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    Herbs: The Spice of Life, Magic, Myths and Legends: Black Gold Organic Gardening, #6
    Herbs: The Spice of Life, Magic, Myths and Legends: Black Gold Organic Gardening, #6
    Herbs: The Spice of Life, Magic, Myths and Legends: Black Gold Organic Gardening, #6
    Ebook218 pages2 hours

    Herbs: The Spice of Life, Magic, Myths and Legends: Black Gold Organic Gardening, #6

    By Michael O'Halloron

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    About this ebook

    Curious about the History, Magic, Myths and Legends of 28 common Herbs?


    The almost mystical healing power of herbs and their ability to ease pain can be traced back to the very beginnings of history. Early tribes and groups began instinctively experimenting with plants in their environment. Since they didn’t have the luxury of a pharmaceutical laboratory, they discovered by trial and error which locally grown plants and herbs were effective in treating their ailments. This growing accumulation of knowledge was then passed from each generation to another by word-of-mouth and practical teaching. Artifacts have been discovered from many cultures that include such items as frescoes, bronzes, tomb paintings and cuneiform tablets. These artifacts record the importance of herbs to these early civilizations. Ancient herbals and medical writings that still exist today describe plants and herbs and their healing properties.

    Through time this collected knowledge created an herbal lore culture that has evolved with usage. For instance, priests etc. of ancient societies used herbs in the performance of their religious ceremonies for effect and protection. Warriors carried magical herbs for strength, protection and bravery. Later medieval monasteries were the centers of communities and thus became centers of herbal healing. They founded hospitals and had separate psyche gardens where the Monks grew a wide variety of plants to make the potions, oils and ointments they needed to treat the sick. On the other side of the coin, the hedgerows and woodlands provided the plants needed by the country housewife for her herbal healing and magical protections.
    Throughout this book you will discover many strands of historical tradition. One such tradition was what is known as the Victorian language of flowers. In the 19th century England the practice was to give different flowers special meanings. And when fresh flowers and dried bouquets were given to someone they indicated a particular feeling. One example of this is when Rosemary was incorporated into a bouquet of red roses. The meaning of this was love and remembrance and it was a gift usually given to women by the men as they went off to war. While not directly magical, the power of symbolism reflects in the use of flowers deep personal feeling and how they are incorporated in remedies and the intentions associated with them.
    This book presents you with the historical and mythological story behind many of the herbs in common use today. In this book you will also find recipes for teas, concoctions and tasty treats. Enjoy the book and may the magic of herbs bring health, prosperity, love and a long life to you.


    Michael O'Halloron

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherFive Fathom Publishing
    Release dateOct 12, 2015
    ISBN9781516387786
    Herbs: The Spice of Life, Magic, Myths and Legends: Black Gold Organic Gardening, #6
    Author

    Michael O'Halloron

    "Proven Organic Gardening Techniques for a Happy and Healthy Lifestyle" Organic Gardening has followed the full circle rom old knowledge, to outdated practices, to new found and updated technology. An example of this is the development of the Bokashi technique from a Korean method practiced for hundreds of years. I grew up on a small farm in Iowa and acquired the art of organic farming and gardening as practiced by my father. When large-scale chemical fertilizer farming became vogue, dad refused to use them. His reasoning: "They smell like oil and oil isn't good to eat". With my knowledge grounded in experience, I continuously research and experiment to learn new workable and practical techniques. I believe that an advantage of "Farm Life" was being able to raid the huge family garden for snacks freshly plucked from the rich soil all summer long. This love of garden snacking has followed me all of my life and I feel that everyone should be able to enjoy it. It doesn't matter if you have a large garden, patio garden or containers. Now that I am retired, I enjoy writing books by using my step-by-step methods to help others enjoy a happy and healthy organic lifestyle. "Garden Snacking" aside, I enjoy the other pleasures in life that include family, back yard fence chatting with other gardeners, sailing, motorcycles, sports car racing and just plain inventing personally useful things. I hope you enjoy my books and find them useful in creating a better life. Mike

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      Book preview

      Herbs - Michael O'Halloron

      Introduction

      Herbs truly are magical in their effects on us, be it psychological or physical. This magic comes through in their use, whether it is making your hair almost glow with a sheen of highlights, causing the sleepless to nod off, returning your skin to the pliability and softness of your youth, relaxing sore and tired muscles, steeping an aromatic and delightful cup of tea, or acting as a component in a protection charm. Many herbs are employed by magic users to cast spells, create potions and make amulets. Information on potions and amulets is here. Unfortunately, if you want to know how to cast a spell you will not find it here.

