Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Butternut Tree – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Author: MMH

Butternut tree – Juglans cinerea

Parts used: bark

Traditional uses: Infusion of bark taken to check bowels. Pills from inner bark used as a cathartic and compound infusion used for toothache. Pills prepared from inner bark and used as a cathartic.

“Butternut is a mild cathartic like rhubarb; it does not constipate and is often used as a habitual laxative, also for dysentery and hypatic congestions. It has been employed as a vermifuge and is recommended for syphilis and old ulcers. The expressed oil of the fruit removes tapeworm. The fruit when halfgrown is made into pickles and when matured is a valuable article of diet. The bark is used for dyeing wool a dark brown colour but is inferior to that of the black walnut for this purpose. It is said to be rubefacient when applied to the skin.” ~Grieve MH

Leaves used to repel insects – “Some Ozark women scatter fresh walnut or butternut leaves about their houses to repel insects…” ~Randolph OMF 68

As a laxative – “The inner bark of the white walnut or butternut is also a popular laxative; most people boil this down to a thick syrupy mess, then thicken it with flour and roll it into pills, which are allowed to dry with a little sugar on the outside.” ~Randolph OMF 97

“…take the juice from the inner bark of a butternut tree and make a laxative.” ~Carter and Krause HRIO

“Take the inner bark of a butternut tree root and boil it in water until about three-fourths of the water has boiled away. Give a teaspoonful for a purgative.” ~Parler FBA II 1906

Carter, Kay & Bonnie Krause Home Remedies of the Illinois Ozarks (HRIO)

Grieve, Margaret A Modern Herbal (MH)

Moerman, Daniel E. Native American Ethnobotany (NAE)

Parler, Mary Celestia Folk Beliefs from Arkansas (FBA)

Randolph, Vance Ozark Magic and Folklore (OMF)

Source: Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Butternut Tree – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Flowers That Heal – Good Witches Homestead

Source: Flowers That Heal – Good Witches Homestead

Garden flowers offer us more than their beautiful colors and smell; many contain healing properties that have been used for thousands of years. As we begin planning our gardens, we reflect on the relationship between the plants to which we tend and our own bodies.

— Tieraona Low Dog, M.D.

We often conceive of flowers as a dazzling aesthetic addition to our home or garden. We take the time to smell the roses, reveling in their centering scented offerings. Practiced gardeners and hobbyists alike can reap impressive health benefits by way of incorporating medicinal flowers into their gardens. In this way, your garden is both a wondrous green altar, as well as your own personal medicine cabinet.

Trembling with potential energy and encapsulated in a small seed are all the nutrients and structures necessary for the growth of the flower it contains. When provided with the right conditions, a seedling soon flourishes and attracts insects that are beneficial to other plants in a garden. This spring is the perfect time to create a healing ritual around the plants you tend. While you commit to caring for your bountiful blossoms, you can simultaneously tend to the soil that lies within you.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

Growth and care: Start with real Calendula officinalis seeds (not one of the many hybrids) in flats or sow directly into the outdoor soil. Enjoying cool temperatures, calendula does well with a layer of mulch which traps moisture for use by this showy flowering annual. It is deer-resistant, non-invasive and the butterflies love it! And by the way, the flowers are edible and will remind you of saffron in both taste and color. They can be used in salads or in cooked dishes.

Medicinal uses: Boasting lasting benefits for oral health, calendula is known to reduce gum inflammation and gingivitis. Teas are soothing to the stomach and can help soothe a sore throat. Calendula flowers are anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial, which is why they have been treasured for centuries for soothing rashes and helping mend wounds. I keep small containers of calendula ointment around the house and up at the barn. It works as well for irritations and scrapes on the chickens and horses, as it does on us!

Harvesting: Harvest calendula as soon as flowers are fully blooming. Pick them in the morning hours on bright sunny day and harvest regularly to encourage flowering. You can use the flowers fresh, as mentioned above, or you can dry the flower heads in a warm, shaded place for use in salves, ointments or teas throughout the year.

California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

Growth and care: Native to California, the Golden or California Poppy can be sown directly into the rich soil. Golden poppies prefer full sun and sparse watering. They are annuals in some parts of the country, though our California poppies are perennial here at our ranch. These beautiful flowers are such a beautiful addition to the garden. The flowers are edible and look wonderful in salads.

Medicinal uses: California poppy is one of my favorite herbs for relaxation and relief of minor aches and pains. It is useful anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic, and is a life saver for those nights when I have overdone it in the garden. California poppy helps me fall asleep and stay asleep. It can be used to ease muscle cramps and spasms and soothe anxiety in someone who is feeling overwrought and irritable. It combines nicely with passionflower, valerian, and other relaxants.

Harvesting: The entire plant is used as a medicine, so it is best to harvest it when there are both flowers and the long seedpods present. Take a small spade or shovel and dig straight down in a circle about 8-10 inches from the plant and lift up the root and entire plant. Rinse off any dirt from the roots, chop the root, leaves, stem and flowers into small pieces, put in a mason jar and completely cover with vodka. Steep a few weeks covered, strain, and you have your tincture. I generally use 50-80 drops at night before bed or a few times per day for minor pain.

Echinacea AKA Coneflower (Echinacea Angustifolia, E. purpurea)

Growth and care: Echinacea, also known as coneflower, appreciates well-drained soil in full sun or light shade. These perennials are plants of the open woodlands and prairie and send out deep tap roots that allow them to tolerate periods of low rainfall. They flower throughout the summer. You can scatter seed in the fall or propagate from root cuttings. Echinacea is fabulous in the garden; the butterflies and birds love them!

