Parsley, Sage, Marijuana, and Thyme - why herbal identification training is sorely needed

As my mother proudly listed each one as best she remembered, the person started acting strangely.  Picking up a bundle, she pointedly asked if this bunch was marijuana.  You know, cannibis.  At this, one can imagine the look of incredulity that passed across my mother's face.  The acquaintance became quite insistent that it would be this, as the daughter is strange anyway.

After a moment of weighty silence, she was asked quite directly what would make her think that any daughter would gift her mother with a bundle of "weed" when she was clearly bringing over herbs.  Reevaluation of the mental faculties of this person took place on the spot.  The eternal mantra of the unpleasantly surprised came forward, "What is wrong with you?", and she was courteously encourage to consider her stay a tad bit overlong.

The fact that the writer is "strange" was code word for "witch" in these circles.  But seriously, when does that make one the local Cheech and Chong dream delivery franchisee?  The fact is, there are so many people who never take the time to look at what herbs, or other foods, look like before they are processed lead to this messiness.  Seriously, sage is not cannibis.

And if she is mistaking it for something she has had before, it is time to reconsider her sources.  Though to be frank, she does not seem the type to be featuring a bong display on her tatted lace doily collection.  While it is encouraging that she attempted field identification with limited training, it is most unfortunate that that was the first intuitive leap she would make.

Gentle readers, this writer encourages you to take to the highways, the hills, the byways, the streets, and the recreation centers to share your knowledge of actual herbs.  Please spread the word that just because it is on a stem, and has flowers and greenery that is not grass or hostas, does not mean it is a drug.  Shaking of the heads, indeed, were shared over this phone call.  Please don't let it happen to your friends and loved ones.  Only you can inspire a potential wildcrafter my fellow Detroit peeps, only you.

Happy First Anniversary, Pagan Pathways Temple

Happy Anniversary wishes are in order.  It is almost a year since Pagan Pathways Temple opened its brick and mortar doors to the Pagans in Southeast Michigan.  And what a year it has been.

Community town hall meetings, classes, workshops, and Wiccan services have all been held in its walls.  Weddings, a community thanksgiving, and a community center aspect that has hosted children's activities has made this home to many.  When there is no where else to find answers for the new seeker, this wonderful board and its leader, Rev. Nashan, have opened their arms and hearts to all who would come in peace and sincerity.

And now, wow, a full year has gone by since the opening.  The smiling face, beaming with pride and happiness, that was Nashan's is still easily brought to mind.  It was a celebration for all as they opening ritual raised a joyful noise with the music of "Happy" lifting all spirits in joining with their accomplishment.  

But as this writer always says, "The work is only done, by those who do the work".  And while they have been working their bodies and minds well beyond the limits of reasonable expectation, there are still many who have not heard of their existence, nor their message of inclusive Paganism.  They hold space for us, and for that, we give them honor.

So without any further delay, it is with great awe that the words of the good Reverend Nashan are shared here from his announcement regarding the anniversary celebration on September 11, 2016.  A good day to make a good memory and associate with the building of something good and right.  A good day to come out and contribute to the continued existence of this place. 

"Greetings all!

Well the official countdown has begun. 11 days until we begin our celebration of one complete year of service to the community that we Love. I would first like to thank the Pagan Pathways Temple Board for all of your hard work this year and your hard work in putting together this 2 day event. You guys inspire me! smile emoticon Love you.

I would also like to thank our dedicated staff of volunteers who (often times without being asked) take the time out of their schedules to work our events, clean the temple, act as temple keepers, and just get everything we need to get done, done. You guys Rock so hard!

Now we have a number of things coming up, but None as big as our Anniversary celebration. We have 2 days of fun and fellowship in store for you all and we sincerely hope you come and celebrate with us both days.

The schedule of events will be posted here on FB and on our website shortly so check back here soon.

Our goal is no less than 200 people each day showing up to hang out with us. We want to spread the word far and wide that the Temple is open and here to stay! So bring a friend. Bring that certain someone who has meant to get down to the temple, but just hasn't had that chance.

Join us as we change the world!

