Saturday Special Stone - Using Your Crystals & Stones

Using your crystals and stones

Learning to use your stones and crystals is a matter of intuition. You learn to listen, and then you understand instinctively how to use them. This requires getting attuned to the stone or crystal.
After cleansing the crystal or stone, hold it in your hand. Really look at it in detail, letting your mind explore every aspect of the stone. Note details such as the color, shape, size, and other physical characteristics of the stone. Let your mind jump freely to whatever aspect it finds interesting.
If you are right handed, your right hand is your projective hand and you left your receptive hand. You should try to detect energies with your left and project them with your right.

First, charge the stone with love by holding it in your right hand and imagining a bubble of love forming around and filling the stone or crystal. Imagine how grateful and happy you will be when the stone helps you with your daily life, and charge the stone or crystal with positive energies. The more often you do this, the better your results will be.
Now place it on a small table or area of the floor. Close your eyes and place your receptive hand a few inches off the surface containing the stone or crystal. Move your hand slowly around and feel for the energy of the stone. Let your hand feel the energy, it can do it if you allow it and intend it to be so.
Practice charging the stones and crystals with love and then finding them by the energy they radiate. Don't be discouraged if you can't do it right away. Just ask the stones to cooperate and keep trying.

Copyright 2001 EarthBow
Non-commercial use: Distribute freely
Commercial use: Prohibited

CRYSTAL REMEDY REFERENCE from Peaceful Mind
This is a quick reference to match ailments with crystals. Please note
any warning and safety issues regarding their use.

ABDOMEN- smoky quartz

ABSENT-MINDEDNESS- carnelian

ACNE- amethyst

ADDICTIONS- amethyst

AIR PURIFIER- quartz crystal

AIR TRAVEL STRESS- hematite

ANEMIA- coral, gamet, kunzite, ruby, tourmaline

ANGER- blue-lace agate, chrysoprase, moss-agate

ANXIETY- smithsonite, howlite

APPENDIX- chrysolite

ARTHRITIS- azurite, carnelian, ruby

ARTISTIC GROWTH- blue topaz

ASTHMA- malachite, rutilated quartz, tiger's eye

ASTRAL PROJECTION- angelite, hematite

AURA CLEANSER- lapis lazuli

AUTISM- sugilite, moldavite

AWARENESS- green calcite, orange calcite, celestite

BACK PROBLEMS- petrified wood

BLADDER TROUBLE- amber, coral, jade, jasper

BLOOD CIRCULATION (poor)- citrine, magnetite, ruby, yellow topaz

BLOOD DISEASE- amethyst, chrysolite, jasper, ruby

BLOOD PRESSURE- aventurine, blue sodalite, black or green tourmaline

BONE MARROW- amber, chalcedony

BRONCHITIS- rutilated quartz

BURNS- chrysoprase

CALMS BODY- agate, celestite, yellow topaz, blue topaz

CALMS MIND- agate, amazonite, amethyst, smithsonite, blue topaz

CERVIX- zoisite

CHAKRAS BALANCED- bloodstone, quartz crystal

CHAKRAS OPENED- fluorite, kyanite, quartz crystal

CHEERFULNESS- conicalite, ruby, tourmaline

CLAIRVOYANCE- chrysoprase

COLDS & FLU- yellow topaz

COLIC- coral

COMFORT- gold calcite, dioptase

COMMUNICATION- aqua aura, lapis, aquamarine, angelite

COMPASSION- chrysoprase

CONCENTRATION- blue topaz

CONFIDENCE, SELF- agate, aventurine, bloodstone, orange calcite,
diamond, garnet, rhodonite, tiger's eye

CONVULSIONS- amber, amethyst, carnelian, lapis lazuli, moldavite, quartz crystal

CREATIVITY- amethyst, aventurine, chalcedony, howlite, ruby

DEPRESSION- bloodstone, gold calcite, carnelian, chalcopyrite, citrine,
smoky quartz, diamond, chrysoprase, garnet, galena, howlite, jasper,
jet, lapis lazuli

DIABETES- citrine

DIARRHEA- quartz crystal

DIGESTION- howlite, yellow jade, jasper, peridot

DIRECTION IN LIFE- citrine

DIZZINESS- quartz crystal

DOUBT- staurolite

DREAM INDUCER- citrine, garnet

DREAMS, INTUITIVE- amethyst, jade

DRUNKENNESS- amethyst

EAR (Inner)- rhodonite

EARACHE- amber

ELOQUENCE- agate, amazonite, blue-lace agate, turquoise

EMOTIONS (bad)- peridot

EMOTIONS (blocked)- kunzite, blue tourmaline

EMOTIONS (calms)- moonstone, rose quartz

EMOTIONS (erratic)- herderite, selenite

ENDOCRINE SYSTEM- magnetite

ENDURANCE- sodalite

ENERGY- garnet, hematite, kyanite, rhodonite, ruby

ENERGY, BALANCED- larimar

ENERGY (Physical)- petrified wood

EYES- amethyst, aquamarine, aventurine, optical calcite, jade, jet,
lapis lazuli, lazurite, obsidian snowflake, peridot, rhodochrosite

EYESIGHT- malachite

FAITH- sapphire

FALLOPIAN TUBES- chrysoprase

FEAR (banishes)- agate, green calcite, charoite, diamond, jet

FERTILITY- carnelian, zoisite

FEVER (reduction)- agate, chrysoprase, peridot, ruby

FORGIVENESS- rhodochrosite

FRIENDSHIP- lapis lazuli, moonstone, rose quartz, sapphire, tourmaline, turquoise

FRUSTRATION- howlite, moss-agate

GALL BLADDER- orange calcite

GLANDS- aquamarine

GRIEF- amethyst

GROUNDING- apache tear, carnelian, fluorite, hematite, morion crystal,
snowflake obsidian, smoky quartz, tourmaline, unakite

HEMORRHAGE- quartz crystal, sapphire

HAPPINESS- malachite

HEADACHES- quartz crystal, rose quartz

HEALING (general)- agate, amethyst, azurite, boji stone, gold calcite,
dioptase, fluorite, kunzite, quartz crystal