Medicinal uses: Echinacea is celebrated for its ability to ease colds, sore throats, and respiratory tract infections. I have used the tincture for both my family and patients for more than 35 years. As a matter of fact, many patients told me it was the first herbal medicine that they had ever used that made them really believe that “this stuff works.” Topically, Echinacea is used for cuts and minor abrasions.

Harvesting: You can prune the leaves and flower heads throughout the summer to enhance the health of your plant, as well as encourage blooming. Cut the flowering stem above the node or the place where the leaves/stem emerges from the stalk. The leaves and flower heads can be dried or made into a tincture. Wait for at least two years before harvesting the roots. Harvest in late summer. Sink your spade down about 24 inches from the stalk. Go deep and lean back on the spade to lift the root ball. Take the entire plant. You can dry or tincture the leaves and flowers. Trim some of the roots that you are going to use for medicine, leaving some roots with the crown, so that you can replant it in the garden. Washing the roots that you are going to dry with a good scrub brush. Use a sharp knife to cut the roots into small pieces. These can be set aside in a warm but shaded place for a week to dry and then stored, or you can make a tincture from the fresh roots. (Healthy at Home contains all the information you need for making fresh and dried herb tinctures).

Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)

Growth and care: Hyssop is a popular aromatic perennial member of the mint family that displays beautiful purplish blue flowers (or sometimes pink) and boasts a large root system beneath the earth. This is a great flower to plant in your garden to attract pollinators and prefers well-drained soil and partial or full sunlight.

Medicinal uses: Hyssop possesses antiviral properties and promotes the expulsion of mucus from the respiratory system. The use of hyssop flower tea has long been used to ease colds, coughs, and congestion. The tea is quite pleasant and I have found to be a very good expectorant when taken in small doses throughout the day. When diffused, hyssop essential oil is often used to purify the air indoors. Hyssop leaves can be added to soups and salads.

Harvesting: Cut the flowering tops of hyssop. Harvest and dry the herb at the peak of maturity to assure the highest possible potency of active ingredients.

Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)

Growth and care: Lavender enjoys full sun and well-drained, slightly alkaline soil. This gorgeous and fragrant perennial does not like to be overwatered and will not tolerate excessive moisture. While there are many different types of lavender, I admit that I am very partial to English lavender or L. Angustifolia. You can grow from seeds but cuttings are quicker. Lavender makes a beautiful border in the garden but also does great in pots.

Medicinal uses: Lavender flowers are often put in small cotton bags and put in linen and clothing drawers for their wondrous aroma. You can make an infusion and add it to a bath to soothe itchy skin or help relax before bed. Lavender essential oil touts many impressive benefits and can be used as aromatherapy to ease insomnia, headaches, and anxiety. Topically, diluted lavender essential oil can help ease sunburn, bug bites and mend wounds. I put ¼ cup of dried lavender flowers in 1 cup of honey and let it steep for 2-3 weeks. This lavender honey can be used on minor wounds to help them heal. And it serves double duty when drizzled over Manchego cheese and served with some grapes on a warm summer evening. Delicious!

Harvesting: To harvest, cut the stems just above the first set of leaves, as soon as some of the flowers just begin to open. Bundle your stems together (no thicker than the opening on a soda pop bottle), tie with a string and hang upside down in a cool, dry place for 3-4 weeks.

Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Burdock – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Author: MMH 0 Comments

Burdock – Arctium lappa, A. minus, A. tomentosum

Parts used: root, leaf

Traditional uses: Root used in washes for boils and skin complaints. Leaf infusion used to tone stomach. Leaf poultice used for tumors and swellings and to reduce inflammation. Blood purifier, alterative, diuretic, and diaphoretic.

“Alterative, diuretic and diaphoretic. One of the best blood purifiers. In all skin diseases, it is a certain remedy and has effected a cure in many cases of eczema, either taken alone or combined with other remedies, such as Yellow Dock and Sarsaparilla.” ~Grieve MH

Used in formula for chills – “A gentleman in Cyclone, Missouri, tells me that his family made a ‘chill remedy’ that was in great demand; the exact formula was kept secret, he says, but the main ingredient was crushed burdock seeds.” ~Randolph OMF 107

“Burdock roots…boiled were given for chills.” ~Parler FBA II 1747

Beads worn as protection from witchcraft – “A basket maker at Eureka Springs, Arkansas, told me that children are best protected against witches by wearing a neck-lace of dried burdock roots, cut into small pieces and strung like beads.” ~Randolph OMF 291

Boiled in compound drank for colds – “There used to be a plant called burdock. They’d dig that up and get the root and soak it in whiskey. Then they’d take that and put other ingredients such as nutmeg and butter and ginger in it. You’d drink that hot and go to bed of a night it’d suck that cold out.” ~Carter and Krause HRIO

Medicine for the blood of young folks – “From the weed Burdock (Arctium minus) you make a medicine for the blood of young folks. You boil the weed down and give the youngin’ a dose of 1 tablespoon before meals.” ~Parler FBA II 1357

Burdock, Witch Hazel, and Dogwood as a spring tonic – “Mix burdock roots, witch hazel bark, dogwood bark and take 1 teaspoonful before breakfast in the spring. This is called a spring tonic.” ~Parler FBA II 1369

Root chewed to purify blood – “To purify the blood chew the roots of the burdock plant.” ~Parler FBA II 1516

Root water used for boils – “To cure boils and sores that children have use Burdock roots…that have been soaked in water and drink the water.” ~Parler FBA II 1564

Roots worn against nosebleed – “A necklace of burdock roots…used to be worn to prevent nosebleeding.” ~Parler FBA III 2786

Wild cherry and burdock used for rheumatism – “Wild Cherry bark and Burdock root…boiled and mixed with whiskey is good for rheumatism.” ~Parler FBA III 2974

Carter, Kay & Bonnie Krause Home Remedies of the Illinois Ozarks (HRIO)

