Hey Witches, Can You Give Me Some Good Book Recommendations To Start Studying???

Not that long ago I purchased a tarot book that finally gave me the confidence to start making my own spreads and WALLA! My first ever spread! I got the inspiration from a few other’s that I have seen wandering around, but I really wanted one that was more unique to my own situation. I would also love to hear feedback, so please let me know how it worked for you! :)

Sometimes I wake up or just go about my day and suddenly an anxiety attack comes on, but I have no clue what action may have caused it. This spread helps me go through the steps of revealing what happened and how to get prevent it from happening in the future. Or at least recognizing it in the first place and be able to take the steps towards improvement. Feel free to twist up the question to your liking or expand it further. 

My Anxiety Spread - also good for ptsd & depression

How am I dealing with the situation?

What triggered the anxiety?

Why do I feel stuck/trapped?

What am I not facing/seeing?

How do I work through it?

please do not remove caption.

The Construction of the Muse Servitor

I have previously written (at length lol) about the creation of servitors, constructed-familiars, and other what-have-yous, but I wanted to touch on a more specific variety that I don't often see discussed: the muse servitor. 

Given forth by the student, the muse servitor acts as liaison to and inspiration for all things creative or scientific. It is a piece of oneself separated and fed through acts of service, giving back to its creator further insight, passion and — under the right circumstance — dauntless motivation. Are they a necessity? No, far from. But for those creatives and scholars who are, by circumstance, removed from their specialized communities and/or who struggle to motivate themselves toward artistic ends without "external" validation, the muse servitor can fill this void. Their creation can also act as a mental jumpstart on a new project, a new field of study, or be used to reinvigorate passion after a period of stagnation.

The process of creation is relatively simple but can be complicated (non-derogatory) in any number of ways at the student's preference.

To begin, gather: 

An item to embody the muse servitor — could be anything, but association is a powerful tool 

A "house" for said item where offerings will be left — it can be elaborate or not; a box, a jug, a shelf, a cabinet, even a folder on a computer

An initial offering — again, could be anything; it could be your own work (preferred) or an artifact you are utilizing to begin a project or course of study

A catalyst — most often this is the student themselves, but you could channel from almost any source: the moon, the ground, the air, color theory, the concept of relativity, etc.; get as freaky as you want with it

To complete the working:

Hold the item in hand and let your mind work. Channel from whichever medium you prefer, if you have chosen one. Let the thing take shape, applying what you must, see what sticks. You can verbalize your intentions or define the nature of the relationship if you'd like, but it isn't required. Once fully formed (by your own estimate), tie this mental/spiritual concept to the object. Again, you may voice what you are doing if you prefer. And in doing so, so is born the muse servitor: name it and place it in its "home."

Note: For those inclined toward the visual arts, this process can be done by way of practice also. For instance, you might draw, paint, sculpt, etc. a portrait of the servitor. If you have chosen to render it on a scale unbefitting a small "home," you may assign it an area by way of hanging or leaning the work against a wall, placing it on an altar, in a corner, etc. and arranging offerings around it. Writers or poets might use the written word to describe in detail the servitor's appearance and character. These collected pages may be housed as above or, as earlier stated, housed in a desktop folder

Present the initial offering. Verbalize, either mentally or aloud, what it represents. Promise to feed it when you can and ask that, should it begin to hunger, it inspire you to create, to read, to work. If you fail to meet its need, speak that it may go freely to the aether, return to the mind, or be left to its own devices.

Feed it regularly. Develop a rapport. Learn its preferences. Call to it when you need inspiration or guidance.

Et voilà!

The work is done. 

Or just beginning, rather.

I would add that "feeding" the muse servitor can be done differently or by different means beyond the one "assigned." For instance, you can do a portrait, sure, or compose a song, but you could also create a concept board or a playlist. You might also create the muse with the intention of focusing on music, but feed it drawings or readings about quantum theory instead. Work done to completion is only a part of the servitor's purview. The process is important, too. And gathering concepts, exploring alternate modes of doing and expressing, researching. Anything that feeds a well-rounded understanding also feeds the muse. And with it, the muse gives back passion and inspiration enough to continue. To keep going, keep doing, keep searching. "If not for yourself, then for me."