HEARING- agate, rhodonite

HEART- aqua-aura, beryl, blue quartz, chalcedony, hematite, lapis
lazuli, onyx

HIP- petrified wood

HOSTILITY (fear of)- grossuralite

HUMILITY- chrysoprase

HYPERTENSION- apatite, aventurine

HYPOCHONDRIA- quartz crystal, tiger's eye

IDEALISM- bloodstone

IMAGINATION- galena, garnet, rose quartz, sapphire

IMMUNE SYSTEM- snow quartz

IMPOTENCE- carnelian

INFECTION (protection)- garnet, pearl

INFERTILITY- carnelian

INFLAMMATION- blue-lace agate

INSIGHT INTO SELF- tiger's eye

INSOMNIA- amethyst, aventurine, emerald, hematite, jacinth, peridot,
sapphire, blue sodalite, yellow topaz, zircon

INSPIRATION- tourmaline

INTELLECT- emerald, rose quartz, yellow topaz

INTESTINAL DISORDERS- amber

INTUITIVE AWARENESS- amethyst, green calcite, ruby, turquoise

JOINTS (pain in)- azurite

KIDNEYS- anhydrite, bloodstone, green calcite, jade, rhodochrosite,
quartz crystal, smoky quartz

KINDNESS- chrysoprase

KNOWLEDGE OF SELF- citrine, watermelon/pink tourmaline

LARYNGITIS- turquoise

LARYNX- morganite

LEADERSHIP- blue topaz

LIVER- aquamarine, beryl, bloodstone, lazurite, yellow topaz, zircon

LOGIC- sodalite

LONG LIFE- moonstone

LOVE- dioptase, emerald, garnet, moonstone, opal, rhodochrosite, rose
quartz, sapphire

LOYALTY- kyanite, moonstone

LUCK- smoky quartz, tiger's eye

LYMPH GLANDS- tourmaline

MEDITATION- amethyst, apache tear, aqua-aura, azurite, chrysoprase,
kunzite, magnetite, quartz crystal, selenite, snow quartz, tourmaline, turquoise

MEMORY- howlite

MENSTRUATION- carnelian, chrysoprase, malachite, moonstone, ruby

MENTAL BREAKDOWN- rhodochrosite, smithsonite

MENTAL CLEANSER- lapis lazuli, malachite

MENTAL DISORDERS- beryl, bloodstone

MENTAL POWER- selenite

METABOLISM, GROWTH- amazonite

MIGRAINE- aventurine, jet, rose quartz

MIND (troubled)- jasper

MISCARRIAGE- chrysoprase

MISFORTUNE- tourmaline

MOTOR RESPONSES- apatite

MOUTH- beryl

NECK STRAIN- chrysoprase

NEGATIVE VIBRATIONS- amethyst, chrysocolla, dolomite, fluorite,
snowflake obsidian, peridot, quartz crystal, smoky quartz, black or
green tourmaline

NERVOUSNESS- sapphire, turquoise

NERVOUS SYSTEM- atacamite, alexandrite, amazonite, amber, aquamarine,
chrysocolla, chrysoprase, galena, jasper, morganite, peridot, yellow
topaz, black or green tourmaline

NEURALGIA- amethyst, aquamarine, carnelian

OCCULT POWERS- peridot

OPTIMISM- chalcedony

OVARIES- anhydrite, atacamite, chrysoprase, smoky quartz

PAIN - EASES- quartz crystal, ruby

PANCREAS- alexandrite, green calcite, herderite, rhodochrosite, smoky quartz

PAST-LIFE RECALL- garnet, kyanite, petrified wood, quartz crystal, selenite

PATIENCE - chrysoprase

PEACE- chrysoprase, larimer, rose quartz, blue tourmaline

PEACE OF MIND- sapphire

PINEAL GLAND- lazulite, sugilite

PITUITARY- sugilite

PNEUMONIA- fluorite

PROPHECY- emerald

PROSTATE- chrysoprase

PROTECTION- sardonyx, turquoise

PSYCHIC DEVELOPMENT- azurite, howlite, lapis lazuli, opal, yellow topaz,
blue topaz

PSYCHO-SOMATIC PAIN- bloodstone, tiger's eye

PULSE (rapid)- hematite

PULSE (steady)- jasper

PURIFIER- smoky quartz

RHEUMATISM- amber, carnelian, malachite, ruby

RIGID MIND- sodalite

SCHIZOPHRENIA- larimar, lepidolite

SELF-CONFIDENCE- galena, ruby

SELF-CONTROL- sardonyx

SELF-LOVE- rose quartz

SELF-WORTH (lack of)- crocidolite

SEX IMPROVED- smoky quartz

SHOULDER STRAIN- chrysoprase

SHYNESS- lepidolite

SKIN DISEASES- garnet

SORROW EASED- chrysoprase

SPASMS- ruby

SPINE-DEGENERATIVE- abalone

SPIRITUAL CLEANSER- lapis lazuli

SPIRITUAL GIFTS- quartz crystal, blue topaz

SPLEEN (strengthens)- albite, alexandrite, bloodstone, green calcite,
chalcedony, herderite, lapis lazuli, rhodochrosite

STAR SOURCES- moldavite

STAMMERING- apatite, blue tourmaline

STOMACH- aquamarine, beryl, chrysocolla, citrine, jasper

STOMACH ULCERS- chrysocolla

STRESS- amethyst, blue-lace agate, herkimer diamond, yellow topaz

STROKE- lapis lazuli

STUPIDITY- beryl

TALENT- bloodstone

TEETH- aquamarine, fluorite

TENSION- (emotional) amethyst, blue-lace agate, celestite, dioptase,
tiger's eye

TENSION (muscular)- smithsonite

TESTICLES- alexandrite, atacamite, chrysoprase, smoky quartz, zoisite

THINKING- (improve) amazonite, tiger's eye

THOUGHT (clear)- aquamarine, carnelian, celestite

THROAT (chakra opened)- blue-lace agate

THROAT INFECTIONS- amber, aqua-aura, aquamarine, beryl, blue-lace agate,
larimar, blue topaz

