Wild Ground Phlox {April’s Full Moon} – Good Witches Homestead

Source: Wild Ground Phlox {April’s Full Moon} – Good Witches Homestead

The April full moon is also known as the Full Pink Moon, which was named for the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox, one of the earliest flowers of the spring.

pink full moon Spring has arrived, and the energy is moving into the action phase. The Moon is full with fertility, growth, planting, and it is now the time to sow new seeds (both literally, and figuratively). This is a time for earth magick, and that dealing with growth and fertility. This is a time to empower and encourage growth. Also, now is a great time to do spell work dealing with fertility, self-confidence, self-improvement, and for seeking knowledge and wisdom. It is now time to put to actions the plans made throughout winter. For gardeners, it is the time to empower seeds.

APRIL; Growing Moon (April) Also known as Hare Moon, Seed or Planting Moon, Planter’s Moon, Budding Trees Moon, Eastermonath (Eostre Month), Ostarmanoth, Pink Moon, Green Grass Moon
Nature Spirits: plant faeries
Herbs: basil, chives, dragon’s blood, geranium, thistle
Colors: crimson red, gold
Flowers: daisy, sweet pea
Scents: pine, bay, bergamot, patchouli
Stones: ruby, garnet, sard
Trees: pine, bay, hazel
Animals: bear, wolf
Birds: hawk, magpie
Deities: Kali, Hathor, Anahita, Ceres, Ishtar, Venus, Bast
Power Flow: energy into creating and producing; return balance to the nerves. Change, self-confidence, self-reliance, take advantage of opportunities. Work on temper and emotional flare-ups and selfishness.

APRIL MOON FACTS AND FOLKLORE

A full Moon in April brings frost. If the full Moon rises pale, expect rain.

On April 20, 1972, the lunar module of Apollo XVI landed on the moon with astronauts John Young and Charles Duke aboard. Thomas Mattingly remained in orbit around the moon aboard the command module.

One day later, on April 21, 1972, Apollo XVI astronauts John Young and Charles Duke drove an electric car on the surface of the moon. It’s still up there along with some expensive tools and some film that they forgot.

The period from the Full Moon through the last quarter of the Moon is the best time for killing weeds, thinning, pruning, mowing, cutting timber, and planting below-ground crops.

One of the most dramatic sights in the night sky—and inspiration for poets, artists, and lovers for millennia—full moons captivate us like nothing else.

Every month Earth’s moon goes through its phases, waning and waxing in its constant transformation from new moon to full moon and back again. Full moons occur every 29.5 days or so as the moon moves to the side of Earth directly opposite the sun, reflecting the sun’s rays off its full face and appearing as a brilliant, perfectly circular disk.

For millennia, humans have used the movement of the moon to keep track of the passing year and set schedules for hunting, planting, and harvesting. Ancient cultures the world over have given these full moons names based on the behavior of the plants, animals, or weather during that month.

January: Wolf Moon
Native Americans and medieval Europeans named January’s full moon after the howling of hungry wolves lamenting the midwinter paucity of food. Other names for this month’s full moon include old moon and ice moon.

February: Snow Moon
The typically cold, snowy weather of February in North America earned its full moon the name snow moon. Other common names include storm moon and hunger moon.

March: Worm Moon
Native Americans called this last full moon of winter the worm moon after the worm trails that would appear in the newly thawed ground. Other names include the chaste moon, death moon, crust moon (a reference to snow that would become crusty as it thawed during the day and froze at night), and sap moon, after the tapping of the maple trees.

April: Pink Moon
Northern Native Americans call April’s full moon the pink moon after a species of early blooming wildflower. In other cultures, this moon is called the sprouting grass moon, the egg moon, and the fish moon.

May: Flower Moon
May’s abundant blooms give its full moon the name flower moon in many cultures. Other names include the hare moon, the corn planting moon, and the milk moon.

June: Strawberry Moon
In North America, the harvesting of strawberries in June gives that month’s full moon its name. Europeans have dubbed it the rose moon, while other cultures named it the hot moon for the beginning of the summer heat.

July: Buck Moon
Male deer, which shed their antlers every year, begin to regrow them in July, hence the Native American name for July’s full moon. Other names include thunder moon, for the month’s many summer storms, and hay moon, after the July hay harvest.

August: Sturgeon Moon
North American fishing tribes called August’s full moon the sturgeon moon since the species was abundant during this month. It’s also been called the green corn moon, the grain moon, and the red moon for the reddish hue it often takes on in the summer haze.

September: Harvest Moon
The most familiar named moon, September’s harvest moon refers to the time of year after the autumn equinox when crops are gathered. It also refers to the moon’s particularly bright appearance and early rise, which lets farmers continue harvesting into the night. Other names include the corn moon and the barley moon.

