#wildcrafting | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

xnoctifers-eveningx · 1 year

Text

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼 Wild Plant Lore 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Some notes from my BOS of weeds / local plants that can be used in one's craft. Includes magickal correspondences, traditional uses (medicinal and culinary), and some of their folklore.

Disclaimer at the end !!

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Acorns- the nuts of oak trees. They're made of one seed covered by a tough shell with a cap on top. These nuts can be eaten and are turned into flour to make breads and pastas. Much about acorns are unknown as they are mainly unused in everyday life, but we do know that they contain a high fiber content which has been used to treat bloating, diarrhea, stomach pains, and other digestive issues. Because these nuts come from oak trees they’ve been a symbol of great wisdom and longevity in many cultures such as Celtic and Nordic. Many people have worn necklaces with acorn charms on them to bring protection

• Protection, prosperity, growth, wisdom

Bull nettle- Thick stock and toothed leaves with stiff prickly stinging hairs, the flowers are small, white, and covered in hispid. The seed pods are lightly coloured and cylindrical, containing ~3 seeds. Touching this plant will cause a stinging, burning, or itching sensation that will last for hours. The seeds from the seed pods are edible and taste nutty but need to be harvested with extreme care as to not sting yourself. The seeds can be roasted or ground into a "cornmeal." The root of bull nettle is edible, it's similar to a potato but tougher and the core is so tough it should be discarded.

Binding, banishing, warding, baneful (to cause pain)

Cattails- Cattails are semi-aquatic plants that consist of multiple long spiked leaves with one center spike holding a sausage-shaped head that is filled with cottony seeds. Their rhizomes can be turned into a flour with a high protein content and the shoots can be cooked and eaten. The stems and leaves can be turned into paper. A poultice from the roots can be used as an antiseptic, for burns/cuts, and to reduce inflammation. When harvesting this plant please do not overharvest, it’s a very important part of a wetland’s ecosystem ! Also, always make sure the water near the cattails is clean because cattails filter pollutants out of the water so if you plan on consuming the plant, you could also be consuming those pollutants.

Fertility, growth, prosperity, peace, water-associated magick, cleansing

Catchweed- Also known as cleavers, hitchhikers, goosegrass, or sticky weed. Catchweeds are branchy, square stems that latch onto other plants and buildings with small hooked hairs on their leaves and stems. They have tiny, star-shaped, green or white-ish flowers with four petals. They also have small burrs that contain a few seeds that are covered in hooked hairs so they can latch on to animals to disperse seeds. For those who want to risk getting pricked, catchweed is edible. Young leaves and stems can be cooked and eaten like spinach. This plant is also in the same family as coffee, meaning that you can dry and roast the seeds in their burrs to make a lower-caffeine coffee substitute and teas. Poultices have been made with the whole plant, as with tea washes from dried leaves, in many cultures for light burns, small wounds, and eczema. It has a cooling effect so it’s also used in infusions for bug bites, stings, and poison ivy.

Energy, binding, commitment, protection during travel

Chickweed- Also called chickenwort/weed, winterweed, and simply ground cover as that’s its primary use in modern society. Long stems with pointed, oval-shaped leaves and tiny white star-shaped flowers that resemble carnations. Its star-shaped flowers earned it the botanical name “Stellaria media”. Its flowers and leaves are both edible and are very popular in salads, soups, and stir-fries. It has a taste similar to sprouts that you’d use in a salad. Chickweed salves are used for skincare, poultices for poison ivy, and teas for digestion. Historically, it's been used for skin ailments like itching, dry skin, and even bruises or bug bites from a tisane/tea of the stems applied to the affected area. In European folklore, it was said to help promote a happy, balanced family and love life. This is believed to come from how chickweed grows so closely with all its stems intertwined but in a way that promotes each part to grow healthy, so it promotes everyone in a household getting along with one another while having their own sense of individuality. It’s also associated with perseverance (like most weeds I’ll admit), this is because chickweed is seen growing everywhere, in yards, in forests, on piles of dirt. If it sees an opportunity, it’ll take it and thrive year-round.

Love, stability, loyalty, communication, lunar-associated magick

Clovers- white, balled flowers with three to four small, round leaves. Every part of this plant is edible, the leaves and flowers are sweet and vanilla-y so they are good in teas and sweets. Clover has been used to ward off fevers and used in tisanes/teas for inflammation. Clover has been associated with good fortune for centuries, especially four-leaved clovers. A shamrock is a symbol of a three-leafed clover representative of the Christian Holy Trinity, it’s also believed that the Celtic druids thought shamrocks to be significant because they had three leaves possibly representing the underground, earth, and sky.

Luck, prosperity, happiness, faith

Creeping Speedwell- Teeny tiny violet/baby blue flowers with light yellow middles, it is incredibly fast-growing and can be found in most yards. Speedwell is edible and good in salads, pestos, and smoothies. Tea is made from the leaves and flowers to help clear congestion, allergies, and coughs. Some add it to their baths to help with their allergies and inflammation, inflammation is also helped by a poultice. In some folklore, it’s said that a tea or ointment from speedwell could help one with psychic visions and faerie sight. Before I truly knew the folklore behind speedwell I had this sense that it would help with your clairsenses.

Abundance, divination, psychic/clairsense work

Creeping buttercup- Buttercups are toxic and will leave blisters when raw so they must be cooked or dried before being consumed, even then it's not recommended to eat. A poultice of the (boiled) leaves is used for inflammation and wounds and a tea from the plant is used for its analgesic properties, but be wary of the blisters that may occur. Buttercups used to be used to ward off faeries, many farmers would plant these around their cows to prevent them from being stolen from the fae. There are a lot of stories relating buttercups to cows which is very very cute but ironic because buttercups are actually toxic to many animals! For its many associations with children, fairies, and coyotes across various cultures it can also be related to mischief

Youth, happiness, love, protection from fae, mischief (jinxes/hexes/glamours)

Creeping charlie- Also known as ground ivy. Creeping charlie has square stems with dark, rounded or fan-shaped, toothed leaves. It has small blue or lavender, funnel-shaped flowers that grow in clusters of two or three in the spring. Creeping charlie is edible and has a long history of being used in beer and cheese, it tastes subtly minty as it's in the mint family. Young leaves are good in salads to freshen them up and it's also really good in teas and sweets. There is a risk of it being toxic if consumed in large quantities though. For centuries now it's been used in teas to calm a cough, been said to help with headaches, and has been used on the skin to reduce pain and soothe inflammation. Some have turned it into a snuff and used it for congestion, kind of like Vaporub. It was actually brought over from Britain to the Americas for its medicinal uses, now it’s one of those weeds people will spend tons of money trying to get rid of. Alike creeping buttercup, it’s said that some may have used this to ward magick from their livestock and themselves. Some say it’s good to use to find out who has cursed you or sent the evil eye your way and in some stories, people would drink it as a tea to get rid of their shyness.

Protection from magick and spirits, divination, clarity, courage

Deadnettle- My favourite weed :) Square stem, fuzzy leaves that occasionally are red/purple at the top, with tiny tube-shaped light pink flowers. Despite technically being a nettle, it’s not a true nettle so very few people will have a reaction when touching this plant. Deadnettle is part of the mint family and every part of it is edible, despite that though it's not very minty and is floral and sweet. My favourite parts are the tiny pink flowers which have sweet nectar in them and are good in teas, syrups, sweets, and jams. The leaves are good in teas, smoothies, pestos, and salads. A poultice or salve can be made from the leaves for wounds and teas can help with allergies. This plant is sometimes called purple archangel because it pops up around the Feast of the Apparition when it was said St. Micheal appeared. It’s associated with determination because this lil dude will grow anywhere, even in spots with the worst quality soil.

happiness, determination, peace, healing

Dandelion- Dandelions are bright layered yellow flowers with toothed leaves that grow pretty much anywhere there is enough dirt to get their roots in. The entire plant is edible, the flowers are slightly sweet making them good for salads, syrups, and sweet. The leaves are slightly bitter but that can be lessened when harvested young or boiled, they're good as spinach replacements and can be dried for teas. The flowers can also be turned into dyes. The plant's name can be literally translated to 'healing herb' as it has been used in many cultures for it's gut health and detoxifying properties. Teas and tinctures from leaves are made for a diuretic and flowers are made into salves or beauty products to treat acne/eczema and to reduce inflammation. About dandelions being diuretics - the name dandelion comes from the french name dentdelion (tooth of the lion) but there’s actually a second French name, “pissenlit”, which means piss the bed !!

luck/wishes, communication, balance, courage, youth

Daisy- Daisies are low-growing flowers with thin, long, white petals and yellow disc florets (middles). Common daisies are edible, these are really found growing anywhere even in your lawn. Leaves can be used in salads or stir-fries and flower heads can be pickled or used in salads. Wines, soups, and teas are also commonly made from daisies. The flowers have a slightly bitter taste but look pretty in dishes. Daisies have been used in teas for coughs, bronchitis, and common colds. It's also been used to "stimulate the digestive system" to promote appetite. Daisies have been into lotions and other skincare products to treat rashes, eczema, and other skin issues. Daisies came to be associated with love and motherhood through it being the flower of Freya, innocence/purity through the story of Vertumnus and Belides where the flower gets its scientific name, and purity the popular phrases like “fresh/clean as daisies”.

