Wortcunning

On The Potwell Inn’s blog, wortcunning is brilliantly described as “the deep knowledge of plants needed to produce a leechdom, or medicinal formula.”

One of my favourite plant books of all time is Vickery’s Folk Flora by Roy Vickery; a full A-Z of British and Irish plants, their folklore and uses.

It combines material gathered since the early 1970s, and features a beautiful array of hand-sketches and colour photographs.

It gives the binomial name for each plant, plus full lists of regional variations. The really fun bit is the folklore associated with each plant; I’ve particularly enjoyed the information on Broad Beans which are grown abundantly in my region, and feature heavily in local lore.

Do you have a favourite herb/plant book? I’d love to hear!

Word Magick: As Above, So Below

“As Above, So Below”

I could leave this phrase here to go with this beautiful picture I took last Sunday, but like @love_is_the_law__ has said in the past, it deserves explaining.

This phrase is deeply tied to Hermeticism, which might be something you want to research.

There are actually a few interpretations of this phrase.

An example is that whatever you do on Earth will be reflected elsewhere ~ for example on the astral plane. Another example is that whatever happens above (think astrology) will impact us down on Earth.

Basically, there is an interconnectedness of things: that what is “above” reflects what is “below”, and vice versa.

The differences in belief system relate to what is considered “above” and what is considered “below”, which is something you’ll have to decide for yourself.

NEXT - Word Magick: Invocation To Pan 

Fabulous Folklore: Fair is Foul, and Foul is Fair

“Fair is foul, and foul is fair.”

This literary device shows up in the opening scene of Macbeth, and it reminds the viewer that sometimes not all is what it seems. What can seem trustworthy, might not be; and what seems bad, might actually be good. The three witches are symbolic of “foul” but give “fair” advice - they foretell the treachery of Macbeth, who will commit treason by killing the King. Macbeth slides from being a good man to evil; fair becomes foul. 

The phrase serves to remind us that we should always look much deeper than what we can see on the surface. It applies to people, situations, events. How often have we got caught up in the emotion of a situation, our own biases, the things we want to believe or the things that people have told us, completely failing to take a measured, reasoned and objective approach, and consequently failing to attain a deeper understanding of a situation? 

Appearances are often deceptive, and as witches we have to practise discernment. When is it right to employ magick? How will we replace the energy used for a spell or working? When is a sign a sign? At what stage should we step into a situation to help? Is a person trustworthy? Are we seeing a situation for what it really is? 

Remember, especially in your practice,  that “fair is foul, and foul is fair” and always look for deeper understanding - not all may be as it seems.

Image photographed at the Museum of Witchcraft & Magick, Boscastle, Cornwall.

NEXT - Fabulous Folklore: Yorkshire Witchcraft

Word Magick: Invocation to Pan

Invocation to Pan ~ by Helen Bantock

Pan, god of the unfettered wild!

Come from thy secret dwelling,

Where mighty mountains sleep, and, undefiled,

The waters sweet are welling,

O, fearless, swift! O fierce and free!

God of the forests! God of liberty!

Pan, sing we a paean! Pan, we call on thee!

Pan, god of the unfettered mind,

Of faith and will unshaken,

Come, piping loud and wild upon the wind

Till sluggard worlds awaken.

Healer divine! Heart of the free!

Spirit of music! Soul of ecstasy!

Priest of delight! Thou laughter gay- all hail!

Twy-horned, goat-footed, lord of revelry!

The sweet singer, the light dancer, the wild piper - clear and shrill!

The keen hunter, the swift pursuer, the lord of fear - and deathless will!

Pan, to thee we raise our voices, Pan, great Pan, all hail!

Image taken at The Museum of Witchcraft & Magic, Boscastle, Cornwall.

NEXT - Word Magick: The Season of The Witch 

Word Magick: The Season of the Witch

We’re halfway through September, so I’m late to the party, but I wanted to add my voice to what Louisa @thewitchesstone and Crow @marget.inglis_witchcraft think about the suggestion, made by many witches, that autumn is the “Season of the Witch.”

Don’t get me wrong - I love the “-ber” months as much the next person - but I always feel a bit confused when 1st September rolls around, and everyone is going a bit bonkers about the “Season of the Witch.”

I love autumn. I get excited for the leaves changing colour. The trees shedding them is the perfect reminder that it’s ok to let some things go. I appreciate the cooler temperatures, and embrace getting my boots, scarves and chunky knits out. I adore Samhain for its depth and beauty; for the opportunity for reflection and remembrance, but like Louisa and Crow, I don’t agree that autumn is the Season of the Witch.

To me, Witchcraft, and indeed life, is all about balance. Many (but not all) modern pagans, witches and Wiccans celebrate the Wheel of the Year; the cyclical journey through the seasons. At each point on the Wheel we are afforded an opportunity for introspection, a chance to look backwards, and forwards. There is balance in each festival, each season, the year. Each Sabbat has something special for witches and pagans. Therefore in my mind, EVERY season is the Season of the Witch.

I do understand having a favourite festival and season. Beltane will always, always have my heart! Summer will always be my favourite time of the year. Maybe it’s just that the majority of witches love the autumn?

What do you think?

Do you think autumn is the Season of the Witch? If so, why is that? Has it become known as the Season of the Witch because of the association of witches at Halloween? (Which is separate to Samhain, of course).

If autumn is your favourite season what is it you love about this time so much?

Maybe another season is your favourite? If so, what is your favourite season (or festival), and why?

I’d love to hear your thoughts! 