Grieve, Margaret A Modern Herbal (MH)

Moerman, Daniel E. Native American Ethnobotany (NAE)

Parler, Mary Celestia Folk Beliefs from Arkansas (FBA)

Randolph, Vance Ozark Magic and Folklore (OMF)

Source: Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Burdock – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Vinca – Good Witches Homestead

Source: Vinca – Good Witches Homestead

COMMON NAME: vinca
GENUS: Vinca
SPECIES: V. major, V. minor; both perennial
FAMILY: Apocynaceae
BLOOMS: spring
TYPE: perennial
DESCRIPTION: Perennial vinca is a fast-spreading vine with blue flowers. V. major is a more vigorous grower and has larger leaves and flowers. The annual bedding plant vinca {actually Catharanthus roseus} has attractive five-petaled white and pink-to-red flowers and dark green, glossy leaves. The plants reach a height of 10 to 15 inches and spread almost 2 feet across.
CULTIVATION: Annual vinca {C. roseus} is extremely heat and drought tolerant and thrives in full, hot sun. It blooms prolifically from early summer until frost. Perennial vinca is particularly useful as a ground cover because it grows equally as well in sun or shade. Blooming, which occurs in late spring, is much better in the sun, however.

Twelve species of this genus are native to Europe. V. major, also known as greater periwinkle, blue buttons, and band plant, and V. minor, known as common periwinkle, lesser periwinkle, and running myrtle, are the two species most widely grown.
Rosy periwinkle, a tropical species, contains an alkaloid necessary to make the drug vincristine, which is used to treat many forms of cancer.
The popular pink and white vinca used as a bedding plant is officially C. roseus, though it was known for many years as V. rosea. It is native from Madagascar to India and is known as rose periwinkle and old maid.
Vinca has been cultivated for centuries. The number of common names alludes to the variety of purposes for which this plant has been used and particularly to the magical powers it was thought to possess. Known as devil’s eye or sorcerer’s violet, vinca blossoms were sometimes worn in the buttonhole as protection against witches. If placed over the doorway, vinca was thought to keep away witches.
During the Middle Ages criminals on the way to the gallows traditionally wore garlands made from vinca blossoms. The Italian name for the plant is the flower of death, and it was often planted on the graves of children.
Belgians believed that the flower was a symbol of virginity and would spread vinca petals in front of bridal couples as they left the church.
It is from the pink and red vinca that the phrase “pink of perfection” originated. An old English book, The Vertues of Herbs, Stones, and Certain Beasts, suggests that “Perwynke when it {the leaf} is beate unto powder with worms of ye earth wrapped about it and with an hearbe called houselyck it induceth love between man and wife it it be used in their meales.”
Red vinca, also called joy of the ground, planted outside the garden gate symbolized an invitation to the passer-by to come in and look at the garden.
The medicinal uses of vinca are varied. Vinca tea made from the blossoms was used, according to an ancient herbal, if the “mother’s milk was running too full.” A tonic made from dried, full-grown leaves was used for intestinal problems. The leaves, mixed with other herbs, were thought to help diabetes. An ointment made from the leaves was used to treat skin disorders, particularly on the scalp, and the raw leaves were chewed to stop a nosebleed. The young shoots were boiled and eaten to prevent nightmares and to soothe nervous disorders and hysteria. Long strands of the creeping vine were wrapped tightly around the legs to ease muscular cramps. Perhaps the favorite reason for indulging in a daily dose of vinca was the superstition that it would help one be happy and comfortable and have grace.
Because it is evergreen, vinca has been chosen as the symbol of fidelity and friendship. The blue blossoms represent the pleasures of memory, red blossoms mean early friendship and white blossoms are symbolic of pleasant recollections.

Vinca has been chosen by the city of Geneva as its floral emblem.

Peony – Good Witches Homestead

Source: Peony – Good Witches Homestead

COMMON NAME: peony
GENUS: Paeonia
SPECIES, HYBRIDS, CULTIVARS:
P. lactiflora {Chinese peony}-many hybrids; single or double. P. suffruticosa {TREE PEONY}-shrub; does not die back in winter.
FAMILY: Ranunculaceae
BLOOMS: late spring
TYPE: perennial
DESCRIPTION: Peony greets spring with offerings of very large, beautiful blossoms in pinks, white, and shades of red. The foliage is neat and attractive, and the plants create an appealing, low {2 1/2 to 3 foot} shrub during the summer months. Peony flowers are full and measure 4 to 6 inches across.
CULTIVATION: Probably one of the greatest attributes of peonies is their longevity. Some peony plants are reported to be more than 100 years old. Once established, peonies should not be transplanted. The plants are tolerant of a wide range of soils but will perform best in neutral or slightly alkaline soils that are light, fertile, and rich in organic matter. Peony roots should be planted so that the eyes are exactly 1 1/2 inches below the soil level. Mix in generous amounts of humus or peat moss before planting. In northern areas, plant in full sun. In hot southern climates, provide a bit of shade.

