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INTRODUCTION TO HERBALISM Merry Meet Friends, Welcome to the wonderful world of herbs and their uses, in the following lessons will give you a basic knowledge of most aspects of herbalism. As these lessons are not as in-depth as I would have preferred to have made them, they will however, still give you an understanding of just how vast the world of herbs really is. These lessons were also designed to motivate the student who wishes to learn more to research further. Only particular herbs will be mentioned in this course, as there would be far too many to name each individually, so this course is designed to accommodate the most popular. THE LESSONS Like in the other courses that you have completed with the Correllian Tradition, these lessons will contain several sections, which are intended to compliment each other. These sections will include: THE LESSON – The main body of each lesson will be devoted to a single subject. These lessons will only provide an introduction and a good basic understanding of these different topics, and we strongly encourage you to follow them with further research of your own. PIONEERS IN HISTORY – Each lesson will also contain a small feature devoted to History. Which will include the great people behind the dawning of specific parts of Herbalism. GLOSSARY – Every lesson will include a glossary, to explain words which may be unfamiliar to you. We are not aware that some of our references are obscure and may give more information that you at first think you need. SPELLWORKS – Each Lesson will include a spellworking, to help you expand upon your knowledge, and to help you to integrate the plants into your spellcasting. TEST – And finally, each lesson will end with a Test, which you may complete at your own rate.

The Subject matter of the Herbalism course includes the following: 0 – Introduction to Herbalism

Lesson - YOU ARE HERE I – History of Herbs

Lesson - Includes the history of herbs dating back as far as 2700 B.C Pioneer - Hippocrates and Theophrastus Spellwork – Cleansing Ritual Tool

II – Preparations

Lesson - Run down of the most basic herbal preparations Pioneer – Mithridates and Dioscorides Spellwork – Growing Spell

III – Basic Uses

Lesson - The uses of Herbs and some of their more famous applications Pioneer – Pliny and Galen Spellwork - Bath Cleansing (Asperges)

IV – The Herbs

Lesson - List of herbs, including Latin names, parts used, preparations, actions and uses. Pioneer – Avicenna and Hildegard of Bingen Spellwork - Imbolc Meditation

V – Herbs in Magic

Lesson - List of herbs and their magical counterparts. Pioneer – Paracelus and Pietro Mattioli Spellwork - Imbolc Ritual

VI – Natural Healing Methods

Lesson – Other Natural healing meathods with a brief description Pioneer – Nicholas Culpeper and Carolus Linnaeus Spellwork – Solitary New Moon Ritual

VII – Toxic Herbs Part I

Lesson - Toxic herbs, including common names, Latin names, and descriptions. Part I Pioneer – Samuel Hannemann Spellwork – Tapu’s Healing Spell

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VIII – Toxic Herbs Part II Lesson - Toxic herbs, including common names, Latin names, and descriptions. Part II Pioneer – Samuel Thomson Spellwork – Blessing your new Home

IX – Plants and their Planetary Rulers

Lesson – Small list of Plants with their Zodiacal and Planetary Rulers Pioneer – Dr.. Frederick Foster Harvey Quin Spellwork – Strength Spell

DISCLAIMER: Choosing a holistic approach to medicine means choosing personal responsibility for your health care. This course is designed to offer a doorway through which to enter the realm of herbal healing, an invitation to further investigation on the part of the reader. It is in no way intended as a substitute for advice from a health care practitioner.

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LESSON I - HISTORY OF HERBS. You may say you know very little about herbs and their lore, but you actually know more than you think. Herbs are everywhere in everyone’s life; from kitchen spices and vegetables, to coffee and tea, spring flowers and garden weeds. Since the beginning in ancient times of India, China, Egypt, and Assyria dating as far back as the year 2700 B.C. , and in the struggle to achieve mastery over the forces of nature, people have always turned to plants for help - for food - shelter - clothing - weapons - and healing. Plants provide all these and something more: an astounding display of energy in their growth and seasonal rebirth. No wonder then, that plants have been invested with magical powers. No wonder that many myths attribute to plants an intimate relationship with our daily lives and with our destinies. Herbs in Papyri: Surviving Egyptian papyri dating back to around 1700 BC record that many common herbs, such as garlic and juniper, have been used medicinally for around 4,000 years. In the days of Ramesses III, hemp was used for eye problems just as it may be prescribed for glaucoma today, while poppy extracts were used to quieten crying children. The Greek Contribution: By the time of Hippocrates (468-377 BC), European herbal tradition had already absorbed ideas from Assyria and India, with Eastern herbs such as basil and ginger among the most highly prized, and the complex theory of humours and essential body fluids had begun to be formulated. Hippocrates categorised all foods and herbs by fundamental quality - hot, cold, dry or damp - and good health was maintained by keeping them in balance, as well as taking plenty of exercise and fresh air. Pedanius Dioscorides wrote his classic text De Materia Medica in around 60 AD, and this remained the standard textbook for 1,500 years. Dioscorides was reputed to have been either the physician to Antony and Cleopatra or, more prosaically, an army surgeon during the reign of the Emperor Nero. Many of the actions of Dioscorides describes are familiar today: parsley as a diuretic; fennel to promote milk flow; white horehound mixed with honey as an expectorant.

Roman Remedies: The Greek theories of medicine reached Rome around 100 BC. As time passed, they bacame more mechanistic, presenting a view of the body as a machine to be actively repaired, rather than following the Hippocratic dictum of allowing most diseases to cure themselves. Medicine became a lucrative business with complex, highly priced herbal remedies. Opposing this practice was Claudius Galenus (131-199 AD), who was born in Pergamon in Asia Minor and was a court physician to the Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Galen reworked many of the old Hippocratic ideas and formalised the theories of humours. His books soon became the standard medical texts not only of Rome, but also of later Arab and medieval physicians, and his theories still survive in Unani medicine today. Islamic Influences: The Arab World: With the fall of Tome in the 5th century, the centre of Classical learning shifted East and the study of Galenical medicine was focused in Constantinople and Persia. Galenism was adopted with enthusiasm by the Arabs, and merged with both folk beliefs and surviving Egyptian learning. It was this mixture of herbal ideas, practice and traditions that was re-imported into Europe with the invading Arab armies. Probably the most important work of the time was the Kitab al Qanun, or Canon of Medicine, by Avicenna. This was based firmly on Galenical principles and by the 12th century had been translated into Latin and imported back into the West to become on of the leading textbooks in Western medical schools. Monastery: The Christian monks of the sixth century enlarged the medicinal use of herbs. They became really the first homeopathic specialists and each monastery had a special herb garden from which plants were exchanged and traded between Orders, so developing and improving the herbs. Some of today's great medical centres are direct descendants of these monastery gardens.

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Superstitious Times: During this superstitious time many herbs were credited with mystical and magical powers; it was believed that angelica, bay and garlic would protect the user against witchcraft, bay had the added advantage of warding off infection. Caraway and coriander were used in love potions, while fennel was held in high regard by the Romans as it supposedly protected the user against venomous bites, made him strong, brave and encouraged long life. As well, there were herbs to guard against nightmares, some to deter vampires and many more to keep lovers faithful. PIONEERS IN HERBS: This lessons first pioneer Hippocrates (460 – 377 B.C) Hippocrates may be known today as the father of medicine, but for centuries pride of place in medieval Europe was given to Galen, a 2nd century physician, who wrote extensively about the four "humours" - blood, phlegm, black bile and yellow bile - and classified herbs by their essential qualities: as hot or cold, dry or damp. These theories were later expanded by 7th century Arab physicians such as Avicenna, and today Gelenical theories continue to dominate Unani medicine, practiced by the Muslim world and India. Galen's descriptions of herbs as, for example, "hot in the the third degree" or "cold in the second" were still being used well into the 18th century. The second great pioneer is the great Theophrastus: (c. 371- c.287 BC) The first scientific botanist known to history was the Greek philospher Theophrastus. Extending to plants a classification scheme that was developed by his teacher Aristotle, Theophrastus wrote two works, Growth of Plants and Inquiry Into Plants, which covered some 550 plants from Europe to India. These works were the first to classiffy plants by form and structure, and prefigure the Linnaean system used today. Theophrastus was also a first-rate observer: his description of germinating seeds, for example, was long unsurpassed. Yet he also transmitted fantasies that were to haunt science for generations, such as the idea that plants were put on earth solely for people's use, a notion implicit in the doctrine of signatures. As to his reason for mixing myth with fact, Theophrastus wrote: "Fabulous tales are not made up without reason."

SPELLWORK: Bay and Willow Water 3 tbsp dried Willow or 6 tbsp fresh Willow 2 tbsp dried or fresh Bay leaves 4 cups water 2 strips of dried Orange rind 10 drops of Witch Hazel extract First start by clearing and releasing all excess energy. (you can vary the ritual according to your own preferences and tradition) Focus on all ingredients cleansing each item separately to purify any negativity which they may have. Then take three deep breaths, eliminating the last of the negativity that you may have picked up – then you are ready to combine ingredients – go ahead and do so with love and peace in your heart. Now combine all ingredients in a small glass or enamelled pan. Bring water JUST to a simmer and shut heat. Add herbs and steep for 20 mins. *This process can be repeated using the same water add more herbs for a stronger infusion. Add the orange zests while mixture is still warm. * Cool to room temperature, then strain out the herbs and then add the drops of Witch Hazel extract. Refrigerate between uses. You can use any flower or herb of your choice, depending on your needs in ritual work or personal preferences. You can use this water to cleanse your Altar and other ritual tools, you have learnt about them, and of how to cleanse them in the previous courses that you have completed. These waters can be used as accompliments to crystal work as well. It is also a great combination for FLOORWASHES too. On a more personal note, you can put liquid in a bottle with a lid and dab on with cotton, or put it in a spray bottle and spray on your face and body. This rinse will remove any traces of soap on your face, and leave your face fresh and smooth. Other variations that I prefer are Vanilla and Linden, and Rose Geranium and Orange.

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LESSON II – HERBAL PREPARATIONS Herbs can be used in quite a number of different ways. Depending upon the users wish, they can be used to treat an ailment or problem, depending upon the individual who is applying the healing or even by whom is receiving the treatment, all of which depends upon what application is used. They can also be used for spellcasting and ritual magick. In this lesson you will discover a little bit more about the different applications of various herbs preparations. Water Infusions - Hot: When plant material is infused in water, after about 3-5 minutes, the water becomes a fragrantly scented and pleasantly refreshing drink known as 'tea'. However, tea is more than just an enjoyable means of quenching thirst. Our bodies are 90% water and we have an intimate affinity with this element. Water Infusions - Cold: Place the herbs in cold water and soak for 8-12 hours having the best result if left overnight, the strain and slightly warm before drinking. Tinctures: In a tincture the properties of the herbs are extracted and preserved in alcohol. In ancient times this was accomplished using wines, (as is where the "mulled wines" originated from!) Tinctures can be made with fresh or dried herbs. Tinctures can also be made "non-alcoholic" by adding the adequate ratio of water to the tincture mix and leaving the mixture uncovered for several hours while the alcohol evaporates, useful for those people that are unable to take alcohol. Poultices: Poultices are herbal compresses that are very handy for skin problems and even muscular and bone ailments. They are made by steaming the herbs over water, but not touching the water. Cover and steam for a few minutes, just so that the herbs "wilt". And by spreading the softened herbs on a cloth and place on the affected area. Cover the "compress" with a woolen cloth and leave on for approximately 2 hours. Decoctions: A decoction is an extract of herbs produced by boiling the herb in water. This method is used for hard seeds, roots and barks, which need much longer than just a few minutes to infuse. I prefer to use this technique, because there is something mystical, and very healing about this

medium. Although decoctions are prepared by prolonged simmering, they still contain the essential qualities of the fresh herbs Fomentation: Is just a towel or cloth soaked in an herbal infusion or decoction, with the excess wrung out and then applied as hot as possible (without burning) to the affected area. Powder: Dried and ground plant matter. Take with water, soup, milk, sprinkled on food etc. The most common dosage is that which can be picked up on the tip of a dinner knife (about half a teaspoon). Syrup: Raw or brown sugar is boiled with water until it reaches a ‘honey’ consistency. Strain through cheesecloth, and the medicinal ingredients and administer. This is very good for encouraging small children to take their medicine. Extract – Liquid herbal extracts are generally concentrated herbal liquids which are made in alcohol/water mixtures and are undoubtedly the best and most convenient herbal administrations. Saturation time is much longer than herbal tinctures, but the principle is basically the same. Essence: Approximately 28 grams of the herbs’ oil is dissolved in 600 mls of alcohol. This is an excellent way to preserve volatile essential oils which are not water soluble. PIONEERS IN HERBS: This lessons first pioneer is the great Mithridates: (died 63 BC) A special place in the history of medicinal plants belongs to Mithridates VI, King of Pontus. Because he is said to have made himself immune to poisoning by taking progressively larger doses of poison, his name lives on in the term mithridatism, 'acquired tolerance of a poison.' Facing inevitable capture by Roman enemies, he reputedly tried in vain to poison himself and had to get a slave to stab him to death. Accounts written after his death portray Mithridates as a diligent biological investigator who knew 22 languages and studied medicine as well. An antidote called the mithridate bore his name in mediaeval pharmacology. Mithridates' physician Crateus was also well known during ancient times for his lifelike botanical paintings, now thought to have been the basis for illustrations in Dioscorides' De Materia Medica.

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And the second pioneer is Dioscorides: (1st century AD) The most influential pharmaceutical writer from ancient times was the Greek physician Doiscrides, born near Tarsus (in modern Turkey) probably shortly after the time of Christ. Little is known about Doiscrides' personal life, other than that he may have served as a doctor with the Roman army. His pharmaceutical guide, De Materia Medica, deals with more than 600 plants, 35 animal products and 90 minerals used in medicine. Illustrated manuscripts of the De Materia Medica circulated during the next 1600 years throughout the West and Middle East. One of its earliest print editions was published by that great Renaissance botanist-naturalist Pietro Mattioli in Venice in 1544. The Mattioli edition is generally considered to be a cornerstone of modern botany. A great many of the scientific and everyday plant name we use today can be traced back to Dioscorides. SPELLWORK: Growing Spell With some simple adaptations, this spell can work well for any kind of familial abundance. When you work the spell, have everything assembled that you need. (Water, salt, a green candle, a square of fabric, string, incense and charm herbs, incense charcoal, edible seeds, bowls, Cakes & Wine, etc.) Read through the spell, so you understand all of it, but don't try to memorise it. Cast your circle, or otherwise set up your sacred space as you usually do. While within your sacred space, light the green candle. Visualizing your desire, blend these 9 herbs for your charm (leaving some aside to burn as incense) 1: Rose petals 2: Sage 3: Grape 4: Horsetail 5: Hawthorne 6: Mustard Seed 7: Poppy seeds 8: Jasmine 9: Cinnamon (or any other herb that you associate with your lineage)

The order in which you blend them isn't important, nor is the quantity, as long as there is some of each. (For a simpler formula, you may use 5 herbs: Rose, Sage, Mustard Seed, Poppy Seed, and Cinnamon (or other herb of your choosing). Put some of the mixture on your charcoal to burn, and put some in the center of your square of fabric. (Any leftover blend may be used for incense later) Tie your string loosely (for now) to make a pouch. Hold the pouch in your writing hand and say the following, to the appropriate direction: Face North I vow to help myself Grow. I vow to help my husband* Grow. I vow to help my family Grow. Face East I vow to help myself Learn. I vow to help my husband Learn. I vow to help my family Learn. Face South I vow to keep myself Healthy. I vow to help keep my husband Healthy. I vow to help keep my family Healthy. Face West I vow to love myself. I vow to love my Husband. I vow to love my Family. Oh Guardians of the Quarters, I Thank you. Oh Goddess, I Thank you. Tie the string tightly around the charm, using four knots. Blend the three seeds (Carrot, poppy & sunflower) together. Eat a bit now, and (if possible) keep them on or near your altar to eat some of them each day. (For a simpler spell, use one seed - either the poppy or sunflower.)

