Foraging!

I've been out foraging lately for medicinal/eatable plants. 

 Shown above are Wood Nettles.

Wood nettles (Laportea canadensis)  are very similar to Stinging Nettles (Urtica dioica). 

 Both can sting but both are also very rich in minerals and nutrients. 

The Wood nettle has a larger rounder leaf and grows under trees in moist river bottom areas.

  Stinging nettle is more of a sun loving dry area plant and has a narrower more pointed leaf, see below.

I found an area near the river here with thousands of Wood nettles and gathered a trash bag full.

I cleaned them in a salad spinner then added to a stockpot in which I had sauteed onions and garlic. 

 I cooked the greens down and added some water to make a soup. 

 Be careful handling these plants---they can sting ( caused by an acid that they release) until the plant is cooked or dried completely.

I made enough soup to eat for a couple of days and also to freeze. 

 It has a fresh green taste and is a wonderful healthy tonic. 

The dried leaves can be used to make nettle infusions---a drink highly recommended by herbalist Susun Weed. 

I have been drinking the infusions for several months and they have done wonders to alleviate hot flashes (they help support worn out adrenals)!

Another plant that I just collected if Yarrow,  Achillea millifolium, see picture above (the foliage is very ferny looking and does not show in this picture). 

 This is the wild white variety.

For medicinal uses the yellow garden variety is not as good---find the white!! 

I made an herbal tincture with vodka and have also dried a couple of bunches. 

Yarrow can stop cuts and wounds from bleeding by putting the leaves on the cut.

The dried plant can be used to make a tea for breaking fevers and the tincture can

also be used for fevers. 

 The tincture can also be sprayed on the skin as a bug repellent.

A very useful and beautiful plant!!  It can be found in dry sunny fields.

Mullein,Verbascum thapsus, is another plant that I harvested today. 

 It grows along the road in dry rocky poor soil. 

 It is an excellent plant to use as an infusion or tea for lung/respiratory illnesses.

I have not tried it yet but am stocking up now for the winter.

  Susun Weed recommends making an infusion and then straining it thru a tightly woven cloth to get rid of the small hairs.  She then recommends adding some organic milk to the infusion.

  The yellow flowers are suppose to work well when made into an oil infusion for ear problems.

I gathered 4 nice plants and plan on making an oil infusion with the flowers and garlic for ear problems and keeping the dried plant on hand for winter colds and respiratory ailments.

  I am anxious to see how well it works but I don't want to have to get sick to find out!

 Maybe just having a supply on hand will keep the illnesses at bay!!

Be smart when foraging.   Do not collect or use any plant unless you are positive that you have identified it correctly. 

 When in doubt, leave it alone until you can have an herbalist show you the plants in the wild. 

There are many wild herbalists out there and sometimes you can find weed walk classes to attend.  There are a few plants out there that can be deadly so make sure you know what you are doing!  There are two books that I highly recommend:

Edible Wild Plants by John Kallas

The Forager's Harvest by Samuel Thayer

Both have excellent photos and recipes and are packed with great info.

 I truly believe that collecting wild plants from your local area and making your own tinctures, teas and infusions is much more healing that buying the same herbs.

  You will have a more direct connection to the energy of the plant and you are sharing the same geographical envirnment with them which is more powerful than if you get something commercially produced from a different area. (I do order a lot of herbs because sometimes I cannot collect them here or there is not a good supply) 

 Which reminds me--when you collect these plants, take some tobacco or corn meal with you and offer it to the spirits of those plants and that area in thanks as you collect. 

If you have time, sit and talk to and listen to the plants that you are collecting. 

 Beome a part of that environment for awhile. 

 Collect only a small amount from each area--do not deplete the plant supply.

Be grateful and enjoy the beauty of the plant world!!

Late Spring Herbal Fun

Spring came early this year but I was late getting plants started.  I live in a townhouse so most of my gardening is in containers.  Container gardening can give some amazing results despite the lack of space!!  My herbs are coming along very nicely.  I concentrate on herbs mostly, the rest I can buy at the farmer's market (I do have a couple of tomato plants also!)

