#herbal study

[nightbunnysong]

What October Thought Me

Here are some of the little things I’ve learned this October, moments that, somehow, feel so precious. In these quiet discoveries, I feel a sense of warmth and light that I want to hold onto. It’s funny how even the smallest things can open up a whole new way of feeling, almost like they’re guiding me toward a kinder, more gentle way of living.

Dandelion and nettle teas have become my comfort. Every time I drink them, it’s like I’m sipping something healing from nature itself. Picking nettles is… a bit of a prickly adventure! But it makes me feel close to the earth, like there’s a small act of courage even in gathering my own tea.

Going out with my dog at 6:30 in the morning has become one of the sweetest parts of my day. In those quiet early hours, I feel wrapped in peace and gratitude. It’s like the whole world is whispering, “Good morning.” I start the day feeling connected to everything around me, full of happiness and thankfulness, like my heart is being hugged.

I’ve come to realize how much the way I speak affects not just others, but my own spirit. When I choose loving and gentle words, I feel a lightness that stays with me. But when I let myself slip into arguments or frustration, I only end up feeling sad and worn out. I understand now that kindness and joy in our words can become a habit, like a thread that weaves our days together. I want to keep choosing the voice that’s warm and gentle, so I can bring that same warmth into the lives around me.

Following the Japanese 80% rule when I eat has helped me listen more closely to my body. Stopping just before I feel completely full leaves me feeling lighter and more at ease, as if I’m caring for my body in a gentle, mindful way. It’s like a reminder that I don’t have to fill every space to feel satisfied—that it’s okay to leave a little room, and sometimes that’s even better.

Fiber feels like a quiet, loyal friend. I know it sounds funny, but in taking care of my health with small things like this, I feel a little bit stronger and more at ease. It’s a small way of showing love to myself, like a soft reminder to be gentle.

For the first time, I’ve begun kneeling to pray when I visit a sanctuary or attend Mass. It’s hard to explain, but there’s a deep peace in it. Each time, I feel like I’m reaching out to something vast and loving, something that holds me. I find myself filled with gratitude, almost like I’m embraced by something greater than myself, something that understands all the love I want to give.

These little lessons feel like soft whispers in my heart, guiding me to live more gently, with more care. I’m so grateful for them, and I hope I can hold onto this feeling, like I’m wrapping my days in kindness.

[hyerpwr]

Salt Bowl For Broken Crystals

I've never seen anyone do anything like this for broken crystals, so I thought I'd share a practice I've picked up since I've started my own journey in my craft. This is my personal take on salt charging dishes in which I use salt, herbs, and incense ash to heal my broken crystals.

I have an unnatural obsession with fluorite, and I also happen to be someone with chronic butter fingers when it comes to crystals. I decided to gather all my broken pieces of fluorite and preform my own practice to seal them and basically make them new again by restoring their lost energy by allowing them to absorb more energy.

For this practice, I simply picked a dish I felt drawn to that would fit all my broken pieces, then I added my salt to the dish. I used the tip of my finger to draw a spiral in the salt pile with the intention in my mind of drawing energy towards the dish by drawing the spiral. I then added my choices of a couple healing herbs and incense ash before adding my broken shards. For this practice, I only used the shards of the crystals that I wanted to be the "new" sealed crystal; most of the shards that were left when they originally broke were too small and plentiful to keep track of, so I didn't (my bad). After adding all my desired crystals, I circled the dish with my lit incense with the intention of drawing energy near. I meditated for a couple minutes and set my intentions clear and firmly of what I wanted to become of the crystals after the practice, then I stored the dish in a safe, open area for them to remain charging until I feel that they're new again.

[moonilit]

Tiny Jote doodles, you can tell me 6 yo Jote ‘nursed’ a comatose Joshua all you want SE that what SHE thought she was doing because she was a kid

[the---hermit]

Old pictures of my messy desk and some tlt book I found in the wild.

15|04|2023

Today was mostly made of me plaguing my dad (again) with my protohistory reviewing. This is the final big one and I am more or less half way into it. Tomorrow I will take the day off to recharge a bit and then I'll finish it between Monday and Tuesday morning. I am so tired I don't even feel nervous about this exam. Most of my to do list for the day was ignored but it's okay because I did my most important task. The good thing about today is that I found some new audiobooks which I'll start very soon.

