Plant Guides (adapted from Christopher Penczack's Shamanic Temple of Witchcraft)
Communicating with a plant is the first step in building a spirit medicine relationship with it. Working with living plants in the Middle World, at least initially, can be easier. As you develop your skills, you can repeat this exercise, journeying in the Middle World to find plants that are not growing near you, or visiting the worlds above and below for different otherworldly plant spirits.
EXERCISE 26
Plant Spirit Communication
1. Find a plant with which you wish to communicate. I suggest a plant outdoors and in the wild, but houseplants and cultivated gardens work well too. Simply choose a plant that speaks to you in this moment. You will be drawn to the plant ally that is right for you.
2. Sit or lie down near the plant and get comfortable. You can assume a shamanic trance posture if you desire.
3. Start Exercise 1: Entering a Meditative State to get into your magickal mindset. You could even do Exercise 6: Tree Breathing to get your energy flowing. You could also cast a circle around yourself and the plant, but it's not necessary.
4. Ask to connect to the consciousness of the plant. You can ask for the deva, nature spirit, faery, or any form you feel is appropriate for you. I simply ask for the plant spirit ally and let it take whatever form it desires. I call upon my higher self and spirit guides to aid the process. Sometimes another guide will facilitate the experience to make it clearer or to prevent the energy from being overwhelming.
5. Feel your energy mingle with that of the plant. Feel the boundaries between you and the plant dissolve away, giving you both access to exchange information. Feel the plant's presence and personality. Each plant will feel different.
6. Ask your plant any questions you have about its spirit medicine, powers, and abilities. Ask how you can best partner with it, and if indeed it does want to partner with you. Don't assume that it does. Allow the information to come to you in whatever way is appropriate. You will find that just as some people are more visual, auditory, or sensory, some plants have their own affinities. Some communicate primarily through one sense.
7. When done, thank the plant spirit for this time. Some witches leave an offering, as they would for a harvesting ritual. Return yourself to normal consciousness. Ground yourself and close the space as needed. Immediately record your impressions in your Book of Shadows for future study.
Different aspects of the plant spirit can give you different kinds of information. Usually the nature spirit of the Middle World will give you more practical and medicinal information. The higher spirit or Deva will give more spiritual information, while the lower spirits or faery guardians have a variety of lore, and sometimes teach through riddle and story. You may be personally "keyed in" to one of the three realms more than the others. Honor your connection, and listen to its wisdom.
Though most "traditional" books on the craft focus exclusively on European herbs, as a witch living in the Northeast of the United States, I like to work with the plant medicine of species that grow in my area as well as traditional witch herbs. Explore your own environment and see what is available to you.
When talking herbs, it's important to discuss the use of them outdoors. We went over some common sense guidelines on using altars outdoors.
homework this week was to construct an outdoor altar and journal about it, then share the pros, cons and spiritual implications in class.
Monday, October 12, 2009
Herbology 101
We begin our nature arc with a discussion about herbology and different correspondences thereof.
Herbology 101
Herb applies to a wide range of plants, including: grasses, trees, shrubs, weeds, roots, barks, and the flowers of any plant used for healing, magic spells and rituals, witchcraft, Wicca, or other purposes. Resins are concentrated, partially dehydrated derivatives of the liquid or sap of trees and plants and are commonly used in the same manner as herbs. Animal products like musk and ambergris are used similarly to resins and herbs, but primarily for their scents.
Herbs and their by-products have been used for thousands of years by humans and other animals for healing. Even lower life forms are familiar with the benefits gained through the ingestion or application of certain plants. Likewise with the magical aspects of herbs, only this use is limited to humans. For thousands of years humans have used herbs and herbal concoctions for with the intent of altering their world.
Herbs have many possible uses:
Charms and Sachets
Incense
Bath
Oils
Teas
And that's only to name a few. The magickal correspondences associated with herbs and their kin are almost limitless, but some are virtually universal and have powerful medicinal uses. The most important part of working with a plant is to forge a relationship with it. You wouldn't ask a stranger for a favor, would you? If a stranger approached you and asked you to help him lower his blood pressure, I doubt you would go very far out of your way for him. Respect the herb in question. Meditate with it. Go on an astral journey with it, ask it to show you its benefits and dangers. Make nice. Ask the plant for its wisdom—you may be surprised at what you'll find. The following page has a few correspondences that are common with a few herbs often used in magick and holistic healing.