THYMUS (strengthens)- albite, aqua-aura, blue quartz

THYROID- atacamite, galena, chrysoprase, morganite, blue tourmaline

TOLERANCE- chrysoprase

TONIC - GENERAL- garnet, peridot

TOOTHACHE- aquamarine, malachite

TRAUMA- aqua-aura, aventurine, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, rose quartz

ULCERS- agate

VARICOSE VEINS- yellow topaz

VENEREAL DISEASES- atacamite

VIRAL INFECTIONS- fluorite

VISUALIZATIONS- selenite

VITALITY (improving)- agate, aventurine, bloodstone, orange calcite, diamond

VITAMIN ABSORPTION- rhodonite

VOCAL PROBLEMS- chrysoprase

VOICE STRENGTHENED- carnelian

WHOOPING COUGH- coral

WILL POWER- chrysoprase, rutilated quartz, tiger's eye

WISDOM- jade, lapis lazuli, ruby, turquoise

WOUNDS- carnelian

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Friday Form A Circle - Yule Ritual (Yes, I know it's still a ways away...)

This is the ritual our "group" performed for Yule 2005. We always tried to create rituals that allowed everyone to participate, so you'll see it's broken down into parts for each participant...

Priestess:

Since the beginning of time we have gathered in this season to celebrate the rebirth of the Sun. On the Winter Solstice - the darkest of nights the Goddess becomes the Great Mother and once again gives birth to the Sun beginning the yearly cycle anew
bringing new light and hope to all the World. On the longest night of winter flares the spark of hope the Sacred Fire, The Light of the World, We gather here to welcome the new light. As we join the Goddess in greeting the new Sun we also welcome the new light within ourselves.

Member: Hail dragons of the east, spirits of Earth, powers of Stability. I call you to lend your essence to this rite and protect us from all negativity from the east.

Member: Hail dragons of the south, spirits of Fire, powers of Will I call you to lend your essence to this rite and protect us from all negativity from the south.

Member: Hail dragons of the west, spirits of Water, powers of Emotion I call you to lend your essence to this rite and protect us from all negativity from the west.

Member: Hail dragons of the north, Air, powers of Thought I call you to lend your essence to this rite and protect us from all negativity from the north

Member: I conjure ye O Circle of Light to be a temple between the worlds. In the name of the Silver Lady and the Golden Lord. Wherefore do I bless and consecrate thee, So Mote It Be

Member: Lady, you who are the beauty of the snowy earth and the white moon among the stars, the mystery of the waters, the desire in the heart of humanity. We invite to you to come among us and attend this rite, for you are the soul of nature that gives life to the universe.

Member: Lord, You who are the freedom of the wild things, the bright sun that lights the day, the mystery of the forest, the resolve in the heart of humanity. We invite you to come among us and attend this rite, for you are the body of nature who gives life to the universe.

Member: The old solar year has run it’s course and completed it’s cycle. So too, have some of our habits or traits completed their cycles and outlived their usefulness. This is a time for shedding that which is no longer needed. Take a few moments now to consider which things you would leave behind as you go into the coming year.
(pause)
As the old year dies away so to will these old ways fade into memory.

Member: In the beginning we came from the darkness of the womb. There we were created, nourished and prepared for our birth into the light. Within us, we still carry that fertile darkness. There we hold the seeds of hopes and dreams to come. There we nourish our hopes for love, joy and peace for all. We shield these tender roots until they are strong enough to come forth and flourish in the light. Spend a little time now tending these creations to come. Name them, nurture them for they will grow with you and bloom in the coming year.
(pause)
As the sun strengthens above, so will our new ways grow.

Priestess: We light this candle for the infant Solstice Sun One small flame to pierce the darkness. A ray of hope, A symbol of the light within us all Light that can never be extinguished Light that will grow in glory waxing strong, despite the cold to come light that dispels despair and resignation giving us a glimpse of golden days ahead Behold the light that can never die reborn anew in the Solstice Sky!

Think of those who you would send positive energy to: Loved ones perhaps, those in need of healing or added strength. Perhaps people whose names you do not know, who are living with war or hunger. You may wish to focus on that which is important to you, your values, perhaps the earth itself, or the animals who share it with us. Whatever it is you wish to send your healing energy to. As you think, feel the energy of change resonate within you.

Priest: This food and wine is the blessing of the Goddess and God to our bodies. Let us partake in it freely. As we share, let us remember to share what we have with those who have nothing.

Releasing

Member: Thank you, Goddess of the Moon for attending these rites in your honor, and for sharing with us your gifts of compassion and wit. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail, and farewell.

Member: Thank you, God of the Sun for attending these rites in your honor, and for sharing with us your gifts of freedom and rejuvenation. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail, and farewell.

Member: Dragons of the north, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of clarity. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail and farewell

Member: Dragons of the west, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of empathy. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail and farewell

Member: Dragons of the south, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of purity. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail and farewell

Member: Dragons of the east, we thank you for your presence here and for your gift of stability. Go if you must, stay if you will Hail and farewell

Priestess: The circle is open, yet never broken, merry meet, merry part, and merry meet again.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Thursday This is Your Spell - Truth/Gossip

"How do you deal with a liar?" is a question recently asked in one of the groups I am a member of. Personally I have found face to face confrontation, with the liar and the person lied to, to be most effective for me. I tend to use magic as a last resort, but sometimes, all other roads have reached a dead end, so to the spell book I go.

I am including four spells today, with differing levels of "intensity," so to speak. The first is directed at the caster to help you deal with your anger and frustration, and should be done before resorting to any other. If you find it ineffective, then it would indicate that maybe another step is required.

The second is an attempt to get the lies to stop - but the necessary supplies aren't going to be easy to obtain :) The third spell is one I created, using parts of an existing spell I found somewhere... to help out with some personal issues in my family, and is designed to simply make the troublemaker leave your sphere of existence. This, again is not an easy spell, and will require you to invest much time and energy. I can testify that it works, however, from personal experience.