Happiness, cleansing, love, purity (cleansing), motherhood/childbirth

Feverfew- Feverfew are daisy-like flowers with bright yellow middles and white petals, with yellow-green leaves in a feathered arrangement, that grow in small bushes together. Feverfew is edible but many will steer clear of it as it has a very bitter taste. It’s often made into teas and used in pastries. Although feverfew isn’t used to reduce fevers anymore, there are still many health benefits and medicinal uses of the plant, some people even calling it ‘medieval aspirin’. People will take feverfew pills or apply a poultice to relieve pain from arthritis and inflammation. A poultice can also be applied to minor cuts, scrapes, and bug bites. Teas can be made for headaches and some use it to help with menstrual pain. Feverfew is also known to show some skin benefits by reducing redness and inflammation. Feverfew may increase bleeding as it acts similar to an anticoagulant, because of this it is advised that if you are taking a blood thinner like aspirin, Dabigatran (Pradaxa), Heparin (Innohep), or others, you talk to your doctor before taking feverfew. This plant has more medicinal uses than references in mythology but I did find a few references to it being believed to be able to save the life of someone that had fallen from the Parthenon, a temple to Athena, which gave it the scientific name parthenium.

Healing, curse-breaking, love

Lesser celandine- Also known as pilewort or sometimes fig buttercup. Pilewort is a plant on the buttercup family that has dark, heart-shaped leaves and bright yellow flowers with glossy petals. Despite its pretty exterior, touching the plant could cause rashes or blistering especially when the plant is crushed. Ingesting the plant can cause dizziness, vomiting, and worse. While there may be ways to cook out the toxins, I cannot advise anyone to consume this plant without proper experience. This plant is also known as the spring messenger as it's one of the first plants to bloom in the spring. Lesser celandine was referenced a lot in literature, most being about love and foreshadowing happiness alike how it signals spring.

Joy, love, Spring associated magick

Maple seed pods- Maple seeds, also known as helicopters or samaras, are the seed of maple trees, as one would assume. These are winged pods consisting of a papery tissue surrounding a single seed that is usually joined together in pairs of two. The seeds are edible once the outer covering has been removed and taste better while young, becoming bitter as they mature. Some say that smaller pods taste sweeter and larger ones taste more bitter. They're good in roasts, stir-fries, and salads. They can also be dried and pounded into flour ! Much of what we know about maple seeds are simply culinary and there's not much information on their medicinal uses. The majority of the correspondences of maple seed pods come from maple trees which represent balance and longevity. They also are associated with childhood after the many many years of children playing with these helicopter-like seeds.

Longevity, growth, balance, youth

Mulberries- Mulberries come in three different colours which are red, white, and black. Different mulberries grow on different mulberry trees. Black mulberry trees have an orange-y-toned bark with toothed, heart-shaped leaves. White/red mulberry trees have a greyish bark with large, deeply lobed, oval-shaped leaves. Mulberries look very similar to blackberries but longer with each cluster of fruit containing a seed. Mulberries are edible, black ones taste the best and can be both sour and sweet and the white/red ones are duller in flavour but sweet. These are made into jams, syrups, wines, sweets, sorbets, really anything sweet and it tastes great ! These berries are more known for their culinary uses but some studies suggest that they can help reduce cholesterol and improve digestion. In Greek/Babylonian mythology, red mulberries came from white mulberries that were stained red from the deaths of the star-crossed lovers Pyramus and Thisbe which gave them the association of love and death.

Love, death, faith, wisdom

Osage oranges- Also known as horse apples or hedge apples. Osage oranges are a yellow-green fruit with a very rough and bumpy peel. These oranges grow on trees called Maclura pomifera. The wood of these trees are used for very good firewood and yellow-green dyes. The Osage natives would use the wood from the tree for many things like bows and boats as it’s very flexible. The roots of the trees are sometimes made into water infusions to help with eye conditions. People have also used the wood, or even sat out the fruit, to deter insects. Osage oranges are edible but most people, and even animals, will avoid eating them due to their dry and bitter taste. They taste like very bitter and citrus-y cucumbers. These oranges can cause skin irritation to some.

Warding, protection, strength

Pinecones- Pinecones are geometric cones that come from conifer pine trees that produce pollen or seeds depending on their sex. Pinecones symbolize fertility and life in many cultures and have been used in artwork for centuries. The pineal gland in the brain was named after pinecones because of its shape, this gland is sometimes referred to as the “third eye” and some believe that it acts as a witch’s eye would; this is how pinecones were tied to the idea of enlightenment and rebirth as well as the fact that they have been around for so long. Some conifer cones are edible (some aren't!) but they are very tough to chew so you must boil them before eating, pinecone jam has been commonly made from young cones. Pine has been used in teas, tinctures, resins, and many other things to treat coughs, allergies, and help with sinus infections.

Fertility, creativity, prosperity, enlightenment, rebirth

Prickly lettuce- a quite tall, red stem that contains latex with large tooth-shaped leaves that have prominent veins and spikes lining its edges and main vein on its underside. When it blooms it has small, pale yellow flowers. This plant is edible and is pretty much used like normal lettuce while having a slightly bitter taste, as usual, this gets less noticeable as it matures. Leaves can be eaten in salads or cooked/steamed and the root can be made into a tea. The latex substance that comes out of the leaves and stem when injured is called lactucarium which is known as lettuce opium due to its sedative and pain-relieving properties; the process of harvesting this substance is tedious. This can be used to help people sleep, relax, and relieve pain. Lettuce in general has a great amount of significant historical usage. Lettuce came to be associated with sex because an Egyptian fertility god, Min, was associated with lettuce as it was known as an aphrodisiac that was ritualistically ingested before sex. These effects were due to the lactucarium. In Hellenism, when Adonis died he was laid on a bed of lettuce along with other fast-growing plants. In festivals for him, they would burn withered lettuce and mourn his death, this related lettuce to death.

Necromancy, offerings for the deceased, fertility, sex

Queen Anne's Lace- Also known as wild carrot. A tall flowering weed with a thin, stiff stem and tiny white, clustered flowers. The flowerhead consists of a bunch of separate flowers, some plants may have a singular purple/pink flower. Queen Anne's lace's root is edible which is actually where it gets the names wild carrot and Daucus Carota, it's good steamed and boiled. It is pretty stringy and if you wait too long to harvest it can become very hard and woody. This plant is NOT safe to consume for those who are pregnant ! The stem is known to cause skin irritation and rashes to people with sensitive skin. Despite being edible, most wouldn't suggest eating it because it looks almost identical to poison hemlock which if consumed could be fatal. It also looks a ton like wild celery but that's less of an issue. Historically, the seeds of wild carrot were used as an abortant in a "morning after pill" type of way. Wild carrot was named Queen Anne's Lace after Queen Anne of England who was a great lace maker, there is a legend that when making lace one day she pricked her finger then a single drop of blood fell on it and that's why the flower has a single purple flower. Because of the association to Queen Anne, some would use it to try to attract love or make themselves look more beautiful. Wild carrot is also called bird's nest or the bishop's flower which ties it to themes of safety and sanctuary.

