectedheightanddiameterofplantsyouwant.Youwillhavetodiscardsomebecausetheywillgrowtootallorbroadforyourbalconyorpatioorcontainers.Remember,yourcontainershavetobelarge enough to accommodate the rootsof theplantsyou intend togrow inthem.Lightandweatheraretwootherimportantaspectsofworkingwithasmall
containergarden.Howmuchsunlightdoesyourchosengardenspacereceiveper day?What direction does it face? If you face north, stick with shade-loving varieties; if you face east, your garden will receive early-morningsunlight;ifyoufacesouth,keepaclosewatchonyourgardentoensurethatthesundoesnotburnitordryouteveryplant;ifyoufacewest,yourgardenwill have the benefit of thewarm afternoon sun. If you live on the secondstory or above, the wind will be harsher, which can play havoc with yourplants. Anything extremely delicate will have to be sheltered. If you plantperennials,youwillhavetoprotect themduringwinterorduringthefallowpartoftheircycle.Artificiallightisanotherconsideration.Ifyouintendtospendmostofyour
time in your garden at night, youmaywish to add lamps or a specializedlightingsystemtohighlightyourplantsandallowyoutoseeclearly.Hanginglanternscancreateaverysereneandrelaxingatmosphere,butkeepsafetyinmind.Ifyouusecandlesoroillamps,keepthewickslowandtheflameswellprotected from the wind. Only use lanterns that have been designed foroutdooruse,andkeepthemawayfromanythingflammable.
PlantingandMaintenanceTheurbangreenwitchusuallydoesn’thavealotofspace.Whilesprouting
plantsfromseedtorepotoutdoorsinacontainergardenisawonderfulwaytoforgeaconnectionwithyourgardenfromtheveryfirststirringsoflife,itisoftenachallenge.Tryit.Ifnothingsprouts,don’tdespair.There’snoshamein buying hardened seedlings from a nursery or garden center and plantingthoseinyourcontainers.Besuretousegoodpottingsoil.Toeasedrainage,blendanothermedium
with it, such as peat moss, and line the base of your container with smallstones. Regular garden soil isn’t right for container gardens. Containergardens need soil rich in nutrients, because there’s so little soil in thecontainer. Ifgardensoil is theonly thingavailable toyou, thenblendequalpartsofsandandpeatmoss into it.Askyourgardencenterabout fertilizersfor container gardens tomaintain a high level of nutrients for your plants.Using fertilizer isn’t cheating; it’snourishingyourplants inanenvironmentthat cannotdo it on itsown. (See for informationoncompost andcomposttea.)Regulargeneralmaintenanceisthekeytokeepingyourgardeninbalance.
Lookatyourplantseveryday.Lookforyellowedleaves,limpfoliage,deadflowers.Nipoffdyingareasandwaterdryplants.Claypotsareporousandwilllosewaterfasterthanglazedorplasticcontainers.Rotatepotssothatallsidesoftheplantgetequallight.Beingsensitivetothestatusofyourgardenwillallowyoutopickuponsmallodditiesbeforetheygrowintoproblems.Your watering schedule will depend on your weather, the size of your
containers, andwhat kind of plants you’re growing.Containers tend to notholdalotofwater,becausethereisn’talotofearthinthem.Thewaterdriesuporisrapidlyabsorbedbytheplant.Agoodruleofthumbistowatereverycoupleofdaysunlessyou’reinadryspell,inwhichcasewatereveryday.Ifcarryingheavycansorpitchersofwaterisdifficultforyou,considergettingahoseattachmentforyourkitchentap.
CompostingCompostingisthepracticeofreturningorganicmattertotheearthwhereit
can decompose and add its nutrients to the soil. Although composting isusuallythoughtofassomethinglandownersdo,asittraditionallyconsistsofcreating a compost pile in the corner of a yard, urban dwellers can alsocomposteasilyinamodifiedfashion.Vermicomposting,orusingredwormsto break down organicmatter, is one option. Vermicomposting kits can be
ordered online or obtained from ecological shops or garden centers.A lessexpensive and easier alternative is a compost bin. You can place the binoutdoors,whichmostapartmentdwellersprefer,butifyouhavenobalcony,you can put it in a dark corner of the kitchen or laundry room. Compostrequires three things: warmth, dark, and food. The warmth is achieved byplacingyourbinclose to thewall ifon thebalconyorstoring itunderyoursinkifindoors.Darkisobtainedbyusinganopaquematerialforthebinandbyhavinga tight-fitting lid.Thefoodcomesfromfinelychoppedvegetableand fruit scraps. Never addmeat products or anythingwith grease to yourcompost bin. These will decompose, all right, but it will smell dreadful,unbalance the compost you’re building, and attract pests. You can add tealeaves(tearopenyourteabagsifyoudon’tuseloosetea)andcoffeegrounds,eggshells,fruitandvegetablescraps,anddeadleavesandflowerspinchedoffyourhouseplantsandcontainerplants.The ideal container for composting is a plastic garbage can or a large
Tupperware bin. Line the bottomwith dead leaves or shredded newspaper.Putalayerofearthontopofthat,thenaddyourfirstbatchofchoppedfoodscrapsandabitofwater.Stiritwithastickandreplacethelid.Thelidwillholdthehumidityinsideasthefoodbeginstodecompose,butit’sagoodideaeveryonceinawhileto“water”yourcomposttokeepitdamp(butnotwet).Addabitmoredrymaterial,suchasmoreshreddednewspaperorearth,eachweek toensureagoodbalanceofcarbonandnitrogen.Every timeyouaddmore scraps, give the compost a stir to combine the newmaterialwith theolder compost.Once in awhile, give thewhole thing a complete turn overwithasmallshovelor trowel toaerate thesoil. Inabout threemonths,yourcompostwillbereadyforuse.Addsometothetopofeachofyourcontainersandhouseplants.Besuretoleavesomeinyourcompostbintostartthenextbatch.Ifyou’reconcernedaboutsmells,don’tworry.Goodcomposthasasweet,
rich smell as itdecomposes.Tokeep stronger compostodorsatbay, turn itmorefrequently.Compostteaismadebyfilteringwaterthroughthecompost.Thisproduces
anutrient-richliquidthatyoucanusetowateryourhouseplantsandspraythefoliage of your container garden to help nourish and protect the plant bothabovegroundandbelow.Tomakeasimplecomposttea,looselyfillabucketa thirdtohalfwayfullofcompost.Give thecompostacoupleof turnswiththe trowel to aerate it properly andbreakupanyclumps.Pourwarmwater(nothotorboiling)overthecompostandallowittositfortwotothreedays.Carefully decant the resulting brown water into another bucket or pitcher.Allowthewetcomposttodryouttoitsusualdampstatebeforereturningitto
yourcompostbin.Youcanusethebrowncompostteatowateryourplantsortospraythefoliagetobattlepests,illness,andpollutiondamage.Neverdrinkcomposttea;it’snotforhumanconsumption.
AirPollutionThe green witch living in the city may be exposed to high air-pollution
levels.Pollutioncancreatebreathingproblems,ofcourse,butitalsoleavesafilmofgrimeeverywhere.Notonlydoyourwindowsbecomedirtyandyourwalls dull over time, but your garden suffers as well. Leaves can becomeyellow and limp, growth can be sketchy, and the plant becomes weak. Belovingwithyourplants.Gentlywipeoffthedustthataccumulatesasaresultofcitylife.Ifyouareluckyenoughtohaveasmallplotinacitygarden,hoseitdownregularly.Useasprayofcompostteatohelpnourishtheplantsandcounteractthedamageairpollutioncancause.
InsectsandOtherPestsIf you’re working with a container garden, you’ll never have to worry
aboutdeerorrabbitsnibblingyourseedlingsdowntoabarestempokingoutoftheground.Youwill,however,stillhavetoworryaboutinsects.If your container garden is the haven of the usual numbers of city bugs,
then burning citronella candles in the area can somewhat help thin out theinsect population. If your plants develop more plant-specific insectinfestations, thereareafewgreenwitch–friendlythingsyoucandotohelp.The first thing to remember is that you don’t have to resort to chemicalinsecticides.Usingtheseinacontainergardenisoverkill,and,besides,therearecheaperandkinderalternatives.Tryanatural insecticide.Makeanextractofgarlic,onion,orhotpepper.
Takethreetablespoons(approximatelyanounceandahalf)ofthevegetablematterandchopitfinelyorpureeitinablenderwithabitofwater.Addtwocupsofwatertothemixtureandallowittosteepovernightorforafullday.Strain it, dilute it so that the total amount of liquid equals one liter or onequart,andpouritintoaspraybottle.Testitonaleafoftheaffectedplant;iftheleafrespondspoorly,dilutethespraysomemoreandtestagain.Inextremecircumstances,youcanuseasolutionofonepartbleachto40
partswatertoeliminatestubbornpests.Spraythisoverthefoliageandstemof theplant,butdonot soak theearth.Rinsewellwith clearwater.This iseasier if you place a plastic bag or some such thing over the earth and the
container,ortiltthecontainersothattherunoffdoesn’tlandinthepot.Whenyouspray,nomatterwhatyouspraywith,remembertopracticesafe
sprayinghabits:
• Always wear gloves, long sleeves, and a mask when spraying withinsecticides,evennaturalones.Garlic,onion,andhotpeppercanallbeveryirritatingtothemucousmembranes.Ifyouinhalethespray,itcancausepainandirritationtothethroatandlungs.Don’tspraywhenthereisastrongbreeze.Waitforacalmday.
•Donotsprayduringtheheatoftheday.Doitfirstthinginthemorningorwaituntiltheevening.
•Alwaysperformatestonasmallareaofeachtypeofplantbeforeyouspraythemall.Thiswayyoucantestthestrengthofthesprayaswellastheplant’sreactiontoit.
•Neversprayallyourplantsindiscriminately.Thesespraysarenotall-purpose preventives. They are meant to target a specific problem.They can also kill off the beneficial insects and microbes that liveamongyourplants.
HouseplantsIf growing plants outdoors is impossible in your situation, or if you wantgreenindoorsaswellasout,fillyourhomewithhouseplants.Whenyoubringhomeanewhouseplant,makesuretodoagentleenergy
purificationtohelpacclimatizeittotheenergyofyourlivingspace.Thisalsoremovesanynegativitythatmaybeclingingtoit.Youcandothisforoutdoorplantsaswell, though itmaynotbenecessarybecauseplanting themin thegroundhelpsstabilizeandcleansetheenergyclingingtothem.Youcandoagentle purification simplyby runningyourhandover theplant andholdingyourpalmandfingersaboutaninchortwoawayfromthefoliage.Visualizescoopingupanyblackorsmokyenergyyouseearoundtheplant.Flickyourhandasifyouwereshakingwateroffittoremoveanddispersethenegativeenergy.Ifyouareconcernedaboutthenegativeenergyaffectingtheenergyofyourhome,purifynewplantsbeforeyoubringthemintoyourhouse.Ifyoudothepurificationinsideandfeeluncomfortable,burnapurifyingincenseintheroom.Remember,youcanneverremovethebasicenergyofanobject,sodon’tworryaboutremovingthepositiveenergyassociatedwiththeplant.Towelcometheplantintoyourhome,blessapitcherofwaterwithaprayer
likethefollowing,thenuseittowaterthehouseplant:
SpiritsofEarth,Water,Fire,andAir,Iaskyourblessingonthiswater.Endowitwithstrength,protection,andpeace,Andmaytheplantsthatdrinkofitbesimilarlyblessed.
