#yellow wort

[indigrassy]

A bit of shrubby St. John's wort

[vandaliatraveler]

Photos above are from a trip into the mountains yesterday. I managed to get out to Lindy Point in the Blackwater River Canyon before the overlook was swarmed with sightseers (top two photos). The rhododendron is blooming now - the drive in from Blackwater Falls State Park is magical this time of year. As it descends through the canyon, the Blackwater River transforms into turbulent whitewater, but just above the canyon, where it turns out of Canaan Valley (5th photo down), it's a gentle, serene stream perfect for floating. I also tried out some different trails in Yellow Creek Natural Area and Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The lowbush blueberries are ripening now - a sweet little snack to improve the hiking experience. :-)

[wiley-treehouse-gardens]

[greencheekconure27]

[wildflowers-of-southern-ontario]

Common St. John's-Wort Hypericum perforatum Hypericaceae

Photograph taken on July 3, 2023, at Marmora and Lake, Ontario, Canada.

[weepingfoxfury]

The man on the radio has been sent all sorts of edible goodies. Lots of unwrapping and nom nom nom noises going on. Bruce Springsteen seems to be lamenting the loss of his shoes ... that and he can't see any sunshine either. The traffic lady tells stories of snarl ups before assisting the man on the radio with some chocolate covered peanuts.

Today's groaner: what's the dentist's favourite kind of dinosaur? ... a floss-iraptor ;-D badoom tish ... here all week!!

The Hypericum (St John's Wort) is about twice the size it was last year. Makes me think of dolly mixture sweets. I sat watching the stems going back and forth with the wind and little Fermata (newest and palest of ginger stray cat) sat and studied me hard. He thinks I'm peculiar, but is happy so long as his cat pate keeps rolling in his direction. Never known such a watchful cat.

Shiny metropolis calls (as ever) plus the Dentist today for a clean up ... not my favourite place to go. Ach well, concentrate on the coffee as the current advert for Citroën tells us it's "for everyone, but like no-one". Silly Citroën ...

[simplepics-bylilly]

St. John's wort -Hypericum perforatum- blooming between grass flowers

[lemonade-balm]

St Johns wort. Bees love it. It has cute yellow flowers spring through summer that give way to cute little orange baubles in autumn.

[ayanos-pl]

金糸梅（キンシバイ）（6月1日）

[paulpingminho]

[whatnext10]

Shrubby St. John’s Wort is a Hearty Native with Beautiful Flowers

Late Blooms It’s very late fall (actually technically just became winter) and even in Florida we don’t have a lot of flowers blooming anymore. Every once in awhile I still stumble on a few out there, though. Last week when I went to hike around Watermelon Pond, I found several bushes of these pretty shrubby St. John’s wort (Hypericum prolificum) that were still blossoming. There was one by the…

[ad-caelestia]

Correspondences for Days of the Week [quick reference]

Sunday 

Sun 

Gold, white, yellow 

Diamond, amber, tiger’s eye, sunstone, topaz, gold 

Cedar, frankincense, lemon, St. John’s wort 

Success, fame, prosperity, hope, healing, fortune 

Monday 

Moon 

Silver, white, blue 

Moonstone, silver, aquamarine, selenite 

Jasmine, lemon, sandalwood, honeysuckle, myrtle, willow 

Peace, dreams, emotions, illusions, glamours, psychic abilities, insight, wisdom, manifestation

Tuesday 

Mars 

Red, orange 

Bloodstone, ruby, garnet, flint, rhodonite, iron, steel 

Basil, patchouli, ginger, black pepper, dragon’s blood 

Power, lust, force, passion, will, courage, physical strength, war, energy, action, independence, practicality, protection 

Wednesday 

Mercury 

Yellow, purple, grey

Emerald, agate, fluorite, citrine, aventurine, mica, pumice, quicksilver, zinc 

Lavender, eucalyptus, jasmine, sweet pea 

Communication, arts, travel, luck, change, chance, gambling, creativity 

Thursday 

Jupiter 

Blue, purple, yellow 

Amethyst, lepidolite, sugilite, yellow sapphire, lapis lazuli, tin 

Clove, oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, sage 

Abundance, gain, riches, prosperity, wealth, success, luck, self-confidence, investment, gatherings, favors, ambition, mercy, humanity, publicity  