Beauty, love, glamours

Rosebay willowherb- Also commonly known as fireweed for its appearance or bombweed because it began to heavily grow in bomb craters/sites in WWII around the UK. The rosebay willowherb has tall reddish stems and willow-like leaves with long magenta flowers. Traditionally it's been used in teas, jellies, and salads. It has a pretty bitter taste so you need to harvest it young and cook it before eating. It's used in teas for its demulcent properties, to treat certain stomach conditions, and has been used in skincare because of its astringent properties. There’s not much folklore about this plant but it’s well known for appearing after events that devastated an area, it was one of the first plants to start growing after Mt. St. Helens, after colonizers burnt down forests, and after bombs dropped in WWII. I’ve also heard it’s bad luck to pick its flowers, either stating that a storm will occur or your mother will fall ill.

Courage, perseverance, change, bad luck

Stinging nettle- tall, heart-shaped, toothed leaves. The leaves are covered in small stinging hairs that when touched will inject chemicals into one's skin and cause slight stinging sensations. Young stinging nettle has widely been used in dishes as soaking/cooking it takes away the sting. It is very similar to spinach in taste, texture, and nutrients. Ointments are made to treat arthritis and inflammation, teas are made from dried leaves and flowers to treat allergies and hayfever. Poultices of the leaves were used for stiff joints and muscle pain by helping blood circulation in that area. Be wary of using stinging nettle on your skin as it can cause rashes and blisters. Some Native American groups used it in teas as a stomach tonic. In Celtic folklore, it was said to keep evil spirits and illness at bay, it also says that when you see thick strands of nettle it means that faeries are nearby.

Binding, protection from baneful magick and evil spirits, strength, curse breaking

Sweetgum seed pods- Also known as witch’s burrs or witch balls. Sweetgum seed pods are hard, spikey seed pods with small holes where the seeds once were. These fall from sweetgum trees after they mature and disperse their seeds. These aren’t edible nor really used for any medicinal purpose. They’re often placed around plants to protect them from animals. Magickally, you can place them around your space to ward off unwanted energies and entities or even grind them into a powder for banishing or protection. These things hurt like hell to step on so they’re also good to use in baneful protection magick, like baneful wards or return to senders.

Protection, warding, binding, baneful protection

Violet- There are many species of violets so I'm going to cover them in a broad sense. Violets are usually small, light purple flowers with short stems, little shrubbery, and heart/kidney/scalloped leaves. In many species of violet both the leaves and flowers are edible and contain high levels of vitamins A and C, but make sure to properly identify your plant before consuming. These can be made into teas, sweets, salads, etc. Violet syrup is my favourite ! Some leaves in wild violets will taste quite soapy, so try them out before cooking them into anything. Violet leaves have cooling and anti-inflammatory properties so they are used in poultices, salves, compresses, and oils for scrapes, burns, and bug bites. Violets have traditionally been used in teas or tonics for coughs and swollen lymph nodes. There is a lot of folklore and mythology that this flower is a part of. Violets are largely associated with modesty and innocence and this stems from two main stories; Persephone was said to be picking violets when Hades kidnapped her to live in the underworld and in Greek mythology when Apollo pursued a nymph, Artemis/Diana turned her into a violet to protect her. There are also stories in The Bible that associate violets with modesty like when Archangel Gabriel tells Mary she is pregnant, violets bloom around her. This is why sometimes when a child dies, violets are put on their grave as a representation of their innocence. There are many other popular stories of violets turning to tears when someone is crying. They’re also associated with love from a story of Venus and Cupid and were believed to be an aphrodisiac in the Middle Ages.

Femininity, respect, wisdom, modesty, divination, love

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊

Disclaimer !!: Before you consume or use a plant medicinally, make sure you are 100% sure on the ID. Speak with a doctor before using a plant, especially if you’re pregnant, and make sure you aren’t allergic and that it won’t interact with any of your medications. Do not substitute legitimate medications with herbal remedies, this is not medical advice. Always do your own research before consuming or using a plant medicinally. Some of the plants, while generally safe for humans, are not safe for animals and children. As a general rule of thumb, younger greens will taste better. As the plant matures and bears fruit it will typically become more bitter, so the best time to harvest most of these is before it bears fruit. Make sure to avoid areas treated with pesticides and always wash your takings before use. And make sure you're never over-harvesting, always make sure there's another 'patch' of the plant your taking !!

#herbology #witchcraft #witchblr #foraging #herbalism #green witchcraft #kitchen witch #wildcrafting #occult #magick #grimoire #book of shadows #correspondences #kitchen magick #beginner witch #baby witch #witch #witch tips #noctifer-og

3K notes · View notes

rebeccathenaturalist · 4 months

Text

The most salient point to me in all this is that he used an unnamed ID app to try to figure out what mushrooms he found because he thought "Man those look good." The app misidentified the mushrooms as edible puffballs, but in reality they were destroying angels (Amanita ocreata). One is enough to kill an adult, and this person ate four of them. He's very, very lucky to be alive.

This is far from the first time someone put their entire faith in a single app to tell them what mushroom they were looking at, and then they paid the price with their health. You're going to hear me say this again and again: never, ever, ever use an app as your only tool for identifying anything, especially if you're planning to eat it. An app can be useful in conjunction with other tools like books, websites, online foraging groups, etc. But apps are frequently wrong, and are not the easy answer many people seem to want them to be.

(Rant about foraging below the cut.)

This right here is why I spend a decent amount of time in my foraging classes trying to scare the hell out of my students. I want them to understand the risks, not just as a brief aside, but as anecdotes I've collected from the news over the years like this one. I have had more than one person say afterward "Wow, I had a really romanticized view of foraging, and now I'm going to be more careful." That's a clue to me that I've done my job.

It's why my classes are SO focused on identification skills and tools to make you a more informed and careful forager. I am not going to just spend a bunch of time showing you slides of all sorts of edible species, with a little bit of information on how to identify and collect them tucked in before or after. Yes, we do look at some beginner-friendly species near the end of the class, but if all you want to get out of a foraging class is names and pictures of edible plants or fungi, that's what field guides are for. I spend the bulk of the time doing my absolute best to make sure people are PREPARED to go out and use their observational and critical thinking skills when assessing a new-to-them species, to include making use of many different types of resource, not just a single app.

I have literally had people complain that we spent too much time on "boring" stuff, and not enough on the edible species themselves---aaaaaand I don't care. My goal is to try as hard as I can to make sure incidents like the article above don't happen in the first place, which is going to take more than a couple of hours of looking at pretty pictures of mushrooms. Sure, sometimes all you get is a night of bad indigestion, but if you get one of the really nasty species full of amatoxins, you can die. Or end up with permanent liver and/or kidney damage. Or need an organ transplant.

And yes, as I said, you will get information on some species that I think are relatively beginner-friendly because they're distinctive AND they don't have any really serious poisonous lookalikes. But puffballs aren't on that list, and this article is a perfect example of why.

#foraging #mushroom hunting #mushroom foraging #mushrooms #mushroom #fungus #fungi #shrooms #wildcrafting #wild foods #food #poisonous mushrooms #toadstools #educational #outdoors #nature

101 notes · View notes

evilbotanist · 11 months

Text

List of my all time favorite wild edibles:

Wood sorrel-- This stuff is la crème de la crème. It tastes like green apple and you can just munch on the whole plant as a snack (but don't eat too much bc it can make ur stomach hurt if u eat a ton)

Purslane-- This plant is very literally everywhere, as in growing out of sidewalk cracks, and has a great taste- like mild lemon. It is also really good for you and has a crunchy texture that I super love. Its pretty easy to identify, but you've got the wrong plant if its sap is milky white.

Acorns-- You've absolutely got to leach out the tannins in these, but once you have you can make pretty much anything. I would recommend acorn flour, but if you are adventurous you could make acorn jelly!

Ground Ivy-- This plant has a strong and pleasant taste, and is really good made into a tea. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for a snack, but if that's what you like I wont stop you!

