Herbal Lore

Welcome to my ‘green’ medicine cabinet. Aside from a deep interest in essential oils, one of my greatest passions is my beloved herb garden. With the growing interest in sustainable living more people are focusing on the gifts that mother nature has to offer. Over the coming months, I will introduce some common herbs that can easily be grown in any garden and discuss their uses.

Wise men and women who knew the land and understood nature and its powers have practiced herbal lore for centuries. All herbs have both medicinal and magical properties. In fact, in ancient times herbs were used primarily for medicinal and magical purposes rather than for their culinary attributes.

I have my own extensive herb garden and use it for a range of different purposes, including cooking. Not only do herbs taste great, but their healing powers can be used and tapped into for tinctures, rituals and cleansing. Apart from anything else, they smell wonderful when you brush past them in the garden!

The first herb I would like to introduce is Sage. I have Sage growing in a few different spots in the garden as it’s so versatile and one of my favourite herbs. I use it to make my own smudge sticks (more on that later), to consecrate sacred spaces and to cleanse my Tarot cards.

Sage

Gender – Masculine
Planet - Jupiter or Venus
Element - Air

Culinary Uses

Sage works best with meats, particularly poultry. It can also be used in stuffings, with potatoes, cheeses and tomato sauces. Complementary flavourings include onion, garlic, thyme, oregano, parsley, bay leaf and rosemary. Use sparingly as it has quite a strong flavour. Fresh sage has a milder flavour than dried, 1 tablespoon of fresh sage = 1 teaspoon dried.

Herbal Lore

Considered a ‘cure all’ Sage has a long history of use as a herb for healing. Sage is often used as a remedy for respiratory infections, congestion, coughs and sore throats. It is known to be an appetite stimulant, to aid indigestion and is said to have a beneficial effect on the liver. It is also given for fever, night sweats and urinary problems. Can be used as a compress on cuts and wounds or as a tea for gargling.

Magical Uses

Sage is commonly used to purify a sacred space often in the form of a smudge stick. It can also be used in rituals, as protection and to cleanse and purify an altar or magical tools. It is associated with protection, wishes and prosperity. It is said that if you want to make your dreams come true, put Sage leaves under your pillow.

Mr G enjoying the herb garden.
Cats love herbs too!

Essential Oils to help Manage Anger

All of us experience anger at some point in our lives. Traditionally, anger is seen as a negative emotion that should be repressed rather than expressed. The problem with this of course is that when emotion is not allowed to flow freely, it becomes bottled up inside us and is then expressed inappropriately. Repressed emotion, including anger, is the source of dis-ease within the body. From a Reiki perspective, "letting out" our emotions in a healthy and constructive way is the best way to prevent illness.

Anger can be a positive influence in our lives. It can give us the motivation and drive to create social change or to help lift us from depression into action. It only becomes a problem when we no longer deal with it in a constructive way. If you find you are having problems controlling your stress and anger, then it may be time to develop a stress management routine.

Essential oils can do a lot to control anger. They have a calming and soothing effect that can help reduce stress and help calm and balance emotions. Some essential oils that are useful include Rose, Chamomile Roman, Orange, Bergamot and Jasmine. Try adding any of these oils, by themselves or blended together, to an aromatherapy diffuser. Or try some of the recipes below:

Blend #1
2 drops Rose
3 drops Orange
1 drop Jasmine

Blend #2
3 drops Bergamot
2 drops Chamomile Roman
1 drop Jasmine

Blend #3
1 drop Chamomile Roman
2 drops Bergamot
2 drops Orange

Rose oil on its own is considered a powerful tool against anger and other emotional wounds, instilling compassion and forgiveness. Add 1 -2 drops to a tissue and breathe in deeply all through the day for an anger management solution on the go.

Tarot Card of the Month - The Chariot

This month’s tarot card is the Chariot. The numerical value of the Chariot is seven and is associated with the astrological sign of Cancer.

An armored warrior stands in a triumphal “car” (chariot). He is surrounded by canopy of six pointed stars representing the celestial influences at work in this card. The crescent moons on his shoulders are outward facing and refer to the formative world. The symbols on his tunic are alchemical symbols, representing the spiritual transformation of man. The square signifies earth, a sign of strength of will. The laurel and star crown indicate the highest attainment of man in spiritual evolution. Black and white sphinxes (sometimes horses) sit at his feet and represent the union of positive and negative forces.

The charioteer holds no reins, just a wand from the Magician card. He controls this through his strength of will in the same way the Magician does. The city is behind him, indicating he has turned his back on civilisation and materialism in order to seek a spiritual path.

The meaning of the Chariot card is conquest, victory and overcoming opposition through confidence and control. It represents a battle that can be won if the Querent has the willpower for it. The battle is usually an external one, with a clear goal and plan of action. Qualities needed to win the battle include determination, discipline, conviction and plain hard work. The steeds represent powerful forces, internal or external, that can be controlled to achieve the goal.

When the Chariot appears in a spread, it signifies that confidence and assertion is required. You need to have complete faith in yourself and know fundamentally who you are and what you stand for. If you have unwavering faith in your convictions then nothing can stand in your way. You will be successful at pursuing your goals, so long as you maintain focus, determination and confidence in your abilities.

