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southernmermaidsgrotto · 1 year

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🌿How to harvest & dry herbs🌿

⚠️This is just my personal approach based on research, mentors and my own experience, please do your own research too ⚠️

Some general guidelines:

These are all recommended for both uses, magical and medicinal, but particularly for plant material you’ll want to give medicinal use.

Always harvest ~10 meters away from contamination sources (roads and cars, railroads, constructions, factories, etc. Even more serious stuff like landfills and heavy metals) Plants can absorb toxic chemical compounds from any these sources, so if you plan to ingest them or apply on your skin etc, avoid contamination sources. Examine your area to find where it’s safest to harvest plant material from.

Only take up to 30% of plant material, preferably less (leaves, flowers, berries, roots) this is to allow for healthy regrow.

Don’t take material with visible harm, illness or bugs, such as yellowed or bug bitten / holey leaves, etc. Educate yourself to recognize different possible bugs or parasites or plant illnesses that may affect your local flora to avoid these.

Sometimes you’ll have better results with fresh materials, you don’t always need to dry them. Know when to use what, depending on your goal and what compounds you want to extract, and how it’s best to extract them.

If you prefer fresh, you can keep fresh herbs in a vase with water for up to a week, more or less.

Clean the branches & leaves by soaking them or washing them in saltwater to scare away little critters, and dry them stem-up, making small bundles with stems fairly separated so everything is well aireated, and always away from sunlight. Do not clean with alcohol, detergent, or any other substances. Just water or salty water will do.

Roots, flowers, berries and bark can be dried in drying racks or basquets. Separate them from each other, specially flower petals, to dry them thoroughly and keep in a dark place until they’re fully dried (you’ll know if they crack when handling them and don’t feel soft anywhere anymore). For roots, bark and berries, move and rotate every so often to make sure they dry evenly, or just dry them in the oven if you’re brave! (be careful not to burn them)

Aromatic herbs should be harvested before they bloom, when you see the fully formed buds and their smell (and taste!) is strongest.

When cutting the stems, cut at an angle to allow for healthy regrow.

Always make sure you’re harvesting what you think you’re harvesting. Learn to identify plant species properly, and always, always research about lookalikes it may have, as they could be toxic or poisonous or harmful in some way. This is necessary for safety reasons.

Store everything in glass jars or paper bags, away from humidity, to prevent mold. I don’t recommend plastic bags or containers as they can more easily retain humidity but that’s me. Check on your stuff often too!! Different things will last more or less time on the shelf.

⚠️Extra reminder to always check which part of the plant is medicinal, check if any other parts could be toxic or harmful, check for dosages, contraindications, possible allergies, and possible interactions with anything else you’re taking!!!!!!!!

For specific plant parts:

Flowers: Harvest as soon as they’ve fully bloomed, during the full moon.

Berries and fruits: Harvest right after the first frost, generally in autumn. Look for deep color and tight, glowy skin. I like to harvest these under a waning moon.

Seeds and pods: Collect these when all flowers are gone, usually in late summer, under a waning moon.

Leaves: Ideally, collect these from bright green and flexible limbs, the first warm days of spring when there’s new sap and no flowers yet, but for many species you can take some leaves all year round. Under a waxing or full moon does it for me.

Bark: Harvest during the first warm days of spring, when the sap rises. You’ll find newly formed bark easier to peel off. Rather than peeling the trunk directly, cut off a branch or limb and peel it off completely, it’ll cause less harm to the tree or bush. Under a waxing moon it is.

Roots, rhizomes, tubers: Harvest after all the leaves are gone, around late autumn, but before all the good stuff stored in them is used during the winter. Under a waning or new moon.

Some superstitions:

These are more specifically for the magical properties of the plant.

Some folks say you shouldn’t harvest plant material with iron scissors or other iron tools, as iron scares away the spirit of the plant, and thus, the potency of whatever your working on will be less.