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Have Cakes & Wine (a bit of food and drink, which need not be alcoholic) Open your circle, (or perform comparable act) then you must ground and eat something more - a meal, a sandwich, something with some substance. Live happily and with abundance!

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LESSON III –BASIC HERBAL USES Herbs are used for many applications, ranging from culinary delights, aromatic aires, and magical incantations through to medicinal and remedial therapies. In this particular lesson you will see, a brief description of some varieties of applications that herbs and their properties are used for. Herbs have been around since time began, people used them for many reasons; for food, aroma, medicine and magic. People from all walks of life still use them today, for various reasons and providing your own personal knowledge, they can bring a wealth of harmony into your life. Culinary Herbs: Herbs used for their flavouring abilities in foods. Aromatic Herbs: Herbs used for the pleasantry of their smell and the fragrance of aire. Medicinal Herbs: Herbs which possess and herbs that have healing properties. Remedial Herbs: Herbs that possess the remedy for a specific disease or deficiency. Magical Herbs: Herbs used for spells, invocations, incantations, and protection. Always remembering, if you are unsure of specific herbs it is best to either consult a professional, or leave well enough alone. AROMATHERAPY Aromatherapy is a multifaceted healing art, which uses the essential oils of plant and trees to promote health of body and serenity of mind. Although the roots of this beautiful therapy are ancient, I have set out to prove that the basic principles on which aromatherapy is based are no less valid today. Aromatic plants have been used by humankind since the dawn of history. There is evidence that over some 4,000 years ago, the Ancient Sumarians made use of the scented herbs such as cypress and myrrh, while in the 1870's George Ebers discovered a 21 metre scroll of papyrus that listed over 850 Ancient Egyptian botancial remedies, dating from about 1500 BC.

Ancient Greek Physicians such as Hippocrates and Galen interpreted the microcosm of the human being according to the Elements of Fire, Water, Earth, and Air, while the masters of the Chinese tradition saw five elements at work. In either case, they employed a rich and varied language of Nature - not to describe their observations as fixed phenomena, but like the physicists of today, to use these concepts to expose the dynamic force that masquerades as matter. Aromatherapy also has a few intriguing diversions, such as the art of natural perfumery, the making of cosmetic lotions and potions, and an exploration of sensual aromatherapy - for those wishing to enhance their love life through the alchemy of fragrance and the magic of touch. Practices such as these were the beginnings of a tradition that embraced not one but several civilizations, and developed hand-in-hand with systems of science and medicine that were based on both empirical knowledge and informed intuition. By applying traditional wisdom to aromatherapy, we can avail ourselves of a corpus of knowledge that is both immediate and profound, practical and intuitive. And through contributing to the synthesis of East and West, we can expand our awareness both of the human spirit and the plant essence. AYURVEDIC MEDICINE Ayurveda is India's contribution to humanity in its search for health care, well being and longevity. This wonderful treatise on human health is considered as the 'fifth Veda' narrated directly by God to great Rishis of the ancient past. It mellowed with the evolution of Indian civilisation tracing its origin to "Adharva Veda' the oldest work of Philosophy and science in the history of mankind. And where, almost all medicines are of plant origin, they do not have any side effects. It flourished at a time when all the science branches, we now practice, were in its rudiments. Physicians the world over, now consider Ayurveda as a system of treatment embedded in nature that couples medication and recognised lifestyle. In the modern era, where most of the diseases result from mutations in life styles, we have started to look back into this ancient wisdom, which advocates a therapy that has its roots in nature.

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Ayurveda has withstood the test of time, for over four millenniums by propagation as smrithi and sruthi (through oral education and discussion ) and mananam (meditation). Most of the reference texts that are in use today were recorded after 1000 B.C. It can be seen that Principles of Ayurveda are retained intact and the medicinal formulations in the reference texts are narrated as examples of this treatment theory for individual diseases BACH REMEDIES Between the years of 1930 and 1936, Dr. Edward Bach, discovered and perfected a system of herbal medicine which is unique in medical history. This system was the culmination of a lifetime of inspired research, which gave the medical profession a great many new and revolutionary discoveries. Dr. Bach believed that the basic cause of all disease was an emotional disharmony resulting from conflict within the personality. The 38 remedies which he discovered, were for the treatment of this disharmony, and each remedy was specific for a particular emotional condition, such as fear, anxiety, depression, loneliness, etc. The remedies were prepared mainly from natural wildflowers, using fresh water and the power of the sun to produce an essence, which was taken internally by the patient. Dr. Bach died in 1936, immediately after completing his system. His followers have carried on the work he started, and the 38 remedies, known as the "Bach Flower Remedies", still prepared by the same natural method, are available in Australia today. Dr. Edward Bach found, by experience, that most human disease had their basis in disharmony between the spiritual and mental aspects of a human being. This disharmony - to be found wherever conflicting moods produced unhappiness, mental torture, fear or lassitude and resignation - lowered the body' vitality and allowed disease to be present. For this reason the remedies he prepared were for the treatment of the mood and temperament of the patient, not for his physical illness; so that each patient, becoming more himself, could increase his

or her own vitality and so draw from an inward strength and an inward peace the means to restore health. The most recognised of all Bach Flower Remedies is the "multi-useful" Rescue Remedy. Below, you will see what Dr. Bach himself said about his Rescue Remedy. The Rescue Remedy is a combination of 5 remedies. The five remedies are: Rock Rose: for terror, extreme fear, panic, either in the patient or in those around. Star of Bethlehem: for the after-effects of shock, mental or physical. Clematis: for unconsciousness, coma, fainting, giddiness, all of which indicate a temporary lack of interest in the present. Cherry Plum: for the fear of the mind giving way, of insanity, brain-storms, hysterical conditions, suicidal tendencies. Impatiens: for the extreme mental tension and irritability resulting in muscular tension and, hence pain. CHINESE MEDICINE: Traditional Chinese medicine has a very long history. According to legend, Chinese medicines originated from Shen Nong's tasting of hundreds of herbs and medicinal materials. As the legend relates, Shen Nong gathered wild foodstuffs for cultivation and then selected those with medicinal value from among them for the treatment of diseases. At least half of the 365 medicines listed in "Shen Nong's Herbal Classic" possess both medicinal and food value; while the 260 items listed in "The Dietetic Materia Medica", written centuries later by Meng Shen of the Tang Dynasty include nearly all of the types of food that people require daily, such as rice and other cereals, melons and gourds, fruits, game and edible wild vegetables, meat, poultry and eggs, fish, shrimp and other seafood, etc. Later still, more than 300 kinds of foodstuffs were recorded in the "Compendium of Materia Medica" written by Li Shizhen of the Ming Dynasty. All of these works point to the common sources of medicines and foods, and to the fact that the same things have long been used as both foods and medicines.

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HOMEOPATHY Homeopathy is a fascinating form of holistic healing and lends to the principle of “like can sure like” – that is, an illness should be treated by a substance capable of producing similar symptoms to those being suffered by the patient – is the basis of Homeopathy. The very small doses of Homeopathic medicine act as a catalyst to stimulate the body’s natural dealing ability, similar to the way vaccinations work, by causing a reaction in the body’s defence processes. Homeopathy Concentrates on the powerful healing forces of herbs, mineral and other natural substances, that may be beneficial to many common ailments, providing temporary relief of many symptoms through strengthening of the body’s own natural ability to attain homeostasis. PIONEERS IN HERBS: This lesson is the well-known Pliny: (23/24 - 79 AD) "To live is to be awake" was the credo of the Roman administrator and natural historian Pliny. His work, Natural History, written in 37 books, was a major source both for botanists and herbalists from mediaeval times through to the seventeenth century. Books 12 to 19 of the Natural History deal with botany, and books 20 to 27 with plant pharmacology. Pliny and the Greek doctor Dioscorides, his contemporary, have been cited by writers on plants down to the present century. Generations of authors passed along Pliny's words without attributing them to him - so that many of his statements of fact and fancy have entered the folklore of plants. Pliny died in a manner that was befitting a true naturalist: he went to investigate an eruption of Vesuvius, and on al beach near Pompeii he succumbed to the volcanoe's sulphurous fumes. A vivd account of this scene exists in a letter written by Pliny's nephew, who is called Pliny the Younger to distinguish him from his uncle, who is sometimes known as Pliny the Elder. And the great Galen: (130 - 200 AD) The most famous physician of his day and a prolific medical writer, Galen found his intellectual inspiration in Greek thought, particularly the medicine of Hippocrates, the science of

Aristotle and the philosophy of Plato. Born in Pergamum (now Bergama, Turkey), Galen determined when he was only 16 years old to bring precision to the study of medicine. He studied and travelled for the next 12 years, spending probably several years at Alexandria, which was then the chief medical centre of the age. There Galen quickly outdistanced even the brightest scholars with his intellectual ability. After returning to Pergamum and serving as a physician to the gladiators there, Galen moved to Rome, about 161, where he established a large medical practice. He soon numbered influential Romans among his admiring patients and thus began his long association with the rich and powerful, including Emperor Marcus Aurelius. Although Galen taught the now antiquated concept of medicine as adjusting the body's humours, he also believed in the empirical method of testing medicines, at that time a very modern stance. Not until the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries did anyone challenge his medical authority. The terms 'galenic products' and 'galenicals' today refer to medical substances extracted from plants by methods associated with Galen. SPELLWORK: Bath Cleansing (Asperges) You will need: Water Herbs of Choice Sea Salt Water Vessel This ritual is used for the same reasons as smudging. To complete this ritual of cleansing, you need: water, herbs of your choice, and salts (sea salt or a mixture are typical choices), as well as a vessel to hold the mixture, size depending on what you intend to cleanse (bathtub for yourself, bowl for crystals or totems, etc.). For yourself: Fill a bathtub with comfortably warm water. Mix in the herbs and salts. Bathe in the water, washing it over every part of your body. Concentrate on areas of inbalance or places in need of healing. When finished, stay in the bathtub until it drains, negative energies flowing away with the bath water.

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For objects: Make the water, herb and salts mixture in a bowl. Place crystals, totems, bones or other items to be cleansed in the bowl, leaving them overnight. Keep the items in the bowl until you have drained it. For environment: Sprinkle water, herb and salts mixture over area to be cleansed. Allow to dry on its own. Sprinkling water or the water mixture over all the people and items and space involved also works, similar to smudging.

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LESSON IV – THE HERBS This lessons delves into the more common of herbs and their medicinal properties with addition to their role in herbalism. Agrimony – Agrimonia eupatoria Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem. Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture. Actions: Astringent, diuretic, tonic Combination of Agrimony’s astringency and bitter tonic properties makes this herb a valuable counter to indigestion, diarrhoea, mucous colitis and appendicitis. Gargle tea of Agrimony to have great healing properties for inflammation of the throat and mouth. Alfalfa – Medicago sativa Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem Preparations: Herb tea Actions: Anti- anaemic, diuretic, nutrient, tonic Excellent source of vitamins and minerals and is rich in calcium, magnesium, iron, choline, phosphorous, potassium and several essential enzymes as well as vitamins A, D, B, K, U and P. Take it for tea for digestives disorders, gastric ulcers, debility, to improve appetite and to gain weight, but because it also contains menstruating promoting chemicals, the seeds should not be eaten by pregnant women. Balm Mint/ Lemon Balm – Melissa officinalis Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, herb bath Actions: Antispasmodic, carminative, sedative, stomachic. Balm contains chemicals that fight infection- causing bacteria as well as an anaesthetic to help relieve pain cause by external force. Balm is an excellent calming herb ideal for nervous people, and is being used in a cream to counter cold sores and genital herpes. As a natural sedative it relieves spasms in the digestive tract, abdominal cramps, dyspepsia, flatulence and colic. Used for migraines, hysteria, melancholia, tension, depression and stress related reactions.

Bearberry – Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Parts used: Leaves Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Astringent, urinary antiseptic, diuretic, demulcent. Should be used in the treatment of urinary infections such as pyelitis, cystitis, and urethritis. It can also be used for grave, stones, or ulceration in the kidneys or bladder or to alleviate pain and discomfort in the case of acute urinary tract infection. The tea may change the colour of the urine, but this is quite normal and occurs because it is reducing the accumulation of uric acid in the system. Bedstraw – Galium verum Parts used: Flowering plant Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture. Actions: Astringent, diuretic, anti-inflammatory, tonic With this diuretic and alterative actions, it is excellent as a lymphatic tonic, specially in the case of adenoids and tonsillitis when it should be taken daily. Our bodies rely on the lymphatic system to drain sway toxins, and bedstraw facilitates the expulsion of these toxins via the urinary system. It is also useful in the treatment of eczema, psoriasis as well as arthritis, where the body needs cleansing. Birch – Betula alba Parts used: Dried bark of root stem, sap ,leaves. Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, herb bath. Actions: Antiseptic, astringent, diuretic, tonic. Birch is considered the “inside and out” herb, and is useful for the body’s largest organ – the skin- as well as aiding the functioning of the internal organs. Birch has been extensively used to promote hair growth. The American Indians handed on their knowledge about the attributes of Birch as a hair restorer, growth stimulant, condition and scalp cleanser. Burdock – Arctium lappa Parts used: The Root Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture. Actions: Alterative, diuretic, diaphoretic, antiscorbutic The decoction of burdock is considered probably the best blood purifier. It cleanses and eliminates impurities from the blood very rapidly. It is almost always included in all remedies pertaining to skin disorders, and has brought about many cures in cases of eczema, acne and psoriasis.

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Calendula – Calendula officinalis Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, ointment. Actions: Antiseptic, dermatonic, anti-inflammatory, astringent, remedial. It has antiseptic and antibacterial properties and is useful in digestive remedies because it stimulates the flow of bile, which is the substance necessary for proper digestion. Its anti-inflammatory properties prevent inflammation and promote healing in gastritis, enteritis and ulcers of the stomach. As a blood cleanser it is a great help in infectious hepatitis. Celery – Apium graveolens Parts used: seeds, root, leaves, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, capsules Actions: Antiseptic, sedative, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, emmenagogue, calminative Celery is commonly used for arthritic and rheumatic disorders as well as mental depression, gout, lumbago, neuralgia and nervousness. Celery seed is rich in chlorophyll and provides plenty of valuable nutrients – potassium, sodium, calcium, phosphorus, silicon, iron, potash, sulphur and magnesium, plus Vitamins A, C and some of the B vitamins. A positive side-effect of celery seed is that is has been known to stimulate the sexual appetite and, in some cultures, is taken purely for its aphrodisiacal properties Chamomile – Matricaria chamomilla Parts used: Flowers, leaves, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, ointment Actions: Anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic, calmative, sedative. As an herbal infusion (or tea), this is an excellent herb for relaxation and some tension reduction. Also great for easing colic and teething pains in infants, (as well as us adults!). Is helpful in battling flatulence, diarrhoea, stomach troubles, and gastritis, menstrual disorders, insomnia, and toothaches. An ointment is made of the flowers and used for the treatment of wounds.