NEXT - Samhain: Samhain Night Blessings 

NEXT - Personal Magick: My Beltane Handfasting 

NEXT - Magickal Places: The Goddess Temple - Glastonbury

Word Magick: Deserving Versus Entitled

I've done a couple of posts on beliefs and attitudes within magickal practice over the past year, and today I want to talk about Deserving vs. Entitled - something I’ve been pondering over for a while.

To me, feeling deserving is important in magick, it falls under the Will part of "to Know, to Will, to Dare, to Keep Silent" - and magick is the process of absolutely believing that something deserves to happen, and then making it happen.

But “deserving” has a very different energy to “entitled.”

Looking at the definitions of these words, deserving means to merit, to be qualified for, or to be worthy of something. Entitlement is the fact of having a right to something, or the feeling of having a right to something.

It is pretty much the same concept, except there is a small (or huge, depending on your viewpoint) difference.

Deserving is being quietly confident, and has an element of integrity and humbleness about it. Entitlement can be bratty, arrogant and over-confident.

Working with magick is of course all about working with energies, so I feel that the difference in these concepts (attitudes!) is hugely important. I believe that how we think, feel and act - our attitude - is crucial. I believe that if we behave poorly and without honour in our ordinary lives, we are at risk of straying into dangerous territory in our magickal lives, and I can’t help but feel that having an entitled attitude can get in the way of successful spellwork.

Of course this is just my feeling, and my personal opinion; it doesn’t mean I’m right.

What do you think? Does having a good attitude matter? Does having an entitled attitude get in the way of successful magick? Are people with entitled attitudes more or less likely to be successful in their magickal workings compared to someone who is a bit more humble? Let me know what you think.

NEXT - Word Magick: Prayer To Mother Earth 

Word Magick: Prayer to Mother Earth

Mother Earth,

Enlighten what’s dark in me,

Strengthen what’s weak in me,

Mend what’s broken in me,

Bind what’s bruised in me,

Heal what’s sick in me,

And lastly, revive whatever peace and love has died in me.

~ Unknown

NEXT - Word Magick: Courage - What Does It Mean? 

Moon Magick: 7 Words for The New Moon in Virgo

I’ve been feeling a bit frazzled and under the weather recently, and the approaching energy of yesterday’s New Moon in Virgo definitely brought with it a need to rest physically, mentally, and spiritually.

New Moon is a time to reset and reconnect; and I definitely needed to some time to reconnect with myself. The New Moon is also a brilliant time to declutter, tidy, and organise.

So yesterday I did a little self-care spell and took a much needed pause. Today feels like a huge weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and so I spent this morning sorting out some unwanted clothes for the charity shop, and writing some lists. The path ahead is now clear again!

REST

RESET

RELEASE

REPLENISH

RECHARGE

REFLECT

RECONNECT

What have you done to rest, reset, release, replenish, recharge, reflect, or reconnect this New Moon? 

NEXT - Moon Magick: Full Super Moon in Scorpio
NEXT - Review: Channel Your Goddess Energy by Kirsten Riddle

Word Magick: Defining The Words Witch & Witchcraft

Continuing on the subject of “Am I a witch?” I thought I would attempt to define what ‘witch’ and ‘witchcraft’ are. They can be quite difficult terms to define with any real precision, so my apologies if your particular tradition or practise doesn’t quite fit with my descriptions.

What is a Witch?

A person who practises witchcraft or folk magic using herbs, crystals, candles, and other materials, to manifest goals and bring about change.

What is Witchcraft?

This is a very broad term which is difficult to define! It often involves an affinity with nature, and the practise of magic, usually within a Pagan tradition (eg. Wicca), though not always. Freedom, self-expression, and personal development are key themes. The sacred feminine is often revered in some way.

What Do Witches Believe In?

There are as many different answers to this as there are witches! Wicca centres around nature as seen in a Goddess and God, other witches (like myself) are more concerned with land-based practises and ancestor veneration, and some just focus on the practical aspect of their craft. We believe in magic, personal responsibility, and freedom of spiritual choice.

What is Magick?

The use of will and personal power with cosmic laws to bring about change. The projection of natural energies to provide needed effects.

What Do Witches Do?

Amongst other things, we observe and celebrate the seasons, lunar cycles, and solar events (solstices and equinoxes). We practise magic, we usually heal in some way, and we continuously learn and develop ourselves.

NEXT - Word Magick: Courage - What Does It Mean?
NEXT - Review: The Witch-Crafting Handbook by Helena Garcia 

Word Magick: Courage - What Does it Mean?

Today’s topic is “courage”, which is defined as “the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain etc. without fear; bravery.”

But what else is courage? I spent some time thinking about this in relation to my life and craft.

I decided that, for me, courage is:

Being your authentic self.

Acting in accordance with your beliefs, especially in the face of criticism.

Being honest with yourself, and others.

Stepping out of your comfort zone; trying new things without fear of failure.

Commitment to the development of oneself; undertaking Shadow Work.

Dedication to your path.

Having integrity.

Knowing and accepting there aren’t enough lifetimes to learn all is there is to know, and being ok with that.

Loving, honouring, and respecting yourself, the way we do others.

What do you think courage is?

Magickal Correspondences for Courage

Herbs: 

Borage, Rosemary, yarrow

Crystals:
Carnelian, bloodstone, aquamarine

Colours:
Red, dark red

Flowers:
Edelweiss, protea, thyme

Deities:
Athena (Greek), Bellona (Roman), Inanna (Sumerian)

Animals:

Buffalo, lion, wolf.

NEXT - Word Magick: As Above So Below
NEXT - Simple Magick: 45 Colour Correspondences For Crystals