Dream bag (nightmare pouch#2)

Dream bag or nightmare pouch. My husband has horrible nightmares from time to time as well as my daughter we have several different recipes, this one works really super well.

You will need: A drawstring bag in either lavender, white or black

about a teaspoon of the following herbs: note: you can use essential oils if you wish and also can sub in rosemary or sage for herbs you don't have or simply leave them out.

Amber for peace (yes i know a resin not an herb:)
Apple blossom for peace
Bergamot for peace and restful sleep (i've found this one hard to find until i went to k-mart and they were selling them as flowers.>.<)
Celery seed for restful sleep (spice isle at grocery store as a rule)
Chamomile for peace and restful sleep (alot of smaller grocery stores are carrying this now but if you cant find them with spices check out the tea section.
Freesia for peace
Gardenia for peace
Hyacinth for protection and peaceful sleep
Jasmine for peaceful dreams and good sleep (again, tea section, one of the stores here has jasmine tea)
Lavender for peace and sleep (i actually cant find this local to buy but the corner mini mart store has lavender bushes growing so every so often when im walking by i snag a few flowers.
Magnolia for peace
Mugwort for peaceful dreams (this one i actually found at a little store ran by some hispanic people, it was with their spices)
Narcissus for peace
Sweet pea for courage and strength
Tupli for dreams
Valerian for sleep, protection and peace (love this one, again at the hispanic ran store or you could probably find it at and alternative heath food store)
Vervain for peace and protection
Violet for peace and sleep

Set up an altar if you wish with a circle. Prop open the bag and as you add the herbs say the following:

The dreams that come to me are unpleasant and frightening
I combine together these herbs, their magic, their scent,
To chase the nightmares away,
To bring me peace, protection, and a good nights sleep
As I lay my head upon them

say this 3 times as you are adding the herbs then tie off the bag and say:

Let my dreams
and myself be at peace
I charge this magic with this task
So mote it be

Place this underneath your pillow. Eventually the herbs will get old and need replaced when the scent gets to weak. Until then this will help keep nightmares at bay.

Mother nature needs calendar..

Seriously...someone buy one for her please? 3 days in a row was damn near 80, then yesterday all of a sudden dropped back down to 50 and its maybe 55 today, but My baby plants weren't so much baby's anymore and they had to be planted.

I have more seeds soaking overnight for tomarrow but so far we now have our pumpkins and garlic in the ground, Morning glory's are making their push towards the soil surface for sun and the moonflowers, which in my experience take almost as long as tulips to sprout, are working their way to the top.

So for tomorrow we have Basil, from the seeds I saved from last years plants. My brother saved some seeds fom this sugar can corn plant thing, idk we researched it and its a sugar plant but is related to corn and it was really pretty and exotic so we saved some seeds from it and im gonna try and grow some this year, it was a super big plant and didnt require much effort to maintain really, seemed to be happy with just a bit of water every day

okay end of mother nature rant, lol have a great day guys
Blessed be
SPiritrunner

Thank the gods!!!

Spring seems to be on its way!! Normally winter is my favorite season but we had such a crappy winter least in this house, it's no longer my favorite. I'm loving all the creatures emerging. In the past week its been close to 70 degrees outside. Warm enough for me to open the door and let some fresh air in until the wind kicks up...o.0

My daughter has gone nuts in the herb/flower/veggie catalogs. We have plans of finally getting our fairy garden going this year as we started entirely to late last year for one to thrive. We planted green beans, pumpkins, morning glory's and moonflowers in seedling starters the other day and will be planting peppers, tomatoes, tulips, basil, parsley and goddess only knows what else. I haven't finished looking through th catalog she marked...lol.

Herb pouch for nightmares

• Bay leaves - Removes negative energy, and protects. 
• Celery - Increases Physical and Mental powers. 
• Mustard Seed - Protection, Mental powers and Faith. 
• Rose Petals - Love and luck. 
• Rosemary - love, banishing and protection. 
• Allspice - Protection. 
• Chamomile - sleep, soothing and relaxation.
• and i always add lavender to mine because of the calming scent:)

Put the herbs in the pouch concentrating on a peaceful nights sleep. Place under your pillow or under the pillow of the one the pouch is for. In my instance it was for my daughter who hasn't been getting a lot of sleep because of bad dreams