Coriander – Coriandrum sativum Parts used: Seeds, leaves Preparations: Herbal tea, tincture Actions: Anti-spasmodic, appetiser, aromatic, carminative, stomachic. Can be applied externally for rheumatism and painful joints. It also improves the flavour of the other medicinal preparations. At one time it was considered to have aphrodisiac effects. Coriander leaves are a popular Indian household remedy for digestive upsets and urinary tract infections. Cowslip – Primula veris Parts used: Flower, leaves, root Preparations: Herb tea, extract, decoction, tincture Actions: Anti-spasmodic, hypnotic, sedative. Has a gentle relaxing effect on the nervous system that allows the body to shut down of its own choosing because of the anxious edge has been removed. It is also used to counter palsy, convulsions, spasms, giddiness, cramps and pains of the joints and sinews. Cowslip is also used with great effect to strengthen heart and nerves, relieving the pain of migraines and nervous headaches. A decoction or tincture of the root can be used for bronchitis and whooping cough and an ointment of the flowers is a good way to relieve sunburn Dandelion – Taraxacum officinalis Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem, root Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture. Actions: Astringent, diuretic, lazative, tonic, anti-rheumatic, detergent. Principle herbal function of dandelion is to care for the liver. It does this by promoting the formation of bile and by removing excess water from the bady in cases of severe water retention resulting from liver problems. While influencing the liver, dandelion purifies the blood thereby assisting with conditions such as acne, itchy, scaly rashes, and eczema. Leaves are rich in potassium. They are used as an effective diuretic, often used for fluid retention, as well as being a useful digestive tonic.

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Dead Nettle – Lamium alba Parts used: Leaves, flower Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Action: Astringent, cleansing, anti-spasmodic, styptic. Dead Nettle is an astringent herb that has a well-established function as a styptic and in arresting dysentery. An infusion of dead nettle can be used as a douche to counter leucorrhoea and irregular or weak menstrual flows. An infusion can also be drunk to combat intestinal problems and dead nettle, added to a bath, soothes uterine cramps while fighting boils and tumors. Can also be used for urinary complaints, scanty urine, bladder troubles, kidney disorders and fluid retention in the heart (cardio-pulmonary oedema). Decoction of flowers with work as a blood purifier to eliminate skin rashes and eczema. A compress made from the infusion is beneficial for the treatment of ulcers and varicose veins. Echinacea – Echinacea angustifolia Parts used: The Root Preparations: Extract, tincture, capsule Actions: Antibacterial, digestive, antiviral It is successful in treating colds, flu, tonsillitis, bronchitis, tuberculosis, meningitis, wounds, abscesses, psoriasis, whooping cough and ear infections. Echinacea boosts the body’s immune system by increasing production of infection-fighting T-cells (T-lymphocytes) to enable it to successfully fend off infections. Whenever there is an infection - viral, bacterial or fungal - this herb, Echinacea has a role. Ideal choice for colds, flu, sore throats, and some viral based Arthritis. Epilobium – Epilobium parviflorum Parts used: Leaves, flowers, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Prostatelium, anti-inflammatory, astringent, remedial While the primary function of epilobium is as a prostatelium, the fact is it is good for a variety of urinary tract infections – in men and women. For women suffering from cystitis, kidney and bladder problems a daily dose is very effective for them as it is for men with prostate disorders.

Eyebright – Euphrasia officinalis Parts used: The Herb Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Anticatarrhal, anti-inflammatory, astringent, tonic Use eyebright infusions to counter weak eyesight, weeping eyes, conjunctivitis – all conditions which can be aggravated by cigarette smoke, car exhaust fumes or chemical sprays. A note of warning. If you intend to bathe eyes with eyebright, remember the solution must be very weak and should be combined with chamomile, valerian, lady’s mantle, and golden seal. It can also be used for problems of the mucous membranes. Its anti-inflammatory and astringent properties make it relevant in many conditions. Used internally, it is a powerful anticatarrhal but remember, this herb contains strong resins which can upset some people by affecting the liver, producing nausea and dizziness. For that reason is should not be ingested by people with liver problems. Fennel – Foeniculum vulgare Parts used: The fruit, seeds Preparations: Herb tea Actions: Antispasmodic, carminative, stomachic, expectorant, anti-inflammatory, diuretic. Fennel’s properties help to counter flatulence, acidic stomachs, cramps, colic and spasms. For colic in infants and small babies, fennel is an excellent remedy. Because fennel is also suitable for producing milk in nursing mothers, it can be fed to breast-fed infants through their mothers. Feverfew – Chrysanthemum parthenium Parts used: The Herb Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, capsule Actions: Carminative, febrifuge, laxative, bitter, tonic Given for migraine headaches, arthritis, painful menstruation, and after birth to help restore the womb. Although chewing fresh leaves is recommended for headaches, some people may develop mouth ulcers and it maybe preferable to crush the leaves and eat them in a sandwich. It is also recommended for allaying nausea and vomiting, relieveing the inflammation and pain of arthritis, promoting restful sleep, improving digestion and relieving asthmatic attacks.

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Garlic – Allium sativum Parts used: The Bulb Preparations: Fresh cloves, capsules, extract Actions: Anthelmintic, anti-spasmodic, carminative, cholagogue, digestive, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge. Garlic stimulates the activity of the digestive organs and therefore relieves various problems associated with poor digestion. It is a good respiratory antiseptic for chest infections, colds and flu. It also helps in reducing blood cholesterol levels. It is the most popular over-the-counter remedy available today. Ginger – Zingiber officinale Parts used: Rootstock, rhizome Preparations: Fresh, dried, capsules, extract Actions: Adjuvent, appetiser, carminative, diaphoretic, sialagogue, stimulant. This is a very warming herb, so be careful of using it if you have sensitivity to "heat" or "flushing". Its is a good circulatory stimulator, and ideal for colds and chills. Has an infinity as being the perfect remedy to help reduce nausea, travel and morning sickness. Gingko – Gingko biloba Parts used: Fruits, seeds, leaves Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, tablets Actions: Cardiotonic, anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, anti-spasmodic, antiseptic, sedative. The leaves are good for varicose veins, haemorrhoids and leg ulcers. The seeds are considered to act on the lungs and kidneys, and are traditionally used for asthmatic disorders and chesty coughs with thick phlegm. They also have a tonifying effect on the urinary system, so are used fro incontinence and excessive urination.

Golden Seal – Hydrastis canadensis Parts used: The Root Preparations: Herb tea. Actions: Anticatarrhal, emollient, laxative, soothing, muscle stimulant, detergent. Golden seal is another in the long list of powerful herbs introduced to the world by the American Indians who used it as a tonic, stomachic and for sore eyes and ulcers as well as squeezing the yellow dye from the plant to colour their clothes and weapons. The scarcity of the herb, coupled to its significant healing properties, makes this a very valuable plant. Its ability to tighten blood vessels makes it useful as a counter to uterine conditions such as menorrhagia and other haemorrhages. However, while golden seal is of great benefit during childbirth for its capacity to induce contractions, for this very reason it should not be taken during pregnancy. It is also most effective for inflamed catarrhal conditions of the mucous membranes and is invaluable in the treatment of digestive disorders such as dyspepsia, biliary tract conditions, peptic ulcers, gastritis, colitis, gastric catarrh, loss of appetite and liver troubles. Horehound – Marrubium vulgare Parts used: The herb Preparations: Herb tea, extract Actions: Antispasmodic, diuretic, digestive, expectorant, remedial Horehound is primarily to combat coughing and bronchial problems, but the marribium in horehound promotes sweating and taken hot the herb induces perspiration thereby helping to reduce temperatures. The bitter action stimulates the flow and secretion of bile from the gall bladder, thereby aiding digestion. Because it is so bitter and because it is often fed to children, horehound is frequently mixed with honet to make it more palatable. Taken in large doses it acts as a laxative, while external application of horehound is a counter to various skin diseases.

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Indian Corn – Zea mays Parts used: Cornsilk Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Diuretic, prostatelium, soothing, antacid, tonic It can be employed to combat chronic or acute cystitis, nephritis, gout and rheumatism. It also has been known to counter kidney stones, oedema, and fluid in the heart and acidosis. Corn silk has a marked action on the kidneys, neutralising and promoting excretion of waste products containing uric acids. The tea can be used as a non-irriatating enema where such a procedure is deemed necessary, while incontinence, bed wetting, and renal colic can all be countered by this very cheap, widely available healing agent. Ladys Mantle – Alchemilla vulgaris Parts used: Leaves, flower, stem Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Astringent, antihaemorrhagic, tonic, remedial Its tannins are the reason for its styptic and stringent effect and it is especially effective on the endometrium, the uterine wall. The tea is used internally for excessive menstrual bleeding, for prolonged blood loss due to menopausal or uterine fibroids and to reduce pains associated with periods as well as diarrhoea. It is also fantastic as a gargle for the rapid healing after the loss of teeth as well as being effective for mouth ulcers, sores of the mouth and laryngitis. Any skin troubles such as inflamed wounds or rashes should also be bathed with a liquid from this herb. It battles vomiting and flux and eases bruises and ruptures. Lavender – Lavandula officinalis Parts used: Flowers Preparations: Herb tea Actions: Carminative, antispasmodic, antiseptic, antirheumatic Lavender can be used for flatulence, migrains, fainting and dizziness. It has a long history of being used as an antiseptic and is still useful in combating putrid bacteria in the intestines. A decoction of the leaves is a useful remedy for stomach problems, nausea and vomiting.

Liquorice – Glycyrrhiza glabra Parts used: The root Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Expectorant, soothing, anti-inflammatory, laxative, diuretic It acts as a very gentle laxative and lowers stomach- acid levels thereby relieving heartburn. Liquorice heals stomach ulcers by spreading a protective gel over the stomach wall and, in addition, will ease spasm in the intestines. It is a widely used remedy for coughs and lung complaints with its soothing, expectorant and anti-spasmodic properties. It should be taken in the case of bronchial problems, coughs, hoarseness, mucous congestion and chest complaints and it is very effective in helping to reduce fevers. Herbalists also tend to add Liquorice to a mixture of tinctures to help combat some other bitterness from the other ingredients, to make it more palatable. Peppermint – Mentha piperita Parts used: The herb Preparations: Herb tea, extract Actions: Antispasmodic, caminative, stomachic, tonic, antiseptic. Can be taken for poor digestion, heartburn, nausea, diarrhoea, vomiting during pregnancy, sudden pains and cramps in the abdomen, nervous headaches, flatulence and colic. Also makes a marvellous drink for sufferers of a clogged head as a result of a cold or influenza. Due to its menthol cleansing action, breathing becomes easier and respiratory passages are cleared. Ideal for use as an infusion for "after over-indulgence" of a meal to help settle the stomach, also good for cold remedies, for aches and pains and for some types of headaches. Sage- Salvia officinalis Parts used: The Leaves Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Astringent, antiseptic, anti-spasmodic, carminative. Has wonderful antiseptic properties for use with sore throats, laryngitis, tonsillitis, and ulceration of the mouth as a warm gargle. Its thujone content, which is strongly antiseptic,makes sage particularly potent against staphylococcus infections. It also has an infinity with the female reproductive system also.

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Thyme – Thymus serpyllum Parts used: The herb Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture Actions: Antiseptic, antispasmodic, diuretic, sedative, expectorant. The thymol in thyme is the antiseptic constituent of the herb and is useful for relieving sore throats and catarrhs and for people who use their voices professionally. It also proves beneficial for respiratory problems, helping to clear mucous congestion from the lungs and bronchial passages. Thyme is also a good tonic for stomach problems such as flatulence, gastritis, stomach cramps and painful menstruation. Its nervine properties also make it useful in combating convulsive coughs and warmed and applied to the abdominal region or to any part of the body which has suffered a contusion or is swollen as a result of a knock. Thyme oil is particularly potent and has been used to battle paralysis, strokes, rheumatism, muscular atrophy and sprains. Thyme is also a recommended remedy for alcoholism while thyme syrup is very tasty and supposed to counter colds. Valerian – Valeriana officinalis Parts used: The root Preparations: Herb tea, extract, tincture, capsule Actions: Sedative, antispasmodic, calmative, nerving, astringent, diuretic, tonic. It is a very powerful sedative that is included in more than 100 over-the-counter sleeping drugs that are manufactured and available but unlike its chemical counterpart, valium, it may be taken without a person developing a dependence for the substance. A valerian-induced sleep enables a person to wake up without any hangover. Valerian has been used as a sedative in all sorts of nervous conditions such as insomnia, anxiety, hysteria, migraines, palpitations, neurasthenia and breathlessness. It is also safe for pregnant women to use and has not been linked to birth defects as was valium. As an antispasmodic it is an excellent remedy for nervous dyspepsia, stomach cramps and irritable bowel. It is also good for menstrual cramp.

Water Cress – Nasturtium officinale Parts used: Leaves, roots, young shoots Preparations: Fresh Actions: Diuretic, expectorant, purgative, stimulant, stomachic. Is recommended for gout, mild digestive disturbances and catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. It is also beneficial for tuberculosis, anaemia, and eczema. Its high vitamin C content makes it a good illness preventative. PIONEERS IN HERBS: Avicenna ( 980 – 1037) When he was barely out of his teens, the Persian philosopher-statesman Avicenna earned a reputation as a healer by curing a ruler of a critical illness. Thereafter he was in demand as a physician and adviser to princes. For the rest of his life he worked by day as a minister of state and wrote by night on an encyclopaedic range of subjects, including medicine, natural history, chemistry, physics, mathematics, astronomy, economics, political science, music and theology. His poetry is quoted in the Arab world to this day. The most important of his works is the voluminous Canon of Medicine, based on the writings of Hippocrates, Aristotle, Dioscorides, Galen and others. To their writings Avicenna added his own theoretical and empirical observations. Book 2 of the Canon of Medicine contains Avicenna's pharmacology of herbs. HE also discussed various remedies such as chicory, oxymel and balsam. A Latin translation of the Canon of Medicine existed within a century after Avicenna's death, and it was the basic medical text at all mediaeval universities. The scientific revolution of the West was cruel to Avicenna. Leonardo da Vinci (1452 - 1519) rejected his thoughts on anatomy. Paracelsus ( 1493 1541) destroyed a copy of the Canon of Medicine while teaching medicine, and William Harvey (1578 - 1657), the physician who discovered the circulation of the blood, demolished Avicenna's theories on this subject. Hildegard of Bingen: (1098 - 1179) A mediaeval pioneer in natural science was the German mystic Hidegard of Bingen, abbess of a Benedictine convent at Rupertsburg. A nun from the time she was 15, Hildegard was taught the doctrine of the humours according to which the 'cardinal juice', phlegm, caused most illness.

