Catnip - Magical Uses

just showing off my two favorite cuttings i’ve been growing this summer ☀️🌱

pothos ‘njoy (3 months of rooting)

philodendron brasil (4 months of rooting)

The Elements and their correspondences

E A R T H

Earth represents strength, grounding, prosperity, the material, wealth, success, foundations, death and rebirth. Focus on this element if the goal of your spell is about fertility, prosperity, business or stability. Earth spells may take longer to work, but they’re also more firm and are good if you’re looking for long-term solutions.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Winter DIRECTION: North HOUR: Night

COLOURS: Green, Brown, Black ANIMALS: Bears, Deers, Wolves, Badgers HERBS/PLANTS: Ivy, Ash, Vetiver, Wheats, Oats INSTRUMENTS: Drums (Percussion instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Taurus, Virgo, Capricorn STONES/GEMS: Jade, Onyx, Emerald, Salt RITUAL TOOLS: Stones, Dirt, Bones, Pentacle, Salt, Crystals  RITUAL FORMS: Burying, Planting, Imprinting to soil or sand TAROT SUIT: Pentacles

A I R

Air represents intellect and the mind, wisdom, knowledge; logic as well as abstract thought, intuition and higher consciousness. If you’re seeking freedom, travels, or to enhance your memory and focus - focus on Air spells! Air is whimsical and amiable, personally I haven’t found it useful for more serious spells, but it does wonders for my studies. 

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Spring DIRECTION: East HOUR: Dawn

COLOURS: Yellow, White, Sky Blue, Pastels ANIMALS: Birds, Spiders, Butterflies HERBS/PLANTS: Lavender, Birch, Vervain, Dill, Aspen INSTRUMENTS: Flute (Wind instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Gemini, Libra, Aquarius STONES/GEMS: Amethyst, Opal, Alexandrite, Beryl RITUAL TOOLS: Incense, Wand RITUAL FORMS: Fanning, Tossing into air, Suspending in a high place  TAROT SUIT: Swords

F I R E

Fire represents energy, passion, purification, love, inspiration, desire, will, courage, power, leadership, sexuality. In spellcraft, focusing on Fire is good for purification, healing and love spells; it’s the best element for quick, strong spells. Although, Fire is fierce in essence, and Fire spells are susceptible - they should be well thought out.

GENDER: Masculine SEASON: Summer DIRECTION: South HOUR: Noon

COLOURS: Red, Orange, Gold ANIMALS: Snakes, Lions, Horses HERBS/PLANTS: Cacti, Cinnamon, Pepper, Basil INSTRUMENTS: Guitar (Stringed instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Aries, Leo, Sagittarius STONES/GEMS: Amber, Citrine, Ruby, Tiger’s Eye RITUAL TOOLS: Athame, Candles RITUAL FORMS: Burning, Smouldering, Heating TAROT SUIT: Wands

W A T E R

Water represents purification as well; though it’s focused more on the soul and the subconscious rather than the physical, material world. Water stands for emotion, intuition, wisdom, eternal movement, reflection, lunar energy. Focusing on the Water element is good for psychic abilities, getting in tune with your inner self, mysteries, friendships, love, dreams and sleep.

GENDER: Feminine SEASON: Autumn DIRECTION: West HOUR: Dusk

COLOURS: Blue, Indigo, Silver ANIMALS: Otters, Fish, Sea Mammals, Frogs HERBS/PLANTS: Lotus, Water Lilies, Aloe, Gardenia INSTRUMENTS: Cymbal, Bell (Resonant instruments)

STAR SIGNS: Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces STONES/GEMS: Moonstone, Aquamarine, Pearl RITUAL TOOLS: Cauldrons, Chalices, Seashells RITUAL FORMS: Diluting, Placing into water, washing away, bathing TAROT SUIT: Cups

Mesquite: The Tree of Life of the South West

"I could ask for no better monument over my grave than a good mesquite tree, its roots down deep like those of peace who belong to the soil, its hardy branches, leaves, and fruit holding memories of the soil..." J. Frank Dobie, Texas Writer

Overview

The name mesquite derives from the Hispansized word 'mizquitl'.

