House of Rituals May 2018 Unboxing

Thanks for watching my first video ever! Unfortunately it cut my brief introduction out. Oh well! I recorded this darn thing 3 times before I could get a video that actually worked. Keep an eye out for more videos in the future!

Magical and Medicinal Uses of Yarrow

Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Courage, Exorcism, Love, Protection, Psychic Powers
Magical Uses and History: Oh yarrow! This may be one of the most under-appreciated herbs in a witch's cabinet because of it's lack of culinary uses, but the medicinal and magical uses of yarrow date back from 60,000 years. One of the earliest known uses of yarrow was discovered in 1960 in a Neanderthal burial site in northern Iraq. The large clumps of yarrow pollen found there suggests the yarrow was not placed there by accident, but instead deliberately by the Neanderthals. We are unsure as to whether or not the Neanderthals were aware of the healing properties of yarrow, but we do know they took the time and care to bury their fallen companion with love, thus strengthening the association between yarrow and love.

Yarrow also has ties to Greek mythology, its Latin name being Achillea millefolium, which derives from the famous Achilles. According to the myths, Achilles learned the healing properties of yarrow from the Centaur, Chiron, who used it to heal Achilles after his mother tried to burn him alive for being the unlucky seventh child. Achilles later uses yarrow to heal Telephus, the son-in-law of King Priam, who tripped over a vine and was accidentally wounded by Achilles. Achilles scraped some rust from his spear and from the rust grew yarrow, which he used to treat Telephus's wounds.

In medieval England, the herb was known as both Militaris and woundwort for its healing properties. There are some accounts of the name "yarrow" originating from the Anglo-Saxon word gaerwe, which translates to "to repair." Nicholas Culpepper described medicinal uses of yarrow in his 1649 book The Secrets of Wildflowers stating that "an ointment of the leaves cures wounds, and is good for inflammations, ulcers, fistulas, and all such runnings as amount with moisture." One specific folklore remedy says to pull the leaves from the plant with your left hand while saying the name of the ill person. Contradictory to its healing properties, yarrow was at one time thought to bring sickness, earning the name of Mother-die and Fever-plant. Furthermore, yarrow was also thought to cause nosebleeds, which contradicts its actual blood clotting nature. According to Lightfoot's Flora Scotica from 1777, "The common people in order to cure the Headache do sometimes thrust a leaf of it up their nostrils, to make their nose bleed." There is also mention of this in the 1878 Folk Lore Record in regards to young girls being in love:

Green 'arrow, green 'arrow, you wears a white bow;
If my love love me, my nose will bleed now;
If my love don't love me, it 'ont bleed a drop;
If my love do love me, 'twill bleed every drop.

Apart from its medicinal uses, yarrow also has a long and rich magical history. In some spells and charms, it earned the name "devil's nettle" because it was believed to be used in evil spells and rituals. Despite this early negative connotation, yarrow is often used for protection, being hung above doors or a baby's cradle to keep evil at bay. Wearing yarrow is also said to protect the wearer while holding it can bring courage.

Yarrow is also said to increase psychic powers and has traditionally been used in China and England for divination. In China, the stems were used for casting, while in England young women would sleep with yarrow under their pillows to dream of their future husbands. Furthermore, dreaming of yarrow is said to mean that good news is on its way. To increase physic powers, drink a tea infusion of yarrow prior to physic work.

Finally, yarrow can be used to ensure a long, happy marriage. Carrying yarrow is said to bring love and friendship while hanging a bunch of dried yarrow over a bed or used in wedding decorations is said to ensure a love lasting at least seven years.

Yarrow can be used in a number of spells including:
     Divination
     Love Spells
     Protection Magic
     Luck Spells

Medicinal Uses: Due to high levels of iron, calcium, potassium, and other trace minerals, yarrow has a reputation to lower blood pressure, reduce fevers, and relieve diarrhea and indigestion. It can also be used as a urinary antiseptic to treat cystitis or externally to heal wounds. For fevers, it combines well with elderberry flower, peppermint, cayenne, and ginger. For raised blood pressure, it can be paired with hawthorn and mistletoe. It can also be used for reducing menstrual bleeding and can help regulate menstrual flow.

Preparation and Dosage: Internally- Yarrow is most commonly taken orally through an infusion or tea. To create an infusion/tea, pour a cup of boiling water over 1-2 teaspoons of dried herb and allow to sit for 10-15 minutes. Drink up to 3 times a day, or if combating a fever, drink once every hour. For a tincture, take 2-4 milliliters three times a day. If you wish to create a potent flu remedy, mix 1 teaspoon yarrow leaves and flowers, 1 teaspoon dried elderflower, and 1/2 teaspoon dried peppermint, and one cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for 10 minutes. Drink up to 3 times a day. Externally- The herbs used to make an infusion/tea can be placed on minor cuts and bruises to aid in healing. DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE PREGNANT OR BREASTFEEDING.