Happy inspiring!

✨ how to manifest ✨

hi babes, I’m back! wanted to make a quick post on my manifestation routine and some of the essential steps necessary for the law of attraction to be effective. for those of you who don’t know what the fuck I’m talking about, the loa states that our thoughts, beliefs, and intentions create our reality. there are various methods, of course, but this routine has worked beautifully for me! I’ve manifested an entire business, a dream job, $2k in 24hours, my soul family, & so much more! let’s jump into this shit! 

1. get in a high vibrational state of being! what does this mean? it means focus on eliciting positive emotions and feelings at the start of this process. when we raise our vibration, shift our mood, we’re more in alignment with what we desire. in a high vibrational state, you’ll feel bubbly, happy, and excited! do anything that you can to achieve a higher vibration! listen to music, watch some R.IP vine compilations on youtube, dance around your room, etc. do whatever the fuck you gotta do. struggling with depression or anxiety? it’s okay! this state only has to be maintained for a couple of minutes for it to be effective. 

2. set your intention! what are you trying to bring into your life? to set your intention, all you have to do is write it or speak it out loud. pro tip: instead of saying ‘I want to manifest xyz’, say ‘I am ready to receive xyz’. the word ‘want’ creates more lack and will keep you in a state of ‘wanting’. another ex: “I am manifesting my perfect partner” vs. “I am going to manifest my perfect partner. 

3. visualize your desire manifesting. this is the fun part! vividly imagine and feel what it would be like to hold the desired amount of cash in your hand. what emotions would you feel if you were given what you asked for? being able to truly envision having your desire is going to make it a reality in your mind and put you in alignment to receive it in the physical.

4. detach from the outcome. definitely the part that everyone fucking hates. it’s important to let go of any attachment and trust that the universe will deliver what it is that you’ve asked for. surrender and allow it to unfold. don’t stress about when, where, or how it will manifest. just trust that it will happen. this is the one area where most people get stuck!

5. act as if you already have what you desire. this is also a pretty fun part! how would you feel if you had everything that you wanted? probably pretty fucking fantastic. acting as if sends a message to the universe that you are ready. 

6. & finally, take action! sometimes the universe will just drop blessings right in front of us, yes, but not always. you’re probably not going to find the love of your life if you spend all day in your house. you’re not going to become a famous actress if you don’t get up and audition! the universe can do so much for us but we also need to work with it. don’t just wait around for something to happen. search and be open to receiving the opportunities that you ask for. 

THANKS, THAT’S ALL I GOT FOR YOU BBYS !! hit me up with any questions and reblog with your manifestation tips or stories! share the good vibes. 💖💖

Simple Ways To Honor Hestia

I haven’t always erred on the side of historical accuracy (I started out as a Wiccan, which essentially means that I relied a LOT on UPG experiences and less on historical accuracy), so I can’t guarantee the following are all historically correct or that you feel it’s appropriate to your own practice with Hestia.  But I thought that writing up a post about how I have honored do honor Hestia, whether historically accurate or not, might help others!  

Tea.  Best in the morning, as part of a healthy morning ritual, fire up your stove/electric tea kettle and make a cup of tea, both for you and Hestia.  If you don’t want to give a full cup of tea to her, you can always pour a little into her own cup first.  I just share whatever tea I happen to like, and I try to discard it daily with a prayer.  

Food.  I have cats, so I really don’t do this (because I don’t want my cats eating unhealthy amounts of table food), but you could set aside the first bite or portion of a meal as an offering to Hestia.  Alternatively, you could always set aside a portion, go to your altar/shrine, state that it’s an offering for her, and then refrigerate it until you’re ready to eat it.  This, I do pretty often - I even have a container that’s used solely for Hestia offerings.  I know some people feel you shouldn’t eat offerings reserved for the gods, but I don’t have the money to dedicate food in such a way; so I usually eat this as part of my breakfast, or whenever I do a daily devotional to/for her.  