I have also been playing with some mixtures of essential oils added to a carrier of grapeseed oil. These can be used as a scent or massage oil.  I put my mixes in to very small antique glass bottles that I found.  These bottles are about 3 inches tall so the amount of oil is small---that means I can use them quickly and try new mixes.  I stole the mixture ideas from the Mountain Rose Herb catalog--I am new to mixing essential oils and so a little copying helps me to learn what scents go together well!

I have bought a lot of dried herbs from the Mountain Rose Herb company in recent months and am storing them in old and new canning jars that I have been collecting.  I was lucky to get a box of antique jars at an auction for a very good price and have found others at the nearby antique mall.  I have made my own labels for the jars usng a cd of medieval herbal woodcuts put out by Dover publications.  I print the labels onto rustic looking paper and use a glue stick to attach to the jars.

I am very happy with the result!!

Luxury Herbals for the Bath!

There is no better way to relax and bring a little luxury into life than to soak in a nice warm bath.  Herbs are the perfect thing to enhance this experience and add healing.  I made some sachets filled with herbs and essential oils that I will dangle off the faucet creating a type of "tea bag" as the herbs steep in the water.  I started by taking a large bowl and filling it with dried rose petals, calendula blooms, eucalyptus leaves, and lavender flowers.

Then, essential oils were added: lavender,orange, fir needle and sandlewood to create a woodsy spicy mix.  I tossed the oils into the dried flowers and stirred around for awhile, then I filled a couple of muslin bags with the mix and put the remainder in a jar.  Easy!!

Bath salts are another easy herbal luxury to make.  I took Epsom salts, Dead Sea Salt and baking soda and mixed in a bowl.  There are no exact proportions but I did use more Epsom salts that the other two.  Two different mixtures were made by adding essential oils: one a woodsy mix and the other more foral.  Add the oils to the salt mixure ( I just drip the oils in until they smell strong enough) and stir well then put into jars to keep near the tub!  The salts are healing for the skin and sore muscles and the aroma will enhance that healing.  Epsom salts are also excellent for cleansing the energy field so make sure you dunk yourself completely under to get a thorough cleansing!!! I found my dried flower blossoms, musiln bags and herbal oils online at Mountain Rose Herb Company.  They have very high quality organic products at very reasonable prices. Enjoy!!

Coming into the Light!

I had a very interesting Imbolc day.  I had been sick earlier in the week and took 2 days off from teaching.  Thursday found me back on the highway early in the morning as the sun was coming up.  I have a habit of watching the road for downed birds, specifically owls and hawks.  I have already been given two owls in this manner by the nature spirits.  I know it may sound gruesome but it isn't.  The first owl was given to me a couple of years ago.  While going down the highway with a friend, I spotted a brown lump with a wing sticking up.  We screeched to a halt and backed up.  Up until this time I had just been a collector of bones, clean bones, well aged and usually from deer.  I collect them for art inspiration.  However, this event was different.  I knew it was a full carcass before stopping.  When I ran up to the bird I saw that it was an owl.  I was amazed and suprised and I had the strong knowing that I was to take it.  So we proceeded home eventually and I knew I was to keep the wings so I got out the plant clippers and pretended it was no different than chopping a dead chicken for dinner and I severed the wings.  The rest of the owl I buried with a bit of ceremony.  That was the first owl whose dried wings I still have.  The second owl happened in a similar fashion.  I was driving along the same highway, saw the wing waving at me, stopped and knew it was meant for me to take.  This time I clipped the wings and tail.  I wanted the claws but was too squimish.  Later, a woman that I met who was very involved in Native American spirituality, told me I should have taken the claws also, then I would have had the power of the owl. The owl's wings are pictured above.   This second owl, a Barred Owl, was then put into a cedar tree in the woods on Winter Solstice a year ago with much ceremony to commerate its passing.

