Witchy Tip 3

Prophetic Dreaming

While we sleep, the floodgates for psychic ability are completely open, making prophetic dreaming easy. You can stimulate prophetic dreaming and enhance and encourage clairvoyance with various spells. However, some spells may work better for you than others, so it's best to experiment to find which methods to use to enhance your own innate power. Today, I would like to touch on a few of the ways you can enhance or induce prophetic dreams for this week's Pagan Blog Project prompt. Remember to keep your dream journal close at hand so you can jot down your dreams down for evaluation later.

As a hedgewitch, I love using botanicals, so those are the methods I am going to focus on. Certain botanicals stimulate clairvoyance, psychic perceptions, and prophesy more so than others. These include:

1. Angelic
2. Anise
3. Basil
4. Bay
5. Copal
6. Dittany of Crete
7. Dream Herb (zacatechichi)
8. Gardenia
9. Mimosa
10. Mugwort
11. Peppermint
12. Roses
13. Sandalwood
14. Syrian Rue (harmel)
15. Wisteria
16. Wormwood

You can use any combination of these herbs to stuff dream pillows or conjure bags. You can also use any combination to make a Botanical Blast. Place an assortment of the above herbs in a covered box to keep beside your bed. Before sleeping, uncover and inhale this potpourri to receive a "blast" of power.

You can also place fresh gardenias by your bedside so that you can inhale the fragrance while you sleep. Gardenia's fragrance potently invokes prophetic dreams, as well as invites benevolent spirits to visit. To intensify this method, you can make a Gardenia Crown, which draws its inspiration from Hawaii. Weave fresh gardenias into a crown while focusing on the desired dream and knotting your goals and intentions into the garland. Wear it or place it next to your bed while you sleep.

Another method is the Bay Laurel Quick Fix. Bay leaves stimulate clairvoyance while awake and asleep, and since they are cheap and readily available, this is a quick fix when you want or need to induce prophetic dreaming. Just tuck the leaves beneath your pillow. You may wish to pin them to the sides to avoid scattering them or being pricked during your sleep.

You can also use a Mugwort Mixer Bouquet. Burn dried mugwort and vervain before bed to induce prophetic dreams, truthful dreams, and enhance your ability to recall and comprehend them.

The last method I would like to address is Rose Tea. Simply make an infusion using dried rose petals and drink before bed. If you make this on your own, make sure your roses are organic. Most roses on the market today are heavily sprayed with pesticides, making them very unsafe to drink.

As I mentioned earlier, any of these methods or all of them may be used, but their effectiveness may be different. Furthermore, remembering enough of the dreams to record and analyze them is another topic altogether. I would like to address the issue of remembering dreams in the next few weeks. Until then, how do you enhance your prophetic dreams?

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

Magical and Medicinal Uses of Chamomile

Folk Names: Camomyle, Chamaimelon, Ground Apple, Heermannchen
Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun or Moon
Element: Water
Powers: Love, Money, Purification, Sleep
Magical Uses and History: Chamomile derives its name from two Greek words: Khamai meaning "on the ground" and melon meaning "apple" thus creating the common folk name of "ground apple." This name likely derives from the apple-like scent of the flowers, and may slightly be connected to the golden yellow centers of the flower as well. Traditionally, chamomile was associated with the Sun with the Egyptians dedicating the plant as sacred to Ra. The sweet scent was also used by Egyptian noblewomen as a perfume and later was during the embalming process to repel insects. As such, chamomile can be used in spells and rituals honoring the Sun, to attract good luck, and protect against insects.

Chamomile was not just revered by the Egyptians, however. The Romans, Greeks, Anglo-Saxons, and even Vikings recognized that chamomile possessed unique healing abilities, and they too associated the bright yellow and white flowers with the Sun. It was believed chamomile could treat a number of ailments including fever, malaria, nerves, and skin conditions. The Romans even used the sweet-smelling flower as incense to honor different deities, especially those associated with the Sun, and to protect the home from insects and other unwanted guests. For the Anglo-Saxons, chamomile was one of the herbs in the Nine Herbs Charm, a healing charm from the tenth or eleventh century, under the name mægðe. The passage on chamomile roughly translates as follows:

"Remember, Chamomile,

what you brought to pass,

what you accomplished,

at Alorford,

that no one should lose their life to diseases,

since for him Chamomile was prepared."

Due to its healing abilities, chamomile is often used in healing spells and rituals, as well as protection rituals. Because it was found to repel pests, chamomile can be sprinkled around your home to protect against pests as well as unwanted visitors. An infusion can also be used to wash doors, windows, and other entryways or planted near your front door for the same purpose. Furthermore, its sunny disposition and natural healing abilities lend to its uses in curse and hex breaking.

Apart from its natural healing and protective abilities, chamomile is resilient and spreads quickly. As such, it became associated with abundance. Modern traditions, especially hoodoo, use chamomile to attract money. A hand wash is often made from an infusion and by gamblers to ensure winning. Keep the dried flower petals in your wallet, purse, or cash register to manifest money.

