The Pagan Heart Callum's Herbaria

August-September 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. I discovered an interesting thing the other day. I had friends visiting from Australia and we were trying out a few native recipes. Getting the ingredients wasn't easy - we had to substitute a few, such as the emu - but the meal was certainly delicious and well worth the effort. Where was I? Oh yes. Learning something. One of the things we needed was banana leaves. While wrapping up the yams, I mentioned this column and how banana features in this month's issue. Did you know the banana is officially the world's biggest herb? Back to my friends and the conversation. According to them, the banana stalk has a long history down in the Southern Hemisphere. Metaphysically, it is considered akin to the human body. In the Philippines body-stealing demons leave banana stalks in place of the stolen corpse. Apparently it can be used by humans for the same purpose in magic and ritual - as a stand-in for the human sacrifice. Not something we are likely to engage in any time soon, however it does lend a certain something to the idea of harvest festivals…sacrificing the King ring any bells? I conducted some research upon this, and I can't confirm or squash the human sacrifice concept yet - although the corpse-stealing demon idea is spot on. Because of the demonology aspect, I am inclined to believe that the human aspect is probably accurate too. I also came across a reference to using the banana stalk to represent the God - maybe paired with a corn dolly as Earth Mother? I am thinking that next time I select a bunch of bananas, I might choose one with a bit of stalk - some of you may be fortunate enough to obtain a full-sized stalk - and with a touch of judicious carving, convert that stalk into a simple God fetish for the Harvest altar. As for growing the plant itself, did I mention I live in Britain? Shrewsbury area…not very conducive to healthy 'nanas, I'd say. Along the lines of plants I can't grow, but that can stand in for humans, ginseng is another. Considered to be a masculine plant, ginseng can be used to represent the male within ritual and spell. Interestingly, banana is able to cross-dress. Its flowers are hermaphroditic, which lends the banana to works for both the male and female, and to rituals involving balance between the genders. Not so ginseng. Despite its reputed nature as a panacea for all, ginseng is firmly male, and should never be used in rituals where it might impart its energy or power where that of the feminine is needed. Ginseng is a fascinating plant - 1,000s of years of history as a beloved medicinal within the Asiatic world, its abilities are still untapped. There is continual research being conducted, the most exciting showing that ginseng qualifies as an adaptogen - something that strengthens a stress-weakened body helping it recover. It is being studied for its potential benefits in fighting Alzheimer's, cancer, cardiovascular disease, depression, diabetes, and many other illnesses. Medically this plant is incredible. And obtaining the benefits of ginseng is as easy as having a cup of tea. It is potent, and as with any herb, can be misused - please, do your research before starting a regular regime as it may not end up being your cup of tea after all. As for the non-physical component...well ginseng is quite spectacular there too. Panax, the scientific name, derives from the greek word panakos, or panacea. This comes from the Chinese belief that ginseng is a sovereign remedy - that is a herb able to treat all illnesses. But this can be carried over metaphysically with the application of ginseng to spell or ritual for any work aimed at healing mind or body. If at all possible, you should obtain the root, rather than cut and dried ginseng as a part of the magic lies within the sympathetic correspondence of the appearance of ginseng. Similar to human skin in colour, oftentimes the root is also similar in shape. If necessary, use a blessed blade to trim or carve the root into a form closer in approximation to the patient. Where possible, apply hair or fingernail clippings from the one you wish to heal - or at the least, rub his/her spittle into the surface. Outside of the healing aspect, ginseng is a fairly ordinary herb magically. It helps with the attraction of love, luck, and desire, and can also be used in spells of protection - make sure it is worn on the body in an amulet or consumed in tea to get the maximum benefit of its protective powers. Since we are talking of root vegetables, let's look at another. The wild carrot, also known as Queen Anne's Lace, is a very nifty little weed. It is reputed to be very potent for its ability to banish evil. Hobgoblins and the like fear to tread where wild carrot spreads. Growing it (or letting it take over) judiciously about the boundaries of the garden will ward against the entry of those with wicked intent. I transplanted some when I first moved in here - the bottom end had a murky, dank atmosphere, but even when I'd cleared it out it still felt unpleasant and unwelcoming. I wasn't certain as to the reason, but felt maybe some wild carrot would help. Whatever lingered down there