Angelica: Protects from evil.
Ash (wood): Invincibility.
Balm Melissa: All healing. It's reputed to repel illness.
Betony: Protection against evil spirits.
Borage (flowers): Gives courage.
Bracken: Fern seeds gathered at midsummer are golden and were user to make the wearer invisible and also bring gold.
Briar Rose: Protects from bites of dogs or snakes.
Clover (flowers and leaves): Brings good luck and assists with clairvoyance.
Daisy: Innocence and love.
Dill: Love.
Eglantine (sweet briar): Pleasure.
Elder (use only twigs, do not cut tree): Revered by the Ancients; Elder brings wisdom, joy and delight.
Elm: Childbirth (it is associated with Embla, the first woman in Norse mythology).
Fennel: A sacred herb held in great respect by the Ancients. Wards off evil spirits, bestows strength, courage, and prolongs life.
Harebell: The flower of witches, who used its juice as part of their flying ointment. It is associated with seeing fairies, goblins and earth spirits. It was also thought to bring bad luck..
Hawthorn: Marriage and fertility (not a very attractive smell).
Hay: Pregnancy and fertility.
Hazel (use wood): Sacred in Celtic mythology for fertility and immortality. Wards off rheumatism. This is one of the most popular woods for making sorcerer's wands and dowsing rods.
Heather: Luck.
Honeysuckle: Fidelity and affection. Those who wear it will dream of their own true love.
House Leek (chicks and hens): Keeps evil away and the wearer will never be struck by lightning.
Hyssop (hyacinth): Purifying, cleansing.
Jasmine: Attraction.
Lady's Mantle: For women's problems. Use the pearl of dew that gathers on the leaves at dawn. Causes change in your life, brings luck. Aids spirituality.
Lavender: relaxing and stress relieving.
Lilac: Luck, love.
Lily of the Valley: Counters spells, attracts fairies.
Marjoram: Peace, happiness, joy.
May flowers: The base of the old wild magick. May flowers bring both adventure and chaos into your life.
Mint: Sharpens the mind.
Mistletoe: Energy, fertility, immortality.
Mulberry: Headaches.
Mullein: Asthma, protection from evil.
Nettle: One of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo Saxons. Protection against demons and evil spells.
Oak : A sacred plant. Protection by the gods, strength, long life.
Onion: Protection against lung illnesses, colds, flu, and the plague, fends off evil spirits.
Orchids: Desire.
Peony wood: A powerful charm against evil.
Poppy: A charm to assist those bewitched into love.
Primrose: Used by the Ancients to see fairies.
Rose: Pure love.
Rosemary: Good memory, friendship, fidelity.
Rue: Luck and protection against the evil eye, freedom.
Saffron: Aphrodisiac.
Sage: Longevity, prosperity (do not cut this plant with metal).
Snowdrop: Used to quicken the passing of sorrow.
Sow Thistle: Increases strength and stamina, repels witches, invisibility from enemies.
St Johns Wort: Considered the most potent of herbs for driving away evil spirits and spells.
Strawberry: Sensuality.
Sweet pea: Good fortune.
Thyme: Relives giddiness and nightmares.
Violet: Love, humility, honesty, virtue.
Walnut: Robs an evil spirit of mobility, repels insects. It is the tree of Jupiter and brings the Gods' blessings.
Wheat: Gaia's blessings, as it contains the spirit of the earth and harvest. Used for growth and fertility.
Willow: To ease sorrow and the loss of a love.
Yew: A sacred tree. Protection against evil. Do not cut the tree, gather only from the ground.
this week's homework is to find and connect to a plant. explain why that plant is so special to you, and bring it to the next class.
