Me, Myself, and I

[blueeyedstark]

“Language is the foundation of civilization. It is the glue that holds a people together. It is the first weapon drawn in a conflict.”

Arrival (2016)

[shelley-fabulous]

Black cat on fence post, 1974.

[archatlas]

Fictional Architecture

As special effects budgets continue to grow, the architectural wonders that TV, film and video game producers create seem to get more and more impressive.

From the castles of Westeros to the imaginative, colorful designs of Studio Ghibli, they compiled some of the most iconic and interesting architectural feats that they feel best represent six of their favorite fictional universes. In order to capture the finer details and the feel of each building, they’ve illustrated each one with a pen and paper – and they are pretty happy with the results!

GIFs from original film and television sources.

[maradigma]

[bkdkink]

Do you have any fic recs? I’m on a bkdk binge after reading your fic!

HO HO STRAP IN ANON AND GET READY ITS GONNA BE A LONG ONE (also oergiemgremgi idk which fic you read but im happy you read it thank you sm~) 

Okay so first, im gonna get some one-shots out of the way—yes, they’re all Explicit. these are only a few out of the gold that is bkdk one-shots out there. there’s lots of good unpublished threads on twitter, too. 

Not So Common Ground:  ABO-verse, deku’s a serial killer omega. he meets bakugou alpha and finds out they got some secrets in common. hot. thats all i gotta say. 

Revenge, And a Little More: Deku’s a succubus. you can figure out where it goes from there. I thought his personality was adorable though??? 

On the Edge: okay, so this is smut but with feelings. it’s short, simple, but written so….like, the tone is so soft all around??? like what our two idiots could be once they’ve graduated and have calmed down and just—spoke with action and little words??? idk but it’s a good one-shot that hits my kinks so– 

It’s Gonna Take a Superman To Sweep Me Off My Feet: this is just. im ngl it’s just kinky ok? the tears, the verbal stuff–sheesh. well written.  

whatever you’ve done, just bury it so this isn’t a one-shot, but it’s a short 3 chapters so im gonna put it here. abo verse again, deku and kacchan had broken up, but yknow. things are complicated. katsuki lost his quirk. its complicated. ends with a happy note though~ 

mistakes: maaaannnn look. i like the simple things ok? after-party s*xytimes? bratty deku? bakugou swears a lot? a fwb vibe? it doesn’t have to be super explicit if it’s got all that. 

okay, now let’s move on to some longer fics. most are in progress, but they’ve all been updating regularly! 

Swap it out:  not rated. in progress. bakugou and deku switch personalities on a dare and have to behave like each other to the whole class. Feelings slowly start ensuing. It’s super cute!!!! has it’s funny moments, especially after you get past the first chapter. katsuki is adorable as he starts crushing on deku!!! aaaaaa!!!!! 

boy meets evil: Explicit. in progress mind the tags basically, bakugou is the son of lucifer and attends an all boy’s catholic school where he meets guilt-ridden shame-filled deku. i really just wanna hug deku. i think it shows a lot of promise so far–promise of what? im not sure, but its there and has my interest. 

Night Out: Explicit. in progress ABOverse,  deku’s a stripper. bakugou is SUPER into it. i only read the first two chapters but i love the author so the rest is probably legit???? 

Howl: Explicit. in progress it’s only 2 chapters in, and it’s been a couple months since its updated, but the author expressed wanting to continue so i imagine its not abandoned! ABOverse again, i like the characterizations a LOOOTTT. college au as well, looks like there’s room for some pining so HNNNGGG 

glacier: Explicit. in progress but close to the end. MIND. THE. TAGS. I cannot stress that enough i personally don’t, yk, get off on reading smut anyway, im usually in it for the giggles. so for me reading this with those tags, its less about the ….“smut”(if thats what you want to call it cuz YIKES) and more about the writing and characterizations. bakugou is unhinged and provides an exciting and suspenseful read, like an antagonist you hate to love, and deku is out here suRVIVING by any means necessary. its all about the suspense dude. its has me on my toes most chapters. tbh i cant decide how i want it to end but i can tell the author knows how its going to do so, and i cant wait to see how it plays out. 

Vicious. Explicit. Complete. i’ve…never read it actually. but uh. sounds interesting i think. fake marriage. they’re hero partners. joins a cult and….stuff happens. 

