Magic

The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Friday, June 24, 2016: The moon phase is Waning Gibbous in the zodiac sign Aquarius until entering Pisces at 10:30 PM EST.

Element: Water
Color: Rose
Incense: Orchid (see below for magical uses)

Garden Activities:

  • Kill pests and weed

  • Harvest fruit and root crops

  • Hill up parsnips and carrots

  • Plant out asparagus crowns

Herbal Magic – Orchid

(Orchis spp.)

Folk Names: Levant Salap, Sahlab, Sahleb, Salep, Saloop, Satyrion

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The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Thursday, June 23, 2016: The moon phase is Waning Gibbous in the zodiac sign Aquarius.

Element: Air
Color: Turquoise
Incense: Jasmine (see below for magical uses)

Garden Activities:

  • Plow, Cultivate, and weed

  • Harvest fruits and root crops

  • Hill up parsnips and carrots

  • Plant out asparagus crowns

Herbal Magic – Jasmine

(Jasminum officinale, Jamsminum grandiflorum, Jasminum odoratissimum)

Folk Names: Anbar, Jessamin, Moonlight on the Grove, Peot’s Jessamine, Yasmin

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The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Wednesday, June 22, 2016: The moon phase is Waning Gibbous in the zodiac sign Capricorn until entering Aquarius at 4:08 PM EST.

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Element: Air
Color: Topaz
Incense: Bay Laurel (see below for magical uses)

Garden Activities:

  • Plow, Cultivate, and weed.

  • Plant onions, potatoes, rhubarb, grapes, winter wheat, and berries.

Herbal Magic - Bay Laurel

(Laurus nobilis) G

Folk Names: Baie, Bay Tree, Daphne, Grecian Laurel, Sweet Bay, Laurel, Laurier d’Apollon, Laurier Sauce Lorbeer, Noble Laurel, Roman Laurel

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The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Tuesday, June 21, 2016: The moon phase is Waning Gibbous in the zodiac sign Capricorn.

Element: Earth:
Color: Black
Incense: Cinnamon (see below for magical uses)

Garden Activity:

  • Plant potatoes and tubers

  • Trim to retard growth

  • Pick mushrooms

  • Prune to promote healing

  • Mow lawn

Herbal Magic - Cinnamon

Cinnamomum Zeylanicum, C. verum

Folk Names: Ceylon cinnamon, Sweet Wood

Deities: Aphrodite, Venus

Element: Fire (Courage, Exorcism, Health, Lust, Strength, Protection)

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The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Happy Summer Solstice/Litha to all in the Northern Hemisphere and Happy Winter Solstice/Yule to all in the Southern Hampshire!

Monday, June 20, 2016: The moon is full in the zodiac sign Sagittarius until entering Capricon at 7.55 AM EST.

Element: Earth Color: Ivory Incense: Lily (see below for magical uses)

Activity:

  • A great time for sport and adventure

  • Tackle things that need improvement

  • Plant potatoes and tubers

  • Trim to retard growth

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The Witchy Moon, Magic, and News

Friday, June 3, 2016: The moon phase is fourth quarter (waxing), it falls under the zodiac sign Taurus until entering Gemini  at 11:01 PM EST.

Activity:

  • Mow lawn, destroy weeds, and pests

  • Harvest fruit and root crops

Element: Air
Color: Pink
Incense: Thyme

Herbal Magic - Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Folk Names: Common Thyme, Garden

Powers: Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage

Photo by H Flannery

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Hump Day Herbal Magic - Acacia

ACACIA (Acacia Senegal)

Folk Names: Cape Gum, Gum Arabic, Egyption Thorn, Kikwata, Mgunga, Mkwatia, Mokala

Powers: Cleansing, Contact the dead, Protection, Psychic Powers

Photo by Tim Waters

Acacia is native to the Sudan region in Africa, as well as Oman, Pakistan, and northwestern India. It grows to a height of 5-12m, with a trunk up to 30 cm in diameter.

The Egyptians wove their funeral wreaths with Acacia leaves, their mummies wrappings were coated with the liquid made from Acacia. Christian belief is Christ’s crown of thorns was from Acacia, and possibly the crucifix. The Bible recounts the bush of Moses was also an Acacia as well as Noah’s Ark. In honor of a departed friend, the ancient Hebrews planted a sprig. Acacia is known to stand for immortality and initiation as well as a symbol of an eternal and pure soul. In ritual the leaves are burned as incense or used to sprinkle blessed water.

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Hump Day Herbal Magic - VALERIAN

VALERIAN (Valeriana officinalis) G

Folk Names: Ail-Heal, Amantilla, Bloody Butcher, Capon’s Trailer, Cat’s Valerian, English Valerian, Fragrant Valerian, Garden Heliotrope, Phu, Red Valerian, St. George’s Herb, Sete Wale, Set Well, Vandal Root

Powers: Love, Purification, Protection, Sleep

Photo by pfly

Valerian is a tall perennial with heads of sweet scented pink, blue or white flowers which bloom in the summer. Its one unpleasant quality is the the smell of the plant’s leaves, stems, and roots. However, cats and rats relish in it. Some herbalists suggest that Valerian was the secret of the legendary Pied Piper of Hamlin’s irresistible power over rats!

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Hump Day Herbal Magic - Thyme

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)

Folk Names: Common Thyme, Garden

Powers: Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage

Photo by H Flannery

Thyme is a perennial shrub, and a member of the mint family. With over a hundred varieties, the most common being garden and lemon thyme.

The Greeks used Thyme “to make a burnt offering.”  In the Middle Ages, Europeans placed it under pillows to promote sleep and ward off nightmares. Women would also give the leaves to knights to bring courage. Thyme was also placed on coffins and burned as incense during funerals to send one into the next life.

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News Submissions 9/4/2012

Arts & Entertainment:

New movie in production based on Rose Hall’s ‘White Witch’ legend Albany pagans looking for future films related to witchcraft and the occult will definitely have some entertainment to look forward to next year. According to an article appearing in the “Jamaica Observer,” a new thriller film called, “The Rebellion: The Legend of the White Witch of Rose Hall,” is slated for production and release in 2013. The movie will be produced by Raquel Roxanne, directed by Rodrigo Retamoza III, and written by Nadine Barnett Cosby. The film will be based on the famed and haunted history at the Rose Hall Great House in Montego Bay, Jamaica. Read full story from examiner.com

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