So yesterday, on Imbolc, I was driving down the same highway and I saw an owl but it was dark and there were a lot of cars and the bird was in the middle of the road so I knew it was not meant to be.  Further along though, I spotted a hawk on the side of the road, few cars and the sun was further up. I had been asking the spirits for a hawk!!  I turned around and grabbed it quickly and put it in my car.  If you do this, you do NOT want anyone to catch you.  Having a hawk or owl in your possesion is illegal even if it is roadkill because they are protected birds.  When I got home, I removed the wings, the red tail AND the claws (see picture above).  It is really difficult to clip parts off of these beautiful birds but I know that its spirit has long flown and if left on the side of the highway it would just be trampled endlessly.  I believe the hawk would prefer to have some of its beauty preserved.  Afterwards, I took the body into the woods nearby and placed it in the fork of a tree and offered some tobacco to the spirits.  In the picture you can see that I have stretched the wings out on a board and clipped the ends to the board.  If you don't, the wings will contract as the flesh dries and you will not be able to open them back out---put them how you want them before they dry.  I am going to pack them in borax for awhile to aid the drying process and kill mites.  I also put my wings in the freezer several times a year for a day or two to kill off any mites---feathers seem to attract mites.

I find it very symbolic that I was given the hawk on Imbolc.  Imbolc is a holiday that calls in the light after the winter darkness.  The hawk in Native American beliefs is a sun bird, its opposite is the owl, a night bird.  For me the owl was a similar energy to the goddess Kali, an energy that takes you into dark places.  The past several years I have experienced many dark places with passing of my parents, two friends, other family members and beloved pets.  I have also cleared out many dark places within myself.  The owl energy has been appropriate.  Now I have been given a hawk on Imbolc.  I am taking that as a powerful sign that I am entering a new brighter era, for awhile at least, and I am looking forward to learning more from the hawk spirits. Happy Imbolc!  Blessed Be!

Goddess Pendants!

I have been busy making Goddess Pendants out of red clay.  Styled after the Venus of Willendorf, they have a spiral on their bellies.  They measure about 2.5" long.  I am creating them for my group of Goddess women but am considering making a few extra to put onto my Esty site.  I started by creating the prototype, then I cast a plaster mold of it. Mold shown below as the plaster was setting on the prototype.

Even though I am using a mold, each figure comes out with her own personality.  I am anxious to get them into the kiln and see them finished!!!

Candle Making!

Candles are an integral part of any spiritual  ritual and especially useful in magic.  I decided to craft some of my own to make the use of candles in my ritual that much more powerful because I have placed my own energy not just on the candle but within the candle at the making of it.  I bought some high quality paraffin that is specially designed for making candles within glass or ceramic containers.  I did not want to purchase molds and decided instead to utilize some very small canning jars and some ceramic cups that I already had as containers.

I fixed wicks within the jars, cut the paraffin into small chunks and placed them into a double boiler. (You can make your own double boiler by placing one stock pot within another).  One tip:  I used one of my regular cooking stockpots and the wax is difficult to clean completely out of it so I am going to try to find a cheap used stock pot at a thrift store to dedicate to this purpose.

The wax melts very quickly so this process does not take long.  When the wax was melted, I added some candle colorant and essential oils to the wax.  I made two batches.  The first batch I colored green and added cedar, juniper, and rosemary oils.  The second batch I added brown coloring and sandalwood, patchouli, and palmarosa oils.  One mistake I did make and that is I poured the wax at too high of a temperature.  This caused the wax to sink in at the center of the candles.  The directions said to pour the wax at 125 degrees and my wax was closer to 150.

I had a lot of fun making these candles.  When I picked the colors and oils, I did not have a specific ritual in mind.  I picked colors and fragrances that I love.  If I did want to do a ritual for a specific purpose; for example: love, money, protection, ect... I would use colors associated with those purposes and fragrances that would support that. (This information can be found in any book on the magical use of herbs such as Scott Cunningham's).  I started with 4 lbs of paraffin and ended up with 24 candles!!  The warm glow and fragrances are wonderful!

A Night of Tarot and Fun!!

