Hedgewitch Hoedown

Be inspired by the industrious herbalist monks who steadfastly worked with these gifts from the earth to create blessed brews for health, comfort, and pleasure. Gardening is not a chore when you invite your fellow pagan pals for an outdoor party to sow seeds, do a little weeding, and plant herbs and flowers. Serve your guests a Goddess Green Chartreuse or another suitably herbal option, such as a Lavender Love Drop Mocktail, and enjoy each other’s good company and the generosity of Mother Earth!

You can also say these words together:

    Great Goddess of our Green Earth, we thank you today with heart and hands.

    We pledge to preserve your beautiful land, and call all to join in the healing of our planet,

    Ancient One, we thank you for your generosity.

    With heart and hands, gratitude to you. Blessed be!

Carrier Oils

A carrier oil is a vegetable oil that is used to dilute essential oils without diminishing the effect of the essence. It ensures that essential oils used topically are comfortable on the skin. Each essence carries specific vibrations that hold much curative power. These base oils support other ingredients including essential oils and can also be agents for healing in themselves.

Apricot kernel oil, with its warmth and resilience, is especially good for women. Apricot protects love and nurtures women at every age and stage of life.

Avocado is thick, dense, and earthy, a powerful element in any love potion. It also is excellent for drawing forth money and is helpful in business and financial matters.

Borage oil brings a connection with the higher mind, as well as courage, a sense of honor, and the ability to cope with whatever life sends your way. It is said to encourage truth and resolution in legal and relationship problems. If you feel you are being deceived, turn to borage.

Evening primrose oil abets clairvoyance and paranormal gifts. It will help you to see clearly.

Grapeseed oil is regarded by some as the “food of the gods” because of the way it augments spiritual growth. This should be one of the oils that you turn to for anointing yourself or any statuary of gods and goddess before rituals.

Jojoba oil absorbs extremely well into the skin, bearing anything with which it is mixed along with it. It is also a remarkable anointing oil. It should be used in recipes that help to deal with depression and support perseverance in hardship.

Olive oil was named “liquid gold” by the ancient Greek poet Homer, and rightly so: it is about vitality, money, success, and joyfulness.

Sunflower oil, permeated with the energy of our sun, is powerful and life-giving. Use it when you desire rapid growth and amplification of positive energy.

Sweet almond is a gentle, all-purpose oil ready to increase the energy of other ingredients.

Ageless Skin Spa Facial

You will notice that many an herbalist appears ageless. There is a good reason for this; we manifest a lot of joy in our lives, including creating potions to take excellent care of our skin for goddess-like youthfulness.

Combine these oils in a sealable dark blue bottle

• 2 ounces sweet almond as base oil
• 2 drops chamomile essential oil
• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 2 drops lavender essential oil

Shake very thoroughly and your potion is now ready to use.

Clean your skin with warm water, then gently daub your face with the mixture. You can also make a salve or balm using my recipe if you want to turn the clock backwards. Prepare to be asked for your beauty secrets a lot.

The Herbalist’s Astrological Almanac—Plant Healing Wisdom

Plants carry potent energy you can use to amplify your magical workings. Use the signs of the sun, moon, and stars to your advantage and, over time, you will come to know which ones are most effective for you. Make sure to use your own astrological chart in working with these herbs. Here is a guide to the astrological associations of plants you may grow in your kitchen garden or keep dried in your pantry:

• Aries, ruled by Mars: carnation, cedar, clove, cumin, fennel, juniper, peppermint, and pine
• Taurus, ruled by Venus: apple, daisy, lilac, magnolia, oak moss, orchid, plumeria, rose, thyme, tonka bean, vanilla, and violet
• Gemini, ruled by Mercury: almond, bergamot, mint, clover, dill, lavender, lemongrass, lily, and parsley
• Cancer, ruled by the moon: eucalyptus, gardenia, jasmine, lemon, lotus, rose, myrrh, and sandalwood
• Leo, ruled by the Sun: acacia, cinnamon, heliotrope, nutmeg, orange, and rosemary
• Virgo, ruled by Mercury: almond, cypress, bergamot, mint, mace, moss, thyme, and patchouli
• Libra, ruled by Venus: catnip, marjoram, mugwort, spearmint, sweet pea, thyme, and vanilla
• Scorpio, ruled by Pluto: allspice, basil, cumin, galangal, and ginger
• Sagittarius, ruled by Jupiter: anise, cedarwood, sassafras, star anise, and honeysuckle
• Capricorn, ruled by Saturn: lemon thyme, mimosa, vervain, and vetiver
• Aquarius, ruled by Uranus: gum, citron, cypress, lavender, spearmint, and pine
• Pisces, ruled by Neptune: clover, orris, neroli, sarsaparilla, and sweet pea

For the ingredients above not found in your kitchen or garden, try your local health food market, herbalist, or metaphysical store; for those that are really hard to find, consider looking at these types of mail-order outlets online.