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She added her own broad knowledge of folk medicine, her interest in nature and her developed powers of intuition. (Visions commanded her: "Write what you see and hear".) Her writings include much on medicinal herbs. She is often called St Hildegard even though she was never formally canonised by the Catholic Church. SPELLWORK: In this lesson instead of having a spellworking, I have decided to put in a Meditation Ritual for Imbolc. This is the first of two parts, the second part – the Ritual – you will find in the following lesson. Imbolc Meditation Sit comfortably, close your eyes and relax. Feel the tension drain away from your face, then your neck, your shoulders, your arms, your stomach, your legs, and your toes. Imagine Mother Earth all around you, protecting you, surrounding you with warmth and positive energy. Extend your senses to the outside: feel the coldness of the air, smell the snow/rain, fly below the gray sky. Think that the days are lengthening whereas the nights are shortening. Each day the sun brings a little more warmth, but spring remains asleep. This is Imbolc, the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. Take the time to think about the true meaning of Imbolc. The Son who was born at Yule has begun his transformation from infant to young man. The Maiden is honored tonight, she is the Bride waiting for the return of her groom, the Sun-God. Brighid is the daughter of the Dagda, she is the Triple Goddess. Brighid kindles the fire, inspiring the bard, the smith and the healer. Right after Her birth, She began suckling on the milk of a supernatural cow, therefore you should include milk in the ritual. Prepare yourself to celebrate this season of Brighid, this season of fire and changes. Let go of all the troubles and problems you’d been through this winter. For this is the time to move on, to change for the better, to progress spiritually. Ask Brighid to give you strength, support and protection. But most of all ask Her to kindle your creative power. Gather all of your creations (poetry, music, crafts etc…) so that She may bless them during the ritual, which we will learn in the next lesson.

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LESSON V – HERBS IN MAGIC Herbs can be readily employed in magic, there being many things which herbs correspond to which will aid the processes. These include the planets, the zodiac, gender, the elements and qualities. The two main areas in which herbs may be found useful are as incenses and as charms/satchets. 1. Incenses, broadly speaking, made from

herbs can be useful in healing, divination, for seasonal festivals and to assist with the engendering altered states of consciousness. Incenses can be tailor-made to suit one’s needs.

2. Charms/Satchets, Herbs are useful additives for charms. They often provide aroma and need to be physically ground during their preparation. This assists with imparting one’s intent upon the plant matter being used.

HERBS AND THEIR COUNTERPARTS:

• Agrimony - Helps to overcome fear, dispel negative emotions, overcome inner blockages

• Alfalfa - Prosperity, Anti-Hunger, Money • Allspice - Money, Luck, Healing • Almond - Money, Prosperity, Wisdom • Aloe - Protection, Luck • Alyssum - Protection, Moderating Anger • Amaranth - Healing, Protection, Invisibility • Amber – Mental clarity and focus.

Protection from harm outside influences, psychic attack.

• Anemone - Health, Protection, Healing • Anise - Psychic opening, clairvoyance,

opens Third Eye. Favored in Afro-diasporic Traditions for use before and during ritual, to aid in perception of and connection with the Divine.

• Angelica - Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions

• Apple - Love, Healing, Garden Magic, Immortality

• Apricot – Love • Asofoetida – Protection banishing

negativity • Aster – Love • Azaelea – Encourages light spirits,

happiness, gaiety

• Avocado - Love, Lust, Beauty • Balm, Lemon - Love, Success, Healing • Bamboo - Protection, Luck, Hex-Breaking,

Wishes • Banana - Fertility, Potency, Prosperity • Barley - Love, Healing, Protection • Basil - Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying,

Protection • Bayberry – Good fortune, blessing, money

and prosperity • Bay - Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing,

Purification, Strength, Good Fortune and success.

• Bedstraw/Fragrant – Love • Benzoin - Purification, Prosperity • Bergamot, Orange – Money • Birch - Protection, Exorcism, Purification • Blackberry - Healing, Money, Protection • Blueberry – Protection • Boneset - Protection, Exorcism • Borage - Courage, Psychic Powers • Brazil Nut – Brings good luck in love affairs. • Broom - Purification, Protection, Wind

Spells, Divination • Cabbage – Luck • Cactus - Protection, Chastity • Camellia –Riches • Camphor – Increases ones’

persuasiveness, personal influence. Adds strength to any mixture it is a part of. Also used for purification.

• Caper - Potency, Lust, Luck • Caraway - Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-

Theft, Mental Powers • Cardamom - Lust, Love • Carnation - Protection, Strength, Healing • Carob - Protection, Health • Carrot - Fertility, Lust • Cashew - Money • Catnip - Cat Magic, Love, Beauty,

Happiness • Cayenne – Cleansing and purification.

Repels negativity. Speeds up the effect of any mixture its added to.

• Cedar - Healing, Purification, Money, Protection, confidence, strength, power.

• Celery - Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers

• Chamomile - Money, Sleep, Love, Purification

• Cherry - Love, Divination, Happiness and gaiety.

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• Chestnut – Love • Chickweed - Fertility, Love • Chicory - Removing Obstacles, Invisibility,

Favors, Frigidity • Chilli pepper - Fidelity, Hex Breaking, Love • Chives – Protection • Chrysanthemum – Protection • Cinnamon - Spirituality, Success, Healing,

Power, Protection, Love, Luck, Strength, Prosperity

• Citronella – Promotes eloquence, persuasiveness, prosperity. Draws friends to the home, customers to the business.

• Clove - Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money • Clover - Protection, Money, Love, fidelity,

Exorcism, Success • Club Moss - Protection, Power • Coconut - Purification, Protection, Chastity • Coffee - Grounding and protection form

negativity. Peace of mind. Helps to dispel negative thoughts, nightmares, overcome internal blockages.

• Columbine - Courage, Love • Comfrey - Safety During Travel, Money • Coriander - Love, Health, Healing • Corn - Protection, Luck, Divination • Cucumber - Chastity, Healing, Fertility • Cumin - Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism • Curry – Protection • Cyclamen - Fertility, Protection, Happiness,

Lust • Cypress – Calm, tranquility, spiritual

opening. Associated with death and mourning. - Stimulates healing and helps overcome the pain of loss.

• Daffodil - Love, Fertility, Luck • Daisy - Lust, Luck • Dill - Protection, Money, Lust, Luck • Eucalyptus – Spiritual cleansing,

purification, and healing. Helps to overcome spiritual blockages.

• Fennel – Strength • Fenugreek – Mental clarity, focus, dispels

negativity. • Five finger grass (Cinquefoil) – Protection.

Also stimulates memory, eloquence, self-confidence.

• Fern – Cleansing and purification, dispels negativity

• Frangipani – Attracts love, trust and admiration. Promotes openness in those around one.

• Galangal – Success in court or legal disputes.

• Gardenia – Promotes peace, repels strife, protects from outside influences.

• Garlic – Cleansing, purification. Used to dispel depression, negativity, obsessive thoughts. Draws money, prosperity. Also used as a strong protection.

• Geranium – Overcomes negative thoughts and attitudes, lifts spirits. Promotes protection, happiness

• Ginger - Draws adventure and new experiences. Promotes sensuality, sexuality, personal confidence and prosperity. Adds to the strength of any mixture of which it is part, and makes it work more quickly.

• Ginseng - Asian variety of Mandrake. Promotes vitality, strength, personal power. Heightens sex drive and sexual attractiveness

• Grapefruti – Cleansing and purification • Hawthorn - Happiness, Repels-Depression,

Troubles, Sadness • Heliotrope - Protection, prosperity,

cheerfulness and gaiety. • Honeysuckle - Draws success, money.

Aids persuasiveness and confidence, sharpens intuition.

• Hyacinth - Attracts love, luck, and good fortune. promotes peace of mind and peaceful sleep. Named for Hiakinthos, Greek God of homosexual love. Hyssop - Promotes spiritual opening. Also used for cleansing and purification. Lightens vibrations.

• Jasmine - Love, success, spiritual aid and opening. Connected to the Moon and Lunar magic.

• Juniper - Protection, purification, healing. • Lavender - Peace and tranquility. • Lemon - Cleansing, purification, removal of

blockages, spiritual opening. • Lemon Grass - Psychic cleansing and

opening. • Lilac - Promotes wisdom, memory, good

luck and Spiritual aid. • Lily of the Valley - Soothing, calming, draws

peace and tranquility, repels negativity. • Lime - Used for purification and protection.

Promotes calmness, tranquility. Also strengthens love.

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• Linden - Draws friendship and love. Also promotes healing and rejuvenation.

• Lotus - Psychic opening and spiritual growth.

• Mace - Promotes self-discipline, focus, concentration. Good for meditation, study.

• Magnolia - Promotes psychic development. Aids meditation and spiritual opening. Promotes harmony, peace, tranquility.

• Mandrake - Increases vitality, strength, personal power. Heightens sex drive and sexual attractiveness.

• Marigold - Strengthens Heart, Attracts Respect and Admiration

• Marjoram - Cleansing, purification, dispels negativity.

• Mimosa - Aids psychic development, clairvoyance. Draws prophetic dreams.

• Mint - Promotes energy, vitality, communication. Draws customers to a business

• Mistletoe - Promotes prosperity, draws customers, money, business.

• Mugwort - Promotes psychic opening, clairvoyance, prophetic dreams.

• Mustard seed - Courage, faith, endurance. • Myrrh - Spiritual opening, meditation,

healing. • Myrtle - Psychic opening, spiritual aid.

Enhances any mix it’s added to. • Narcissus - Promotes harmony, tranquility,

peace of mind. Calms vibrations. • Neroli - Joy, happiness, overcoming

emotional blockages. • Nutmeg - Aids clarity, perception, ability to

see below surfaces. Promotes social interaction, emotional openness, personal confidence.

• Oak Moss - Draws money, prosperity, good fortune.

• Onion or Onion Skins - Protection, stability and endurance. Also prosperity.

• Orange or Orange Blossoms - Harmony, peace, emotional openness, love. Attracts prosperity and stability. Also used for purification. Considered very Solar.

• Orchid - Concentration, focus, will power. Also strengthens memory.

• Oregano - Joy, strength, vitality and added energy.

• Orris - Promotes popularity, persuasiveness, personal success. Aids communications and helps to open dialogs. Also used to draw love and romance.

• Parsley - Calms and protects the home. Draws good luck, prosperity and financial increase. Also gives added energy, vitality.

• Patchouli - Helps overcome the anger of others, calms strife, draws peace and helps settle arguments. Promotes prosperity, confidence, personal strength. Enhances sexuality and sensuality.

• Peach - Induces Love, Gains Wisdom, Increases Fertility

• Pecan - Employment • Pennyroyal - Draws the help of others,

promotes co-operation, financial assistance from outside sources

• Peony - Particularly sacred in the Correllian Tradition, Peony flowers and petals promote good luck, good fortune, prosperity and business success. The Peony seed however, sometimes called a "Jumby Bean", promotes dissension and strife

• Peppermint - Promotes strength, vitality, movement and change. When added to a mixture, it speeds up the effect of the other ingredients. Also used for purification.

• Pettitgrain – Protection • Pikaki - Draws comfort, prosperity, success

and well being. • Pine - Cleansing, purifying, promotes clean

breaks and new beginnings. Repels negativity. Also promotes prosperity, growth, and increase.

• Plumeria - Promotes persuasiveness, eloquence, success in dealing with people. Attracts the notice of others.

• Poppy - Fertility, abundance, prosperity. • Primrose - Promotes the disclosure of

secrets, resolution of mysteries, revelation of truth. Breaks down dishonesty and secrecy.

• Rose - Love, peace, harmony, and tranquility. Associated from ancient times with the Goddess, especially in Her form as Isis.

• Rose Geranium - Blessing and protection. Averts negativity, especially in the form of gossip or false accusation.

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• Rosemary - Used for cleansing, purification, and as a strong protection. Also promotes healing and strengthens memory. Said to draw the aid of Spirits, fairies, and elves.

• Rue - Protection. Repels negativity, calms emotions. Grounding. Good for smudging, psychic cleansing. Also draws prosperity by removing blockages.

• Saffron - Promotes clairvoyance and psychism. Also attracts prosperity and good fortune through spiritual openness.

• Sage - Used for cleansing and purification, and to promote wisdom and psychic opening. Also promotes mental clarity

• Sandalwood - Blessing, healing, spirituality. Promotes clairvoyance, psychic opening. Also used for protection, banishing negativity.

• Sassafras - Good for legal situations, self-empowerment, success and overcoming obstacles.

• St Johns Wort - Protection. Removes negativity, dispels depression and anxiety

• Savoury - Sensuality, sexuality, passion. Good for sexual magic

• Sesame - Opens doors, draws new opportunities, new directions, hope. Dispels depression and negativity.

• Skullcap - Relaxation, Peace, Protects Female against Partner Adultery

• Spanish Moss - Protection, dispels negativity, opens blockages

• Spearmint - Sharpness, Mental Awareness, Power

• Spikenard - Blessing, psychic opening and spiritual elevation.

• Strawberry – Attracts success, good fortune, and favorable circumstances.

• Sweet Pea - Draws the loyalty and affection of others, attracts friends and allies.

• Tangerine - Promotes strength, vitality, energy.

• Thyme - Purification, healing, strength. Attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others.

• Tobacco - Used to promote peace, confidence, personal strength. Also promotes love and sensuality. Also used for protection and freedom from outside influences.

• Tonka Bean - Draws love, money, promotes the accomplishment of goals.

• Tuberose - Serenity, peace, tranquility. Calms the nerves and promotes romance and sensual love.

• Vanilla Bean - Restore Lost Energy, Improve Mind

• Verbena (Verveine/Vervain) - Protection, repels negativity. Promotes peace and tranquility.

• Vetivert - Protection, overcoming obstacles, repels negativity. Also draws money, prosperity.

• Violet - Promotes peace, tranquility, happiness. Calms the nerves, draws prophetic dreams and visions. Stimulates creativity.

• Willow - Used for drawing or strengthening love, healing, overcoming sadness. Lunar magic.

• Wintergreen - Repels disharmony, negativity, and disease. Promotes good health, tranquility, and peace in the home. DO NOT USE INTERNALLY.

• Wisteria - Raises vibration. Promotes psychic opening, overcoming obstacles, draws prosperity.

• Wood Aloe (Lignaloes or Lignam Aloes) - Protection, success and prosperity. Often used in consecration.

• Wormwood - Overcomes negativity, breaks through obstacles. Especially useful for dealing with spirits or the Ancestors.

• Yarrow - Promotes courage, confidence, and psychic opening. Draws love.

• Ylang Ylang - Increases sexual attraction, persuasiveness

PIONEERS IN HERBS: Paracelus (1493 – 1541) The prime mover of a new direction in medicine was named at birth Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, bnut later took the name Philippus Aureolus Paracelsus. The Swiss physician, who was also a chemist, realised that the medicinal virtues of plants came from their chemical properties. He carried out pioneering work in the extraction of plant essences and use of tinctures, a revolutionary advance in pharmacology, which durung Paracelsus' time settled for less

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meticulous ways of producing drugs. Paracelsus was educated in botany, mineralogy, natural philosophy and the occult, and he travelled widely, ministering to the poor wherever he went. He was fired from his position at the University of Basel for disrespect for the establishment. His published research in pharmacology and his unfinished herbal, On the Virtues of Plants, Roots and Seeds, reveal his extensive work with botanical medicine both in the laboratory and in his practice. The doctrine of signatures in plants - that in the appearance of plants can be found a divine sign of their curative powers - appears often in his works and in the writings of his influential followers. The doctrine left and enduring imprint on herbal medicine. Pietro Mattioli: (1501 - 1577) A typical Renaissance man, Pietro Mattioli, the Italian physician-naturalist, wrote several works in poetry and prose on a wide range of subject, including botany and phamacology. After studying as a youth in Padua and Rome, he began a lifetime career as a physician, first to the cardinal of Trent and then, later in his life, to the court of the Holy Roman Emperor in Prague. All during these years, he devoted a great deal of time to the study of plants and their 'materia medica', or medicinal substances. The publication that made Mattioli famous was his Italian edition of Dioscorides' De Materia Medica. Its purpose was to give Italian physicians and pharmacists systematically organised information that would enable them to identify all the medicinal plants discussed in the Greek physician's herbal, then a highly trusted source. The book was a best-seller from its first printing, in 1544. A decade later, Mattioli issued an expanded edition in Latin. It included the plant names and their synonyms in a number of languages, ab expanded commentary and detailed illustrations. Conceived as a practical reference tool, the book was so successful that it went into an uninterrupted series of reprints over the next 200 years. Mattioli continues to publish books on related subjects, including one on identifying and collecting medicinal plants.