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Hedge Riding Series: Preparation + Hedge Riding Sachet

After you master the ability to focus your mind, you are ready to begin hedge riding. However, like any journey you take, you must make sure you are prepared prior to leaving. Just like you would pack a suitcase with clothes and toiletries to travel across the country, you must also make sure you are prepared to journey into the Otherworld.

Protecting Yourself

Prior to hedge riding, it is important to make sure you are properly protected, and I don't necessarily mean through circle casting. I have never in my entire magical life cast a complete circle. It just isn't my thing. I prefer to let my energy flow freely, but I understand the importance of circle casting and the benefits of doing so. I, however, choose a different method to concentrate my energies and keep myself protected. As you will be traveling to the Otherworld, where there are both positive and negative entities, it is important to take proper precautions. You don't jump into the car for a road trip without making sure to buckle up first! Apply the same logic to hedge riding. While I have had only one negative encounter, it is better to be safe than sorry.

There are several ways you can protect yourself prior to entering the Otherworld. My preferred way is to envision myself surrounded by golden light. This is a technique I actually learned from Silver Ravenwolf years ago. I know, I know, the dreaded Silver Ravenwolf. However, this particular method of protection always stuck with me and she wasn't even mentioning it as a means of protection. In fact, she was using it as a way to cleanse yourself, but when I tried it, I felt it act exactly as she described a magical circle, so I decided because I could easily summon this "shield" and felt more comfortable with it, I would use it instead of the proverbial circle. I just can't wrap my mind around casting a circle up against a wall, but that's just me. Anyway! This golden light can stick to your skin, or be envisioned as an oval or egg-shaped shield around you. If you prefer, cast that magical circle.

In addition to visualizing a protective shield, you can carry a protective amulet or hold a crystal. Great protective crystals for hedge riding include my all-time favorite black tourmaline which protects against negative energies, especially those at a lower frequency; labradorite, which guards against psychic attacks and fixations; staurolite, which protects against unwanted spirits and attachments; and finally spirit quartz or just plain clear quartz, which both increase your natural defenses.

However, the best form of protection in the Otherworld is your animal guide. We will talk more about meeting your animal guide and developing a relationship with them later, but having them with you at all times in the spirit world if a must. They will inherently keep you safe and defend you no matter what the cost.

Preparing to Ride

Once you are protected, it is time to prepare for your ride. Begin by making sure you are in the correct setting. Is your environment conducive to hedge riding? You will require peace and quiet for your journey away from the daily distractions, especially that damned cell phone of yours. I find it best to hedge ride when no one is home. You may even need earplugs to block out that blasted dishwasher or fridge hum. I lock my cats out of the room because they tend to want to try and bring me home instead of helping me travel deeper. I know it makes Jane, my kitten, nervous when I leave. She tends to paw at my face, attempting to keep my firmly grounded instead of traveling too deeply into the Otherworld. I appreciate her concern, but it is very distracting.

Make sure where ever you are going to ride is temperature controlled. You don't want to be too hot or too cold. Either will disrupt your ability to stay focused. Furthermore, decide if you are going to sit or lie down. You need to be comfortable enough to relax, but not so comfortable you fall asleep. You'll also need to decide if you want to wear clothes or not. I love to hedge ride in a warm bath surrounded by candles and crystals. I also enjoy hedge riding at night while laying in my bed with the full moon coming through my window. It depends on my mood and time of the month, but I strategically plan each ride and ensure I am comfortable prior to traveling.

You may also decide to light some candles and incense. There are several scents that can help you reach an altered state of consciousness, including the famous mugwort. There are even some incense blends on the market named "astral travel." While I haven't personally used this blend, I have a feeling it is likely effective in setting the mood to travel to the Otherworld. Much of the principals of astral travel apply to hedge riding, so any incense or herb for spiritual travel should work. Other than mugwort, I find cinnamon incense helps me travel fairly well. You may find lavender or orange blossom helps you travel. Sometimes our personal correspondences are more important than what a book says it is.

Finally, decide whether or not you will use shamanic drumming, a rattle, or chanting to aid in your travels. I prefer shamanic drumming. I find that if I just have to listen to the drums instead of actively participating in the drumming, rattling, or chanting, I am able to reach an altered state of consciousness must faster.