Giveyournewhouseplantasmuchofthissacreddrinkasitrequires.Usetherestforyourcurrenthouseplants.Choosingwhatsortsofhouseplantstobringintoyourhomeisasimportant
aschoosingtheplantsyougrowoutdoors.Carefullyconsider theamountoftimeandenergyyoucansparetocaringforhouseplants.Thinkaboutthelightthatfillsyourlivingspace,thedirectionfromwhichitcomes,andhowbrightit is. Think about how dry or humid your living space is and the generaltemperatures.All these things have a great impact upon the plants you cansuccessfullygrowwhereyoulive.Think,too,abouthowbigyourroomsare.Houseplantsarelimitedbytheirpots,andtogrowlargertheymayneedlargercontainers.Carefully consider the energyof theplant.Howwill it fit in and interact
with the flow of energy already established in your home? Evaluate theenergybyholdingyourhandsover theplantandsensing itsenergy(see theenergy-sensingexercisesinChapter3).Onceyouhavefeltaplant’senergy,youwillbeabletojudgewhetheritwillfitintoyourhome’senergyornot.Finally,itisimportanttorememberthatlikeallplants,houseplantsabsorb
negativeenergy.However,becausetheyarepottedinasmallamountofearth,theycannottransformtheenergywiththesamesuccessthatoutdoorplantsinthe ground can. Be kind to your houseplants. Give them an appropriatefertilizer,repotthembeforeitbecomesnecessary,andpurifythemregularly.Ifyouneglectthem,theywilleventuallydiefromtheaccumulatednegativity.Ifallyourhouseplantslooksickly,thiscanbeamessagethatit’stimeforyoutodoacompleteandthoroughhousecleansingandpurification.
OceanofPDF.com
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Chapter8Teas,Oils,Baths,andOtherPotions:HealingwithGreen
herearedeepspiritualbenefitstowalkingthepathof the green witch. By immersing yourself in the
energy of the planet and its flora, a green witch canachieve higher levels of consciousness, which willbenefitallthoseyouinteractwithandtheenvironmentinwhichyoulive.
Greenwitchesarenaturalhealerswhoseektosoothetheworldaroundthem.Healingisanotherformofrebalancingenergiesthathavebecomedisturbed.Buthealingcannotberushed.Eachstepmustbeexperiencedinfullnessandintime.Thisgoesforhealingtheearthaswellasyourself,otherindividuals,and thecommunity.Youhave to learn from theprocess so thateachstep isthoroughlyfelt,understood,andcompleted.Therearetwostepstohealing:
•First:cleansingand/orpurifyingofthenegativepresence•Second:replacingthenegativepresencewithsomethingpositive
We usually focus on the first step and forget about the second. Natureabhorsavacuum,andwhatresultsfromthefirststepisanemptyspacewherethenegativeenergywasandwhichnewenergywillrushtofill.Theproblemisthatwedonotalwayscontrolwhatkindofenergyfillsthatspace.Togaincontrol and finish the healing process properly, you can perform a blessing(which asks another entity or spirit to bestow positive energy) or channelpositiveenergyyourself tostrengthen theobjectorpersonbeinghealed.Bewary,however,ofchannelingenergythathasalreadybeenprogrammeduntilyouknowexactlywhatyoursubjectneeds.Youmaythinkyoursubjectneedsstrength,buttheneedmaybeforsomethingdifferent.Fillingtheemptyspacewithplain,unprogrammed,positiveenergyissafer.Itallowsthebodytouseitforwhateveritrequires.
Tobetter understand the healing aspect of the greenwitch path, you canresearchhealingdeitiesofvariouscultures.
TeasAtea isapotion thatcanbeconsumed.Usuallymadewithwater, thebasictechniqueforpreparingateaisbyinfusionifyou’reusingleavesorflowersor decoction if you’re using denser herbal material, such as roots, stems,twigs, or bark. Refer back to Chapter 6 to refresh yourself on thesetechniques.There are many teas available on the market today designed for certain
therapeuticbenefitssuchasstressrelief,bettersleep,headacherelief,andsoforth.While you can certainly use these commercial teas,when you createyour own you know exactly what is going into them. You can also avoidherbstowhichyouaresensitiveanduseherbsyouprefer.Remember that taking anything internally without researching it can be
dangerous.Theserecipesarenotintendedtobeusedasauthoritativemedicaladvice;theyareofferedhereasfolkwisdom.Donotabusethem.All the following recipesmay bemadewith fresh or dry herbs. If using
freshherbs,increasetheamountofplantmattertoonetablespoonpercupofboilingwaterforasingleservingandmakeonlyenoughforasmanyservingsasyouintendtopreparerightaway.Freshblendscannotbestored.
MarshmallowTeaOnecup
Forthetreatmentofasorethroatordigestiveproblems.
Onetbsp(2/3oz)driedchoppedmarshmallowrootOnecupwater
1.Placemarshmallowrootinwater.
2.Bringtoasimmer,andsimmerfortenminutes.
3.Removefromheatandallowtosteepforafurthertenminutes.
4.Strainanddrink.
Takeasnecessarythroughouttheday.Magicalassociations:protection,healing.
SageGargleOne-halfcup
Forthetreatmentofcoldsandsorethroat.
Onetbspdrysage(or5to6freshsageleaves)1/2cupwater
1.Boilthewaterandpouroverthesageleaves.
2.Steepforsevenminutes.
3.Strainintoasterilizedbottleandstoreinthefridge.Touse,takeatablespoonandgargleforoneminute.Donotswallow.
Magicalassociations:wisdom,protection,purification.
TonicTea
Makesapproximately cup(2oz)oftheteablend.Onetablespoonoftheteablendmakes1½cupsoftea.Forcleansingthebloodandtoningthedigestivesystem.
OnetbsprosemaryOnetbspyarrowOnetbsphorehoundOnetspsageOnelargecatnipleaf
1.Mixthedryherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pour1½cupsofboilingwaterover1tablespoonoftheherbalmixtureandsteepforseventotenminutes.
3.Strainanddrink.
Asthisteaisbitter,youmaywanttoaddafullteaspoonofhoney.Magicalassociations:protection,healing.
DigestiveTeaOneteaspoonoftheteablendmakesonecupofteaForthetreatmentofheartburn,upset
stomach,andgas.
OnepartpeppermintOnepartbasilOnepartdillseed
1.Mixdryherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pouronecupofboilingwateroveroneteaspoonoftheherbalblend.
3.Steepseventotenminutes.Strainanddrink.
Magicalassociation:prosperity.
ColdTea
OneteaspoonoftheteablendmakesonecupofteaForthetreatmentofcolds.
OnepartgingerOnepartelderflowersOnepartyarrow
1.Mixdryherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pouronecupofboilingwateroveroneteaspoonoftheherbalblend.
3.Steepfivetosevenminutes.Strainanddrink.
Magicalassociations:energy,healing.
BedtimeTeaOneteaspoonoftheteablendmakesonecupofteaForaidingsleep.
OnepartlavenderOnepartcatnipOnepartverbenaOnepartchamomile
1.Blenddryherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pouronecupofboilingwateroveroneteaspoonoftheherbalblend.
3.Steepfivetosevenminutes.Strainanddrink.
Magicalassociations:peace,harmony,healing,love,happiness.
LoveTeaOneteaspoonoftheteablendmakesonecupofteaForrelaxationandcelebratinglove.
OnepartrosepetalsOnepartlavenderOnepartjasminePinchofcinnamon(optional)
1.Blendherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pouronecupboilingwateroveroneteaspoonofdryherbalblend.
3.Steepfivetosevenminutes.Strainanddrink.
Magicalassociations:love,happiness,peace,harmony.
MentalFocusTeaOne teaspoon of the tea blend makes one cup of tea For mental focus, concentration,
sharpeningmemory,andstudying.
Onepartrosemary
1/2partspearmint
1.Blendherbsinasmalljar.
2.Tobrew,pouronecupboilingwateroveroneteaspoonherbalblend.
3.Steepfivetosevenminutes.Strainanddrink.
Magicaluses:Health,protection,happiness,peace.
OilsAnoilisahandywaytocarrytheessenceofanherborothernaturalobject.The basic ways to prepare an oil are by enfleurage or by maceration (seeChapter6).Ifyouprepareyourownoils,theywillcarrytheaddedbenefitofalreadybeingattunedtoyouandyourpersonalenergy,althoughyoushouldstillempowerthembeforeuseasyoudowithanysupplies.Noteveryonecanprepareafullstockofasmanyoilsastheywouldliketohave.Twokindsofoils are generally available for purchase from shops: essential oils, whichcarrythepureessenceoftheplantinacarrieroil,andperfumeoils,whichareartificiallyscented.Mostgreenwitchesliketouseaspureaproductaspossibleintheirwork
andwill therefore choose an essential oil over a perfume oil, but there arebenefitstoboth.Anessentialoilisprepareddirectlyfromtheoriginalplant,which means that when you use it in magical or medicinal work it isguaranteed to carry theoriginal energyof theplant alongwith its chemicalbenefits.Aperfumeoilevokes theenergyof theoriginalplantbutdoesnotcarrythepreciseenergysignature.Aperfumeoilisbestusedonlyformagicalpurposesbecauseitcanaffecttheemotionalbodyandthuschangethemoodand energy of the individual. There is no benefit to using perfume oilsmedicinally,otherthanforaplaceboeffect.An essential oil is more expensive than perfume oil, but it will also be
stronger;onlyadropor twoisnecessary to involve theenergyof theplant.Thescentofalessexpensiveperfumeoilislessaccuratethaninanessentialoil.Forexample,mostroseoilstendtobeoverlysweet,buttheyareusedbymanypractitionersbecauseofthehighcostofrealroseessentialoil.Althoughirresponsiblemerchants sometimes attempt to sell perfume oils as essentialoils,thecomparativepricesareagoodguidetoidentifyingwhatisessentialandwhat is perfume.When essential oils such as jasmine and rose sell forover one hundred dollars for a fewmilliliters, you can spot a perfume oilsubstitutewhensomeonetriestosellittoyoufortwentydollars.Youcanmixessentialoilsandperfumeoils.