Candles & Flames.  This is probably the easiest, most simple way to honor Hestia.  I find that she likes all sorts of fire - and even fire representations!  So feel free to use an electric nightlight instead of a candle, or an electric candle, or even a lamp.  Traditionally, her fire was never let out, but I just don’t feel safe (or confident) in letting fires burn - because I have cats, and if you’ve ever had a cat, you know that they like to investigate things and knock them over - and we’re on a budget, so I prefer not to leave things on 24/7.  I prefer to light a candle (if I’m at the altar saying prayers) or rely on an electric candle (if I know I need to walk away, but want her symbolic hearthfire to burn for a specified time).  

Kitchen Altar.  If it were up to me, my house would be FULL of altars just about everywhere.  One space I really love to devote to Hestia is a space in the kitchen, preferably near the stove.  I have an electric stove (it came with our apartment), so it’s not quite the same as having an open flame, but I do like to set aside a candle just for her in that space.  If a candle isn’t your thing, or you’re trying to keep things from getting too cluttered, you could always leave her an offering bowl or dish there, or anything that you feel symbolizes Hestia.  

Veiling.  Many followers of Hestia advocate veiling, and I would really suggest giving it a try!  If you’re feeling a little self-conscious about veiling, you can always just put it on as an act of devotion right before prayer, and take it off right after.  If veiling puts you off completely (it’s not for everyone), you can try using a specific clip, ribbon or scrunchie that you use to pull your hair out of your face for devotional purposes.  

Prayer Beads.  You can do this with just about any deity, but consider making your own prayer beads or purchasing a set in honor of Hestia.  As part of your daily/weekly/monthly/yearly devotions, you can meditate on this goddess, chant, or recite prayers with every bead.  It’s a great way to really feel connected to a deity, and a great memorization technique when you’re working with a new prayer.  

Fireplace.  The hearth is the traditional center of the home, and the traditional symbol of Hestia.  If you have a fireplace, fire it up!  It doesn’t have to be a daily occurrence, but it would be nice to occasionally remind Hestia how much you love her through fireplace maintenance a roaring fire.  If you rather do this outside in a fire pit, go ahead!  If your fireplace is purely decorative (or you’re otherwise not allowed to use the fireplace), try putting a candle in there and lighting it instead.  If you don’t have a fireplace, you can always pull up a crackling fireplace video on roku, or stream a video of such from youtube on your computer, laptop, tablet, TV, or phone.  It makes for a meditation session!  

Hospitality.  As the goddess of hearth and home, Hestia is a goddess who would have gone out of her way to make everyone feel warm and welcomed in her abode.  You should do the same!  The next time you have visitors, offer to take their coats, grab them a drink, and make them feel welcomed, comfortable and loved.  

Generosity.  I feel that Hestia is a generous, charitable sort who would give you the clothes off her back if you were in need.  Practice generosity; think of ways that you can help out your relatives, friends, neighbors and community.  Do you have a yearly block party or monthly potluck for your neighbors?  Why not try to start one up?  Is there someone that could really use some extra help - maybe a babysitter in the evening, a tutor for a child, a little extra help cleaning their home, or just a shoulder to lean on?  Maybe there’s a new neighbor you haven’t met yet - why not bring a batch of cookies as a gift and introduce yourself?  

Food Drives.   Lots of stores have food drive promotions (and sometimes for clothes and school supplies).  The next time you notice one of these going on, donate.  Maybe go through your house and purge what you don’t want/need and donate it.   Donating time to a food shelter or a homeless shelter are also excellent ways to honor Hestia!  

Meals.  In the old days, people would use the hearth for cooking.  Now, we have lots of contraptions that aid in cooking - blenders, stoves, grills, microwaves, etc.  Instead of ordering take out or microwaving a frozen dinner, try cooking your meal.  Dedicate the time spent preparing and cooking to Hestia - make it a devotional act!  