The Night We Met. Mature. Complete. look. this is soooo well written. the author wanted to make it seem like poetry, and i think they succeeded in doing so. but pleASE understand that this is heavy af. i will never likely, read this again because of how damn HEAVY this was, at least for me. it’s almost triggering to my anxiety?? and i don’t even have. like. serious anxiety??? it has a happy ending though!!! bakugou can’t die, and deku is reincarnated and bound to met him in every life. 

I’m Friends with the Monster in my Closet: Mature. In progress. haven’t read it yet!!! but apparently deku is out here being non-human and creepy and he’s baku’s bff!!! halloween is just around the corner, so why not dive into something spooky like this??? 

Quiet Rapture: Explicit. In progress. ill always rec this classic ABOverse fic. well-written. well characterized. deku isn’t your average omega (thats the shit i like if you couldn’t tell) baku is smitten. i stopped reading about….14 chapters in?? but i imagine it’s still going strong. 

Persephone: Teen. Complete. super cute. baku and deku grow up as best friends then become more. they also grow up with shinsou and he gets a lot of attention and love in this fic too, so if you’re a shinsou stan, here you go! deku has a quirk as well! his dad is written suuuperrr well and lovable. bakugou and deku are oblivious and adorable and just. this fic gives me the fuzzies. only 7 chapters but they’re LOOOONNNNGG. 

these are all mostly from my bookmarks. i have some others, but this has gotten long enough as it is. i love being asked for recs though, so don’t be afraid to send me some or ask me for some!!!! 

[katsudekufanficrec]

Arranged/Forced Marriage

Change of Plans by Mikacrispy

Life doesn’t care about how you want things to go. Alpha Pro Hero Bakugou Katsuki never planned to get married to some random omega but what he wants isn’t an option anymore. One for All wielder Midoriya Izuku has suffered injustice too many times and doesn’t plan in allowing his secondary gender to dictate how he must live his life.

When their circumstances collide, can they learn to adapt to one another?

[Explicit - 13/? Chapters - Omegaverse]

Beyond Sea and Storm by Celestialgunfireopera

Ancient curse, destined mates, kingdoms rise and fall, and through it all, two young men learning to love.

[Explicit - 60/60 Chapters - Fantasy]

Deep In My Senses I Know by Daiako (Achrya)

When war broke out Izuku never considered not enlisting, even though it meant breaking the law and passing himself as a beta. But when he’s found out everything falls apart and he finds himself forced to make a choice: suffer the consequences, along with everyone who helped him, or agree to marry the so called Bakugou Beast. Katsuki is a reclusive, violent Marquis who is very much not the man he was before being a prisoner of war for six months and wears all of his scars on the inside.

The choice seems like an easy one but, with the fates of everyone he loves hanging over him, Katsuki refusing to even attempt to get along, and someone out to make sure the Bakugou line ends with Izuku’s new husband, it turns out to be his greatest challenge yet.

[Mature - 3/35 Chapters - Omegaverse]

Games, Changes, and Fears by Daiako (Achrya)

As Quirks grow in strength and many begin to arrange marriages to make them stronger still, the government steps in to try and temper things by ‘diluting’ the bloodlines of the most powerful quirk users. Bakugou isn’t surprised to be saddled with a weak mate but he is surprised to learn it’s Midoriya, the quirkless childhood friend he left in the dust years ago, but with his hero license on the line he has no choice but to accept the card he’s been dealt.

[Explicit - 4/8 Chapters - Omegaverse, Quirkless Izuku]

The Rarity by bittybitt39

Midoriya Izuku had been promised at the age of four to his once dear friend, Bakugou Katsuki. Their mothers thought it smart to betroth the two in the hopes that Izuku would be protected and taught in the safety of the guards Mitsuki could provide until the day he was old enough to come to the south kingdom. After all, it was not everyday that the rarity of a male omega was born within these times.

Izuku grows up knowing he is promised, and has vague memories of his alpha from his younger days. He is also gifted, in more ways than one when his teacher Toshinori confronts his mother with Izuku being named as his successor. But a war breaks out between the kingdoms of the north and east, and the betrothed are separated far longer than the royal family would have hoped. But the war raging keeps them separated besides a few letters that are received from those that were brave enough to run through the war lands.

[Explicit - 10/? Chapters -  Soulmates; Omegaverse; Royality]

the last dragon-blood king by claimedbydaryl

Katsuki Bakugou was the alpha heir to a forgotten throne, reigning lord and warden of the Fyre Isles, a famed warrior of vicious repute in the Western Seas, and he would be wed to Izuku Midoriya by the day’s end.

