SECTION IV - ONLINE RESOURCES

Herb Corner - Dor
Planetary Ritual for Candlemas/Imbolc [Feb 2nd] - Sarolta

Herb Corner
By Dor

Hi everyone. In this issue, we are taking a look at the herb Catnip. Read, enjoy and I hope that this information is helpful to you.

CATNIP
(Nepeta Cataria)

Gender - cold (masculine)
Folk names: Field Balm, Catmint, Catnep, Cats' Wort, Nip, and Catrup
Planet: Venus
Astrological Sign: Libra
Element: Water
Associated Deity: Bast (also known as Bubastis, the Egyptian cat-headed deity that was the daughter of Isis and represents the goodness of the Sun's energy) and Sekhet (sister to Bast with a lion's head and represents the Sun's ferocity).
Part Used: The Herb
Basic Powers: Love, Animal Contacts, and Fertility

You can dry large leaves to use as bookmarks in magical books. You can give it to your cat to sniff and play with and to create a loving, healing psychic bond between you and your cat or any other familiar you may have. It can be used in love sachets and incenses, it works especially well with rose petals. It is used to promote fertility to ones magick or ones womb when used in combination with other herbs.

Catnip is also associated with all four Nine cards in tarot's minor arcana. The nine cards imply changes that are somewhat complex but not difficult to navigate. Catnip is also said to help in change, using this herb can ease any change in your life.. Drinking a tea made with catnip is said to enhance your ability to interpret these archetypes. Catnip also corresponds with the strength card in the tarot promoting a balance of your spiritual and incarnate selves.

The Master Book of Herbalism alludes to a mixture of catnip and dragon's blood as an incense to help rid yourself of behavioral problems or bad habits.

Catnip is said to enhance ones ability to shape shift into the cat form for journeying into the night, or be used when traveling astrally, not just in the journeying but to improve the quality of any type of psychic work.

Catnip is used medicinally to help induce sleep and calm. In Elizabethan times the English tea of choice for the afternoon was relaxing, soothing catnip. In Europe, it is used for hyperactive children (catnip contains compounds similar to those in valerian).

Calming/Relaxing Tea:
1/2 teaspoon each catnip leaves, chamomile flowers, passionflower leaves, and lemon balm leaves
1/4-teaspoon peppermint leaves
2 cups water
***Place herbs and water in a saucepan and bring to a simmer. Remove from heat and steep for 15 minutes then strain out the herbs. Give this tea freely, as needed.

Hyperactivity Tincture:
1 teaspoon tincture of valerian rhizome
1/2 teaspoon each tinctures of catnip leaves and passionflower leaves
1/4 teaspoon each tinctures of peppermint leaves and linden flowers (if available)
***Combine ingredients. For a 50-pound child, give 1/2 dropperful several times a day

Catnip can be used in combination with other herbs to help heartburn or a child's tummy ache.

Heartburn Tea:
1 teaspoon each chamomile flowers, lemon balm leaves, and licorice root
1/2 teaspoon slippery elm bark
1/4 teaspoon each fennel seeds and catnip leaves
1 1/2 cups of very hot water
1 1/2 cups carrot or apple juice (optional)
*** Combine herbs and pour very hot water over them. Steep for at least 15 minutes, then strain the herbs out and add the juice. Drink 1 cup after each meal. Stored in the refrigerator, this formula will keep for a few days.

Child's Tummy Ache Tea:
2 cups boiling water
1 teaspoon each chamomile flowers and lemon balm leaves
1/2 teaspoon each catnip leaves and fennel or dill seeds
***Pour boiling water over herbs and steep for 10 minutes. Strain out the herbs and allow the tea to cool. The child can sip this tea as needed; sometimes as little as 1/4 cup is needed to help the child feel better.

Catnip lowers a fever and can help reduce the eruptions of measles and chickenpox. Combined with lemon balm, burdock, and the Chinese herb bupleurum it helps a child get better faster and to have a much lighter case of the illness.

Childhood Diseases Tea:
1 teaspoon burdock root
1/2 teaspoon bupleurum root (optional)
1 quart water
1 teaspoon each catnip leaves, lemon balm leaves, mullein leaves and elder flowers
1/2 teaspoon each yarrow flowers and peppermint leaves (for taste)
***Combine burdock, bupleurum, and water in a saucepan and simmer for 5 minutes. Turn off heat, add other herbs, and steep for 15 minutes. Strain out all the herbs. Give as much as the child will drink -- at least 2 cups daily for a 50-pound child. The tea can be mixed with fruit juice to entice your child to drink it if they don't like the taste of the plain tea. Store the extra tea in the refrigerator.

Catnip can also be used to help diarrhea:

Diarrhea Tea:
3 cups water
1-teaspoon catnip leaves
1/2 teaspoon each raspberry or blackberry leaves, slippery elm bark and peppermint leaves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon bark powder
***Combine ingredients and water in a saucepan. Bring mixture to a simmer, and then remove it from the heat. Steep for 15 minutes, and then strain the herbs out. For a 50-pound child, give 1 cup every half-hour until symptoms go away.

Catnip is a good insect repellent.

Remember that herbs are powerful 'drugs'. Only take the amounts recommended, only when needed and never in combination with prescription drugs without your doctors ok. It is possible to overdose on herbs and vitamins just as you can with prescription drugs. When very sick it is always best to consult with your doctor.

Till next time, stay healthy and happy.

