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Part II

The Language of Flowers

For centuries, people have used flowers to represent thoughts and feelings.
Below you will find a small list of better known Flowers and their "meanings."

Baby's Breath - Happiness
Chamomile - Patience
Cockscomb - Affection
Elderflower - Compassion, Sympathy,
Evening Primrose - Inconstancy, Uncertainty
Everlastings (Life) - Never ceasing remembrance
Geranium - Comfort, Consolation
Ivy - The Love of God & Goddess
Lavender – Luck, Devotion, Silence, Love
Lemon Balm - Comfort
Myrtle - Love, a first declaration of Love
Nasturtium - Conquest
Rose, Red - Love
Southernwood - Constancy
Yarrow - Dreams of a loved one, marriage

Herbs of the Zodiac

Aries: Garlic, Hemp, Marjoram, Mustard seed, Angelica root.
Taurus: Colts foot, Dandelion, Sage, Thyme, Patchouli, Cedar.
Gemini: Caraway seed, Lavender, Mandrake, Vervain, Hazel, Spearmint.
Cancer: Lemon verbena, Marigold, Geranium, Apple Catnip.
Leo: Anise, Bay leaves, Dill, Mint, Oak, Clove.
Virgo: Fennel seed, Valerian, Skullcap, Cypress
Libra: Penny royal, Thyme, Lemon verbena.
Scorpio: Basil, Sasperilla, Horehound, Ash, Hops.
Sagittarius: Red clover, Burdock, St. Johns wort, Tobacco.
Capricorn: Comfrey, Slippery elm, Thyme, Jasmine.
Aquarius: Frankincense, Myrrh, Valerian, Sandalwood, Peppermint.
Pisces: Irish moss, Sea spirit, Hyacinth, Lovage, Willow.

Astrology & Numerology for Witches

Ye Olde Herbal Names

Below you will find a few 'Old Herbal' names, Craft name comes first,
followed by the common name for that herb/flower/root.

Blood - Sap of Elder Tree
Bloody Fingers- Foxglove
Candlemas Maiden - Snowdrop
Candlewick Plant - Mullein
Crown for a King - Wormwood
Dew of the Sea - Rosemary
Dragonwort - Bistort
Earth Smoke - Fumitory
Elfwort - Eclampane
Enchanter's Plant - Vervain
Eye of the Star - Horehound
Five Finger Grass - Cinquefoil
Joy of the Mountain - Marjoram
Lad's Love - Southernwood
Little Dragon - Tarragon
Love in Idleness - Pansy
Love Parsley - Lovage
Loveroot - Orris
Maiden's Ruin - Southernwood
Master of the Woods - Woodruff
Masterwort - Angelica
May Lily - Lily of the valley
Mistress of the Night - Tuberose Password - Primrose
Queen of Meadow - Meadowsweet
Ram's Head - American Valerian
Seven Year's Love - Yarrow
Sleepwort - Lettuce
Sorcerer's Violet - Periwinkle
Star of the Earth - Avens
Starflower - Borage
Starweed - Chickweed
Starwort - Aster
Thousand Seal - Yarrow
Thunder Plant - Houseleek
Unicorn Horn - True Unicorn Root
Witch Herb - Mugwort
Witches Asprin - White Willow Bark
Witches Bells - Foxglove
Witches Briar - Briar Hip
Witchgrass - Dog Grass
Witchwood - Rowan

Fairy Firewater

Absinthe history, information, recipes and more...

Flower & Herb Drying

Air Drying:

Air-drying can be very successful with herbs, everlastings and ornamental grasses. Choose perfect plants with long stems, removing the lower leaves. Put the flowers in small bunches, fastening them together with a rubber band; then open each bunch into a fan shape. Hang the flowers head down from nails in a dry, dark place for one to three weeks until they are completely dry. The colors will usually be muted. Display your flowers in the house or store them as above. This method works with roses as well. Cut the stems off to the very bottom of the rose head, and carefully insert a 6-8" length of wire. Hang upside down by bending the end of the wire over a hanger and place in a dark dry closet where it won't be disturbed. One hanger can accomodate several flowers, just space them apart a bit.

~ 2001 Barbara Morris

* TIP *

Try storing dried roses heads in a cardboard egg carton. They stay upright and don't get squashed. The natural holes in the carton helps with ventilation and you could sprinkle a small amount of silica gel in the bottom of the carton to help keep humidity out.