Prayers.  You don’t need to have a shrine or altar to pray to Hestia, and nor do you need candles, statues or a physical representation.  All you need is you and your intent.  Using things like Homeric or Orphic Hymns are perfectly fine, but so is just speaking from the heart.  

Cleaning.  Turn boring, monotonous, daily chores into an act of devotion.  Meditate on Hestia while you clean, or chant, speak prayers, or simply keep her in mind while you do your rounds.  Some like to combine the veiling technique above - put your hair up or veil while cleaning as a devotional dedication.  Don’t focus on perfection; it’s better to develop a daily cleaning routine where a little is done at a time but very frequently rather than an occasional cleaning day spent obsessively scrubbing floors and organizing.  

Family Reunions.  Have you gotten together with your family recently?  Organize a family get-together!  This can be in the form of a family game night, a movie night with you and your closest friends/relatives/significant other, or a big party for all of your relatives.  So many of us only speak to our relatives around the holidays, but Hestia emphasizes the importance of building strong family ties and keeping those bonds strong.  If getting together with family is impossible (due to transportation issues, living out of state, etc), pick up your phone and give them a ring!  

Healthy Boundaries.  If you’re like me and you struggle with having healthy boundaries between yourself and your family, you can always go to Hestia for help in this area.  You should never feel pressured to always say yes to everything people ask of you - especially if you feel unappreciated or are being taken advantage of or abused.  Hestia can help!  

Meal Planning.  A great way to make sure you spend some time with Hestia everyday of the week is through meal planning.  One day each week, every other week, or once per month (depending on how often you go grocery shopping), sit down and plan out in advance the meals you plan to cook.  You should aim for at least one home cooked meal a day, preferably breakfast, lunch and dinner (and factor in a few snacks).  The very act of meal planning can be a devotion to Hestia, and it helps you budget, make a grocery list, and keep things organized.  Plus home cooked meals are delicious!  

Budgeting.  A big part of running a househeold is dealing with budgeting issues.  You can devote the time spent on balancing checkbooks, paying bills, and going over savings and expendable income to Hestia.  

Household Notebook.  Remember the suggestion of meal planning, budgeting and cleaning?  You can utilize all this - and more - through a household notebook.  All you need is a binder and some paper - and if you have a printer with a hole punch, you can even find beautiful decorative templates to help you out!  A household notebook is basically where you keep everything you need to help run your house.  I have a section for recipes and meal planning, a section for local take out places (with menus, if possible) and their address and numbers, a section for emergency medical information (there’s even a section with receipts for every time our cats have been to the vet).  I keep lists of things that need to be done on a daily basis, weekly basis, monthly basis, and seasonal basis (which I change up as needed).  I even have a section on how to remove different kinds of stains from different surfaces, and how to clean specific things (like electronic equipment, appliances, cleaning supplies, etc).  I even keep track of the recipes I use for homemade cleaning recipes (like homemade dishwasher tabs, or glass cleaner for my eyeglasses, simple disinfectant, etc).  If you have trouble remembering birthdays, anniversaries, and annual celebrations, put it in here!  You can even go one step further and add sections to your household notebook for daily to-do lists, a prayer section for Hestia, and if you’re more along the lines of a pagan vs Hellenic reconstructionalist, you can even include things like spiritual cleaning, altar dedications, statue consecration, etc.  I’m not saying go full blown BoS with this binder, but keeping things that you use on a daily basis as part of your everyday life all in one spot is just practical and convenient.  

Seasonal Cleaning.  Everyone knows about spring cleaning, but I wholeheartedly feel that we should do a version of spring cleaning at the change of every season.  This can be a devotional act to Hestia!  

Cooking Class.  Hestia is all about hearth and home, and what better way to show your love and appreciation to yourself and to your family and friends than by learning how to cook (better)?  Any time you cook can be a dedicated act to Hestia.  