[Explicit - 13/13 Chapters -  Fantasy, Omegaverse, MPreg]

Happenstance by Merrywetherweather

When Katsuki was just a child, his mother, the King of Lucia, took him to enact diplomacy with the Midoriya’s, the royal family of the neighboring country of Tayloria. After that day, his fate was sealed, his marriage arranged to the Midoriya’s elusive omegan child.

At the age of twenty, he leaves for Tayloria again, this time, to finally wed his fiance and cement the allyship of the two kingdoms indefinitely. Only, his fiance turns out to be the child he had met on his very first visit, a naive, idealistic young prince who wants nothing to do with marrying the prince of Lucia.

Good thing he just assumed Katsuki was only part of his fiance’s entourage.

An arranged marriage between two princes aob au where Katsuki tries to abide by Izuku’s desire for a natural romance to develop without letting Izuku know his true identity.

[Teen and Up Audiences - 15/? Chapters - Royality, Omegaverse]

I hope you all enjoy it!!

[camblogarchive]

nature documentary but the narration is just weird enough to make you question it

[camblogarchive]

“Some fish can walk out of water, so remember that next time.”

[camblogarchive]

“You might think you’re safe, but horses are omnivores”

[toxicglooo]

please watch the round planet on netflix it’s exactly like that 

[skyewilversteanbooks]

🌊More Landlocked Sea Witch Tips🌊

Terrariums

Build a terrarium or a few, in the space you often inhabit. This can even be your own home aquarium. You can add sand, shells, rocks, faux or real aquatic plants, statues, and any other sea treasures you happen to have. This can even be a focus point for any sea meditation/work you are doing. If this is an aquarium please ensure the pieces you’re adding are safe for your watery pets! 🐠

Amulets and Talismans

Either of your own fashioning, or bought/gifted, a piece of jewelry can be blessed, charged and dedicated to being a piece of oceanic energy you keep/carry with you. Use what you feel you’re drawn to, be it a crystal, shell, hag stone or even sea glass. This brings me to my next idea…

Incorporating the sea into your wardrobe

Clothes in blues, greens, whites and turquoises can be a great reminder of the ocean. Jewllery can be incorporated too. Just do whatever makes you feel connected to the ocean. You can even incorporate colour magic into your wardrobe!

Mama Moon

Lunar magic can easily be tied into sea and water magic. The moon pulls the tides and in turn affects our own fluids in our bodies. The moon phases also affect the tides. Work your sea rites and spells around the moon phases to tap into the tidal energy. And to know the tides of your nearest coastline, there is an app called “Tides Near Me.” I read once somewhere, the sea and moon are sisters. And that’s always stuck with me. They both are highly intertwined.

Extended: Bath and Shower Magic

🌊Salt body scrubs - lush do a scrub called “ocean salt,” you can bless this with ocean energy and use it to your own intent/liking

🌊Same goes for their soap “Sea Vegetable.”

Of course, you don’t have to get these at lush. Plenty of places that do soap and body scrubs will have a sea themed soap and sea salt scrub

Water Spirits

If you’re experienced enough with the fae and spirits, try reaching out to any merfolk or ocean dwelling beings that you feel drawn to. Of course, take the appropriate precautions beforehand and research thoroughly. The Mer are an unpredictable bunch and you don’t often know what you may be getting yourself into. Building a relationship with one of these beings can help you connect with the ocean. And of course, be respectful

[queen-medb-blog1]

Getting to Know Me Meme - Favourite Movies [9/10]

Shelter (2007)

[raeazure]

Nerd dudes: Why don’t women like the things we do

Woman: *likes the same things nerd dudes do*

Nerd dudes: Are you a real fan? Better know this hyperspecific piece of trivia. Oh thank god you do. I’m going to sexually harass you now.

