Meg @megelizabethx - Tumblr Blog

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✨A List of Basic Herbs✨

Hi, lovelies! I haven’t made a witchy post in a little while, and thought that this would be very helpful, especially for baby witches. Here is a list containing a few easy, basic beginner’s herbs to gather for your witch cabinet/magick tool collection! If you do not have access to all of these in their herbal/spice forms, remember that oil is always a good substitute.

Basil: This herb can be used to bring good luck, promote purification, and provide an extra boost in love spells!

Chamomile: This is very similar to how Lavender is used in magick. Chamomile is very beneficial during meditation and in sleep/healing spells, it is also very protective, lucky, and purifying.

Cinnamon: In addition to smelling and tasting wonderful, cinnamon is a great option for wealth, success, and healing spells.

Eucalyptus: So, so excellent for healing. General protection is also a very good use for it!

Lavender: A favorite of nearly every witch I’ve met, and for good reason. A perfect herb for calming, protection, healing, purification, and happiness.

Mugwort: General healing, strength, and protection are all things that mugwort can be used for. Using it as an incense is also effective - it can assist in the strengthening of your divination practices.

Peppermint: It’s not just for having around during the holidays- peppermint is wonderful for boosting your psychic energies and abilities.

Rose: The ultimate in love and romance spells, of course - in addition to protection, luck, and helping your psychic powers grow.

Rosemary: Rosemary is a very good all-purpose herb. It can be effective in all of the following areas: protection, love, purification, mental powers, cleansing of negative energy, promoting sleep, and helping your memory.

Sage: Sage is a staple in nearly every witch’s collection. It is generally used for its strong healing and cleansing powers. It can also be used in spells/rituals that support longevity, fulfillment of wishes, wealth, and protection.

Sandalwood:A wonderful medium for strong cleansing of negativity. Healing, exorcism, dream fulfillment, and spirituality are also great uses of sandalwood.

Bonus: Salt! I use it in nearly all of my rituals, spells, and altars. Salt is an absorber rather than a channeler, soaking in all of the psychic energies surrounding. It is purifying, protective, and healing, a good addition to any general ritual.

clevergirlhelps

The Dramatic Scene

«lightning flash» «thunder rumble»

Don’t overdo it. That is honestly the number one problem I’ve seen in other people’s writing and in my own. You try to hype it up as much as you can - hey, it’s dramatic - but then you end up with this big ball of cheesiness. Stick to simple descriptions, avoid prolonged metaphors, and don’t add anything that doesn’t belong there.

If there is a monologue, a) give it some foreshadowing, and b) remember the other people exist. Point A: not all the information should be brand new. The reader should have been able to guess about half of it from hints you have subtly inserted into the text. If you don’t foreshadow, all this information is coming out of nowhere. It would just feel out of place. B) Monologues tend to go on and ON and ON as the character tries to get out what they need to say as fast as possible. I get that you want to get the whole story out. But just remember there are other people around and they will deny, interrupt, gasp, cry, scream, etc. They won’t just sit there and stare at whoever is talking. People receiving bad news tend to shield their bodies with their arms or curl their shoulders defensively. Angry people throw their chests out and hold their arms a little away from their sides. Write them doing that. Plus, it breaks up the long text and gives the reader time to digest information.

FORESHADOW. Nothing in your story can come out of nowhere. Nothing. That includes dramatic reveals. It’ll seem forced or contrived if you don’t foreshadow.

Drama is more than the right words. It’s also how people react to the words. (This is sort of related to point 2B.) Drama is about the way she instinctively pulls him close when he tells her he failed. Drama is about how parents exchange a strange but meaningful glance when their son comes home with a new friend. Drama is about really screwing around with the connections people have with each other. Action is BAM! The evil villain has risen! KA-POW! Hero vs. outside threat. SHAZAM! We must rescue the princess! Drama is oh, god, will anything ever be the same again? Drama is what is happening to us? Drama is what is this emotion? Drama is I love you and I hate you. Drama is breaking bonds or forging new ones. Drama is internal and, as a result, you need to remember to involve the emotional and physical side to your writing. No straight dialogue. There needs to be action and reaction.

Write angsty. Pick a day when you feel closest to the emotion you’re trying to replicate in your scene. Then sit down and write. Let the words come to you and don’t stop until you’ve gotten everything down. Then give yourself time to calm down, go back, and edit. It’s sort of like what Hemingway said: “Write drunk, edit sober” except you’re drunk on emotions. Getting in the mood can help your writing a lot.

the-right-writing

Five places to put a physical description of your main character (without using a mirror)

1. When your main character first meets somebody they’re attracted to, their thoughts might go to the positives and negatives of their appearance.

2. Same goes for when your character is going into a situation where they feel judged (first time on a stage, moving to a new area, first day at a new job, etc.).

3. When your character is dressed up or in costume, they could take the opportunity to contrast their new look with how they look normally.

4. When your character meets a family member they’ve never seen before, they may think about which traits the two of them share.

5. Try spacing out the physical description throughout the first part of your story instead of concentrating it in one place.

colleenwing

richardmaddan

Someone’s here. Outside.

dyslexicae-deactivated20220111

this man right here is my hero.

butterscotchpuddingg

Half of Ben Howard’s songs make me feel like I’m sitting on a chilly beach in a big chunky sweater under gray sky, with my knees pulled up to my chest while I absent-mindedly watch the waves roll in. The other half make me feel like I’m waking up in the forest, next to a campfire , just in time to watch the sun rise with my closest friends. Either way it’s good stuff.

justjulespictures

time is dancing

whatever-you-write

2 days until I see my favourite artist Ben Howard!!!!! I am going to CRY!

itisisunbeam

WHY EATING SEASONALLY IS IMPORTANT

•save money - food is at it’s highest supply

•food is better - it is grown closer to home so less likely to rot

•support local, sustainable farmers

•more environmentally friendly

mxmoonwitch

campinguniverse

isnathanreal

wild and woody

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.