October: Hunter’s Moon
The first moon after the harvest moon is the hunter’s moon, so named as the preferred month to hunt summer-fattened deer and fox unable to hide in now bare fields. Like the harvest moon, the hunter’s moon is also particularly bright and long in the sky, giving hunters the opportunity to stalk prey at night. Other names include the traveling moon and the dying grass moon.

November: Beaver Moon
There is disagreement over the origin of November’s beaver moon name. Some say it comes from Native Americans setting beaver traps during this month, while others say the name comes from the heavy activity of beavers building their winter dams. Another name is the frost moon.

December: Cold Moon
The coming of winter earned December’s full moon the name cold moon. Other names include the long night moon and the oak moon.

The Blue Moon
Each year, the moon completes its final cycle about 11 days before the Earth finishes its orbit around the sun. These days add up, and every two and a half years or so, there is an extra full moon, called a blue moon. The origin of the term is uncertain, and its precise definition has changed over the years. The term is commonly used today to describe the second full moon of a calendar month, but it was originally the name given to the third full moon in a season containing four full moons.

Honeysuckle {Lonicera caprifolium / Lonicera japonica} – Good Witches Homestead

Also, Known As

Honeysuckle
Jin Yin Hua

The herbal plant called the honeysuckle is a climbing plant that can grow to twelve ft – four meters – in length. The plant comes in several varieties, and some varieties are deciduous – example, the L. Capri folium variety – while some are semi-evergreen – the Asian honeysuckle or jin yin Hua, L. japonica. The plant bears oval-shaped leaves that come in pairs on the branches. The tubular shaped flowers of the plants come in a variety of colors, the yellow-orange flowers of the European variety or the yellow-white colored ones of the jin yin hua. The European honeysuckle variety bears red colored berries and while the berries of the jin yin hua variety are black in color.

The European honeysuckle or “woodbine” – the L. periclymenum to botanists – was at one time employed widely as an herbal remedy for problems like asthma, all kinds of urinary disorders, and as an aid to soothing labor pains in women giving birth. The ancient Roman writer Pliny suggested the use of the honeysuckle mixed with wine for disorders of the spleen. The variety of honeysuckle most likely to be used in herbal medicine is the “jin yin” or Chinese honeysuckle – L. japonica to botanists – rather than the woodbine. The properties of this variety of honeysuckle were recorded in the Chinese medical book called the “Tang Ben Cao,” that was written in A.D. 659. This herb remains as one of the most potent Chinese herbs used for eliminating heat and accumulated toxins from the human body.

The traditional use of the honeysuckle in European herbal medicine was as a remedy for asthma and related respiratory disorders that affected the chest. The Bach Flower Remedies lists the honeysuckle as one of the beneficial herbal plants. In this system of herbal cures, the woodbine is said to suppress feelings of nostalgia and to quell homesickness in a person. The use of the “jin yin hua” in Chinese medicine has a long history, and the herb was used as an agent to “clear heat and relieve toxicity,” besides other uses.

Plant Parts Used.

Flowers, leaves, bark.

Uses..

Contemporary herbalists in the Western world make very rare use of the honeysuckle herb. Honeysuckle was a part of the traditional herbal repertoire, and the historical uses of this plant in herbal medicine were many. Traditionally, European herbalists used to employ different parts of the honeysuckle plant for different therapeutic purposes as they believed that different parts of the herb had different remedial effects on the human body. Honeysuckle bark contains compounds that induce a diuretic effect in the body; a remedy made from the bark is used to bring relief from problems such as gout, from kidney stones, and is also used in treating liver problems of all kinds. Honeysuckle leaves have the astringent properties and are made into an infusion used as an oral gargle and general mouthwash – this remedy is excellent in alleviating sore throats and canker sores or other oral complaints. The remedies made from the flowers of the honeysuckle have an anti-spasmodic effect, this brings relief from chronic coughs and was traditionally used as a treatment for asthma and related respiratory disorders. In the Chinese system of herbal medicine, the “jin yin hua” remedy is extensively prescribed for a very wide range of diseases. Remedies made from the jin yin hua are mainly utilized in countering “hot” infectious disorders including abscesses, sores, and inflammation affecting the breasts, as well as dysentery. The remedy made from the jin yin Hua plant is also used to bring down elevated temperatures in a body wracked by fever. This remedy is also used in treating problems affecting the oral cavity.

Other medical uses.

Viral infection

Habitat..