The last spell, well it's a little more hardcore. It is similar to the third, but requires a lot more "angry" energy. I personally find it hard to maintain enough anger, long enough, to work a spell like this. It is both mentally and physically draining on me.

PLEASE remember, when working spells, you are sending energy into the universe, and opening yourself up to consequences. Before you do a spell like this, look at the possible outcomes from all angles, and determine if you're willing to pay the possible price required...Also, the last three are not for situations that are less than extremely serious, and should not be undertaken lightly, nor should they be used because "so and so isn't your friend anymore," but rather only if you fear for yourself or your safety...

This one is a good substitute for a hex, When your fear or anger tempts you in that direction. This spell works more on you than it does the other person. It allows you to take charge of the situation, calms you down so you can find a solution.

Blood turn black and flesh turn blue,

I will curse you if you force me to

By the left hand and the unclean food,

I'll curse your eyes, I'll curse your lies

I'll call down a plague of flies,

Blood go black and flesh go blue

Evil from me and back to you,

My soul clean and yours on fire

You fuck with a witch you get burned, liar

LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE SPELL

from Silver's Spells For Protection' by Silver Ravenwolf

Supplies: a pair of underpants with the name of the offending party written on the crotch with black marker;

a bottle of the hottest Tabasco sauce you can find;

a bit of thistle and nettles;

cinquefoil;

black pepper;

rubbing alcohol;

a long match;

an old cauldron or outside grill.

Instructions: Pour the Tabasco sauce on the crotch of the underwear. Let dry. Sprinkle with herbs and black pepper. Sprinkle with a bit of alcohol. Use a long match to light. Burn in an old cauldron/outside grill. As the underwear burns say:

"(the person's name), I've had enough

I rise above you, I've gotten tough

The wagging tongues of flame bite back

I refuse to take your hateful flack

Your lies become a conflagration

Bringing you to degradation

Your deceit recedes it's clinging grasp

And I am free - the truth at last!"

Scatter the ashes off your property.

Troublemaker Begone Spell

Cayenne Pepper

White Pepper

Chili Powder

Jalapeno Pepper

Crushed Red Pepper

Wooden (kitchen type) matches ( break off tops so you only have the sulphur part)

Sm. Container with lid preferably a jar or Tupperware type you can get rid of (an empty baby food jar works great)

Fill jar with equal parts cayenne, white pepper, chili powder, jalapeno pepper, crushed red peppers, and match tops. Leave a bit of room for shaking movement. Place lid on container and shake thoroughly to mix well, taking care not to get on skin or inhale.On a piece of paper, write first and last name, fold 3X and place well down in jar. Place lid on container and shake vigorously while saying:

Be gone from here,

Find you happiness elsewhere Dear,

You wish us ill, we wish you well,

Heed the message of this spell.

In a far away town your fortune find,

Leave this one forever behind.

This is our wish, powered three by 3,

As we will, So mote it be.

Then spend a short period of time visualizing the person excited, packing her vehicle happily, settling her affairs, quitting her job, saying good-byes, and driving away anticipating a great future ahead.

Leave Me The Fuck Alone Spell

This person needs to drop off your radar for good. You make a poppet, maybe from a sock or t-shirt you nipped from their house, maybe you stuffed the poppet with a few of their hairs or a discarded toenail, or you wrote their birth date, time, and location on the poppet with a Sharpie. You drop a little (lot) of asafoetida into its mouth along with some slippery elm bark and a small screw, then sew it shut. You write your legitimate grievances on the poppet with that Sharpie and sprinkle liberally with skanky vinegar or your own urine. Rub it in cat litter before you clean out the box. You speak the magic words:

As you sow, so shall you reap,

Karma doesn't ever sleep

[name] you did me wrong,

While I aided you along

Now your luck has gone bye-bye,

Stuck a needle in your eye

I now see just what you are,

And where you're at I will be far

Karmic balance has a scale,

To make things right it cannot fail

Now it weighs you, sooner than late,

But I am here to shape your fate!

By your foot and mouth and hand,

Over water, on the land

Your comeuppance shall rebound,

Dues of your deeds all around

What you send comes back you see,

As I will it, so mote it be!!!

You abuse the poppet in your rage to release your catharsis. You tie two small mirrors on either side of the poppet facing it with black string, place it in a paper sack, and then place that in a big plastic freezer bag. You freeze the sucker for a full moon cycle. Then, without much ceremony, you casually toss the whole thing over your right shoulder into a dumpster and walk away, never turning back.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Wednesday What Herb Is This - Belladonna or Deadly Nightshade

Belladonna

Actual Belladonna Plant

Belladonna, (Atropa Belladonna), or commonly known as deadly nightshade is usually found in chalky soils, shaded areas and waste ground or old ruins. It is extremely poisonous and has been employed for many centuries for beneficial and less beneficial purposes. According to folklore it is a plant that belongs to the Devil, who tends it. being diverted from this duty only on the night of the Walpurgis night Witches Sabbath. Though widely distributed over Central and Southern Europe, the plant is not common in England, and has become rarer of late years. Although chiefly a native of the southern counties, being almost confined to calcareous soils, it has been sparingly found in twenty-eight British counties, mostly in waste places, quarries and near old ruins. In Scotland it is rare. Under the shade of trees, on wooded hills, on chalk or limestone, it will grow most luxuriantly, forming bushy plants several feet high, but specimens growing in places exposed to the sun are apt to be dwarfed, consequently it rarely attains such a large size when cultivated in the open, and is more subject to the attacks of insects than when growing wild under natural conditions.

The name Belladonna, "Beautiful Lady", is thought to derive from its use by Italian ladies, to dilate the pupil of the eye to make them more attractive. The generic name, "Atropa", is derived from the Greek, Atropos, one of the fates that held the shears to cut the thread of human life.

The root is thick, fleshy and whitish, about 6 inches long, or more, and branching. It is perennial. The purplish colored stem is annual and herbaceous. It is stout, 2 to 4 feet high, undivided at the base, but dividing a little above the ground into three - more rarely two or four branches, each of which again branches freely.The leaves are dull, darkish green in color and of unequal size, 3 to 10 inches long, the lower leaves solitary, the upper ones in pairs alternately from opposite sides of the stem, one leaf of each pair much larger than the other, oval in shape, acute at the apex, entire and attenuated into short petioles.