Cattail-- Obviously I cant make a list of my favorite wild edibles without including the one and only cattail. All of it is edible (though I wouldn't eat the forbidden hotdog--it's forbidden for a reason) and my favorite way to eat it is to take the immature flower head, which is the forbidden hotdog before it becomes brown, and roast it over a fire. It tastes a bit like corn.

River Grape-- This mostly applies to all species of wild grape, but River Grape is the kind growing in my area. The berries are a bit tart to eat a ton, but you could probably make a mean pastry with them. But the real gold lies in the leaves, which can be crisped like kale chips or turned into fabulous stuffed grape leaves. Sometimes I just eat them straight off the vine. They are just slightly tart.

Wintergreen-- It is always a treat when I find wintergreen growing on the forest floor, especially if its the time of year that it fruits. The taste is strong, like wintergreen gum, and the berries taste the same but milder.

Autumn Olive-- This plant is invasive in my area, so I don't have to feel bad about devastating the bush whenever I find one. The berries are sour, but in a good way, and sometimes they can be just a bit astringent but it depends on the bush. They don't taste at all like olives so I really don't know where they got the name but if you run into this plant you absolutely cannot pass up the opportunity to try it.

And those are my favorites, folks! As always remember to be 100% sure when you identify a plant, and don't harvest from places that might be polluted by pesticides or or other pollutants.

#plants #nature #edible plants #wild edibles #goblincore #cottagecore #naturecore #foraging #wildcrafting

124 notes · View notes

sidewalkchemistry · 11 months

Text

Harvesting / Wildcrafting Calender

Herbal Wisdom by Brittany Wood Nickerson

Illustrations by Chelsea Granger

#g #wildcrafting #foraging #ethical consumption #herbalism #herbarium #plant witch #green witch #solarpunk

97 notes · View notes

breelandwalker · 18 hours

Note

hi, i'm currently potted plant witching as well (just planted my first crop of veggie/herb/flower seeds & got some more containers & soil today for more planting this weekend) and i would love to know more about your garden this year; would you be willing to outline your plans? any special herbs or projects? Thanks!! <3 love your blog!

🌿🌿🌿 HYPERFIXATION ACTIVATED. 🌿🌿🌿

OH I HAVE SO MANY PLANS, LET ME TELL YOU.

This is the first year that Ragnar and I are doing actual work and sweat equity with the yard at our new place. Last year things were just too chaotic and we didn't have the time or the energy to do much of anything. We trimmed occasionally and I harvest some wild plants, but that was about it.

This year, it's Go Time.

Last weekend, I finally busted out the gorgeous barrel pots we got for Christmas and spent my April market earnings on potting soil, garden tools, and seedlings. When we lived in the apartment, I had a pretty hefty window garden with herbs and flowers and a few vegetables, so I'm eager to recreate that in an outdoor space where the plants can really thrive. (I mean, I grew cherry tomatoes and three kinds of peppers in 10" pots indoors and they got pretty big, so I can only imagine being outdoors will go even better with fresh air and rain and pollinators.)

The potted garden has Napoli tomatoes, poblano and cayenne peppers, green sage, and rosemary, along with something I've never tried growing before - blueberries! I'm planning to add additional pots and more herbs later on, but I felt like this was a really good start. If I can manage it, I want to grow a huge planter of nothing but spinach and sweet basil so I can make pesto this summer.

We've also started clearing and tilling a space out in the yard proper for a raised-bed garden. Nothing too big or ambitious, just something we can try some larger veggies in. We're hoping to try the Three Sisters model with hybrid corn, snap peas, green beans, and kabocha pumpkins. I was also hoping to put in napa cabbage, but there are quite a lot of slugs in the yard when it rains, so perhaps not. I'm toying with the idea of planting some late crops for fall and winter harvests as well. I have sugarplum visions of strings of peppers and braids of garlic hanging in our kitchen with many jars of preserves and sauce in the pantry.

We might also try some other fruits if things go well, maybe raspberries or grapes, but that's more of a Next Summer project. The fence and the ground around it needs some work first and we don't want to overdo things the first year. (I'd really love to put in a little serviceberry tree, but that might be pushing things a bit with regard to space.)

There's also a side garden that's in need of some TLC where I'm vaguely tossing around the idea of climbing flower vines (clematis or morning glory or trumpet flower maybe? something local) and maybe some ground cover in the form of periwinkle. There's also a downspout that really needs a rain barrel, so that's next on the list.

There are sections of the yard that we've deliberately left wild as well, hoping to encourage native plants and pollinators. The clover patches are massive and produce lots of four-leafers and blossoms, so the bees are having a field day. There's also wild dogbane sprouting up now that the vetchweed is cleared and wild plantain (aka white man's foot) starting to come in along the walkway. If I have my druthers, I'll be planting more wildflowers this summer.

Have some pictures and tell me about your garden!

#girlhalfburning #gardens #gardening #plants #green witchcraft #wildcrafting #Bree answers your inquiries #life and times of a cottage witch

19 notes · View notes

vargamormusings · 1 year

Text

I made a little wearable basket out of mulberry bark, dandelion stems, and stinging nettle fibers, and I thought I'd show you how I did it~

#cottagecore #pagan #forestcore #basket making #wildcrafting #foraged #goblincore

21 notes · View notes

queer-forager · 11 days

Text

I made some floral fairy jellies today 💖❤️

Violet & Common Hibiscus Jelly 🌸

Roselle Hibiscus Jelly 🌺

#floral jelly #violet #hibiscus #violet jelly #hibiscus jelly #alihartforages #foraging #wild edibles #wild foods #wildcrafting #alihartwrites

3 notes · View notes

itzayahuatlmermaid · 6 months

Text

~ About Me ~

Hi, welcome to my intro post! I had another acc that had been doing well about a year ago, but I lost my login info! Anyways, here are the basics about me!

I currently go by the name Ev on this blog, which is an abbreviation of my full name! <3 I used to go by the name Mētzli on here, but I now know that my ancestors would have spoken some form of Coahuiltecan language, and not Nahuatl, from which that name was derived

I'm located in South Texas, in occupied Carrizo/Comecrudo territory. My paternal ancestry is native to the area, descended from nomadic Coahuiltecan peoples, and my maternal lineage descends from Denmark

I'm an artist! My entire life, I've always loved to express myself and create 💗 I'm a classically trained soprano, though I haven't done much singing lately. I've been in studio dance all my life and am considering minoring in dance! I also perform in plays and musicals! These past 4 years or so, I've discovered and have been cultivating my passions for creating intentional jewelry pieces made with themes and materials that honor the ecology and spiritual connections within the Tamaulipecan environment, in which I am rooted. I also make candles, do embroidery, work with air dry clay, etc. In this time, I have also learned, and am still learning to read tarot for myself and others!

I'm an herbalist and wildcrafter! I've also been pursuing and educating myself in these passions the past 4 years. I especially love to work with herbal medicine attributed female reproductive health! I also particularly love familiarizing myself with plants indigenous to my area that have been and still are used as food and medicine by native peoples <3

I'm very interested in spirituality and can describe myself as an eclectic witch! My spiritual practices and beliefs include those of traditional Latiné and native practices, lunar rituals and manifestation, candle work, cartomancy (tarot and oracle cards), sigils, self-love and glamour rituals, working with oceanic energies, and more!

I'm a student at a univ in South Tx, majoring in Environmental Science! I really want to go into fields like conservation and protection, reforestation, and ecology, so I can do anything I can to help preserve the ecosystems I live in and love 💗 I'm currently taking Gen. Physics (which has been tough, as math is NOT my strong suit), and History 1. I'm not entirely sure what I plan to take next semester yet, but I know I'll definitely be taking Intro to Enviro Science 1!

~ I know this was a pretty long post, but my others will be of my art, herbal and spiritual practices, my academic work, etc. !

7 notes · View notes

etxfolkmystic · 8 months

Text

Today and the last few days, I've been working on harvesting and pressing some foliage and flowers. I really love these yellow flowers, which I believe are black-eyed susans. I took stuff with me on my walk today to pick up some trash at the shoreline of the lake, brought along some offering, and tools to harvest and store stuff until I got home. When I saw these two flowers were being used, they both became out of bounds for harvest, so I left them.