The European honeysuckle or “woodbine” is indigenous to southern Europe and the region of the Caucasus, though plants can be seen all over Europe except in the far north. The Asian variety, the “Jin yin hua” is native to the Chinese mainland and the island of Japan – it is cultivated as an herbal plant in both countries. The usual site where both varieties of plants can be seen growing are along walls, on trees, and in hedges. Harvest of honeysuckle is usually done in the summer months, flowers and leaves are normally gathered in the summer immediately before the onset of the floral bloom. […]

The rest at the Source: Honeysuckle {Lonicera caprifolium / Lonicera japonica} – Good Witches Homestead

Angelica {Angelica archangelica} – Good Witches Homestead

Angelica {Angelica archangelica}

Also, Known As:

Amara Aromatica
American Angelica
Angelica
Archangelica
Archangelica Officinalis
Bellyache Root
European Angelica
Garden Angelica
Goutweed
Herb Of The Angels
High Angelica
Holy Ghost Plant
Holy Herb
Masterwort
Purple Angelica
Purplestem Angelica
Root Of The Holy Ghost
Wild Angelica
Wild Parsnip

angelica

Angelica (botanical name Angelica archangelica) is generally a biennial plant that grows up to a height of anything from 3.3 feet (1 m) to 8.25 feet (2.5 m). This plant may bear flowers two times in a year or for four consecutive years provided the conditions are conducive. Angelica has a tall, purple-green stem that is hollow as well as branched. The leaves of this plant are slightly triangular in shape and are joined to the stem by means of an extended petiole. The flowers appear in clusters in a white-hued terminal umbel and have a sweet, pungent aroma. Angelica bears fruits that have a light yellowish complexion and which enclose seeds that are oval-shaped. The taproot of the plant is succulent – having a brown color on the exterior and white inside. The taproot also has little auxiliary roots.

The plant derives its name from the Medieval Latin ‘herba angelica’(“angelic herb”). It has been named so as it is believed that it possesses special attributes that cure plague and poisoning. Earlier, people thought that this herb protected them from infectious diseases, counting plague, bequeath a long life, keep enchantments and evil spirits at bay and also counteracted mad dog bites. Till recently (as late as the World War I) people munched the root of angelica believing that doing so would defend them from the widespread influenza epidemic prevailing worldwide at that time.

Even today, people value angelica primarily because it has an invigorating action on our digestive system. Since the colonial era, people have candied the fragrant and fairly sweet stems of the plant for delicious treats as well as for using them to decorate pastry. The leafstalks of angelica resemble that of celery and can be consumed raw or after cooking. The seeds and roots of the plant yield essential oils that are used in manufacturing perfumes and also for adding essence to vermouth, gin, as well as a variety of sweet alcoholic drinks (liqueurs), including Chartreuse.

Plant Part Used:

The whole plant.

Health Benefits:

Angelica offers a number of health benefits and, hence, is used to treat various health conditions. This herb warms up the body and also serves as a tonic. The entire angelica plant is used to provide relief from dyspepsia, stomach pain, and gas. In addition, this herb may also prove to be helpful in treating poor blood circulation, as it augments the flow of blood to the body’s peripheral regions. It is especially considered too useful for treating Buerger’s disease, a medical condition wherein the arteries in the legs and feet are constricted. As angelica enhances the blood circulation and promotes expulsion of phlegm, it is warming as well as tonic attributes provide relief to patients suffering from bronchitis and other chest conditions that make the sufferer weak. Generally, the roots of the herb are used to treat respiratory problems. However, sometimes the stems, as well as the seeds, may also be used to treat such conditions.

CULINARY USES:

The stems, leaves, and seeds of angelica also have culinary uses.

The stem of this plant is steamed and buttered before serving it like asparagus. Sliced stems of angelica are also perfect for adding essence to roasted pork.

You may also chop the leaves of angelica and add them to rhubarb to make them sugary. In addition, the leaves of this plant are also an excellent add-on for salads, soups, herbal mixes as well as in cooking stock (bouillon) for shellfish and other fish.

You may also sweeten the tender stems of angelica and use them for garnishing desserts and cakes.

The herb can also be used to prepare a refreshing tea. Brew one teaspoonful (5 ml) of dried up herb or about three teaspoons (15 ml) of the crushed leaves of the plant in one cup (250 ml) of boiling water. Set it aside to infuse and then add lemon or honey to it for taste.

The seeds of angelica have a flavor akin to that of juniper and are occasionally used in place of actual juniper berries while making gin.

CRAFT USE

The eye-catching seed heads of the angelica are used in floral arrangements.

The Habitat of Angelica:

Angelica is native to Europe where it is found growing in damp, mountainous areas that have somewhat temperate climatic conditions. In the United States and Canada, angelica is found growing beside shaded streams as well as inside damp ditches. Often people mistake sweet flag (botanical name Acore calamus) or water hemlock (botanical name Cicuta maculata) to be angelica. However, these two species belong to different plant families.

Angelica naturally grows in damp areas. Hence, if you are cultivating this plant, ensure that the soil remains wet all through the growing season. It has a preference for a somewhat acidic soil and the suggested pH range is anything between 4.5 and 7.0. While angelica has a preference for partial shade, it can thrive in sunlight too, subject to the ground being properly mulched.

Angelica is propagated by means of its seeds, directly sown outdoors in spring immediately when the ground is prepared. In order to ensure proper germination, you should only use fresh seeds. Angelica dislikes being transplanted and, hence, you need to sow the seeds in their permanent positions outdoors.