Oilsaregenerallyusedforanointing,buttheycanalsobeaddedtobaths,potpourris,andsachets.Whetheryoucreateapersonalblendoruseablendmadefromtherecipesbelow,youcanaddadropor twotoanyprojectyouundertakeforthatmagicalpurposetoaddextraenergyandpower.Blending oils is awonderful activity that allows for experimentation and
personalexpressionandalsoenhancesyourpersonalintuition.Therewillbetimeswhereyoufeelinspiredtoaddadroportwoofacertainoilthatwasn’tinyouroriginalrecipe.Doso,andmakeanoteoftheaddition.Whentheoilhasmatured,performanenergysensingofitandwriteyourobservationsinyourjournalunderthenewrecipe.Howhastheenergychanged?Usetheoiland note your results. This is how recipes evolve over time and come toreflect thepersonalgrowthandunderstandingof thegreenwitch.Theyalsoreflectyourintuitiveunderstandingofyourimmediateneed.Weblendoilsbycreatingarecipebyproportions.Forexample,youmay
developarecipethatcallsforonepartlemonoil,onepart jasmine,andtwoparts lavender. You can blend these oils according to your need in variousquantitiesrangingfromfourdropstofourspoonfuls(ormore).Irecommendworkingwithsmalleramounts,however,andblendingthemonlyasyouneedthem.Thatwayyou’llalwayshavelavenderoilonhand,forexample,ratherthanreachingforitandsuddenlyrememberingthatyouusedthewholebottleforanotherrecipe.Agreenwitch ispractical,and it’snotpractical to tieupyoursupplies.Havingarangeofsingle-scentoilsisuseful.
PersonalOilBlend
Creatinganoilspecificallytorepresentyourselfandyourenergygivesyouabottledessencethatcanbeusedforamultitudeofpurposes.
Oils(yourchoice)Smalldishes,bowls,oremptyvialsContainerwithtight-fittinglidforthefinaloilblend
1.Therecipeforthisblendisreallyuptoyou.Thinkaboutyourfavoriteherbs,flowers,andtrees.Thinkabouttheelementsyouresonatewith.Thinkaboutcolorandscent.Inyourgreenwitchnotebook,makeup a list of these elements.Youdon’t have to limit
themtooilsyoualreadyhaveonhand.Also thinkabout theemotionsorgoalsyouwish toinclude in your blend. Are you creative? Are you an excellent communicator? Are you anurturer?Next, look up correspondences for the plants on your list, then look up plants that
correspondtothetraitsandgoalsonyourlist.Writethisinformationinyourjournal.Nowstarttonarrowthelistdown.Useyourintuitionandconsidertheimportanceofwhat
correspondstowhat.
2. When you have a manageable list of between three and thirteen items, work out yourproportions. How much of each oil? To begin, you may wish to blend everything in a
proportionofoneparteach.Youcanalsouseoneoilasabaseandaddonlytraceamountsofothers.Howeveryoumixyourpersonaloil,thewayyouputittogetherisuptoyou.
3.When you’veworked out your proportions, take a look at your stock of oils. If you’remissingoils,decidewhetheryouwillmake themyourself (whichwill require time)orbuythem. You will also need to decide whether you will use essential oils or perfume oils.Remember,youcanmixtheseoilstogether.
4.Toblendyourpersonaloil,measureouttheappropriateproportionsofyourchosenoilsandplaceeachinanindividualsmalldishorcleanemptyvial.
5.Onebyone,pourtheoilsintoyourchosencontainer.Swirlthemtogether.
6. Empower the final oil blend by holding it in your hands and visualizing your personalenergy flowing fromyourhands into theoil.Continueuntil you feel theoilhasbeen fullyempoweredwithyourenergy.
7.Coverandlabelyourpersonaloilblend.Writedownthedate,thefinalingredients,andtheproportionsinyourgreenwitchjournal.
Followingareoil recipes thatyoucanuse.Theymayalso inspireyou tocreate new recipes. Do not take these oils internally! Blend the oils byfollowingsteps4through7above.Iftherecipecallsforanadditionofherbalmatter,additlast.
AwakeandAliveOilOnepartrosemaryOnepartmintOnepartorange1/2partlemon1/2partthyme
Magicalassociations:happiness,health,protection,energy.
PatienceOnepartroseOnepartlavenderOnepartpine
Magicalassociations:peace,harmony,love.
ClearDecisionsOnepartpineOnepartrosemaryOnepartsage
Magicalassociations:clearthinking,harmony,health,protection.
Prosperity
OnepartmintOnepartbasilOnepartcinnamonOnepartpine
Magicalassociations:movement,energy.
HealthOnepartthymeOneparteucalyptusOnepartpineOnepartginger
Magicalassociations:health,communication,strength.
PeaceOnepartvioletOnepartlavenderOnepartjasmineOnepartsandalwood
Magicalassociations:meditation,spirituality,harmony.
ProtectionOnepartsageOnepartsandalwoodOnepartangelicaOneclovePinchofsalt
Magicalassociations:protection,wisdom,purification.
LoveOnepartroseOnepartjasmine1/2partgeranium1/4partvanilla
Magicalassociations:love,harmony.
BathsAbathisamagicalthing.Wateritselfisahealingandsoothingelement,andwhenyouaddapotiontoityoucancreateawiderangeofeffects.To avoid having leaves and stems and other little bits of green matter
floatingaroundinyourtubandcloggingthedrain,youcanmakeaninfusion
oradecoctionandpouritintoyourbathwater.Youcanalsoputacoupleofspoonfulsofanherbalblend insideanoldsockorstocking, tieaknot in it,and toss it in under the runningwater as you fill the tub. The result in aninfusion brewed directly in your bath.Remove the sock or stocking beforeyou get in, or leave it to further strengthen the infusion while you bathe.Whenyouremoveit,hangitupandallowit todry, thenundotheknotandturn it inside out to brush away the dried herbalmatter.You can reuse thesock or stocking. Alternatively, you can make a reusable bath sachet bysewing two washcloths together on three sides, leaving the top open. Sewtwelveinchesofribbonorstringtoonesideseamaboutone-thirdofthewaydown.Placeyourspoonfulsofdriedorfreshherbsinside(nomorethanhalfacup), then gather the open end and tie the pouch closed by wrapping theribbon or string around it firmly and tying a bow. You can hang this bathsachetunderthefaucetasthewaterrunsortossitinandallowittosoak.Youcanalsouseoilsinyourbath.Ifyouareusingessentialoils,makesure
youuseonlythreedropstotal.Anymorecanirritateyourskinoroverwhelmyour system. Remember, essential oils are concentrated extracts that carrychemicals. It’seasy tooverdoseon them.Ifyouprefer tobathewith lotsofoil,blendthosethreedropsintoaquartercupofacarrieroil,suchasjojobaorsweetalmondoil,thenpouralltheoilintoyourbath.Irecommendthatyoudo this with both essential and perfume oils because your skin may besensitivetoboth.Addingafewdropstoacarrieroilmakesforasaferbathingexperience.Foradifferentsortofbath,blend thedropsofoil intoacupofmilkand
pourthatintotherunningwater.
BathSaltsBathsaltsarealovelywaytorelaxandabsorbmagicalenergyatthesame
time. Salt is a naturally purifying substance that also helps relax tensemuscles.Whenabathsaltrecipecallsforsalt,however,itdoesn’tmeantablesalt.Epsomsalts,seasalt,koshersalt,oracombinationshouldbeused.Youcanbuyseasaltatnaturalfoodstoresandmanygrocerystores.Youcanbuykosher salt at grocery stores or Jewish specialty shops. Epsom salts can befoundatyourpharmacy.Otheradditivestohomemadebathsaltsincludepowderedmilk,vegetable
food coloring, powdered herbs, and crystals or stones. If you add oil, youhaveasaltscrub.YoucanblendandstoreyourbathsaltsinMasonjars,butrememberthat
the salt can corrode themetal lids.Look for jarswith glass lids fittedwithplasticseals,jarswithsnap-downlids,orjarswithcorktops.Neverstorebathsalts inametal tinor itwill rust, andbeaware thataplasticcontainerwilltendtoabsorbthescentofthesalts,whichmakesitdifficulttoreuse.Ingeneral,useatablespoontoaquartercupofthesesaltsinyourbath.If
youpreferalotofsaltinyourbath,increasetheamountslowlytomakesureyoudon’tirritateyourskinorsystem.
BasicBathSaltRecipe
Usethisrecipeasabasisforyourownmagicalbathsalts.Youcanuseanycombinationofseasalt,Epsomsalt,andkoshersalt.
2cupsseasaltorothersalts2cupsbakingsodaGlassjarwithtight-fittinglid(tohold4cupsor32oz)
1.Combineingredientsinblenderorfoodprocessor.Blenduntilcombinedandreducedtoafinepowder.
2Storeinatightlyliddedjar.
3.Touse,pour½cupofthesaltsintothebathunderrunningwater.
Tothisbasicrecipeyoucanaddoneorallofthefollowing:3to5dropsofessentialoil,2tspoffinelygrounddriedherbs,or1to3dropsoffoodcoloring.
• If your skin tends to be dry, add one tsp liquid glycerin (available in drugstores) tomoisturizeyourskin.
•Addonepartfinelygroundoatmeal.•Add½partfinelygroundalmonds.
ProsperityBathSalts
Usethisrecipewhenyoufeelyouneedtoboostyourpersonalprosperityenergy.
1cupseasalt1cupEpsomsalt3dropsorangeoil2dropscinnamonoilORonetspgroundcinnamon
cupgroundmintleavesGlassjarwithlid,largeenoughtohold2½cups3dropsgreenvegetablefoodcoloring(optional)
1.Place thesalts inablenderor foodprocessorandblend tocombineandreduce toa finepowder.Pourthesaltsintothejarandcapit.Shaketocombinethesalts.
2.Openthejaragain.Addthedropsofoilandthepowderedherbs.Capthejarandshakewelltoblend.
3.Ifusingfoodcoloring,openthejarandaddthreedrops.Capandshakewelltoblend.Be
aware that a little food coloring goes a long way; don’t addmuch. If you want the colordarker,addjustonetotwomoredropsandblendagain.Thecolorisaddedsimplytoenhancetheprosperityenergyoftheotheringredients.Ifyouassociateanothercolorwithprosperity,thenbyallmeanssubstituteit.
4.Touse,pour½cupofthesaltsintoyourbathunderrunningwater.
MilkBathsThere’s something remarkably luxurious about adding milk to your
bathwater. Milk has a wonderfully softening action on the skin. Do not,however,usemilkbathsifyouaresensitivetodairyproducts.Thesimplestrecipeforamilkbathistotakeacupofwholemilk(don’tuse
skimorevenpartiallyskimmilk)andpour it intoyourbathwater.Forextrasoftening action, add a tablespoonof honey to the cupofmilk and swirl itabouttodisperseit.Ifyoulike,youcanwarmthemilkupfirsttohelpblendinthehoney:Heatthehoney-milkmixtureinthemicrowaveforoneminute.Youcanalsoaddafewdropsofoil tothewarmmilkbeforepouringit intoyour bath. Swirling to combine the oilwith themilk helps disperse the oilthroughoutthebathwater, insteadofjustlettingitfloatonthesurfaceofthewater.
Ifyouwanttomakemilkbathpowdersaheadoftimeandstorethem,usepowderedmilk.Whenyouaddascooptoyourbathwater,itdissolvesandfunctionsjustlikefreshmilk.
OatmealMilkBath
Thecombinationofoatmeal,aknownskinsoftener,andmilkinthisbathblendmakesforadeliciouslysoothingsoak.Tryitifyou’resunburnedortosoftenroughskin.Youcanalsoaddherbsoracoupleofdropsofoiltothefollowingrecipe.
1cupcornstarch2cupsmilkpowder1cupdryoatmealGlassjarwithlid(tofit4cupsor32oz)
1.Placealltheingredientsinafoodprocessororblender.Blendtocombineuntilreducedtoafinepowder.Pourintojar.