Finally, chamomile is naturally relaxing. It can be burned or drank to promote sleep and meditation. It is especially potent when combined with lavender, another naturally relaxing herb.

Chamomile can be used in a number of spells including:
         Money Spells
         Prosperity Spells
         Induce Sleep and Mediation
         Dream Magic
         Protection Magic
         Curse Removal

Medicinal Uses:  Chamomile, both German and Roman, is renowned for its medical uses and can be used to treat an endless list of conditions. It works as a relaxer, making it great to treat anxiety and insomnia. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, it works well to treat gastritis as well as inflammations in the mouth and eyes. Externally it can reduce swelling.

Preparation and Dosage: Only the flowers of chamomile are used and they should be collected between May and August. Internally- To make an infusion pour a cup of boiling water onto 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile and let infuse for 5-10 minutes. To treat digestive problems, drink after meals. A stronger infusion can be used as a mouthwash. To make a steam bath boil half a cup of flowers in 4 pints (2 liters) of water and inhale the steam. You can also take 2-4 milliliters of tincture three times a day. Externally- To make a salve, melt 1 cup of coconut oil in a pot. Add 2 handfuls of chamomile flowers. The mixture should foam. Remove from heat, cover, and let cure overnight. The following morning, reheat (do not boil) and transfer to glass jars.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy! 

Wichy Tip 2

Protection Magic

For this Pagan Blog Project post, I would like to talk briefly about protection magic. Protection spells are intended to prevent, protect, and repel danger, evil, and negativity. Many witches are confused by protection magic, thinking it foolproof. Let's be very clear: there is NO magical spell that works exactly like an armed response guard. Magical protection spells provide magical protection and their aura enhances other protective methods. If you are afraid of someone robbing you, a protection spell will enhance other methods you use, not replace them, and it doesn't matter how many spells you cast or the number of amulets you post if you don't lock your doors. Use common sense.

That being said, there are many forms of danger lurking out there. Locking your door will only protect you from physical threats while magical spells can protect you from malicious spells, hexes, negative enchantments, and other assorted dangers from a vast variety of magical and spiritual sources. However, just because these dangers derive from a magical source does not mean they cannot manifest in a very physical way. This can be in the form of illness, accidents, and general disasters.

There are thousands of protection spells out there. I posted recently about my threshold protection spell and my home protection ward. Both of these are magical ways I use to not only physically defend my home but also to magically defend it. I have mentioned before my husband is a funeral director. Sometimes things follow him, and I do not want them in my home. Marietta, at Witchy Words, also has a great DIY protection sachet post. I want to focus on some of the basics today.

As with all spells, numbers, colors, and gemstones can be used to enhance their power. Five is the most common number associated with protection spells as it's the number of fingers on each hand. Seven and nine are also used. For colors, you can use red, black, and blue. Amethyst, agate, and quartz are most commonly used for protection, although their auras are all very different so use what feels right.

As a hedgewitch, I find working with herbs to be the most rewarding. The Anglo-Saxons recorded nine herbs as sacred. These herbs appear in a poem, commonly referred to as the Nine Herbs Charm or Nine Wort Charm, found in a 10th- or 11th-century manuscript called Lacnunga. It recounts the story of Woden and how he obtained the sacred herbs of old to defeat a serpent. The poem not only names the herbs but lists their uses as well. The herbs mentioned are:

1. Mugwort
2. Plantain
3. Lamb's Cress
4. Nettle
5. Chamomile
6. Crab Apple
7. Chervil (some say Thyme)
8. Fennel

You may notice there are only eight listed. This is because the identity of the ninth herb, atterlothe, which translates to "Venom Loather," remains unknown. Some sources believe the ninth herb is cockspur grass, while others believe it may be betony or fumitory. You can use only these eight in honor of all the botanical species driven to extinction or you can use betony, which is most commonly believed to be atterlothe. Betony is basically a cure-all, so substituting it will not alter the effectiveness.

Apart from using these herbs, you can also use "Witch Soldiers" to protect your home. In order to have access to a wide variety of botanical magic, witches historically had very extensive gardens. However, because they were also commonly midwives and healers, many of these plants had dual purposes. By the Middle Ages and the Burning Times, however, a garden was a necessity as a means of protection. They designed their gardens to keep persecutors out and protect those within. The classical European witch's garden was surrounded by three rows of scarlet flowers, known as "witch's soldiers." These served as the front-line of protection against witch hunters. Today, you can use your soldiers to protect you from harm in general. This is on my list of to-dos for my garden next year. I suggest planting them around your mailbox or in planters on the edge of your property. Completely surrounding your property is not necessary, nor doable in most situations.

I hope this has been enlightening. Do you use protection magic? What kinds do you prefer?