Flower & Herb Waters

Rose & Rosemary Water

3 tbsp dried rosemary or 6 tbsp fresh rosemary
2 tbsp dried or fresh rose petals
4 cups water
1 Vitiman 'C' tablet(presertive)

Combine all ingredients in a small glass or enameled pan. Bring water JUST to a simmerand shut heat. Add herbs/flowers. Steep for 20 mins. *This process can be repeated using the same water and more herbs/flowers for a stronger scent. Add a vitamin 'C' tablet while mixture is still warm. * Cool to room temperature, then strain out the herbs. Put liquid in a bottle with a lid and dab on with cotton, OR put it in a spray bottle and spray on your face and body. This rinse will remove any traces of soap on your face. Refrigerate between uses.

You can use any flower or herb of your choice, other fav's of mine are Lavender, Lemon Verbana, Witch Hazel, Marigold. I also use my Flower/Herb waters to cleanse my Altar and magical tools.
~ 2001 Barbara Morris

Herbal Steam Facial

I also sometimes treat my self to an Herbal facial. here's how you can try this "spa-like" treatment in your own home:
Bring 4 cups of water to a simmer and add 4 tablespoons of an herb like lavender to a teapot. Pour boiling water over herbs in teapot, cover teapot. Sit at table and cover head with towel, slowly pour steaming herb/water mix into deep bowl, do 1/3 of the water at a time. Allow the steam to build up around your face, but be careful of the hot water. The steam will do wonders for your face, skin is moister and younger looking, feeling. Do not steam longer than 20 mins. Use an astringent immediately after steam while pores are open, for best results.
~ 2001 Barbara Morris

Witch Hazel Astringent

Fill A glass bottle 1/4 full with dried Witch hazel leaves.
Fill to the top with isopropyl alcohol.
Cork or cover bottle and store in a cool dark place for three days.
On the third day you will find that the liquid has turned Green,
Now strain herbs through cheese cloth,
or steel strainer, paper coffe filter.
Return to bottle and cork.
Store in cool dark place.

Great for skin, apply after "Steam facials", cleansing eye glasses, magical mirrors, crystals ETC.
~ 2001 Barbara Morris

Natural Disinfectant

Wash area with a tea made from Thyme, Garlic or lavender. All are antiseptic by nature.

Make Your Own Herbal Tinctures

Incense HOW TO's

How to make Incense

Perfume & Cologne, 'How to' Recipes

Perfume

Perfumes are concentrated fragrances. Their scent will last a long time.
Simply add 1 teaspoon of fragrance oil (essential oil) to 1/4 cup 100-proof vodka. Shake well.

Cologne

Cologne is lighter than perfume, and will give you a lighter fragrance.
Mix 1/2 teaspoon fragrance oil (essential oil) with 1/4 cup 100-proof vodka. Shake well.

* Store in pretty bottles or atomizer *

Conversion chart for Oils

~ 1/8 fluid ounce = 1 dram = 1/2 teaspoon plus 1/8 teaspoon
~ 1/4 fluid ounce = 2 drams = 1 and 1/4 teaspoons or 1/2 tablespoon
~ 1/2 fluid ounce = 4 drams =1 tablespoon
~ 3/4 fluid ounce = 6 drams = 1 tablespoon plus 1/2 tablespoon
~ 1 fluid ounce = 8 drams = 2 tablespoons

* Natural Beauty Recipes & Glamour Spells, Click Here

Do it your self Herbal Remedies

* To reduce a fever; try a Yarrow bath.
* To help wounds heal; try a Comfrey compress.
* To ease the pain of sore muscles, try a hot Ginger compress.
* For upset stomach; Sip Peppermini tea.
* To sooth a dry cough; try Marshmallow root tea.

~ Source June 2ooo Issue 'Natural Health'

Lemon Verbena Sachet

1 cup lemon verbena, dried and crushed fine

1 cup lemon balm, dried and crushed fine

1 cup rosemary, dried and crushed fine

1 tablespoon Lemon peel (left as is)

4 drops essential oil of Verbena or Lemon

Instructions

In a glass container, mix all the ingredients, allow to age for two weeks.
Fill ingredients into small or medium sized cloth/cotton/muslin bags. Makes 3 cups.
Discard after fragrance is gone.

~ 2002 Barbara Morris

Summer God candle

Cut up nine sunflower petals (dried or fresh) into the tiniest pieces on wax paper
"Dress" a yellow or gold pillar candle in Sun oil or oil that corresponds to the sun
Roll candle into the pieces of Sunflower petals on waxed paper
Burn on a Sunday to attune to the Summer God vibration
~ PLEASE watch all dressed candles as they can catch fire. !!!
~ 2003 Barbara Morris

Explore Other Gardens

Botanical.com, A Modern Herbal

Fae Folk Lore, Herbs and Trees

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