For some plants, you’ll find specific prayers, chants or charms, more or less complicated rituals, to harvest specific parts at specific dates. This is, again, for the spiritual properties rather than medicinal. I am the type to believe proper harvest makes both the work and the medicine stronger, but it’s up to you to decide how to go about harvesting certain plants considered “sacred”, and even what plants are considered “sacred” will also change depending on your own practice, culture, tradition, region and more, so do your research!

It’s common belief to not speak while you’re going to harvest the herb, and neither when coming back, as to not alert the spirit your intentions and out of respect for what it gave you or what it’s doing for you.

But while you’re there, after harvesting, let the plant spirit know why you’re in need of it’s aid and leave some kind of offering in return (again, do your own research on specific plants and their folklore, but some general things such as water, sugar or eggshells, and more traditional things like a certain number of coins, will likely work just fine)

With some plant species, particularly the poisonous kind, or some associated with the devil in folklore, you’ll likely find ways to protect yourself from the spirit’s anger upon being unearthed or cut. These range from giving praise to the spirit in the form of poems, songs, or offerings before getting to harvesting, to drawing circles in the dirt around it with holy water, a knife, or your own hand, and may even be having to cut the branches or unearth the plant in a specific manner (some say backwards, some say away from you) to prevent it from harming you. Sometimes simply carrying protective charms will do. Learn the folklore of each species you work with!

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oceanherbalist · 1 year

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Just thinking about herbalism today. Trying to get myself refocused on my purpose. This was the day I received my masters degree. Reminding myself that herbs can actually help with illness and that I have created remedies and witnessed their healing power.

#herbalmedicine #herbal remedies #herbalism #herbalist #black herbalist #witchblr

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sacredelderapothecary · 2 years

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Welcome to Sacred Elder Apothecary!!!

www.sacredelderapothecary.com

#wellness #black herbalism #black herbalist #luxury #oceancore #plantfolk #witchblr #black love

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deadassdiaspore · 1 year

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#Rest in Power #Kilindi Iyi #Black herbalist #entheogens #Black martial artist #psychoactive substances

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aerieherbal · 4 months

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End of the year readings!!!!

Aura Readings $5

3 card readings $5

Monthly reading $15

Yearly reading $25

Quick herbal consultation $25

Just send me a direct message, and I will send you the info. I accept venmo, cashapp, and PayPal. Thank you so much for sharing this platform with me! I really appreciate everyone I have connected and have yet to connect with.

Only until Jan 15th.

#witch #witchblr #herbalism #witch of color #witchy #black witch #herbalist #healing #wellness #spiritual #tarot readings #tarot reading #tarot #accurate readings

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theoceans-herbalist · 7 months

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I'm just here to say hi. It has been a while. I hope your day is filled with miracles and happiness!

#me #clean girl aesthetic #clean girl #herbalist #mama medicine #mama #black girl

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moonhedgegarden · 1 year

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Ostara is a time of renewal and new beginnings, and there are many practices you can incorporate into your celebrations.

Here are some examples:

Plant a seed: Ostara is a perfect time to plant new seeds both physically and metaphorically. Consider planting a new herb, vegetable, or flower in your garden or in a pot indoors. As you plant the seed, set your intention for what you hope to grow and manifest in your life.

Create an Ostara altar: Use the colors of the season such as pastels and spring greens, fresh flowers, and symbols of growth like eggs and seeds to create an altar that celebrates the coming of spring. Take a moment to connect with the energy of the season and set intentions for the coming months.

Make springtime crafts: Get creative with DIY crafts that celebrate the season, such as painting eggs or creating flower crowns. Use natural materials and incorporate elements of spring like flowers, leaves, and pastel colors.

Go on a nature walk: Take a walk in nature and observe the signs of spring, such as the buds on the trees and the return of migrating birds. Connect with the energy of the season and take time to reflect on what you want to grow and manifest in your life.