SPELLWORK: Imbolc Ritual Tools Needed: A white and/or yellow cloth for your altar 3 candles: 1 yellow, 1 white and 1 orange Vanilla Incense A bowl of fresh milk on the altar as a gift to Brighid, and a bowl of salt Flowers/herbs sacred to Brighid and associated with Imbolc. If you’re outdoors, light a little fire, if you’re indoors, turn the porch or balcony lights on and keep them on all night long. Cleanse your ritual space, to prepare it for ritual. Enter the space you plan to cleanse and set your intent with words like these: “Behold I do cleanse and purify this space, so that nothing which is negative or harmful may remain here! I cast out all negativity, returning it to Mother Earth, so that she may reuse and recycle it to better purposes. Cast the Magic Circle as follows: spread the flowers/herbs in a deosil direction, saying: “Behold I do cut apart a space between the realms of human kind and of the Mighty Ones, - a Circle of Airt, to focus and contain the power raised herein. Now say something like the following: “Behold I do consecrate this circle to the Ancient Ones. Here may they manifest and bless their child.” Light the white candle on the altar, saying: "This is the time to honor Mother Earth, as she wakes from her winter recovery of giving birth to the Sun-Child at Yule. I celebrate the return of the Maiden, and Her promise of upcoming spring. May the Ancient Ones help and protect me on my magical journey."

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Blessing on articles of Water (the milk), of Earth (the salt), of Fire (the candles) and of Air (the incense): “Great Mother Goddess, bless this creature of Water/Earth to your service.” “Great Father God, bless this creature of Fire/Air to your service.” In doing so, light the remaining candles and the incense. Call the Quarters (appropriate element facing correct direction), saying: "Powers of Earth/Air/Fire/Water, the Maiden awakens! Come witness this rite and guard this circle." "Be with me now, oh Ancients, eternal. Hear now my prayers, hopes and dreams. The Goddess has wakened, once more as the Maiden, by loving caresses from the strengthened Sun King." Now is the time for some more meditation and spells. Spells associated with Imbolc include those for fertility, defining and focusing on goals for the future, blessing, purification, health, and protection. Because of Brighid’s connection with milk, you’re supposed to celebrate with a cream-based food, like honey milk biscuits or scalloped potatoes. When you’re done, release the Elements: “Depart in peace, O powers of (element), my thanks and blessing.” Cut the circle by removing the flowers/plant in a counterclockwise motion. Extinguish the incense and all candles except the white one. Step back from the altar and face it, saying: "I honor Thee, Maiden, most blessed Bride As your candle burns through this night And thank you for the renewed life you offer us all As you emerge from the dark to the light." Clean up, but let the candle burn out by itself. You are done. Happy Imbolc!

Herbs associated with Imbolc are: • Angelica- The leaves of Angelica are used

to purify an area. Add them to incense to promote healing

• Basil- Basil is said to attract money and good luck to a household.

• Bay Laurel- Bay Laurel brings purification when burned.

• Blackberry- Blackberry is a Herb sacred to Brighid, and the leaves and berries are said to attract wealth or healing.

• Celandine- Celandine is said to bring joy and cure depression, and will act as a protective ward if worn.

• Coltsfoot- Another Goddess Herb sacred to Brighid, Coltsfoot is used to bring peace and love.

• Heather- White heather is an herb of protection to those who wear it. It is also used to conjure rain by dipping it in water and sprinkling it around in a circle.

• Iris- The fresh Iris flower is used to purify an area, and also attract the qualities of wisdom, courage, and faith.

• Myrrh- The resin of Myrrh is burned as a potent incense to bring peace, healing, consecration, and blessing. It also aids in meditation.

• Tansy- An herb of longevity and immortality.

• Violet- Violet crowns are said to cure headache and bring sleep. The Violet leaf is a protection from all evil.

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LESSON VI – NATURAL HEALING METHODS Most Natural Therapies are innocently unexplored and as their numbers are vast so too, can their uses be just as numerous, and in quite a number of different ways. Depending upon the application and the problem, depending upon the individual who is applying the healing or even by whom is receiving the treatment, all of which depends upon what application is the best method of healing. In this lesson discover a little bit more about the different applications of various natural healing. Accupressure: Developed from the same philosophy and understanding about health and disease as that for Accupuncture but finger pressure on the points is used instead of needles. Accupuncture: A method of treatment developed in ancient China to promote health through balancing energies by means of needles inserted into particular points on the skin which relate to the channels for energy flow known as meridians.. Alexander Technique: A technique developed by F.M Alexander to re-educate people into more natural and healthful methods of posture with primary importance being attached to the head-neck-back relationships. Aromatherapy: The use of essential oils and flower essences which are massaged into the skin for a healing and stimulating effect on the tissues and organs. Atmic/Atma: Atma is the innermost spiritual essence of man/woman which resides on the atmic plane of the universe as expressed by the Trans-Himalayan teaching about the constitution of man and the universe. Bach Flowers: A system of therapy developed by Dr Edward Bach involving thirty-eight European flower essences which are given orally for various emotional imbalances. Buddhi/Buddhic Plane: The principle of love/wisdom or pure reason in man/woman and the associated plane of the universe as depicted by the Trans-Himalayan teachings.

Chakras: The term which is commonly applied in esoteric teaching to the vortices of energy associated with the energy body which under-lies the physical body and which transmit energies from one part of this subtle body to another. Chi: A Chinese term for the life-force underlying the physical existence and function of organs and tissues. This life-force is regulated to promote health by means of accupuncture and related therapies. De-amouring: A term coined by William Reich to explain the release during therapy from tension and rigidity in muscles associated with emotional repression and suppression. Etheric body/plane: The common term used for the subtle energy vehicle and state which under-lies the physical body and the physical universe and which is understood to condition health and disease in all kingdoms in nature. Herbal Medicine: The use of herbs as teas, tinctures, fluid extracts, poultices, sitz baths or tablets to promote and restore health in animals and mankind. Homoeopathy: The use of animal, vegetable or mineral matter in minute doses to stimulate the immune system and the healthy function of organs and tissues through the selection of a remedy which matches closely to disease process to be treated. Homoeostatis: The self-regulating and balancing systems within the living organism which tend to promote a healthy equilibrium in the body. Kinesiology: Applied kinesiology uses the application of muscle testing to diagnose physiological conditions and anatomical problems of the human body. Kirlian Photography: High frequency photography pioneered by Semyon Kirlian and which has been used to diagnose illnesses and to monitor energy states in the body through assessment of the variations in the coronal discharged photographed around living matter. Manas/mental plane: The principle of mind and the thinker residing on that level of the universe which is named the mental plane or noosphere.

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Orgonomy: The name for the science and therapeutic modality based upon the discovery of orgone or life energy by Wilhelm Reich. The therapy aims at establishing orgastic potency through the release of rigid and tense muscles. See also De-amouring. Primal Streaming: A system of therapy developed by Dr Ivan Janov to release deep-seated emotional tensions which interfere with the growth and development. Prana: The Hindu term for the life-energy originally derived from the sun which according to its state in the body is responsible for health or disease. See also Chi. Quan Yin Method: In China, this method of meditation is regarded to teachthe highest method of awakening of our inherent wisdom and realisation of complete Truth. Doscovered by the Suma Ching Hai, it is to help truth seekers who aer longing for eternal liberation in one lifetime and others to find answers to their various questions about life, birth and death as well as about spiritual cultivation and the Truth. Theratest: A form of German electro-accupuncture involving electrical measurement at an accupuncture point as a means of translating and evaluating energy flowing in the accupuncture meridians. Touch-for Health: A therapy for balancing energies in the body using the Chinese meridian system by means of linking the therapist with the patient through touch. Vivaxis: A method pioneered by Frances Nixon to evaluate body and life energies and to rebalance and restore these energies using specific energy bands which flow through the surface of the earth. PIONEER IN HERBS: This lessons first pioneer is the famous Nicholas Culpeper – well known to Herbalists, and Naturopaths everywhere. Nicholas Culpeper: (1616 - 1654) When in 1649 the English physician and botanist Nicholas Culpeper published A Physical Directory (renamed in 1654 The London Dispensatory),

the medical establishment, in the royalist periodical Mercurius Pragmaticus, wrote of his work: "He is arrived at the battlement of an absolute atheist and by two years' drunken labour hath gallimaufred the apothecaries' book into nonsense, mixing every receipt (recipe) therein with rebellion or atheism, besides the danger of poisoning men's bodies." Culpeper's great mistake was to have translated the Latin Pharmacopoeia into everyday language, thus threatening the near monopoly on medical knowledge that the College of Physicians enjoyed. A clergyman's son, Culpeper attended Cambridge Univeristy and was well versed in Latin and Greek, and both classical and contemporary medical authors. About 1640 he set up as an apothecary-astrologer-healer in Spitalfields, near London. He fouhgt against the royalists in the English Civil War, suffering a chest wound that may have hastened his early death from consumption. Besides A Physical Directory, Culpeper published The English Physician Enlarged, in 1653, which contained some 370 medicines made of English plants. He wrote numerous other works, all of which were well received by the general public but angered the medical establishment. The second is: Carolus Linnaues (1707 – 1778) No less an ambition than to name and to categorise everything in the 'three kingdoms' of nature - plants, animals and minerals - inspired young Carolus Linnaeus (or Carl von Linne), son of a Lutheran clergymen. Aiming so high, this great Swedish scientist fell short, but he put his stamp on all future study of botany. Linnaeus' pre-eminence in the intellectually rigorous field of botanical taxonomy (plant classification) has tended to obscure countryside on collecting expeditions - such as the one Lapland in 1732, from which he produced Flora Laponica in 1737. Nor is it generally remembered the Linnaeus received his doctorate in medicine in Holland and was an assistant to the botany instructor at the University of Uppsala (Sweden), where he lectured on various subjects, such as how to cope with the pressures of modern life and the basic rules of hygiene. He also practised medicine in Stockholm. Even though Linnaeus' criteria for classifying plants have undergone revision, binomial nomenclature, the system of two-part names - genus and species - he devised, has continued to serve science well.

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His preoccupation with taxonomy, however, probably set back other aspects of botanical study, such as plant physiology. Linneaus' fame was assured as much by his students, who travelled the world collecting plants on his behalf, as by his written works such as Systema Naturae (1735), and Philosophia Botanica (1751). His tomb carries the epitaph "The Prince of Botanists". SPELLWORK: SOLITARY NEW MOON RITUAL Special tools:

• cedar or sage smudging wand • white candle

Cast the circle Use the smudging wand to purify the space as you move around the circle. Invocation to the Goddess (ring bell with arms in Goddess position, arms in a V above your head) “Great Hecate Queen of the Underworld Protectress of all Wicca It is my will on this night of the new moon to overcome my shadows and bring about change I invite you to my circle to assist and protect me in my rite.” Invocation to the God (hold athame with your hands in the God position, crossed over your chest) “Great Anubis, God of Protection It is my will on this night of the new moon to overcome my shadows to bring about change I invite you to my circle to assist me and protect me in my rite.”

Statement of intent “Dark is the night as I reach this turning point Here is a time of death, yet a time of rebirth. “Endings and beginnings Ebbings and flowings” A journey done and a journey yet to start. As the wheel turns, I see birth, death and rebirth and I know that every end is a beginning. Meditation Remember a time in your life when you were miserable, depressed and felt like you couldn't go on. Let the painful memories overtake you, feeling yourself weaken and become frightened. Put yourself back in that pain-filled time in your life. As you meditate on that time, sink down the floor and curl up in an embryonic position. You are completely obsessed by pain and depression. The shadows around you lengthen and darkness spreads. Then! Arise! Light your white candle and hold it high overhead. Say: “In darkness, there is light! I feel energy and life returning to me! I feel my heartbeat strong I feel the power of the universe and the power of the Goddess and God within me.” Pass the candle over your body, tuning in completely with the light, feeling its power heal and protect you. Allow its rays to completely penetrate your being, healing and cleansing you. As you are doing this, chant “Let the light cast out all darkness” Cakes and wine Thank the God and Goddess for their presence Close the circle Clear and release as always.

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LESSON VII – TOXIC HERBS Part I In this, the first of the two part lessons, you will find the plants and herbs that ARE TOXIC to human. Please DO NOT in any way or for any reason consume these plants. These dangerously poisonous plants listed below all contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness or even death. I was in two minds as to whether to add these pages, as I did not want to advertise their properties, but I decided to go ahead anyway. I wanted to make you all aware the ill effects of these plants and herbs, and show the symptoms of their poisonings, just in case, that one day it could help you save a life. If you are not sure of the plants properties, it is wise best to leave well enough alone. Please use the old phrase, "Better safe than sorry", when you are in doubt. Alkanet - Anchusa officinalis L. (also known as Bugloss) There is evidence that alkanet may cause cancer if taken internally over a long periods of time. Angelica - Angleica archangelica L (also known as Root of the Holy Ghost, Garden Angelica) Positive identification is essential when collecting the wild species because it resembles some poisonous members of the carrot family, most notably poison hemlock. Apple of Sodom - Solanum linnaeanum (also known as Devil's apple, poison apple) All parts of this plant are poisonous, but the yellow fruits are extremely poisonous Arnica - Arnica montana (also known as leopard's bane, mountain tobacco) All parts of this fresh plant are poisonous. Do not use internally as there is evidence that arnica preparations affect the heart. When ingested this can cause painful irritations of the stomach, intestines and is also very toxic to the heart and can also dangerously increase blood pressure. But the manufactured products are usually quite safe for external use.

Belladonna - Atropa belladonna (also known as Deadly Nightshade, Dwale, Fair Lady) The chemical substance atropine in this herb dilates the pupils. Scopolamine or hyoscine, and hyoscyamine are very dangerous. The leaves and root are the most poisonous. This plant is extremely toxic; even in small doses of it can cause coma and death. Because of the ripe berries are not only sweet-tasting but poisonous, children should be expressly warned not to touch them. Bird's Foot Trefoil - Lotus corniculatus Leaves and flowers contain cyanide, which may cause paralysis, convulsions, coma and death. Bittersweet Nightshade - Solanum dulcamara (also known as Felonwort, Woody Nightshade) The whole plant is poisonous and can only be prescribed by practicing physicians. Black Locust - Robinia pseudoacacia (also known as False Acacia, Locust Tree, White Acacia) The smooth dark brown pods which are about 8-10 cms long contains poisonous seeds that can cause vomiting, nausea and dizziness and may dangerously slow the heart beat. Black Mustard - Brassica nigra A powerful irritant, mustard oil should be used sparingly, in diluted form, and only externally, for short exposure periods. Blackberry Nightshade - Solanum nigrum L. The leaves and green fruits are highly poisonous. Burrawang - Macrozamia communis L. (also known as wild pineapples) The fruits, seeds and leaves of this plant are all poisonous. Australian farmers have eradicated the palm-like tree in many regions as the poisons if ingested by livestock, cause the debilitatin disease known as "staggers". Caraway (also known as Caraway seed) - Carum carvi L. Positive identification is essential in order not to confuse the plant with such poisonous members of the carrot family as poison hemlock.