2.Touse,sprinkle½cupofthedrybathblendunderthetapwhilerunningyourbath.
HerbalMilkBath
This basic and simple milk bath is an excellent base for any herbal addition, making itadaptabletoanymagicalneed.Forextrasoftening,youcanusetheOatmealMilkBathasabase.
1cupcornstarch
2cupsmilkpowder2tbspdryherbsGlassjarwithlid(tofit3cupsor24oz)
1.Placeallingredientsinablenderorfoodprocessor.Blenduntilcombinedandreducedtoafinepowder.Pourintojar.
2.Touse,add½cupofpowdertobathunderrunningwater.
Suggestedherbalblendstoaddtomilkbaths:
•WinterEnergybath:nutmeg,cinnamon,pinchginger
•SummerGardenbath:lavender,roses,verbena,onepinchoforangezest
•AutumnBronzebath:poppy,nutmeg,sandalwood
•SpringDawnbath:Lavender,jasmine,appleblossom
ElixirsElixirscanbeusedtoanointobjects,andalsopeople,aslongastheyhavenotbeenmadewith toxiccomponents.Somemaybeconsumedaswell.Elixirscan also be used like objects: they can be brewed and bottled, then placedsomewheretoworktheireffectuponthesurroundings.
StoneElixirsSteep a stone in water for a measured amount of time in sunlight or
moonlight. You may leave the stone in the liquid and renew the fluid asnecessary.Makesurethestoneisscrubbedcleanandrinsedwellbeforeyouuseit.AlsomakesureyouhavecleansedthestoneofanyforeignenergybyanyofthemethodsdescribedinChapter5.
ColorElixirsPourwaterintoacleancoloredglassjarorbottle,thenleaveinsunlightor
moonlight for a specific amount of time. The light passing through thecoloredglasswillimbuetheliquidinsidewiththeenergyofthecolor.Peopleoftendrinkcolorelixirsiftheyfeeltheyarelackingtheenergyofthatcertaincolor.If you cannot find a jar or bottle in the color you need, take a piece of
coloredpaperandwrapitaroundtheoutsideofaclearglassbottleorjar.Pourthewaterintothebottleandleaveitforonecompletemooncycle.
A
Chapter9TheGreenWitchintheKitchen
s the green witch incorporates her practice intoeveryday life, thepreparationandconsumptionof
food is one of themost directmethods bywhich sheinteracts with nature. This chapter shows how thekitchen becomes the green witch’s modern hearth,wherehealingandhonoringtakeplace.
Asacentralelementofritualandcelebration,foodisquiterightlyoneofthemost fundamental parts of our lives. Food not only fuels us on a physicallevel,butitalsodrivesmuchofoureconomy.Astheyearshavepassed,wehavegrownawayfromagricultureasthecenterofourpersonallives.Onlyaminorityofpeople todayliveonfamilyfarms,but thosewhoareattuned tonaturestillunderstandthatfood,boththegrowingandtheconsumingofit,iscentraltoourlives.Wemustrememberthateatingisasacredact.Inconsumingafood,beit
animal-basedorplant-based,weforgeaconnectionwithnature,thesourceofnourishment. By taking this nourishment into our bodies, we also honornature’s presence within our lives, and acknowledge our place within thenatural order. In today’s rushed society,weminimize food’s importance byeating as quickly as possible in order tomove on to the next event on ourschedules.Eatingsimplytokeepusalivedeniesthespiritualaspectoftheact.By eating with awareness, we create the opportunity for that spiritualconnectiontore-emergeinourlives.Harvesting andpreparing food are also sacred acts thatwe tend to brush
asideorcompress into thesmallestamountof timepossible inorder tofreeourselvesupforother things.Whenweunderstand that theactofpreparingfood is the conscious weaving together of various energies to achieve aspecificgoal,andthateatingwithintentionleadstoourassimilationofthoseenergies,weunderstand thatpreparingandeating foodwithawarenessgivethese actions another dimension of meaning. This chapter explores the
energies associated with different foods and offers some ideas on how tocombine them indelicious recipes.Greenwitches shouldneverbeafraid toexperiment:that’showgreatrecipesareborn.
FruitBecausefruitisaplant’smethodofreproducingitself,fruitcarriesanenergybased in fertility and abundance. All fruit carries seeds, which are thebeginningof life.Whetherweconsumetheseedsornot, theirfertileenergypermeatesthewholefruit.Fruitisalsoanexcellentwaytoconsumeseasonalenergy,fordifferentfruitsappearatdifferentpointsoftheseasonalcycle.
MagicalAssociationsofFruitUsethislistofcorrespondencestohelpyouselectyourowncombinations
offruitforsalads,pies,andsmoothies:
•Apple:love,health,longevity•Pear:love,health,prosperity•Orange:joy,health,purification•Lemon:purification,protection,health•Lime:happiness,purification,healing•Grape:prosperity,fertility•Kiwi:fertility,love•Banana:fertility,strength•Mango:spirituality,happiness•Peach:spirituality,fertility,love,harmony•Pineapple:prosperity,luck,protection•Plum:love,tranquility•Melons:love,peace•Strawberries:love,peace,happiness,luck•Raspberries:strength,courage,healing•Blueberries:tranquility,peace,protection,prosperity•Blackberries:prosperity,protection,abundance•Cranberries:protection,healing
FruitRecipesFruit is so delicious on its own that it rarely needs any complicated
preparation.Thefollowingrecipestakeadvantageofthissimplicity.
FruitBowl
Thissimplerecipegathersseasonalfruitintoabowlfordisplayandconsumption,makingitpartcraft,partspell,partrecipe.
Includenutsforvisualinterestandtoaddatouchoffertilityandabundancetoyourdisplay.
Selectionofseasonalfruit:•Spring:strawberries,cantaloupe,cherries•Summer:oranges,grapefruit,lemons,limes,peaches,nectarines,plums,berries•Autumn:apples,plums,peaches,grapes•Winter:nuts,apples,oranges
Largeglassbowl
1.Washfruitandpatdrywithcleanclothorpapertowel.
2.Arrangefruitintheglassbowlinapleasingdisplay.Useasanofferingduringaseasonalritual,asacenterpiece,orasbreakfastordessert.
ProsperityFruitSalad
This seasonal breakfast or dessert gathers together fruit associated with prosperity andabundance.Chooseasmuchoraslittleofeachfruitasyoulike.
FreshpineapplechunksBlueberriesCherries,pittedandslicedinhalfGrapes,slicedinhalf,seedsremovedApples,dicedPears,diced1/4cupsugarOnetsplemonjuice
1.Wash,dry,andcutfruitintoappropriatesizedpieces.
2.Combinefruitinabowl.Sprinklelemonjuiceoverthefruit.Sprinklesugaroverthefruitandleavetorestforonehour.
FruitDrinksThere is something remarkably satisfying aboutmaking a fruit beverage.
Onceallthepreparationiscomplete,youcanenjoythedrinkwithoutgettingyourfingerssticky.Therearetwobasickindsofsmoothie, thosemadewithfruit and juice, and those made with fruit and milk, cream, yogurt, or ice
cream. These easy-to-make beverages combine various fruits to create adeliciouspotionforprosperity,health,orlove.
Likefruit,dairyproductsaremagicallyassociatedwithabundance,love,andcomfort,soifdairyenergysupportsyourmagicalgoal,thenincludemilkorcreamorotherdairyproductsinyoursmoothierecipe.
Basic fruit juices to include in your non-dairy smoothies include apple,pear,andwhitegrape.Youcanalsousecranberryandorange,butthesehavea stronger taste andmay not complement your chosen fruit blend. As youexperimentwithsmoothies,youmaywishtoaddateaspoonoflemonorlimejuicetoyourcreationtoenhancetheflavor.
Non-DairyFruitSmoothie
Thisrecipemakesoneservingbutcanbeincreasedtoservemore.
Yourchoiceoffruit(seepreviouslistoffruitforcorrespondences)BlenderTallglassSpoonKnifeCuttingboardFruittogarnish1/4cupfruitjuice(apple,pear,orwhitegrape)
Optional: to1tspsugar,ortotaste
1.Peel,seed,anddicethefruit.
2.Placethedicedfruitintheblenderwiththejuiceandsugar.
3.Coverandblendtillsmooth.
4.Pour intoglass.Garnishwith fruiton rimorset theglassonasauceror smallplateandarrangeabitoffruitaroundthebaseasagarnish.
DairyFruitSmoothie
Thisversionofthefruitsmoothieincorporatesyogurtasoneoftheingredients.Forathinnerdrink,usemilk; fora thicker, sweeter,moredessert-like treat,use icecream.Fornon-dairymilks,tryalmondmilkorsoymilk,whichbothhaveasweetflavor.(Omitsugarifusingnon-dairymilks.) If you choose to usewatermelon as one of the fruits, omit the juice in yoursmoothierecipeoritwillbecometoothin.
3/4to1cupfruit1/4cupplainyogurtBlenderCuttingboardKnifeSpoon
GlassOptional:1tspto1tbspsugarOptional:fruittogarnish
1.Peel,seed,anddicefruit.
2.Placefruitinblenderwithyogurtandsugar.
3.Blenduntilsmooth.
4. Pour into glass. Garnish glass with fruit, or place on saucer or small plate and garnisharoundthebaseoftheglass.
5.Ifthedrinkistoothick,stirinabitofmilk.Ifitisn’tthickenough,returnittotheblenderandaddmorefruit.
FlowersAlthoughweusuallythinkofherbswhenwethinkofflavorings,flowerscanalso be used in cooking and baking to provide awonderfully subtle flavor.You can addwhole flowers or petals to your food, but often youwant theflavorwithouttheactualplantmatter.Syrups,waters,andpreservedpetalsareallhandyways tousefloral flavorings.Formagicalassociationsofflowers,seeChapter5.Asurprisingnumberofflowersareedible.Exploretheflowersavailablein
your area to discoverwhichmaybe safely eaten by checking the botanicalnameofyourlocalvarietiesagainstareliablebook.Ingeneral,thefollowingaresafetoeat,aslongastheyhavenotbeentreatedwithpesticidesorgrowninquestionablesoil:
•Angelica•Appleblossoms•Basil•Beebalm•Borage•Calendula•Chamomile•Chicory•Dandelion•Elderflower•Lavender•Lilac
•Linden•Lovage•Mint•Nasturtium•Pansy•Redclover•Violet
CandiedFlowersThis is a lovely way to preserve blossoms for future use. Use them to
decoratecakesanddessertsorasanofferinginaritual.Eggsareassociatedwithprosperity,healing,protection,andhealth.Sugar
isassociatedwith loveandhappiness.Theedible flower thatyouchoose tocandy will carry its own specific energy. I suggest such blossoms as rosepetals (love, happiness), sweet violets (peace, harmony), nasturtiums(protection,healing),pansies(love,happiness),andsprigsoflavender(peace,happiness, harmony). Some herbs such as rosemary also make interestingcandied sprigs for a slightly savory addition to dessertswith citrus flavors.Experiment!