Called the blessed herb, peonies have been used for centuries for their magical and medicinal properties. Among the powers that peony was thought to possess are the ability to protect shepherds and their flocks; to ward off storms, demons, and nightmares; and to preserve the harvest from danger. Peony is the Greek symbol of healing and the Japanese symbol for a happy marriage and virility. It is the Japanese floral emblem for the month of June.
The Chinese have grown this flower for over 2,000 years. The name for it there is Sho-yo, which means “the beautiful,” and it is considered the flower of prosperity. One Chinese emperor called peonies roses of spring, and a single specimen sold for as much as 100 ounces of gold. According to the Chinese calendar, the tree peony is the floral symbol for March.
The medicinal powers of the plant are legendary. It was named for Paeon, physician to the Greek gods, and a student of Asclepius, {god of medicine and healing}. Leto, goddess of fertility, told Paeon about a magical root growing on Mount Olympus that would soothe the pain of a woman in childbirth. When Paeon went to get this root, Asclepius became jealous and angry and threatened to kill his pupil. Leto begged help from Zeus, who saved Paeon from the wrath of his teacher by changing him into the peony flower.
Perhaps because of this legend, peony seeds have been given to pregnant women for centuries. It was also thought that the roots, held over a person’s head or around the neck, would cure insanity. Other medicinal uses included the prevention of epileptic convulsions and soothing the gums o teething infants. Pliny, a Roman statesman, said that peonies are the “oldest of plants, and are an important medicine that cures twenty ills.”
Superstition warns us, however, that the plant is protected by woodpeckers. If you try to gather peony for medicinal purposes while a woodpecker is in sight, your patient might die.
The magical powers of peonies were thought to be even stronger than the medicinal ones. Mothers in rural areas hung strings of peony seeds around an infant’s neck as a protection against the “Evil Eye.” The seeds, particularly if soaked in rain water, were worn as an amulet for protection against witchcraft and the devil. The plant’s reputation for supernatural powers was enhanced by its phosphorescent qualities-some plants actually glow in the dark. For the most potent magical powers, seeds and roots were gathered in the dead of night.
The first peonies, considered important healing herbs, were brought to England by the Roman legions in 1200. They have been cherished in England since then, first for their medicinal value, and then for their unparalleled beauty. Peonies have been in the United States since early colonial days. For the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition in 1876, peony was used to symbolize the American spirit, ambition, and determination to adapt and thrive.
The only country ever named for a flower was Paeonia, located in what is now northern Greece. It was a legitimate country complete with a government, army, and imperial ring, but it was conquered during the Persian Wars.
Peony is the state flower of Indiana.

The language of peony is shame, for it was thought to be the hiding place of a dishonorable nymph.

Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Boneset – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Author: MMH

Boneset – Eupatorium perfoliatum

Parts used: leaf, flower

Traditional uses: Used as a purgative. Infusion taken for colds. Used as a tonic, sudorific, stimulant, emetic and antiseptic. Infusion taken for “ague,” colds and flu. Used as a stimulant. Infusion taken for sore throat. Decoction of plant used as a gentle emetic. Plant used as a fever medicine.

“Stimulant, febrifuge and laxative. It acts slowly and persistently, and its greatest power is manifested upon the stomach, liver, bowels and uterus. It is regarded as a mild tonic in moderate doses, and is also diaphoretic, more especially when taken as a warm infusion, in which form it is used in attacks of muscular rheumatism and general cold. In large doses it is emetic and purgative. Many of the earlier works allude to this species as a diuretic, and therefore of use in dropsy, but this is an error, this property being possessed by Eupatorium purpureum, the purple-flowered Boneset, or Gravel Root. It has been much esteemed as a popular febrifuge, especially in intermittent fever, and has been employed, though less successfully, in typhoid and yellow fevers. It is largely used by the negroes of the Southern United States as a remedy in all cases of fever, as well as for its tonic effects. As a mild tonic it is useful in dyspepsia and general debility, and particularly serviceable in the indigestion of old people. The infusion of 1 OZ of the dried herb to 1 pint of boiling water may be taken in wineglassful doses, hot or cold: for colds and to produce perspiration, it is given hot; as a tonic, cold. As a remedy in catarrh, more especially in influenza, it has been extensively used and with the best effects, given in doses of a wineglassful, warm every half hour, the patient remaining in bed the whole time; after four or five doses, profuse perspiration is caused and relief is obtained. It is stated that the popular name Boneset is derived from the great value of this remedy in the treatment of a species of influenza which had much prevailed in the United States, and which from the pain attending it was commonly called Break-Bone Fever. This species of Eupatorium has also been employed in cutaneous diseases, and in the expulsion of tapeworm.” ~Grieve MH

*** Cautions: Contains trace amounts of the toxin pyrrolizidine. Caution should be taken when using internally. Large doses emetic. ***

Tea for fevers and chills – “Boneset tea is a favorite remedy for chills, fever, and ague.” ~Randolph OMF 107

Root tea for colds – “My mother says as a child she had malaria with chills every other day and fever. An old aunt of her mothers came to visit and told her brothers to go into the woods and get the root of a certain plant called ‘bone set’. She took the roots, washed them, and boiled them, and made a tea. This my mother had to drink, and it cured her, and she has never had a chill to this day.” ~Parler FBA II 1767

Applied to body for malaria – “A cure for malaria is to take the oil from a plant called a bone set (Eupatorium) and apply to the person with malaria.” ~Parler FBA III 2676

Grieve, Margaret A Modern Herbal (MH)

Moerman, Daniel E. Native American Ethnobotany (NAE)

Parler, Mary Celestia Folk Beliefs from Arkansas (FBA)

Randolph, Vance Ozark Magic and Folklore (OMF)

Source: Ozark Encyclopedia – B – Boneset – Mountain Man Traditional Healing

Snow White and the Huntsman – secretsoftheserpent

By gserpent

Source: Snow White and the Huntsman – secretsoftheserpent

Snow White and the Huntsman is a spin-off the Brothers Grimm ‘Snow White’. What most people don’t know is that the Brothers Grimm got this story from Egypt. The original story was based on astronomy, Snow White being the moon and the seven dwarves being the seven known planets following the moon in the sky. The creators of this movie knew this and they put a sly little part in the movie to show the original meaning. It also was a slight jab at science.