I think it's important for folks who maybe only forage for their craft or for making things and who are more casual about it to learn some basic tenants of wildcrafting your Craft/craft.

I've sorta been building my own rules for what materials are acceptable to bring home when I'm out and about on walks or whatever.

1: If possible, don't harvest or collect something the first day you see it.

This rule is in place for me as a reminder that I'm not the animal who gets first dibs on what I see in nature. My impact is much much bigger than any other animal who would use it if I leave it, so i try to leave it for at least 24 hours, if not longer.

2: Half at most, around 1/3 or less is best.

If I'm going to be harvesting to make something, I try to let it be a long-term project so that I can take as little as possible at one time. Out of a dozen flowers, I'd take 6 at most, but probably 3 or 4 from the one place I found them. If I'm walking and find another plant that has 8 of the flowers, at most I'll have 1 or 2 go home with me.

Again, as a human, my impact is bigger, and also, I'm not as reliant on these resources for survival as our bug friends are or the local wildlife. I'm making a tool or an art project, my life isn't depending on the thing being done like their lives depend on these things being available to them.

3: Acknowledge what you're doing (ask, offering, etc).

Ultimately, I'm taking something from its natural habitat, and maybe even snipping it off something, I always try to acknowledge what I'm doing. If I can give something beneficial, I will. However, just that moment of mindfulness allows me to at least maintain a healthier relationship with the world me.

These all come back to acknowledging my place within the world around me as I forage, I'm not viewing the world as something I can harvest from without a direct impact to the wildlife and ecosystem.

I even do this for rocks or abandoned shells on the shoreline. Because I'm sure nature could use the shells I've harvested in some beneficial way, even if just a pitstop for a bug, I acknowledge that.

Granted, there's more happening behind the scenes too. I've walked this path to the shoreline in the neighborhood almost daily since June 1st of this year (I can count on one hand how many times I've not walked/not seen the shoreline). I've talked to the spirits that inhabit the little bits I forage from, and blah blah blah. But, even if the spirits of place and nature spirits aren't a part of your practice, still consider the physical repercussions on the ecosystem when you forage for items for witchcraft purposes or just crafting purposes.

#folk witch #witchcraft #folk mystic #hellenic polythiest #my practice #witchythings #witchblr #witches of tumblr #witch community #wildcrafting #foraging #spiritual morals #spiritual ethics #take care of this planet #please

9 notes · View notes

xnoctifers-eveningx · 9 months

Text

𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊Wild Plant Lore P.2 𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Some more notes from my herbology journal of wild plants and weeds that you can utilize in your practice. Includes mundane uses like culinary, medicinal properties, folklore/cultural importance, and magical associations. This post does contain poisonous/toxic plants that can be fatal if ingested, I'm not suggesting anyone inexperienced or experienced do anything with them, do your own research on how to handle them if you plan on using them in any way. They're interesting to learn about nevertheless.

Disclaimer at the end !!

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Yarrow- Also known as common yarrow, bloodwort, herba militaris, or Achillea Millefolium. Yarrow is a woody plant with small, round, white flowers and frilly, feather-like leaves surrounding the stems. This plant looks very similar to hemlock which is very poisonous but you can tell the difference by yarrow’s distinctive leaves. Yarrow is edible and can be eaten raw, it tastes pretty bitty and earthy so it’s best to pick while young. It’s most commonly used in salads and soups. Yarrow has a rich medicinal and magical history. It used to be called herba militaris, the military herb, because of its astringent properties. Its Latin name, Achillea Millefolium, comes from the Iliad where Achilles and his soldiers use yarrow during battle. Poultices and ointments made from its leaves are used to aid in lessening swelling and bleeding. Do not consume yarrow if you are on blood thinners or pregnant/lactating, this plant has a chance of causing miscarriages. People are commonly allergic to this plant so please be wary of this and test it before consuming, skin allergic reactions are the most common. Yarrow is also commonly used to treat stomach ailments like constipation, nausea, diarrhea, and IBS symptoms. The plant contains flavonoids that increase saliva and stomach acid to help improve digestion. It's also been used for menstrual pains and stomach aches as it can help relax the uterus and intestinal muscles. Some Native American nations have used yarrow for toothaches, earaches, and eyewashes through poultices and liquid infusions. There's no end to the magic of yarrow, there are so many different charms, divinatory practices, and spells that use yarrow in cultures worldwide. Many cultures have used it to keep away curses and evil magic, they would place it on their doorsteps to ward off evil spirits and keep witches away, or in cribs to protect babies and mothers. “When going on a journey, pull ten stalks of yarrow, keep nine, and throw the tenth away (as a spirit’s tithe), put the nine under the right heel, and evil spirits will have no power over you”.

It’s often been used in divination and psychic senses. In Ireland, it’s thought to be able to give someone ‘the second sense’ and it’s used in a lot of divinatory prayers and charms, usually to do with finding love. It’s also sometimes said that standing on the plant would give one temporary fluency of speech. There is a ceremony of some Gaelic speakers where they had to recite an incantation (the one below this block of text) before harvesting the plant as it was held to high importance. In Chinese belief, it’s thought to bring good luck and the dried stalks are sometimes used in I Ching divination.

“I will pluck the yarrow fair That more benign will be my face, That more warm shall be my lips, That more chaste shall be my speech, Be my speech the beams of the sun, Be my lips the sap of the strawberry. May I be an isle in the sea, May I be a hill on the shore, May I be a star in the waning of the moon, May I be a staff to the weak. Wound can I every man, Wound can no man me.”

It’s widely used in love divination, sometimes people would put it under their pillows at night and say the rhyme below before bed. Sometimes they would pick yarrow from a young man's grave and whoever the girl saw in her dream would be hers. In some beliefs, if the man was turned to her then they’d never marry.

“Yarrow, yarrow, yarrow, I bid thee good morrow, And tell me before tomorrow, Who my true love shall be.”

Girls in Aberdeen would go out in fields on a May morning to pick yarrow while reciting the chant below with their eyes closed, then open their eyes and the first man she spied would be hers that year. There are a lot of little incantations and charms like this for yarrow you can find online if you’re curious !!

“Good morrow, good morrow, To thee, braw yarrow, And thrice good morrow to thee; I pray thee tell me today or tomorrow Who is my true love to be.”

Alternatively, in some European beliefs, it was thought to be associated with the devil, being called devil’s nettle or “bad man’s plaything” due to the belief that witches used it in divination and devil worship. Elspeth Reoch was accused of being a witch in 1616 because she was caught picking supposed yarrow. In Wales, it was considered extremely unlucky to bring into the home and even supposedly called the “death flower” in some places.

⛧ Divination, love, protection from curses, witchcraft, and spirits. But also bad luck, curses, and death in some cultures

Datura- Also called devil’s trumpets, jimsonweed, and devil’s snare. Datura is a genus of 9 species, all of which are poisonous. Datura is a large, branchy herb that forms bushes. It has light green or reddish stems with long, toothed leaves and white or light violet, trumpet-shaped flowers. While the plant may look pretty but it’s very toxic and can be deadly. All parts of the plant are inedible and if ingested it causes a hefty amount of psychoactive and deliriant symptoms like erratic behaviour, hallucinations, tachycardia, heat flashes/hyperthermia, and a variety of other not-so-pleasant symptoms including death. While this plant is psychoactive it’s not a good idea to try to use it recreationally as the symptoms can last up to two days with reports of it lasting for as long as 2 weeks. There have been multiple reports of deaths from people attempting to get a high out of datura and even when “successful” the majority of people report having extremely unpleasant experiences. Datura is also often called Jimsonweed which comes from another name, Jamestown weed, which refers to when English soldiers were attempting to suppress Bacon’s rebellion in Jamestown and consumed boiled datura which left them in altered mental states and ill for 11 days. Because of how dangerous this plant is, there aren’t any real suggested medicinal uses for it. Datura has been used in many cultures for ritual and ceremonial practices due to its psychoactive effects. Many Native American nations used it in very specific ways to aid in their ceremonial practices alongside other sacred herbs. The name datura is taken from the Hindi word धतूरा, dhatūra, meaning thorn apple (in reference to Datura metel, a datura species native to Asia). Datura plays a role in Hinduism as datura is considered a favourite plant of Shiva. Datura also has a long history in witchcraft and the occult, it’s long been associated with witches and magic due to its psychoactive effects. Throughout many cultures, its been used to help connect with deities and spirits, aid in necromancy, healing rituals, and used in flying ointments and curses. In modern-day practice, datura is still fairly commonly used to promote psychic powers and aid in visions, astral projection, divination, and spirit communication. Additionally, likely due to its history of being used as a poison, it’s often used in curses.