First-year plants grow only about 1 1/2 feet in height. Their leaves are often larger than in full-grown plants and grow on the stem immediately above the ground. Older plants attain a height of 3 to 5 feet, occasionally even 6 feet, the leaves growing about 1 to 2 feet from the ground. The whole plant is glabrous, or nearly so, though soft, downy hairs may occur on the young stems and the leaves when quite young. The veins of the leaves are prominent on the under surface, especially the midrib, which is depressed on the upper surface of the leaf. The fresh plant, when crushed, exhales a disagreeable odor, almost disappearing on drying, and the leaves have a bitter taste, when both fresh and dry.

The flowers, which appear in June and July, singly, in the axils of the leaves, and continue blooming until early September, are of a dark and dingy purplish color, tinged with green, large (about an inch long), pendent, bell-shaped, furrowed, the corolla with five large teeth or lobes, slightly reflexed. The five-cleft calyx spreads round the base of the smooth berry, which ripens in September, when it acquires a shining black color and is in size like a small cherry. It contains several seeds. The berries are full of a dark, inky juice, and are intensely sweet, and their attraction to children on that account, has from their poisonous properties, been attended with fatal results. In September, 1916, three children were admitted to a London hospital suffering from Belladonna poisoning, caused, it was ascertained, from having eaten berries from large fruiting plants of Atropa Belladonna growing in a neighboring public garden, the gardener being unaware of their dangerous nature, and again in 1921 the Norwich Coroner, commenting on the death of a child from the same cause, said that he had had four not dissimilar cases previously.

It is said that when taken by accident, the poisonous effects of Belladonna berries may be prevented by swallowing as soon as possible an emetic, such as a large glass of warm vinegar or mustard and water. In undoubted cases of this poisoning, emetics and the stomach-pump are resorted to at once, followed by a dose of magnesia, stimulants and strong coffee, the patient being kept very warm and artificial respiration being applied if necessary. A peculiar symptom in those poisoned by Belladonna is the complete loss of voice, together with frequent bending forward of the trunk and continual movements of the hands and fingers, the pupils of the eye becoming much dilated.

The properties of Belladonna depend on the presence of Hyoseyamine and Atropine, the root is the principle source of preparing tinctures, however, the whole plant including the berries contain these alkaloids. Atropine has been used in opthalmology for the dilation of the pupil and was used as an antidote to opium. It was also used to lessen pain and inflammation. It has anti spasmodic activity and was used for asthma and whooping cough. It increases the rate of the heart by approximately 20 - 40 beats per minute. In poisonous doses it causes paralysis and excitement and delirium.

Belladonna is supposed to have been the plant that poisoned the troops of Marcus Antonius during the Parthian wars. Plutarch gives a graphic account of the strange effects that followed its use. Buchanan relates in his History of Scotland (1582) a tradition that when Duncan I was King of Scotland, the soldiers of Macbeth poisoned a whole army of invading Danes by a liquor mixed with an infusion of Dwale supplied to them during a truce. Suspecting nothing, the invaders drank deeply and were easily overpowered and murdered in their sleep by the Scots.

According to old legends, the plant belongs to the devil who goes about trimming and tending it in his leisure, and can only be diverted from its care on one night in the year, that is on Walpurgis, when he is preparing for the witches' sabbath. The apples of Sodom are held to be related to this plant, and the name Belladonna is said to record an old superstition that at certain times it takes the form of an enchantress of exceeding loveliness, whom it is dangerous to look upon, though a more generally accepted view is that the name was bestowed on it because its juice was used by the Italian ladies to give their eyes greater brilliancy, the smallest quantity having the effect of dilating the pupils of the eye.

Another derivation is founded on the old tradition that the priests used to drink an infusion before they worshipped and invoked the aid of Bellona, the Goddess of War. The generic name of the plant, Atropa, is derived from the Greek Atropos, one of the Fates who held the shears to cut the thread of human life - a reference to its deadly, poisonous nature. Thomas Lupton (1585) says: 'Dwale makes one to sleep while he is cut or burnt by cauterizing.' Gerard (1597) calls the plant the Sleeping Nightshade, and says the leaves moistened in wine vinegar and laid on the head induce sleep.

Mandrake, a foreign species of Atropa (A. Mandragora), was used in Pliny's day as an anaesthetic for operations. Its root contains an alkaloid, Mandragorine. The sleeping potion of Juliet was a preparation from this plant - perhaps also the Mandrake wine of the Ancients. It was called Circaeon, being the wine of Circe.

The following note on the growth and cultivation of Belladonna is from the Chemist and Druggist, of February 26, 1921:

'Belladonna is a perennial, but for horticultural purposes it is treated as a biennial, or triennial plant. The root in 3 years has attained very large dimensions around Edinburgh; in fact, often so large as to make the lifting a very heavy, and therefore costly, matter, and in consequence 2 years' growth is quite sufficient. One-year-old roots are just as active as the three-year-old stocks, and to the grower it is merely a matter of expediency which crop he chooses to dig up. The aerial growth is very heavy, two year-old plants making 5 to 6 feet in the season if not cut for first crop, and if cut in July they make a second growth of 2 to 3 feet by September. To obtain a supply of seeds certain plantations must be left uncut, so as to get a crop of seeds for the next season. Moisture is, from a practical point of view, a very important matter. A sample, apparently dry to the touch, but not crisp, may have 15 per cent to 20 per cent of moisture present. Therefore if a pharmacist was to use a sample of such Belladonna leaves, although assayed to contain 0.03 per cent of alkaloids, he would produce a weaker tincture than if he had used leaves with, say, only 5 per cent of water present. The alkaloidal factor of this drug is the index to its value. Both the British and the United States Pharmacopoeias adopt the same standard of alkaloidal value for the leaves, but the British Pharmacopceia does not require a standard for the root, which is one of those subtle conundrums which this quaint book frequently presents! Plants grown in a hard climate, such as Scotland, give a good alkaloidal figure, which compares favourably with any others. For roots, the British Pharmacopoeia as just stated, requires no standard, but United States Pharmacopceia standard is 0.45 per cent, and Scottish roots yielded 0.78 per cent and 0.72 per cent. There is not a great deal of alkaloidal value in the stalks. About 0.08 in the autumn.'