Winter blues

I've always raved about how I love fall and winter and to this day I still do, however being without a heater for the current moment, I have a definite need for a Spring pick me up. Luckily I live in California and even tho it's pretty damn cold here, not as cold as some of you easterners but still colder than we're used to, Plants still grow like mad here, especially after the weird spring and summer we had. So the gas station has 2 lavender bushes, one French and one English and luckily the guy who owns it doesn't seem to care to much that i pick about 5 blossoms every time i go over there which is about once a day. So now i have a nice handful of each type and i'm putting them in the simmer pot for a nice spring touch among the mass amounts of Yule decorations the kids put up yesterday. We were going to wait till today but we had a bit of an accident yesterday pertaining to Miss T smashing her finger in her door. It didn't break thank the gods, but it was awfully swollen, so we wrapped it up and gave her some Chamomile/lavender/valarian root tea and she went down for a nap after decorating to take her mind of her ouchy finger. I have pictures but my camera went AWAL yesterday. I think it's in the kitchen somewhere but in any event i need a new one anyway. Can't even zoom in or out or focus with this ancient thing:P

Healing herbal incense mix

This is straight from my personal BOS. My daughter and I used this is a small Ritual in our front yard (of course accompanied but some interesting looks by my neighbor, who is cool as hell, and usually doesn't question anything:P) Because everyone has been so damn sick here the last few weeks and since winter is now upon us, weather or not the trees are showing it...grumble grumble.. I felt the need to share this.

Note: NOT for consumption. there's nothing in here that could hurt you this is all from my culinary/magickal cabinet, im very much a kitchen witch but this was made for burning in a fire place or fire proof bowl etc..

Equal parts of:
Corriander
Marjoram
Mullein
Thyme
Allspice
Cinnamon
Eucalyptus
Flaxseed
Mint
Sage
Rosemary
Spearmint
Saffron

Mix together, grind to powder if you feel the need and burn anywhere sick people have been, especially the bedroom. We started ours in the yard and carried the smoke everywhere around the outside and in. I'm working on as stick form but both will be for sale on my shop soon. but this is here in case you need to make your own:)

Thunder, lightning and rain oh my!

Okay so I live in a desert, it never rains here. And like every other desert town that doesn't see rain but maybe one month out of the year, people here kinda freak out when it does rain, let alone thunder and lightning for 2 days straight now. It's awesome, it's one of the few things I miss about Florida among a very very small list. Anyway so people freaking out, kids loving it, and the raw energy around here is just amazing right now. definitely an awesome end to the summer.

And among the sweet weather, I got some jewelry finished. Ty Fire Mountain Gems for being very very fast and efficient in helping me make my jewelry for my customers. I ♥ you long time:P

Oh yeah and yet again i'm going to sing praises of my local Mexican botanica shop. I ♥ them long time too:P
I went there to get my usual chamomile, because the ground here sucks for growing it this year, and a few other things that only they carry. and low and behold they have a rack of lavender for 69cents a bag. Needless to say I bought them out. Okay so you might be thinking big deal they have that in stores where I live, but yeah I live in a very small town fairly far away form any city, and that's just not one of the things this town carries on a regular basis. Anyway got several other herbs as well that's fairly hard to obtain here, one being  Wormwood, Damania, Arnica, ginger which yet again in a city no big deal, here huge thing to me, valerian root which is omg to me so useful in our house. So yeah, i'm a happy lil witch right now☺

As Promised here is the healing spell, granted a bit late but meh, life happens...


Simple Health Blessing
The items in this spell are intended to represent health and vitality, NOT act as actual medical cures for anything.
For this easy blessings, you just need:
• A glass of apple juice
• A cinnamon stick
• A white candle

As with most spells, natural ingredients are best so try to find some organic apple juice if you can. Pour the juice into a glass, and stir 4 times with the cinnamon stick. Light the candle and drink a few sips of juice.

Repeat the following:
Goddess bless body and soul Health and wellness is my goal

Finish the rest of the juice and snuff out the candle. Do this spell whenever you feel an illness coming on or even each morning just to stay in tip-top shape.


Brightest Blessings
       Spiritrunner

Sage saltwater mouth wash

Okay so recently I've had the lovely adventure of having a tooth pulled. I've had one pulled before but I really don't remember it being anywhere near this painful. It swells and bleeds then after I take what seems to me to be an excess of ibuprofen, it finally goes down only to swell back up and throb in excruciating pain again 4 hours later. I have a medical mouthwash for mouth wounds i'm using morning and at night but in the meantime I wanted to keep it clean when it started throbbing again so I found this in my friends book she had from the 70's.

