Yule Masterpost

Agrimony is a perennial native to Europe, Western Asia and Northern Africa that has naturalized to most of the US and Canada. It grows in open areas, fields and waste places and hedgerows. Yellow flower spikes appear on a downy stem about 20 inches tall around Midsummer and continue on through September. The seeds that follow are contained within burr-like cases, which stick to everything. The leaves are downy and serrated and pinnately divided with less division in the smaller lower leaves. The leaves are fuzzy with more fuzz on the bottom giving the undersides a silvery appearance. The root is a black woody rhizome. The entire plant has a sweet citrusy scent.

History and Folklore

The name Agrimony comes from the Greek Argemone, which means a plant that is healing to the eyes, although Agrimony isn’t often used in this capacity. Eupetoria is a reference to a king who died in 63BCE and was renowned for his herbal skill and knowledge.

The Anglo-Saxons called it Garclive and used it to treat wounds and skin blemishes. During Medieval times it was a treatment for internal bleeding, in combination with pounded frogs.

Once this herb was used to aid in detecting witches.

Propagation

Agrimony will grow well throughout most of North America. A perennial herb, it should be sown from seed in winter, or they may be stratified by putting them in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks before spring planting. Agrimony seeds are suitable for Midwinter planting ceremonies.

Agrimony prefers well-drained soil and full to partial sun and tolerates dry spells well.

Harvesting & Storage:

Agrimony can be harvested at midsummer or when the flowers just come into bloom. Cut the whole plant and hang outside to dry. Or pluck the leaves as needed.

Agrimony is an invasive perennial so you’ll need to keep on top of it to make sure it doesn’t take over.

Magical Attributes

Agrimony is masculine in nature and associated with the planet Jupiter, Cancer and the element of air.

Agrimony is useful for spellwork for those who who need to explore their true feelings and to help balance the emotions applied to a situation.

The plant is also used in protection spells, to help build a psychic shield, to reduce the influence of another’s negativity and to banish negative energies and spirits. It is said to reverse harmful spells cast on you, causing them to rebound on the sender. Use in all protective sachets, spells and medicine bags. It is useful also as a banishing smudge or as a wash to cleanse the aura.

It is especially useful in healing magic as it enhances the strength of all healing spells, especially at a distance. You could use it in a rituali bath before beginning, as a wash for your tools, in a smudge or simply decorate your alter with it.

Agrimony can be added to pillows, or placed under the pillow to ensure a deep, dreamless sleep. This is especially useful for those who are too troubled to sleep properly. This is an old traditional use for this herb as the following rhyme indicates:

If it be leyd under mann’s heed,
He shal sleepyn as he were deed;
He shal never drede ne wakyn
Till fro under his heed it be takyn.

Household Use

This plant works well in a perennial border. It also yields a yellow dye. The later in the season the plant is collected, the darker the dye will be.

This plant also contains a good deal of tannin and may be useful in dressing leather.

Healing Attributes

Agrimony has astringent properties which makes it very useful for drawing out stings and thorns and for acne. Use a fomentation for these problems.
A tonic infusion, a 1-2 teaspoons per teacup, three times a day(or make it by the jugful, adjusting measurements accordingly, and store it in the fridge to drink cold), can be used as a diuretic and for urinary and kidney infections, for jaundice and general liver ailments, ulcers, diarrhea and general digestive complaints and for excessively heavy menstruation and hemorrhage. Agrimony is also a popular “spring tonic”.
The same infusion may also be used as a gargle for throat irritation, especially useful for singers.
A poultice of the leaves may be used for migraines.

Caution

Do not use this herb internally if you are constipated. It will make you worse.

Culinary Use

Agrimony makes a lovely fragrant tea good hot or iced. Steep 1 teaspoon of dried leaves and flowers in one cup of hot water for 15 minutes. Add honey to taste.
Contains vitamins B3, K, iron and niacin

Foxglove

General Information

Foxglove is a striking plant for shade gardens, but it is also very poisonous and should be planted with this in mind. It reaches up to 5 feet tall and can spread to 18 inches. A multitude of thimble-shaped flowers will appear in the late spring of the second year in tall spikes in various pastel colors, depending on the variety. Throats are white with darker spots, usually burgundy.

Varieties

Common Foxglove Digitalis pupurea has purple to white flowers, though there are many different colored cultivars, including “alba” which is white without spots.

