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Herb Magic: Bountiful Burdock
When I moved into my little cottage in the woods two years ago, one of the things I fell in love with was the abundance of plant life on the property that was ready for me to forage. While derping around on my hillside, I noticed a lot of prickly little balls (get your minds outta the gutter, you filthy heathens) attaching themselves to my socks, shorts, and the dog. Naturally, I thought to myself, “Self, we gotta figure this one out.” They looked like thistles… sort of… but weren’t. Turns out I’ve got a bumper crop of burdock growing right in my back yard. It’s one of those cool…
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Magical Herbalism Recommended Reading List
Many witchy-type people are interested in magical herbalism, and there’s a TON of information out there! So if you’re looking for books to guide you in your herbalism studies, here are some useful titles to add to your collection. Bear in mind that some focus more on folklore and medicinal history rather than Neopagan practice, but all are books that are worthy of referencing. Also, a quick disclaimer – any time I put out a list of book titles to read, inevitably I get messages about WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE and WHAT ABOUT THAT ONE? Here’s the thing – I only recommend books I have personally read. If it ain’t…
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The Magic of Purple Deadnettle
Spring be springing down here in my little corner of North Appalachia, and one of my favorite things to see is the purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) that’s taking over my yard with reckless abandon. Technically, yeah, it’s a weed – but weeds are just things that grow where people don’t want them to. I’m a big fan of the “use what you got” school of witchcraft, so I always end up harvesting a metric buttload of purple deadnettle each year in late March and early April. Grace Elm at the Little Victorian says, “Popping up in the earliest spring-like moments, purple deadnettle is a maideny herb. In older folklore it…
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The Magic of Burdock
When I moved into my little cottage in the woods last summer, one of the things I fell in love with was the abundance of plant life on the property that was ready for me to forage. While derping around on my hillside, I noticed a lot of prickly little balls (get your minds outta the gutter, you filthy heathens) attaching themselves to my socks, shorts, and the dog. Naturally, I thought to myself, “Self, we gotta figure this one out.” They looked like thistles… sort of… but weren’t. Turns out I’ve got a bumper crop of burdock growing right in my back yard. It’s one of those cool herbs…
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The Myth & Magic of Virginia Creeper
One of the things I love so much about my cottage in the woods is that I am surrounded by plants, many of which I never encountered in the wild when I lived in an actual town. I’m taking some time to get to know the flora (and fauna) of my new home, including the seemingly endless array of Joe Pye weed, mullein, chicory, fleabane, and goldenrod. I discovered the stone wall up against the hillside behind my house is covered in a beautiful five-leafed vine, did a bit of digging, and learned it’s Virginia creeper, or Parthenocissus quinquefolia. In some places, it’s considered so invasive that you’re not allowed…
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The Magic of Joe Pye Weed
About two months ago, I bought a little cottage at the bottom of a hill, sitting outside a small village. It’s a super rural area, long-time coal country in the northern foothills of Appalachia, and the biggest excitement around here is when visiting ATV riders go zipping up the road through my holler or my neighbor’s rooster gets loose and refuses to return home. The nearest grocery store is fifteen miles off, and if I want to get super fancy and visit a home improvement store, it’s a good 45 minutes each direction. We have two police officers, a single pizza joint, and a Dollar General, and that’s pretty much…
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The Magic of the Willow Tree
I’ve always loved willow trees — there’s something majestic and powerful about them. Willows are often found on the banks of creeks and rivers, or in other areas where there’s a lot of water. In my last house, we had a low lying area in the back yard that pooled a lot of water when it rained, so we planted a willow there, and it thrived almost immediately, growing from a small sapling to a giant behemoth in just a few short years. Melody Rose over at Dave’s Garden says, Many notable sayings and practices were born around the willow. One of the most common traditions today has its roots…
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Basil Magic
I love me some basil, and here in Middle Earth, those shiny green leaves are blooming all over the gardens — although in my case, it’s all in pots and containers because I just moved, but whatever. I’ll put fresh basil on anything, and I’m a total whore for pesto sauce. Basil, part of the mint family, is known far and wide as a culinary herb, but it also contains some interesting magical properties. In Mediterranean countries, it is strewn on floors to purify a home. It also can bring luck to people moving into a new residence — a gift of a potted basil plant guarantees good fortune, so…
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The Magic of Bloodroot
Even though I’ve gotten my first of two Covid shots, I’m still social distancing, so I like taking time to get out into the woods near my home. It’s springtime here in Middle Earth, and with the heavy rains we’ve had, a lot of stuff is beginning to sprout and bloom. Last year around this time, I was out foraging near a limestone outcropping, and encountered what I initially thought was mayapple… except mayapple shouldn’t be surfacing for a few more weeks here. A friend pointed out that it was probably bloodroot (thanks, Lisa!), and I realized she was correct. It’s one of those lesser-known flowers that doesn’t get a…
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Happy Book Birthday! Herb Magic Launches Today!
Happy Book Birthday to me! Herb Magic: An Introduction to Magical Herbalism and Spells, releases today! If you haven’t ordered a copy yet, you can scootch on over to Amazon and get yours, or order it from Barnes & Noble or Books a Million. Better yet, support your favorite local witchy shop and get a copy from them! It’s been one hell of a ride for this one, and I can’t begin to thank all of you enough for your support, your love, and the kind words throughout this journey. I promise that once the world isn’t a dumpster fire anymore, I’ll get events scheduled so we can…