Blessings and Love
Dor

Planetary Ritual for Candlemas / Imbolc [Feb 2nd]
By Sarolta DeFaltay-Bell January 2, 2001

Astrology and the magical path have long shared a history, and can add clarity and focus when used together. Every planetary alignment holds an opportunity for growth and expanded awareness, and contains symbolism that can be universally shared and understood. By meditating on current planetary themes, we can tune in to the archetypal energy inherent therein, gaining a deeper understanding of our own personal myth, integrating the planetary energies experientially through personalized ritual.

Imbolc [one of the names of this Sabbat, along with Candlemas] means in the belly, when the seeds we planted at the Winter Solstice (the beginning of the waxing cycle of the year) are now beginning to awaken and stir into life, getting ready to spring forth at the Spring Equinox (Ostara), when Persephone returns from the Underworld and is reunited with her mother, Demeter, bringing fertility and warmth to the land once again. Other sources state that Imbolc or Oimelc means ewe's milk, when the sheep and other livestock were lactating, preparing to give birth in the spring.

Candlemas represents the Waxing Light of the Soul, when the growing cycle gains momentum, and for that reason it is chosen as the traditional time to welcome initiates in the ways of The Goddess. Candlemas is also known as The Feast of Brigid, dedicated to the Goddess of Fire and Inspiration, the Irish Triple Goddess of poetry, smithcraft, and healing. It is a time of individuation and inspiration, where creativity is shared, and is central to the fire rituals performed in Brigid's honor.

Astrology and the magical path have long shared a history, and can add clarity and focus when used together. Every planetary alignment holds an opportunity for growth and expanded awareness, and contains symbolism that can be universally shared and understood. By meditating on current planetary themes, we can tune in to the archetypal energy inherent therein, gaining a deeper understanding of our own personal myth, integrating the planetary energies experientially through personalized ritual.

CANDLEMAS HERBAL LORE

Almond: Invocation of Deities; use pure oil as base for anointing oils.

Angelica: Bringer of Light; Protection, abundance, self-blessing.

Basil: Initiation, good fortune; use to clean floors for house blessing.

Benzoin: Focus, Concentration, Meditation, Serenity, Astral work.

Heather: Love, Initiation, Spiritual unfolding, Immortality.

Myrrh: Heightens perception of the energy flows between the worlds.

Pine: Cleansing, Transformation, Conviction, Reversible.

Willow: Immortality, Eloquence, Candlemas decoration; wands.

RITUAL BATH: Almond oil, Angelica, Basil, Heather.

Place any or all herbs in cheesecloth and tie well; run under tap. You can also make a strong tea (infusion) from the herbs, and strain into the bath. Light white candles anointed with your chosen oil or herbal infusion, and imagine a golden glow in your bath and around your aura. As you bathe yourself in the herbs, breathe deeply; imagine what the year will bring, and breathe out any random thoughts that now distract you from your focus.

After your bath, bring your candles with you to the circle, and place on the altar or at the quarters.

THE ALTAR: Decorate with white candles. Fill a cauldron or bowl with earth, and place a white candle in the center. If you have any pine needles saved from Yule, prepare a fire to burn the Yule boughs in, or burn some in your cauldron or as incense.

RITUAL: cast the circle, call in the quarters, and call upon Brigid, and the element of Fire. Fire transforms, inspires, generates creativity and heightens energy.

INCENSE: Angelica, Basil, Benzoin, Myrrh, or Pine.

Bring any or all of the above ingredients into your ritual circle and add each herb one at a time, while grinding by hand with a mortar and pestle and focusing on the properties of each herb as it is added. Consecrate your incense by dedicating it to Brigid, Goddess of Initiation and Creativity, and charge it with pure intent. When the incense is prepared, burn some on a charcoal as you focus in on your goal.

You will need three candles: pink, yellow and royal blue.

The pink candles represent the Moon/Venus sextile [Gemini, Aries at 00 deg 04']. Write down on a small piece of paper how you will improve your relationships and increase your circle of friends and like-minded others; place this slip of paper underneath the candle, anoint the candle with a Venusian oil [see appendices], and focus intently on your intent as you light your candle.

The yellow candle represents the Moon / Mercury square [Gemini, Pisces at 00 deg 34']. How can you increase communication or ease disagreements at this time? How can you work through any blocks to learning or gaining information? Create an affirmation to support your intent; write down your goals and repeat the process as before.

The royal blue candle represents the Moon / Jupiter conjunction [01 deg 19' Gemini]. How can you create growth [Jupiter] regarding intellectual goals [Gemini]? How can you expand your mind? Create an affirmation to support your intent; write down your goals and repeat the process as before.

Allow the candles to burn as you continue to meditate, focusing on your goal manifesting quickly and harmoniously, in balanced ways for all involved. The ritual is complete when you feel the subconscious mind has fully received the intention of your ritual.

When you feel the ritual is complete, burn each paper as you focus once again on the intention of the goal, releasing the energy to the wind and elemental helpers. Thank the nature spirits, deities or elementals, and close your circle, allowing the candles to burn all the way down, or instead, burn them for a little while for the next several days, repeating your prayers and affirmations with dedication and faith. Blessed Be.

(c)2000 Sarolta DeFaltay-Bell

Planetary ritual kit for Candlemas/Imbolc
http://www.enteract.com/~deepsky/imbolc.html

+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+
The Moonspells Network: FREE info on Magical Astrology
http://www.onelist.com/community/moonspells_network
Astrology News by Sarolta (c) 2000
http://www.i.am/deepskies
+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+<>+