MATERIA MAGICA & MEDICA
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BURDOCK
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Arctium lappa
Element: Earth & Water The name Burdock comes from the French beurre for butter, and the common English dock for a large leaf. Burdock leaves were once used to wrap and preserve fresh butter, keeping it soft and safe to be eaten. Burdock Root is deep blood medicine. It cools, cleanses, and moistens the blood; ridding it of built up toxins and stickiness. It also assists the liver in cleansing itself. The slightly oily nature of Burdock Root moves through the organs of digestion and relieves inflammation, heat, and toxicity. The burrs of Burdock, while not used medicinally, are powerful allies in cleansing and clearing work. I like to harvest them close to the liminal tide of the Autumnal Equinox and carry them around for 24 hours. They act as scapegoats and 'stick up' any negative or toxic energies and patterns in my system. I then return them to the earth around the plant they were harvest from. Wrap them in a big Burdock leaf tied closed with black cloth you've worn for added ease and power. |
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DANDELION
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Taraxacum officinale
Element: Water & Earth Dandelion Root is one of my favorite diuretic herbs; increasing the flow of urine and encouraging the body to release excess fluids via the urinary process. All watery fluids in the body are closely related to the emotions, so it's understandable that Dandelion Root has an affinity for helping us with emotions and emotional flow. When we hold onto toxic or heavy emotions too tightly and restrict their free flow in our beings and lives, eventually they settle into our tissues and become part of us- often causing disease and illness. The water element is the halfway point between the intangible state of emotions and the embodied/physical state of a crystallized emotion in the body. When the emotions are held in body fluids we have a fantastic opportunity to release them in power. Dandelion Root medicine helps us to flush out toxicity both literally and emotionally. It supports us in releasing what we're holding on to- especially when we know that what we're holding on to is no good for us. Dandelion Root fosters deep emotional release in the most gentle and grounded ways. Like Dandelions themselves, this plant ally helps us step into the moment so that we can flow with our feelings and not repress, suppress, or shame them into our tissues. It helps us to have light-heartedness while at the same time being lion-like in our self care power. The name Dandelion comes from the French Dent de Lion, Lion's Teeth, so named for the shape of the leaves. Dandelion Root specifically helps us cleanse, release, and set free those heavy, hurtful, negative, or toxic emotions or patterns that we no longer wish to hold on to. A beautiful ally and one that deserves our love and affection for so many reasons! |
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HAWTHORN
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Crataegus monogyna
Element: Fire Hawthorn is celebrated as a tonic herb for all things heart-center. From blood pressure to rhythm, cholesterol to hear strength, Hawthorn can be a fantastic ally for those dealing with a wide array of cardiovascular issues. On the magical level, I like to remember that Hawthorn is a member of the great Rose family; they have thorns! The rich fruit ('haw' is an Old English word meaning fruit) is protected by very sharp thorns which hide behind the lobed leaves. Hawthorn is an ally when we feel that we need to protect our hearts; or that our deepest assets may be in danger of being taken advantage of. Hawthorn is also a beautiful ally to have when we want to start opening up the heart to new relationships, trust, or letting go of past hurts that have left us locked up. We feel safe, protected, and secure in matters of the heart so that we can open up that deep temple and do whatever work needs to be done there. When working deeply with Hawthorn, whatever it put into the heart center will be driven into all tissues of the body via the circulatory system. Hawthorn causes all avenues of blood flow to open and expand, drawing what in the heart into the whole body. Hawthorn Berries, Leaves, and Flowers are fantastic in an herbal tea blend, and work in synergy with other heart-centered herbs like Rose Petals, Tulsi, Linden Flowers, Motherwort, Arjuna Bark, Albizia Flowers and Bark, and Reishi Mushroom powder. |
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MULLEIN
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Verbascum thapsus