Blessed Be

Nashan"

 

hyssop and the hopeful witch

This article appeared in the Detroit Paganism Examiner today. http://www.examiner.com/article/hyssop-and-the-hopeful-witch?cid=rss

Bright Blessings

As Summer continues onward, this it the time to enjoy the beautiful blueish blooms in your Witch's Gardens that are associated with Hyssop. A classic must for most magical herbalists, it is one of the majestic residents. It's uses are many and this is the time that those who are harvesting should be very busy.
For those unfamiliar with the term magical herbalism, it would be time well spent to check out a copy of Scott Cunningham's book of the same title. A classic, this Michigan native basically made the standard, along with his famous book "Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs". It is almost unheard of for those who are on the paths of herbal magic not at least heard of this book in the Great Lakes region.
Hyssop, or Hyssopus officinalis in its Latin name, corresponds to Jupiter and fire in many traditions. It is a short green semi evergreen that scents the air and spreads out from its base in thick spires. The leaves are narrow, and the flowers are small and fragrant. For magical use, as well as for tea, it is the flowers and leaves that are used.
However, this columnist, having been raised by Parents of the Heart (my term for parents who may not be your biological, but are your parents just the same) who had seen the Great Depression, it has always been my way to not throw out anything that may be useful. So this writer use the stems in my fuming bundles, in elixirs, my fire pit bundles, and many other ways. Waste not, want not.
The plant is also used for attracting bees. The bee population is under ever growing threat, and by having this plant in the garden it is a way to help them survive. It also attracts other critters, so a good opportunity to see local small wildlife comes with it.
The medicinal uses for this herb are amazing. Some of the most commonly known are as

"calming and tonic herb, Hyssop has an expectorant action and can be used to treat bronchitis and respiratory infections and to help reduce fever when taken as a tincture or tea. An oil infusion made from hyssop is useful in treating bruises, cuts, eczema and can also be useful for wound healing..."
as listed by The Way of the Witch.

But there are also a myriad of uses in the magical realm as well. Purification, healing, and protection are the most common. As a matter of course, it is also used as in my personal cleaning blends for many rituals. It is also a great tea. However, it is always wise to check your correspondences when designing your own.
Usually, you can get two harvests from each year. Be mindful to cut the flowers as soon as they are in full bloom. Do not let them go to seed if you want to get more blooms.
To dry them, wrap small bunches at the base of the cut stems with either yarn or string. Tie firmly, taking care not to overtighten which can result in broken stems. Hang upside down in a dry cool place, until ready. Keep in mind, that if you leave them outside and it rains, you will get really brown results, so keep them inside.
This plant is a perennial, so once it is established, expect vigorous growth. It winters well and even survived the Michigan Polar Vortex last winter. The same could not be said for the Rosemary next to it.
You can either braid the stems into wands, make wreathes, or leave them straight while drying. It is a personal choice. Then afterwards it can be placed in containers for future use. Separating the bounty into different containers and charging them to purpose is a great way to save time and effort later. Also, it never hurts to put a tiny Citrine in the bottom of the containers as well.
One usage that may not come immediately to mind, but one that is satisfying, is making hyssop infused oil for the magical lamp. Using a clean base like olive oil and making an oil with the irregular stems and leaves of the hyssop is a way to make a Blessed Lamp. This can be used at home, or given as a gift.
Reading this and wanting to get some hyssop but it is not growing outside? A great herbs supplier locally is Lotions Potions and Notions right here in Michigan. For a review of some of her products you can visit the review "The nitty gritty on Lotions Potions and Notions products" in the Detroit Paganism Examiner.
Also, most online and brick and mortar shops specializing in holistic or magical clientele usually have this item in stock. A beloved favorite of Detroiters, Donna Adams at Discount Candles can also fulfill your herbal needs with a smile. Located in the Eastern Market community at 1400 Gratiot Ave, it is a quick drive or bus ride away. And yes, they do ship.
Looking to learn more about herbs? You may also wish to visit Learning Herbs.
Happy Gardening.