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Carolina Jasmine - Gelsemium sempervirens (also known as Evening Trumpet Flower, Woodbine, Yellow Jessamine) All parts of Carolina jasmine contain toxic alkaloids that can cause paralysis and death and none must be taken internally. Castor Oil Plant - Ricinus communis (also known as Castor Oil Bean) The tiny pale flowers are followed by spiny three-lobed capsules which split when ripe to eject the shiny mottled seeds. The seeds contain extremely toxic ricin and should not be swallowed. Caustic Bush - Sarcostemma australe R. Br. (also known as Caustic Vine, Milk Bush, Milk Vine, Snake Plant) All parts are poisonous if applied to eyes, sensitive skin or taken internally. Celandine - Chelidonium majus L. (also known as Swallow Wort, Tetterwort) The juice can cause severe irritation of the mucous membranes and is also a central nervous system depressant. Skin irritation results from handling crushed parts of the plant. Chinese Lantern - Physalis alkekangi L. (also known as Bladder Cherry, Strawberry Tomato, Winter Cherry, Ground Cherry) When mature the lantern contains a red fruit resembling a cherry. Unripe fruit may be toxic and the ripe fruits eaten in large quantities can cause diarrhoea. Coltsfoot - Tussilago farfara L. (also known as Coughwort, Son-before-the father) Laboratory tests on rodents indicate that coltsfoot may cause cancer if taken in large doses or repeated small doses. Do not use this herb internally. Comfrey - Symphytum officinale (also known as Ass-ear, Blackwort, Bruisewort, Healing herb, Knitback, Knitbone) There is evidence that comfrey may cause cancer if taken internally over a long period of time. Common Box - Buxus sempervirens L. (also known as Boxtree, Boxwood) The leaves contain poisonous substances and have caused animal deaths.

Common Fumitory - Fumaria officinalis L. (also known as Earth-smoke, Hedge fumitory, Wax Dolls) Large doses cause stomach aches and diarrhoea. Common Groundsel - Senecio vulgaris L (also known as Common ragwort, Ground glutton, Grundy swallow) There is evidence that groundsel may cause liver cancer if taken internally over a long period of time. Common Oleander - Nerium oleander L All parts are highly poisonous and many deaths have been caused by the ingestion of leaves, flowers, bark and roots. People have fallen unconscious after inhaling smoke from the burning timber, and poisonings are even said to have occurred as a result of food being stirred with the twigs. All part of the plant ooze thick milky sap when cut, and this liquid burns the eyes and mouth. The leaves are eaten by caterpillars of the common crow butterfly, which then become poisonous to birds. Common Thornapple - Datura stramonium (also known as Datura, False Castor Oil, Stramonium) The whole plant is poisonous. Symptoms include dry mouth, dilated pupils, reddening of the face and neck, abnormally rapid heartbeat and delirium. Thornapple may be fatal in large doses. Crab's Eye - Abrus precatorius (also known as Jequirity Bean) Small mauve pea-sloers appeart on short spikes followed by pods 4-5 cms and each containing several smooth ovoid seeds, scarlet with a black patch at one end. Seeds are extremely poisonous and must not be taken internally. Daffodil - Narcissus pseudonarcissus L. (also known as Lent Lily) Daffodil bulbs, sometimes mistaken for onions, are toxic and may cause death. Symtoms include salivation, vomiting and contraction of the pupils. Dill - Anethum graveolens L. (also known as Dillseed, Dillweed) Positive identification is essential in order not to confuse the plant with such poisonous members of the carrot family as poison hemlock.

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Elderberry - Sambucus nigra (also known as Bourtree, Pipe Tree, European Elder) The leaves, bark and roots of some elders, including American elder, contain poisonous alkaloids and should not be used internally. English Broom - Cytisuus scoparius L. (also known as Broom Tops, Scotch Broom) Therapeutic Goods Administration in Australia lists English Broom as unsafe. English Ivy - Hedera helix L. (also known as True Ivy) The berries and large quantities of the whole plant may cause poisoning. English Yew - Taxus baccata L. All parts of ALL yews are poisonous. The leaves and seeds contain taxine, a heart-stopping alkaloid that has killed many children.. Ergot - Kavuceos purpurea (also known as Ergot of Rye) Do not take internally. An overdose can be fatal; smaller doses produce abortions, convulsions and gangrene. European Mountain Ash - Sorbus aucuparia L. (also known as Quickbeam, Rowan Tree) The fruits are reported to contain a compound, parasorbic acid, which causes cancer. There is some evidence that they may be toxic to children. Figwort - Scrophularia nodosa L. (also known as Rose-noble, Scrofula plant, Squarestalk, Stinking Christopher, Throatwort) All part of the herb Figwort are not considered safe for internal use except under close medical supervision. Flax - Linum usitatissimum L. (also known as Linseed, Lint Bells) Immature seed pods can cause poisoning. Forget-me-not - Myosotis scorpioides L. (also known as Scorpion Grass) There is evidence that forget-me-not may cause liver cancer if taken over a long period of time. Foxglove - Digitalis purpurea (also known as Deadmen's Bells, Witch's Bells) Extremely poisonous. A leaf chewed and swallowed may cause paralysis and sudden heart failure.

Giant Stinging Tree - Dendrocnide excelsa Hairs on the leaves, stems and fruits sting very painfully. This plant delivers excruciating pain when its stems or leaves - even foliage - are touched. Gromwell - Lithospermum officinale L. (also known as Pearl Plant, Stoneseed) All parts of the plant Gromwell is highly toxic and should not be taken without medical supervision. Guelder Rose - Viburnum opulus L. (also known as Cranberry bush, Cranberry Tree, Cramp Bark, Whitten Tree, Snowball Tree) The uncooked berries are poisonous, causing severe gastrointestinal disturbances. Gutta Percha Tree - Excoecaria parvifolia (also known as Mangrove, Manyingila) Gutta percha should not be taken internally. The milky sap is extremely poisonous and should be kept away from the eyes. Mouth and sensitive skin. PIONEER IN HERBS: SAMUEL HANNEMANN: 1755 – 1843 A.D The founder of Homoeopathy, Samuel Christian Hahnemann, was born in Germany in 1755. Although despite an impoverished background, he acquired a good education and studied chemistry and medicine at the universities in Leipzig, Erlangen and Vienna. He qualified as a doctor in 1770. In 1790, while translating A Treatise on Materia Medica by Dr William Cullen, Hahnemann came across a passage about Peruvian bark, or cinchona, which was to change his life as well as the lives of many other people throughout the world. In this book, Cullen stated that quinine, which is a substance purified from the bark of the cinchona tree, was a good treatment for Malaria because of its astringent qualities. So he decided to investigate further. For several days he dosed himself with quinine and recorded his reactions in great detail. To his astonishment he began to develop the symptoms of Malaria one after another, despite the fact that he did not actually have the disease. The symptoms recurred every time he took a dose of quinine and lasted for several hours. If he did not take any quinine, he had no symptoms. He then proceeded to test out his theory on people that he knew very well, again noting the reactions in great detail. These provings

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were carried out under strict conditions and the provers were not allowed to eat or drink anything that might confuse the results. Hahnemann found that the provers' responses varied, some showed a few mild symptoms in response to a substance, while others experienced vigorous reactions with a variety of symptoms. The symptoms that were most commonly found for each substance he called first line, or keynote, symptoms. Second line symptoms were less common and third line symptoms were rare or idiosyncratic. The combination of symptoms made up a "drug picture" for each substance being tested. Hahnemann continued to carry out his experiments and provings, testing a wide range of natural sources. He had rediscovered the principle of "like can cure like" and his work would bring about the establishment of a new system of medicine. What this meant, in practice, was that an infinitesimal dose of a drug that was capable of producing in a healthy person a response similar to a disease's primary symptom, could also produce a reaction that would overcome the disease in a sick person's body. This and related tenets were set forth in Hahnemann's Organum of Medicine, published in 1810, and form the conceptual basis of homoeopathy. An empirical basis was provided by Hahnemann's monumental Materia Medica Pura, comprising detailed summaries of 'provings' (proofs of effectiveness) for many, mainly plant, substances. Hahnemann's homoeopathic ideas were not well received by the medical establishment. After the apothecaries refused to dispense the miniscule amounts of drugs prescribed by Hahnemann, he gave his medicines illegally and was consequently prosecuted. He rejected the medical practices and pharmaceutical industry of his day. His application of plant tinctures and his counsels of moderation in diet and the ingestion of coffee, tea, alcohol and tobacco are to be commended and pressage views that are heard now in the twenty-first century.

SPELLWORK: TAPU’S HEALING SPELL Clear and release all excess energy. Take three deep breaths and making sure you are completely relaxed on the third. Around the patient or person who needs the healing, burn a mixture of purification and healing incense. Personally, I use my own mixture of benzoin, pine and carob. Now say the following – “ Since you are the Goddess of all Goodness Since you are the Goddess of the Universe I pray that you life each wasting, Each weariness and weakness, Each seizure and illness, Each soreness and discomfort, Each malady and sickness, That afflicts ________________ (name of patient here). May it go with the beasts of the heights May it go with the wild ones of the wilderness May it go with the winged ones of the summits May it go with the whales of the seas May it go with the streams of the glens May it go with the crests of the bens May it go with the birds of the air.” Continue saying - “May the Goddess of Guidance Scatter this day/night (whichever it is at the time) Every ill and affliction That abides in your flesh.” Now give the patient a drink from a blessed chalice. (this can be juice, wine, or healing tonic) Clear and release as always.

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LESSON VIII – TOXIC HERBS Part II This second part of the lesson of toxic herbs, carries on from the previous, I cannot stress enough, that you should know which plants and herbs that ARE TOXIC to humans. Please DO NOT in any way or for any reason consume these plants. These dangerously poisonous plants listed below all contain toxic chemicals that can cause serious illness or even death. I was in two minds as to whether to add these pages, as I did not want to advertise their properties, but I decided to go ahead anyway. I wanted to make you all aware the ill effects of these plants and herbs, and show the symptoms of their poisonings, just in case, that one day it could help you save a life. If you are not sure of the plants properties, it is wise best to leave well enough alone. Please use the old phrase, "Better safe than sorry", when you are in doubt. Hemlock - Conium maculatum L. All parts are poisonous, especially the seeds and roots. The leaves emit a sour mousy odour when crushed, the stems are noticable by their purple spots or blotches. Many people have been fatally poisoned by this plant. Henbane - Hyoscyamus niger (also known as Black Henbane, Devil's Eye, Hog Bean, Jupiter's Bean, Poison Tobacco, Stinking Nightshade) The use of henbane is restricted by law in Australia. It is an extremely dangerous poison; it can cause dizziness, stupor, blurred vision, delirium, convulsions and, in large amounts, even death. Herb Mercury - Mercurialis annua L. (also known as Annual Mercury, Boys-and-Girls, Mercury) Herb Mercury is a strong lacative and may cause severe gastroenteritis. Horse Chestnut - Aisculus hippocastanum (also known as Buckeye) The prickly green seed pods mature in autumn when they split open to release one to three seeds or nuts. There are reports that children have died from eating the nuts.

Juniper - Juniperus communis L. (also known as Dwarf juniper, Ground juniper) The berries (and products from) should be avoided by pregnant women and persons with kidney disease. Kawakawa - Macropiper excelsum (also known as New Zealand Pepper Tree) The constituent myristicin found in the leaves can be dangerous if taken in large quantities. Kowhai - Sophora tetraptera (also known as New Zealand Laburnum) The bright yellow flowers appear in drooping clusters. The fruits are long, brown pods with the appearance of a string of beads. All parts of Kowhai are poisonous; the seeds especially should not be consumed. Larkspur - Delphinium ajacis L. (also known as Rocket Larkspur) In Europe and the United States, Larkspurs frequently cause the death of livestock that accidentally eat them while grazing. They contain poisonous compounds related to those of aconite. Lavender - Lavendula officinalis Lavender oil is an irritant and should therefore not be taken internally. Lily of the Valley - Convallaria majalis (also known as Ladder-to-Heaven, Lily convalle, May lily, Our-Lady's Tears) The National Health and Medical Council of Australia and the National Poison Centre in New Zealand list this plant as toxic. Lovage - Levisticum officinale (also known as Sea Parsley) Do not confuse lovage with such poisonous members of the carrot family as water hemlock, poison hemlock and fool's parsley. Marijuana - Cannabis sativa L. (also known as Bhang, Ganja, Grass, Hashish, Hemp, Mary Jane, Pot, Reefer) Do not use except under a doctor's supervision. Smoking or eating marijuana may have physically and psychologically injurious effects.

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Marsh Marigold - Caltha palustris (also know as American Cowslip, Kingcup, May Blob) Do not eat the raw leaves; they can cause violent gastritis and are toxic to the heart. External application of the leaves can cause blistering. Melilot - Melilotus officinalis (also known as King's-Clover, Sweet Clover, Sweet Lucerne, Yellow Melilot, Yellow Sweet Clover) Rotted Melilot is and anticoagulant that causes heamorrhaging in animals. Melilot that has not rotted is quite safe. Mexican Tea - Chenopodium ambrosioides (also known as Antweed, Jesuit Tea, Stinking weed, Wormseed) All parts of the plant may be fatal. Symptoms include nausea, dizziness, convulsions and paralysis Milky Pine - Alstonia scholaris (also known as Bitter bark, Devil's tree, Dita Bark, White Cheesewood, White pine, Whitewood) The sap from the bark or leaves amy have toxic effects; it should be used with great caution. Monkshood - Aconitum napellus L (also known as aconite and wolfsbane) All parts are poisonous. The roots yield the highly toxic alkaloid aconitine. People have died a very quick death after using this herb and cattle and horses have succumbed after browsing the leaves and flowers. Northern Pandanus - Pandanus spiralis (also known as Breadfruit, Pandanus Palm, Screw Palm, Screw Pine) The wedge-shaped, orange-red fruits are borne in large clusters. The raw fruit of the pandanus burns the mouth and throat when chewed. Onion - Allium cepa L. The onion can cause severe anaemia if eaten in excessively large quantities. Opium Poppy - Papaver somniferum Opium is physically and psychologically addictive. It is a prohibited plant in Australia and New Zealand. Parsley - Petroselinum crispum Parsley should not be used in large quantities during pregnancy as the apiole in one of the plant's essential oils has oestrogenic effects.