Like all good movies the characters in this story are aspects of yourself. This movie was covertly showing true history, but what I really like about it is that it’s a story of ‘waking up’ for the feminine. Most movies are showing you the masculine and its wake up process, but this one flips roles. The reason why they have an evil Queen and Snow White being all things good and pure is because they represent Nature. Nature is the sacred feminine. She can be pure and beautiful, but also very destructive. Two expressions of a single reality, Yin Yang. These are summed up into two paths that you can take:
Ascetic- suppression of natural, control or want to be controlled, filter everything.
or
Ecstatic- Open up, learn to cooperate with nature, constructing, expanding.

Right at the very beginning the creators of this movie are showing who their allegiances are with, but also are showing it is a story of the sacred feminine. The rose is a symbol of Goddess worship and has to do with the Goddess Rosemerth. The red rose is symbolizing the red crown of Lower Egypt. Those that know their history know the Lancastrians took the red rose as their symbol because they were of the Lower Egyptian bloodline. The red crown of Lower Egypt. The Yorkists took the white rose as their symbol for the white crown of Upper Egypt. The English Civil War was called the War of the Roses for this reason. That is all that this opening scene is doing. The western world is Egypt and the Upper and Lower crowns are still fighting each other.

Snow White’s mother dies while she is young. The people love Snow White for her strong and defiant heart. Her father’s name is King Magnus. If I had any doubts about the creators of this movie being in the know, they just vanished. If you have read my His Royal Jesus post, you know this is the real name of the biblical Jesus. He was from the bloodline of Lower Egypt. King Magnus is tricked into a battle where he finds Ravenna. He falls in love with her beauty and makes her is Queen. In the Brothers Grimm stories of the princess’, the wicked step mother and sisters symbolize the sister religions of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. They are jealous of the princess in the stories because the princess represents Mary or Mary Magellan. Ravenna is symbolizing all three religions. In God(s) I showed you that all three of these religions are secretly worshipping Thoth, the moon-god of Egypt. The Raven is the symbol of the Moon. Her killing Magnus is symbolizing the killing of the true history of the biblical Jesus, real name King Magnus.

Snow White’s father being killed is the chaos needed to begin the wake up process. Her being put in prison is symbolizing the self-made prison of your mind. Can you be alone with your thoughts? Your mind will create problems, you have to overcome. Self love and self forgiveness is the key to going forward. When Snow White escapes she gets on a white horse and makes it to the Dark Forest. Horses usually always represent the goddess and forests are the underworld. The Queen hires Eric the Huntsman to go after Snow White. The Huntsman is the sacred masculine. His wife died and he is lost without her. The masculine is lost without the sacred feminine. That is why this world is so screwed up! Everyone is in the masculine and the sacred feminine is nowhere to be found. What we think of as feminine in the world is a messed up version of what the masculine thinks it should be. This world is in is all negative aspects of the masculine. We think the masculine is some sports fanatic that makes a ton of money or some idiot that goes and kills animals for fun. This ‘look at me world’ is sickening! How can it be anything else when this world is built on lies and no man is willing or able to stand up to them?

Snow White and the Huntsman make it through the Dark Forest by working together. As they are exiting the forest they encounter a giant Troll. Trolls are things in your subconscious that need to be dealt with(see Troll). The Huntsman tells Snow White to run and he tries to fight the Troll off. He gets his ass kicked. Snow White steps in and calms the Troll. The Troll seems to give up and walks off. The Huntsman tells Snow White “ I thought I told you to run”. Snow White replies “If I did you would be dead”. This is symbolizing that you have to deal with your Trolls. Anything in your past that makes you feel bad or something you haven’t forgiven yourself for. Again, self-love and self forgiveness is the key. Don’t feed the Trolls. Get rid of the Trolls.

Snow White and the Huntsman make their way to a village of all women who have disfigured themselves, so the Queen will find them useless. The Queen needing the beauty of young women is symbolizing that these patriarch religions need women to keep the lie going. In the past they burned women for not converting, today they shame them. This village is symbolizing the women that have ‘woken up’. Patriarch religions can’t claim their minds, so they have no use for them. Right on cue, the Queens thugs attack.

Snow White and the Huntsman escape and they meet a group of 8 dwarfs. I found this very witty. As I said, the original Snow White is an astronomical tale. The seven dwarfs were the seven known planets following the moon in the sky. The ancients knew about the planets. We did not discover them, we rediscovered them. Once we rediscovered Pluto there were 8 planets following the moon. The extra dwarf sacrifices himself to save Snow White. This is symbolizing Pluto losing it’s planet status. I know I’m right on this because the dwarf’s name was Gus. Right after science dropped Pluto as a planet, a show called Psych came out with a character named Gus who would say to people “Have you heard about Pluto? That’s messed up right”. This was a slight slam on science dropping Pluto as a Planet.

Snow White sees some faeries and she follows them. They eventually lead her to Cernunnos. Cernunnos represents untamed nature. He is the male protector or the sacred masculine of the Goddess. He bows to Snow White(the sacred feminine) showing what I have been saying all along. The sacred feminine is the key! She is the Alpha and Omega! In come the Queen’s thugs again and they shoot Cernunnos causing him to disappear. This is showing that the patriarch religions have no respect for nature or the Goddess for that matter. At this time William, Snow White’s friend from childhood, reveals himself and helps defeat the Queen’s thugs. Now Snow White has two men that represent the sacred masculine. Queen Ravenna disguises herself as William and gives Snow White a poison apple. She takes a bite and falls into a deep sleep making everyone think she is dead. Apples always represent knowledge and a poisoned apples represent false knowledge. That is just what religion gives you, false knowledge. It has put the masses and the sacred feminine to sleep for more than 2,000 years.