BasicCandiedFlowers1/4cupeggwhites(3largeeggwhites),beaten1/2cupsuperfinesugar(orfruitsugar)2cupsassortededibleflowers(organic)SmallpaintbrushTweezersSpoonBowlsWaxedpaperAirtightcontainer
1.Gentlywashanddrytheflowers.Youmayseparatetheindividualpetalsfromthestemsorcutthewholefloweroffthestem.Discardthestemandleaves.
2.Placethesugarinonebowl,thebeateneggwhitesinanotherbowl.
3.Pickup the flowerorpetalwith the tweezers.Using thebrush,paint a thin layerof eggwhiteonallsurfacesoftheflowerorpetal.
4.Gentlyplacetheblossominthebowlofsugar.Usingthespoon,sprinklemoresugarovertheflowertocoatitcompletely.
5.Using the tweezers, remove the flower from the bowl and place it gently on thewaxed
paper.
6.Continuewiththerestoftheflowers.
7.Sprinkletheblossomsonthewaxedpaperwithmoresugar,ifnecessary.Allowtodryuntilhardened, at least eight hours. If your environment is humid, place the flowers on a foil-coveredbakingsheetinsteadofwaxedpaper,andplaceinabarelywarmoven(150°F)withthe door cracked open for approximately two hours. The flowers must be completely drybeforeyoupackthemcarefullybetweenlayersofwaxedpaperintheairtightcontainer.
FloralWatersAlthough floralwaters can be used in bakingwhere any recipe calls for
water,they’realsoknownaslovelyfacialsplashes.Rosewaterisperhapsthebest known, although you canmake several variationswith edible flowers.Thinkofthemagicalassociationsforwhateverpurposeyouintendtousethewater, and choose the flowers accordingly. Try chilling a floral water in aspraybottle, then spritzing itonyour faceandbodyasawonderfulway tocooloffinthesummer.Youcanalsoblendfloralwaters.Prepareeachwaterseparately, one flower per water, then combine the floral waters into newblends. For example, try blending lavender and violet waters for a light,refreshingwaytocooloffbeforebedinthesummertime,orblendorangeanda touchofmintforawinterspray.Remember touseonlyflowers thathavenotbeensprayedwithchemicals.Ifyouwishtostorethefloralwaterforlongerthanoneweekforfutureuse,
freezethewaterinacleanicecubetray.PopthefrozencubesoutofthetrayandstoretheminclearlylabeledZiplockbags.Youcanincreaseordecreasethefollowingrecipeaslongasyouretainthe
proportions. If you make a floral water and you aren’t pleased with theresults,increaseordecreasethenumberofpetalsthenexttimeyoumakeit.Remember, floral waters aren’t meant to be strong infusions or teas; thereshouldbejustthebaresthintoffloralscentandflavor.
RoseGeraniumWater
Thisrecipeusesthefragrantleavesofthescentedrosegeranium.Youcanusethiswatertoreplacewatercalledfor inanyrecipe.Rosegeraniumismagicallyassociatedwithloveandpeace.
2cupsboilingwater3largerosegeraniumleaves,washedGlassjarwithlid(1pintorhalf-quartsize)
1.Placerosegeraniumleavesinthejarandpourtheboilingwateroverthem.Allowtosteepuntilcool.
2.Removeleaves.Storefloralwaterintherefrigeratoruptooneweek.
FlowerSyrupsFloralsyrupsmakea lovelysubstituteforhoneytosweetentea.Theyare
alsoadelicatetreatpouredovervanillaicecreamandangelfoodcakeforasimpledessert.
VioletSyrup
Make this syrupwith fresh-picked sweet violets.Remember touseunsprayed flowersonlyandbesuretowashanddrythemwell.Violetsencourageharmonyandpeace,whilethesugarsweetensanysituation.Thisrecipemakesapproximatelyonequartofsyrup.
2cupsvioletflowers1cupwater3cupsgranulatedsugar
1 tbsplimejuice1cupwater2deepglassorchinabowlsSaucerorplateStrainerCheeseclothHeavypot(trytouseglassifyoucan;somepeoplethinkthemetalcanaffectthetasteoftheherb)CleanglassbottlewithcapSparklingwaterorclubsodaHighballglasses
1.Boilonecupofwater.
2.Placevioletpetals inadeepglassbowlandcover themwith theboilingwater.Allowtosteepfortwenty-fourhours.
3.Line thestrainerwithcheeseclothandpour theviolet infusion through it into thesecondbowl.Wringoutthevioletflowerstoobtainthelastoftheinfusion.Discardflowers.
4. In the pot, bring sugar, lime juice, and one cup water to a boil. Boil carefully until itthickensslightly.
5.Addvioletwater.Bringmixturetoaboilandboiluntilthickoncemore,fivetotenminutes.
6. Remove from heat and pour into a clean bottle or jar; cap, label and date. Store in therefrigerator.
7.Toserve,spoonapproximatelyaquartercupofsyrupintothebottomofahighballglass,andpour sparklingwaterover it.Stir todisperse the syrup.Add ice.Adjust the amountofsyruptowateraccordingtoyourtaste.
Youcanalsoaddthesyruptoasweetbasesuchasgingeraleorlemon-limesoda,inwhichcase adjust the amount of syrup you use down to a tablespoon (or to taste). Try adding a
drizzleofsyruptosweetenyourcoffeeortea,ortowarmmilkforapleasantbedtimetreat.
Magicalassociations:peace,harmony,happiness.
FlowerSugarsDelicatelyflavoredfloralsugarsmakeadelicioustreattostirintotea.
LavenderSugar
This sugar is different froman infused sugar in that it actually combines the herbalmatterwiththesugaritself.Thatis,theflowersarenotsiftedout.
OnepartgranulatedsugarOnepartlavenderflowers(stripoffthestems)BlenderJarwithsecurelid
1.Placelavenderflowersandsugarintheblender.
2.Processfor3minutes,oruntiltheflowersandsugarareintinypiecesandwellblended.
Magicalassociations:peace,harmony,love,happiness.
VinegarsWeareall familiarwith infusedherbalvinegars,whichareeasy toprepare.Simplychopor lightlybruiseahandfulofwhatever freshherbyouwish toinfuseandplacetheherbinaglassjarwithatight-fittinglid.Covertheherbalmatterwithwine,cider,orricevinegar,seal,andletitrestforatleasttwotothreeweeks in the refrigerator, shaking it periodically.Strainout theherbalmatter(oritwillbecomebitter).Taste.Iftheflavorisnotstrongenough,addanewbatchofchoppedorbruisedfreshherbtotheinfusion,cap,andlet itrest for another week. Check weekly. When the desired flavor has beenobtained, strainout theherbalmatter. (If the flavor isnot strongenoughbythreeweeksofinfusingthesecondbatchofherbs,strainthemoutandreplacewithanewbatch.)Fruitvinegarsarelesswellknownbutaremadebythesamemethod.Dice
or lightly crush approximately one cup of fruit and place it in a glasscontainerwith a tight-fitting lid. (Donot add toomuch fruit, or the naturalsugarswillcounterthevinegar’snaturalacidicqualities.)Coveritwithciderorwine vinegar. Seal the container and allow it to steep in the refrigeratoruntilthetasteistoyourliking.Shakeitperiodically.Strainthefruitoutwhenthe strength of the infusion is to your taste. Store in the refrigerator. Fruit
vinegars make lovely dressings for salads and refreshing additions tomarinades.
FlavoredSugarsLayercleandryherbsorspiceswithgranulatedsugarandcaptightly.Allowtomatureforatleastthreeweeks.Iftheflavoringsyouhavechosenarestrong(forexample,cinnamonorclove),checkontheflavorofthesugaraftertwoweeks. If theyareverydelicate,youmaywish to leave theherbs longer tostrengthentheflavor.Donotusepowderedherbsorspicesforthisproject.Usewholeorcracked
seedsorfruit.Forexample,insertwholecloves,orbreakupacinnamonstickandpushthesmallerpiecesofthestickintothesugar.For floral sugars, separate the petals andmake sure that no greenmatter
remainsattached to them.Youmaywish to snipaway thewhiteendof thepetal(thepistil)whereitjoinsthestem.Makecertainthatthefloweryouhavechosen isanedibleone.Althoughyouwill siftout thepetalswhenyouaredone, the oils and flavor of the petalwill remain, and as interesting as theflowersmells,youcannotjudgethesafetyofitstastebysuchmeans.Flavoredsugarscanbeusedintheplaceofanyregularsugarwhenbaking
ortosweetentea.Tryitovergranolaormuesliatbreakfastorsprinkleitoverbutteredtoastforasweettreat.Addateaspoonfulofinfusedsugartowhippedcreamasyoubeatitforagentlefloralflavortoenhancefreshberriesorcake.
InfusedSugar
This recipemakes one cupof infused herbal or floral sugar.Donot substitute dried spicessuchascinnamonorclovefortheherbsinthisrecipe;theresultingflavorofthesugarwillbetoointense.SeethefollowingrecipeforSpicedSugarinstead.
Clean,dryglassjarwithtight-fittinglidOnecupgranulatedsugarOnecupclean,dry,freshflowersorherbs
1.Pour cupofsugarintothebottomoftheglassjar.
2.Spread cupofherbsorflowerpetalsontopofthesugar.
3.Pouranother cupofsugarovertheherbs.
4.Repeatwithherballayer,followedbysugarlayer,anotherherballayer,andasugarlayer.Leaveaboutahalf-inchofroomatthetopofthejar.
5.Cap the jar securely and shake themixture to disperse the herbalmatter throughout thesugar.
6.Placethesugarjarinacool,darkplaceandallowittositforthreeweekstoamonthbeforeusing.
7.Ifyouintendtobakeorcookwithinfusedsugar,siftouttheherbalmatter.Ifyouleavetheherbsorflowersinthesugar,rememberthatthelongeritsits,themoreflavorfulitbecomes.Asyouusethesugar,fillthejarwithmoreunflavoredsugar.Capandshakeitanditwilltakeonthefragranceoftheflowersinthejar.
8.Ifyouliveinahumidenvironment,keepacloseeyeontheherbsorflowers,astheymaybegintomoldorrot.Ifthishappens,thenthesugarmustbethrownout.Toavoidthis,makecertainthatall theherbsandflowersarecompletelydrywhenyoubegin,andsift thesugaroncetheflavorreachestheintensityyouprefer.
Here are some recommended flowers to use alone or in combination to create deliciousinfusedsugars:
•Lavender•Vanilla•Rose•Violet•Mint•Orangeblossom•Scentedgeranium
SpicedSugar
Thisrecipecreatesalovelyspicedsugarsuitableforbaking,flavoringcoffeeorstrongblacktea,andaddingtocrumbletoppingsofcoffeecakesorfruitcrisps.Ifyoumakeasugarwithonlyone spice (suchas cinnamonsugar),youcan simply snapa cinnamonstick in severalplacesandinsertitintoasmalljarofsugar.Leavethisjarinacool,dryplacetomatureforatleasttwoweeks.Asyouusethesugar,replaceitwithfreshgranulatedsugarandshakeit.
OnecupgranulatedsugarOnetbspgroundcinnamonOnetspgroundclovesOnetspnutmeg2tspgroundgingerOnecleandryglassjarwithtightlid
1.Inasmallbowl,blendthespicestogether.