Ostara at Cedarsong Grove March 23rd

Ostara at Cedarsong Grove March 23rd



On Sunday March 23rd, Lansing's Cedarsong Grove shall be hosting their annual Ostara Rite at Camp Frances
in Charlotte, Michigan from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. Though set up and
preparation for the event begins at 1:00 o'clock, it is advisable to
arrive a bit beforehand if this is your first time attending this event.



Ritual itself is scheduled to begin at 2:00, and as always, it is
advisable to be sure to allow for our unpredictable Michigan road delays
so that you can be on time. Also, as this is a campground, it is
advisable to bring sturdy footwear.


The event itself is set up tentatively as a pot luck, but it is wise to check by sending an email to herald@cedarsongadf.org
to make sure that plans have not changed. This would also be a good
way to enable the event organizers to round out a meal menu. Courtesy
is very cool.


There is a cabin at the site, however if it is possible, the ritual
is to be held outside. This is in accordance with the philosophy of
Nature being the preferred Sacred Space. Keep this in mind, and dress
appropriately for the weather conditions.


Camp Francis is located at 1501 S. Cochran Avenue. The locale is
lovely, and is a gently touched area where you will be able to enjoy the
celebration in the embrace of the Wind and the Wood.


This event is an open Ritual, and if you have never had a chance to experience the actual Love with which a Druid Ritual is conducted, this is a great event. New beginnings for the Earth, and for yourself.


Blessed Be.

Creating natural gift wrapping with natural materials at Lake Erie Metropark

 

Dark Blessings.
As the time of the Yule Tree reigning supreme in many households, the question of how to be responsible to the Earth comes up, and designing your own gift wrap using natural items is almost a no brainer.. After all, gifts being opened the morning after the Long Night of Yule, where there is no sleeping, are a great treat.
Those billowing piles of commercial wrapping paper aching to be put in a landfill are not what one would call being in the vibe of the season. That is where the the Marshlands Museum & Nature Center, located at Lake Erie Metropark, 32481 West Jefferson, Rockwood, MI, comes into the picture.
Gift giving by Pagans for Yule is a long held here in Metro Detroit, with many choosing themes for decorating at Yule Night in Detroit, when all the fineries are arrayed in the various shops on Woodward. The inspiration there is not to be discounted. And though it would seem a new phenomenon to some, the giving of gifts is not a new thing for us as

"Holiday gift giving began long before Christmas. The Romans would give gifts to one another on pagan festivals like Saturnalia, the winter solstice, and the Roman New Year" according to www.mymerrychristmas.com

But it was not until the Victorian Period that things really took off. At this author's household, the usual option i s that of fabrics which may be reused. Hand sewn bags are also a delight, and can be handed down for year. Wrapping papers usually were bought, but with the environment being priority, hand made is now the way to go forward.
On Sunday December 15th, at 2:00 PM, they will hosting a workshop on using ink, paint, and natural items to create your own Yule masterpieces of wrapping art at Lake Erie Metropark.
The fee is only $4.00 per person and preregistration is required.
For additional details, or to register, call 734-379-5020.
For more on the history of Yule, go to http://www.simnet.is/gardarj/yule1.htm
Blessed Be

 

Beginning at the Beginning

November 19, 2013

Dark Blessings!
As the nights grow long, the wind blows sharp and cold, many are seeking light in the Dark that is across the land, looking for where to begin on the chosen Paths, and the Witches abide. Those of us who are Heathen await Odin's Ride, and all are eager for the the Winter Solstice where we keep watch all night for the promise of a new spin of the Wheel, and new chances to learn and teach.
This is a good time to be thankful for the teachers who have helped shape the existence of Wicca here in our nation. In this writer's travels across the boards and rooms of the web, a question came that led to many responding with answers that are common today. However, many answers that would be standard to those at the beginnings of the Great Witch Awakening here in the late 50's and 60's might have found curious to see were missing.
The question was as follows:
"I am actually seeking guidance on where to start. The library here offered one Wiccan book & its missing. The people that Ive met that have claimed to be Wiccan (sic), it was just a phase for them. Thank you for any help or guidance"
A query familiar enough to many on the Path. The expected names of Buckland, Grimassi, and our own native son from the Land of the Fresh Water Seas Scott Cunningham were there, as well as Donald Michael Kraig. A name glaringly absent was Ed Fitch.
For those unfamiliar with him, he was one of the major contributors to how Witchraft and Wicca formed here in the United States of America today. What did he do? Well, as Pagan Poet's site fondly conveys