Have a spring cleaning ritual: Use the energy of Ostara to clear out any physical or emotional clutter. Clean your home, declutter your space, and let go of anything that no longer serves you. You can also do a ritual cleansing using herbal smoke or homemade sprays to clear negative energy.

Enjoy a spring feast: Gather with friends and family and prepare a feast using fresh seasonal ingredients. Incorporate spring herbs and vegetables like asparagus, peas, and radishes, and use light and refreshing flavors to celebrate the coming of spring.

These are just a few ideas for new Ostara practices. Remember, the most important thing is to connect with the energy of the season and set intentions for growth and renewal in your life.

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brownbutter-granolamama · 2 years

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Grandmother tree thank you for teaching us your lessons.

#herbalism #witchblr #witchy #herbalist #witch #healing #wellness #spiritual #nature #hikers #granola mama #plantfolk #black hikers #earth #granola girl

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wanderingsorcerer · 26 days

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This is all pretend, right? You're not actually doing real animal sacrifice rituals in real life, right? Like you're not living and breathing and going to work and buying coffee and driving on the road in a subaru outback just to walk into your apartment and unironically sit down to kill a mouse so you can trap a demon in a doll, right?

Like you know magic and demons are all pretend....... right?

I'm starting this off by saying I'm not white or wealthy, I share aspects of my practice online both the good ,the bad ,and academic to teach people one small aspect of magick, so instead of getting upset I'm going to attempt to educate you.

Magick isn't all crystals and Herbs, it can be messy and gross to outsiders.

Animal Sacrifice has been apart of religious practices for thousands of years, and is still routinely practiced today around the world across hundreds of countries. Even many european countries practice ritual animal Sacrifice, so while I can understand where your thought process is coming from on a moral standpoint it isn't something I'm going to allow to be disrespected.

It might seem unsightly to someone who was raised in the western continents, but this has been apart of my culture longer than the United States has been a country.

I'm Mexican and my cultural upbringing heavily influences my path as a practitioner of Magick and how I navigate the world in my day to day life.

It is an act of great care and respect when sacrificing an animal, you ask it for its permission and consider greatly why it is needed for the spell. It is then turned into a meal and shared after being cleansed of any malignant energy. You do not waste food or any part of an animal even when practicing darker Magicks, this is how I was raised.

Lastly

Even in the description for the work it was stated that it veers away from the academic aspects of magick and esotericism and leans into my personal religious practice. The spell is a mixture of brujeria and western ritual magick its going to seem off to someone who knows nothing of my practice, or where my moral compass aligns.

It also offers alternatives to sacrifice Written in the very list of ingredients

You can dislike something as much as you want, and show respect for another culture and religious practice.

I hope you come away from this having learned at least a little about being kinder to people on the internet, and not outright go into belittling others.

Much love from your friendly neighborhood Mage W.S.

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a-lonely-dunedain · 2 months

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devs please I am begging you to add brown hair for skirmish soldiers

#please I cannot get Celeair to look right as Margim's herbalist 😭#before I had his design figured out in my head I just used the black hair option but now it just looks Wrong for him #lotro

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thesorceresstemple · 1 year

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#witchy fashion #witch wardrobe #herbalist #witchy woman #sorceress #black dress

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southernmermaidsgrotto · 1 year

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A beginner guide to tea blending 🌿

⚠️This is meant to be a simple guide based on my own research and experience, by all means, educate yourself further and double check everything before proceeding!⚠️

First, define your intention or goal for this blend: what medicinal properties do you want to extract from these plants? You should know the medicinal value and effects of each plant separately before trying them out together and finding out how they interact with each other. Similarly, taste all the herbs separately before putting them together to get a better tasting blend. You’ll have to find a good balance between:

the right dosage of each herb to get their medicinal value,

the taste of said herbs to your liking,

the right dosage to avoid any possible side effects.

The herbs that cause the main desired effect should take up to 70% of the blend.