Pennyroyal - Mentha pulegium Large doses taken internally produce convulsions and coma, and may cause severe liver damage. Petty Spurge - Euphorbia peplus L. (also known as Cancer Weed, Milkweed, Radium Plant, Wart-weed) The milky sap is toxic, particularly when in contact with the eyes, causing inflammation and temporary blindness. It should never be taken internally. Pigweed - Portulaca oleracea L. (also known as Munyeroo, Portulaca, Purslane) Pigweed may cause oxalate and nitrate poisoning if taken in sufficiently large quantities. Pink Periwinkle - Catharanthus roseus (also known as Madagascar Periwinkle) Pink Periwinkle should not be used as a home remedy; it contains powerful anticancer alkaloids which may produce serious side effects. Pituri - Duboisia hopwoodii Concentrated dosages of pituri may have serious narcotic effects. Prickly Poppy - Argemone mexicana (also known as Devil's Fig, Mexican Poppy, Thorn Poppy, Yellow Thistle) The spiny toothed leaves are stalk-less and often blotched with white. Yellow or orange flowers are followed by prickly seed pods. Prickly poppy and its seeds are most poisonous if taken internally and may cause oedema and glaucoma. Privet - Ligustrum vulgare L (also known as Common Privet, Prim) It has numerous white flowers followed by black berries. Do not take internally. The fruits and leaves can cause gastrointestinal irritation and liver damage, and may lower blood pressure. Queen Anne's Lace - Daucus carots L. (also known as Bee's nest, Bird's nest, Devil's Plague, Wild Carrot) Do not confuse Queen Anne's Lace with bishop-weed (Ammi majus) or poison hemlock (Conium macaulatum). Daucus carota has a central red or purple flower.

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Queensland Black Bean - Castanospermum australe (also known as Moreton Bay Chestnut) Scarlet and yellow pea-like flowers appear in clusters along the branches followed by large green bean like pods, each containing three to six massive seed. The seeds can cause severe diarrhoea and vomiting if eaten without preparation to remover the poisonous saponins and alkaloids. Redhead Cotton Bush - Asclepias curassavica (also known as Blood Flower) This plant should not be taken internally as it contains poisonous glycosides. Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis L. (also known as Old Man) The undiluted oil of rosemary shoudl never be taken internally. Rue - Ruta graveolens L. (also known as common Rue, Garden Rue, German Rue, Herb-of-Grace) Rue may cause mild poisoning; even handling the fresh leaves may cause the skin to blister. Pregnant women especially should not take rue internally. Scarlet Rhus - Toxicodendron radicans L. (also called the Japenese wax tree or Sumuch) This plant irritates the skin when touched. You can suffer swellings and severe skin irritations. Sensitivity does increase over years too. Skullcap - Scutellaria lateriflora L. (also known as Blue Pimpernel, Blue Skullcap, Helmetflower, Hoodwort, Mad-dog Skullcap, Madweed) Large doses may cause giddiness, confusion, twitching and stupor. Soapwort - Saponaria officinalis (also known as Bouncing Bet, Bruisewort, Fuller's Herb, Latherwort, Old-maid's-pink) If taken internally, soapwort may cuase severe vomiting and diarrhoea. Sorrel - Rumex acetosa (also known as Garden Sorrel, Greensauce, Soursuds) Sorrel contains oxalic acid and can be dangerous to small children, old people or persons in delicate health. It should be parboiled before cooking. The medicinal tea may be poisonous in large doses.

Southern Kangaroo Apple - Solanum aviculare (also known as Poroporo) Except for the ripe berries, which are pale orange or yellow, egg-shaped berries fill with tiny flat seeds. all parts of the Southern Kangaroo Apple are highly poisonous. Southern Sassafras - Atherosperma moschatum (also known as Black Sassafras) The use of southern sassafras in Australia is under discussion by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, due to presence (in the bark) of safrole, which is known to be a carcinogen. Spindletree - Euonymus europaeus (also known as European Spindletree) All parts of this tree contain violent laxative properties, and should not be taken internally without professional advice. St John' s Wort - Hypericum perforatum (also known as Amber Touch-and-Heal, Goatweed, Rosin rose) Drinking the flower tea can cause skin blistering. Sweet Flag - Acorus calamus L. (also known as Clamus, Flagroot, Sweet cane, Sweet grass, Sweet rush) Therapeutic Goods Administration of Australia considers Sweet Flag to be carcinogenic. Sweet Violet - Viola odorata (also known as Blue Violet, English Violet, Sweet-scented Violet) Large doses of sweet violet root cause nausea and vomiting. Sweet Woodruff - Galium odorata L. (also known as Waldmeister) The tea in large doses may cause dizziness and symptoms of poisoning, such as vomiting. Thyme - Thymus vulgaris L. (also known as Common Thyme, Garden Thyme) Excessive use of oil of thyme may cause gastroinestinal disorders. Viper's Bugloss - Echium vulgare L. Viper's bugloss taken internally for a prolonged period of time may cause liver damage. Wallflower - Cheiranthus cheiri (also known as English Wallflower, Handflower) Do not use except under a physician's directions.

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Water Cress - Nasturtium officinale L. (also known as Water Nasturtium) Wash watercress thoroughly before eating it; avoid plants growing in polluted water. White Cedar - Melia azaderach L. The fruits are very poisonous. Native to Australia, Asia and Africa. It has sprays of lilac flowers, which develop into green fruits then ripening and dropping as yellow fruits, where children have died after eating them. White Mustard - Sinapis alba L. Mustard plasters require careful application; if the plaster is too strong or is left on too long, severe blistering can result. Winter Cress - Barbarea vulgaris (also known as Herb of St Barbara, Upland Cress, Yellow Rocket) Do not use the plant for any purpose internally; recent tests suggest winter cress may produce kidney malfunction in animals. Wintergreen - Gaultheria procumbens L. Oil of wintergreen is poisonous except in small amounts. Children have died after drinking the oil. Wintersweet - Acokanthera oblongifolia The leaves, bark and fruit are poisonous. A native of southern Africa. The stems ooze milky sap when cut - this too is poisonous. The starry fragrant flowers turn into succulent reddish or purplish-black fruits. Wireweed - Polygonum aviculare L. (also known as Hogweed, Knotweed) Cook wireweed before eating it; raws wireweed can cause intestinal disturbances. Do not confuse with smartweed, a relative with an acrid taste. Witch Hazel - Hamamelis virginiana L. (also known as Snapping Hazel, Virginian Witch Hazel, Winterbloom) Witch Hazel contains strongly astringent properties and , therefore, should be used with care. Wood Sorrel - Oxalis acetosella L. (also known as Shamrock, Sour Trefoil, True Wood Sorrel, White Wood Sorrel) Leaves contain oxalic acid, which may cause diarrhoea, kidney stones, kidney failure or haemorrhaging if taken internally in very large amounts.

Wormwood - Artemisia absinthium (also known as Absinthe, Absinthium, Green Ginger, Madderwort) Wormwood can cause poisoning. Take only under professional supervision. Yellow Flag - Iris pseudacorus L. (also known as Water Iris, Yellow Iris, Yellow Water Flag) The rhizome and root of yellow flag, if taken in large amounts, may cause stomach and intestinal pain, nausea and vomiting. Yellow Oleander - Theveria peruviana All parts are poisonous, the seeds in particular. The flowers mature into apricot-sized fruits, which turn from green to shiny black. One of the toxins produced by the plant, a cardiac glycoside called Thevetin A, has been tried as a drug, but its effects are too dangerous for therapeutic use. PIONEER IN HERBS: SAMUEL THOMSON – Born in 1769 Before land battles with the plains tribes decimated the indigenous population, the early pioneers and Native Americans shared much of their herbal lore with each other. An early enthusiast was Samuel Thomson, who founded the Physiomedical movement. Born in New Hampshire in 1769, Thomson learned his craft as a child from Widow Benton, a “root and herb doctor” who combined Native American skills with the traditional role of “herb wife”. Thomson believed that parents were responsible for both their own and their children’s health, and patented “Thomson’s Improved System of Botanic Practice of Medicine”, a mixture of handbooks and patent remedies which swept America in the early 19th century. Thomson’s principal theory was that “all disease is caused by cold”, which in the bitter New England winters may have been accurate. By the late 1830’s, the claimed three million followers. Samuel Thomson started using herb and sweat-house therapies in his twenties after his mother had been “galloped out of the world in nine weeks” by orthodox treatment.

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He used many of the Native American herbs like: Black root – used as a relaxant for the liver Indian Tobacco – important Physiomedical relaxant Fringe Tree Bark – it’s relaxing and stimulating properties are used for the liver and gall bladder. Black Cohosh – is stimulating and relaxing for the nervous system Blue Cohosh – is a stimulating relaxant for the female reproductive organs Cayenne – is classified as a stimulant True Unicorn Root – is a uterine stimulant.

SPELLWORK: BLESSING YOUR NEW HOME Clear and release all excess energy. Then light incense of purification , then walk around your new home doing and saying this. “Touch the lintel and touch the wall, Nothing but blessings here befall! Bless the candle that stands by itself, Bless the book on the mantle shelf, Bless the pillow for the tired head, Bless the hearth and the light shed. Friends who tarry here, let them know A three fold blessing before they go. Sleep for weariness - peace for sorrow Faith in yesterday and tomorrow. Friends who go from here, let them bear The blessing of hope, wherever they fare. Lintel and windows, sill and wall, Nothing but good, this place befall.” Clear and release as always.

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LESSON IX – PLANTS AND THEIR ASTROLOGICAL RULERS THE SUN, THE MOON, AND THE PLANETS. The correspondences of plants to the sun, the moon and the planets come first in this lesson, because they are historically more important and better defined than those relating to the signs of the Zodiac. The Sun Rules:

1) plants with parts resembling it in shape and/or colour, as the orange, the reddish-orange spice – saffron, and the following yellow flowers: chamomile, celandine, marigold, sunflower

2) medicinal plants affecting the heart, a part of the body ruled by the sun: European angelica, lovage, rosemary, rue (all of which stimulate circulation)

3) Others: centaury, eyebright, storax, walnuts

The Moon Rules:

1) Plants with parts similar in shape and/or colour, as banana, gourds, mango, melons, pumpkin, and the following white or yellow flowers: opium poppy, orris root, sweet flag, water lilies.

2) Plants with high water content, often with soft, juicy leaves: cabbage, cucumber, lettuce and other leafy vegetables

3) Plants that live in or near water: seaweed, watercress, willow, wintergreen

Mercury Rules:

1) Plants with fine or highly divided leaves (because of the planet’s supposed airy nature): caraway, carrots, dill, fennel, and parsley.

2) Medicinal plants affecting the brain, nervous system, or speech: lavender, lily of the valley, marjoram, parsnips

3) Others: elecampane, horehound, mandrake

Venus Rules:

1) plants with particularly pretty flowers (relate to Venus as Goddess of Love and Beauty): columbine, daisy, periwinkle, primrose, some roses, violet

2) red fruits (Venus’ favourites): apple, blackberry, plum, raspberry, red cherries, red elderberry, strawberry, tomato

3) others: birch, burdock, elder, feverfew, mother of thyme, sorrel, tansy, thyme, vervain

Mars Rules:

1) plants with thorns or prickles (thorns represent weapons and relate to Mars as the God of War): barberry, cacti, hawthorn, nettle

2) plants with a strong acrid taste: capers, coriander, garlic, gentian, hops, horseradish, mustards, onion, peppers, radish, tobacco, wormwood

3) Others: basil, sarsaparilla, tarragon Jupiter Rules:

1) Certain nutritious fruits and nuts: almonds, chestnut, currant, fig, olive, rose hip.

2) Plants with a pleasant odour: anise, balm, cloves, English myrrh, jasmine, linden, meadowsweet, nutmeg

3) The oak tree, which is associated with the God Jupiter in mythology

4) Medicinal plants affecting the arterial system or liver, part of the body ruled by Jupiter: chervil, cinquefoil, dandelion, docks, sage

5) Others: fir tree, mulberry Saturn Rules:

1) plants with cooling qualities: barley, comfrey root, tamarind

2) woody shrubs or trees that show annual rings (like Saturn’s Rings): elm, cypress, pine

3) poisonous or narcotic plants: hellebore, hemlock, marijuana, mezereon, monkshood, yew

4) Others: quince, red beet, sloes, Solomon’s Seal.

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The outer planets – Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto – were discovered after the seventeenth century, so that no comparably long-established plant associations exist for them. SIGNS OF THE ZODIAC A planet or the sun, the moon, or even the zodiac can rule a plant. There are only a few mentioned in this lesson, as there are way too many to mention in a single lesson. The herbs/plants used for this section are only listed as being the more popular ones, which also depends on the Tradition using them and the application they are used for. Aries Rules: • Cacti • Onion • Peppers • Radish, • Garlic • Hops • Mustard • Nettles • Betony • Lichens • Rosemary Taurus Rules: • Lovage • Mushrooms • and other plants of the Earth Gemini Rules: • Most mosses • Tansy • Vervain Cancer Rules:

• Cucumber • Lettuce • Melons • Rushes • Water Plants • Water Lilies • Agrimony • Alder • Lemon Balm

• Honeysuckle • Hyssop • Jasmine

Leo Rules:

• Chamomile • Celandine • European Angelica • Eyebright • Marigold • Orange • Rue • Saffron • Borage • Bugloss • Peony • Poppy

Virgo Rules:

• Wheat • Barley • Oats • Rye • Other cereal plants • Grasses • Sedges

Libra Rules:

• Apple • Cherry • Primrose • Strawberry • White Rose • Violet

Scorpio Rules:

• Palms • Calla lilies • Basil • Bramble • Wormwood

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Sagittarius Rules:

• Oak • Beech • Elm • Mallows • Feverfew

Capricorn Rules:

• Comfrey • Cypress • Hemlock • Nightshades • Yew

Aquarius Rules:

• Frankincense • Myrrh

Pisces Rules:

• Algae • Seaweed • Water Mosses

PIONEER IN HERBS: DR. FREDERICK FOSTER HARVEY QUIN (1799 – 1878) Dr Frederick Foster Harvey Quin was one of many Hahnemanns followers. He was also one of many people cured of Cholera by Camphor. He had been interested in Homeopathy for quite some time but the success of his treatment enhanced his respect for it, that in 1832 he set up a homeopathic practice in London, where he later founded the first homeopathic hospital in 1849. The cholera epidemic of 1854 allowed Dr. Quin the chance to prove the success of homeopathy again. The results, however, were suppressed and only published after Parliamentary intervention. In an official report, the Medical Inspector said, “if it should please the Lord to visit me with cholera I would wish to fall into the hands of a homeopathic physician.” The establishment of Homeopathy in Great Britain was mainly due to the work he did after he cured himself of Cholera with the Homeopathic Remedy Camphor in 1831.

SPELLWORK: STRENGTH SPELL This is a little spell that I use frequently. Mostly when I feel a little down, or I am having a particularly hard day/night. This can easily be customised to suit you or another. First clear and release all excess energy. Then clear your mind and with three deep breaths, relax, being totally relaxed on the third. Then repeat the following verse three times: “Strength of day Strength of night Give me strength Beyond my sight.” Now continue on your way, and you will find that all should be a lot easier than before!

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HERBALISM – MEDICINAL GLOSSARY All the following terms are commonly found in standard reference works on herbal medicine. A few are not used generally, but most of them are. This Glossary contains all of the names used in Herbal Medicine, and the meanings for them. Abortifacient - An agent that induces or causes premature expulsion of a fetus. Acrid - Having a hot, biting taste or causing heat and irritation when applied to the skin. Adjuvant - A herb added to a mixture to aid the effect of the principle ingredient. Alterative - An agent which produces gradual beneficial change in the body, usually by improving nutrition, without having any marked specific effect and without causing sensible evacuation. Analgesic - A drug which relieves or diminishes pain; anodyne. Anaphrodisiac - An agent which reduces sexual desire or potency. Anaesthetic - An agent that deadens sensation. Anodyne - An agent that soothes or relieves pain. Anthelmintic - An agent that destroys or expels intestinal worms; vermicide; vermifuge. Antibiotic - An agent that destroys or arrests the growth of micro-organisms. Anticoagulant - An agent that prevents clotting in a liquid, as in blood. Antiemetic - An agent that counteracts nausea and relieves vomiting. Antihydrotic - An agent which reduces or suppresses perspiration. Antilithic - An agent which reduces or suppresses urinary calculi (stones) and acts to dissolve those already present. Antiperiodic - An agent which counteracts periodic or intermittent diseases, (such as malaria).