[red-handed-jilll]

Ready Player One (2011)

[moonchildmorticia]

A short list of awesome Books for Beginner Witches (or any witch really) 📚🔮🦇🖤

📚 Wicca for beginners: a guide to Wiccan believes, Rituals, Magic and Witchcraft

📚Wicca Book of Spells: a Book of Shadows for Wiccans, Witches and other practitioners of Magic

📚The Green Witch: your complete guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils and more

📚Witchcraft: a Handbook of Magic Spells and Potions

📚 Bucklands Complete Book of Witchcraft

📚Wiccapedia

📚The good Witch’s guide: a modern Wiccapedia of magickal ingredients and spells

📚Wicca Herbal Magic

📚The Black Arts: a concise History of Witchcraft, Demonology, Astrology and other practices throughout the ages

📚Witch

📚A Witches Bible

📚Grimoire of the Green Witch: Complete Book of Shadow

📚Encyclopedia of Witchcraft: the complete A-Z of the entire Magical World

📚Moonology

📚 Of Witchcraft and Whimsy

📚Encyclopedia of Astrology

📚 The Occult Book

📚 The Mondern Witchcraft Spell Book: Your completes guide to Crafting and Casting Spells

📚The Modern Witchcraft Book of Natural Magick: Your guide to Crafting Charms, Rituals, and Spells from the Natural World

📚The Modern Guide to Witchcraft: Your Complete guide Witches, Covens and Spells

📚The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year: From Samhain to Yule

📚The Modern Witchcraft Grimoire: your complete guide to creating your own Book of Shadows

📚 The little Book of Witchcraft

📚Pastel Spells

📚The Occult, Witchcraft and Magic: an Illustrated History,

📚Craft, how to be a Modern Witch

📚The beginners guide to Divination (learn the secret of Astrology, Numerology, Tarot and Palm reading)

📚The Crystal Bible

📚The Crystal Healing Bible

📚Book of Stones

📚Crystal Magic

(Feel free to add to the list)

[leodrune]

magick mulled apple cider

autumn is upon us; this is a recipe for a mulled cider that will bring you magick coziness, prosperity and warmth this season. you will need:

☾ 2 quarts of apple cider (honoring the departed)

☾ ½ cup brown sugar

☾ 1 tsp whole cloves (exorcism, love, protection)

☾ pinch of nutmeg (protection, prosperity)

☾ 3 cinnamon sticks (power, prosperity, passion)

☾ 6-7 whole cardamom pods (love)

☾ 1 orange slice (abundance, happiness)

combine everything in a pot and bring to boiling; cover with lid and simmer on low-medium heat for 20 minutes. stir clockwise now and then. strain out the herbs and enjoy warm on a rainy evening. if you’d like, light brown, black and/or red candles to make your cider drinking into a little ritual.

[toastedpumpkin]

Herbal Correspondences for Vegan Witches (Or any Witches really)

Activated Charcoal- cleansing, purification, grief, health (banishing serious illness)

Allspice- determination, money, luck, healing

Almond- fertility, Goddess energy, beauty, self-love, prosperity, addiction, abundance

Anise- protection, warding against evil, preventing nightmares, psychic ability, happiness

Basil- money, beauty, protection, love, warding

Bay Leaf- money, motivation, protection, psychic powers, wish fulfillment, success, purification

Black Pepper- banishing, protection, exorcism, healing (from a serious illness/banishing said illness)

Brewer’s Yeast- motherhood, femininity, warding against illness

Cashew- money, creativity

Cardamom- lust/libido, love, fidelity

Cayenne Pepper- catalyst, lust/ libido, confidence

Celery- fertility, psychic powers, healing (especially of the bladder, kidneys, and urinary tract), weight loss

Chamomile- sleep, stress relief, love, beauty, friendship, meditation, luck, libido (mostly women)

Chia Seed- protection, health

Chili Powder- protection, hex breaking, love, fidelity

Chives- protection, weight loss

Chlorella- purification, cleansing, health

Cilantro- money, protection, peace

Cinnamon- catalyst, spirituality, beauty, love, lust, romance, healing, strength, protection, psychic ability

Clove- catalyst, beauty, love, protection (especially for children)

Cocoa Powder- beauty, health, love, self-love, grounding, romance, sex, powder, enhances hot herbs

Coconut- strength, love, beauty, protection

Coffee- grounding, protection, spirituality, energy (if caffeinated), dispelling negativity

Coriander- love, health, protection, easing pain of a broken heart,

Cumin- energy, protection, exorcism, protection from theft, love, fidelity, masculine energy

Dandelion- communicating with the dead, health, weight loss, wish fulfillment, divination, luck

Dill- money, prosperity, luck, lust, protection (especially the home)

Dulse- lust, harmony, sea magick

Fennel- health (especially digestion), protection, money, banishing, strength, vitality, libido

Fenugreek- health (women’s issues), friendship, happiness, calming, feminine energy, libido, money