⛧ Psychic senses, spirit communication, astral projection, curses

Lily of The Valley- Also known as glovewort, May bells, Our Lady’s Tears, and Convallaria majalis. Lily of the Valley is a flowering plant made up of one thin stalk that has two thick, long, swirling leaves. The downturned white, bell-shaped flowers droop to one side and are often accompanied by small red berries. These plants are often found in woodland areas and bloom in the Spring. Lily of the Valley is not edible and if ingested can be fatal. The entire plant is poisonous and can cause irregular heartbeats, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain if consumed. If touched, it can cause dermatitis and skin reactions so always wash your hands after handling it or use gloves. Despite that, the plant has been used in a lot of folk medicines. It’s often called glovewort in Europe as it was used in salves for sore hands and oils from the rhizome were used to promote heart health. There have been no studies done to verify its effectiveness and it’s often unsafe to consume and touch so it’s not recommended to try to use it medicinally. Although it’s poisonous, it has a very strong and sweet-smelling fragrance that many perfumes have recreated. Lilies of the Valley are often seen at weddings, celebrations, and sometimes funerals. In the Language of Flowers, Lily of the Valley signifies the return of happiness, likely originating from its place as the flower of Spring and May. On May 1st, May Day or Lily of the Valley Day is celebrated by giving the flowers to loved ones to bring happiness and luck. It’s sometimes called Apollinaris from the Greek myth that Apollo made paths of it on Mount Parnassus so his 9 nymph muses could walk through the forests unharmed. In Christianity, it’s sometimes referred to as Our Lady’s Tears or Mary’s Tears from the story saying that as Mary wept at the foot of the cross after Jesus’s crucifixion, these flowers popped up wherever her tears fell. Because of this, it’s often associated with Easter and motherhood. In Romanian culture, it also represents tears with a similar story of a girl crying at the grave of her parents and her tears causing the flowers to sprout wherever the tears fell. Unfortunately, I couldn’t find much about this story beyond a brief mention though. Because of the bell shape of the flowers, there are stories of faeries ringing the bells, drinking out of them like cups, and being attracted to gardens where they grow. Lily of the Valley can be used to promote happiness, help calm the mind, and attract fae. Additionally, the poisonous berries and flowers are sometimes used in baneful and protective spellwork to stop harassment (calm chaos/harm) and protect against spells and malicious entities.

⛧ Happiness, love, motherhood, purity/humility, Spring, prosperity, faeries. Grief, death, and baneful protection in some beliefs

Mugwort- Also known as common mugwort, mother of all herbs, the witch’s herb, and Artemisia vulgaris. This is a very common flowering plant that’s a part of the daisy family. Mugwort can oftentimes be found in the wild, it has leaves that are hairless and green on top, silvery-white on the bottom, with pointed tips and purple stems. Mugwort can often be mistaken for Ragweed or Wormwood but the best way to tell them apart is that Mugwort has leaves that are hairless on top with silvery fibers on the bottom. It’s very aromatic and smells a bit like sage and rosemary. Mugwort’s leaves, young shoots, and roots are edible, though avoid consuming it in large amounts as it can be poisonous and it’s not safe to consume if you are pregnant (can restart the menstrual cycle and cause miscarriage) or on blood thinners so please talk to a doctor before using. It has a slightly bitter and floral taste, the young shoots and leaves can be cooked, and the leaves and roots can be dried and made into tea. Commonly used with meats, soups, or teas. Historically, this plant has been used for centuries for its medicinal properties with many uses to soothe stomach and digestion issues like constipation, diarrhea, nausea, and cramping. It was held so important that it was given the name mother of herbs. Huge warning for this plant though, there is a high chance that you could be allergic to it or for it to cause negative side effects like allergic reactions, nausea, shaking, hallucinations, dizziness, and seizures. This is a plant that you need to take caution around and do your own research for, as beneficial as it can be, it can be just as harmful. Avoid heavily concentrated oils of mugwort too as they may include high levels of thujone which can cause seizures, the raw plant contains little enough for this to be considered a safe plant to generally consume, this can also be absorbed through the skin. In many cultures, the plant is smoked or drank in teas. Essential oils of mugwort have also been used in insect repellents and traditionally root tinctures have been used for anxiety, irregular menstrual cycles, menopause symptoms, aid in childbirth, seizures, and epilepsy.

Mugwort is a pretty prominent plant in many cultures around the world and is very commonly used in magic. Its botanical Latin name is Artemisia Vulgaris, Artemisia comes from the goddess Artemis who is a god associated with the moon, motherhood, and childbirth which ties into the lore of mugwort. Mugwort teas are often used to promote lucid dreaming, astral projection, and heightened intuition. It’s commonly used in flying ointments, psychic teas, and incense. Mugwort also offers some protection against evil and illness, St. John the Baptist was said to carry springs with him to ward off evil and before that. In many European cultures there are Midsummer rituals where it was thrown into fires to offer protection to ward off witches, evil spirits, and illness. In a lot of cultures, mugwort is used to open the doors between the spirit realm and ours, many people use it for prophetic dreams or to connect with ancestors. Sprigs of mugwort were placed over doorways to keep away evil spirits and illness and satchels of the herb are commonly placed near beds or under pillows to induce lucid dreaming, prophetic dreams, and astral projection. In modern practice, it’s very commonly used to promote lucid dreams and astral projection by drinking it in teas or lighting incense. As well as used to aid in divination and spirit communication. Truly the witch’s herb :)

⛧ Lucid dreaming, astral work, clairsenses/psychic work, lunar associated, motherhood/womanhood, divination, ancestor/spirit work, protection from bad health, evil spirits, and nightmares

Purslane- also called pigweed, hogweed, and Portulaca oleracea. Purslane resembles a jade plant with a thick, succulent red stem and smooth succulent leaves. It’s a very low-growing plant that tends to spread outward from its center. Purslane’s leaves, stems, and flowers are edible. It tastes tart and slightly salty, similar to spinach or watercress. You shouldn’t consume it if you are prone to kidney or urinary tract stones as it contains oxalic acid. Purslane is often used in salads, soups, smoothies, and commonly even omelets. It’s considered to be a superfood but that’s generally an arbitrary term, it is a very nutritious plant nevertheless as it contains a lot of antioxidants and Omega 3 acids. Purslane is used medicinally on small wounds and burns to aid in wound health. It’s used in skincare for its anti-inflammatory properties and to reduce the visibility of wrinkles and scars. Purslane may have a cooling effect so people have used it for fevers. There are a lot of different medical uses attributed to purslane but not much scientific proof validating the claims so I won’t really go into those very much but it was often used to cure toothaches and soothe the kidneys and liver, some would call it a cure-all plant. Some will use it to help with their diabetes as it may help reduce blood pressure. Purslane was used widely as a medicinal herb and was thought to drive away illness if worn. It was considered a protective herb in many cultures, many would place it around their homes, beds, and under pillows to ward against illness, evil spirits, and magic. When researching purslane I found a lot of mentions of an old German herbal book from 1715 by Axtelmeier that said

“Even though purslane is cold and moist, it is a real summer plant and does not like the cold. There is a saying that in marriage it is always good when two different temperaments join together. The good Lord alone knows what is best and for that reason sometimes two very different personalities join together in marriage”.

I couldn’t find for the life of me the actual work it was from but there are many mentions of this passage online. There are also some references to people having worn purslane to protect themselves from gunshots, lightning, and illness. Purslane is also said to help aid in clairvoyance, scrying, and astral projection, perhaps because of its association with the moon.