William thinking she was dead kisses her then they take her to Duke Hammond’s castle. Here the Huntsman regrets not saving her and kisses her too. I think they did this because of the dual symbolism of astronomy and consciousness. The astronomy is the sun and moon in an eclipse and the consciousness is the working together of the sacred masculine with the sacred feminine. She wakes up, representing her ‘awakening’ or rebirth. She rally’s the Dukes army and they set out to attack Queen Ravenna’s castle. They infiltrate the castle and Snow White confronts Ravenna. Through out the story they keep saying that Snow White is the only one that can kill Queen Ravenna. This is the same as the Lord of the Rings with the Witch-king of Angmar. No man could kill him, but a woman(sacred feminine) could(see The Rings). These are symbolizing it takes the sacred feminine to kill patriarch religions. Snow White gets over powered by Ravenna. Ravenna is about to kill her and take her heart, but Snow White uses a move the Huntsman taught her to kill Ravenna. With Ravenna defeated, the kingdom returns to peace and harmony as Snow White is crowned Queen. You will find peace and harmony when you have the sacred feminine in your life and this world will find peace and harmony when the unadulterated sacred feminine returns. Just like it was in the Golden Age thousands of years ago.

Queen of Sheba – secretsoftheserpent

By gserpent

Source: Queen of Sheba – secretsoftheserpent

The tale of the Queen of Sheba has been embellished by several groups of people or religions that try to claim her as their own Queen. It is not enough to just reject the lie. Everyone has to make up their own version of the lie to get in on the money train. The Queen of Sheba was the title for several ladies in history, but not one of them is outside of Egypt. I’m going to show you who the Queen of Sheba was and why there were other ladies with this title.

If you have read my Patriarch Pharaohs post, you already know who the Queen of Sheba was. In this post I will go into more detail and give a few surprises. Again all the credit to finding Queen of Sheba goes to Ralph Ellis. This post will use his research with some of my own interpretations. We can’t talk about the Queen of Sheba without mentioning King David or King Solomon. King David and King Solomon were identified as Lower Egyptian Pharaohs. King David was Pharaoh Psusennes and King Solomon was Pharaoh Sheshonq(See Patriarch Pharaohs).

King David’s official title was Pa-seba-khen-nuit and it means “My Star Appears or Shines in His City”. King David is known for the Star of David, but what was this star? Researchers will tell you it is the morning star and had to do with the rising of Venus or the sun. Jesus was said to be of the line of David and he has a star in his story too. What is up with all the stars? Just like Pharaohs in Egypt had several names, so did the royal females. The Pharaoh had to have a wife from the bloodline in order to rule. Just like the Pharaohs were considered gods on earth, all royal ladies were considered a version of Isis. Isis was the Queen of the Heavens or Queen of the Stars. The royal wives were considered God’s wife and when they had a son that would become ruler, they were considered God’s mother. In somewhat the same manner, when a daughter was born of the bloodline, one of her titles was Bathsheba. Bathsheba means ‘daughter of Sheba’ or ‘daughter of the star’. When she became Queen she was known as ‘Queen of the Stars’ or ‘Queen of Sheba’. The Star of Isis is the Star of David.

Why would all these ladies be considered to be a star? The lower Egyptians were considered the watchers of the Pyramids. This didn’t mean they literally watched the pyramids themselves. It was astronomical. They watched the stars or heavens from them. That is what the platform on the top of the Great Pyramid was for. What the patriarchs don’t want you to know is that it was a priestess who did the observing. Whether is was the actual Queen or a priestess that represented her, it is hard to tell. I think that on really important occasions it was the Queen herself and maybe on lesser important events it was a priestess representing her. Another title the Queen had been was ‘Mother of the Breasts’. The breasts were the Great Pyramid and the Second Pyramid. The Pyramids were the breasts of Isis. The Pyramids were seen to cause the flooding of the Nile and it brought them nourishment. Sheba or Seba in Egyptian had four different meanings: star, oath,seven and door. Every seven days the BathSheba or a priestess would open the door to the Great Pyramid then goto the top. This ceremony was called the Shabbath or Sabbath. Why is a Queen or priestess on top of the Great Pyramid leading the ceremony? Because the sacred feminine is the capstone to the Universal Temple. Even though King David and King Solomon are heroes to the patriarchs, they did these ceremonies. They also built temples to several gods. A priestess or Queen of the Stars on top of the Pyramid is why people put a star on top of a Christmas tree. The tree is the Great Pyramid. It used to have a lighted walkway that spiraled all the way to the top. Just like Christmas tree lights. The star the wise men were following at Jesus’ birth was Mary. She was Egyptian, so she was a Queen of the Stars or a Queen of Sheba.

In Patriarch Pharaohs I showed you the famous Queen of Sheba was the daughter of King David. Her real name was Maakhah Tamar. King David raped this daughter and got her pregnant, so he married her. Her mother must have been too old to have anymore children or maybe something happened to where she couldn’t have anymore kids. The texts only say she became a widow. This is usually what happens when the Queen gets to old to have kids and the Pharaoh takes on another wife of the bloodline, usually one of his daughters. Maakhah Tamar went from Bathsheba(daughter) to Queen of Sheba, just like the legends and texts say. She had a boy and they named him Sheshoq or Solomon. Fourteen years later King David was on his death-bed. They brought a prostitute in named Abishag to try to screw him out of his death, literally. Abishag means ‘to ravish my father’. This is where the term ‘to shag someone’ comes from. They brought another daughter or maybe a son in to do this. Maybe it was Maakhah Tamar herself, the texts are vague. When it was obvious that sex wasn’t going to work, Maakhah Tamar brings Solomon in to King David and pleads for him to make Solomon Pharaoh of Egypt. David agrees and calls for the priests. The priests and family make him King Solomon at age 14. They bring Naamah in from Upper Egypt to be his bloodline Queen. At this time Maakhah Tamar goes back to Upper Egypt to rule at the age of 32 or 33.