Element: Water & Air One of my favorite herbal allies finds a home in abandoned lots, trail waysides, and anywhere there's disturbed soil. Mullein is a biannual which means they have a 2-year lifespan. On the first year of growth Mullein is a whorl of flannel-soft leaves laying against the ground. Year two sends up a skyward stalk that can be in excess of 6 feet tall! This stalk will be covered in popcorn-like yellow flowers throughout the growing season and makes a home for many pollinators and insects. When you look at Mullein from the top down, you notice that the leaves grow in a compass-like whorl. Each leaf points in a distinct direction and often times they line up with the cardinal points on the magnetic compass. Mullein shows through this growth that they have an affinity with helping us figure out where we are right now and find the way to where we want to be. The flowering stalk of the Mullein plant was once known in Western Europe as 'hag's torch' or 'witch's torch'. This torch past of the plant lights up like a flame and helps us find out way in the dark times or when we're just not sure where we should be headed next. Mullein is a powerful demulcent which means that when made into tea they impart a mucilage to the water which coats, soothes, and lubricates the delicate linings of the respiratory system and gut. This lubircating energy can also help us find ease on our path when we need to make changes, break out of old brittle routines, or just slide through rough patches with a bit more grace. Below is a video of Josh talking about Mullein on an urban herb walk which took place in downtowm Salt Lake City, Utah in the Summer of 2019... |
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BRAHMI
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Bacopa monnieri
Element: Air Hailing from the Ayurveda traditions of Southeast Asia, Brahmi is one of the crown jewels of spiritual herbs. Often confused with another herb which is also called Brahmi (Gotu Kola, Centella asiatica) true Brahmi is a favorite food for elephants and sages alike. Brahmi is one pf the most celebrated of sattvic herbs; those plants that work on the level of spirit and bring light, goodness, harmony, and tranquility into the life journey for all types of beings. I work with Brahmi in ceremony to help open the mind and create positive change. This herb is an incredible ally when our minds are bent on sticking with toxic, negative patterns and beliefs even though we're ready to move into lighter spaces. As a nootropic herb, it helps to increase neuroplasticity and helps us lay down new habits, new beliefs, and deeper mental prowess. Brahmi imparts a deep calm to the whole being. The mind is clarified and quieted, the heart is pacified, and the spirit shines forth. It clears away dust and toxicity from the deepest center so that we can experience our inner light. Brahmi helps us to find and acknowledge ourselves. I like Brahmi in tea rituals that focus on initiation, working on the mind, transformations, shapeshifting, and calling in deep light-based cleansing and protection. The flavor is lovely and pairs well with many earthy-sweet herbs in a teapot. For those who like to do constant work on their spiritual development, Brahmi is a most loving ally. |
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LAVENDER
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Lavandula angustifolia
Element: Air Sometimes we know we want to change the way we think, believe, or react- but the process can seem impossible. Where do you start changing patterns when you can't interact with those patterns in a tangible way? The thoughts and feelings associated with reactivity often fee so 'out there'. Lavender is here to help! This aromatic herbal ally helps us to gently access the deep places in the mind where patterns, habits, and reactions hide out. Lavender helps to create more ease, relaxation, and openness in changing those patterns for the better. As one of my favorite but often overlooked nootropic herbs, Lavender works directly on the mind creating more plasticity, adaptability, and re-writing. I like to bring Lavender into tea ritual to help when things need to change. A pattern has been set, something is replaying over and over in the life narrative, or the way someone reacts feels incredibly unnatural to them. Lavender helps us soften the process of laying down new patterns so that we can react in ways that feel more true to who we are. Pair with Mullein and Marshmallow Root for a sweet, demulcent ritual tea blend that helps find the way, open the gates, and create healthier patterns. |
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BAY LAUREL
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Laurus nobilis
Element: Air & Fire In the ancient Greek world, a crown or necklace of Bay Laurel Leaves were awarded to the victor of competitive games, namely the Olympics. I work with Bay when we need to cultivate success energy. Let's say you're going through a challenging time and are feeling a great deal of anxiety and worry about the outcome. Sitting with Bay can help bring on a sense of victory and triumph so that you can trust the process and lean away from the worry. While Bay may not always work in the way we want it to, it will always bring us big success energy. I've worked with Bay in matters of legality, money, and competition with great success and find that the power it imparts to us during ritual can be incredibly helpful. A ritual with Bay before a job interview can increase confidence and give us an air of success and positivity. Before a challenge or competition it can help us step into the role of winner so that we are able to get out of our own way and do our best. In money matters Bay helps us release self-limiting beliefs and money-sabotaging actions so that we can make better more victorious choices. On the physical level, Bay is a gentle aromatic that stimulates the flow of bile- making us more brave, brash, and courageous. It brings a calm, relaxed strength that keeps our mind clear and our will strong. |