If you are using purchased seeds, it may be necessary to refrigerate them for about four to five weeks before you sow them. In fact, seed suppliers having a good reputation will usually have seeds stored in refrigerators, so you do not need to refrigerate them again. If you are sowing the seeds during the fall, they would require the basic cold treatment throughout the winter months.

In order to germinate properly, angelica seeds need to be exposed to sunlight and, hence, cover them with a thin soil layer.

Alternately, you may also propagate angelica using its root cuttings. However, plants propagated from the seeds are regarded as superior. Maintain a space of about 0.6 m to 1 m (2 feet to 3 feet) between two plants to enable them to grow freely.

Generally, the flowering stalks of angelica emerge in the latter part of spring during the second year of the plant. If grown in areas having cooler climatic conditions, angelica will grow slowly and is unlikely to produce flowers until it has been in existence for three to four years.

Normally, the angelica plant dies soon after blossoming and producing seeds. However, getting rid of the flowering stalks prior to the seeding by the plant may possibly help it to live on for one or two more growing seasons. On the other hand, if the plants allowed seeding, they are likely to grow again on their own.

Angelica plants are vulnerable to crown rot (a fungal disease of plants marked by the rotting of the stem at the base) and also susceptible to invasion by aphids, earwigs, leaf miners and spider mites.

Constituents:

Angelica contains essential oil, valeric acid, iridoid psoralens. Seeds: furocoumarin. Roots: estrogens, tonics, organic acids, salt minerals (potassium, zinc), coumarin derivatives.

Decoction and Tincture:

Therapeutically, angelica is used in decoction and tincture forms.

Decoction: Prepare the decoction by adding one teaspoon of chopped roots of the plant to one cup (250 ml) of water and boil it for about two minutes. Remove the mixture from the heat and set it aside for about 15 minutes to infuse. For best results, take this decoction three times daily.

Tincture: The standard dosage of angelica tincture is taking it in measures of 2 ml to 5 ml three times daily. […]

Entire post at the Source: Angelica {Angelica archangelica} – Good Witches Homestead

Ginger {Zingiber officinale} – Good Witches Homestead

Ginger {Zingiber officinale}

Also, Known As:

African Ginger
Ardraka
Black Ginger
Chiang
Gan-Jiang
Ginger
Nagara
Race Ginger
Shen-Jiang
Sunthi

Zingiber officinale, the official name of the common ginger was coined by the famous eighteenth-century Swedish botanist and general naturalist, Carl Linnaeus. While Latinizing the name, Carl Linnaeus also derived the name Zingiber for the generic term, using the Indian Sanskrit name for ginger – singabera, or shaped like a horn.

About 1,400 species of plants are placed in the family Zingiberaceae and the ginger is just another of these plants. It shares equal honors with other famous family members, the spices turmeric – which is a principal component used in curry; it is also an herbal medicine – and the spice cardamom – used extensively in South Asian cuisine. The ginger has a slender stem; ginger is a perennial plant, about 24 to 39 inches in height. Compared to the second and following stems, the first stems are lengthier and also bear beautiful and fragrant flowers. The ginger flowers are greenish yellow and streaked with purple down the sides. Dark green ginger leaves are characterized by a famous midrib that is sheathed at the growing base. The seeds of the ginger appear in the rare fruiting body.

The underground stem of the ginger is the most familiar part of the plant and it is extensively used for commercial as well as domestic purposes. Often mistakenly called the root of the ginger, the irregular shape and size of the underground section of the stem is the most important part of this herb – the plant stores food reserves in this underground stem. The botanically correct term to apply to the underground stem is a rhizome, even if the ginger will probably always be associated with the term root by common people. Whole new ginger plants can self-generate from budded sections, and property of the rhizome is very different to a root, which will die if split into sections. Cultivation of the ginger has been made possible by these buds in the rhizome and the plant has been cultivated in this way for thousands of years. The habitat most suited to the cultivation of ginger are one with a hot and moist climate with some shade; ginger also prefers soil that is well tilled and rich in loam. The rhizome is white to yellow in color and bears thick lobes – it is also very aromatic, a property used in culinary and herbal processes. An unusual exception to this mild color range is one ginger variety, which has a characteristic blue ring, lying in circles inside the fleshy interior – this is one of the most prized varieties of ginger.

Today, the ginger is the most widely cultivated spice around the world. A lot of countries and regions cultivate this spice and different opinions exist as to who grows the best ginger. Any favoritism of a particular variety of ginger is purely a matter of personal taste, as the ginger appears in countless varieties, shapes, and sizes, India alone is said to have an estimated fifty varieties of this versatile herb. Depending on the conditions of the soil and the manner of its cultivation’s, each and every variety of the ginger possesses its own distinctive flavor and aroma. Africa is reputedly the home of the most pungent ginger, while the milder varieties are grown mainly in China. The general agreements are that culinary applications will likely use milder ginger varieties, while the stronger and more pungent varieties are best to prepare ginger beverages and for use in therapeutic herbal remedies.