This is where the legends of the Queen of Sheba begin. It is said that she was the Queen of the South and she was a dark or dusky maiden. Upper Egypt is south of Lower Egypt. She was coming from Thebes and going to Tanis. So she was the Queen of the South. Being dark or dusky is the same as calling Mary the black Madonna. It is code for the black or dark lands of Egypt. It had to do with the Nile flooding and making the land black or dark(fertile soil) after it receded. Saying that she came from Ethiopia is because of the Kebra Negast. When this book was found the patriarch George had to bring it in line with the Bible. Couldn’t let this book give away all the lies of the last 1300 years. So he made everything that had to do with Upper Egypt into Ethiopia. Ethiopia was a province of Egypt, so he was being loose with the truth. In this manner she was the Queen of Ethiopia.

By now you understand that Maakhah Tamar is the Queen of Sheba. In the legends she wanted to meet this wise king and bring him gifts. It had been seven years since she had seen her son. He was given the crown at 14 and she went back to Thebes. She had heard how well he was doing and wanted to go see for herself. I have a little trouble excepting this because in the Egyptian texts it says that all the gold, silver and spices she was bringing was to pay tribute, so he wouldn’t attack Upper Egypt. I don’t doubt she wanted to see her son, but she wasn’t bringing all the treasures just because he was wise. He wanted to rule all of Egypt and she was in charge of the south. She brought all the treasures to calm him down and seal the deal by marrying him and having sexual relations with him. And people wonder where incest came from. She had a son from this encounter and named him Menelek. Once he was old enough he wanted to go see his father. While he was there he decides to steal the Ark of the Covenant. I showed in the Ark of the Covenant post what the Ark actually was. All Pharaohs had one and Menelek had a right to be the next Pharaoh. Problem was that Solomon had sons all over the place. Menelek stole it and took it back to Upper Egypt to show everyone he was the rightful heir to the throne.

Mainstream archeologist will say that the Queen of Sheba came from Saba in modern Yemen. They have it wrong. It is the other way around. The story of Jeremiah in the bible is how the people got to Saba. Nebuchadnezzar invaded Israel and Judaea in 597 BCE. A group of people left Judea and headed toward modern Yemen to a town they called Marib. Marib means wisdom of Maakhah. It was not named Saba till much later. Jeremiah was blaming this group of people for the fall of Jerusalem. They worshipped the Queen of Heaven, Maakhah Tamar or Isis. All are the same. When they got to Yemen they built the Marib damn, so they could grow their spices and became very rich. Spices in these ancients texts usually refers to hemp or marijuana. They got rich off of the left-handed cigarette. This group of people had the Tanakh with them. The Tanakh was an ancient book that Joseph Flavius couldn’t get his hands on because it had left Jerusalem with these Sheba worshippers. About 630 CE the Marib damn breaks and this group of goddess worshippers head back to Jerusalem. They are met by Mohammed and his thugs. He kills all of them and takes the Tanakh. He uses it to write the Koran. Mohammed, real name Lothar Schmalfus, was a pope reject. All he wanted was revenge on Christianity. He took the Tanakh and filled it with hate to get people to fight for him. This is why there is historical truth in the Koran. Other than that it is a book of hate to get people to fight a war. Make no mistake, I am not taking up for Christianity. As far as I am concerned, this planet would be better off if all religions were thrown off of it.

The rulers of this world make sure the masses stay in ignorance, superstition and fear. All this history was hidden and lost. Very few people know the true history of this world. That is why I started this blog. If people can be shown the truth, ignorance goes away and hopefully superstitions will follow. Getting rid of fear is up to you. Realize the power that you have as an individual. I have found that knowledge is power. Ignorance is the darkness of chaos and knowledge is the light of the Cosmos.

Horny Goat Weed: Health Benefits, Use – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Source: Horny Goat Weed: Health Benefits, Use – Crooked Bear Creek Organic Herbs

Horny goat weed is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. It is also known by its many botanical names, including Epimedium, and its Chinese name, yin yang huo.

As a form of alternative medicine, the herb has been used to treat conditions from hay fever to atherosclerosis, nerve pain fatigue, osteoporosis, and erectile dysfunction.

Human research data to support the use of horny goat weed is limited at best. However, there is some anecdotal evidence for using the herb to treat certain medical conditions.

Uses and research

Epimedium is a flowering plant that is also known as horny goat weed and is used in traditional Chinese medicine.

There have been studies conducted on cells in laboratories that report evidence of several beneficial properties of horny goat weed. Early research suggests that it may have properties that can keep bones strong, protect the nerves, and support the immune system.

Other cell research has revealed the following possible effects:

anticancer effects
anti-HIV activity
radiosensitizing effects
reversal of multidrug resistance in some tumor cells
postmenopausal bone loss prevention

Atherosclerosis is a condition where the arteries in the neck harden. For people with atherosclerosis, a mixture containing horny goat weed may be beneficial and result in improved symptoms and clinical tests.

People with hay fever may experience symptom relief and a reduction in white blood cells that tend to increase with allergies.

Horny goat weed and erectile dysfunction

One study looked at rats with injured nerves and nerve cells grown in a lab. The researchers reported that icariin, the active component of horny goat weed, might show positive and promising effects in treating erectile dysfunction (ED) caused by nerve injury.

ED is a common problem affecting men, especially those aged 40-70 years old. Nearly 20 million men in the United States are affected by the condition, which can have many causes. At times, men may experience psychological conditions, such as depression or anxiety, that may cause or contribute to ED.

ED has 2 categories:

Primary ED: Men affected by this rare condition have never been able to have or sustain a penile erection. Primary ED is often due to a physical abnormality or a psychological cause.
Secondary ED: This form is typically caused by a physical condition. Causes range from conditions such as diabetes, stroke, multiple sclerosis, and physical injuries. This group of men will likely have had erections in the past.