When everything is all nice and set, be sure to ground yourself. This helps to ensure you have one foot firmly placed in our world so you can easily find your way back. I find the best way to ground is to either stand barefoot in the yard or hold my black tourmaline tight, envisioning my connection to Mother Earth through the roots in my feet (or hands if I am holding a crystal).

Setting A Course

Are you protected? Comfortable? Grounded? Great! Now let's set a purpose. Why are your going on this journey? When you hedge ride, you should always have your purpose firmly set in your mind. This will help you remained focused on your intent and give your animal guides or spirit guides a heads up that you are coming. Are you wishing to have a question answered? Repeat the question several times in your mind. Looking to grow spiritually? Concentrate on the growth you seek intently. Always make sure you ask your guides to meet you in the Otherworld when you arrive. Again, they are needed to protect you, and will likely have the answers you seek or at least know where to find them.

You can hedge ride for a variety of purposes, including divination, healing, spell work, knowledge, or meet with your ancestors. I find healing and knowledge to be the two main reasons I hedge ride. Occasionally I go seeking answers, but usually, these answers, while masked as divination, are actually to help me heal from past injuries and hurts. Hedge riding is a great way to heal yourself, especially from emotional injuries. Remember, you must learn to heal yourself before you can heal others. My favorite way to heal myself is to swim in the lake inside of my Garden. The cold water is refreshing and filled with magical healing properties. If I hedge ride in the bath at home, it doesn't matter how hot the bath may be when I enter the pool in the Garden, my whole body feels the cold shock. Sometimes it is hard not to be shocked back into our realm. It is truly invigorating.

While hedge riding is great for healing, it can't fix everything. If you broke your arm, I'm sorry but you need to go to the hospital all the same and have a doctor set the bone. Furthermore, it is unwise to hedge ride if you are sick. Stay at home and take care of yourself on in our realm first. There is nothing worse than a fever induced hedge ride. Trust me...I am ashamed to say I did this once, but in all honesty, it was completely accidental. However, in some cases, it is okay to hedge ride while ill. If you are suffering from allergies or a simple cold, feel free to travel on. Furthermore, many people find hedge riding while fighting cancer to be beneficial as well. It's a great way to deal with the emotional stress, but only if you are feeling up to it. Use common sense.

To aid in spell work, you can focus on things like increasing protection, strength, or even to seek help to overcome an obstacle. Being around your guides is enough to give you a sense of purpose and drive. If you are looking for knowledge, seek out your guides for answers. Again, they will either know the answer or know someone who will. Keep in mind that our guides do not communicate the same ways we do. You may notice they never actually speak to you, but instead show you a variety of images. This is why it is so important to write down your journeys so you can interpret the meanings when you come back to Earth. You may need to hedge ride a couple of times before the answer becomes clear enough for you to understand. Be patient. The answer will come in time.

Creating A Hedge Riding Sachet

One of the items you will likely wish to create solely for hedge riding is a hedge riding sachet that you will carry with you each time you ride. Historically, medicine men and women carried medicine bags, which usually were drawstring bags with a variety of items for a variety of purposes. Written in the thirteenth century, Erik's Saga, of which two versions are preserved, Hauksbók and Shalkholtbók, there is mention of such a magical bag. In this story, a priestess named Völva carries a skin pouch full of magical items. You too can create such a bag. The items contained within can be used for protection, aiding in hedge riding, grounding, or for luck. Your sachet is designed for you, by you for whatever purpose you deem. It can also contain items to represent the elements or your animal guides to increase your connection with them. My bag, which is inspired by Harmonia Saille's own bag, is a compilation of items, some of which hold great meaning to me. Any item that is important to you will increase your magical workings, no matter what the item.

So, how do you make a hedge riding sachet? Start with a bit of cloth or a drawstring bag. Recently I was given a pouch in one of my subscription boxes that I decided would be my new sachet bag. Before I used a plastic baggie and then a piece of fabric. It is really whatever works for you.

After you have figured out what you are going to use to store your items, begin deciding what you wish to include in the bag. You can include herbs, crystals, features, runes, jewelry, pictures, coins, small trinkets, amulets, or anything else you can think of. Whatever you put in the bag should be kept private. DO NOT LET ANYONE TOUCH YOUR ITEMS. Every item should be cleansed and charged prior to entering your sachet. Furthermore, do not let these items touch the ground. Preferably leave them in the bag, on the cloth, or in your hand or on your body in some way.

In time, your sachet will become increasingly powerful. You may add or remove items as you see fit.

Looking for ideas? Here's a peek inside my hedge riding sachet!