Oral anti-coagulants are normally prescribed to individuals who suffer from frequent blood clots to help keep their blood free from clots. The compound known as warfarin sodium commonly called coumadin is one of the most frequently used medications in this regard. This compound is also a potent rat poison and taking it in high doses can cause serious internal hemorrhages in the body, especially if it is used over an extended period of time by the person. The ideal substitute for these synthetic blood thinners is ginger root, which can replace the role of this compound in the body. At least some individuals suffering from such problems who took an average of two herbal ginger capsules two times a day in between meals appears to have benefited.

Plant Parts Used:

Rhizome, root, essential oil.

Ginger Tea for Women:

ginger-tea This ginger tea is extraordinarily healing for all female organs and the intestines, as well as for stressed nerves and a sluggish metabolism. […]

The rest of the post at the Source: Ginger {Zingiber officinale} – Good Witches Homestead

Baphomet – secretsoftheserpent

By gserpent

Baphomet2

I can’t even begin to explain how bad the nonsense is on the internet about Baphomet. Baphomet is a symbol or deity that the Knights Templar were supposedly worshipping.
Those that are familiar with my work know I’m going to bring this symbol back down to earth and reveal the truth. To those that are coming to my work for the first time, I ask ”What if you are wrong about Baphomet being Satan”? After you have thought about that, press the continue reading button and we will get on with the truth.

Baphomet comes from the Greek ‘baphe metous’ and it means baptism in wisdom. With all the ridiculous nonsense about Baphomet going around, I can say we have not had a baptism in wisdom. The most ridiculous one I have seen is that Baphomet is a corruption of the name Mohammed. This is coming from modern scholars! Dan Brown came the closest in his novel, The Da Vinci Code, where he said the pentagram was a symbol of the sacred feminine. He is correct because the pentacle and pentagram are the 5 sided star that represent Venus. But Dan Brown knew exactly what he was doing when he named the girl Sophia. Sophia means wisdom. Why am I bringing the pentagram into this post of Baphomet? The goat head is the upside down pentacle.

The pentagram represents spiritual maturation. You can’t be spiritually mature without the sacred feminine. So of course this world is going to let you think that Baphomet is satan. As I have shown before, satan means opposer. Baphomet is symbolizing secret knowledge and sacred architecture. This is why the Masons use Baphomet. All the Templars were Masons and in on the secrets. Do you really think they would put George Washington in a pose of Baphomet if he was a Satan worshipper? Architecture and wisdom is what the Masons were all about at one time. Today it is just a good ol boy network with no knowledge. A pentagram usually has a circle around it. This is the first hint of the true meaning of this symbol. The star by itself represents Venus. The circle is around it whether you view it right side up, upside down or sideways. When you look at it upside down you can see the horn, ears and beard of the goat. I think this was just a coincidence that they were able to put a goat head on an inverted star. The star of Venus has been around forever. Baphomet has only been around since the 10th century.

Although it is believed that the star of Venus is from the pattern the planet Venus makes in the night sky, it has more to do with phi or the golden number. Phi is inherent in the composition of the pentacle or pentagram, but phi is everywhere in nature. The pentacle is how they are putting nature in architecture, mainly the dome. This is why there is a circle around it. The dome in architecture represents the sky, mainly the night sky. Which is the ancient Egyptian Goddess Nut. So the dome in architecture is symbolizing Nut. It is not just the dome, all ancient architecture is using sacred geometry. Math is the universal language. Figure out the measurement any civilization was using and you can read the messages they were leaving. I works the other way too. You can leave a message in math and no matter how far in the future or what language they speak, they will understand. As long as they know the measurement you are using. Stonehenge screams pi. Check out Ralph Ellis’ work to see the message(s).

Most people think they got the head of Baphomet from Pan the goat god. Goat is where we get the word god and good. The Templars did not care about Pan, so it has nothing to do with Pan. The Templars knew the secrets of the bloodline of the biblical Jesus and the biblical family . The goat head was used for the very same reason Alexander the Great wore a goat horn helmet. It has to do with Aries. The biblical family was very powerful in the time of Aries, they were defeated in the time of Pisces. This matriarch family was used to create a patriarch religion in the time of Pisces known as Christianity(See his Royal Jesus). It is why Jesus is associated with the fish(Pisces). The Templars took the star sign of a goddess and put the Aries goat in it for the symbol of historical truth. In previous work I have shown that Egyptian royal females were the Queen of the Stars. Mary, the mother, and Mary Magdalen were Egyptian. This is a major reason the catholic church wanted the Templars gone(see Friday the Thirteenth).