!/2 cup chopped sage (fresh)
4 cups of water
                                                  2 tablespoons salt

get the water to a boil then shut off the heat
add the sage and let it steep for 15-30 minutes (the longer, the stronger)
add salt

swish in your mouth for at least 1 minute each time and use as needed throughout the day.

How to dry herbs

Okay so if any of you actually know me, ya'll know im a food network junkie...My husband has gone as far as calling me Randi marsh from the creme friache episode of south park... (if you haven't seen it, that one actually made me laugh a few times) Anyway you'll also know im a Paula Deen fan, not so much of her cookware but of her food styles and tastes. I do make alot of stuff I watch on tv:P anyway this came off her website thought it goes well with all parts of kitchen/cottage witchery. OHOHOH before I forget if anyone has some really nifty pictures or ideas for an old cottage style kitchen email meh!!!, lol im in the idea phase of redoing my kitchen i kinda know what I want but would love to see some of my readers ideas. Ii already have inlay-ed brick that short of knocking down the wall can't be removed but really I like it so a wood and brick theme im thinking. Any ideas????

Blessed be
      Spiritrunner

How to: Dry Herbs

By The Paula Deen Test Kitchen

To everything there is a season, but air-drying herbs and flowers extends their beauty and fragrance well beyond the days of summer.

In the off-season, fresh herbs can be costly and hard to come by. Air drying provides an easy and inexpensive year-round alternative. And rest assured, dried herbs do not diminish the flavor of a dish; by allowing moisture to evaporate slowly and naturally, herbs retain their essential oils. With their fragrance and flavor fully intact, air-dried herbs beat out the store-bought variety in every way. (Paula’s note:  Substitute 1 teaspoon of dried herbs for 1 tablespoon of fresh)

Harvesting herbs for drying requires little more than timing. It is best to cut herbs as flower buds appear. This is when the leaves contain the most oil, which maximizes flavor and fragrance. You can harvest after flowering occurs, though doing so may compromise the quality. Cut plants in the late morning–after the dew has lifted, but before the sun is at its highest. Substantially cut annual herbs–1/3 to 1/2 of the plant–and cut as much as 1/3 of perennial plants, but avoid large harvests of these in the late summer or fall. Select only healthy branches and discard any dry or diseased leaves. Remove the lower leaves about an inch from the stem’s base. Rinsing the plant with cool water should remove any dust, insects, or pesticides, though it’s important to dry gently to prevent bruising but thoroughly to avoid molding. Mold spreads quickly and will destroy the entire batch of herbs.

Bundle 4 to 6 branches together and secure tightly with a string, keeping in mind that the stems will shrink upon drying. Then place the bundle upside down into a paper bag with holes for ventilation. The herbs should have ample space to allow for airflow, and they should not touch the sides of the bag, which could absorb their essential oils during the process. Tie the bag closed with the ends gathered and hang in a warm (70–80˚F), dry place. Herbs can dry outside if the humidity is low but they should be out of direct sunlight. Attics and linen closest are excellent indoor locations, and the aromatic scent nicely compliments any kitchen pantry.

Allow 2–4 weeks for herbs to dry completely. You can crush herbs before placing them in airtight containers, though whole leaves keep their flavor longer.

Drying flowers is a similar process. Harvest flowers just before or just as they begin to bloom because they will continue to open during drying. Remove all leaves and gather the stems into a small bunch about 1/2-inch in diameter. Secure your bouquets tightly with string and hang them upside down so the stems do not bend. Like herbs, dry flowers in a cool, dry place. 

Flowers can take up to 4¬–6 weeks to dry, depending on the flower’s water content. Because of their long drying time, consider displaying your bouquets on an outdoor drying rack. As long as the humidity is low and it isn’t in direct sunlight¬ (which causes fading) a drying rack can give any home a rustic and quaint look. 

Notes:
Air drying works best with more sturdy herbs such as bay, dill, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, summer savory and thyme. Tender-leaf herbs that retain more water–basil, chives, mint and tarragon–are best preserved in a dehydrator.

Blue, orange and pink flowers best retain their color when dried. And a flower boasting a low-water content dries well (this includes cornflower, lavender, marjoram, pompon Dahlias, poppy seed-heads and roses).

If you’re only interested in drying flower heads, lay them on a window screen to allow air to circulate around them.