Flax Seed- fertility, health, protection (especially from sickness), divination, money

Garlic- health, banishing, protection, purification, warding, willpower,

Ginger- catalyst, energy, adventure, health, confidence, lust/libido, prosperity, success, protection

Hemp- fertility, intuition, motivation, peace, harmony, stress relief

Hibiscus- health, love, beauty, heart

Holy Basil- opens heart to love, stress relief, healing, balance, grounding

Jalapeno- energy, catalyst, money, abundance

Kelp- health, money, weight loss, sea magick

Lavender- stress relief, sleep, anti-anxiety, meditation, love, depression, peace, harmony

Lemon- health, beauty, love, lust, cleansing, purification, sun magick, removing negativity,

Lemon grass- psychic cleansing, opening the Third Eye, focus, mental clarity

Licorice- love, lust, fidelity, communicating with the dead, health (digestive system)

Lime- purification, protection, harmony, calmness, tranquility, strengthening love

Maca- fertility, vitality, energy, balance, love

Maple- love, friendship, luck, happiness, wealth

Marjoram- beauty, luck, wealth, grief, cleansing, purification, warding, strengthening love, protection

Mint, Pepper- health, protection, ward off migraines, wealth, bringing about change, love, abundance

Mint, Spear- health, protection, happiness, wealth, communicating with spirits

Miso- health, prosperity, communicating with the dead, friendship

Mustard- courage, faith, endurance, success, luck, happiness

Nettle- grouding, health (especially allergies), banishing negativity, cleansing

Nori- health, harmony

Nutmeg- beauty, prosperity, money, luck, hex breaking, mental acuity

Nutritional Yeast- health, happiness, love, addiction

Oat- fertility, health, earth magick, sacred to Brighid

Onion- protection, health, banishing, warding, bad habits, prosperity

Orange- energy, emotional healing, beauty, health, love, friendship

Oregano- health, beauty, joy, energy, strength

Paprika- catalyst, energy, hexing (I don’t hex, but you do you)

Paprika, smoked- power, see Paprika

Parsley- money, luck, success, health, weight loss

Pecan- employment and career, success, security,

Red Pepper- catalyst, love, lust, confidence

Rice- rain, fertility, money, protection

Rose- beauty, love, honoring the dead, friendship, happiness, healing

Rosemary- mental clarity, focus, memory, health, love, lust, purification

Saffron- happiness, mental health, love, lust, psychic ability, addiction, weight loss

Sage- cleansing, purification, grief, wisdom, spirituality, mental clarity, protection, grounding

Salt- cleansing, purification, grounding, protection, banishing, earth magick

Sesame Seed- money, lust, passion

Soy- spirituality, psychic ability, fertility, intuition, grounding

Spirulina- health, wealth, energy

Sugar- beauty, sweeten attitudes, love, sex, drawing spells

Tamarind- love, health, happiness, family, protection (from illness)

Tea, black- energy, strength, courage, confidence

Tea, green- energy, health, weight loss, beauty, confidence

Tea, white- beauty, harmony, peace, health, tranquility

Thyme- money, protection, luck, grief, honoring the dead, grounding, glamours, confidence, loyalty

Turmeric- health (especially dealing with serious illness), happiness,

Vanilla- beauty, love, friendship, passion

Vinegar- protection, warding, weight loss, hexing, banishing illness

Walnut- connection with the divine, spirituality, mental strength, divination

Watercress- health, sex, lunar magick

[onyxmarblewitchcraft]

Kitchen Witch Tips

Here are a few tricks I’ve picked up along my kitchen-witchery journey:

• When frying meat, use tongs and always add the meat to the pan by laying it away from you. This prevents the oil from splashing and burning you.

• Do not prep and cook at the same time. Finish your prep before adding anything to a frying pan or sticking anything in the oven.

• 4 tbsps is equal to ¼ cup. So when something calls for 1/8 of a cup, it means 2 tbsps. No one has 1/8th cups.

• If a recipe calls for buttermilk but you’re all out, add 1 tbsp of lemon juice or white vinegar to a cup of milk and let it sit for about 15 minutes. Boom, you have buttermilk.

• Burned the bottom of your pan? No worries, I do it all the time too! To get those stubborn bits off, add water to the pan and boil it once more on the stovetop. This loosens up the grime so you can scrape it off!