There are more than 40 species of mesquite trees found worldwide, at least 90 percent of which grow in Latin America, principally Argentina and Chile. Although mesquite also thrives in other arid regions such as those in Southwest North America, Africa, the Middle East, Tunisia, Algeria, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Burma, Hawaii, West Indies, Russia, Puerto Rico, and Australia.

The tree itself comes in a variety of sizes depending on rain fall. Locations with higher rain fall note mesquite trees ranging from 40-50ft in height with a spread of nearly 40 feet or more. The branches are sparsely covered in thin feathery leaves with 2inch thorns growing at the base of the leaf joints.

This blog will mostly focus on Latin America; specifically in the Southwest Us and Texas.

There are seven varieties that cover one-third of the state of Texas or 56 million of the 167.5 million acres of land from the Rio Grande to the Panhandle, across central and north Texas and into much of west texas. Of all the US states 76 percent of mesquite wood grows in Texas. Mesquite grows in all regions of the state except the deep East Piney Woods.

Out of the seven varieties, the post will mostly reference Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa a.k.a "Honey Mesquite".

Map of the American South West and Latin america showing the range of Mesquite tree growth.

Native Tribes: Resource and Myth

Description reads: Salt River Reservation, Pima Agency Arizona, two Maricopa men(sitting) and Mojave Man in full aboriginal dress. 1880

Mesquite was such an omnipresent and nutritious resource and a central part of life itself that many tribes such as the Walapai, Apache, Papago, and Maricopa honored mesquite within their language and mythology.

Mesquite beans were the food staples for many of the South West Native American tribes. Through out the United states they gathered millions of pounds annually. In cases of food shortages, mesquite beans were often the only food source.

Much of the plant material such as fiber, thorns, sap, and roots were used in the making of many goods. The fibers were used for making of textiles and baskets. The

The creation myth of the Maricopa states that the Maricopa, Pima, and Yavapai -after death of their maker- scattered over the land and gathered mesquite beans. An Apache myth recounts how the sun and moon consulted with one another and formed the mesquite tree then hung beans upon its branches. The death of the Coyote myth of the Pima tells of Mesquite surviving the Great Flood and of how the coyote ate so many beans that they swelled in his stomach.

The Mesquite was an extremely important resource and was used frequently as an amenity of trade between the Apache tribe and the Pima tribe. When food plants failed during time of drought the Pima would travel long expeditions to trade goods with the Apache for beans and bean flour. With it, the Pima made dough and cooked it as round cakes. Certain tribes such as Pima and Opata also fermented bean flour water creating a bean beer called Atole and has a mildly intoxicating quality.

The gum, or sap, of the tree was used as adhesive to mend broken pottery as well as dye clay before the heating process. The gum when mixed with mud was used in several tribes spiritual and courtship rituals.

Both leaves and gum of the Mesquite is known by the tribes to carry healing powers and medicinal properties.

The Yaqui community in particular honor mesquite as one of two plants to have supernatural powers beyond most other plants. However of the two, only Mesquite grows in the sacred territory of the Yaqui and is said to have powers to detect and vanquish witchcraft especially if the wood is cut into a shape of a cross. One Yaqui myth tells of a "talking stick" made from mesquite wood which foretold death to all people baptized as christian.

Anglo-Texan History

Image of Mesquite Texas, 1890 showing piles of mesquite branches and horse drawn wagons containing grain or beans.

Historians believed that the mesquite was orginally limited to extreme South Texas and spread north only after the Civil War when cattle drives became frequent. Cattle would eat mesquite beans when grass was not plentiful.

Early Texas settlers facored the mesquite wood because not only was it plentiful but it also resisted rotting. Before commercial barbed wire came to texas in the 1870s, ranchers built sturdy corrals from mesquite-log picket fences. Travelers also fashioned hubs for wagons, wagon spokes, and small boat ribs from mesquite.

During the civil war, when coffee was scarce, Texans made ersatz coffee from roasted and ground mesquite beans. Honey made from mesquite flowers was especially prized. In the absence of pins, settlers substituted mesquite thorns.