      It would seem to me that trying to perform spells without having knowledge is a very dangerous thing to do while calling on the powers that may help achieve magic. It is claimed that one may well be able to open the door to forces that can overpower and manipulate even the strongest individual. I strongly suggest that you leave the casting of spells and other magical tools to those who understand them and can use them wisely and safely. If you do plan to learn about magic, please seek out a practitioner who can teach you themselves. There are some very good books on the market concerning the use of magic with herbs. The most informative that I know of concerning actual magic practices is by Scott Cunningham. He has several books available on the subject. If that is your goal, check them out.

      During the 16th and 17th century, many famous herbals were published to help housewives in the correct identification and use of herbs and plants. One such example is A New Herbal published in 1551 by William Turner. William Turner was a Doctor as well as a priest who became known as the father of English botany. Forty some years later, 1597 to be exact, John Gerard’s work The Herbal was published. In 1629 John Parkinson, who was apothecary to King James I wrote Paradisus. This prolific period of study ended with Nicholas Culpepper's best-selling and influential The English Physician in 1653. Culpepper devoted much of his time to the study of astrology and medicine. He worked as an apothecary in London and gave free treatment to the many poor people who came to him for advice. His legacy to future generations consisted of a huge collection of herbal remedies, some of which are as useful today as they were 300 years ago.

      Along with their healing properties, herbs were thought to be important ingredients of witches spells and potions. Since it was known that some herbs contained hallucinogenic properties, witches added them to their magic brews to encourage increased susceptibility in their clients. Wormwood was one herb beloved of witches, because it made people have double vision. The hallucinogenic effect of some herbs only served to deepen people’s belief in their magical powers.

      Large selections of herbs were believed to harbor magical properties. The Anglo-Saxons for instance, had nine sacred herbs, which they used to keep themselves safe from all kinds of evil influences, and with which they made a cure-all magic salve. Herbs were carried in the hand, worn as amulets, hung over doorways, windows and beds as charms against witchcraft, demons, nightmares, and disease. Others were boiled together to make protective potions and drunk. One such example, Fennell had a benign anti-witch reputation. The herb was suspended from rafters in Midsummer Eve, June 23, as a good luck talisman, and its seeds were pushed into the keyholes of haunted houses to keep malignant forces away. Thyme was strongly associated with magic, witchcraft, and violent death. It was a constituent of a magical ointment that purported to allow people to see fairies.

      Herbs were even featured in religious festivals and were often dedicated to or named in honor of ancient gods and Christian saints. Particular plants were even believed to provide sacred protection from plague, lightning, and evil forces.

      I hope you will enjoy discovering fascinating history of many the herbs we use today as much as I have enjoyed my voyage of discovery.

      ********

      Basics of Herbal Magic

      Herbal Magic uses the natural power of herbs to create needed changes in the world around you. Practioners experienced in the use of magical herbs tell me that it works slowly, but steadily. It is also very portable – it is much easier to take a leaf, sprig or sachet with you, instead of a burning candle, wherever you might go.

      Each herb resonates with a certain level of energy. It is by using the right herbs for the right situations that releases the energy to cause the desired transformation whether for magic or health that you will get the desired results.

      To gather or to buy?

      Gathering your own herbs is, of course, the preferable route. If the world was perfect, we would have access to organic fields where we can gather herbs at the proper phase of the moon, proper hours of the day, and at the right time of the year. But the world doesn't work like that.

      Some herbs only grow in certain countries or regions. Others are under threat of extinction and shouldn't be touched. Few of us can travel to the Orient; few of us can roam through the desert or mountains during the growing seasons. Even if we had that luxury, how many herbs and spices would we be able to readily identify?

      Buying herbs has become a definite boon for those interested in magic as well as those used for alternative medicine and in the culinary arts. No, they won't necessarily be gathered at just the right time, and no, they won't always be fresh, but I have used store-bought, fresh and dried herbs for years with wonderful results in cooking and alternative healing.

      If you buy herbs, bring them home as soon as possible, transfer them to dark glass jars, and label and date them. Don't forget the labels – I don't know how many herbs I have had to toss because I forgot to stick a label on the jar. When you have 25 or 30 jars in the cupboard, you're bound to forget which one is which.