2.Pour cupofsugarinthebottomofthejar.
3.Sprinkle ofthespiceblendontop.
4.Coverthespiceblendwithanother cupofsugar.Repeatlayering,toppingwiththefinal of sugar. Leave approximately ½ inch of room at the top of the jar before capping
securely.
5.Shakethemixturetoblendit.
6.Placethejarofsugarinacool,darkplaceandallowittositfortwoweeksbeforeusing.
7.Ifyoudonothavegroundcinnamonorcloves,crackacinnamonstickinseveralplacesandaddthatinwithacloveortwoperlayerofspice.Remembertosiftthesugarbeforeusingit.Addascoredvanillabeantothespicedsugarforanevenmoredelicioustreat!
VegetablesLikefruit,avegetableisaplant’svisibleseedcontainer,andvegetablesthuscarry the magical associations of cycles and fertility. When you cook,therefore,youcanchooseyourvegetablesfortheirseasonalassociationsandeatthemtoattunetotheseasonalenergy.Youcanalsochoosethemfortheirmagicalassociations.Here’sabrieflistofcommonvegetablesandtheirmagicalassociations:
•Garlic:healing,protection,banishing,purification•Onion:protection,exorcism,healing,prosperity•Lettuce:fertility,peace,harmony,protection•Carrots:fertility,health•Peas:love,abundance•Cucumber:fertility,healing,harmony•Potatoes:fertility,protection,abundance•Celery:love,tranquility,concentration•Squash:abundance,harmony•Mushroom:strength,courage,healing,protection•Leek:protection,harmony•Cauliflower:protection,fertility•Broccoli:protection,abundance•Beans:love,family,protection•Cabbage:protection,prosperity•Tomato:protection,love
SoupsSoup is awonderfulway to use vegetables.Amain dish of soupwith a
hearty bread can be a fillingway to enjoy these healthy foods. Here are ahandfulofvegetable-basedsouprecipesforvariousseasons.
GazpachoServes4to6
Thischilledvegetablesoupisarefreshingsummersolsticetreatorapleasantaccompanimenttogrilledmeats.Thefollowingrecipeforgazpachois,infact,thegreenwitch’sdream,foritcoversalmostallsevenbasicareasofherfocus.Greenpeppersareassociatedwithprosperity;cucumber is associatedwithpeace,harmony, andhealth; tomatoesare associatedwith loveandhealth;celery isassociatedwithpeace;onionsandgarlicareassociatedwithprotectionandhealth;andavocadosareassociatedwithlove.
2largegreenbellpeppers,cored,seeded,anddiced1largecucumber,peeledandchopped2lbstomatoes,coredanddiced1celerystalk,chopped1onion,chopped2garliccloves,peeled1avocado,chopped(optional)1tspsalt1/4tspfreshlygroundpepperPinchofbasilPinchofparsley1/3cupoliveoil1tbsplemonjuice1/4cupredwinevinegar2cans(12or15oz)tomatojuiceorV-8
1.Inablender,combinefirstseveningredientsinsmallbatchesandblenduntilsmooth.
2.Pourintoalargebowl.Addtheremainingingredientsandstirwelltocombine.
3.Coverandchillforatleastfivehoursorovernight.Stirwellandtasteforseasoningbeforeserving.Adjustasnecessary.
4.Serveinbowlsorlargemugs.Garnishsoupasdesiredwithcroutons,sourcreamoryogurt,orparsley.
Magicalassociations:prosperity,health,love,protection,peace,harmony.
Apple,Almond,andCurrySoup
Serves4to6
Another refreshing twist on the standard soup, this is a lovely meal to serve around theautumnequinox.Applesareassociatedwithhealth,healing,love,protection,andimmortality.Almondscarrytheenergyofprosperityandhealing.Curryisassociatedwithprotection.
1½lbsapples1/4cupbutter1onion,finelychopped6tbspgroundalmonds4cupschickenorvegetablestock1/2tspcurrypowderSaltFreshlygroundpepper1/2cuplightcream,plainyogurt,oralmondmilkToastedslicedalmondsforgarnish
Blenderorfoodprocessor2largesaucepansStrainer
1.Core,peel,anddiceapples.
2.Meltbutterinsaucepan.Addonionandcookgentlyuntilsoftened(about5minutes).Addtheapplesandstirgentlyfortwotothreeminutes.
3.Sprinklegroundalmondsovertheappleandonionmixtureandstirforanotheronetotwominutes.
4.Pourinthestockandbringtoaboil.Addsaltandpeppertotaste.
5.Reduceheattolow.Coverandsimmerfortwentyminutes.Applesshouldbetender.
6. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly. Pour the soup into the blender or foodprocessorandblenduntilsmooth.
7.Poursoupthroughastrainerintoacleanpan.Addcream,yogurt,oralmondmilkandstiruntilblended.Tasteforseasoningandadjustifnecessary.Ifsoupistoothick,addabitmorestock.Reheatgently.
8.Servehot,garnishedwithafewslicesoftoastedslicedalmonds,withanadditionalpinchofcurrypowderontopifyoudesire.
Magicalassociations:healthandhealing,prosperity,protection.
TomatoSoup
Serves4to6
Tomatoeshave traditionallybeenassociatedwith loveandprosperity.They’realsoburstingwith vitamins, which makes them an ideal fruit to use for health and healing. Basil isassociatedwithlove,protection,andprosperity,whilecheeseisassociatedwithlove,joy,andspirituality.
4cupschoppedfreshtomatoes1onion,diced2garliccloves,finelychopped2cupschickenorvegetablestock2tbspoliveoil1–2tbspfreshpesto(optional)SaltFreshlygroundpepperShreddedfreshbasil2tbspgratedasiagoormozzarellacheeseFoodprocessororblenderStrainer2largesaucepans
1.Heattheoilinalargepan.Addtheonion,garlic,andpesto(ifusing).Cookgentlyforfiveminutesovermediumheatuntilonionissoft.
2.Addthetomatoesandthestock.Stirwellandbringtoaboil.Addsaltandpeppertotaste.
3.Reduceheat to low.Coverandsimmergently, stirringoccasionally, for fifteen to twentyminutes.
4.Removefromheatandallowsouptocoolslightly.Pourintofoodprocessororblenderandblendinbatchesuntilsmooth.Strainintoacleanpottoremoveanyremaininglumps.
5.Return soup to stove and reheatgently.Taste for seasoningandadjust if necessary.Addmorestockifsoupistoothick.
6. Serve hot in bowls. Sprinkle with shredded fresh basil and a pinch of grated asiago ormozzarellacheeseandapinchoffreshlygroundpepper.
Magicalassociations:prosperity,healthandhealing,love.
Carrot,Coriander,andOrangeSoupServes4to6
Thisisawonderfullatesummerorearlyautumnsoup.Carrotsareassociatedwithhealthandvitalenergy,whileorangesareassociatedwithhappinessandhealth.Bothareabrightorangecolor,whichisassociatedwithhealth,success,andsolarenergy.Thecorianderinthisrecipecarriestheenergyofloveandactive,vitalenergy.
1½lbscarrots,thinlysliced1onion,roughlychopped3tbspoliveoil2–3tbspgroundcorianderSaltFreshlygroundpepper4cupschickenorvegetablestock1/4cupfreshlysqueezedorangejuice2largepotsFoodprocessororblenderStrainerThinstripsorangezest(optionalforgarnish)Crushedcorianderseeds(optionalforgarnish)
1.Heattheoilinalargepot.Addtheonionandcookgentlyforfiveminutesoruntilsoft.
2.Addcarrots,coriander,salt,andpeppertotaste.Coverandheatgentlyforfiveminutestosoftencarrots,shakingthepanfromtimetotimetopreventthemfromsticking.
3.Pourinstockandstir.Bringtoaboil.Lowertheheat,andcoverthepot.Simmergentlyforthirtyminutesoruntilcarrotsareverytender.
4.Removefromheatandallowtocoolslightly.Pourintoblenderorfoodprocessorandblendinsmallbatchesuntilsmooth.Strainsoupintocleanpottoremoveanyremaininglumps.
5.Addtheorangejuicetothesoupandreheatgently.Addmorestockifthesoupistoothick.Tasteforseasoningandadjustifnecessary.
6. Serve hot in bowls. If desired, garnishwith strips of orange zest and crushed corianderseeds.
Magicalassociations:health,happiness.
OnionSoupServes4to6
Onionsoupisadeliciouswaytowarmupinthewinter.Onionscarrytheenergyofprotectionfromevil andharmaswell as goodhealth.They are also an excellent food to consume toboosttheimmunesystemtofightillness.Parsleyisassociatedwithprotection,prosperity,andfertility.
6tbspbutter4–6largewhiteonions,chopped3tbspbrownsugar2tbspflour4cupschickenorvegetablestockSaltFreshlygroundpepper1/4cupsherryorport(optional)Baguette(Frenchbread),orcroutons1cupgratedmozzarellacheese2tbspfreshchoppedparsleyLargesaucepan
1.Melt thebutter in thesaucepan.Addonionsandsugarandcookovermedium-highheat,stirringconstantly,forfifteenminutesoruntilstickyandcaramel-brown.Removefromheat.
2.Stirinflour.Slowlyaddstock,stirringconstantly.Returntoheatandbringtoaboil,stirringregularly.Addparsley.Addsaltandpeppertotaste.
3.Coverandsimmergentlyfortwentyminutes,stirringoccasionally.
4.Addthesherryorport(ifusing).Tasteandadjustseasoningifrequired.
5.Servehotinbowls.Garnishwithsliceoftoastedbaguetteorcroutons,sprinkledwithgratedcheeseandchoppedparsley.
If desired, place bowls on a baking sheet and place under the broiler for aminute tomeltcheesecompletely.
Magicalassociations:health,protection.
GrainsIn general, grains—wheat, barley, rice, and corn—represent security,abundance, fertility, cycles, and prosperity. Here are two recipes for sidedishes based on grains. They both incorporate herbs and cheese, which ismagicallyassociatedwithloveandhealth.Youmayadjusttheherbstothoseofyourpreference.
CheeseandHerbRice
Serves4asasidedishRiceismagicallyassociatedwithfertilityandabundance,whichisoneofthereasonsithastraditionallybeenthrownatweddedcouples.Thisrecipemakesagoodsidedishtoservewithasturdymeatorheavyvegetabledish.
1cupuncookedwhiterice1 cupschickenorvegetablestock1/2cupshreddedcheddarcheese1smallonion,grated2eggs,beatencupbutter
½cupmixedfreshchoppedherbs(suchasrosemary,parsley,thyme,oregano,chives)1½cupsmilk
1.Preheatovento250°F.
2.Inasaucepan,bringtwocupsofwatertoaboil.Addriceandstir.Reduceheat,coverandsimmerfortwentyminutes.Removefromheat.
3.Choptheonionfinely.Beattheeggs.
4.Add cheese, onion, eggs, and butter to the cooked rice in the saucepan andmixwell toblend.Gentlystirinherbsandmilk.
5.Spoonintoatwo-quartcasseroledish.Bakefor1½hours.
Magicalassociations:abundance,prosperity.
