Image: 'Maestra' by Luke Martin

Liquorice Glycyrrhiza glabra Also called mlomo-mnandi (Zulu); soethoutwortel (Afrikaans); The Great Harmonizer, Grandfather Herb, Sweetwood Mercury - Masculine - Air Fidelity, Love, Lust and Protection

This root is used medicinally and magically. Traditional healers call it the Sweet Talking herb and it is sold to ensure sweet words come out of your mouth, especially if you are trying to sell something! Hindus believe it increases sexual vigour when taken with milk and sugar.

Liquorice contains a unique substance called glycyrrhizin found to be 50 times sweeter than refined sugar.

Liquorice works on the digestive, respiratory, nervous, reproductive and excretory systems. It is an effective expectorant, often combined with ginger to help liquify mucus and facilitate its discharge. Combined with cardamom and ginger it is considered a tonic for the teeth. Liquorice is used to calm the mind, nourish the brain and increase cranial and cerebrospinal fluid and to benefit vision, voice, hair, complexion and stamina. It is also a good practice to chew some root whilst quitting smoking.

Liquorice is used in love sachets and spells to ensure fidelity. Sprinkle some powdered liquorice root over the footprints of your lover to ensure fidelity. Use it to ease the path of the dead and in binding and love spells.

Warning !! it is also a laxative.
Caution - Do not consume during pregnancy or while nursing.
Contra Indications : A gross overdose of the root can cause oedema, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure.

 

Lavendar Lavandula angustifolia Also called Lavandula officinalis Mercury - Masculine - Air Purification

Used since ancient times for protection, relaxation, and healing, Lavendar is good for headaches, insomnia, pain, arthritis, and depression. It is antiseptic and astringent and good for burns, insect bites, acne and eczema. Lavendar also helps to reduce scarring and promotes hair growth.

Culpepper says of Lavendar,

Mercury owns the herb; and it carries his effects very potently. Lavender is of a special good use for all the griefs and pains of the head and brain that proceed of a cold cause, as the apoplexy, falling-sickness, the dropsy, or sluggish malady, cramps, convulsions, palsies, and often faintings.

The smell of Lavender helps to lift the spirits. It is a helpful fragrance to have present at birth since it calms the mother. Likewise, at death it helps calm the one about to depart, as well as the departed's loved ones.

Magically Lavender is used in purification baths and rituals and in healing incenses and sachets. Carrying the herb will enable the bearer to see ghosts. The essential oil will heighten sexual desire in men. Lavender water sprinkled on the head is helpful in keeping your chastity. The flowers are burned to induce sleep, and scattered throughout the home to maintain peaceful harmony within. Carrying lavender brings strength and courage. Lavender is known for its ability to increase one's clarity when viewing the world and to assist the evolution of one's spirit through life. Despite lavender's mercurial nature, it is believed capable of invoking deities such as Hecate and Saturn. This powerful herb is known to bring calmness and serenity to one's inner self. It is used in a remedial fashion to alleviate stress and may be used magically for the same purpose. If working with ritual or magi ck to promote healing from a depression, lavender is a superior choice.

Lavender Ice Cream

4 egg yolks
3/4 cups sugar
1/3 cup cream
1/3 cup milk
6 fresh lavender flower heads
2/3 cup whipping cream or heavy cream
2 cups of milk

Whisk the egg yolks and sugar together until light and foamy. Gently heat the half-and-half in a pan with the lavender flowers. Bring to the boil, then strain into the egg yolk mixture. Return the mixture to the stove and cook over very low heat, stirring constantly until it is slightly thickened and will coat the back of a spoon. Do not let it boil. Pour the custard into a bowl and refrigerate until it is completely cold. Whip the cream just until it forms peaks and fold it into the cold custard. Add remaining 2 cups of milk. Process in an ice cream maker, or freeze in the container in the freezer compartment of the refrigerator. Serve with thin, crisp cookies.

Dill Anethum graveolens Also called Hairs of a Hamadryas Baboon Mercury - Masculine - Air Love, lust, money and protects children

Culpepper says of Dill,

Mercury has the dominion of this plant, and therefore to be sure it strengthens the brain. The seed is of more use than the leaves, and more effectual to digest raw and vicious humours, and is used in medicines that serve to expel wind, and the pains proceeding therefrom.

Dill is also used as a preservation, like in Dill Pickles. The seeds are used medicinally, while the feathery leaves are used in cooking, especially with fish and eggs. Dill is best known for its protective power but is also used in spells for love (and lust) as well as money and prosperity. Hang over the doorway so no-one envious of you may enter. Dill has been used through the centuries as a Magic herb to prevent mischief from witches. A bag of dried dill was carried over the heart to ward off the evil eye.

Pickle Cucumbers with Dill

Gather the tops of the ripest dill and cover the bottom of the vessel, and lay a layer of Cucumbers and another of Dill till you have filled the vessel within a handful of the top. Then take as much water as you think will fill the vessel and mix it with salt and a quarter of a pound of allom to a gallon of water and poure it on them and press them down with a stone on them and keep them covered close. For that use I think the water will be best boyl'd and cold, which will keep longer sweet, or if you like not this pickle, doe it with water, salt and white wine vinegar, or (if you please) pour the water and salt on them scalding hot which will make them ready to use the sooner.

From Receipt Book of Joseph Cooper, Cook to Charles I, 1640

 

Sweet Marjoram Origanum marjorana Mercury - Masculine - Air Protection, Love, Healing and Money.

Culpepper says of Sweet Marjoram,

It is an herb of Mercury, and under Aries, and therefore is an excellent remedy for the brain and other parts of the body and mind, under the dominion of the same planet. Our common Sweet Marjoram is warming and comfortable in cold diseases of the head, stomach, sinews, and other parts, taken inwardly, or outwardly applied. The decoction thereof being drank, helps all diseases of the chest which hinder the freeness of breathing, and is also profitable for the obstructions of the liver and spleen. It helps the cold griefs of the womb, and the windiness thereof, and the loss of speech, by resolution of the tongue.

In powdered form the herb forms part of Sneezing Powders.

Magically it is used for Protection, Love, Healing and Money and is added to love charms and spells and to food to strengthen love. Place a piece of Sweet Marjoram in rooms for protection or carry a piece with you. Give a piece to a grieving person to bring them happiness.

Baby Vegetables with Marjoram

Ingredients

2 tbl Olive oil
1 x Garlic clove, chopped
1 tsp Paprika
1 bn Fresh marjoram - (sm bunch), chopped
4 x Tomatoes, peeled, chopped
4 cup Chicken or beef stock, or tomato juice
1/2 lb Baby fennel
1/2 lb Finger carrots
1/2 lb Baby turnips
1/2 lb Baby snow peas
1/2 lb Baby leeks, (optional)
1/2 lb Small asparagus, (optional)
Salt and pepper, to taste

Method

In a large saucepan with a lid, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook until golden (three to five minutes). Remove from heat, stir in the paprika, then add the marjoram, tomatoes and stock or juice. Place a steamer in the pot and return to heat. Add the fennel, carrots and turnips, cover and steam for four minutes. Add the snow peas and leeks and cook an additional four minutes. Add the asparagus and steam a few minutes more. When the vegetables are tender, arrange them in individual soup plates. Quickly reduce the cooking liquid over high heat and pour over vegetables. Serves 4.

You can use any vegetable in this dish, even baby zucchini. The vegetables requiring the longest cooking time should be the first ingredients added to the pot.

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