Musical Playlist.  Try putting together a list of songs that really reflect how you feel about Hestia, or put you in a Hestia-like mood.  

Domestic Bliss.  Even the time you spend bonding with your significant other and working out your issues can be considered devotional time.  Keep your home happy and filled with love by being open, communicative, and supportive of your partner.  

Relaxing Night In.  There’s nothing wrong with occasionally spending a night at home with a relaxing atmosphere, take a bubble bath, read a good book, watch a favorite movie, binge watch a neglected series on Netflix, or doing a hobby that you love.  Give yourself permission to take it easy and practice self-care!  

Dinner Parties.  Much like a family reunion, a good way to express appreciation to your friends and family is to have a dinner party.  It doesn’t have to be formal, and you don’t have to be a slave in the kitchen - what matters is that you open your heart and home to those you love.  

Prayer Book.  If you work closely with Hestia, consider starting a little prayer  book for her.  There are tons of ways to do this - you can use a diary, a binder, a pronged folder, or even try some simple bookbinding.  I’ve had great success with cutting computer paper in half, punching holes along one side, and binding it together with ribbon.  If you work with other deities, you can make a prayer book for each individual deity, or one large one for all of them.  Keep it on or near your altar/shrine for easy access!  

Cookbooks & Recipe Collections.  Another excellent devotional to Hestia!  Track the recipes you try with a cookbook or a recipe collection.  This can even be digital through sites like All Recipes or tracked through apps like Google Drive (which can be synced between your phone and computer).  

Home Remedies.  I don’t know about you, but I grew up in a household where my mother always had an aloe plant for burns and irritated skin, salt and water for gargling when I had a sore throat, orange juice and garlic when I felt under-the-weather, and fresh mint leaves for an upset stomach.  If you have holistic or natural remedy leanings, consider devoting the time spent to researching and creating homemade remedies as sacred to Hestia.  

Sewing, Knitting, Crocheting, Weaving & Embroidery.  Cottage industries involving thread has always seemed so very Hestia to me.  Learning how to properly darn a sock, sew on a button, or repair ripped seams are things that are SO valuable that extending that over to something like sewing, knitting, crocheting, weaving or embroidery only seems natural.  It’s okay if you discover you don’t like it - what matters is that you gave it a try!  

Crafts.  We’re in an trend where having crafts in the home is very much in!  Take advantage of this by looking up different crafts that you can do for your own home to save money, make it look nicer, and give it the aesthetic that fits your - and your family’s - personality.  Time spent creating these things can definitely be dedicated to Hestia.  

Interior Decorating.  Just like with crafts, interior decorating can be an exhausting process, but one that is very important.  Most of us want a warm, comforting home, and in order to have that, we need to do what we can to look - and feel - that way.  For some of us, this means investing in a fireplace and mood lighting, while others feel a puffy, comfortable couch is the way to go with a nice flat screen tv.  Others are more bohemian and rustic in their decor, while some like shabby chic touches and refurbished antiques.  Even if you’re a minimalist by nature, using the right combination of colors and accents can really give a homey, comforting feeling.  Take the time to discover your own personal style and figure out ways to translate it into your home.  Anything you do to make your home a loving, comforting environment can be a dedication to Hestia!  

Meditation steps and tips for beginners

Professional meditators always have a Zen garden: https://www.amazon.com/ICNBUYS-Japanese-Censers-Pushing-Diameter/dp/B01II9PHI4

Black Created Tarot Decks Masterpost

Dust II Onyx Tarot - Courtney Alexander

Afro Goddess Tarot & Oracle - Andrea Furtick

Afro Tarot & Oracle - Jessi Jumanji

Adinkra Ancestral Guidance cards - Simone Bresi-Ando

Akamara Tarot & Okana Oracle - Lolu

Melanade Stand Tarot - Fontaine Felisha Foxworth

The Black Gold Lenormand - Tea

Melanated Classic Tarot - Oubria Tronshaw & Julia Goolsby

If you know any deck that should be on this list, please let me know! I want to make sure that any black created decks are spotlighted!