The full-bodied Baphomet was a 19th century invention by Eliphas Levi. He is from France, the same place as Mary Magdalen. He was in the Hermetic, the Rosicrucianism movement and he was a Mason. Levi knew exactly what he was doing when he created the full bodied Baphomet. Having Baphomet point up and down is symbolizing “as above, so below”. To see how ancient architecture is related to the stars see Graham Hancock’s Heavens Mirror. The arms bear the Latin words Solve(separate) and Coagula(join together). This is referring to the same thing the caduceus in his lap is referring to, the separating and coming together of opposite forces. Mainly masculine and feminine forces. This is also why he made Baphomet androgynous, but being a Mason he knew the true history of this earth that I showed you in Lemurian Magic. The wings are the same as the Egyptian gods with wings symbolizing non physical, abstract dynamics, intellect, spiritual, imagination and psychic. Baphomet being seated is symbolizing fixed and embodied archetypes. The legs being crossed is the alchemical symbol for things you can not change. Levi has Baphomet sitting on a cube and this symbolized the same thing as being crucified, that you are enlightened.

Now do you see why Dan Brown used Sophia in The Da Vinci Code as the bloodline of Jesus? Baphomet symbolizes baptism in wisdom. Wisdom in architecture, enlightenment and knowledge of the true history of Jesus. That is why the Templars venerated Baphomet. To the ancients the most desired possession in life was wisdom. Today the most desired possession in life is the newest cellphone. That is why they can take Baphomet and make a religion of satan. The people worshipping Baphomet are worshipping the same thing the Christians are worshipping. Both are ignorant of the true meanings and are letting other people control their lives. I’m betting the people who introduced Baphomet to satan worshippers had a huge laugh while having a drink together. No doubt it was probably wine. You just had a baptism in wisdom. If you think I’m wrong about wisdom being lost in this world, stick a Baphomet picture or statue in your house or yard and sit back and watch the reactions.

One more last thing before I go. I find it very interesting the the phi symbol (ɸ) is made by holding your finger to your mouth and saying shhhh. It is time to quit being so secretive about wisdom in this world.

Source: Baphomet – secretsoftheserpent

Finding and Working with Ancestral Traditions

The Druid's Garden

Grandpa's field Grandpa’s field

When I was a child, my grandfather took my cousins and I to a wild area we later called “Grandpa’s field.” It was a field on the edge of the forest below our houses, the edges rich with crab apples, hawthorns, beeches, and maples. Grandpa had a rusty red tractor, and we’d go into the forest riding on his lap. When we got to his field, we would park the tractor and look for wild mushrooms, wild ginseng, and other wild edibles. He would point out plants and animal tracks and teach us about the forest. After that, we would lay in the field and watch butterflies. When I was only 8 years old, Grandpa died after a hard life in the steel mills. In time, these memories faded and I didn’t remember where Grandpa’s field was. Later in my 20’s, some of my cousins came to…

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Self-Heal, Heal All {Spring Herb} – Good Witches Homestead

You’d think a plant with a name as auspicious as this one would be dramatic and imposing. Instead, it camouflages itself in your lawn. But it has been used internally and externally since at least the 2nd century in both China and Europe. Its botanical name, Prunella, derives from the German word brunella, which comes from die Braune, meaning quinsy {a throat abscess}, for which it was commonly used in the Middle Ages.

Description:

Self-heal is a creeping perennial that volunteers in moist places like woods, pastures, sub-alpine meadows, and, of course, lawns. It sends up a flexible, branching, flowering stalk that can reach 1 foot tall, with soft oval or lance-shaped leaves and beautiful pink to blue-violet flowers on spikes.

True to its name, this herb traditionally “heals all,” from simple eyestrain to whole-body inflammation.

Preparation and Dosage:

Self-heal is used as a tea, in tinctures, and as an extract in capsules and tablet form. Make a strong infusion, and drink 1 to 3 cups a day. For the tincture, use 1 to 2 droppers full of warm water or tea two to four times daily. Follow the label instructions on other products.

Healing Properties:

Self-heal is a great example of a herb that is used both in traditional Chinese and Western cultures. In Europe, the herb has been used since the Middle Ages and is mentioned in 16th-century herbals as a wound-healing herb and a gargle for diseases of the mouth and tongue.

In China, self-heal has been used since at least the 14th-century as a cleansing herb that normalizes liver enzyme output and reduces fevers. In traditional Chinese medical thinking, each internal organ associated with a sense organ, and the liver is associated with the eyes. Thus self-heal tea can be used as either a wash or a tea to help ease eyestrain, red and itchy eyes, sties, and other eye inflammation. The tea or extract can also help relieve dizziness and headaches when these symptoms are associated with a liver imbalance.

Self-heal is loaded with protective and antioxidant compounds known as phenolics, which act as antioxidants and have anti-inflammatory properties similar to the ones found in pomegranates and green tea. Since the taste is mild and refreshing, the herbal tea or extract can be used regularly as a healthy, calming drink for the liver, the skin, and the whole body.

