via Crazy shit

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Customs of the Ancestor

Brigantia

Tutelary goddess of the Brigantes Federation; inscriptions to her (or variant names) are found in Northern Britain.
Brigantī describes the goddess’s function as a trans-funcitonal deity—she is identified with Minerva goddess of war, wisdom, and crafts; identified with Victory; and called “celestial”—all signs that she may have been a goddess uniting the three social classes into one tribe, the Brigantii, and thus was “sublime” or transcendent.

source: The Keltoi

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Customs of the Ancestor

via Sun Gazing

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Customs of the Ancestor

Ganesha - The Lord of Success

Ganesha — the elephant-deity riding a mouse — has become one of the most common mnemonics for anything associated with Hinduism. This suggests the importance of Ganesha, as well as his popularity.

Ganesha is the son of Shiva and Parvati. Possessed of an elephantine countenance with a curved trunk and large ears, Ganesha has the pot-bellied body of a human.

Ganesha’s head symbolizes the Atman or the soul, which is the ultimate supreme reality of human existence, and his human body signifies Maya or the earthly existence of human beings. The elephant head denotes wisdom and its trunk represents Om, the sound symbol of cosmic reality.

In his upper right hand Ganesha holds a goad, which helps him propel mankind forward on the eternal path and remove obstacles from the way. The noose in Ganesha’s left hand is a gentle implement to capture all difficulties.

The broken tusk that Ganesha holds like a pen in his lower right hand is a symbol of sacrifice, which he broke for writing the Mahabharata. The rosary in his other hand suggests that the pursuit of knowledge should be continuous. The laddoo (sweet) he holds in his trunk indicates that one must discover the sweetness of the Atman.

His fan-like ears convey that he is all ears to our petition. The snake that runs round his waist represents energy in all forms. And he is humble enough to ride the lowest of creatures, a mouse.

Ganesha is the lord of success, destroyer of evil and remover of obstacles. He is also worshiped as the god of education, knowledge, wisdom and wealth. In fact, Ganesha is one of the five prime Hindu deities - Brahma, Vishnu, Shiva and Durga being the other four - whose idolatry is glorified as the panchayatana puja.

source: The Smart Witch

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Customs of the Ancestor

The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other’s welcome
and say, sit here. Eat.

You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread. Give back your heart
to itself, to the stranger who has loved you
all your life, whom you have ignored
for another, who knows you by heart.

Take down the love letters from the bookshelf,
the photographs, the desperate notes,
peel your own image from the mirror.
Sit. Feast on your life.

-Derek Walcott

(image:Mirror Mirror by Pat Breman)

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Customs of the Ancestor

A Woman’s Weapons
From the grave of a woman in Finland, dated 10th century

source: The Keltoi

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Customs of the Ancestor

MULLEIN

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is a popular natural remedy most often used to treat respiratory disorders since ancient times, but it also has many other medicinal uses.

It is sometimes called Common Mullein, Great Mullein, or, in the western U.S., “cowboy toilet paper,” because its leaves make good toilet paper in a pinch.

Mullein is sold as tea, in supplement form, and in drops and tinctures. You can buy loose leaf mullein leaves to make your own tea or to make your own pastes to use topically on the skin. Better yet, grow your own in your home garden! The leaves, stems, and flowers are edible but the seeds are toxic and contain a natural pesticide so be sure to avoid eating them.

Here are 11 health benefits of mullein.

Tuberculosis Treatment
Mullein was used as a treatment for tuberculosis in Europe as far back as the 16th century. One experiment in the 19th century found that mullein improved the symptoms of six out of seven TB patients at St. Vincent’s hospital in Dublin, Ireland. Some believed that mullein, if used in the early stages of the disease, could bring about a full recovery.

Today, it is known that mullein has anti-bacterial and expectorant properties, both of which are needed in the treatment of TB. Although it has not been studied extensively against mycobacteria, the bacteria that causes tuberculosis, it has been studied against other bacteria with great success and other plants of the same species as mullein have been specifically studied against mycobacteria with positive results.

More studies are needed but the case for mullein as a natural treatment for TB is promising based on historical evidence and modern studies.

Cold and Flu
As mentioned above, mullein has expectorant and anti-bacterial properties, which make drinking mullein tea helpful if you have a cold or flu with lots of congestion. According to researchers, it is the saponins in mullein that give it its expectorant properties. Mullein also helps to reduce the amount of mucus that is produced by the body.