• Keep brownies, cookies, and cakes moist by storing them with a slice of bread. The treat will remain decadent while the bread will harden and crust up.

• Speaking of crusty/stale bread, if you want the best french toast, leave your bread out overnight. Stale bread soaks up more egg/custard and will result in richer, Fuller pieces of french toast.

• Before frosting your goodies, stick your frosting spoon/utensil in the fridge. Colder utensils make for better frosting-spreaders.

• To prevent your cakes from cracking or rising unevenly in the oven, place a dish of water on the rack below. The extra moisture helps cakes cook evenly.

• Eat and use veggies and fruits that are in-season!

• Buy local produce when you can.

• Always work with sharp knives and always slice away from yourself. Dull knives and cuts are no good.

• Lean cuts of meat like pork tenderloin and chicken breasts toughen up when cooked in the oven, on the stovetop, or on the grill. To keep some of the moisture, wrap them in foil or add a sauce to the pan.

• Your measurements don’t have to be perfect! It’s okay to spill a little flour here and there!

• If you screw up a recipe don’t get discouraged! Cooking and baking are trial and error. Both skills come with time and part of the fun is making a few mistakes along the way!

• Intent is important. It doesn’t always matter what magical ingredients you’ve added to the dishes, sometimes intent and reason for making are the strongest most powerful forces you can garner during the process.

• Everyone has different tastes! Some people may not like what you make, others may enjoy it whole-heartedly. Don’t get discouraged if a few people shy away from your food!

That’s it for now! I’m sure I have many more to share, but until then, keep cooking!

🌙🍎🍇🍴✨

[coastal-witch-deactivated202308]

Essential oil blends for witches

*please remember to dilute properly with a carrier oil

Sea witch blend🌊

-rosemary, lemon, jasmine

Air witch blend☁️

-lavender, sage, lemongrass

Fire witch blend🔥

-cinnamon, clove, ginger

Water witch blend💧

-geranium, bergamot, eucalyptus

Earth/green witch blend🌳

-cederwood, patchouli, tea tree

Floral witch blend🌹

-ylang-ylang, lavender, chamomile

Herbal witch blend🌿

-sage, oregano, basil

Kitchen/hearth witch blend🏠

-rosemary, black pepper, cinnamon

Lunar witch blend🌙

-lemon, sandalwood, lavender

Solar witch blend☀️

-grapefruit, orange, frankincense

Love witch blend💖

-geranium, cinnamon, rose

Ice Witch blend❄

-pine, peppermint, eucalyptus

Cosmic witch blend🌟

-lemongrass, bergamot, thyme

Storm witch blend☔

- tea tree, lavender, black pepper

[leodrune]

the magick of tea

tea is an excellent way to incorporate green witchcraft and herbal magick into your daily life. here is a list of the magickal properties of different teas.

☾ black teas: the teas of winter. known to bring excitement, courage, and financial fortune.

    ♱ english breakfast: warmth, happiness, and courage

    ♱ irish breakfast tea: energy, strength, and willpower

    ♱ earl grey: the best tea for attracting money and fortune

    ♱ chai: love, prosperity, happiness, and healing

☾ white teas: the teas of spring, and the sun. known to heal and cleanse the drinker, as well as enhance spiritual communication and psychic energy.

    ♱ silver needle: purification, cleansing and healing

    ♱ white peony: protection against mischief and ill will

☾ green teas: the teas of summer. known for its powers of health, longevity, love and passion.

    ♱ sencha: prosperity, physical healing, mental strength

    ♱ matcha: love, passion and lust

    ♱ hojicha: banishing negativity, self-love, and health

    ♱ jasmine: spiritual love, energy charging

☾ oolong teas: the teas of autumn. known to inspire love, serenity, reflection, and balance.

    ♱ iron goddess: clarity of mind and heart

    ♱ osmanthus: transformation, harmony and serenity

☾ herbal teas: mixtures of herbs across all the seasons, with varying magickal properties.

    ♱ chamomile tea: love, healing, reducing stress

    ♱ peppermint: sleep, prophetic dreams, clearing negative energy

    ♱ lemon ginger tea: openness, cleansing, adventure

    ♱ dandelion root: divination, wishes, calling spirits

    ♱ fennel: vitality, banishing, energy

    ♱ ginseng: love, beauty, protection

    ♱ hibiscus: love lust, dreams

    ♱ echinacea: spirit offering, money drawing

[by-the-paths-of-leshak-deactiva]

A Practical Guide to Herbology

Lesson Two: Healing with Aromatherapy

Among our senses, one of the most-looked over and powerful is our sense of smell. Aromas can help us recall happy memories - baking cookies with loved ones during the holiday season, the perfume or cologne of a loved one - as well as unpleasant memories. Through psychology, we’ve proven that, when recreating a scene, scents can be our most powerful allies in recalling past events in our lives.