Solstice bread follow up

Okay so I made the bread again this morning, would have done it yesterday but when the temp climbs to 104, turning on the oven is so not ideal. Anyway made it about 6 this morning, took some slices while it was still warm and made me a chicken sandwich and wrapped it up for lunch. Have to say was one of the best things i've eating in a long time. Very fresh, and although the bread if fairly dense it makes for a nice light sandwich. To make the sandwich even better, I used homemade pesto mayo, spinach and tomato. Sooo summery and good

Pesto mayo:
1 cup fresh chopped basil.
1/4 cup Parmesan
1 tsp salt ( i use sea salt
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tbsp pine nuts

pop it all in the food processor till you get a paste

Then add 1 cup mayo (use light if you need to, doesn't effect taste much)
Mix really well or pop in the processor for a few seconds then jar and let it get really cold and set overnight. I Find letting any pesto product taste better after it has sat overnight to soak up all the flavors, but can be used fresh as well.

Happy place time...

I sincerly think this is one of those week were we might need to lock ourselves in the bathroom for an hour or so, maybe 3...:P

This will go along well with a nice hot hot bath and some candles and meditation:

2 cups Epsom Salt OR Dead Sea Salt
1 cup Sea Salt
1/2 cup Baking Soda
6 drops Bergamot essential oil
6 drops Sweet Orange essential oil
3 drops Lavender essential oil
Optional: 6 drops red, 4 drops yellow food coloring

Directions

1. Mix salt and baking soda together in a bowl using a metal spoon (a wooden spoon will absorb the essential oils and be ruined.)
2. Drop in the essential oils and food coloring, placing each drop in its own little spot on top of the salts. Stir until thoroughly mixed.
3. Store mixture in a dark glass or PET plastic jar. Let cure at least 24 hours before using.
4. Use about one cup of salts per bath. This bath salt recipe makes enough for three baths.

Everyone needs to pamper themselves every so often:) mayb this will help:D

Blessed Be
          *Spiritrunner*

Midsummer

Okay so Midsummer/Litha is right around the corner and next to Samhain, it was one of my favorite Sabbats. Something just so magical about midsummer, even more so imo. At our home we usually do a small bonefire in a fire pit. Bbq, roast marshmellows later in the evening, and after the kids have gone to bed, us adults have a few midsummer drinks:P.

Our rituals are small but we dance around the fire and give and offering to the fae. My daughter last year made a flower chain. My husband made little cookie drops, and I made a Smoke offering ;P.

We ask that the Goddess and the Fae bless us through the rest of the year and watch over us and then we douse ourselves with fairy dust that we make. Adults and kids alike have a blast. Last year the day after we woke up to a fairy ring in our back yard. Trinity went nuts running around screaming "the fairies came the fairies came!!!"

Gonna share some of my midsummer recipes for the next few weeks till midsummer is upon us:P. First one os for those who cannot drink such as kids, people who can't due to medications or medical conditions or those who simply choose not to.

Midsummer Fae Tea:

Makes a decent sized pitcher
4 chamomile tea bags
3 regular black tea bags
6 Lavender flower Whole or 2 tablespoon dried lavender

Pop a coffee filter in the coffee pot, add all the ingredients and brew like you would with coffee.
Pour whole pot into pitcher and add another pitcher of cold water.
Chill and serve over ice.

Makes and awesome refreshing drink. we make it year long around here when we get the winter blues.

Blessed Be
    *Spiritrunner*

Frogs

Well I can honestly say there is one thing I miss about Florida and it's the frogs. It was pretty cool to wake up and see frogs every morning in the back yard or in the evening and hearing them croak.

"Frogs have an ancient mythology about them. Being amphibians with links to both water and land they are often associated with both water and earth elements. This also links them to lore of Fairies and elves. Many shamanic societies, especially north and south american tribes, Link the frog to rain and control of weather. It's voice is said to call forth rains. Because of its connection with water, its also associated with lunar energy, magic and the goddesses associated with them.


Frogs have been known to be heralds of abundance and fertility, especially
since in their polliwog stage they resemble the male spermatozoa. This is also due
to the fact that after rains, a greater number of frogs come up to dry land and feed
on insects and worms who have come out of the rain-soaked land. It is also associated
with fertility, for rain makes things grow.


Even as adults, frogs remain semi-aquatic. They live in damp areas. They
need water and all that is associated with it symbolically or otherwise. If frog has
hopped into your life, you may need to get in touch with the water element. It
may reflect that there are new rains coming or that you need to call some new
rains forth. Maybe the old waters are becoming dirty and stagnant. Frog can teach
you how to clean them up.

Emotions are often associated with water. Individuals with frog totems are
very sensitive to the emotional states of others, and seem to know instinctively
how to act and what to say. They know how to be sincerely sympathetic.
Frog holds the knowledge of weather and how to control it. Frog medicine
can bring rains for every purpose-to cleanse, to heal, to help things grow, to
flood, to stir. Its energies can be used to bring light showers or downpours for
most any purpose.

