The Pagan Heart Callum's Herbaria

July-August 2005 Issue

Callum's Herbaria By Callum Mostyn     Dydd da. Croeso i Callum's Herbaria. I'm Callum, and welcome once more to my Herbaria. This last weekend I spent some time reading Tennyson - in particular his work the Morte d' Arthur wherein my favourite section reads: But now farewell. I am going a long way With these thou seest -if indeed I go - (For all my mind is clouded with a doubt) To the island-valley of Avilion; Where falls not hail, or rain, or any snow, Nor ever wind blows loudly; but it lies Deep-meadowed, happy, fair with orchard-lawns And bowery hollows crowned with summer sea, Where I will heal me of my grievous wound. Tennyson, Morte D'Arthur Avilion, or Avalon, otherwise known as the Apple Isle. Land of life and death, Avalon has been cropping up in British mythology since the sixth century CE or so. Aval is Breton for apple (Afal in Welsh) showing the link between this island and apples from the start. By the thirteenth century Geoffrey of Monmouth is quite specific when he refers to it as insula pomorum que fortunata vocatur, or "the Apple Isle called fortunate". This place is inhabited by beautiful women of great magic and healing ability. All very interesting - in a Arthurian kind of way - but why am I talking about this? After all, I write about herbs�well, it was Avilion that got me to thinking about apples, and they are a truly potent plant. With the approaching harvest season, apples are coming into their glory and this is the time to be preparing them for upcoming rituals. Apples have a very long association with immortality, beauty, and health, and these areas are the ones they are best suited to magically. Not that I think an apple will necessarily give you immortal life, but it may enhance the quality and length of your current one. And may bring immortality through wisdom. Use apple in spells of love and friendship. Using them in Samhain rites is appropriate also as they are a fruit of both the dead and of divination. It is best to present the apples still on the bough if you can (especially with the buds, flowers, and new fruit) - I know one family that ties store bought apples to a branch to recreate the sense of fresh picked fruit. Apple cider is an appropriate substitute for blood in rituals as well - which is good news for the squeamish and also those following old traditions with more modern mindsets. Aside from all this, the apple is a wonderful food that will only benefit you if included in your diet regularly. I have a ratty looking pippin tree in my garden - not as ratty this year as last, I have to admit, but certainly a touch gnarled and ancient. The fruit it produces is tart with a suprising sweetness - very much like life itself. Anyway, it's a lovely place to sit - I've been planting thyme around it. Not sure how well it will do, but metaphysically it's a wonderful blend. Like apple, thyme is a herb of the Otherworld, aiding in communion between here and there. It also sanctifies the area, helps raise healing energies, and generates a zone of tranquil power wherever it grows. Plus the smell is delightful. I am hoping the other property of thyme will come to bear - it is meant to open the eyes to visions of the fey. Seeing as how mine is at the bottom of the garden - a traditional hang out for faeries - there's a chance it might help. Thyme is a wonderful and versatile herb. It can be used in cooking anything from sweets and pastries through to rich, savoury stews. Healthwise it helps disinfect the air and surfaces (using the oil), boosts the immune system, and helps fight bronchial diseases and gas problems. It also creates an interesting visual in the garden. The variety of shades and variegations, as well as the different heights it grows to, make it a very useful border and fill-in plant. Growing a pot in the kitchen or near an entryway brings protective influences over the home, and helps keep the energy pure and healthy. If the thyme doesn't work - after all it maybe a bit too shaded - then I will try some sweet cicely (otherwise known as sweet chervil). It quite likes partial shade and damp conditions. Like thyme and apple, sweet cicely is a herb of the Otherworld. It helps us to connect with our soul, and thus our own immortality through the eternal nature of the soul. Any ritual of the dead should incorporate sweet cicely if possible. It aids in communication and in seeing the truth beneath the mask. Along with this, it brings the Sight to the fore in those with a gift for it. Meditating among the living plants is a wonderful experience as it seems to fill the space about you with its gentle energy. Try using the leaves in teas when working on your tea-leaf reading! It can generate some interesting results. Cicely is a harmless plant that you can happily consume long term - do take care not to confuse it with hemlock, however - the two plants look a lot alike. Drinking freshly brewed cups of hemlock tea is not advisable as it is quite poisonous. The light, feathery appearance of cicely makes it a good plant for filling in gloomy gaps - those shaded areas where little grows may be ideal for cicely if some light gets in and the soil is mulched. It's a slow grower, but does expand a fair amount and reaches about 3 feet. It also produces some tasty, licorice-flavoured seeds which make an interesting feature after the flowers are finished. In keeping with the theme of spirituality this column seems to be on, I thought I'd look at a few other otherwordly herbs. Neither grows in my garden - it's completely the wrong climate and temperature - but they are fixtures in my cupboard. Firstly, cinnamon. Much used, often abused, this spice is making waves right now for its potential medicinal value to diabetics. A mere gram or so a day can help control blood sugar levels and not only does it stimulate the insulin receptors, it also inhibits the enzyme that shuts them down. There are many other health-based reasons to add cinnamon to your diet - such as its anti-microbial function, its anti-clotting function, and its colon boosting work. And then there is its magical attributes. Sacred to the gods, it is a spice of the brain in that it helps psychic ability and boosts the memory and concentration. It is also of great assistance in spiritual endeavours. Conversely, cinnamon is a spice for the loins, increasing passion and, like many such spices, it also draws in raw power. Do be careful though - it is very easy to get adulterated cinnamon as opposed to pure. Always confirm the powder you are buying is pure and not blended with cassia. Pure cinnamon is much sweeter. If you can, buy the quills and grind your own. Not only is it guaranteed to be cinnamon, but it will stay fresh longer - the powder loses its scent within months. The other plant is myrrh - traditionally used with frankincense, this is a very powerful addition to any magical herbarium. It is the resin that is used - whether burnt as an incense, ground and blended for use in teas and tinctures, mixed with potpourris, or used in the creation of oil - so it is important to obtain good quality resin, preferably not too old and stale. I myself tend to avoid internal application of myrrh. Prolonged use can lead to kidney damage, and there are plenty of alternatives to achieve the same results. I pretty much err on the side of caution with most herbs since there is always a different one that will do the same job without the same risks. Or almost always, anyway. However, externally, myrrh makes a valuable disinfectant wash - take care to apply after thorough cleaning as it encourages the wound to seal quickly. For magical use myrrh is one of my standard purification and protection ingredients. It is sacred to the gods, and a powerful exorcist. I blend myrrh with sandalwood and frankincense for the metaphysical properties and the scent. Scent is a commanding agent, and the aroma of these three evokes mystery, a sense of the esoteric, and calls down the divine to fill the space. And it just smells so good. Like the others, myrrh helps with meditation and communion with the gods and the dead. It is a scent of inner contemplation, leading us into self-knowledge and acceptance. Just for a bit of fun, try replacing the rosemary with 2 drops each of myrrh and sandalwood oil in last issue's hair conditioning recipe from Spoil Me...Please. Aside from leaving your hair soft and silky, it will cleanse your energy, leaving you revitalised. If you have an important ritual coming up, this would also leave you purified in spirit and body. Da boch, my friends, and bi bheannaithe!

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