Aromatherapy is the art of using scents to heal the body, mind and soul. We use scents in healing rituals, magic and spirituality frequently - it even manifests in religious practices such as Christianity when a pastor cleanses a space with incense.

Scents and Sensibility

Working with essential oils is really quite easy, but here are some precautions to take.

Dilute

It’s important to dilute your essential oils in a carrier oil before using them therapeutically. You should rarely apply an undiluted essential oil to your skin.

By diluting your essential oils in a carrier oil, you get a lot more use out of them and you also prevent skin irritations. Some common types of carrier oils are grapeseed, olive, flaxseed, almond and sesame oil. Use 30mL (2 tbsp) of carrier oil per 5-10 drops of essential oil.

Storage

Essential oils need to be kept away from light and air. It’s best to store them in dark-tinted bottles to prevent light penetration. With proper storage, most essential oils can last 1-2 years. However, citrus oils should not be used after 6-9 months.

Allergies

Before working with essential oils, be sure to do a skin allergy test. Many people have sensitive skin and it’s important to take precautions and avoid allergic reactions to both essential oils and carrier oils.

To test for allergies, simply place a drop of your chosen carrier oil on your skin. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. Place one drop of essential oil in 15 drops of carrier oil and apply to your chest. Check and see if there is a reaction over the course of 12 hours. If there is no reaction, then you likely have no allergy to the plant or the oil.

Precautions

Please avoid essential oils if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Specifically, avoid: cardamom, coriander, geranium, ginger, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, neroli, palmarosa, petitgrain, spearmint and ylang-ylang.

If you have sensitive or dry skin, it is best to avoid the following essential oils: black pepper, cinnamon, clove, grapefruit, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lime, mandarin, orange, peppermint and spearmint. 

Healing with Essential Oils

When starting out with using essential oils for health purposes, it’s important to address one symptom or issue at a time. Limit your selection to a few different oils until you become more familiar with your tools. Once you get comfortable, start experimenting with making your own blends. As time goes by, you’ll see what works best for your body and you!

Stress

Stress often has the side effects of anxiety, upset stomach, heart palpitations and rapid breathing. One of the most common essential oils used to alleviate stress is peppermint - it relaxes the mind and body. Lavender is another good choice as it relaxes muscles and the vapors help regulate breathing.

Pain and Muscle Tension

Muscle tension and pain are something most of us are familiar with. When using essential oils to address this particular issue, it’s best to create a massage oil to rub the affected area. If you’re trying to relax muscles and ease pain, allspice and geranium are great choices.

Chest Congestion

Flus, colds, respiratory illnesses - we’re no stranger to those during the winter months. To use essential oils to treat this, apply a few drops of diluted oil across the chest and massage into the skin. I tend to use eucalyptus, but thyme is another great choice!

Concentration and Focus

Everyone experiences difficulties with focus and concentration; stress, lack of sleep, anxiety and depression are just a few possible culprits. To use essential oils for this, apply a few drops to the temples, middle of the forehead and the base of the neck. Rosemary and spearmint are great choices for this as they help you relax while improving mental clarity.

Fatigue

At the end of the day, many of us feel exhausted from school, work and just life in general. To help with this, place a few drops of essential oil on your wrists and rub them in. Citrus oils like lemon and lime work really well since they uplift mood, relieve fatigue and provide mental clarity and focus.

Insomnia

Sometimes we just can’t fall asleep. Place a few drops of essential oil on your forehead and at the base of your neck. Lemon balm and ylang-ylang are good choices for this as they promote restful sleep and reduce stress and anxiety.

Anxiety

This issue typically involves both the physical and mental parts of the body. To help alleviate anxiety, place a drop of essential oil on the forehead, base of the neck, wrists and along the collarbone or upper chest. Chamomile, lavender and lemon balm are excellent choices.