My sachet includes:
Black Tourmaline: protection and grounding
Clear Quartz: protection and amplification of magical workings
Amethyst: enhancing psychic awareness and balance
Pentagram: protection
Feather: aid in flight and connection with one of my animal guides
Traveler's Loose Incense: contains copal, mugwort, damiana, calendula, and jasmine to aid in hedge riding. I use it as a nosegay prior to riding.

I am adding and subtracting from my sachet as I feel the need. This is a living entity, so as you grow, so will it. It can include ANYTHING you desire, so make it personal!



Interest in the rest of the series? Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming posts!

Hedge Riding Series

What is Hedge Riding?
Realms of the Otherworld

Focusing the Mind: Getting Ready to Ride

Preparation + Hedge Riding Sachet

Hedge Riding Etiquette: Do's and Don't's of Interacting with Spirits

Hedge Riding Safety Tips: Staying Safe Outside Our Realm

How to Hedge Ride + Flying Ointments

Seeking Your Animal Guides + My Animal Guides

Developing a Relationship With Your Spirit Companions

After You Hedge Ride: Coming Back to Earth

My Hedge Riding Experiences

Looking for more information on hedge witches? Check out my posts on the topic:

What is a Hedgewitch?

Hedgewitch vs Kitchen Witch

Meditation, Pathwalking, and Hedge Riding: Making Sense of It All

Beltane Altar 2018

Hey everyone! I apologize for being absent most of the month of April and May. A lot has happened over the past couple of weeks that has left me without a computer or too darn exhausted to blog. Don't worry; I am fine and things are fine; just a lot going on in my work and personal life at the moment. However, I found some time to put together a lovely Beltane altar to honor this fire festival, the peak of Spring, and the coming of Summer. Without further ado, let's take a peek at how I honored our Mother Earth and the Sun for this sabbat!

Like last year, I decided to use reds and whites for my altar to symbolize both the masculine (white) and feminine (red), since this is a sabbat which celebrates both, especially in regards to sex. In the center are my silk flowers in red and white, an equal number of each to show the equality of the masculine and feminine during Beltane.

Encircling the altar is ivy, representing the masculine Oak King, who is growing in strength, luck, and, of course, fertility. You can't have a Beltane altar without some fertility symbolism. Entwined in the ivy are a variety of candles in whites and reds symbolizing the strengthening sun, as well as some lanterns for the same purpose. I love the little lanterns. I purchased these last year from Target in the dollar section. Can't get much better than that! I think the Dollar Tree has these throughout the year as well, so if you are looking for a pair, see if you can't find them at your local dollar store this year.

In the center I set up a crystal grid around a center candle to promote strength, love, and joy by using carnelian, rose quartz, and citrine. I absolutely love using crystal grids to enhance the magic of my altars. Crystals are truely one of the best magical gifts Mother Earth provides us, and I can't imagine having an altar without them.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Beltane this year. I apologize again for my long absence and promise a slew of posts to make up for it.

May the coming months be filled with warm weather, bountiful gardens, and magic!

Hedge Riding Series: Focusing the Mind: Getting Ready to Ride

Prior to hedge riding, there are some steps every hedgewitch should take to ensure they are able to reach the Otherworld with ease. There is nothing more frustrating than attempting to hedge ride and your mind failing you because it is distracted by what you are going to eat for dinner or how much work you have left to get done. So how do you combat the urge to let your mind wander?

There are a couple of techniques you can use to begin focusing your mind; meditation and pathwalking are two such ways. I bet you guessed I was going to go there. Sorry! The best way to begin focusing your mind is through meditation. It is a common misconception that in order to meditate your mind must go blank. The opposite is usually true. During meditation, you hyper-focus on one or two things or events. Instead of letting the mind wander to daily tasks, you focus on visualizing that one specific thing or event. Have you ever "zoned out" before? That's essentially what you do during meditation except it is a controlled zoning out. Reaching a quieted state of mind can be extremely difficult for some, especially if you are used to being constantly busy or are ADD/ADHD. This is a problem if you are looking to hedge ride. Your mind must be completely focused on the task at hand, or at least easily controlled if your mind does start to wander. Don't worry, my mind occasionally begins to wander as well, especially if I am under a lot of stress at work or home. With that being said, there are other methods to focus your mind that do not involve sitting still. So how do you begin meditating?