The meaning of chart patterns in astrology

Seesaw pattern: it feels like these natives are constantly being pulled in two different directions in their lives, reflected by the planets situated on the opposing ends of the astrological wheel, forming two clusters. This may lead to feeling disoriented and/or maybe attracting situations where the natives’ real values are being called into question.

Their life is characterised by duality, sometimes expressing the energies of one planetary cluster, and other times behaving unexpectedly or in a contradictory fashion (when the energy of the other cluster is being expressed).

You may also find that you identify more with one “end” of the seesaw and have the tendency to deny/reject the other part of yourself that you find less desirable.

Relationships likely mean a great deal to you and it’s only in relationships that you feel truly complete and balanced. You may be unconsciously seeking the very same energy in other people that you deny within yourself.

It’s important: to accept that there are contradictory sides to your personality and integrate them as best as you can. Aim to achieve balance. Some people may find it weird. But this is what it means to be you. And if you learn how to properly utilise your gifts, you’ll be able to accomplish absolutely extraordinary things! Look at Robert Downey Jr. and Frank Sinatra’s charts for inspiration🫶

Bowl pattern: these people have solid values, are stable and probably have a good grasp of their weaknesses. There may be a reluctance to get out of their comfort zone and they may always feel like “something” is missing from their life (the other half of the wheel). They will be looking for that special half that makes them feel complete.

They aren’t dual or contradictory like the see-saw or splay people, but rather constant and they have specific talents and attributes that are reflected in the houses their planets fall into and.

They may not be as flexible or open to change as other patterns. They are focused, resilient and self-contained typically. There may be a need to develop certain qualities that they miss.

Depending on which side of the wheel is occupied, it manifests differently in the native’s life. If the upper half is occupied: there is more focus on external activities: social gatherings, public image etc. If the lower half of the wheel is occupied, the emphasis will be on the family, home, closer relationships, the self. If the planets fall on the right side of the wheel, the person will be easier to influence, and personal relationships will be quintessential to the native’s well-being. And finally if the planets are all on the right side of the wheel, the person will be enterprising, self-motivated and with a strong direction in their life.

Special attention should be given to the leading planet, that is to say the first one that is situated counterclockwise starting from the empty space.

Dominik Cruz and Ella Fitzgerald had this chart pattern.

Locomotive pattern: these people are independent and self-starters. They have a thinking of their own and often may feel misunderstood. Their ideas are ahead of their time usually. They can be motivational and quite stubborn. They are ambitious and steadfast people who have quite a few interests. Their focus is not as narrow as with bundle type. They are energetic people who want to improve the world around them and may feel a constant sense of “emptiness”, as though something is missing in their life.

It’s important to look at the first planet that rises clockwise starting from the empty space. It will significantly influence the native’s life.

George Washington and Isaac Newton had this chart pattern.

Bundle pattern: the native’s focus is oriented in limited, very specific areas of their life, in detriment to other important areas. They are very focused and driven people who usually become proeficient, real masters in whatever activity/job they have chosen for themselves.

There could be a tendency to be narrow-minded, rigid or unusually ignorant in areas outside of their interest range with this pattern however. Obsessive thoughts and behaviours are also possible. It’s an excellent chart type for a professional athlete, politician or car mechanic for example, depending on the houses and signs.

These people are passionate, unique, strongly hold onto their identities and are relentless when pursuing their chosen goal. They might feel like “something” is missing in their life and they need someone who teaches them to think outside the box and help them develop their weaker energies in their chart.

Harrison Ford and Sylvester Stallone had this chart pattern.

Splay pattern: these people are incredibly talented and have lots of potential. Their interests are in 3-4 areas and they may sometimes find it difficult to concentrate as their attention is quite divided. They are individualistic, inquisitive and open-minded people who have the potential to achieve great things if they “pull themselves together”. Their talents could be unrelated to one another and they may fight it hard to integrate their strengths into something concrete/tangible.