Herbology 101
Herb applies to a wide range of plants, including: grasses, trees, shrubs, weeds, roots, barks, and the flowers of any plant used for healing, magic spells and rituals, witchcraft, Wicca, or other purposes. Resins are concentrated, partially dehydrated derivatives of the liquid or sap of trees and plants and are commonly used in the same manner as herbs. Animal products like musk and ambergris are used similarly to resins and herbs, but primarily for their scents.
Herbs and their by-products have been used for thousands of years by humans and other animals for healing. Even lower life forms are familiar with the benefits gained through the ingestion or application of certain plants. Likewise with the magical aspects of herbs, only this use is limited to humans. For thousands of years humans have used herbs and herbal concoctions for with the intent of altering their world.
Herbs have many possible uses:
Charms and Sachets
Incense
Bath
Oils
Teas
And that's only to name a few. The magickal correspondences associated with herbs and their kin are almost limitless, but some are virtually universal and have powerful medicinal uses. The most important part of working with a plant is to forge a relationship with it. You wouldn't ask a stranger for a favor, would you? If a stranger approached you and asked you to help him lower his blood pressure, I doubt you would go very far out of your way for him. Respect the herb in question. Meditate with it. Go on an astral journey with it, ask it to show you its benefits and dangers. Make nice. Ask the plant for its wisdom—you may be surprised at what you'll find. The following page has a few correspondences that are common with a few herbs often used in magick and holistic healing.
Angelica: Protects from evil.
Ash (wood): Invincibility.
Balm Melissa: All healing. It's reputed to repel illness.
Betony: Protection against evil spirits.
Borage (flowers): Gives courage.
Bracken: Fern seeds gathered at midsummer are golden and were user to make the wearer invisible and also bring gold.
Briar Rose: Protects from bites of dogs or snakes.
Clover (flowers and leaves): Brings good luck and assists with clairvoyance.
Daisy: Innocence and love.
Dill: Love.
Eglantine (sweet briar): Pleasure.
Elder (use only twigs, do not cut tree): Revered by the Ancients; Elder brings wisdom, joy and delight.
Elm: Childbirth (it is associated with Embla, the first woman in Norse mythology).
Fennel: A sacred herb held in great respect by the Ancients. Wards off evil spirits, bestows strength, courage, and prolongs life.
Harebell: The flower of witches, who used its juice as part of their flying ointment. It is associated with seeing fairies, goblins and earth spirits. It was also thought to bring bad luck..
Hawthorn: Marriage and fertility (not a very attractive smell).
Hay: Pregnancy and fertility.
Hazel (use wood): Sacred in Celtic mythology for fertility and immortality. Wards off rheumatism. This is one of the most popular woods for making sorcerer's wands and dowsing rods.
Heather: Luck.
Honeysuckle: Fidelity and affection. Those who wear it will dream of their own true love.
House Leek (chicks and hens): Keeps evil away and the wearer will never be struck by lightning.
Hyssop (hyacinth): Purifying, cleansing.
Jasmine: Attraction.
Lady's Mantle: For women's problems. Use the pearl of dew that gathers on the leaves at dawn. Causes change in your life, brings luck. Aids spirituality.
Lavender: relaxing and stress relieving.
Lilac: Luck, love.
Lily of the Valley: Counters spells, attracts fairies.
Marjoram: Peace, happiness, joy.
May flowers: The base of the old wild magick. May flowers bring both adventure and chaos into your life.
Mint: Sharpens the mind.
Mistletoe: Energy, fertility, immortality.
Mulberry: Headaches.
Mullein: Asthma, protection from evil.
Nettle: One of the nine sacred herbs of the Anglo Saxons. Protection against demons and evil spells.
Oak : A sacred plant. Protection by the gods, strength, long life.
Onion: Protection against lung illnesses, colds, flu, and the plague, fends off evil spirits.
Orchids: Desire.
Peony wood: A powerful charm against evil.
Poppy: A charm to assist those bewitched into love.
Primrose: Used by the Ancients to see fairies.
Rose: Pure love.
Rosemary: Good memory, friendship, fidelity.
Rue: Luck and protection against the evil eye, freedom.
