Tag: mabon

  • Yarrow in Magick!

    Another popular herb during fall and Mabon is Yarrow! It's autumnal colors and readiness for harvest make it a natural addition to Mabon altars and spells! 

    Yarrow

    Achillea filipendulina var. gold plate (Yarrow)
    Chris Burrows / Getty Images

    Yarrow was often called Woundwort or Knight's Milfoil, thanks to its use in treatment of battle injuries. Scotland's Highlanders use it to make a healing ointment, and in the Orkney Islands, yarrow is used to make a tea that "dispels melancholia." Maud Grieve tells us in A Modern Herbal that the Romans referred to it as herba militaris, the soldier's herb. French workmen in the Middle Ages knew that yarrow worked well on injuries to fingers and hands – in fact, in some areas it was known as "the herb of carpenters."

    In addition to its uses in soft-tissue injuries, yarrow is well known as a combatant against fever. A number of Native American tribes used it in teas that were given to the sick, to bring body temperatures down. In India, a tea called gandana is given to the ill to induce sweating, thus lowering the fever.

    Yarrow can be used in magical workings related to healing, love, and courage. Wear it on your person to boost your self-esteem and courage, or carry a bunch of dried yarrow in your hand to stop fear. A sprig hanging over the marriage bed guarantees at least seven years of passion and love. Taking a ritual bath with yarrow can help increase your psychic abilities. It can also be used to exorcise negative energies from a place or person.

    If you're working on a healing ritual for someone who is ill, consider burning dried yarrow as incense, or place a sachet of yarrow under the person's pillow to bring about restful sleep.

    Other Names: Achillea, Lady's Mantle, Woundwort
    Gender: Feminine
    Element: Water
    Planetary Connection: Venus

    Yarrow has a fairly bitter taste, but you can use both the leaves and flowers in cooking. The leaves themselves, which are flat and paddle-shaped, can be chopped up, seasoned with some lemon juice and salt and pepper, and served either in a salad or with a light summer seafood dish. If you'd rather not eat it, try putting some yarrow flowers in a bowl and adding boiling water to it — then put your face over it and let the yarrow steam open your pores.

    Note: pregnant women should not take yarrow internally, and it should not be used for undiagnosed bleeding.

    Source: Learnreligions.com

    learnreligions.com/magical-herb-correspondences-4064512

     

  • Apple Magick!

    With Mabon just around the corner, now is a perfect time for apple picking and to incorporate this wonderful bounty into your magick! 

    Apple Magic

    Apple tree orchard during the harvest.
    Photography René Bosch / Getty Images

    Because of its associations with the harvest, the apple is perfect for Mabon magic. 

    To include apples in your magical spells and rituals, consider adding them to your fall altars, placing them around your home in bowls and baskets, or cooking some of your favorite apple dishes to serve at mealtimes. Use the wood from an apple tree to craft runes, Ogham staves, or a wand or staff. If you're lucky enough to have a bit of land for planting, consider adding a few apple trees to your property; they'll start producing fruit when they're a few years old, and you can take advantage of their magic all year long!

    Apples have always been popular tools for foretelling the future. There are a number of traditional methods in folklore for seeing who one's lover might be.

    • Peel the apple, keeping the peel in one long piece. When the peel comes off, drop it on the floor. The letter it forms is the first initial of your true love's name.
    • Wait until midnight and cut an apple into nine pieces. Take the pieces into a dark room with a mirror (either hanging on the wall or a hand-held one will do). At midnight, begin eating the pieces of apple while looking into the mirror. When you get to the ninth piece, throw it over your shoulder. The face of your lover should appear in the mirror.
    • If a girl has more than one potential lover, peel an apple and pull out the seeds. Place a wet seed on your cheek for each boyfriend. The last one left stuck to the skin represents the suitor who is the true love.

    Source: learnreligions.com

    learnreligions.com/the-magical-energy-of-apples-2562299