HerbedPolentaSlices
Serves8asasidedish,4asamaindishPolenta is cornmeal cooked into a creamy solid about the texture of softmashed potatoes.Thoughit’susuallyservedasasidedish,likepotatoesorrice,likeotherstarchesit’sversatileandcanbedresseduporleftasplainasyouwish.Tomakepolenta,usecornmealthat’saboutthe consistencyof sand (a flour-like consistency is too fine).The trick topreparing it is tonever stop stirring.Corn ismagicallyassociatedwithprosperity,health, and fertility.Theseslicesareexcellenthot,butcanalsobeeatencold.They’rewonderfulservedwithaheartysaladasamaindish.
2½cupschickenorvegetablestock2/3cupcornmeal
cupgratedsharpcheese(suchasGruyere,Swiss,orEmmenthal)3tspbutter
1 tspchoppedfreshrosemary1tspfreshchoppedthyme1tspfreshchoppedparsley8smallsprigsofherbsforgarnish(optional)Saltandpepper(optional)HeavysaucepanWoodenspoon9-inchglasspiedish
Foil
1.Buttertheglasspiedish.Preheatovento350°F.
2.Bringstock toaboil inaheavy-bottomedpot.Slowlyaddcornmeal inastream,stirringconstantlywithawoodenspoon.
3.Reducetheheattominimumandkeepstirringuntilthemixturethickens(betweensixandeightminutes).Removefromheat.
4.Addthegratedcheeseandhalf thebutter.Stiruntil thecheesehasmeltedandbeenfullycombinedwiththepolenta.
5.Stirinthefreshchoppedherbs.Seasonwithsaltand/orpepperifdesired.
6.Scrapepolentaintothebutteredbakingdish.Spreadevenly.Cooluntilfirm(abouthalfanhour.)
7.Line a baking sheetwith foil. Slice the cooled polenta into eightwedges.Remove eachwedgefromthepiedishtothebakingsheet,turningeachwedgeoversothesmoothsideisontop.Doteachwedgewithabitoftheremainingbutter.
8.Bakeuntilheatedthrough(abouttenminutes).Inthelastminuteortwo,addanherbalsprigtothetopofeachwedge.
Magicalassociations:prosperity,health,protection.
Lastbutcertainlynotleast,hereisarecipeforbread.Breadflouriswheat-based and, like other grain products, carries the magical association ofprosperity.Breaditselfrepresentsstability,harmony,andsuccess.
HerbPeasantBreadOneloaforround
This recipe has undergone several incarnations. I use it as a base for any combination ofherbaladditionsIcanthinkof.Ilikeusingfreshherbs,butifyouusedrymakesuretochoporgrindthemfinely.Thisbreadiswonderfultoeatwhilestillwarmandspreadwithlotsofbutter.
2cupsflour(withmoreforkneading)2heapingtspyeast(oronepackage)3tbspsugar1cupwarmwater(around110°F)1tbspchoppedfreshrosemary1tbspchoppedfreshthyme1tbspchoppedfreshdill1tbspchoppedfreshchivesOliveoil
1.Inacuporsmallbowl,stironeteaspoonofsugarinto cupofwarmwater.Sprinkletheyeastovertopandallowittoproofuntilfoamy(aboutfiveminutes).
2.Inalargebowl,stirtheremainingsugarintotheflour.Makeawellintheflourandpourthe
yeastin.
3. Add the herbs and one tablespoon olive oil to the flour mixture. Stir to combine allingredients.
4.Slowlyaddwarmwaterasyoustirtocreateafirmdoughball.Ifyouaddtoomuchwater,simplyaddabitofflourtocompensate.
5.Scrapesidesofbowlandaddscrapingstothedoughball.Sprinkletheballandbowlwithabit of flour. Cover with a clean cloth and set to rise in a warm placewith no drafts untildoubledinsize(approximatelyanhourandahalf).
6.Removedough frombowlandplaceona floured surface.Knead for approximately fiveminutesuntilsmoothandelastic.Sprinkleflourontothekneadingsurfaceasnecessarysothatthedoughdoesnotstick.
7.Rolldoughintoaflattenedcircleaboutoneinchthickorintoaloaf-shapedlog.Placeonbakingsheet.Brushentiretopwitholiveoilandleavetorisetotheheightyoudesire.(Placingthedoughinabarelywarmovenisagoodplaceforittorise.)
8.Heatovento400°F.(Ifyourbreadisrisingintheoven,removeitcarefullyandthenheattheoven.)Bakebreadfortenminutes,oruntilgoldenbrown.
Otherherbalblendsforbread:
•2tsprosemary,1tsporegano,1tspthyme•1smallonion(grated),2tspdill•1smallonion(grated),1–2garliccloves(minced)
Magicalassociations:health,prosperity,abundance,stability.
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T
Chapter10ExpandingtheGreenWitchCircle
he green witch path is mostly a solitary one, butthis doesn’t mean you cannot learn from others.
Thischapterlooksatmethodsoffurtheringandsharingthegreenwitch’sknowledge.
The greenwitch is never far fromnature, evenwhen she’s standing on theforty-seventh floor of a glass andmetal skyscraper in themiddle of a city.Naturetouchesallaspectsoflife.It’spresentinthefoodweeat,theclotheswewear,thefurnitureweuse,thebuildingsweliveandworkin.Everythinghasbeentouchedbynatureatsomepoint,ortheirmaterialshavebeendrawnfromnature.WhileMotherNatureis thegreenwitch’sprimaryteacher,whenwewalk
the path in the modern world, we must understand the value of scientificadvances and technological applications as well. Remember always thatwalking the green path does not mean rejecting science and technology. Itmeans being able to see the connections between the green path and themodernworld,andhelpingtosupportthem.
Beingagreenwitchinthemodern-dayurbansettingcansometimesbealonelylife.Don’tthinkofyourselfasisolated,however,orcutofffromnatureasyouronlysourceofinspirationand/oreducation.Lookaroundyoufornewwaystolearnmoreaboutnature,abouthumanity,andabouttheworldingeneral.
Even an urban setting offers plenty of venues for education andexploration. Most cities have botanical gardens within easy commutingdistance.Seekout localmonasteriesorabbeysandask if theyhavegardensyoumightbeable tovisit.Veryoften theseplaceshavea specialty suchascheese-makingorwine-making;learnabouttheseaswelltoeducateyourselfabouttheprocess,thenmeditateontheconnectionbetweenhumanityandtheearth.Lookinyourphonebookoronlinetoseeifthereareanymajorherbfarms
inyourarea.Theseplacesusuallyoffercourses, lectures,andworkshopsonsuchsubjectsasplanting,cooking,andassociatedcrafts.Theyalsosellseeds,
youngplants,anddriedherbs.Yourlocalnurseryorgardencentermayalsoofferworkshopsonvariousaspectsofgardening.Local colleges or community centers frequently offer cooking classes.
Learning about the foods of other cultures and how to prepare them candeepenyourunderstandingofhowtheenergiesofingredientsworktogetherby exposing you to new combinations of ingredients, and leading you tomeditate on how those dishes are intrinsic to the spiritual outlook of theculture.Allof theseplacesalsoofferartsandcraftscourses.Learning topaintor
draw, for example, helps you explore how you look at things, how youinterpretwhatyousee. Ifyouare lucky,youmaybeable to findaheritagecenterthatcanteachyouthingslikedyeing,spinning,andweaving.Ifyouaredrawntothehealingaspectofthegreenpath,youmaywishto
explorecourses in alternativehealing.Techniques suchas therapeutic touchandReiki are taught in holisticmedical centers. If the path of the herbalistinterests you, you can seek out a certified program and become a licensedherbalist.Toincreaseyourknowledgeoftheoutdoors,inquireatcampingandsport
supplystoresandtakeacampingororienteeringcourse.Firstaidtrainingisalways valuable, and for someone as responsible as a green witch,indispensable.And, of course, because the greenwitch seeks to further her knowledge
abouthumannatureaswellasMotherNature,lookintoyourlocalcollegeoruniversitytotakecoursesonhumanrelations,counseling,stressmanagement,and leadership.Adult or continuing education departments often offer suchcourses,andiftheydon’t,universitiesandcollegesmayallowyoutoregisterasanindependentstudentorsometimesevenauditacourse.Asthegreenwitchpathisonethatisinformallypassedon,whenthetime
isright,youmayconsiderpassingalongtootherswhatyouhavelearned.Youcan create and teach your own workshops through local co-op centers,bookstores, community centers, and botanical gardens. This may seemintimidating,butwhenyoupassalongwhatyouhave learnedyoushare thewisdomyou have gathered from the earth. Perhaps your class orworkshopwillinspireotherstolistentoandlearnfromnature.Whenyouplanyourworkshoporclass,makeitaboutanhourandahalf
long,witha fifteen-minutebreak in themiddle.Carefullyplanandrehearseyourpresentationandmakesureyourpointsare logicalandeasy to follow.When you advertise the course or bring it to a venue to ask them if theywouldbeinterestedinofferingit,neverclaimtohavemoreknowledgethan
youactuallypossess,thoughyoushouldmentiontrainingorcertificationyouhave to give credence to your authority. If you are self-taught and will beteachingfromyourpersonallyacquiredexperience,sayso.Thereisnoshameinlearningfromnatureitself.Bepreciseaboutwhatkindofinformationyouintendtooffer.Ifyou’reproposingtoteachaclassonmagicalusesofherbs,don’tadvertisetheclassasmedicalherbalism.
Wise,WildOnce upon a time, one of the meanings of the term “wisewoman” was awomanwhowasmenopausal.Bytheageofmenopause,itwasthoughtthatawomanhadgainedenoughexperience tobewiseandknow lifeand itsupsand downs. “Wise”means knowledgeable, possessing a pool of experiencefromwhichanswersmaybedrawn,plussomethingineffablethatallowsthewisewomantoprovidehercommunitywithanswersandguidancewhentheyneedit.The green path also provides this kind of wisdom to those who live it.
Simpleliving,consciousinteractionwiththepowerinnateintheearthandtheenergies of the natural world, and an awareness of how humanity thinks,interacts,andevolvesallprovidethegreenwitchwithaninsightintotheebbsandflowsofenergyinlifeinallitsforms.Theword“wild”alsohassignificancetothegreenwitch.Theterm“wild
man”conjuresupanimageofsomeonewhohaslivedawayfromcivilization,whoknows thewaysof the forest and itsdenizens.So, too,does thegreenwitch know the ways of the natural world and those who live there. Sheknowsthattruthisencodedandreflectedinnature.Cycles—day,night,life,death,sun,moon—arehercreed.Herholytextisthegrowthofacorntooak.Hercatechismisthedecayofleaftoearth.Thegreenwitch’spathisasereneone.Nomatterwhatobstaclesmayarise
inherlife,thegreenwitchknowshowtoharnesstheenergiesofthenaturalworld around her, and how to work in partnership with those energies toachievebalanceonceagain.Thepathisarewardingone,thoughnotwithoutitschallenges.Iwish you a fulfilling journey along this path.May the thoughts I have
offeredinthisbookhelpyoualongthewayandinspireyoutosearchfortheknowledgethatcanonlybeacquiredbyexperiencingtheenergyofthenaturalworldforyourself.