One type of effect can be based on which system you want to work in (if the herbs all have similar positive effects on immune, circulatory, digestive, or other systems, like for example calming nerves or easing digestion). The other would be a nourishing effect (if the effects on each system cancel each other and thus you’re only taking in the nutrients, like minerals and vitamins, of the herb). The first kind would all have herbs that work together towards a common goal, the second would have effects that counteract each other so you only absorb their nutrients.

Then you’ll have supporting herbs, up to your 20%, that either boost the good medicine, and/or relief possible side effects of the main herbs.

Depending on the effects each plant has on your body, you’ll want them to boost each other or counteract each other. Also take into account if it’s an overall cooling or warming effect, boosting or slowing down metabolism, if it dries or moistens the tissues with minerals and fluids, and whether it’s relaxing or constricting/toning in tissues aswell.

Last should be possible catalysts. These are optional, but recommended. That would be up to 10% of stimulant herbs that boost metabolism or enhance the overall effects of the others, to really get all the good stuff into your body.

Some good examples of catalysts are ginger root, cayenne or licorice root, but be careful with licorice as it can be toxic in high amounts!

To give you an example of how I’d put everything into practice: if my goal is to make a tea blend that’s toning, rich in minerals and vitamins and strengthens the immune system, I’d use 5 parts stinging nettle, 2 parts lemon balm (for the main effects), 2 parts thyme (supporting), and 1 part ginger root (catalyst), then sweeten to taste. Parts can be grams, teaspoons, or smaller measures, depending on how much blend you want to prepare. If you’re going to try this blend, do this exercise: research each plant, it’s medicinal value and side effects, and you’ll find out why I put them together!

Also, I personally love the taste of stinging nettle, yet someone else may prefer to use 5 parts of lemon balm and 2 parts of stinging nettle instead and get a slightly different result, more soothing to the nervous system, try it for yourself and always check for the effects and right dosages. I normally measure each part as grams, and this formula gives me around 2-3 liters of infusion, depending on how strong you make it. That is, using dry herbs, if you’re using fresh plant material you’ll need more grams. Normally 1 teaspoon of dry herb equals 1 tablespoon of fresh herb, or 1 part dried equals 3 parts fresh, but there may be slight differences between each plant depending on how much water it contains.

Finally, write everything down! The formula, how it worked for you and what it tastes like.

Thanks for reading ♡

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sacredelderapothecary · 1 year

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Because coffee really is life!

#wellness #witchblr #black herbalism #black herbalist #luxury #oceancore #plantfolk #black love #black witch #healing

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aerieherbal · 7 months

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Readings for October! 10/16-10/24

I'm doing readings for October! It has been a while! The past solar eclipse brought so much turbulence into my household, and because of that resolved some communication issues and helped improve the relationships we built. I learned so much and I want to help you learn the lessons meant for you during this time.

Offerings

3 card readings-$5

Aura readings-$5

Monthly reading-$15 (can be October for date of reading or for November)

Yearly reading- $25 ( starting from date of reading)

Quick Herbal consultation/nutrition consult-$30 (I have a Masters in herbalism & post-masters on clinical nutrition)

Instructions

1. Let me know you want a reading in my messages. It's easier incase I need more from you. I also don't like to share people's private readings. It's really not up to me to share, you know?

2. Send payment to one of these services below. I won't do your reading until I see the money, but I will let you know I recieved it and tell you you're in the queue. It's completely fine to bug me if you feel I'm taking too long. I do have 2 small babies, so sometimes I can take more time than I want, but everyone always gets their reading.

Paypal-@atribeof3sisterswell

Venmo- @aerieherbal

Cash app-$atribeof3sisters

3. Send any additional info, usually for aura readings or for 3 card readings. I usually ask if you have any specific questions or if you just want a general reading.

4. Recieve reading and hopefully enjoy!

Thank you for your patronage!!