Saffron: Aphrodisiac.
Sage: Longevity, prosperity (do not cut this plant with metal).
Snowdrop: Used to quicken the passing of sorrow.
Sow Thistle: Increases strength and stamina, repels witches, invisibility from enemies.
St Johns Wort: Considered the most potent of herbs for driving away evil spirits and spells.
Strawberry: Sensuality.
Sweet pea: Good fortune.
Thyme: Relives giddiness and nightmares.
Violet: Love, humility, honesty, virtue.
Walnut: Robs an evil spirit of mobility, repels insects. It is the tree of Jupiter and brings the Gods' blessings.
Wheat: Gaia's blessings, as it contains the spirit of the earth and harvest. Used for growth and fertility.
Willow: To ease sorrow and the loss of a love.
Yew: A sacred tree. Protection against evil. Do not cut the tree, gather only from the ground.
this week's homework is to find and connect to a plant. explain why that plant is so special to you, and bring it to the next class.
Sympathetic Magick
Sympathetic Magick
Microcosm vs Macrocosm
Sympathetic magick is the ultimate expression of microcosm vs macrocosm. When we talk about correspondences, we are talking about a sympathetic relationship between the object and what it represents. Correspondence is the root of what we use when we talk about sympathetic magick. One thing takes the place of another on the physical plane, but on the astral, it is the same thing or a reflection of the thing you are trying to effect.
An example of this would be poppet magick, or popularly known as Voodoo. The poppet (the microcosm) represents the person (the macrocosm), therefor IS the person, be it yourself or someone else. What one does to the poppet—show it love and decorate it in a desirable image or shove needles through it—will ultimately metaphorically happen to the subject it corresponds with. Ripping a picture apart, friendship bracelets and stereotypical spells requiring hair or nail clippings are all forms of sympathetic magick.
The power of wedding rings, friendship bracelets or other shared jewelry are other forms of sympathetic magick. The thought is that though the objects are separate, they share the same vibration on the astral plane. They are metaphorically and astrally the same object, thus forging a link between the wearers so long as they keep the object close.
You can see how this would be beneficial in magick workings. When looking to change your physical image, draw a picture of how you want to look, however crude or elaborate it may be. Frame it, shower it with compliments, offer it gifts like flowers and healthy libations. When you correspond the picture with yourself, it becomes you. If you act in accord by eating healthy and exercising, astrally you will become the image you are encouraging, and then the physical changes will follow. As above, so below.
we worked with poppets this class, and the homework was to journal the successes and pitfalls of using a poppet for sympathetic magick.
Microcosm vs Macrocosm
Sympathetic magick is the ultimate expression of microcosm vs macrocosm. When we talk about correspondences, we are talking about a sympathetic relationship between the object and what it represents. Correspondence is the root of what we use when we talk about sympathetic magick. One thing takes the place of another on the physical plane, but on the astral, it is the same thing or a reflection of the thing you are trying to effect.
An example of this would be poppet magick, or popularly known as Voodoo. The poppet (the microcosm) represents the person (the macrocosm), therefor IS the person, be it yourself or someone else. What one does to the poppet—show it love and decorate it in a desirable image or shove needles through it—will ultimately metaphorically happen to the subject it corresponds with. Ripping a picture apart, friendship bracelets and stereotypical spells requiring hair or nail clippings are all forms of sympathetic magick.
The power of wedding rings, friendship bracelets or other shared jewelry are other forms of sympathetic magick. The thought is that though the objects are separate, they share the same vibration on the astral plane. They are metaphorically and astrally the same object, thus forging a link between the wearers so long as they keep the object close.
You can see how this would be beneficial in magick workings. When looking to change your physical image, draw a picture of how you want to look, however crude or elaborate it may be. Frame it, shower it with compliments, offer it gifts like flowers and healthy libations. When you correspond the picture with yourself, it becomes you. If you act in accord by eating healthy and exercising, astrally you will become the image you are encouraging, and then the physical changes will follow. As above, so below.
we worked with poppets this class, and the homework was to journal the successes and pitfalls of using a poppet for sympathetic magick.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