Rusty Foxglove Digitalis ferruginea can get up to six feet tall and has red flowers.

Yellow Foxglove Digitalis grandiflora has yellow flowers blotched with brown.

Merton foxglove or Strawberry Foxglove Digitalis X mertonensis is a perennial (unlike all the others which are biennial) that can reach about three feet tall and has bright red flowers.

History and Folklore

The origin of the common name “foxglove” is unclear, but the original name may have been folksglove, referring to faerie folk.

The Latin name, digitalis comes from the word digitanus, meaning finger for the timble shaped flowers that look like you could fit your finger right inside.

Although foxglove is very dangerous if misused, it has a long history of medicinal use for heart and kidney problems, edema and aconite poisoning. Legend says that Van Gogh used it to treat his epilepsy.

An old saying about foxglove goes “It can raise the dead and it can kill the living”.

In the 1700s, William Withering learned of this folk remedy from “an old woman in Shropshire” and studied it. This led to Digitalis being a very important plant-derived medicine for heart disease that is still in use to this day.

In Roman mythology, Flora showed Hera or Juno how to impregnate herself with no need of a man by touching a foxglove to her belly and her breasts. She either gave birth to Mars or Vulcan from this method, depending on the source.

Scandinavian legend says that the faeries taught foxes to ring foxglove bells to warn each other of approaching hunters.

Foxglove, or digitalis, has a long association with witches and witchcraft.

Propagation

Foxglove will grow in most zones, but not along the gulf coast. It likes a bit of sun, but scorches easily and requires a bit of shade in the latter part of the day. If you live in the deep south, it will do best in the deep shade. Foxglove germinates well from seed. Just throw it down, no need to even cover it or fertilize. Plant foxglove in moist but well-drained soil that is slightly acidic, but remember, they are biennial so you won’t get any blooms until next year. It will then self seed and you will need to divide the clumps every few years to prevent overcrowding. Mulching will prevent reseeding.

Harvesting & Storage

Cut flowers when they first bloom and hang upside down to dry.
Be sure to wear gloves when working with foxglove.

Magical Attributes

Foxglove is a baneful herb associated with the planets Saturn or Venus, depending who you ask.

Juice or dew collected from foxgloves can be used in ritual to commune with the faeries and the leaves are said to help break faerie enchantments. Do not let it touch your skin and do not inhale the smoke if you burn the leaves!

Plant foxgloves anywhere you wish to invite the faeries to come visit.

Carry foxglove with you to attract faerie energy.

Household Use

Foxglove is poisonous to humans but attracts bees and hummingbirds.

Healing Attributes

Chemicals are extracted from foxglove for the medical industry. Digitalis is a common medicine for heart patients. However, it is also a cardiac toxin and should never be used except under the care of a professional.

Note. Foxglove is a cardiac toxin. Do not eat.

Photo by : Frolicing in the Forest

Peridot

Natural History

Peridot is the gem form of olivine. They are found in some meteorites and in deep rock brought to the surface by volcanoes.

History and Folklore

Peridot crystals found in the black volcanic sands of Hawaii are said to be the tears of the Goddess Pele.

Once believed to be visible only after night had fallen.

Correspondences for Peridot

Angel: Achaiah or Raphael
Gods/Goddesses: Pele; Isis
Chakra: heart, solar plexus - remove to work on other chakra areas as peridot seals the aura.
Element: earth
Astrological Sign: Virgo, Leo, Sagittarius
Planet: Venus and the Sun
Sabbat: Lughnassadh or Lammas;
Numbers: 3, 6, 7
Tarot: The Empress, The Hermit

Traditions

Ancient Romans wore rings with peridot to calm nerves, ease depression, and banish insomnia.

Healing and Magickal Uses

Body: Cools fevers. Aids the liver and gall bladder. Aids heart and lungs. It is said that wearing peridot will slow the affects of aging on the wearer’s body.

Mind: Relieves stress in adults, children and pets. Gives a sense of peace and helps balance emotions to relieve depression and anxiety. Peridot helps maintain an upbeat, friendly attitude and attracts positive, friendly people.

Magick: Peridot is a powerful magick charm said to bring the wearer general good luck and increase his or her power and influence. It can be used to set a shield around your aura and to cause spells cast against you to return to their sender. Peridot is said to protect sleepers from nightmares, especially when it is set in gold

Care and Cleansing

Smudge or cleanse in water. Recharge under the full moon.