In the 1869 Dr. John E. Park of Sequin patented under the no. 51,407 on December 5 for the use of mesquite bark in tanning leather. In the article from 1870 Texas Almanac, he included information on the superiority of the use of Mesquite in tanning leather. For, mesquite was found to be richest in Tannic Acid (a substance used for tanning) and worked exceptionally faster than previous methods because the acid penetrated the hide faster. Fast enough to seldom lose hide to decomposition. This allowed for tanning to be done in summer months, a process usually done in winter.

Medicinal Uses

*Note: not a replacement for modern day regulated medications and treatments.*

Aztecs made a lotion from ground mesquite leaves to treat sore eyes.

The Yuma tribe treated venereal diseases with an infusion of leaves and sap.

Comanches chewed on leaves to relieve toothaches.

The Yaqui Tribe treated headaches with a poultice made from mashing leaves to a pulp, mixing with water, and binding the mixture to the forehead.

The light-amber gum or sap that oozed from mesauite bark was mixed with water and gargled to treat sore throats, or swallowed to treat diarrhea, aid in digestion, and help wounds heal.

The Yavapai rubbed a mixture of mud and mesquite gum into their hair to simultaneously dye it and treat lice.

Modern Uses

Although ranchers still try to annihilate mesquite due to injury of livestock and cowhands, a dedicated group of texans cant get enough of it. They are mostly artisans who value mesquite for its beauty, the ease with which it can be worked, and the high sheen of finished pieces. Some even prize its irregularities.

Mesquite has a swirling grain, radial cracks, mineral deposits in the bark, and often many insect holes. Mesquite is dimensionally stable: as most hardwoods dry they shrink more in one direction than they do the other while mesquite shrinks the same percentage in both directions. It has a surface hardness of 2,336 pounds per squared inch, equal to that of hickory and almost twice that of oak and maple; and a density of 45 pounds per foot greater than oak, maple, pecan, and hickory.

Modern Spiritual interpertations:

Harmonizing qualities

Accessing the willingness to cross the wasteland of "dark night of the soul" to find deep spiritual richness within yourself and others

Comfortably connecting with others from a place of compassion and warmth

Standing inside a circle of love

Self blessing

Forgiveness

Possible use for Mesquite in imbalances

Emotional remoteness

Aloofness

Allowing others to see a coolness that actually covers an inner warmth

Feeling as is there is a barren wasteland or spiritual desolation within self.

Feeling separated and remote from others or self.

Personal Suggestion on craft Use*

*Disclaimer: subject to error and not a replacement for actual medications; allergy notice: mesquite is part of the legume family. Research trees and plants in area before ingesting random plants. Watch out for use of pesticides in public places. I do Not recommend diy fermentation. I do not support appropriating native tribes' traditions and rites unless explicitly permitted to by said tribe, do NOT trespass on Sacred Lands for resources it may be possible to purchase sacred mesquite from the tribes. Do Not vandalize sacred grounds or public trees. BE RESPECTFUL.*

Mesquite is tasty. Use wood for rich Smokey flavor on barbequed meats and vegtables.

Make tea from leaves

The beans are said to taste sweet and contain 30 percent sugar trace. Eat beans raw, roasted, dried, or ground into a flour.

Use water diluted sap to treat rashes. (Unless allergic.)

Use diluted sap in hair as you would oils.

Burn leaves and wood to smoke cleanse.

Hang mesquite cross to avert hexes or harmful craft.

I recommend buying from South Western Tribes and other mesquite artisans for bobbles and other wooden figures. Otherwise, source your mesquite in an earth friendly manner by sustainable means and only take what you need.

Information Sources:

"The Magnificent Mesquite" book by Ken E. Rogers

Texasalmanac.com

Desert-alchemy.com

Local Texans

Picture Sources: Google and pinterest

Divination: Effective Questions

Moving forward

What is holding me back?

What can I learn from the past?

What am I ignoring?

What is my biggest block at the moment?

How can I overcome x?

What do I need to know/see/understand right now?

What do I need to focus on?

What do I need more of in my life?