is long gone. Still a little murky and dank - with the pond that can't be helped - but now it's got a "healthy" quality to it. The weed has taken over a few spots where naught much else grows. Last night as I came in I noticed the tall umbrella-like flower heads, white and delicate, peeping out through the evening gloom at me. Almost like tiny ghosts bobbing about the bottom end, gathering in preparation for Samhaine. New ones are still popping up, late though it is in the season. Each one has a small central flower that is a maroon colour - legend recounts this to be a cure for epilepsy. I harvest the seeds after the flowers have died back somewhat and use them to make carrot-water for my mum. She finds the diuretic properties quite useful these days. I make quite a few potions and lotions for my mother, not all being purely medicinal. Anything made with marigold, for example, always ends up in her cupboard. Marigold makes a wonderful rinse for brunette or blonde hair, and also a soothing and healing lotion for the skin that rejuvenates and moisturizes. Perfect for winter or garden chapped hands and face - which Mum, being a garden-bug like myself, has a constant need for. I love marigolds. Such simple plants, cheerful and hardy, and so easy to grow. I planted out a punnet one year in the vegetable garden - to repel the insects - and they have self seeded each year since. They are easy to harvest - snip off the flower heads or buds after the sun dries the dew and lay out on paper to dry in the shade. Keep them separate from each other otherwise they may bruise and discolour. You can also dry them by burying them in sugar and then use them in baking and sweets. Sugar-dried marigolds look lovely and taste delightful, and are good for you too. They are very versatile - you can use them in jams, cordials, broth, baking, salads, teas, and many other dishes. On top of that they are an essential ingredient to the medicinal cabinet. For parents, marigold makes a wonderful component to baby and children lotions - delicate enough for young skin, it soothes itches and dry flaky eczema quickly. Some marigold oil in the bathwater restores the pH to that of the skin, preventing baby skin from being damaged, and also restoring aged adult skin. Being a simple plant, marigolds work best with simple magics. Kitchen witchery is ideally suited to their power. Simply growing a pot of 'golds by the door brings joy and happiness inside. Using them in cooking helps keep the household healthy and familial relationships strong. They are a plant of the sun and can be substituted for other "sun" plants in spells and rituals. Their pest-repelling nature is easily applied to metaphysical purposes as well. It amuses me how such insignificant seeming plants as the wild carrot and marigold can be so powerful while those with grand reputations can often be such a let down. The poppy is a good example of this. Physically speaking it has power - it can bring unconsciousness, or visions, pleasure or pain. But it really isn't that wonderful, despite its reputation. And, as with all herbs, there is an indication of this in the physical reaction application of poppy brings - lassitude, dreams, illusion…overused, it saps the strength, both physical and mental, and leaves a shell interested only in more. Poppy does have its useful times, and I certainly don't think it should be ignored. But it doesn't appeal to me as an important herb simply because for almost everything it can offer there is a stronger, better offering out there from an alternative plant. And it annoys me how "popular" and "oohed" over this plant is. I see poppy as more a temptation capable of draining desire and ability than an aid. Traditional Opium Poppy, that is. Grow one of the (legal) and milder cousins - such as the Icelandic Poppy - and you have access to the plant for the various minor cantrips, but prevent the spread of the insidious nature otherwise likely to fill your home. Poppy's main areas are visions, love and lust, and fertility - with a little prosperity thrown in. The visions I steer clear of - for the obvious. I like to have some passion in my visioning, to surface with a desire to know and act, not a dreamy, careless attitude. For the others, you can use poppy in the spells if you wish - I strongly recommend sticking to poppets and potpourri style spells though. Or you could do what I do and use poppy for something less "magical" yet ever so much more powerful. Poppy has become, like rosemary, the herb of remembrance - specifically for fallen warriors. I don't know for certain if this tradition existed prior to WWI, but for the last 80-90 years Flanders poppies have been worn to remember the dead. I have a crop in my front garden, along with some rosemary, and even when they aren't flowering there is a certain feeling of peace and memory about the space. This is the one place where poppy's dreamy aspect has a place to play - in my. In order to truly heal we need to get past pain to the joy of memories and poppy's calming sedative qualities absorbed within the garden environment can help that transition. Da boch, my friends, and bi bheannaithe!

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