Last evening was spent with a group women that I celebrate the wheel of the year with.  It is a diverse group ranging in age from 24 to 74, all with a vast array of experiences and talents.  We share a love of the Goddess and a commitment to rituals celebrating her many faces.  So last night we had a light hearted evening of fun talking and playing with tarot decks.  We shared our different decks, pulled cards for ourselves, and gifted cards to others.  It was a wonderful evening!!
Pictured above are 3 decks that I shared--some of my favorites!  TheFaerie Tarot by Brian Froud, The Wildwood Tarot with art by Bill Worthington (my current favorite!) and the Tantric Dakini Oracle by Nik Douglas.  I have to admit that I have an addiction to tarot cards.  There are probably about 25-30 in my collection right now (I hate to get an exact count because it may be more than that!!).  Many of them I love for the art work alone.  I go through phases with many of them and some seem appropriate for certain readings or moods.  One that I have not yet come to terms with is my Faerie deck pictured above.  The faeries seem to be little tricksters to me and the readings have been confusing!!  :-)

Pictured above are some of my tarot bags.  I love to make an elegant bag to hold my cards and each deck has a unique bag.  I line them so there are two beautiful fabrics back to back, then I use a lovely satin cord to tie them closed and add a tassle of real stones and beads for decoration and nice energy.  I am considering making a few for my Esty site!

Witchy Kitchen Brews!

Every good witch should be able to make a magical brew!  In my kitchen right now I have a new experiment along with a tried and true process going.  First is my new brew:  home made Grand Marnier orange liquor.   I got this recipe from James Green's book "The Herbal Medicine Maker's Handbook", one of the best books for learning how to make herbal products yourself.  You need a half gallon jar--wide mouth opening.  Into that jar pour 250 ml of good brandy (a little over a cup).  I used a bottle of excellent Cognac that I had been given but don't really like.  To that you add 2/3 C sugar.  DO NOT mix or stir!!! (I don't know why!) Then take a juicy organic orange (make sure first that it easily fits thru the mouth of your jar--mine almost didn't!)  Stick 4 tooth picks into it, one on each side and level with each other.  Tie strings to each toothpick to suspend the orange in the jar.  You want the orange an inch or two above the brandy.  Have holes in the lid to run the string thru and tie so it stays in place.  This will have to sit for 10 days and the liqour will evaporate, catch on the orange, collect the essential oils and drip back down!!  YUM!!  Each day you are suppose to carefully turn the jar one complete 360 degree turn---DO NOT lift up or shake or jostle the jar, just turn it while it sits on the counter.  I turn mine clockwise to bring in positive energy (counter clockwise drives out negative energy which is not needed) .  I say a little incantation to the kitchen gods and spirits while I do it and will give them a taste as an offering when it is done!!! The sugar can be mixed up with the brandy when the orange is removed, then enjoy!!!

My other brewing is homemade Kombucha.  Kombucha is a bacterial colony that you put into sweetened tea to make a very healthy drink.  It is very expensive to buy at the natural food stores but very easy and cheap to make yourself.  The process is lengthy so follow the link below (given to me by a wonderful friend who is also a witch and an herbalist!) to learn the process:
This link shows you how to start your "mother" (the bacterial colony)
http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-grow-a-kombucha-scoby/

This link shows how to do the double fermentation to add fruit juice and flavor!
http://www.foodrenegade.com/how-to-brew-kombucha-double-fermentation-method/

The picture above shows my canning jars waiting with organic black cherry juice to have the fermented tea added.  It also shows the pitcher of tea that has already fermented and the "mother" removed to a bowl while I pour the tea into the jars.  It is kind of a slimy mess but fun to make!!!  I have experimented with many flavors of juice.  In the summer, when my herb garden is up and going, I put fresh herbs in. Thyme, basil, lavender, and ginger root make good additions. Never add herbs or ginger to the main pitcher of tea--herbs have anti-bacterial properties and could kill your "mother".  Add them to the jars of fruit juice!  Below, the jars with juice and tea ready to ferment for a couple of days!!  Enjoy!!  Have fun and experiment!!

New Vessels!

I've been busy making some new double walled vessels that are inspired by Islamic architecture and Gothic ritual vessels. I have started using earthenware, both white and red, along with terra sig as a glaze to obtain old worn, crackeled surfaces.  So far I am excited with the results I have been getting on some smaller pieces so I have moved up to larger, more complex constructions!

This image shows a partially assembled piece.

Cut and carved, glazed and waiting for the kiln! (shown upside down)

Second Vessel:

A second vessel, assembled, carved and with added sprigs, waitng final cleanup and glazing!