Productivity:

started a new big out lout review of the protohistory notes I have to study in relation to all the pictures of archaeological finds. I am all done with the Chalcolitic era, and halfway into the Bronze age

Self care:

read first thing in the morning

📖: The Priory Of The Orange Tree by Samantha Shannon

[secretexperiment]

*

[curiouscottage]

Hello! Looking for some baneful practitioners to answer this question.

What ingredients would you use in a baneful working meant to end a friendship between two people (Both have abused those around them and have now formed a friendship where they feed off each others cruelty) or what are your favorite baneful ingredients to work with in general? I’ve already got a working planned I just want to see if there’s anything else I should add to it to really make sure it works.

(not looking for judgement or lectures and I am 6 years into my practice so I’m not a beginner I just like hearing other witches experiences and learning about different practices)

[800-dick-pics]

am i thankful for racially competent and culturally aware schooling, of course! but do i wish it was less..........normie

like i wish there was more i guess, talking about disabled and chronically ill birthing people, actual inclusive language surrounding birth and postpartum, talks about gay and trans births. I just feel drained everyday that i have to read about "the mother and father" when Im nb with a wife

its also like i have been a CH (certified herbalist) for 2 years and traditional herbalist for 12 so the herbal remedies portion of our textbook worries me!!!!! Its not that any of the information is going to kill or harm a pregnant person its that its not accurate enough!!! All of dosing I do is custom to 1 person, their weight, metabolism, their cultural beliefs/practice and unique to their needs! I dont even feel comfortable sharing herbal information on my personal bc i know how so many people run with the first thing they hear and never look into it again. Like i ALMOST have given a lot of people advice esp on how not to get pregnant and induce youre period to be unpregnant bc i know people NEED that information and I feel seeing people needing abortions but i feel so wrong publishing it. While i know how to go about making herbal medicine, taking it at high doses for a length of time, but not everyone has my training and experiences. So I find it off putting that my teachers would include any herbalist anything without instructions for prepping the herbs, dosages, risks/warnings and just basic herbal education esp when we are talking about keeping a pregnancy. Maybe im just younger, more "new school" but i fully believe we can have traditional healing modalities with science and inclusiveness

[sagescented]

jewish plant magic: rooting in from Dori Mignight

[nightbunnysong]

Things I harvested today- HAPPY AUTUMN EQUINOX🍂🐻🍯

This beautiful Sunday marked the first day of autumn, and my mom and I ventured into the Alps to gather herbs for making digestive liqueurs and winter teas. The meadows were bathed in a golden light, with the vibrant hues of autumn flowers scattered across the landscape. Shades of violet and yellow danced in the breeze, from the delicate petals of cornflowers to the dangerous beauty of the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale), quietly standing among the grasses.

We made sure to stock up on rose hips, Scots pine, juniper berries, and other fragrant mountain flowers, each one adding its own unique essence to the remedies we’ll brew in the coming colder months. The air was crystal clear, with a warm breeze softly brushing against our skin throughout the day, carrying the scent of pine and earth.

As we wandered through the alpine meadows, we stumbled upon a treasure trove of parasol mushrooms (Macrolepiota procera), perfect for tonight’s risotto. Their tall, elegant stems stood proudly amidst the grass, their wide caps a promise of the delicious meal to come.

After enjoying a simple meal -homemade bread and cheese- at the summit, surrounded by the majestic stillness of the mountains, we paid a visit to the Madonnina, protector of the mountain. We offered our thanks for the abundance of gifts she allowed us to bring home, feeling blessed by the generosity of nature as we descended from the heights.

How did you celebrate the first day of autumn? Let me know, I’m really curious!

[photos are mine]

[hyerpwr]

Water Practice

One essential element included in any ritual/practice or altar set up is water. A lot of people feel it to be necessary to use naturally sourced water when including it in their craft, however the source of the water used doesn't matter as much as it's perceived to. Although it's better to use naturally sourced water, it isn't required for a ritual or practice to be affective. Depicted here is a way to prepare non-naturally sourced water to be used in one's craft.

Required Supplies:

water

storage vessel, ideally something not made of plastic

something to cleanse with (smoke or sound preferred)

Optional:

clear quartz shards

river quartz shards

clear quartz freeform

anything you feel called to incorporate into your vessel

Practice:

Before collecting water, cleanse the vessel you will be using with your preferred method as you visualize bad energy being removed from the vessel (I typically visualize darkness being chased away by the light of the method of cleansing I use). Using the same method of cleansing, rid your crystals of negative energy if you wish to include them before adding water to the vessel. After cleansing and adding your desired components to the vessel, collect your water and incorporate it into your vessel.