Allergies, Asthma, & Bronchitis
Mullein is a great treatment for allergies, asthma, and bronchitis for the same reasons that it helps with TB, colds, and flu - it is anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, a natural expectorant, and reduces phlegm.

Ear Infection
Studies have found that mullein flower oil works as a natural remedy against ear infections. It is believed that this may be due to its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties.

Anti-Inflammatory
Mullein is a natural anti-inflammatory thanks to the verbascoside it contains. Verbascoside is a phenylethanoid and caffeic acid sugar ester.

Anti-Bacterial
As mentioned in the section about TB, mullein contains natural anti-bacterial properties. This is due at least in part to the verbascoside. Studies have found that verbascoside works particulary well against Staph infections.

Digestive Health
Drinking mullein has been found to help a number of digestive problems including diarrhea, constipation, hemorrhoids, and bladder infections. It is also sometimes used to get rid of intestinal worms.

Cramps
Mullein has anti-spasmodic properties that help with menstrual cramps or stomach cramps associated with gastric distress.

Sedative Effects
Mullein has natural sedative benefits and may be helpful in the treatment of insomnia and anxiety.

Skin Soothing
Applying mullein oil directly to irritated areas of skin may help you to find relief from the discomfort associated with conditions such as a rash, burns, cuts or blisters. Because mullein is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, it will also help with any skin conditions caused by bacteria or inflammation.

Joint Pain Relief
The anti-inflammatory effects of mullein can help to ease the pain associated with joint or muscle pain by reducing inflammation and swelling.


History

Common mullein, or Verbascum thapsus, is native to Europe and Asia. Ancient Romans used mullein plants as torches and made hair dye out of its yellow flowers. Aristotle fed mullein seeds to fish for their narcotic effect, to aid in fishing. Common mullein came to the United States with the Puritans, who used mullein tea as a medicinal remedy. By the early 19th century, mullein was widely established in America. Today it grows frequently in disturbed soil, such as abandoned fields, roadsides and railroads.


Description

This biennial plant has a rosette of green basal leaves, which mature to over 12 inches in length. Out of the rosette grows a single, vertical stem that can reach up to 8 feet tall. Smaller leaves grow up the length of the stem. The basal and stem leaves have soft, wooly hair. From June to September, saucer-shaped yellow flowers bloom from the top section of the stem in tight clusters. The flowers give way to fruit capsules filled with brown seeds. Common mullein has a taproot and fibrous root system.


How to Grow Mullein

Mullein is drought-resistant and grows easily from seed. Sow a small pinch of seeds about 18 inches apart and 1/16 inch deep in ordinary, well-drained soil, toward the back of the border or bed. A location in full sun is preferable, but mullein will grow in light shade. Clumps of seedlings and low rosettes will arise the first year. By the second year, the mature plants will provide a tall vertical element in the garden. Mullein self-sows readily, so take care to pull out unwanted plants to keep your mullein patch tidy.


Uses

According to NYU Langone Medical Center, mullein contains a glue-like sugar molecule called mucilage that soothes the throat, and saponins that loosen mucus. A folk remedy tea prepared from mullein leaves and flowers reportedly treats sore throats, congestion, coughs and asthma. Mullein tea also has astringent properties that, when made into compresses, help ease the pain and inflammation of hemorrhoids. Mullein combined with oil and other herbs may treat ear infections.


Side Effects of Mullein

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus) is used as a natural remedy for asthma, other respiratory disorders, ear infections, cough, and sore throat.
There are not many known side effects of mullein, although some people may experience an allergic reaction to the plant. If an allergic reaction occurs, the symptoms usually include itchiness on the hands, arms, and neck.
In rare cases, there may be breathing problems or a feeling of tightness in the chest and throat. If any negative side effects occur, stop taking the supplement and consult with your doctor.
Mullein should not be used if you are pregnant or nursing.
Always talk with your doctor before taking any supplement, whether it be natural or not. Sometimes, negative interactions can occur between other supplements or medications, so your doctor will be able to advise you on the medications and supplements that you are taking.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration states that mullein flowers are “generally recognized as safe” as a substance used in conjunction with flavoring foods. Although mullein tea is a well-known folk remedy for cold symptoms, the FDA does not regulate or accept mullein for that use, so its safety is unknown. The FDA lists mullein in its Poisonous Plant Database as a fish poison because its seeds contain rotenone, a toxin to fish. The seeds are not safe for use in mullein tea.