"He is one of the creators (along with Joseph B. Wilson and Thomas Giles) of “The Pagan Way”, a non-initiatory Wiccan tradition. He was one of the editors of “The Waxing Moon”, a magazine founded by Joseph B. Wilson in 1964, and the first magazine devoted to Witchcraft in America (later re-named “The Crystal Well""

But more than this, he helped shape a generation of young minds and souls. A Pagan Veteran and prolific writer, he helped guide many of us in our first steps through his works. Yet his name is not as well circulated in many forums as his peers. As you light your altar candles for all of our Veterans to keep watch for them throughout the year would be kind and proper.
Also, while the writers at Llewellyn Publishing are always delivering new and original authors, there is a firm foundation of excellent works that have been on the scene that they released many years ago. For the beginner, a great start would be to look into their Practical Techniques books.
It is also important to remember that there are other publishers and authors near and dear to us that may not be as well known, but offer a treasure of gifts to the student and sage alike. Publishers and writers, Shetan Noir of Shetan Noir Books and Corvis Nocturnum of , are local Mid Western favorites for good titles and useful information. Authors Andrieh Vitimus, Puck Shadowdake, Shauna Aura Knight, Michelle Belanger, and others are all adding to the tapestry of Magick and the Craft here in the Mid West. Do not neglect the pearls in your own garden.
So in as we approach Thanksgiving here in the States, let us give thanks for those who have Served and those who continue to Serve the community. And since it is near the holiday's here is a suggested rite called

The Light of Thankfulness
You will need an altar dressed in the appropriate colors for your Tradition. Suggested colors are red for Life Blood, Purple for Achievement, and Gold for Divine Guidance. A Silver Candle, a Gold Candle,and a Light Blue Candle,( for the Lady, the Lord, and for Blessed Healing) should be at center. A small bowl, which can be inverted over a stone is placed under the Blue Candle. Anoint the Blue with Rose oil. A small red or garnet stone should be there to help offer protection to those who you Honor, and charged with protective thoughts.Set out a cup of water you have prayed over to sustain those who have passed on. Bread should be there to bring remembrance of the solidity and the impermanence of this human life. If desired, incense of Sandlewood is appropriate.
Compose a prayer of simple words to thank deity for observing your rite. Light the Lord and Lady candles. No Circle is needed. Light your incense, name all those who you would heal and see placed in Divine protection and light the blue candle. For those whom you wish to give special thanks, you can write out a simple prayer of thanksgiving and burn in the flame of the blue candle. Let this stay in place during your Thanksgiving meal, encouraging guests to stop by the area and give their own moments of prayer and reflection. The garnet should be wrapped in a cloth afterward and sent to one who needs it most. Let the candle burn all meal, until it burns out. Extinguish the deity candles and save until next year.
~ Mistress Belladonna ~
So when asked where to begin, remember to begin at the beginning. Begin with remembering what came before you, that there is joy in thankfulness for being able to have those teachings to draw upon, and then go out and find that within you that is a light to others that you may share. And that can be a beautiful beginning.
Blessed Be.

First published in http://www.examiner.com/article/beginning-at-the-beginning-when-starting-wicca?cid=db_articles

Dark Blessings!
In Michigan, we have come to the time for us to recognize that the time of Eldering is upon us in order to ensure the next generations of magickians, witches, Wiccans, occultists, Pagans, etc, are properly prepared and guided. The sixties have come and gone, and the icons have begun to age and pass down their torches to those who are coming after them. This is a vital time, because every generation is a new challenge, a new opportunity, a new time to either save the values and foundations of belief of our Traditions, or see them destroyed, dissembled, and degraded to the lowest forms. This is why Eldering is so important.
What is Eldering? The Eldering Institute defines it as