⛧ Harmony, marriage, clairvoyance, astral projection, protection from spirits, illness, and harm

St. John’s Wort- Also known as perforate St. John’s wort (SJW) and Hypericum perforatum, not to be confused with mugwort. A woody flowering shrub with bright yellow, five-petalled leaves, each with a small black dot on the edge that can be seen when held up to light. It has dark green leaves which also often have those same small black, although sometimes transparent, dots. While SJW is not really regarded as being poisonous, it’s not ingestible so it’s not recommended to eat it. It’s not technically edible or not edible, the flowers and fruit are used medicinally but that’s usually the extent of consumption. If you do eat it, you may experience an upset stomach, headaches, confusion, trouble sleeping, fatigue, dizziness, sensitivity to sunlight, and increased anxiety. There aren’t many culinary uses for it, most of this will be about its medicinal uses. SJW has been used medicinally for a very, very long time, both in historical and modern-day use. This plant is usually consumed through teas, liquid extracts, and (more recently) pills made from the flowers. It’s said to taste slightly bitter but similar to black tea though is often times paired with other herbs. Historically, the Greeks used to use it to aid in wound healing, treat anxiety and aid in sleep. Some Native American nations also used it for wound healing, it has some antibacterial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory properties which make it good to treat minor burns, abrasions, and bruises, this is usually done through the use of an infused oil. In Europe, it was also used to treat minor wounds and burns along with lung and kidney ailments and to treat anxiety and depression. SJW has been used to help with anxiety and depression in many different cultures and more recently there have been studies done to prove that it can help, in fact, it’s been shown to be as effective as some common antidepressants for mild and severe depression. It’s also still commonly used as a sleep aid. Do not take SJW if you’re on medications treating HIV/AIDS, or pregnant as it can very likely cause a miscarriage.

In Europe, where it originates, it was used often for its protective properties — people would hang it over their doorways to ward off demons, faeries, evil spirits, and even storms. Some would wear SJW to keep away witches and witchcraft and it was said to offer the most protection if it was accidentally found. The Greeks also used SJW to exorcise evil spirits and energies. It was heavily believed to offer good health and protection from death, making it quite the protective herb. Though, there is a story saying that if you step on the plant after dark a phantom horse/faery would kidnap you and drop you off somewhere far from where you started. During Christian Europe, it was associated with St. John the Baptist because it bloomed around when his canonical birthday was, it was also used to celebrate the Summer Solstice around the same time. Some Christians believed that the spots on the plant only appeared after the beheading of the Saint and that it represents his blood. Many would also put SJW under their pillow as they slept as they believed that the Saint would come to them in their dreams and offer them blessings and protection. In a German poem, there is a story of a young girl using this plant to divine who she will marry, its association with divination/fortune telling is a very common one being found in a lot of European folklore where people ask how long they’ll live or who they’ll marry. This was usually done by asking a question, leaving it hanging from the rafters overnight, and if it was wilted it would be a negative outcome. Modernly, SJW is still widely in use for very similar things like protection, healing, and divination.

⛧ Happiness, tranquility, Solar associated, protection from witchcraft, spirits, and storms, warding off evil spirits, fae, and negative energies

Wood Sorrel- Wood sorrels are members of the Oxalis genus, many being known by the common name wood sorrel. They’re characterized by 3 leaflets very similar to shamrocks and flowers with 5 petals that are typically either yellow, white, pink, or red. Some varieties have 4 leaves or purple leaves. The fruit is a small capsule that holds seeds that ‘explode’ to disperse them. They look very similar to creeping buttercups and sometimes can be mistaken as clover. Wood sorrel has been eaten by many people throughout history, they taste slightly like lemons and are sour, causing it to sometimes be referred to as sourgrass. If you like the taste you can dry and boil the leaves to make a lemony tea or add them fresh to salads. The juices of the plant have sometimes been used as a vinegar substitute or aid in curdling milk.

The name Oxalis comes from the Greek word oxús meaning sharp or pungent, referring to the sour taste. All members of the Oxalis genus contain oxalic acid, named after the genus, which gives the leaves that bitter taste. While safe to consume, in large doses it can be dangerous and cause skin and stomach irritation. With prolonged skin exposure, it can cause skin irritation and eye damage if in contact. With very large doses, it can be slightly toxic and interfere with proper digestion and kidney functions, and inhibit calcium absorption. So, Oxalis is safe for the most part but should be avoided if you have kidney diseases or are pregnant.

Oxalis has been used medicinally for a long time. It contains a lot of Vitamin C so it was sometimes used to treat scurvy. It’s been chewed to alleviate thirst and mouth sores. It has cooling properties and has been used in teas to drive away fevers and heat flashes, and help with sore throats and mouth sores. The juice can be gargled to rid mouth ulcers and applied in a compress or poultice to stop bleeding (coagulant) and reduce inflammation and swelling.

“In Dr. James Duke's Handbook of Edible Weeds, he notes that the Native American Kiowa people chewed wood sorrel to alleviate thirst on long trips, the Potawatomi cooked it with sugar to make a dessert, the Algonquin considered it an aphrodisiac, the Cherokee ate wood sorrel to alleviate mouth sores and a sore throat, and the Iroquois ate wood sorrel to help with cramps, fever and nausea.”

It’s obvious that wood sorrel looks very similar to a shamrock, so much so that it’s been argued that the shamrock might have originally been a species of Oxalis. Likely because of the resemblance, they’re often associated with luck and used in similar ways as clover. It also has 3 leaflets, 3 is a very symbolic number to many that represents past, present and future; upper, middle, and lower realms/worlds; and (re)birth, life, and death — similar to the symbolism of clover/shamrock. It’s also sometimes used as a protective plant similar to how lemon and vinegar are, making it useful in cleansing and banishing. In the Language of Flowers, it represents joy and happiness.

⛧ Joy, happiness, luck, cleansing/banishing, protection from negative spirits

Wormwood- Also called absinthe, common wormwood, and Artemisia absinthium. Wormwood is technically edible but it’s not something you can just pick and eat, natural wormwood contains thujone which can be toxic in large doses and could cause seizures. It’s also incredibly bitter so you probably wouldn’t want to eat it to begin with. Thujone is considered dangerous by the FDA but there are a lot of thujone-free wormwood products that you can purchase online. The main use of wormwood is its part in making absinthe which is an alcohol made from several different plants, another mundane use is repelling bugs.

In 1905, a French man by the name of Jean Lanfray killed his pregnant wife and two children while drunk on absinthe, this only added to the fear surrounding absinthe at the time and people began to believe that absinthe caused extreme violence, hallucinations, and death. Researchers started to experiment with wormwood and thujone in extremely large doses on animals and found it can cause seizures, hallucinations, paralysis, and death. A petition by the Croix Bleue in 1907 was signed by over 400,000 people:

“Absinthe makes you crazy and criminal, provokes epilepsy and tuberculosis, and has killed thousands of French people. It makes a ferocious beast of man, a martyr of woman, and a degenerate of the infant, it disorganizes and ruins the family and menaces the future of the country”

This caused absinthe to be banned in several European countries and the US around 1912. We now know that these reactions were caused by the alcohol in the absinthe and that the thujone in wormwood has very little effect unless taken in drastic doses. Absinthe was legalized in 2007 as long as it was thujone free. Wormwood is used in a lot of medicinal ways too, it’s important to note here that the amount of thujone in wormwood teas and medicinal infusions/pills is insignificant to the amount that is in distilled wormwood like alcohols (absinthe) and essential oils. Teas and medicinal methods that contain wormwood are safe as long as they are used properly. Wormwood is commonly used as a dewormer, hence the name, and has been proven to treat parasitic worm infections in animals just as well as commercial medicines. Wormwood is good to help with digestion issues like heartburn, stomach pain, constipation, and diarrhea – many people use it to help deal with symptoms of Crohn’s disease. Some studies have also shown that wormwood can help reduce pain and inflammation, some have used it to help treat their arthritis and joint pain. You can buy wormwood extracts and capsules online, though keep in mind that it’s not intended for extended use. Do not take wormwood if you are pregnant, it can cause a miscarriage, and do not consume if you have kidney issues because there is a chance it can cause abnormal liver function if taken too much or often.