Mullein Oil Recipe:
Place fresh flowers in a blender or crush in a mortar and pestle, fill jar, cover with olive oil, set in warm place for 2 weeks. Strain before use. (You can also add garlic for an extra antibiotic boost.)
If you add beeswax to the oil you have a very effective ointment to prevent nappy (diaper) rash.

Mullein Cough Drops Recipe:
1/2 cup mullein leaves, packed, 1 cup boiling water, 1 1/3 cup brown sugar
Steep the leaves in the boiled water, covered, for one hour. Strain. Add brown sugar. Boil until the mixture reaches the soft candy stage, then pour onto a greased cookie sheet. With a butter knife, score out squares while the mixture is still soft. Allow to cool completely, then break into individual squares. Wrap each drop in waxed paper.

If your child suffers from whooping cough or suffers from an exhausting and painful cough try this effective infusion. This is a calming infusing which has soothing and expectorant properties that can be used alongside other medical treatments. ***Remember that bad coughs like whooping cough can be very dangerous in little children – seek professional advice at all times.

Wild Lettuce & Thyme Tea Recipe:
5g dried elecampane root (Inula helenium), 5g liquorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra), 750ml water, 10g dried wild lettuce (Lactuva virosa), 5g dried thyme (Thymus vulgaris), 10g dried mullein flowers (Verbascum thapsus)
Simmer elecampane, liquorice in water for 20 minutes. Put remaining herbs into a teapot and pour on the simmering decoction. Cover and infuse for 10 minutes. Strain. For children over 3 years old, drink a large cupful up to 6 times a day. (Penelope Ody’s Home Herbal)

Mullein Tea Recipe:
The ingredients for mullein tea are mullein leaves and flowers harvested directly from a healthy plant or purchased dried from a local herbalist. Caution is necessary when handling the leaves because they may cause contact dermatitis. Folk practitioners make a pot of mullein tea by steeping six dried or fresh leaves and a few flowers in five cups of boiled water for five minutes. Straining the tea through a piece of cheesecloth before consumption removes any mullein leaf hairs, which may irritate the throat. Honey is an optional sweetener.

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www.grandmas-wisdom.com/mullein-tea.html

Warning: Be careful not to confuse mullein with the toxic plant known as foxglove, Digitalis sp., which has a similar structure (a basal rosette and a stalk) and also has a slightly fuzzy texture, though less fuzzy than mullein. Foxglove has darker leaves and a different leaf surface. In flower confusion will not be an issue because foxglove flowers are shaped like little trumpets, which will make it more distinctive.
Also please be careful not to confuse mullein with the plant called lamb’s ear, Stachys byzantina. Lamb’s ear has a more similar color to mullein than foxglove but has a much silkier texture. Mullein is fuzzy, not silky.


~* Magickal Properties of Mullein *~

GENDER: Feminine
PLANET: Saturn
ELEMENT: Fire
DEITY: Jupiter
POWER: Courage, Protection, Health, Love, Divination, Exorcism

Magickal Uses:
Mullien is worn to keep wild animals from you while hiking in untamed areas.
European travellers carried mullein or stuffed it into their shoes to protect them from attacks by wild animals (and also to make walking more comfortable).
It is mixed with dill, salt, and fennel and sprinkled around haunted areas to repel malicious spirits or ghosts.
Mullein instills courage in the bearer.
A few leaves placed in the shoes keeps one from catching colds.
Mullein is carried to obtain love from the opposite sex.
Stuffed in to a small pillow or kept under the pillow prevent nightmares.
In India, it is regarded as the most potent safeguard against evil spirits and magick, and is hung over doors, in windows, and carried in sachets. It is also used to banish demons and negativity.
Graveyard Dust, an infrequent ingredient in spellwork, can be substituted with powdered mullein leaves.
At one time, Witches and magicians used oil lamps to illuminate their spells and rituals, and the downy leaves and stems of the mullein often provied the wicks.
According to Frazer in The Golden Bough, an old, pagan custom which long survived in western France involved passing mullein through Midsummer’s Eve bonfire. The mullein would protect the herds and the ashes from the fire were considered most magickal.
In England, putting mullein under the butter churn could bring back butter that had been witched away.