What do I need less of in my life?

What is the next step I should take to make my desire a reality?

Personal

What is trying to come forth in my life?

How can I be more powerful and effective in my life?

What is my greatest source of strength?

How can I improve my ability to x?

What talent do I have that I need to use more?

What characteristics do I need to fully embrace?

What skills and talents will best serve me?

What spiritual lesson am I trying to master right now?

How does my current path align with my spiritual purpose?

What message do my patron deity/spirit guide/angel have for me?

Love

What is blocking my self-love flow?

What should I let go to increase my self-love?

What’s my major self-love challenge?

How can I increase my ability to give love?

How can I increase my ability to receive love?

How can I improve my relationship with x?

What do I need to know about my relationship with x?

Are our paths compatible?

What should I do to attract my partner?

Is there anything in the past that’s stopping me from meeting my partner?

NOTE: Nothing is set in stone! Divination is for advice.

Herbology Lesson One

Basics need-to-knows (vocabulary and conversion)

To an outside it might seem like a mess of random herbs, crystals, and whatever other witches brews are out there, but there is a method to our witchy madness! (well… sometimes.) 

Simple Herb Conversion Chart: 

Measurements

of herbs aren’t always going to be the same / may not always suit your personal needs but that’s ok because magic (and maybe a little science) Measurements of herbs can vary between Parts / Drops / or Millilitres. If your needs aren’t met from the chart below, it also provides an example on how to find the answer you’re looking for: 

~ 1 mL - 20 drops  ~ 5 mL - 1 TSP or 100 drops ~ 30 mL - 1 Fluid Ounce ~ 1,000 mL - 1 Liter

Basic Plant Terminology: 

Vocabulary

is an important part of witch craft too. Although, let’s be real, Hermoine could be a little

much

at times, the gal undeniably knew her stuff! These are some basic plant vocabulary words to hopefully help bring the words you’re reading from Gibberish back to English: 

~ Annual - Plant with one life cycle

~ Biannual - Plant that flowers, then seeds, then dies

~ Bulb - Storage organ for underground 

~ Deciduous - Tree or Shrub that loses it’s leaves annually (at the end of the season)

~ Dormant - Alive but inactive

~ Evergreen - Foliage stays on year round and sheds it’s leaves at intervals (through out the year)

~ Hardy - Tolerant year round climate in an area (IE: Hardy in Zones 1-3)

~ Perennial - Plant that has more than one life span

~ Rhizomes - Roots

~ Root - The plant stems below the ground

~ Taproot - A thick main root system

~ Umbel - Flat topped or rounded flower cluster from the flower’s central point

~ Whole Plant - The plant above the ground

~ Whorl - Three or more leaved flowers from the stem at the same level (3 encircling flowers)

Sure-Fire Ways to Master Your Intuition

1) Scry Half Asleep

Go to a quiet place, and dim the lights.

Close your eyes and ask your higher power a question.

Pay attention to what you see. Names… numbers… faces… dates.

Once the visions stop, open your eyes and note them down.

After a few days, see if and how they manifested.

I once saw an old clock and heard the word “Praha”. I ended up being sent to Prague on a fully paid trip unexpectedly.

At first, your visions will mean nothing. They will be shallow. A McDonald’s signage… A TV commercial… This is your intuition warming up. Soon enough, it will be sprinting. As long as you keep going.

2) Designate People to Tarot

To a beginner, the characters in tarot can feel out of reach and intimidating. Bring them down to earth.

Does Strength remind you of your mother? Is she calm and fearless in the face of danger?

Does The Fool remind you of Harry Potter? Is he young and untrained, but rich in nerve and courage?

Do you see yourself in the Seven of Pentacles? Always planting seeds that are never quite ripe enough for harvest?

The next time you read tarot, you will not be seeing strangers, but people you know by heart. This is how your intuition can connect to the cards.

3) Record Your Dreams

Keep a journal on your nightstand.

The moment you wake up, write down what you remember. No matter how meaningless, no matter how strange.

Did you see yourself naked in public? Or late for class? Perhaps falling from a building? The theme here is fear.