Wormwood has a lot of magical uses both traditional and modernly. Like yarrow, it’s been used for love divination/magic —

“On St. Luke’s Day, take marigold flowers, a sprig of marjoram, thyme, and a little Wormwood; dry them before a fire, rub them to powder; then sift it through a fine piece of lawn, and simmer it over a slow fire, adding a small quantity of virgin honey, and vinegar. Anoint yourself with this when you go to bed, saying the following lines three times, and you will dream of your partner ‘that is to be’ St. Luke, “St. Luke, be kind to me, In dreams let me my true-love see.””

There is also a Bible passage that references wormwood as a star that taints the water and kills thousands of men, this is symbolic and in reference to how bitter the plant is. There are some Slavic folktales about carrying a sprig of wormwood with you to ward away evil spirits. It was said that if you burned it in a graveyard, the dead would rise and speak. It was burned with sandalwood to aid in summoning spirits. In modern-day practice, wormwood is drunk in teas and put under pillows to promote lucid dreaming and astral projection or to help aid in strengthening their psychic abilities and divination. Many use it to help ward off spirits as well as to communicate with them.

⛧ Astral projection, lucid dreaming, divination, psychic abilities, protection from spirits, protection while traveling, spirit communication

𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼𓍊𓋼

Disclaimer !!: Before you consume or use a plant medicinally, make sure you are 100% sure on the ID. Speak with a doctor before using a plant medicinally, especially if you’re pregnant, and make sure you aren’t allergic and that it won’t interact with any of your medications. Do not substitute legitimate medications with herbal remedies, this is not medical advice. Always do your own research before consuming or using a plant medicinally. Some of the plants, while generally safe for humans, are not safe for animals and children. Make sure to avoid areas treated with pesticides and always wash your takings before use. And make sure you're never over-harvesting, always make sure there's another patch nearby (unless invasive) !!

52 notes · View notes

oleandrsstudio · 10 months

Text

Today's #zine #review is of "The Medicine is in the Relationship: An Exploration of Ethical Wildcrafting" by @liminal.spaces.shop !

This is a zine about how to collect and use plants. Just because nobody owns a particular plant, that doesn't mean that everyone is free to do whatever they want to it. The zinester explains why that is and how a person can approach such plants ethically. I liked the relationship between people and nature that this zine presented. I'd recommend this one for people who are looking for a connection to nature.

#solarpunk #wildcrafting #minizine #zinereview

#zine #zine review #minizine #solarpunk #wildcrafting #scheduled post

12 notes · View notes

hedgewitchgarden · 4 months

Text

Wildcrafting Mistletoe, or harvesting it from the wild, can be a little tricky considering the height at which it grows. Bottom line, all plants collected for spiritual purposes should be approached with reverence and great care. I mean, duh, right? So for the love of all things holy, please don’t shoot the mistletoe out of the tree with a shotgun.

Finding and Harvesting Mistletoe

Once the leaves fall from the deciduous trees in winter, it is easy to find see the Mistletoe growing in large clumps among the branches. I live in Eastern, North Carolina and it is EVERYWHERE, once you know what to look for. The problem with wildcrafting this herb for magickal and ritual uses isn’t its availability, but its accessibility. When climbing the tree isn’t possible, and the ladder won’t reach, folks around here get creative.

My dad was raised in Alabama and Kentucky, and he tells me it is common country-boy practice to take your shotgun out into the woods and shoot the mistletoe out of the branches. I even found this article bragging about just such a 12-guage shotgun hunt in NC. I’m a city witch, so I wouldn’t have guessed this to be something a magickal person would think to do. Then I met a witch peddling freshly blasted mistletoe. <headdesk>

Um, no. Just….no. Trust me.

How did the ancient Druids collect Mistletoe?

Pliny the Elder, a first century Roman historian, described the ceremony of collecting mistletoe in his Natural History XVI:

“Mistletoe is rare and when found it is gathered with great ceremony, and particularly on the sixth day of the moon….Hailing the moon in a native word that means ‘healing all things,’ they prepare a ritual sacrifice and banquet beneath a tree and bring up two white bulls, whose horns are bound for the first time on this occasion. A priest arrayed in white vestments climbs the tree and, with a golden sickle, cuts down the mistletoe, which is caught in a white cloak. Then finally they kill the victims, praying to a god to render his gift propitious to those on whom he has bestowed it.” Witchipedia

Avoid Damaging the Tree

I asked around the Patheos author forum for input on this question of Harvest-by-Shotgun, and John Beckett, Druid, author and blogger at Under the Ancient Oaks had this to say:

“From a magical and spiritual perspective, it’s not a good idea [to shoot down mistletoe]. People use a shotgun because it’s easy – you don’t have to hit the mistletoe exactly (as with a rifle). But that means you don’t just shoot down the mistletoe, you also shoot the tree. So you’re not just detaching the mistletoe from the tree, you’re also damaging the tree – and likely mangling what mistletoe you shoot down. None of which is likely to preserve the magical properties of mistletoe, much less establish good relations with your local nature spirits.”

In witchery we regard trees to be the priests of the plant realm, so I think one can assume that assaulting a tree with a deadly weapon isn’t a great way to begin your partnership. That isn’t magick; that’s a mugging. Then consider the spirit of the Mistletoe whom you hope will work to aid you. Introducing yourself via GSW* hardly seems neighborly. I shudder to think how the Dryad, the nymph of an oak tree, might take umbrage and retaliate! Good luck with that.

*GSW = Gun Shot Wound, for those who don’t watch police and legal procedural shows as much as I do. <snark>

Avoid Iron

Morgan Daimler, Author and Patheos Agora Blogger on Irish American Witchcraft, reminded me of the “old belief that you shouldn’t cut a plant for magical purposes with iron because that would drive out its spirit.“ Assuming there is some iron or steel in the shot, that would be counter-productive at least. I don’t know any modern pagans wielding golden sickles (as Pliny described); however, there are more common non-ferrous metals, including aluminum, copper, zinc, brass, gilding metal and tin. I have pair of aluminum gardening sheers for magickal harvesting that serve my purposes just fine.

Don’t Let it Hit the Ground

Moreover, to remain effective, Mistletoe should never be allowed to touch the ground, hence the Gaulish Druid’s practice of catching it in a white cloak.

Chris Godwin, Patheos blogger at From a Common Well, offered this input: “In British Magical practice, you address herbs as allies, with reverence and reference to their lore. Gaelic magic doesn’t seem to be of much difference. Also, Mistletoe is sacred in systems like trolldom because they’re liminal, they don’t grow on the ground, but in the sky. So if the mistletoe hits the ground, it loses its liminality and potency.”

So, unless a shooter has a partner in crime who is brave enough to stand UNDER where they’re blasting and can catch it as it falls willy-nilly, you’ve foiled your magick before you’ve begun. All these shenanigans sounds stupidly dangerous, too.

Mistletoe is a helpful Parasite:

Just for interest, how does the Mistletoe get all the way up there? Mistletoe spreads among the heights of trees when birds eat the sticky white berries and then poop them out on branches. Ahhh, the circle of life. There is a good lesson here about how excellent things can emerge from shit. Thanks birdies!

These evergreen plants are able to grow high up in the branches of trees by jabbing a special type of root called a haustorium into the host plant to suck out water and nutrients from it. Despite their parasitic means of growth, scientific studies have found that the presence of mistletoe plants actually improve the biodiversity around them. (Biology Bytes ) They never touch the earth, which is why they are especially magickal plants associated with air.

Mistletoe is Toxic

Mistletoe is toxic. I know that there are some medicinal uses for the leaves, but I don’t think the berries should ever be taken internally. I know that there is information all over the internet about adding berries to the hand-fasting chalice brew, or how to steep it for herbal medicines, but I personally think that unless you are a highly trained herbalist, or otherwise knowledgeable about physical medicine, that it is best practice to avoid consuming mistletoe. You’d have to ingest a whole lot of berries to kill you, but children and pets are especially at risk, so exercise caution while handling this sacred plant. Wash your hands well after handling!

Keep reading for my next installment on the Mistletoe Magick for Healing, Fertility and Protection!

Happy Mistletoe Hunting!

~Heron

#wildcrafting #mistletoe #witchblr #paganism

3 notes · View notes