Sources:
healthdiaries.com
whfoods.com
livestrong.com
herbology.com.au
motherearthliving.com
herbs2000.com
firstways.com
geocities.ws
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham (Book)

Photo Source: purplesage.org.uk

Shared by Mary

☮ (aka Willow Wind)

source: The Pagan Musings

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Customs of the Ancestor

CELTIC GODS AND GODDESSES The myths of the Celtic Goddesses span a large area of Western and Central Europe. It was in these places that the Iron age Celtic speaking tribes settled. After numerous conflicts the Celtic people were mainly confined to Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Cornwall and Brittany, their influence here was reduced even further by the Romans and Christianization.

source: The Elder’s Grove

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Customs of the Ancestor

Elemental Magic: Water

Earth, Air, Fire and Water. These Elements correspond to the four directions of our physical world, the four quarters of the universe, the four winds, and most importantly the four quarters of the magical circle.

This post concerns the Element of Water. Water is the symbol of our emotions. Water imbues all life forms, and in us we flow with the “tide” of our feelings. Water involves intuition, insight, conception and pregnancy, fertility, the womb, health, beauty and divination.

A high water person may seem as though at the slightest touch the well is opened and can be over emotional and over dramatic in all areas of life. A low water person may appear as a cold calculating one, one who is indifferent and unresponsive. A good balance of water here is needed to keep the flow running smoothly.

Its feelings are cold moisture, its season is Fall. Its direction is West/Emotion and its colors are Blue, Light Grays, Sea Greens and Whites. The symbols are the cup or chalice. The Moon phase is the Full Moon and its time is Dusk.

Some Water Magic can involve the use of the beach and its sand, shells, animals and seawater. This is especially good for love spells and when you need to “get a grip” or clarify your own emotions. Shells are widely used in the practice. These can hold appropriate herbs or be used as a symbol of Water Magic.

One old tradition is using that of well water. Gems and stones are exposed to this for a period of time and used at night, during the full moon or the waxing phases, for Water Magic. Be careful though to know your stones, as some do not react well in water for long periods of time.

This type of magic can give you insights to how others think of you, what others are doing and how well they are. Water Magic can help you to find the truth within yourself. Be careful when using this type of magic, though, for if there is an intent of maliciousness or control of another, all you will get is a reflection back unto yourself.

Water spells can involve the use of a Scrying bowl. This is a bowl of clear or colored water in which you are able to “see” the future and future events or get a clear direction on decisions. Scrying bowls are widely used in certain meditations and visualizations.

source: The Smart Witch

[Pictured: Fantasy Through the Element of Water]

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Customs of the Ancestor

Elemental Magic: Fire

Earth, Air, Fire and Water. These Elements correspond to the four directions of our physical world, the four quarters of the universe, the four winds, and most importantly the four quarters of the magical circle.

This post concerns the Element of Fire. Fire represents passion, enthusiasm, desire and courage. It is force, lust, fertility and virility, initiative and rejuvenation. Fire represents both light and heat. The light of intelligence and the courage to follow it.

A high fire person is bold, dramatic and passionate in all areas within himself or herself, however this person must be careful as fire can destroy everything in its path. A low fire person is usually cold, slow to act, without enthusiasm for life or himself or herself.

Fire magic can bring on the new, bring on courage and passion and destroy the old. It’s feelings are hot and dry, it’s season is Summer and direction is South/Energy. Its symbol is the Athame/Sword, Candle and the Burner. Its colors are Reds, Oranges and Golds. The moon phase is the second quarter and it’s time is high Noon.

The different types of Fire Magic are Bonfire Magic, which usually involves burning something such as an herb or flower, or a piece of paper or petition on which you have written your desire. It is used for banishing, ridding or destroying negative influences in your life.

Another is Candle Magic, a simple, easy and useful method in bringing about your desires. A color for the candle is chosen and can also include the correct scent in relation to your desire and lit sometimes for up to seven days. This type of Fire Magic is usually for any type of desire.

Another is Sun Magic. Using the Sun in your desires is a beautiful way in which to enhance new beginnings in love, health, work and home, awaken subtle powers and aid in attraction desires.

source: The Smart Witch