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Appendix1MagicalAssociations
These lists ofmagical associations, like theother lists in this book, havebeen assembled over my years of practice and include both my ownassociations as well as traditional correspondences. Apart from personalexperimentation and work, my sources over the years have included suchbooksasMrs.Grieve’sAModernHerbal,ScottCunningham’sEncyclopediaofMagicalHerbalism, PaulBeyerl’sTheMasterBook ofHerbalismandACompendiumofHerbalMagick,andJamieWood’sAWiccaHerbal.
HerbsAllspice:prosperity,luck,healing,purification,protection,money
Almond:love,money,healing,wisdom
Angelica:protection,hexbreaker,healing,psychicabilities,houseblessing,purification
Anise:psychicabilities,lust,luck,purification,love
Apple:love,healing,peace
Ash:protection,strength,healing,prosperity
Basil: love, trust, abundance, prosperity, courage, discipline, protection, marriage,purification,luck,mentalabilities
Bay: protection, purification, endurance, fidelity, psychic powers, divination, wisdom,strength
Bayberry:abundance,prosperity
Benzoin:purification,healing,prosperity
Birch:protection,purification,newbeginnings,children
Catnip:cats,love,beauty,happiness,tranquility,luck
Cedar:healing,purification,protection,prosperity
Chamomile:purification,healing,soothesanxiety,gentlyhealsbadluck,sootheschildren
Chickweed:animals,love,fidelity,healing,weightloss
Cinnamon:healing,love,lust,success,purification,protection,money,psychicawareness
Clove:protection,mentalabilities,attraction,purification,comfort
Cinquefoil (five-finger grass): eloquence, cunning, money, protection, sleep, propheticdreams,purification,love
Clover: lust, hex breaking, prosperity, purification, love, luck, protection, success, fidelity,comfort
Comfrey(boneset):healing,prosperity,protection,travel
Coriander:healing,love,lust
Cumin:protection,antitheft,love,fidelity
Cypress:protection,comfort,healing
Daisy:naturespirits,love,children
Dandelion:longevity,enhancespsychicability,intuition,spiritualandemotionalcleanser
Dill:protection, love, attraction,money, strength, luck, eases sleep,mental abilities,weightloss
Echinacea:healing
Elder, elderflower: protection from lightning, beauty, divination, prosperity, purification,houseblessing,healing,sleep
Elm:love,protection
Eucalyptus:protection,healing
Eyebright:truth,piercesthroughillusion,certainty,psychicability
Fennel:courage,strength,cleansing
Feverfew:love,fidelity,protection,healing
Flax:money,protection,beauty,healing
Gardenia:love,attraction,peace,meditation
Garlic:healing,houseblessing,protection,lust,antitheft
Geranium:love,healing,protection,fertility
Ginger:healing,love,money,energy
Hawthorn:protection,fertility,happiness
Hazel:mentalabilities,fertility,protection,wisdom,luck
Heather:protection,rain,luck
Heliotrope:clairvoyance,psychicabilities,health,money
Hibiscus:love,lust,divination,harmony,peace
Honeysuckle:abundance, luck, prosperity, eases sorrow, enhances psychic abilities (donotusetheberries;theyarepoisonous)
Hops:healing,sleep
Hyacinth:love,comfort,protection
Hyssop:purification,protection
Jasmine:love,attraction,prosperity,tranquility
Juniper:cleansing,purification,protectionagainstaccidents,protectionagainstillness,love,antitheft,fertility,psychicabilities
Lavender: healing, love, happiness, heals grief and guilt, sleep, tranquility, protection,purification,peace,houseblessing,wisdom,children,marriage
Lemon:purification,love,protection,happiness
Licorice:love,lust,protection,fidelity
Lilac:protection,beauty,love,psychicabilities,purification,prosperity
Lily:protection,loveantidote,truth
Lime:love,purification,luck,sleep
Lotus:blessing,meditation,protection
Maple:sweetness,prosperity,marriage,love,money
Marigold:positiveenergy,protective,easeslegalstress,increasepsychicawareness,peace
Marjoram:protection,love,happiness,health,money,marriage,comfort
Meadowsweet:peace,love,happiness,psychicawareness
Mint:purification,preserveshealth,clarityofmind,protecttravelers,attractsmoney,health,love,success
Mistletoe:healing,protection,love,fertility,sleep,luck
Mugwort: divination, protection, healing, strength, lust, psychic power, fertility, protectstravelers
Nettle:cleansing,protectsfromdanger,protectshealth
Nutmeg:clairvoyance,health,luck,fidelity
Oak:purification,protection,prosperity,healthandhealing,money,fertility,luck,strength
Onion:healing,protection,purification
Orange:love,joy,purification,prosperity
Oregano:peace
Parsley:healing,lust,fertility,love,passion,protection,hexbreaker,prosperity,purification,protection,easesgrief
Patchouli:money,fertility,lust,clairvoyance,divination,love,attraction
Pepper:protection,purification
Pine:prosperity,healing,purification,fertility
Poppy:fertility,abundance,sleep,love
Rose:healing, love,conciliation,restoration,self-love,attracts loveandgoodfortune,healstrouble,enhancespsychicability
Rosemary:cleansing,protection,healing,longevity,improvesmemoryandconcentration
Rowan (mountain ash):purification, house blessing, protection, healing, psychic abilities,wisdom,strengthensspells
Rue:protection,mentalabilities,purification,health,comfort
Sage:healing,longevity,goodhealth,psychicawareness,protection
St.John’sWort:courage,powerofthesun,fertility,purification,healing,positiveenergy
Tarragon:cleansing,regeneration,transformation
Thyme:purification, psychic cleansing, divination, healing, enhancesmemory, eases sleep,courage
Valerian(all-heal):purification,protection,healing,love,sleep,attraction
Vanilla:love,prosperity,lust,energy,mentalabilities,creativity
Verbena(vervain):purification,protection,blessings,communicationwithnaturespirits
Violet:tranquility,love,luck,protection,healing
Walnut:healing,mentalabilities
Willow:communication,eloquence,protection,healing,love,dreams
Yarrow:marriage,courage,loveandfriendship,psychicabilities,hexbreaking
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Appendix2TheSevenCentralEnergiesoftheGreenWitch’sPath
Thisappendixlistsavarietyofherbs,stones,flowers,andtreesaccordingtothesevencentralenergiesofthepathofthegreenwitch.Thisreferencewillhelp you when you know your need and are looking for plants that carryenergytosupportit.
Happiness: Basil, bergamot, calendula, catnip, chamomile, daisy,hawthorn, honeysuckle, hyacinth, lavender, lily of the valley, marjoram,meadowsweet,mint, nutmeg,pansy,parsley, sunflower, tulip, vanilla.Dairyproducts,lemon,lime,mango,orange,strawberry.Copal,frankincense.Lapislazuli,rosequartz.
Harmony:Ash,basil,calendula,catnip,cedar,chamomile,gardenia,grass,honeysuckle, hawthorn, hibiscus, iris, jasmine, lavender, lotus, moss, rose,rowan, sage, violet, vanilla, verbena, vervain, willow. Apple, bread,cucumber, leek, lettuce, peach, plum, squash. Copal, frankincense,sandalwood, white sandalwood. Amethyst, clear quartz, jasper, lapis lazuli,mossagate,rosequartz,smokyquartz,sodalite.
Health: Allspice, angelica, ash, calendula, caraway, carnation, cedar,chamomile, chickweed, cinnamon, clove, comfrey, coriander, cypress,echinacea, elder, eucalyptus, gardenia, garlic, geranium, ginger, feverfew,flax, heliotrope, honeysuckle, hops, horehound, hyssop, maple, marjoram,marshmallow, mint, mistletoe, mugwort, mushroom, nettle, nutmeg, oak,parsley, pine, rose, rosemary, rowan, rue, sage, St. John’sWort, sunflower,thyme,valerian,verbena,violet,willow,witchhazel,yarrow.Almonds,apple,barley, carrots, corn, cranberry, cucumber, lemon, lime, onion, orange,raspberry, tomato, walnut. Benzoin, myrrh, sandalwood, styrax. Amethyst,aventurine, bloodstone, citrine, hematite, jade,moss agate, rose quartz, treeagate.
Love: Allspice, anise, basil, calendula, catnip, chickweed, cinnamon,
cinquefoil, clover, coriander, cumin, daffodil, daisy, elm, fern, feverfew,gardenia,geranium,ginger,hibiscus,hyacinth,iris,jasmine,juniper,lavender,licorice, lilac, maple, marjoram, meadowsweet, mint, mistletoe, nutmeg,pansy,parsley,patchouli,poppy, rose, tulip,violet,willow,valerian,vanilla,yarrow.Almonds,apple,avocado,beans,celery,dairyproducts,kiwi,lemon,melons,peach,pear,peas,plum,strawberry,tomato.Copal.Moonstone,rosequartz.
Peace:Basil,catnip,chamomile,dill,gardenia,grass,hibiscus,hops, iris,jasmine, lavender, lotus, marigold (calendula), meadowsweet, mistletoe,moss,mugwort,oregano,poppy,rowan,sandalwood,thyme,verbena,violet,witchhazel.Apple,blueberry,celery,cucumber,lettuce,lime,melons,plum,strawberry.Copal,frankincense.Citrine,clearquartz,lapislazuli,moonstone,mossagate,rosequartz,treeagate.
Prosperity/abundance/fertility: Acorns, allspice, ash, basil, bayberry,bergamot, calendula, cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, cinquefoil, clover,comfrey, daffodil, dill, elder, flax, geranium,ginger, grass, hawthorn, hazel,heliotrope,honeysuckle,jasmine,juniper,lilac,maple,mint,moss,mugwort,nutmeg, oak, parsley, patchouli, pine, poplar, poppy, St. John’s Wort,sunflower, tulip, vanilla, verbena, violet, walnut, wheat. Almonds, banana,barley, blackberry, blueberry, bread, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower,corn, cucumber, dairy products, grains, grape, kiwi, lettuce, nuts, onion,orange, peach, pear, peas, pineapple, potatoes, rice, seeds, squash, sweetpeppers. Benzoin, frankincense, sandalwood. Aventurine, jade, malachite,tiger’seye.
Protection: Angelica, ash, basil, bay, birch, black pepper, caraway,carnation,cedar,cinnamon,cinquefoil,clove,clover,comfrey,cumin,curry,cypress,dill,elder,elm,eucalyptus,fern,feverfew,flax,geranium,hawthorn,hazel, heather, hyacinth, hyssop, juniper, lavender, licorice, lilac, lily, lotus,marigold (calendula), marjoram, marshmallow, mint, mistletoe, mugwort,myrrh, nettle, oak, onion, parsley, pine, rose, rosemary, rowan, rue, sage,snapdragon,St.John’sWort, thyme, tulip,valerian,verbena,vervain,violet,willow, witch hazel, yarrow. Apple, beans, blackberry, blueberry, broccoli,cabbage, cauliflower, cranberry, garlic, leek, lemon, lettuce, mushroom,pineapple, potatoes, tomato. Copal, dragon’s blood, frankincense,sandalwood. Amethyst, bloodstone, clear quartz, hematite, jade, jasper,moonstone,obsidian,tiger’seye,turquoise.
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