Please remember, this post is provided for information only, with no guarantee of accuracy; it is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, nor as a claim for the effectiveness of Belladonna in treating any of the symptoms mentioned. If symptoms persist, seek professional medical advice - minor symptoms can often be a sign of a more serious underlying condition.

This post is taken in part from Botanical.com A Modern Herbal

Artist's Rendering

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Tuesday Try A New Taste - Fresh Apple Pound Cake

Ok, this is more of a Fall recipe than a Summer one, but it has always been a big hit where ever it was taken, and I've NEVER had any left. It does take a while to prepare, as it is from scratch-no boxes harmed in the making of this cake-but it is WELL worth the time required. Try it, you'll see :) I have no idea where I originally found this, but I have been making it for Mabon & Samhain rituals for years now....

Fresh Apple Pound Cake
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups vegetable oil
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 large eggs
3 cups firm apples, diced
3 cups plain flour
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
1 teaspoon baking soda
Mix together sugar and oil.
Add eggs and beat well.
Combine flour, baking soda, and salt.
Add to oil mixture.
Stir in vanilla, apples, nuts, and mix well.
Pour batter into a greased 9 inch tube pan
Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour and 20 minutes or until cake is done.
Icing:
1 stick margarine
1/4 cup evaporated milk
1 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Heat margarine and sugar together over low heat. Add milk and let
come to a full boil. Remove from heat and add vanilla. Drizzle over the cake.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Monday Make A - Using Magical Stitches

This was found at A Kitchen Witch's Book of Shadows many years ago.



Magickal Stitches

What is the connection between embroidery and Magic? A spell that has a lot of rhymes can sometimes be more powerful than one that has none. The rhymes help you to focus your energy. The stitches work in the same way to help you focus your energy into the project. Just think, you are transforming a plain, blank piece of fabric into a colorful new creation that is woven with your magical intent. How much more powerful can that be?



For instance, to rid a household of disharmony, appliqué a large circular area with various scraps of bright colorful fabrics to symbolize the home. Then satin stitch a heavy black diagonal line through the center of the circle to symbolically destroy the conflict and friction.



To welcome home a new baby, quilt a crazy quilt of warm prints. Embroider the edges with stitches from the list below while focusing loving energies into the thread. This will aid the newborn in feeling comfortable and warm in the first few days after they are born.





A protection amulet for your car. Make a small pillow in the shape of your car (roughly). Embroider the edges with a blanket stitch of red thread while imagining your car encircled in a ball of white light, perfectly protected from any harm. Place the amulet in your car. Send it some energies each time you start your car and you it will stay charged.





Here is a collection of Magical Stitches you can use to enchant your projects with magic!





****Chain Stitch****

This stitch forms a series of tiny circles that connect in a continuous pattern. It is an excellent choice for working with the cycles of Nature and life. Also to symbolize the circle of birth, death, and rebirth.

Chain Stitch

****Satin Stitch****

Although this stitch lies flat on the cloth, it forms a spiral by traveling around and around, over and under the cloth, and thus reflecting the cone of power. Because the stitch is the same on both sides it may also be used to represent Universal balance. "As Above, So Below!" Satin stitch is usually used to fill in large areas so it is great for prosperity magic.

Satin Stitch

****Straight Stitch****

Straight stitches symbolize magical pathways. Use two rows of alternating stitches to represent footprints, or a row of zigzagging stitches to symbolize a winding road. Lengthen stitches to represent great progress. Shorten them to signify caution. **Note: Backstitches- stitches used for outlining- also fall into the straight stitch category**

Straight Stitch

****Blanket Stitch****

Some people hang a horseshoe over their front door to keep the luck from running out," and the blanket stitch is the lucky horseshoe of the embroidery world. Because this stitch forms tiny lines shooting upward from a straight and solid edge, it works well for binding or sealing magic into any item. Try using it on the hems, cuffs, and necklines of ritual garments;

on the edges of altar cloths; and on talismans of luck and protection.

Blanket Stitch

****Feather Stitch****

This stitch is composed of short lines that alternately zigzag outward. Magically. It symbolizes pathworking, spiritual connection, and interaction with others. When used to embellish seams, it seals the magic of one piece and connects that magic to the other section.

Feather Stitch

****Lazy Daisy Stitch****

Most often used in multiples to create a floral effect, this stitch is a good representation of Nature. Because the stitch forms a circle intersected by a straight stitch, it is also symbolic of the consummated marriage of the Maiden and the Green Man.

Lazy Daisy

****Interlaced Running Stitch****

In this stitch, a thread of one color winds through a line of running stitches, then the other side intertwines with a thread of a complimentary hue. Because of the perfect symmetry, it represents the balances of love and hate, light and dark, the right and left hemispheres of the brain, magical energies, and the polarities of male and female. The intertwining threads

also symbolize the mingling of ideas and thought.

Interlaced Running Stitch

****Cross Stitch****

A depiction of the Solar Cross, the cross stitch is a God symbol. Though this stitch signifies joy, happiness, and success, it represents much more. Because two straight stitches of the same length cross each other exactly at midpoint to form the cross stitch, it works well in the efforts requiring balance, equality, or justice. The cross stitch is also effective for

symbolizing duality of the Lord and Lady.

Cross Stitch

****Herringbone Stitch****

A version of the cross stitch, the herringbone stitch differs in that the cross does not form at midpoint, but at the top third of the second. Use it when working with relationships or unions of any kind, from romantic to business.

Herringbone Stitch

****Smyrna Stitch****

Another variation of the cross stitch, this beauty is sometimes known as the double cross stitch. It forms a good depiction of the eight Sabbats in the Wheel of the Year.