Keywords of the Chariot are – willpower, focus, confidence, discipline, success

Amethyst Crystal

Clients often ask me about crystals and which are best for overall well being. I believe the ideal way to choose crystals is intuitively and for a specific purpose. However, if you want a crystal that covers a wide range of uses, I would suggest Amethyst.

Amethyst comes from the Greek word, amethusos, meaning 'not drunk'. It is a highly spiritual stone that has been used for thousands of years for protection, healing and psychic empowerment. Its violet colour relates to the crown chakra and pineal gland (third eye) and radiates energy which has often been referred to as the purple ray.

The uses and qualities of Amethyst are varied and include:

- Calms the emotions and reduces stress
- Fosters healing and selflessness
- Increases spiritual awareness
- Enhances psychic abilities and transformation
- Helps lift depression
- Aids in overcoming substance abuse, especially alcohol addiction
- Is a powerful amulet for travelers
- Worn as psychic protection
- It is kept with other divination tools to enhance their qualities
- Used to induce harmony.

Some of the healing properties associated with Amethyst include:

- Eases headaches and releases tension
- Reduces bruising, swellings and injuries
- Heals diseases of the lungs and respiratory tract
- Used to treat skin conditions.

Overall, Amethyst is an excellent stone as it repels negative energy and helps us connect to our spiritual nature. For more information about crystals, refer to my earlier post on crystal therapy.

Tarot Card of the Month - Strength

The tarot card for this month is Strength. The value of this card is either 8 or 11 (depending on the deck) and is associated with the zodiac sign of Leo.

A woman is standing in a field with her hands around a lion’s head. There is a peaceful smile on her face and it appears she has successfully tamed this wild beast. Instead of preparing the bite, the lion is sticking out his tongue which suggests that he is happy to submit and surrender to the woman. She has the infinity symbol above her head and her white robe indicates spiritual purity. The lion is a symbol of our animal passions and desires. The maiden represents that part of ourselves that has the ability to nurture and love.

This card represents inner strength, determination and power. It reminds us of the power of the human spirit to overcome and endure life’s obstacles by drawing upon our inner strength and confidence. While strength is normally associated with the masculine, this is a feminine card. The woman depicted is compassionate and caring. She tames the lion through a gentle approach using love and patience rather than by sheer force.

When the Strength card appears in a spread, it signifies that strength is required for challenges ahead. It also tells us that we have the inner strength required to meet these challenges and urges us to use compassion, love and gentleness to achieve our goal.

Keywords for the Strength card – strength, courage, patience, compassion, understanding

Fennel Tea

Fennel has been used for centuries not only to add flavor in cooking but also for its many health benefits.

Fennel has a mild estrogen-like activity which inhibits spasms in the intestinal tract. It is wonderful for the treatment of gastrointestinal afflictions such as indigestion and fullness. It has also been shown to possess diuretic, pain reducing, fever reducing and antimicrobial actions. In fact, fennel was formerly an official drug in the United States and was listed as being used for indigestion.

Fennel tea is available from any health food store but it’s easy enough to make yourself. Simply buy some dried fennel seeds from the herb section in the supermarket and steep a few teaspoons in a teapot or boiling water. It will aid digestion after a meal and is particularly effective for settling an upset stomach. It has a lovely aniseed flavour and makes a delicious tea which can be enjoyed at any time.

Tarot Card of the Month - The Devil

This month, I would like to introduce one of the less popular cards in the Tarot deck, the Devil card. The value of this card is fifteen and is ruled by Capricorn, the goat.

A winged horned figure sits on a pedestal with an inverted pentagram on his forehead. The black background represents what is hidden or ignorance. Two naked figures, a male and female are chained at his feet. Although the two figures are chained, if you look closely you will see that the chains around their neck are loose. This symbolises that our restrictions are always self imposed and there is always a way out if we choose.

On first glance, this seems to be a foreboding card as many people believe the horned figure to be Satan. In actual fact the figure is Pan, the half goat Nature God or Dionysius (Bacchus). As God of Nature, Pan represents the physical realm and the primal desires of man.

This is not a card to be feared, but rather one that should be embraced. It not only encourages us to face our deepest and darkest fears but also to accept our animal nature. As human beings we are part animal and part spirit. Both are equally important and should be in balance with each other. By denying our animal nature, we deny what it is to be human. The same can be said if we deny our spirituality.

The Devil Card has several meanings, but basically it symbolises bondage of some kind whether it be to a person or a situation. This card lets you know that you are caught in an unhealthy or unproductive circumstance. Most of us are aware of being caught in a negative situation, but often we push the truth away, choosing instead to bury it into the darkness of our subconscious. This card urges us to face what is hidden and to bring the truth to light.

As this card also represents base desires, it can be associated with addictions, obsessions or focusing too much on the material realm. Deceit is often associated with this card as is lust, an over indulgence of sexual pleasure or an extra marital affair.

Keywords for The Devil card – bondage, restriction, sexual desire