The call of the frog is the call of the waters. The spring and summer are the
times when frog's voice is strongest. These are its power times. Its call serves a
variety of functions. It calls mates to it. It also serves as a release call for non-receptive
females. It defines its territory and it warns of predators.

The frog is a totem of metamorphosis. It is a symbol of coming into one's
own creative power. It changes from an egg, to a polliwog, to a frog. Even after if
becomes a frog, it lives close to and spends much time in the water. It always has
contact with the creative force out of which it came, Usually frog people have
strong ties to their own mothers.

This connection to water should also serve as a reminder to those with this
totem. Are you becoming too mundane? Are you becoming mired in the mud of
your day-to-day life? Are you needing to dive into some fresh creative water? Are
those around you? Are you feeling waterlogged, becoming bogged down, or
drowning in emotions?

Frogs are tuned keenly to sound. Over each ear canal is a round membrane,
a tympanic organ-which enables them to recognize and respond to certain
sounds and their locations. Science has known for a long time that water is one of
the best conductors of sound. This sensitivity to sound should be developed by
frog people. Their taste in music will probably not run mainstream, but they can
learn to use their voice to stir the emotions and to call for the rains or change the
climatic conditions of their own lives."

This was an excerpt From Animal Speak by Ted Andrews absolutely wonderful book. I highly recommend it. Anyway in light of my frog fetish, :P i'm posting a project as well.

You'll need a wooden box or round planter that you can screw in eyelets to.
9 eyelets to screw in several places.
Green paint
black paint or permanent marker.
some other scrap wood pieces to make feet and a head from
about 4 1/3 feet of thin chain, doesn't need to be really thick but thick enough to be able to hold the weight of potting soil, plant and water.

This is an example and your reference for this project but this one is metal and bought from a store...

Paint the body of the frog green, cut out feet and head shapes from scrap pieces and paint them and make embellishments with mark or if your more artistically inclined  decorate it more:P

Make three pieces of chain all the same length and another two a shorter but equal length to each other.

screw in an eyelet at the bottom of the head of the frog them three more around the top of the planter. attach chains.

Attach eyelets to the bottom of planter and to top of feet and attach the chains. 

Finally attach and eyelet to the top of the frogs head and an O ring to hang it from.

Add your plant and hang up somewhere to enjoy. Will have pictures posted soon with mine:P

Blessed Be
       *Spiritrunner*

Lavender:)

THis is my first post so bare with me:) This is honor of The Lavender Dreams Parade.

Lavender

A masculine herb, ruled by Mercury and air is its element.

Lavender is best known for its properties of contentment, balance, love and good health. Use it when any of these aspects is required. Because of the amazing scent to the flowers, lavender is often combined in light potpourris for keeping a home in balance.

Lavender essential oil has magical properties of balance and calm. It's useful in spells of peace, calm and healing of the emotional self. This essential oil is also rumored to be beloved of faeries and is useful when working with the fae.

Burns or scalds~

This works best if applied neat (undiluted) to the area affected by the burn or scald. The skin should be intact, use your judgment. It takes away the pain quickly and the skin heals with almost no sign of damage. This includes sunburns. If you are sensitive to the oil in its pure form, dilute it accordingly in a small clean spray bottle with water. This is quite soothing and refreshing.
Pimples~

Your adolescent will love you for this remedy. Because lavender oil is antibacterial, it destroys pimples and the associated bacteria quickly and easily. Apply it neat as soon as you feel a pimple developing and the pimple is banished shortly. If you didn’t catch it in time, it makes pimples come to a head faster and it helps with the swelling and redness.
Sleep & relaxation~

Just a drop or 2 to a cotton ball or tissue placed beneath the pillowcase under your head at night makes you sleep more soundly and more quickly. Lavender has amazing relaxation properties that will leave you refreshed in the morning.
Migraines or Headaches~

Apply a drop to your temples or the back of your neck and massage into the skin. This helps with both tension headaches as well as migraines. For some people with migraines, the smell may be too strong during the acute stage of a migraine. During this time you can apply the lavender oil to the muscled area between your thumb and forefinger on the backside of your hand (both hands). This is an acupressure point associated with headaches.
Insect repellent and insect bites~

Just like citronella, lavender has the ability to ward off mosquitos and flies. Additionally, it can help calm the itching of an insect bite. I can really attest to this one as I am the world’s number one mosquito attractor.