First, start by meditating for short periods of time, think 5 minutes. As you progress, increase the time to 10, 15, and 20 minutes. Once you can easily meditate for 20 minutes, you are well on your way to hedge riding. One of the simplest meditations, to begin with, is a 5-minute meditation where you visualize an apple or any of your favorite fruits or object. To begin, find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. You don't want to be so comfortable you fall asleep, but you also don't want to be uncomfortable so your mind ends up wandering to what's making you uncomfortable. There is nothing worse than cutting off circulation to your legs or an itchy shirt when trying to meditate. Once comfortable, close your eyes. Begin visualizing an apple (or whatever fruit or object you picked). I always start with the apple itself. Is it red, green, golden, or a different color? Is it perfectly round, dimpled, bruised, or oblong? Is it shiny, glossy, or dull? Are their speckles or stripes? Next, visualize the stem. How long is it? Are their leaves still attached? Is the apple on the ground or still connected to the tree. Spend 5 minutes focused on shaping the apple in your mind. Practice this visualization several times before you move on to bigger things. When you have mastered the apple, try visualizing a stream, an entire tree, your home, or even yourself. These visualizations are much larger and should take you between 10 to 15 minutes to completely form. If you are struggling, it could take up to 20. However, you are more than capable of hedge riding without being able to quiet your mind for 20 minutes. In fact, hedge riding is much easier to do because your mind is busy processing information during a ride versus trying to remain focused on nothing.

Another technique to get you prepared for hedge riding is pathwalking. Essentially, pathwalkings are guided meditations that take you on a journey of sorts. I STRONGLY encourage all hedgewitches to practice pathwalking. It is one of the closest things to hedge riding without the actual riding experience. During pathwalking, the listener is guided through a visualization or journey. Generally, pathwalking takes between 10 and 20 minutes, although there are guided journeys that last much longer. You can think of pathwalking as being akin to hypnotism. The experience is similar except you are left in control of your mind and journey versus the guide controlling you. Begin with something short, think 10 minutes or so. You can even write and record your own pathwalking journeys if you can't find something you like. For example, you can record a journey through a forest where you take a nice refreshing dip in a cool river, or where you run through a field of wheat on a crisp fall morning. If you wish to find a journey already recorded, check out YouTube. Try searching guided meditation/journey instead of pathwalking. You'll find a slew of wonderful journeys, some of them focusing on ridding you of anxiety or even depression.

If you find meditation or pathwalking too difficult or have trouble visualizing 'pictures' and 'events,' try dancing or drumming to help you focus your mind. These are both methods to reach an altered state of consciousness too, but the act of moving can help those with sensory and processing disorders such as ADD, ADHD, and autism quiet their mind long enough to slip into the Otherworld and journey. I do not have extensive experience using these methods, but something that has worked for me was dancing around a fire pit or candle flame, a process known as treading the mill. Begin moving slowly in a circle around the fire pit or candle. Keep your eyes on the flame and slowly begin speeding up. In some traditional witchcraft traditions, it is common for the person to drag their non-dominant foot. As you circle, you'll likely notice your mind starts to go blank and you enter into a trance. Practice reaching this mild trance instead of meditation if sitting still proves too difficult.

Being able to see a journey in your mind's eye is crucial to hedge riding. While hedge riding, your mind and spirit will journey beyond our realm to the Otherworld. As mentioned in previous posts, hedge riding is not controlled like during meditation and pathwalking. What happens to you is out of your control, apart from what you yourself do. You can, of course, decide where to go and what to say, but you have no control over those around you. They will interact with you the same way your friends, family, co-workers, and strangers interact with you. 

If you are unable to keep it focused for long periods of time, you should avoid hedge riding until you have mastered it. Furthermore, if you are stressed, anxious, angry, or upset, you shouldn't hedge ride either. Being overly emotional is potentially dangerous and, let's be honest for a moment, it's hard to focus your mind when you are emotionally unstable. Why even bother? Wait until you are in the right mindset, then contact your guides for assistance if you must. If you are inexperienced, spend the next couple of weeks preparing your mind to travel. You have some time before I delve into actually hedge riding, so use this time to practice. Good luck!

Interest in the rest of the series? Make sure to keep an eye out for upcoming posts!

Hedge Riding Series

What is Hedge Riding?
Realms of the Otherworld

Focusing the Mind: Getting Ready to Ride

Preparation + Hedge Riding Sachet

Hedge Riding Etiquette: Do's and Don't's of Interacting with Spirits

Hedge Riding Safety Tips: Staying Safe Outside Our Realm

How to Hedge Ride + Flying Ointments

Seeking Your Animal Guides + My Animal Guides

Developing a Relationship With Your Spirit Companions

After You Hedge Ride: Coming Back to Earth

My Hedge Riding Experiences

Looking for more information on hedge witches? Check out my posts on the topic:

What is a Hedgewitch?

Hedgewitch vs Kitchen Witch

Meditation, Pathwalking, and Hedge Riding: Making Sense of It All