Some call this chart pattern the tripod.

These natives definitely march to the rhythm of their own drums. They are adaptable people who make interesting conversation partners.

They don’t like strict schedules or being atunci into routine for too long.

The aim should be on correctly distributing their focus so that they properly develop their talents and live up to their potential.

Franklin Roosevelt and Sandra Bullock had/have this chart pattern.

Splash pattern: these people’s talents are incredibly diverse. They are open-minded, inquisitive, curious people. They enjoy exploring different ideas, activities. The love new things and probably have lots of hobbies and interests. Choosing one career option is probably very difficult for them. They don’t like to focus on one single activity for too long, contrary to bundle pattern people. Their attention is very divided. They can be forgetful at times.

They likely have mercurial qualities and can easily adapt to almost any situation. They make very flexible people.

They can be quite confused especially during their youth or feel like they can’t find their direction in life. There is a desire for self-reflection and independence inherent within this placement. Many famous thinkers such as Carl Jung and Firjof Capra had this chart pattern.

They may have trouble focusing or be scattered due to which they never develop any of their talents deeply and fully. Their outlook on life is broad and brain-oriented.

Bucket pattern: these people are ambitious, enterprising, passionate, self-contained; they pursue their goals in a realistic fashion. It’s important to look at the planet that plays the role of the handle as it will play an important role in the natives’s life (the sign and house, major aspects).

They want to be recognised for their talents and be part of society in some way; they likely focus their attention in a single direction when trying to achieve their goals. The “handle” signifies the area of their life where they invest most of their energy or where they seek satisfaction.

They could be predisposed to conflict or do their best to avoid it.

Their challenge is learning to manage the energy of the “handle.”

Like with the bowl pattern they could at times feel like something is missing in their life.

Will Smith and Prince Charles have this chart pattern.

Getting To Know Plant Allies

photo source

Use It!

One of my teachers was very insistent that before I was allowed to study a plant, I had to get to know it first. Head knowledge is one thing, but when you are working as a herbalist you have to have more than that.

Before using any herb, even for these exercises it is important to look up contraindications for the herb. Herbs are medicinal, even in small doses. Personally I like to use this book. And remember to always tell your doctor if you are taking any herbs!

Based on the type of herb, make a decoction or infusion. Fragile herbs, usually dried leaves or flowers, are better suited to an infusion (let steep in nearly boiling water for 20 minutes). Hardier herbs such as roots can be simmered in the water for 20 minutes (decoction).

Sip slowly, taking notice of how the tea feels in your mouth. Does it trigger a salivary response? How does it taste? Anything your experience is worth taking note of. I’ve never been sad I took too many notes!

Take a bath with it. If a full bath isn’t possible, do a foot or hand bath. I was taught to start with water as close to room temp as possible. This can be a good way to determine if the herb has warming or cooling properties.

Again, make notes! Lots of them.

Get creative with how you experiment. Cook with them, use them for facial steams. Any way that you’re called to, and remember, take notes!

Study It - Materia Medica

It’s time to make your own herbal! We’re going to take our observations and start a Materia Medica. This is the term herbalists have been using since the 1st century AD, thanks to the Ancient Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides. Modern science now often uses the term pharmacology but I greatly prefer the Materia Medica.

Some witches will combine this with a Materia Magica which goes into the magical correspondences for the herbs. But this post won’t be covering that.

How each herbalist organizes the Materia Medica is going to vary, but it should hit a few key points. And, of great importance, is to track your sources! Any information that you include in your MM needs to have a citation so that you can track your info.

Latin Name

My Materia Medicas always start with the Latin name for the herb. Herbs have many, many different names. Both through history and throughout the world. The best way to ensure that you’re using the correct plant is to use the latin name. But then, after that, I make not of common names and historical names.

History/Lore

If a herb has an interesting history, or appears in folk lore I make note of that next. It can be interesting and is helpful for knowing the herb. There’s a lot of knowledge to be gleaned from old stories!

