Image: 'Maestra' by Luke Martin

When I shall have departed from this world,
Whenever ye have need of anything,
Once in the month, and when the moon is full,
Ye shall assemble in some desert place,
Or in a forest all together join
To adore the potent spirit of your queen,
My mother, great Diana. She who fain
Would learn all sorcery yet has not won
Its deepest secrets, them my mother will
Teach her, in truth all things as yet unknown.
And ye shall all be freed from slavery,
And so ye shall be free in everything;
And as the sign that ye are truly free,
Ye shall be naked in your rites, both men
And women also: this shall last until
The last of your oppressors shall be dead;
And ye shall make the game of Benevento,
Extinguishing the lights, and after that
Shall hold your supper thus...

Read the complete text HERE

Clary Sage Salvia sclarea

Also called Clarry, Clarywort, Eyebright, Orvale, Clear Eye, Common Clary, European Sage, Eye Bright, Garden Clary, Muscatel Sage, See Bright and Clear Eye Sage.

Moon - Feminine - Air

Healing, Divination, Intuition.

Clary Sage is a calming relaxant which brings well-being to the spirit. It contains a hormone-like agent similar to oestrogen that regulates hormonal balance. The seeds were put into the eyes to clear them of mucous and foreign objects in the eye. A cooling poultice was used to draw inflammation out of the body. Magically Clary Sage is used for divination and clairvoyance and does not smell unpleasant when burned. Use in dream pillows and to develop intuition and wisdom.

Do not use with alcohol; the combination can cause nausea or nightmares.
*Not for use during pregnancy*.

See picture HERE

Willow Tree Salix alba

Also called Witches' Aspirin, Withe, Willow, Salicyn Willow, Tree of dreaming, Tree of Enchantment.

Feminine - Moon - Water

Protection, Healing, Divination.

Willow is called 'Witch's Aspirin' for a reason, it contains Methyl Salicylate, the natural form of Aspirin. And for this reason those with tender tums should exercise caution when handling it as the methyl salicylate will irritate the stomach. Ask me, I cannot hold a willow branch. Willow leaves are carried or used in mixtures to attract love and the wood is used to fashion magickal wands dedicated to Moon magick. If you wish to know if you will be married in the New Year, on New Years Eve, throw your shoe or boot into a Willow tree. If it doesn't catch and stay in the branches the first time, you have eight more tries. If you succeed in trapping your shoe in the tree, you will be wed within 12 months - but you will also have to shake or climb the tree to retrieve the shoe. All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a willow tree ("Knock on wood") to avert evil.

Culpepper says, "The leaves bruised and boiled in wine, and drank, stays the heat of lust in man or woman, and quite extinguishes it, if it be long used. The seed also is of the same effect. Water that is gathered from the Willow, when it flowers, the bark being slit, and a vessel fitting to receive it, is very good for redness and dimness of sight, or films that grow over the eyes, and stay the rheums that fall into them; It is a fine cool tree, the boughs of which are very convenient to be placed in the chamber of one sick of a fever."

Purslane Portulaca sativa

Also called Garden Purslane, Common Purslane, Pigweed, Verdolaga, Little Hogweed or Pusley.

Feminine - Moon - Water

Sleep, Love, Luck, Happiness and Protection.

My favourite weed. You probably pull it out, but wait, Its good for you! Not only are Purslane leaves rich in Omega-3 fatty acid, the stems are high in vitamin C. Omega-3 fatty acids are instrumental in regulating our metabolism. Purslane contains one of the highest known concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids — five times the concentration in spinach. So yes, you can eat it!

Culpepper says, "Tis an herb of the Moon. It is good to cool any heat in the liver, blood, reins, and stomach, and in hot agues nothing better. The herb bruised and applied to the forehead and temples, allays excessive heat therein, that hinders rest and sleep; and applied to the eyes, takes away the redness and inflammation in them. it is also good for sore mouths and gums that are swollen, and to fasten loose teeth."

Lay purslane on the bed to avoid nightmares. Carry it to draw luck and love and keep evil away. Sprinkle it about the home to bring happiness.

See picture HERE

Purslane Potato Salad

Ingredients:
6 medium potatoes, cubed and cooked till just tender
4 green onions, sliced
2 cups young purslane, chopped
1 celery stalk, diced
1/4 cup diced radish
1 cup mayonnaise, light or regular
Mix together all ingredients. Chill and serve

Cleavers Galium aparine

Galii aparinis herba, Clivers, Goosegrass, Galium, Hedge burs, Sticky-willie, Cleaverwort, Coachweed. Gosling weed, Love-man, Stick-a-back, Sweethearts, Hayruff, Hayriffe, Erriffe, Burweed, Barweed, Goosebill, Hedgeheriffe, Grip grass, Catchweed, Catchgrass, Scratweed, Mutton chops, Everlasting friendship, Clike, Click, Clitheren, Clithers, Aperine, Amor De Hortelano, Cleever, Everlasting Friendship, Gia Mara, Grateron, Grip Grass, Hashishat Al Af'A, Hayriffe, Hayruff, Hedge Clivers, Hedgeheriff, Kaz Yogurtotu, Loveman, Mutton Chops, Robin-run-in-the-Grass, Scratweed, Zhu Yang Yang.

Femine - Moon - Water

Healing, Love Relationships and  Protection.

NOT the same as Lady’s Bedstraw (Galium verum) and Sweet Woodruff (Galium odoratum) for medicinal purposes.

Culpepper says, "It is familiarly taken in broth to keep them lean and lank, that are apt to grow fat. The juice of the leaves, or they a little bruised, and applied to any bleeding wounds, stays the bleeding. It is a good remedy in the Spring, eaten (being first chopped small, and boiled well) in water-gruel, to cleanse the blood, and strengthen the liver, thereby to keep the body in health, and fitting it for that change of season that is coming."

My favourite detox herb, also good for lymph cleansing. A tea made from the plant has traditionally been used internally and externally in the treatment of cancer. One report says that it is better to use the juice of the plant rather than a tea. The effectiveness of this treatment has never been proved or disproved. Cleavers cools heat and inflammation in the body - think of conditions ending with “itis” cystitis, arthritis, tonsillitis. Cleavers makes an excellent facial wash as it tightens the skin. For those with the customary wrinkles and sags that come with age this might be an herb to consider. Used for love spells, bath in an infusion to attract love, carry or wear for the same reasons. Use also to protect against false love. Use in candle magick for commitment in relationships.

See picture HERE

Contact Lenny