A number of current studies show that self-heal can protect the blood vessels and has antiviral effects against influenza, herpes sores, and HIV-AIDS.

The entirety of the article at its Source: Self-Heal, Heal All {Spring Herb} – Good Witches Homestead

Yarrow {Achillea millefolium} – Good Witches Homestead

Yarrow {Achillea millefolium}

Family: Asteraceae

It’s said that, as a baby, the great Greek warrior Achilles was dipped in yarrow by his mother, to give him his superhuman strength – but that she held him by his heel. That being the only area not covered, he was of course later slain by an arrow to his Achilles’ heel,” his only weak spot. And don’t forget the medieval teaching that yarrow grew in churchyards as a reproach to the dead who need not have died had they eaten their yarrow. In China, it is believed that even the stalks are powerful; they have been historically used to cast the I Ching.

Description:

Yarrow grows as a low, spreading a mat of finely dissected, aromatic leaves that reach about 1 foot high. Umbrella-shaped clusters of tiny white flowers appear above the foliage in summer on stalks up to 2 feet high. Achillea is native to the entire northern hemisphere {North America and northern Eurasia}. If you want to grow the most potent medicine, stick to the white-flowered species and don’t choose any of the other lovely flower colors that are available in nurseries.

Preparations and Dosage:

Make an infusion by steeping 1/4 cup of the dried flowers in 2 cups of water for 20 to 30 minutes. Drink 1 cup of the tea two or three times daily. This is a mild herb, and it can be taken regularly for 2 to 3 weeks.

A traditional combination of easing fevers and other symptoms of flu is one part yarrow leaf or flower, one part elder flower, and one part peppermint leaf. Infuse the herb combination for 30 minutes and drink it throughout the day as desired.

The leaf is well known for its ability to stop bleeding when applied directly to a wound, and you can carry it dried and powdered in your first aid kit.

Healing Properties:

Yarrow tea is slightly bitter and aromatic and is a famous European remedy used to ease the symptoms of colds, flu, painful digestion, “liver stagnation” {weak bile flow} accompanied by poor fat digestion, and a feeling of fullness after meals, especially fatty ones. Laboratory studies have definitively established that yarrow has anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic {relaxing the smooth muscles found in the uterus and digestive tract}, anti-fever, and antiviral effects. As an extra bonus, yarrow seems to have a calming effect, which can help with PMS and other nervous conditions, and it stops bleeding when applied to a wound.

It turns out that there is a fair amount of variation in the chemistry and biological actions in wild yarrow populations, so we recommend growing your own from seed or from plants obtained from one of our recommended sources rather than purchasing plants from nurseries or gathering them from wild populations.

Safety:

Avoid yarrow during pregnancy and while nursing unless you are under the guidance of an experienced herbal practitioner. Allergic reactions to members of the Asteraceae family, though rare, are known in sensitive individuals. They can manifest as a skin rash {even from just handling the herb, which is more likely with the fresh plant}, digestive upset, or headaches.

In the Garden:

Yarrow is found from sea level to above the timberline in the wild, so you know it is highly adaptable. It thrives in full sun but can tolerate partial shade, loves water but can endure mild drought, is winter hardy, and spreads quickly in cultivated {or disturbed} soil. It does like poor, acidic conditions, so do not fertilize it. Let it dry out between waterings.

You can grow yarrow from seed if you sow in the fall or stratify the seed before planting. {It’s often sown directly.} But root division is another good method and can help control the plant since it has a tendency to spread.

Harvesting Yarrow:

Snip off the flower clusters when it’s in full white bloom {no color varieties, please and thank you}, and then cut the stalk all the way to the ground to encourage further blooming. You can harvest the leaf at any time of year. For drying, you can also cut long flowering stalks and use the hanging method, snipping the flowers off later. Keep the whole flower clusters intact when you store them.

Additional Information on Yarrow:

Also, Known As:

Gandana
I-chi-kao
Milfoil
Millefoil
Noble Yarrow
Nosebleed
Old Man’s Pepper
Soldier’s Woundwort
Stanchgrass
Thousand-leaf
Thousand-seal
Yarrow

See the entire article at its Source: Yarrow {Achillea millefolium} – Good Witches Homestead

Nasturtium 101 – Good Witches Homestead

Source: Nasturtium 101 – Good Witches Homestead

COMMON NAME: nasturtium
GENUS: Tropaeolum
SPECIES: T.major; T. minor
FAMILY: Tropaeolaceae
BLOOMS: summer
TYPE: annual
DESCRIPTION: Very colorful, five-petaled blossoms grow on short or trailing plants. The leaves are round and attractive. Blossom colors include red, pink, and yellow and hues in between.
CULTIVATION: Nasturtiums are very adaptable and can grow in poor soils and under drought conditions. They need well-drained soil and plenty of hot sunshine.