Uses:

Water can be used in many different ways, but it is typically used to cleanse objects to be used in rituals/practices, channel and conjure energy, and represent the element in altars and sacred spaces. However, the use of water in a given craft is entirely up to the craft of the person who wishes to use it; there is no rule or guideline to be followed in relation to how water can and should be used, because it's decided by the user.

[catsconflictscopicsandchamomile]

Brewing a giant mason jar full of my personal Study-And-Chores Bitter Tea Blend tonight, figured I'd share the recipe.

34 oz (4 1/4 cups) of boiling water

2 teabags Bigelow Lemon Ginger

2 teabags Celestial Seasonings Raspberry Zinger

A few shakes of whole cloves

1 stick of cinnamon

1 star anise.... star. one star of star anise. whatever

Juice of 1 lemon

(Optional) honey and/or brown sugar to taste.

Let steep/cool completely, store in fridge WITHOUT STRAINING until ready for use. Pour through small strainer/sieve to serve (or just pick the spices/fruit out with your fingers, I've done that too lol). Drink within a day.

Makes one big mason jar (one pitcher) full.

[moonlight1237]

Rue, ("Ruta Graveolens")

The name name "Ruta" Latin name comes from the Greek word "Reuo" which means "To be free" or "To be set free"

Folk names; Garden Rue, German Rue, Herb of Grace, Herby Grass, Hreow, Mother of Herbs, Ruta, Rewe, Herb of Repentance.

Gender; Masc

Planet; Mars

Elements; Fire

Growing and Planet Care

- Perennial

- Native to the Balkan Peninsula

- Recommended to have full sun at parts of the day and partial sun for a few hours a day

- Keep the soil moist but use well-draining soils

- Drought resistant and able to handle hot dry environments

- Put in herbal gardens to add foliage, repeal bugs (especially in some areas Japanese beetles), and attract butterflies in the blooming season

- Avoid overwatering and it's not recommended to surround in mulch if it holds too much moisture it can cause root rot.

- Known to have a bluish tint in the leaves

- Deer resistant

- You should use long sleeves and gloves when pruning and messing with the leaves due to the oils on the Rue leaves that can cause major skin irritation.

- Said to grow for centuries

Spiritual Associations and Folklore Associations

-Love (believed to be an aphrodisiac)

-"Hex-breaker", "Curse-breaker"

-Exorcism/cleansing

-A very protective plant, It was made into wreaths, grown in front of homes and churches, dried and carried on a person for safe travel, and hung on doors.

-One of the biggest associations is that it is believed to repeal the evil eye in Mediterranean and South American cultures.

- It is said to grow best "when stolen" or take a cutting from an already grown plant

- There is a heavy belief in its healing abilities and was used often in the past, but it is known that if it's ingested in large amounts it can be poisonous.

- In Italian folk magic it was even common to use in baneful magic workings

- In places in Italy they would sometimes wash newborn babies in water steeped in Rue

Medicinal Associations

- Said to help eyesight by chewing leaves

- A common ingredient in poison anti-dotes

- Said to encourage Menstruation

- Abortifaction

There are many possible medicinal uses but I cannot put them down in good faith as the plant has to be prepared just right and in the right amounts to avoid personal harm, always contact healthcare professionals before using herbal remedies!!!

Symbolism

Adultery, Sorrow, Regret, Repentance, virginity, Purification, remembrance and good fortune.

[sammygender]

idk if my new herbal antidepressants are working. i sure feel more able to cope with the world and i did dance to ethel cain for like 3 hours with my sister and currently feel no desire to sleep. that mightve happened anyway because it was kind of overdue but maybe its them working. but on the negative side if they start to work too well and kick me into craziness i ideally would like that not to happen because it might mess up my exams. so maybe i should go off them for rn. and if i get depressed again i can go on them again. Also i can’t do this closer to exams cause then withdrawal might fuck up my exams too. Thoughts?

[afitnessgoddess]

Subjects to help enhance your knowledge of herbalism and holistic health.

[unofficialchronicle]

The Book of Herbal Wisdom, Mathew Wood. p. 472.

[trickstarbrave]

herbal remedy update:

this is the first time in my entire life i have gotten my period and not needed to take advil for it. what the absolute fuck. i didnt even rly have PMS. i was just groggy with brain fog. i have a heating pad on bc there is some discomfort but.

???????????????