May the Kiln Gods and Fire Spirits be kind and treat them gently!!

(finished photos will be posted after firing!)

Spider Woman: Weaving

Today I am taking a break from ceramics! I installed a new show a couple of days ago and need a break, but unable to be idle, I am playing with my weaving supplies!!  Shown above are some skeins of rug wool that I dyed using plants that I collected.  I used a alum/tartar mordant to fix the colors into a natural rug wool that I purchased.  The plants used from left to right: Black Walnut nuts and hulls, Red Sumac fruit, Dandelion Root, Red Sumac leaves, Beets, Ragweed leaves, the original natural yarn, Goldenrod flowers, Blackeyed Susan flowers, Teabags, Tumeric and Curry powders.  The colors will turn out quite differently than you expect. It was a lot of fun, though messy to do.  This is best done in late summer/early fall when there are lots of plants blooming.  Search the internet for how to---I found a lot of good info. 

So the question now is what do I do with all of it??  I have my tapestry loom warped and just need to decide on a pattern.  I am considering a Navajo rug pattern.  First the yarn will have to be "unspun" because it curled and became tighter during the dyeing process so I will need to use my drop spindle to loosen the tension, then after I have a pattern decided I can get started!!!

Above is  photo of a long scarf I made on my small table loom. It was done in a fine silky rayon.  The pattern is an intricate double diamond twill.  The colors ended up being similar in tone so the pattern is subdued  but very elegant.  Spider woman has been busy!!

Dream Pillows

Today I made myself a dream pillow to start the New Year!  I made a simple drawstring bag out of a rectangle of pretty floral fabric that I had and used a piece of green satin cording to draw it closed.  I filled it with mugwort leaves to help transition to dreamland and the astral plane, rose petals for love, lavender flowers for relaxation and sleep.  Then I added some herbal oils to the mix.  Sandlewood for the subconscious, cypress for understanding and cinnamon for memory.  The oils will help to hold and process information found in dreams and astral travel.  I plan to refresh and change out my herbal mix every few months which is where the drawstring comes in handy!  You can make your own dream pillow by finding a beautiful piece of fabric that you can make into a bag then adding your own special herbal mix. Grow your own herbs and flowers and dry them or buy them at a local herb store or health food store. Oils are often available at herb shops or natural food stores and internet sites. For information on what herbs you may want to use check out Scott Cunninghams book "The Complete Book of Incense, Oils and Brews". I also like to add several small stones to my pillow.  Pick stones that will work in a similar fashion to the herbs, ie: stones that are good for astral projection, sleep, relaxation.  Melody's book "Love is in the Earth" is one of the best references on stones.  Another quicker way to pick a stone is to match it to a chakra color.  For dreaming and astral projection I would do a deep blue stone to correlate to the third eye chakra.  For love I would pick a pink stone. Trust your instincts when mixing your dream pillow---sometimes that can be more effective than book knowledge!  When my pillow is mixed I like to talk to the plant spirits associated with the herbs I chose and ask them to work with me.  I do the same with the stone spirits.  I then like to place the dream pillow on my altar to consecrate it and let it charge up near the many stones and crystals I have placed there.  Then I place it under my pillow or on my nightstand where I can smell the wonderful scents and access the energy as I sleep! Sweet dreams!!

Happy New Year!

2012!!  So it begins.  Much mystery surrounds this year due to various interpretations of the Mayan calendar.  Will the world end?? I prefer to look at the many positive viewpoints of this time.  Jean Houston is one of my favorite thinkers and authors.  Her viewpoint is shared by many and she feels that we are entering a time when the human race has the option to reach its full potential, as individuals and as a society.  We have the capacity for much compassion and innovation.  It is our choice---each one of us.  Do you want to dwell in negativity, blame, mediocrity or do you want to move yourself to a higher level, use your abilities to their fullest, increase your compassion and better your own life and as a result of that, better your world?? There is much in our world that is very positive---dwell on that, add to it, strive to be your best, love yourself and the others in your life.  Wishing us all a New Year and a New Era filled with love, compassion, and abundance!!