Antiphlogistic - An agent which reduces inflammation. Antipyretic - An agent which prevents or reduces fever. ( see also frebrifuge). Antiscorbutic - An source of vitamin C for curing or preventing scurvy. Antiscrofulous - Counteracting scrofula. Antiseptic - An agent for destroying or inhibiting pathogenic or putrefactive bacteria. Antispasmodic - An agent that relieves or checks spasms or cramps. Antitussive - An agent that relieves coughing. Aperient - A mild stimulant for the bowels; a gentle purgative. Aphrodisiac - An agent for arousing or increasing sexual desire or potency. Appetiser - An agent that excites the appetite. Aromatic - A substance having an agreeable odour and stimulating qualities. Astringent - An agent that contracts organic tissue, reducing secretions or discharges. Balsam - 1) A soothing or healing agent. 2) A resinous substance obtained from the exudations of various trees and used in medicinal preparations. Bitter - Characterised by a bitter principle which acts on the mucous membranes of the mouth and stomach to increase appetite and promote digestion. Calmative - An agent that has a mild sedative or tranquilising effect. Cardiac - An agent that stimulates or otherwise affects the heart. Carminitive - An agent for expelling gas from the intestines. Cathartic - An agent that acts to empty the bowels, laxative.

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Caustic - A corrosive substance capable of burning or eating away tissues. Cholagogue - An agent for increasing the flow of bile into the intestines. Coagulant - An agent that induces clotting in a liquid, such as blood. Counter-irritant - An agent for producing irritation in one part of the body to counteract irritation or inflammation in another part. Demulcent - A substance that soothes irritated tissue, particularly mucous membrane. Deodorant - A herb that has the effect of destroying or masking odours. Depressant - An agent which lessens nervous of functional activity; opposite of stimulant. Depurative - An agent that cleanses and purifies the system, particularly the blood. Detergent - An agent that cleanses wounds and sores of diseased or dead matter. Diaphoretic - An agent that promotes perspiration; sudorific. Digestive - An agent that promotes or aids digestion. Disinfectant - An agent that cleanses infection by destroying or inhibiting the activity of disease-producing micro-organisms. Diuretic - An agent that increases the secretion and expulsion of urine. Emetic - An agent that causes vomiting. Emmenagogue - An agent that promotes menstrual flow. Emollient - An agent used externally to soften and soothe. Errhine - An agent that promotes sneezing and nasal discharges. Euphoriant, Euphorigen - An agent that induces an abnormal sense of vigour and buoyancy.

Exanthematous - Relating to skin diseases or eruptions. Expectorant - An agent that promotes the discharge of mucus from the respiratory passages. Febrifuge - An agent that reduces or eliminates fever. Galactagogue - An agent that encourages or increases the secretion of milk. Hallucinogen - An agent that induces hallucinations. Hemostatic - An agent that slopes bleeding. Hepatic - A drug that acts on the liver. Hydragogue - A purgative that produces abundant watery discharge. Hypnotic - An agent that promotes or produces sleep. Irritant - An agent that causes inflammation or abnormal sensitivity in living tissue. Laxative - An agent promoting evacuation of the bowels; a mild purgative. Mucilaginous - Characterised by a gummy or gelatinous consistency. Narcotic - A drug which relieves pain and induces sleep when used in medicinal doses; in large doses narcotics produce convulsions, coma, or death. Nauseant - An agent that produces an inclination to vomit. Nephritic - A medicine applicable to diseases of the kidney. Nervine - An agent that has a calming or soothing effect on the nerves; formerly, any agent that acts on the nervous system. Oxytocic - An agent that stimulates contractions of the uterine muscle and so facilitates or speeds up childbirth. Pectoral - A remedy for pulmonary or other chest diseases.

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Poison - A substance which has harmful or destructive effect when in contact with living tissue. Purgative - An agent that produces a vigorous emptying of the bowels. Refrigerant - An agent that lowers abnormal body heat. Restorative - An agent that restores consciousness or normal physiological activity. Rebefacient - A gentle local irritant that produces reddening of the skin. Sedative - A soothing agent that reduces nervousness, distress, or irritation. Sialagogue - An agent that stimulates the secretion of saliva. Specific - An agent which cures or alleviates a particular condition or disease. Stimulant - An agent that excites or quickens the activity of physiological processes. Stomachic - An agent that strengthens, stimulates, or tones the stomach. Styptic - An agent that contracts tissue; astringent; specifically, a hemostatic agent that stops bleeding by contracting the blood vessels. Sudorific - An agent that promotes or increases perspiration. (see also diaphoretic). Taeniacide - A substance that kills tapeworms. Tonic - An agent that strengthens or invigorates organs or the entire organism. Vasoconstrictor - An agent that narrows the blood vessels, thus raising blood pressure. Vasodilator - An agent that widens the blood vessels thus lowering blood pressure. Vermicide - An agent that destroys intestinal worms. Vermifuge - An agent that causes the expulsion of intestinal worms.

Vesicant - An agent that produces blisters. Vulnerary - A healing application for wounds.

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HERBALISM – BOTANICAL GLOSSARY The technical terms of botany are often difficult and obscure, but they represent an indispensable, precise shorthand when describing the physical attributes of plants. Without them, many more words would be needed to ensure a complete and accurate description. The following glossary defines the technical terms used widely in everyday botany, and you may even come across a few in some reference books. Achene - A small, dry fruit that contains one loose seed and that does not split open spontaneously. (e.g. sunflower seed). Acuminate - Tapering gradually to a point at the apex. Acute - Coming sharply to a point at the apex. Alternate - Arranged singly at different points along a stem or axis. Annual - Completing the cycle from seed to death in one year or season. Apex -The tip. Appressed - Pressed flat or close up against something. Aril - An outer covering or appendage of some seeds. Ascending - Rising upward gradually from a prostate base. Awn - A bristle characteristic of the spike-lets in some grasses. Axil - The angle formed by a stem with a branch, leaf stalk, or flower stalk growing from it. Axillary - Growing from an axil. Axis - The main stem of a plant, or a central line of symetry, development, or growth. Berry - A stone-less, pulpy fruit containing one or more embedded seeds. (e.g. grape). Biennial - Completing the cycle from seed to death in two years or seasons.

Bilabiate - Two-lipped. Bipinnate - Pinnate, with pinnate leaflets. Blade - The broad, thin part of a leaf or petal. Bloom - A powdery, whitish coating on leaves, stems, or fruit. Bract - A small, sometimes scale-like leaf, usually associated with flower clusters. Bud - A protuberance on a stem, from which a flower, leaf, or shoot develops. Bulb - A thick, rounded, underground organ consisting of layered, fleshy leaves and membranes. Calyx - The outer part of a flower, usually consisting of green, leafy sepals. Capsule - A dry, many-seeded, spontaneously splitting fruit that arises from a compound pistil. Carpel - The wall of a simple pistil, or part of the wall of a compound pistil. Catkin - A spike-like flower cluster that bears scaly bracts and petal-less, unisexual flowers. Cauline - Relating to or growing on a stem. Clasping - Partly or completely surrounding the stem. Claw - The narrow, curved base of a petal or sepal in some flowers. Compound - Made up of two or more definable parts. Compound Pistil - A pistil made up of two or more partially or completely united carpals. Cone - A rounded, more or less elongated cluster of fruits or flowers covered with scales or bracts. Cordate - Heart-shaped, with the pint at the apex. Corm - A bulb-like but solid, fleshy underground stem base. Corolla - The petals of a flower, which may be separate or joined in varying degrees.

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Corymb - A generally flat-topped flower cluster with pedicels varying in length, the outer flowers opening first. Creeper - A shoot that grows along the ground, rooting all along its length. Crenate - Having rounded teeth along the margin. Culm - The hollow stem of grasses and bamboos. Cyme - A branching, relatively flat-topped flower cluster whose central or terminal flower opens first, forcing development or further flowers from lateral buds. Deciduous - Falling off each season (as leaves); bearing deciduous parts (as trees). Decompound - Having divisions that are also compound. Decumbent - Lying on the ground but having an ascending tip. Decurrent - Descriptive of leaves whose edges run down onto the stem. Dentate - Sharply toothed, with the teeth pointing straight out from the margin. Digitate - Compound, with the elements growing from a single point. Dilated - Expanded, broadened, flaring. Disk Flower - One of the tubular flowers or florets in the centre of the flower head of a composite flower such as the daisy. (see also ray flower). Dissected - Cut into fine segments. Double - Descriptive of the flowers that have more petals than normal.] Doubly Serrate - Serrate, with small teeth on the margins of the larger ones. Drupe - A fleshy fruit containing a single seed in a hard stone. (e.g. peach). Entire - Having no teeth or indentations. Evergreen - Retaining green foliage for more than one season.

Filiform - Thread-like. Floret - A small flower in a flower head or other cluster. Frond- The leaf of a fern. Fruit - The seed-bearing part of a plant. Funnelform - Descriptive of a flower whose corolla tube widens gradually and uniformly from the base. Glabrous - Not hairy. Glandular - Having glands, which secrete sticky substances. Glaucous - Covered with bloom. Globose - Approximately spherical. Grain - Achene-like fruit, but with the seed not loose. Head- A flower spike or raceme shortened to form a compact, flattened to globose cluster. Herb - A plant that has no woody tissue and that dies down to the ground at the end of a growing season. Herbaceous - Herb-like; not woody. Hesperidium - A partitioned berry with a leathery, removable rind. (e.g. orange). Hoary - Closely covered with short and fine whitish hairs. Incised - Sharply and irregularly slashed or cut. Indigenous - Native, naturally occurring. Inflorescence - Technically, the way flowers are arranged in a cluster, generally, a flower cluster. Internode - The part of a stem or branch between nodes. Interrupted - Descriptive of a structure, the pattern or sequence of whose elements is broken by the insertion of other elements.

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Lanceolate - Widening to a maximum near the base and tapering to a point at the apex. Lateral - Occurring on or growing from the side. (Compare terminal). Leaf - A vegetative organ which, when complete, consists of a flat blade, a petiole or stalk, and (usually two) small leafy appendages at the base of the petiole. Leaflet - A division or part of a compound leaf. Legume - A one-celled fruit that splits along two sutures or seams. (e.g. pea). Linear - Long and narrow, with nearly parallel sides. Lip - One of the parts in a corolla or calyx divided into two unequal parts. Lobe - A part or division, especially when rounded, of an organ. Lyrate - Lobed to resemble a lyre, with the terminal lobe largest and the lower lobes smaller. Node - The place where a leaf grows or can grow. Nut - A hard-walled, one-seeded fruit that does not split spontaneously. (e.g. hazelnut). Ob- - A prefix that indicates reversal of the usual orientation. (e.g. oblanceolate means widening gradually from the pointed base to a maximum near the apex, which may be more or less rounded). Oblong - Longer than wide and rounded at the ends, with nearly parallel sides for much of the length. Obtuse - Rounded or blunt. Opposite - Growing two to a node on opposite sides. Orbicular - circular or approximately round. Oval - Broadly elliptical. Ovate - Shaped like an egg, with the narrow end at the apex. Ovoid - Ovate.

Palmate - Compounded, divided, lobed, or ribbed so that the divisions or ribs spread out like fingers from a single point. Panicle - A raceme compounded by branching. Papolionaceous - Descriptive of a flower whose petals are arranged to resemble a butterfly. Pedicel - The stalk of one flower in a cluster. Peduncle - The stalk of a flower cluster or of a solitary flower. Peltate - Having a stalk attached at or near the middle. Perennial - Living through three or more seasons. Persistant - Remaining on the plant; not falling off readily. Petal - One unit of a corolla. Petiole - The stalk of a leaf. Pinna - (plural pinnae) - A leaflet or primary division o a pinnately compound leaf. Pinnate - Having leaflets arranged in opposite rows along the petiole. Pinnatifid - Split about halfway to the mid-rib, such that the divisions are pinnately arranged. Pinnule - One of the divisions of a pinnate leaflet in a bi-pinnate leaf. Pistil - The female reproduction organ of a flower. Pod - Generally, a dry fruit that splits open. Pome - A fleshy fruit with a central seed-bearing core. (e.g. apple). Procumbent - Growing along the ground without rooting, and having ascending tips. Prostrate - Growing flat along the ground. Pubescent - Covered with down or soft, short hairs. Punctate - Having translucent spots or depressions.

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Raceme - An elongated flower cluster in which flowers grow on pedicels along part of the length of the peduncle. Radical - Growing from or pertaining to a root; growing from a non-aerial stem. Ray Flower - One of the flattened, petal-like outer flowers or florets ringing the disk in the heads of some composite flowers, such as the daisy. (see also disk flower). Receptacle - The end of the stem or stalk on which the flower parts are borne. Rhizome - An underground portion of a stem, producing shoots on top and roots beneath; different from a root in that it has buds, nodes, and scaly leaves; rootstock. Rootstock - Rhizome. Rosette - A circular or spiral arrangement of leaves growing from a centre or crown. Runner - A thin stem or shoot growing along the ground and producing roots at the nodes. Sagittate - Resembling an arrowhead in shape. Samara - A winged fruit that does not split spontaneously. (e.g. maple). Scale - A small, usually dry leaf that is closely pressed against another organ. Scape - A leafless flower stalk that grows from the ground. Sepal - A leaf or division of the calyx. Serrate - Saw-toothed, with the teeth pointing toward the apex. Sessile - Having no stalk. Sheath- an expanded or tubular structure that partially encloses a stem or other organ. Shoot - A stem or branch and its leaves, especially when young. Shrub - A woody plant that produces no trunk but branches from the base.

Simple - Not compounded (leaves) or branched (stems, flower clusters). Smooth - Not rough (compare glabrous). Solitary - Not growing as part of a cluster or group. Spadix - A fleshy spike. Spathe - One or two bracts enclosing a flower cluster. (especially a spadix). Spatulate - Shaped like a spoon, with a narrow end at the base. Spike - A flower cluster in which sessile flowers grow along part of the length of the peduncle. Spikelet - A small spike, particularly one of the few-flowered spikes making up the inflorescence of a grass. Spore - A one-celled reproductive body produced by relatively primitive plants. Spur - A slender, hollow projection from a petal or sepal. Stamen - The male or pollen-bearing organ of a flower. Strobile - A cone or cone-like structure. Style - The slender, elongated part of a pistil. Suture - A natural seam or groove along which a fruit splits. Taproot - A single main root that grows vertically into the ground. Terminal - Occurring at or growing from the end opposite the base. (compare lateral). Ternate - Occurring in threes or divided into three parts. Trifoliate - Having three leaves. Trifoliolate - Having three leaflets. Tripinnate - Descriptive of a pinnate leaf having pinnate leaflets with pinnate pinnules. Tuber - A thick, fleshy part, usually of a rootstock.

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Umbel - A more or less flat-topped flower cluster in which the pedicels (rays) arise from a common point. In compound umbels, each primary ray terminates in a secondary umbel. Valve - One of the parts into which a capsule divides when splitting. Whorl - A circular arrangement of three or more leaves, flowers, or other parts at the same point or level.