Certain medications, such as those to treat high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, depression, cancer, and long-term pain, may contribute to the condition. Some of these medications include:

beta-blockers
clonidine
spironolactone
thiazide diuretics
alcohol and drugs such as cocaine
opioids
SSRI and tricyclic antidepressants
anxiolytics
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs)
amphetamines
5 alpha-reductase inhibitors
anticholinergics
cimetidine
hormonal therapies

Although there is some evidence that horny goat weed may offer symptom relief in certain medical conditions, additional research is necessary.

Dosing

Before taking any herbs or supplements, it is important to speak to a healthcare professional who can assess an individual’s needs.

As with any medications, herbs, and supplements, it is important for people to speak to their doctor before using horny goat weed. A doctor can work out its safety and dosage based on an individual’s needs and medical history.

For the treatment of atherosclerosis and ED, the University of Michigan recommends taking 5 grams 3 times per day. For the treatment of hay fever, it is recommended to simmer 500 milligrams in 250 milliliters of water for 10-15 minutes and consume 3 times daily.

People should check with their doctor to see if seeping in water is required when treating themselves with horny goat weed. Typically, the herb is mixed in a tonic to decrease the risk of side effects.

Alternative medicine should not take the place of traditional medicine or be used in the place of recommendations from a doctor.

High doses of horny goat weed have been associated with breathing difficulty, vomiting, and nausea.

Side effects and interactions

As with any medication or herbal supplement, some people may experience side effects or adverse reactions when using horny goat weed. Possible side effects may include:

mood changes such as irritability and aggression
racing heart
increased energy
sweating
feelings of being hot
decreased thyroid function
nausea

It is important for people to speak to a doctor about these or any other side effects that occur with the use of horny goat weed.

Interactions

Horny goat weed may interact with certain medications that include:

cortisone
prednisone
prednisolone
methylprednisolone
dexamethasone
cytochrome P450 substrates
aromatase Inhibitors, such as anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole

People should not take horny goat weed if they:

have hormone-sensitive cancer, as the herb has been shown to promote estrogen production
have heart disease as it can potentially lead to a rapid irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and excitability
have a known sensitivity to Epimedium
are taking aromatase inhibitors such as anastrozole, exemestane, and letrozole
have been recommended not to do so by a doctor

Anyone who is considering using horny goat weed should discuss it with their doctor first. Health experts can determine if horny goat weed is right for someone and what the appropriate dosing would be.

There have not been enough studies to recommend the use of this herb and to ensure its safety.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other government agencies do not monitor the quality, purity, or safety of herbs and extra caution is recommended.

More studies are needed to guarantee safety and identify potential side effects. If anyone does purchase herbs, they should be sure to buy from a known and reputable source.

Medicinal Trees: Elder – Good Witches Homestead

Elder {Sambucus nigra}

Also, Known As:

Bourtree
Elder
Elder-berry
Elder-flower
European Elder
Pipe Tree

The plant called the elder is used to describe a bushy shrub like plant that can reach a few feet in height as shrub-like forms normally do or it may be referring to a tree reaching up to fifty feet in height – the elderberries which are borne on both types of plants range and differ markedly in the shape and taste. The flowers are usually formed in aromatic clusters of many star-shaped and white colored flowers, which can vary from bunches with flat-topped to the globular types of arrangement. When ripened, these will mature to produce berrylike and limb sagging fruits which can range in color from stark blue to an amber, and even red to a complete black – the variation in the taste of these elderberries is also markedly different.

The long and hollow stems which tend to be very straight were used by the early Native American tribes for making arrow shafts as such stems become woodier with age, such stems were particularly selected during the springtime, they were typically then left to dry with their leaves still on them to be turned into arrows. The native tribes also used the woody stems for other purposes, and they often took out the soft and poisonous pith within the stem using hot sticks, these were sometimes employed as spouts to collect maple sap and the sap of other resinous trees. Such stems were often also bored with holes and fashioned into flutes for making music. One reason, the elder is often called the “tree of music” lies in its use in this role, even though its main uses was as an herbal medication. The elder stems were also turned into animal bugles to pipe elk like sounds and some traditional native hunters still reliant on the old ways of tracking game have often used the stem to bugle elk-thus the elderberry stem whistle has often been employed to successfully lure a handsome elk buck during a hunt. The areas in which the elderberry plant is likely to grow includes very rich and moist soils, especially those soils found in heavily forested areas, the plant also grows well in the soils in rocky slopes and often prefers soils in cool ravines which are heavy in moisture. The plant is considered a native inhabitant of both hemispheres and grows mostly in the temperate and subtropical regions of the world.

The elderberry is actually a drupe which is berrylike in appearance; the elderberry consists of three to five single-seeded nut – lets or stones in the fruiting body. Traditionally, eating too many berries is believed to cause digestive problems and the traditional wisdom suggests that only a few berries can be eaten raw at any one time so as to avoid disrupting the stomach. The taste of the elderberries is not remarkable and the taste is better when they are taken along with other edible berries, raw berries are not preferred by people and in general, the berries are much better to eat in the dried or cooked form. The elderberries are used as a decongestant and in the treatment of some conditions which can induce the excessive accumulation of mucus within the lungs of the affected person. These include disorders such as common asthma, problems such as bronchitis, the common cold, diseases such as influenza. In addition, phlegm production is also induced by smoking or the inhalation of second-hand smoke. The elimination of such accumulated yellow or green mucus from the body is aided by drinking some fresh elderberry juice, particularly the juice of the red drupes – this herbal remedy is excellent for the removal of excess mucus in the respiratory passages.