Smyrna Stitch

Enchanting Your Needlework

When you begin a new project, set the magical intent by enchanting the first stitch. Use the chant below or construct one of your own.

"Oh piercing needle, that which gleams.

[Your intention] is the reason for this spell.





Stitch its purpose through this weave.





And bind it thoroughly and well."

Of course, no enchantment would be complete without a binding to hold the magic. One way is to fix each portion when you finish with a strand of floss. As you tie the knot, chant something such as:

"I bind this portion of my spell.





With steel and fiber tied so tight!





Hold these handmade stitches well!





Contain their magic and their might!"

Another binding method is to work each thread end into the others four times and chant:

"Maiden, Mother, Horned One, Crone:





Let this work be bound with patience and love!"





Magickal Number of Strands

One- This is the number of self, the ego, and the personality.





Two- This number symbolizes balance and it's the number of strands most commonly used. Try using a darker and lighter shade of the same color together. This gives a rich effect to your work and is truly magical in Universal symmetry. Also represents the duality of the Lord and Lady.





Three- "Ever mind the rule of three…" This number relates to the laws of Karma, that each act or deed (good or bad) is returned three times over to its sender. Use this number when invoking or easing life's lessons, or when working with the God and Goddess in their triple forms.





Four- Four strands work well in projects dealing with the change of the seasons and the topographical directions of East, South, West, and North. Also the number of solidity and support, use it in projects worked to add stability.





Five- The Elements- Air, Fire, Water, Earth, and Spirit- equal the number five. This number works well for projects dealing with money, travel, and adventure.





Six- Use six strands in matters of love and harmony, or for projects pertaining to home, family, and related responsibilities.

Sunday Surprise - Broom Lore & Magic

* BESOM *
A (straw) broom which represents the union of the God and Goddess (the staff and the bristles). The majority of Witches who own them use them as altar decorations and as magical tools to symbolize fertility and to sweep the magic circle clean of any traces of negative, spiritual or psychic energy. It is also used in various spells and weather workings and during ceremonies such as Handfastings and the Sabbat of Candlemas. Although the broom has always been associated with Witches it was never actually used for flying as the legends of olden times claim. Instead according to one theory, Witches practiced sympathetic magic (which works on the bias principle that like produces like) would straddle the broom and jump up and down in order to show their crops how high to grow.

(from 'A-Z of Wicca' by Gerina Dunwich)
-------------------------------------------------
* THE BROOM PURIFICATION *
From "The Magical Household" by S. Cunningham & David Harrington

Before dawn, take a branch from any tree. Thank the tree for its gift and leave a coin or semiprecious stone at its base in payment. Next, obtain several brightly colored flowers on long stalks. Tie these flowers to the branch to fashion a sort of broom, then sweep the floor in every room of the house, visualizing the flowers of the broom absorbing negativity and "evil" as you work. Then, still before sunrise, leave the broom at the crossroads'. Traditionally in the Southwest United States and Mexico, this ritual is repeated at the first of each month.

-------------------------------------------------

* THE BROOM *
By Barbara Walker;

(The Woman's Dictionary of Symbols and Sacred Objects)
The broom has been associated with female magic and the social contributions of the wise woman ever since ancient Rome, where sacred midwives used special broomsticks to sweep the threshold of the house after childbirth to repel negative influences from mothers and their babies. The broom was also associated with the ceremony of marriage as conducted by priestesses. Among Gypsies, whose marriages continued to be performed by wise women, jumping over the broomstick was an essential part of the rite.
-------------------------------------------------
* New Broom Ritual *
For us today, the new broom ritual is an invitation to return to beginners mind where the world is once again fresh and filled with wonder. Those of us of European heritage may have had Grandmothers who shared the New Broom ritual with us. For some of us, particularly from the Scandinavian countries, the New Broom ritual was a way of ritualizing the New Year. On New Year's Eve, our Grandmothers swept the house with vigor and intention. They swept each room, clearing it of any negative energies or memories that had accumulated there during the past year. All of the disharmony and emotional clutter was swept over the threshold and out into the winter wind to be blown to the far corners of the earth. But just in case, the old broom was left outside by the door to discourage old negative energies from returning. The new broom was blessed with hopes and intentions for the new year-for health and happiness and prosperity and meaning and hope and generatively, and all those things that we bless one another with as we gather in the Wisdom Circle. Then the new broom was used to sweep in the positive energies and hopes and dreams and prayers for the new year.
TODAY WE SWEEP AWAY DESPAIR AND SWEEP IN GENERATIVITY.
SWEEP AWAY SEPARATION AND SWEEP IN CONNECTEDNESS.
SWEEP AWAY PERFECTIONISM AND SWEEP IN WHOLENESS.
SWEEP AWAY COMPARISONS AND COMPETITION AND SWEEP IN KINDNESS AND COMMONALITY.
SWEEP AWAY EXPECTATIONS AND SWEEP IN WONDER.
SWEEP AWAY THE SEEKING AFTER APPROVAL AND SWEEP IN THE CAPACITY TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE LOVE.
SWEEP AWAY INFLEXIBILITY AND SWEEP IN GOING WITH THE FLOW.
You are invited to take this ritual of the new broom home with you and to give brooms for weddings and new births and housewarmings and new years. Give a broom to someone you wish to mend a relationship with; a mother or father, daughter, son, or an estranged friend.
-------------------------------------------------
* Broom Blessing *
author unknown
I consecrate this broom
Not only as a tool of my craft,
But as a symbol of my faith.
(Sprinkle salt on the broom)
I bless this broom with the spirit of Earth,
of rocks and trees,
of comfort and security.
(Brush broom with a feather)
I bless this broom with the spirit of Air,
of bells and feathers,
of spirit and mind.
(Touch candle flame (very quickly) to broom)
I bless this broom with the spirit of Fire,
of spice and flame,
of courage and energy.
(Sprinkle water on the broom)
I bless this broom with the spirit of Water,
of pearls and shells,
of emotion and cleansing.
(Blow your breath across the broom)
I bless this broom with the spirit of Life,
that together we may honor the Lord and Lady.
-------------------------------------------------
* Besom Chant *
by Anon
Besom, besom long and lithe
Made from ash and willow withe
Tied with thongs of willow bark
In running stream at moonset dark.
With a pentagram indighted
As the ritual fire is lighted;
Sweep ye circle, deosil,
Sweep out evil, sweep out ill,
Make the round of the ground
Where we do the Lady's will.
Besom, besom, Lady's broom
Sweep out darkness, sweep out doom
Rid ye Lady's hallowed ground
Of demons, imps and Hell's red hound;
Then set ye down on Her green earth
By running stream or Mistress' hearth,
'Till called once more on Sabbath night
To cleans once more the dancing site.
-------------------------------------------------
* Broom Magic *
no author noted
One old wart cure consists of measuring a wart crosswise with a broom
straw, then burying the straw. The straw, so intimately connected with the wart, will decay, and so too should the blemish.
-------------------------------------------------