Did you see a younger version of yourself? In a playground? Maybe eating a snack no longer sold today? The theme is nostalgia.

Analyze your own dreams. Research them further if you like.

This is you bridging the gap between your conscious and subconscious. This is you taming your intuition.

4) Know People’s Zodiac Signs

Be curious about your teachers’, superiors’ and peers’ astrological personality, even if only through their Sun sign.

Watch how the Air signs harmonize with Fire, yet clash with Earth and Water.

See how a Scorpio is quietly strong in her intensity, while an Aries is loud with his.

Life is complicated, and people are complex. But if you can understand their basic instincts, you will make fewer foes and more friends.

More importantly, your intuition will be able to warn if a person wishes you harm.

5) Devour Literature

For all the intricacies of life, every feeling that has ever been felt has already been recorded.

See movies. Read books. Really hear the words. Really watch the gestures.

Understanding characters is a step to understanding people, which ultimately leads to understanding yourself.

It will help you realize that your intuition is not some external being that is difficult to grasp. You will find that it and you have always been one right from the start.

🌳Walnut Tree

The walnut tree is connected to the planet Jupiter, and the Sun. It is of the fire and earth element. Its qualities are healing, fertility, love, and mental acuity.✨

🌱Carry the nuts to enhance fertility, and strengthen the heart.

🌱Wearing walnut leaves either as a crown or around a hat, is said to prevent headaches.

🌱There is a legend that in the Golden Age humans lived on acorns but the Gods lived on walnuts, hence the genus name Juglans (walnut) comes from ‘Jovis Glans,’ meaning nut of Jupiter. 

🌱If you receive a gift of walnuts, your wishes will come true. 

🌱A bride who desired to postpone childbearing would wear in her bodice as many roasted walnuts as years she wishes to avoid childbirth.

🌱There is a legend named, ‘The Witches of Benevento,’ which according to the medieval legend; beneath the famous ‘Tree of Benevento’ which is said to have been a walnut tree that stood on the banks of the Sabato River, was a place where witches from around the world gathered to perform pagan rituals. Barbatus, a Christian saint, had the walnut tree cut down in an effort to halt the pagan proceedings. Centuries later, the legend formed when reports of witches’ gatherings was circulating in Benevento. The gathering took place underneath a walnut tree that was believed to be the same tree Barbatus had cut down. The tree was rumored to re-appear on the nights of the witch’s sabbats,     

🌱The fall equinox was the time to perform the yearly ritual of gathering walnuts in their green hulls. The fresh green rinds are peeled and added to healing salves.

🌱The husks and leaves of the walnut may be infused in boiled water, cooled, and poured on plants that are plagued by worms or other insect pests.

🌱The green unripe husks are antiseptic, germicidal, vermicidal, and a parasiticide. 

🌱A wand from the wood of a walnut tree is great for spells involving astral travel, weather work, healing, and empowerment. 

made an energy jar today as i am really lacking energy to do anything this weekend. 

salt - cleansing, protection

cinnamon - success, wisdom

coffee grounds - energy

sugar - energy

red pepper flakes - energy

lavender - ease depression

bay leaf - banish drowsiness, remain active

mint - energy, vitality

rosemary - mental clarity

energy sigil - i used this one by @spooniewitches

sealed with an orange candle for energy while chanting:

“grant me energy, grant me motivation, banish my procrastination”

ko_lo_man

My wheel of the year is almost finished and I really hope I have enough skills to embroider it🤞

🕊16 days of Shadow Work

✨ Here are the prompts as I promised! They are timeless, whenever they find you, feel free to use them.

Feel free to share your thoughts with me!!

✧ Day 1 What do I need to stop running away from? Why am I always running away from this and what is going to happen if I face it head-on?

✧ Day 2 What is my definition of failure? What’s something that I have previously failed at and how did it make me feel? How can I deal with failure in a healthy way?

✧ Day 3 How do I lie to myself everyday? Why am I doing this and what am I trying to avoid?

✧ Day 4 If I could say one thing to the person who hurt me the most, what would it be and why? How would I feel afterwards? 

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