Friday 

Venus 

Pink, green, aqua, peach 

Jade, lapis lazuli, rose quartz, coral, emerald, malachite, copper 

Rose, yarrow, saffron, vanilla, thyme, sandalwood, strawberry  

Love, fertility, romance, friendships, passion, creativity  

Saturday 

Saturn 

Black, grey

Jet, obsidian, onyx, lead, pewter, hematite 

Cypress, myrrh, patchouli, black poppy seeds 

Safety, protection, intellect, life lessons, loss, past lives, law, justice, sincerity, restraint, discipline, responsibility, caution, time, chaos  

© 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 𝙰𝙳-𝙲𝙰𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚂𝚃𝙸𝙰

[wiley-treehouse-gardens]

Treehouse Gardens

[greencheekconure27]

[wildflowers-of-southern-ontario]

Common St. John's-Wort Hypericum perforatum Hypericaceae

Photograph taken on July 3, 2023, at Marmora and Lake, Ontario, Canada.

[greenwitchcrafts]

June 2024 witch guide

Full moon: June 21st

New moon: June 6th

Sabbats: Litha/Summer Solstice- June 20th

June Strawberry Moon

Known as: Aerra Litha, Birth Moon, Blooming Moon, Brachmanoth, Dyad Moon, Egg Laying Moon, Green Corn Moon, Hatching Moon, Hoer Moon, Honey Moon, Lovers Moon, Mead Moon, Moon of Horses, Moon of Making Fat, Partner Moon, Rose Moon & Strong Sun Moon

Element: Earth

Zodiac: Gemini & Cancer

Nature spirits: Sylphs & Zephyrs

Deities: Aine of Knockaine, Bendis, Cerridwen, Green Man, Ishtar, Isis, Neith & Persephone

Animals: Butterfly, frog, monkey & toad

Birds: Peacock & wren

Trees: Maple & Oak

Herbs: Dog grass, meadowsweet, moss, mugwort, parsley, skullcap & vervain

Flowers: Lavender, orchid, tansy & yarrow

Scents: Lavender & lily of the valley

Stones:  Agate, Alexandrite, cat's eye, chrysoberyl, emerald, fluorite, garnet, moonstone, ruby & topaz

Colors: Gold, green, orange & yellow

Energy:  Abundance, balance, change of residence, communication, decision making, education, family relations, full & restful energy, love, marriage, prosperity, positive transformation, prevention, protection, public relations, relationships, responsibility, strength, tides turning, travel & writing

While strawberries certainly are a reddish-pink color and are roundish in shape, the origin of the name “Strawberry Moon” has nothing to do with the Moon’s hue or appearance.

• June's full Moon is typically the last full moon of spring or the first of summer. The June Full Moon will be extraordinary. For the first time since 1985, Full Moon happens precisely on the summer solstice, when the Sun is highest up. Because the Full Moon is always opposite the Sun, this year, you will see that the Moon is 10 widths lower on the horizon than the Sun ever is. 

This “Strawberry Moon” name has been used by Native American Algonquian tribes that live in the northeastern United States as well as the Ojibwe, Dakota, and Lakota peoples to mark the ripening of “June-bearing” strawberries that are ready to be gathered. The Haida term Berries Ripen Moon reflects this as well. As flowers bloom and early fruit ripens, June is a time of great abundance for many.

Litha

Known as: Alban Heruin, Summer Solstice & Whit Sunday

Season: Summer

Element: Fire

Symbols: Besom, fairies, God's eyes, sunflowers & symbols of the sun

Colors: Blue, gold, green, orange, red, tan & yellow

Oils/Incense: Cinnamon, frankincense, heliotrope, lavender, lemon, lily of the valley, mint, musk, myrrh, orange, orange pine, pine, rose, saffron, sandalwood & wisteria

Animals: Cattle, crab, horse & octopus

Birds: Goldfinch, kingfisher, meadowlark, owl, robin & wren

Mythical: Fairies

Stones: Bloodstone, diamond, emerald, jade, lapis lazuli & tiger's eye

Food: Ale, bread, cheese, edible flowers, garden fresh vegetables & fruit, lemons, meade, milk, oranges, pumpernickel bread, summer squash & wine

Herbs/Plants: Anise, basil, betony, cinquefoil, copal, elder, fennel, fern, frankincense, galangal, hemp, ivy, larkspur, lemon, lemon balm, mistletoe, mugwort, mullien, nettle, orange, orpin, plantain, rue, saffron, sandalwood, St.John's wort, thyme, verbena, vervain, wild thyme & ylang-ylang

Flowers: Carnation, chamomile, daisy, heather, heliotrope, honeysuckle, lavender, lily, marigold, orchid, rose, wisteria & yarrow