Recipes

Anxiety Relief 5 drops chamomile oil 5 drops lemongrass oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Stress Relief 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops lavender oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Muscle-Tension Relief ½ tbsp ground allspice ½ tbsp ground nutmeg 5 drops geranium oil ½ cup carrier oil

Muscle Pain Relief ½ tsp cayenne pepper ½ tsp ground turmeric 5 drops rose oil 5 drops tea tree oil ½ cup carrier oil

Chest Congestion Relief 5 drops eucalyptus oil 5 drops pine oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Mucus Killer 2 tbsp nettle leaves 5 drops frankincense oil 2 cups carrier oil

Focus and Concentration ½ tbsp ground myrrh 5 drops rosemary oil 2 cups carrier oil

Mental Strength and Clarity 1 tbsp dried rosemary 5 drops peppermint oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Energizer ½ tbsp dried juniper berries 5 drops thyme oil 2 cups carrier oil

Citrus Energy 5 drops lemon oil 5 drops lime oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Sleep Easy 5 drops lemon balm oil 5 drops ylang-ylang oil 2 tbsp carrier oil

Digestion Relief ½ tbsp dried catnip 5 drops ginger oil 5 drops spearmint oil 2 cups carrier oil

Common Essential Oils for Health and Wellness

Allspice: Reduces stress, calms, relaxes tight muscles, uplifts mood, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Basil: Calms, relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity, purifies the body

Cardamom: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Catnip: Anti-diarrheal, relieves indigestion, relieves anxiety, uplifts mood

Chamomile: Reduces anxiety, promotes restful sleep and relaxation, relieves pain

Cinnamon: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, natural disinfectant, improves digestion, increases appetite

Clove: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity, improves digestion, natural disinfectant

Coriander: Relieves pain, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory

Eucalyptus: Breaks up congestion, relieves pain, natural disinfectant, vapors help with breathing (asthma)

Frankincense: Anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, improves digestion, expectorant, sedative

Geranium: Relieves stress and tension, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, soothes itchy skin

Ginger: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves digestion, increases appetite

Juniper berries: Relieves pain, energizes, improves mental clarity and memory, anti-inflammatory, repels insects, soothes insect bites

Lavender: Relieves stress and anxiety, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, balances mood swings, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, breaks up congestion

Lemon: Balances the nervous system, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Lemon balm: Relieves anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep

Lemongrass: Calms, balances nervous system, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Lime: Relieves fatigue, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Mandarin: Reduces stress and tension, calms, uplifts mood

Myrrh: Helpful in meditation, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Neroli and Orange blossom: Removes nervous tension, promotes restful sleep

Nutmeg: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, improves digestion

Palmarosa: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, helps regenerate skin, anti-inflammatory

Peppermint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, increases appetite, soothes itchy skin, improves mental clarity and memory

Petitgrain: Reduces anxiety and stress, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, improves mental clarity and memory

Pine: Lessens pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, natural disinfectant, improves mental clarity and memory

Rose: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, anti-inflammatory, aids in healing skin

Rosemary: Relieves pain, stimulates nerves, relieves fatigue, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant, repels insects

Spearmint: Relieves pain, uplifts mood, relieves fatigue, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, vapors help with breathing, improves digestion, improves appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, soothes itchy skin

Tea Tree: Relieves pain, natural disinfectant, aids in healing skin, vapors help with breathing

Thyme: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, uplifts mood, breaks up congestion, anti-inflammatory, improves digestion, increases appetite, improves mental clarity and memory, natural disinfectant

Ylang-Ylang: Relaxes tight muscles, relieves pain, promotes restful sleep, uplifts mood, natural disinfectant —————————————– Images are under the Creative Commons License. Information is from a variety of books, websites and my personal experience working with essential oils.

Updated 7 March 2018 to include more warnings and to be consistent with other posts in this series of lessons.

Warnings:  

Do not apply undiluted essential oils directly to your skin. They are incredibly potent and are likely to cause irritation, burns and permanent scars. You must utilize an appropriate carrier oil for dilution - water is not acceptable.

Essential oils are not edible - DO NOT INGEST THEM. They are not used in tinctures, extracts or anything meant to be taken internally.

Diffusing essential oils can be toxic to your pets. Please do extensive research on which types of oils are not harmful to your pets.

Do your own research regarding medicinal plants and usage, especially if you are sensitive or have allergies of any kind. If you are on medication(s), consult a doctor before use.

Finally, aromatherapy is not a  substitution for professional medical and psychiatric aid. If you are experiencing any prolonged health and/or mental health issues, SEE A DOCTOR.