"... living life as a contribution.
When we share the best of who we are, we have purposeful conversations that matter. We are generous with our time and energy. We listen non-judgmentally and give people our full attention. Rather than focusing on contributing knowledge or information (which quickly becomes obsolete or redundant), we share our wisdom—our insights and perspectives, our ‘way of being’ in the world—in a way that brings out the best in others and helps them live life more successfully on their own terms"

This is what those who have come before, gone through the trials and rites, and lived the life have to offer us. Too often their insight is seen as censure, and experienced observations are seen as attacks when they are not. Right now in the Land of the Fresh Water Seas, the Elders are quietly leaving us to find our own ways. But not in the best way in many times.
There is a perceivable wave of despair shadowing the land. Those with knowledge to share are being ignored, pushed aside, and sometimes even purposefully subjected to character attacks by those who would replace them. It is one thing to find your place in the sun. It is another to be shone upon by the light from the flames of the pyre upon which you sacrifice your rival.
The need to grow and change is ever present. However, to grow implies a starting point. If one does not acknowledge where the beginnings are, what the basis of beliefs were founded upon, good and bad, then how does the community rise as a whole. How do you cut off the roots and expect the tree to stand?
Money has been a real motivator the world over, and throughout the ages. That being said, it is insinuating itself among the leadership that is taking the helm of the ship. Instead of it being a means to and end, the would be Now Generation of Michigan Magick is being slowly affected by false elders, those described by Quill Mastercraft in "The Travail of Pagan Elders" as ones who

"set a goal to become a Pagan elder, thinking they can amass money, fame or power in such a position. They promote themselves as experts, usually on a specific tradition or subject matter, and either offer themselves as public speakers or preachers, hold classes for a fee, write articles or books. In today's society, where so many people gullibly (sic) believe what they see and hear - often ignoring their intuition or better judgement - such self-proclaimed elders draw the naive to them, and proceed to mislead, confuse and sometimes totally disillusion them about the true meaning of their Pagan faith"

This does not mean that the earning of money for time and work is wrong or to be looked down upon. However, there is more to being an elder than gathering followers willing to finance you. As Patti Wigington wrote in "Elders - What Is a Pagan Elder?",

"Often, someone who has been involved in the Pagan community for a long time, and has shown that they have a significant amount of knowledge and wisdom to share, can be considered an Elder. People who are teachers, counselors, authors, and other leaders can all be designated as Elders, if others feel they have earned it"

Thus, the author can sell the books, the teacher can charge for classes, the festival organizer can charge event admission, etc, without losing their spirituality in the process. The key is that they have earned the title through doing the work and it will show in everything they do, not in the grand way they turn a phrase when they self proclaim their status.
Lineages, Traditions, Paths, Books, all of these are valid things, but without the heart, blood, and Souls of those who have established them, practiced them, and learned from them, they mean nothing. If you have never heard the voice of your Gods, how can you lead others to that deity? If you have never walked the Way, then how do you find it?
Elders are there as guides and pools of knowledge and experience that are here if people will use them and allow them to share it. When you walk into the local store and see that woman behind the counter with the serene face, the grey streak, the energy pouring off of her, and you decide that you know it all and do not have anything to gain, you have missed the boat.
People give a lot of lip service to honoring the ancestors. But why wait until they are the Mighty and Beloved Dead before you recognize their worth? What good is sitting vigil years later, when the feast is before your eyes now? Sit at the table and be served.
When you go to the local events and the gentleman sagely watching it all and speaking little sometimes, or who is sometimes very vocal about things that mean a lot to him, pay attention. There is the lesson. You may not agree, but you have had the blessing to hear and the chance to process what you have heard from those who have sailed those waters before you and can say, yes, there there be dragons.
One more thing to remember when we do wrongly by our Elders was summed up best by local
Elder L.J. Rose, local owner of Lotions Potions Notions is that

"there is no way that they will ever get an elder to come back to serve after the way they have been treated"

Words to heed.
Blessed Be.

Republished from http://www.examiner.com/article/eldering-a-new-generation-of-pagans-michigan

Special Regards to Ki'a Dragon