The genus name, Tropaeolum, is a Greek word meaning “to twine” and is descriptive of the growth habit of many species within this genus. Another possible explanation for the origin of this name is the Greek word for trophy, tropaion, for to some people the flowers looked like a Roman helmet or round shield.
T. minor, first found growing in Mexico and Peru, has been in cultivation since the middle of the sixteenth century. Nicolas Monardes, a physician from Seville who wrote the first herbal about New World plants {Joyfull Newes Out of the Newe Founde Worlde}, introduced nasturtiums to England in 1574. He called them Flowers of Blood, a translation of their Spanish name. Because of the tartness of the leaves, the English called this new plant Indian cress. Its larger cousin, the T. major, was not introduced to the garden until over a hundred years later. Other common names included canary flower, yellow larkspur, and lark’s heel.
The name nasturtium is from Latin words meaning “nose twister.”
Pickled-nasturtium-seeds-recipe-Poor-Mans-Capers-Decorators-Notebook-blog-5 Nasturtiums have been used extensively for their taste and medicinal value. Sailors took barrels of pickled seeds on long voyages and ate them to combat scurvy. The pickled seeds were eaten like capers. Eating nasturtium blossoms was said to soften the muscles, or keep them from getting stiff. Oil from the seeds was rubbed on the body after exercising for this same purpose.
Eating nasturtiums are still popular today. The leaves can be eaten raw in salads, and the blossoms serve as colorful holders for dips or sandwich fillers.

To make Stuffed Nasturtiums, mix together 8 ounces of cream cheese, one small can of drained crushed pineapple, and 1/4 cup of chopped pecans {or walnuts}.
Form this mixture into small balls and carefully stuff each ball into a large, firm nasturtium blossom.

Nasturtium Cordial

Nasturtium cordial is a stunning and refreshing summer drink when diluted with sparkling water and can also be used as a syrup for flavoring cocktails etc.

200grms of organic caster sugar

225ml of water

50 nasturtium flowers

large sprig of lemon thyme or lemon verbena (a small piece of finely chopped ginger is also a great addition)

a squeeze of lemon juice

Pop all the ingredients (except the lemon juice) into a pan and gently bring to the boil stirring until all the sugar is dissolved. Cover, take off the heat and allow to sit for until completely cold and then strain out the flowers and herbs.

Decanted into a clean sterile bottle and the cordial will keep for up to two weeks in the fridge.

Happy Eostre – secretsoftheserpent

Source: Happy Eostre – secretsoftheserpent

Eostre(Ostara) is a time to celebrate the vernal equinox. A time when both day and night are equal. A time to celebrate the goddess giving birth. The Holly King is reborn; when Eostre, the Goddess of spring appears in the vines as the ultimate representative of fertility, to present the Eostre egg. It is said that her symbol is a rabbit, an image perceived from the moon and it is the Eostre bunny. It is thought that our Easter celebration comes from Eostre, but she like all goddess come from one special lady in Egypt.

Pagans are right when they say that everything in Christianity was stolen from them, but it was pagan Egypt. What most pagans don’t realize is most of their customs come from Egypt too. If you have followed my work, you know that Egypt was the beginning of it all after the war of the gods. When people left Egypt, whether they were forced out or just left freely, they took all the customs with them. Everything came out of Egypt.

Eostre is a version of Isis. Isis is where we get Easter. In Egyptian Isis is Ast or Est, from which we get Ester or Easter and it refers to the stars or heaven. The hieroglyph for Isis has an egg in it. This is where we get the Easter egg. Isis was a fertility goddess and she was the Queen of Heaven. Where does the easter bunny fit in to all this? Besides being an obvious symbol of fertility the hare was a big symbol in Egypt too. Our ol buddy Osiris, husband of Isis, was sometimes called Un-nefer, and portrayed with the head of a hare. Un-nefer is translated as “the good being” or “beautiful renewl”. The hare in Egypt had to do with Lunar worship, so we are taken back to Thoth once more(See God(s) post). One thing I found very interesting is that Thoth is the god of writing in Egypt. In the Mayan belief it was a hare deity that was the god of writing. The hare in Egypt also had to do with creative energy. If you have read my Magic post, you know sexual and creative energy or the same. That is what the hare is pointing to in certain texts.

Now that you know where this pagan holiday comes from, celebrate Eostre with an abundant array of spring flowers. In the pagan tradition colored eggs, charged as talismans, are given as presents; curative fires are lit at dawn; seeds are planted for new crops, and homes are spring cleaned. Hot cross buns are baked which tells me this pagan celebration is about 2000 years old or is a Pisces custom. Hot crossed buns is purely a Virgo celebration and Virgo is the opposite sign of Pisces. The opposite sign was just as important to the ancients. Baskets are woven to celebrate birds making their nests. On a side note, Eostre(Ostara) is where we get the name for the female hormone oestrogen or estrogen.

Happy Eostre/Isis day!