Description

If you’re inclined for either wildcrafting or foraging, a section on the cultivation and appearance of the plant.

Chemicals

Now, we get into the medicine of it. Herbs work because they contain chemical compounds. A lot (all?) of modern medicine is derived from the manufacturing of these chemicals.

Make a list of the chemicals that are found in the herb. Making note, where you can, of what these chemicals actually DO. Over time you’ll want to get to know which ones are the active ingredients and how the work. Yup, it’s science!

Herbal Actions

Actions come next. Herbal actions are a whole language to learn. But as you are putting together the Materia Medicas you’ll start to get the hang of things! An action describes the way a herb works on the body.

It can seem a bit overwhelming, so here is an example.

Bitter is an herbal action, and it is aptly named. Herbs with this action typically taste… bitter! The action that they have on the body usually starts in the mouth where it stimulates saliva production as the first step of aiding in the digestive process. (they do a lot more but we’re keeping it simple for the example).

Examples of bitters are: arugula (also called rocket), dandelion greens, and black coffee.

Here’s a very simple way to experiment yourself! Take some time to sample one of the above mentioned bitters and see how your body reacts.

Christopher Hobbs is an herbalist I respect a lot. He has a handout that he uses in his classes which lists herbal actions, indications (we’ll get into that next), and lists example herbs.

http://www.christopherhobbs.com/webdocs/class-handouts/keville-hobbs-2016/Herbal-Actions.pdf

I highly suggest printing this sheet out and keeping it handy, reading it over often. Eventually it’ll become more intuitive, but it takes time and practice.

Indications

Indications are where we want to use the herb. IE: where is the herbal action of the herb indicated? This is going to be a list of conditions that the herb in question is good for treating.

For example, Corn Silk (zea mays) is an antiseptic, demulcent and a diuretic. Because of this, it’s indicated for use with a urinary tract infection. (it’s indicated for other things too, but I’m trying to keep things fairly basic!)

The demulcent soothes the irritated skin, the diuretic helps to increase urine output, and the antiseptic of course helps to prevent the growth of harmful organisms.

Medicine

The last section of my Materia Medica deals with dosing and contraindications. 

I like to include dosing for both teas and tinctures as they are my personal favorite ways for treating people.

Contraindications means anything that counteracts with the herb. St John’s Wort is a popular one for this, as it has many. It is a highly reactive herb and can interact negatively with many drugs! 

It is very important to know how the herb interacts. People think that because herbs are natural/plants that somehow this excludes them from the realm of medicine. But the very reason that herbs are effective is because they ARE medicine!

When I am working with a client, I do my best to take a detailed history, even things they don’t think is important. But I also inform them of every herb I am giving them and encourage them to do their own research. And it’s important to be aware of your body when you are taking herbs. From the practitioner to the person taking the herb, everyone needs to do their own due diligence.

If you found this post useful, or have any comments/thoughts/etc I would love to hear it. If there is interest I can do posts on salves, tinctures, etc. And perhaps examples of my own materia medicas.

MOON PHASES

NEW MOON : Setting intentions, taking actions, moving forward, focusing in the increase, starting new ventures, exploring opportunities

WAXING CRESCENT : Redefining goals and taking first actions, consistency, gaining momentum, determination, pushing forward

FIRST QUARTER : Finding the balance between the new goals and habits, expansion, being practical, concentration on goals

WAXING GIBBOUS : Cultivating actions toward goals, improving and readjusting, intensive growth, pushing boundaries

FULL MOON : The energy of completion, gratefulness, cleansing, charging, appreciating progress, psychic work, letting go

WANING GIBBOUS : Giving thanks, decluttering, eliminating negative habits, slowing down, reevaluing goals

LAST QUARTER : Letting go, practicing forgiveness, finding time to relax, cord-cutting, get rid of unhealthy habits and addictions

WANING CRESCENT : Making room for new, rest and surrender, energizing by doing things we love, discharging the health issues