      Drying herbs:

      Discard all leaves that are brown or insect eaten. Wash all cuttings then pat them dry with paper towels. You can spread them in a single layer on dry paper towels or a clean paper bag, or you can bundle them and hang them from a thread. Either way, store them in a dark, warm, well-ventilated area and check them every few days. When they are crisp, strip them, pick up the seeds, stems, and the other detritus, and store them in appropriately labeled dark glass containers.

      To dry seeds or seed heads, gently bundle the cuttings together at the stem ends. If the seed heads or plants are thin enough, place them in a paper sack with the stems sticking out the opening. Tie the sack opening around the stems and high on the sides of the sack, cut a few holes for ventilation. When the herbs are dry, shake them and work with your hands to loosen the seeds and remove them from the heads.

      Roots can take a year or more to dry. Hang them in a well-ventilated, dark spot and check frequently.

      Since herbs lose their goodness over time, you should replace your herbs at least once per year.

      Herbal glossary and usages:

      Herbs: plants that are generally dried and then used for culinary, health and to make magical, as well as aromatic charms, sachets and potpourri.

      Oils: the essential or synthetic base of a plant, in liquid form. Used for anointing, aromatherapy and other health purposes. 

      Making an oil blend is simple; follow these directions:

      Start with a base of ¼ oz of olive or almond oil. 

      To this base, add an appropriate essential oil with an eyedropper, one drop at a time.

      Never take oils internally unless they have been specified safe.

      Tinctures/Infusions: Infusions can be put to a variety of use and used either internally or externally. For direction, consult a good herbal text to discover the various medicinal and magical properties of herbs. For example a chamomile infusion can act as a sleep aid. Tinctures are derived by soaking the plant in alcohol –vodka works best because it has little or no taste and a strong alcohol content which draws out the plant's essence very effectively allowing your mixture to be pure. To make an infusion, use the following instructions. While this example illustrates making a chamomile tincture, it can be adapted for any herb you choose.

      Start with a clear quart jar. 

      Fill the jar about one half full with clean chamomile. 

      Then cover this to the rim with vodka. 

      Tightly seal and set in a dark cupboard for 3 to 4 weeks. 

      Shake twice each day. 

      If necessary, add more vodka as the herbs will absorb some liquid. 

      At the end of three weeks, strain and pour into a clean glass jar, cork and keep in your herb cabinet or other dark cool place.

      These tinctures are best stored in clean, dark glass jars.

      The important thing to remember about making tinctures is that the strength of the herb increases with the alcohol percentage. You should be very wary of taking too much. Usually 1 or 2 teaspoons at a time when needed proves to be sufficient. Also, remember that if you start with the poisonous herb you'll end up with a very poisonous tincture that can kill you. Make sure you know the herbs that you're working with when creating your infusion.

      Sachets: small cloth or leather bags that contain herbs, magically charged herbs, crystals, and other natural ingredients such as seashells or stones. 

      Sachets are easy to make: 

      Take a piece of cloth, 4 inches by 4 inches, in a color or pattern you prefer. 

      Place everything in the center of the cloth and pull the corners together. 

      Tie the ends firmly together with a ribbon in the color that compliments or matches your pattern.

      You can carry the sachet with you, place in a drawer, hang in a closet or just place it anywhere you would like. Sachets also make wonderful gifts for other people.

      Incense:

      Incense has long been used to invoke states of altered consciousness. The smoke is used for cleansing and purifying the air. While there are several ways to create self-burning incense, I buy most of mine since the process for making them is quite elaborate.

      Stick incenses, granular incenses, and resins like frankincense all work with equal success.

      Teas: teas are used to promote changes both medicinally and psychologically. There's nothing better than a cup of orange spice or apple cinnamon tea on a cool autumn day to make you feel cozy and safe. Teas can be made from bulk herbs, such as chamomile, mugwort, lemon balm, or you can buy premixed herbal teas such as the Celestial Seasonings brand.

      For example, I love to drink a good cup of chamomile before retiring in the evening. While in the morning, I like to start with an Earl Grey blended black tea and a breakfast scone. (Must be the influence of the European side of my ancestry.) There is something magical about the way herbal teas refresh your mind and body throughout the day.

      Washes: herbal washes are used to affect physical changes on the body. For example, a comfrey wash is effective for early bruises. 

      One of the easiest ways is to make an infusion of the

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