Trees: Elder, holly, laurel, linden, oak & pine

Goddesses: Amaterasu, Aine, Anahita, Dea, Cerde, Dag, Dana, Eiru, Fenne, Gwydion, Kupala, Mabd, Phoebe, Skhmet & Sul

Gods: Apollo, Baal, Balder, Bel, The Dagda, Donnus, El, The Green Man, Helios, Huon, Jupiter, Llew, Loki, Lugh, Maui, Mithras, Oak/Holly King, Ogmios, Ra, Surya, Thor & Zeus

Issues, Intentions & Powers: Agriculture, changes, divination, ending, fertility, life, light, manifestation, power, purpose, strength, success & unity

Spellwork: Fire & water magick

Activities:

• Charge and cleanse your crystals in the solstice sun

• Make Sun water

• Create crafts with natural elements such as flowers

• Burn a paper with things that no longer serve you or that you are trying to let go

•  Invite friends & family over for a bonfire and/or feast

• Gather & dry herbs for the upcoming year

• Clean, decorate & cleanse your altar with summer symbols

• Brew some sun tea

• Take a ritual bath/shower with flowers

• Make your own sun dial

• Craft a door wreath out of flowers & herbs

• Enjoy some sunrise/sunset yoga

• Volunteer at a food kitchen or animal shelter

• Plant trees (especially ones that may provide fruit or berries to feed the wildlife)

• Watch the sunset & say a blessing to nature

• Make flower infused anointing/spell oils

• Eat fresh fruits & berries

• Participate in a handfasting

• Create shadow art

The history of Litha reveals its deep connections to ancient agricultural societies & their reliance on the sun's power. Celebrated as part of the Wheel of the Year, Litha symbolizes the balance between light & darkness. Throughout history  customs such as bonfires, herb gathering & the construction of sunwheels have marked this festival. Today, Litha continues to be celebrated by various communities, with gatherings at sacred sites & private rituals in natural settings. It serves as a reminder of our connection with nature and the cycles of life.

• The traditions of Litha appear to be borrowed from many cultures. Most ancient cultures celebrated the summer solstice in some way such as the Celts celebrated Litha with hilltop bonfires & dancing. Many people attempted to jump over or through the bonfires for good luck. Other European traditions included setting large wheels on fire & rolling them down a hill into a body of water.

Litha is often associated with Midsummer, a celebration that extends beyond the pagan and Wiccan traditions. Midsummer festivities are observed in many cultures around the world, including Scandinavian countries where it holds a prominent place in their cultural heritage. Midsummer dances, bonfires, & feasts are integral parts of these celebrations, often accompanied by folklore and traditional rituals that honor the sun's energy and the abundance of nature during this time.

The summer solstice is the longest day of the year & in some traditions, Litha is when The Sun(The God) is symbolically at it's peak time of power & the World will soon be ripe to harvest. It is also when The Goddess is pregnant with The God who is to be reborn at Yule.

• In the Northern Hemisphere the Summer Solstice occurs when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. It marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe. (In contrast, the June solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is when the Sun is at its lowest point in the sky, marking the start of winter.)

Some also believe the history & spirit of Litha revolve around two deities, The Oak King & The Holly King. In Wiccan and Neo-Pagan traditions, each King rules the Earth for half of the year. From Yule to Litha, the Oak King rules. On Litha, the two battled for the crown and it is then that the Holly King triumphs. The Holly King will rule through fall until Yule, and the cycle will begin again.

Related festivals:

• Vestalia- June 7th -15th

Was a Roman religious festival in honor of Vesta, the goddess of the hearth & the burning continuation of the sacred fire of Rome. It was held from 7–15 June & was reserved as a women's-only event. Domestic & family life in general were represented by the festival of the goddess of the house & of the spirits of the storechamber — Vesta & the Penates .

On the first day of festivities the penus Vestae (sanctum sanctorum of the temple of Vesta which was usually curtained off) was opened for the only time during the year, at which women offered sacrifices. As long as the curtain remained open, mothers could come, barefoot and disheveled, to leave offerings to the goddess in exchange for a blessing to them and their family.

For the last day, the penus Vestae was solemnly closed, the Flaminica Dialis observed mourning & the temple was subjected to a purification called stercoratio: the filth was swept from the temple and carried next by the route called clivus Capitolinus and then into the Tiber.

Sources:

Farmersalmanac .com

Llewellyn's Complete Book of Correspondences by Sandra Kines

Wikipedia

A Witch's Book of Correspondences by Viktorija Briggs

Encyclopedia britannica

Llewellyn 2024 magical almanac Practical magic for everyday living