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.

Saturday Special Stones - Smoky Quartz

Smoky Quartz and its properties

Taken in part from: Jewels For Me
Physical properties of smoky quartz:
Smoky quartz is a brown form of quartz crystal that can range from medium to dark brown due to impurities like iron, carbon, or titanium. Some smoky quartz may contain minute amounts of radium.

Metaphysical properties of smoky quartz:
Smoky quartz is associated with the anchoring energies of the earth. This association makes smoky quartz a good choice for those wanting to gain a deeper appreciation of nature or a greater concern for the environment.
Smoky quartz is said to benefit the lower torso, especially the sexual organs, kidneys, abdomen, and pancreas. Some healers use it to treat kidney disease, menstrual cramps and fertility. Its subtle energies are also soothing to the heart and nervous system.
The energies of this crystal are more subtle than those of clear quartz, so its influence is more gradual. Smoky quartz can neutralize negative energies, but its slow working nature makes it more suited for situations where caution is called for or where gradual changes are desired. Smoky quartz is a good crystal for gazing. Meditations using this crystal as a focus can lead to "hidden" secrets being revealed. It aids one in meditation by clearing worries and emotional blockages. It is a grounding and protective stone.

Mystical Properties of Smoky Quartz

There are many beliefs in the powers of the smoky quartz stone in helping to heal certain physical ailments. Because smoky quartz is often naturally irradiated, it is excellent for treating radiation-related illness or symptoms that arise as a cause of receiving chemotherapy. It has been said that to dissolve pain, one must place a smoky quartz stone directly over the painful point.

Smoky quartz is particularly effective for ailments of the abdomen, kidneys, pancreas, hips and legs. It relieves all sorts of other pain too, including headaches, and benefits the reproductive system, muscles and nerve tissues, as well as the heart. The stone dissolves cramps and strengthens the back. It also aids in the assimilation of minerals and regulates liquids within the body.

It has been said that a quartz crystal placed under the pillow offers psychic impulses in the form of dreams, which are the language of the deep conscious mind. It also ensures peaceful sleep. The stone is also known to relieve toothaches- a small crystal is placed against the gum to give relief from the toothache until the dental treatment is obtained. The stone can also be held in the hand to reduce fevers.

There are also many beliefs in the power smoky quartz has over the divine. Tumbled and polished quartz stones are inscribed or painted with runes and used as divination stones, and divinatory objects such as tarot cards are often stored with quartz.

Quartz’s uses in healing, altering consciousness, and magic has linked it to the spirit of the New Age. Long neglected by people in most of the world, save for their industrial applications, quartz crystals are today a huge commercial business.

Quartz is believed to have the ability to neutralize energy. It aids in bringing the natural Yin and Yang energy flows within the body into balance, which is highly useful when the individual has tendencies to go from emotional highs to emotional lows, or when the natural polarities in the body’s systems need to be brought back to the center. It is an excellent stone for those who work with energy as a means of treating both body and spirit. Several authors have recommended that smoky quartz be used when treating depression and fatigue, stating that it has solid value as a useful tool.

Quartz is one of the most efficient grounding and anchoring stones. It is a superb antidote to stress as it assists in tolerating difficult times with equanimity, fortifying resolve. To dispel stress, place a stone in hand and sit quietly for a few moments. To draw off negative energies, place point away from body. Point the stone towards the body to energize. The stone grounds spiritual energy and gently neutralizes negative vibrations. It blocks stress and assists elimination and detoxification on all levels. Quartz teaches you how to leave behind anything that no longer serves you. For example, it has been known to heal addictions and obsessions.

Psychologically, the stone is a mood elevator- it relieves fear, enhances security and safety, and brings on emotional calmness. It has been known to alleviate suicidal tendencies and ambivalence. It aids acceptance of the physical body and the sexual nature, enhances virility and cleanses the base charka so that passion can flow naturally. Mentally, it promotes positive, pragmatic thought and can be used to give clear insight and to neutralize fear of failure. It dissolves contradictions, promotes concentration, and alleviates communication difficulties. It is also an excellent aid for clearing the mind for meditation.

Quartz is beneficial to one who finds the need to move forward within himself. It can be extremely helpful to one who is contemplating his relationship with life, exploring his value system, and seeking inner meaning. When meaning is discovered, the magic of smoky quartz is said to be excellent in working to bring one’s dreams into manifestation. Smoky quartz connects us with our higher self. It encourages us to take up contact with this higher self and to pray. It tells us to trust our intuition. As such, it is an excellent choice for those who are unaccustomed to the contact with our inner self.

A very practical belief about smoky quartz is that it is most useful in helping settle or calm a disagreement between people. Just as it can bring harmony to the natural energy system of the body, it may also bring about harmony and help to ground a quarrel. The unusual energy, which transforms quartz into smoky quartz, enables this stone to provide one with insight, learning how to see the nature of incarnate existence as a pathway towards spiritual joy.

Disclaimer: No one involved in this blog or its contents may be held responsible for any adverse reactions arising from following any of the instructions/recipes on this list. It is the reader's personal responsibility to exercise all precautions and use his or her own discretion if following any instructions or advice from this blog.