The Secrets of Seers: Prophecy Potion

If you and your circle, coven, or group want to increase your abilities to intuit and invent together, brew up a batch of creative juices at a Wednesday gathering.

Gather together

    * ½ cup (30g) of dried herbs: kava kava, borage, mugwort, yarrow, or dandelion

    * 4 cups (960ml) of freshly boiled water

    * a large teapot

    * 4 mugs

Steep the herbs in the freshly boiled water in your teapot for 4 minutes, then pour the tea into the four mugs. Before your group begins drinking, say:

    Goddess of the Oracles, please give us the sight!

    God of the Prophets, please give us the vision!

    Fate of the Future, we call on you for truth.

    Harm to none, so mote it be.

Notice we did not mention to strain the herbs. In addition to the dreams, visions, and all you will soon foretell, you can begin with these cups of aromatic herbs and read the tea leaves by interpreting the shapes you see at the bottom of the mug once you have drunk the liquid.

    * An apple symbolizes knowledge or success in studies.

    * A candle indicates wisdom and enlightenment.

    * A cat can mean you have a deceitful friend.

    * A dog can mean you have someone loyal in your life.

    * Flying birds represent a letter bearing a happy message.

    * Ravens are an omen of troubles ahead.

    * A shamrock shows a wish will come true.

    * Kite shapes show good news flying to you.

    * A letter of the alphabet references a person whose name starts with that letter.

Recharging Weekend Wonder: Natural Remedy Potion

This natural remedy is an excellent way to refresh after a hectic week.

Gather together

• 2 drops rosemary essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 2 drops jasmine essential oil
• 3 drops lavender essential oil
• 6 drops carrier oil
• a small ceramic or glass bowl

Timing: This tincture is most potent right after the sun sets, by the light of the waxing or full moon.

Blend the essential oils and carrier oil in the bowl. Take off your shoes so you can be more grounded. Walk outside, stand on your deck or by an open window. Now, close your eyes, lift your head to the moon, and recite aloud:

    Bright moon goddess, eternal and wise,

    Give your strength to me now.

    As I breathe, you are alive in me for this night.

    Health to all, calm to me.

    So mote it be.

Gently rub one drop of Natural Remedy Potion on each pulse point: both wrists, behind your ear lobes, on the base of your neck, and behind your knees. As the oil surrounds you with its warm scent, you will be filled with a quiet strength.

Longevity Elixir: Homemade Pear Potion

Pears have long been prized in Asia as a lucky fruit that also nourishes a long and prosperous life. The great magical teacher Scott Cunningham advocated for their use in love spells. This pear liqueur is a special brew indeed. You will need this to make it:

• 3 large ripe pears
• 2 pods of cardamom
• Lemon peel of half a lemon
• Vodka, 1 quart
• 1 clean and sterilized 1-quart Mason jar with lid (preferably dark-colored glass)

Start by crushing the cardamom pods, then set aside. Peel the pears and cut into thin slices. Gently place the pear slices into the jar. Put the crushed cardamom and lemon peel on top of the pears. Cover all with the vodka. Close the jar and tighten the lid, then gently shake twice. Store the jar full of pears in a dark, cool cupboard for ten days. After the ten days, remove the jar from the cupboard. Pour the contents of the jar into a mixing bowl and mash thoroughly using the back of a fork. Strain the mixture into another bowl, using a colander that has been lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth. Repeat this process twice, then pour the pear liqueur into the Mason jar. (The strained-out pear slices can be consumed or used in cookery, but remember that they may be quite potent!) If you are feeling fancy, you can store your pear liqueur in a pretty bottle. Live long and prosper!

Steeped in Wisdom

Different kinds of tea can combine to make a powerful concoction. A pot of your favorite grocer’s black tea can become a magical potion with the addition of a thin slice of ginger root, a pinch of dried chamomile, and the same amount of peppermint tea. This ambrosial brew can calm any storm at home or at work.

Herbal tea nourishes the soul, heals the body, and calms the mind. Try these:

• Blackberry leaf tea reduces mood swings, and it evens glucose levels, aiding in weight management. This miraculous herbal even helps circulation and such issues as inflammation and varicose veins. It is helpful to cancer patients and is believed to be a preventative.
• Cardamom is a favorite of expectant mothers everywhere as it calms nausea and morning sickness; this fragrant East Indian spice is excellent for digestion and clears and cleans your mouth and throat. Anyone who likes cinnamon will love cardamom.
• Nettle raises your energy level, boosts the immune system, and is packed with iron and vitamins.
• Fennel is awakening and uplifting and is excellent for digestion and cleansing. Fennel is also is a natural breath freshener.
• Catnip is one of the witchiest of teas; it is not only grown as fun for your feline familiar. Catnip is a gentle but potent sleep-inducer. At the first inkling of a sore throat or impending cold, drink a warm cup of catnip tea and head off to bed and you will awaken feeling much better. Catnip soothes the nervous system and can safely help get a restless child off to sleep.
• Echinacea lends an increased and consistent sense of well-being and prevents colds and flu. It is a very powerful immune booster. Take a simmered low echinacea root tea for up to two weeks at a time to jumpstart your immune system; an ounce a week of echinacea tincture will also serve if convenience is needed. (The tincture is rather medicinal tasting, so best dilute it in a cup of juice or your favorite plant-based beverage.)
• Ginger Root calms and cheers while aiding digestion, fighting nausea, and helping fend off coughs and sore throats.
• Dandelion Root grounds and centers as it provides many minerals and nutrients. This wonderful weed is also a cleanser and a wholly natural detoxifier and liver tonic

DIY Herbal Salves, Lotions, Potions, and Skin Soothers

Taking good care of your skin is truly good common sense. Staying hydrated by drinking enough water and light herbal teas is a good start, as is moisturizing with natural and organic lotions and salves, Gentle abrasives in the form of body scrubs are an excellent way to stimulate your skin, the largest organ of the human body. Massaging yourself with these is also good for the lymphatic system. It is extremely affordable and oh so easy to use what you already have on hand, such as brown sugar, baking soda, or coffee grounds, along with binding substances which keep the abrasives sticking together while you scrub. Binding substances can be oils such as almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil, or my personal favorite, sesame oil. You can use honey, too, if you don’t mind a bit of stickiness. Let your imagination run wild with extras such as fragrance or appearance enhancers—spices, essential oils, or even flower petals.

Magic by the Bushel

The very act of growing your own herbs will be healing, and, as you continue to practice herbalism, you will learn more and more of what works in your recipes and which herbs, teas, and plant-based potions and infusions cause you and your loved ones to flourish.