The Astroherbalism Apothecary: Crafting Herbal Charms for Your Sun Sign

I've written about the gifts of our Sun sign and how we can connect with that energy of our birth chart through a simple tarot practice - and now it's time to explore working with our Sun sign plant allies in magickal practice.

Building upon the energy of exploring our birth chart, I wanted to explore some astroherbalism techniques to help you craft elixirs and potions that support the energy of your Sun sign. As the Sun sign is a common starting point for many folks to western astrology, I'd thought it would be a good place to start, but I'll be continuing this series exploring the Moon sign and Ascendant, too.

While you'll find a few recipes in this post, what I really want to share with you is the framework of how we would approach creating your own unique potions, elixirs or herbal charms for your Sun so that you feel inspired to use what is readily available to you. We'll start by naming the ways our Sun sign affects our energy and then look at the common ways that Sun energy might need support in our life because its been blocked or undernourished. I'll provide you with some suggestsions to help you craft your own charms, and then leave you with a Sun sign ritual to support your magickal workings.

Let's get crafting in the astroherbalism apothecary!

As an herbalist, I work with astrology as a story-telling-listening tool and a way to help folks get to know and name the healing needs of their body (and by "body" I mean physical form, emotional and mental experience, the psychic body, and so on). Within traditional western herbalism, the Sun represents our inherent energy. There is no "good" or "bad" inherent energy, just the baseline energy that we're born with and our Sun sign helps us understand the ways that our energy flows throughout our life. Some of us, for example, have energy that is quick to show up and quick to disappear, while others have energy that is slow to arrive and meandering when it does get here. We bring this inherent energetic signature with us into all of our life experiences, including our experiences of wellness, discomfort, illness, and healing. 

Throughout our life we learn how to tend to the needs of our energy and develop skills to interact with the world that not only feels good to us (if at times challenging, but in a way that is helping us to stretch and grow more into who we are) but is sustainable. 

When it comes to supporting our Sun sign there are three primary paths that I work with: recipes that energize, recipes that soothe, and recipes that nourish. Below you'll find a brief description of each path of support as well as key phrases that help you identify your Sun sign energy needs. I encourage you to read these phrases aloud and if something resonates, to consider pursuing that path of magickal healing. Once you've identified what type of path will be most useful for you at this time, you can choose a few suggested herbs and then follow the guide below to creating your custom Sun sign charm with.

image via @mickeydziwulski

Energize Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to awaken, enliven, and generally stimulate Sun sign energy that may be sluggish, recovering from stress and/or illness, and in general need of waking up. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of an energizing charm include:

• I feel like I can't get going. 

• I feel stuck in one place. 

• What's the point?

• I don't feel inspired or creative.

• I just feel "blah" all the time.

Herbs for an Energizing Charm

For a charm that is helping to energize and wake up our Sun current, we want to work plant allies that are stimulating, inspiration-inducing, and energetically bright. From a magickal perspective, seeds and fruits are especially energizing, which is why I love incorporating plants into my Sun charms that are brightly colored and grow prolifically like Calendula (Calendula officinalis) not only in flower form, but in seed form as well. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general, brightly colored, especially in warm and sunny tones, plants that grow easily in a variety of conditions, as well as spicy or strong tasting plants, are great options. Here are a few energizing Sun plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Calendula (Calendula officinalis)

• Ginger (Zingiber officinalis)

• Cayenne (Capsicum annuum)

• Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)

• St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum spp.)

• Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

• Peppermint (Mentha piperita)

If they are already in your collection, you might consider adding any of the following stone allies to your energizing Sun charm including Citrine, Clear Quartz, Carnelian, Red Jasper, and Tiger's Eye. You can also consider choosing bright and warm color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @rayhennessy

Soothe Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that help to soften, relax, and create a sense of calm for Sun energy that is in excess leading to feelings of agitation, anxiousness, and general overwhelm. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a soothing charm include:

• I'm so anxious!

• I don't fit in anywhere.

• I need a hug (or other comforting experience).

• I just feel on edge all the time.

• No one gets me.

Herbs for a Soothing Charm

Focus on herbs that help to diffuse excess Sun energy, helping to ground and center us. From a magickal perspective, roots and barks of plants (always sustainably harvested), have an inherently grounding energy which is why I love solar plants like Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) for soothing solar charms. While you should check out the "Remedy Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign, in general herbs that are cooling, including cooling colors such as blue or purple flowers, grounding, and relaxing are excellent options. Here are a few Sun energy soothing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale)

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• Burdock (Arctium lappa)

• Borage (Borago officinalis)

• California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica)

• Rose (Rosa spp.)

• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)

There are also a variety of stone allies you might consider working with to help soothe your Sun energy if you already have them available including Smoky Quartz, Black Tourmaline, Bloodstone, Obsidian, Amethyst, Citrine, and Flourite. You might also consider choosing cool color tones for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @kiendo

Nourish Your Solar Energy

Herbs and essences that tend to the fundamental needs of our Sun energy, helping us feel energetically fed and supported in our energetic needs - a Sun sign tonic. Key phrases that indicate you might be in need of a nourishing charm include:

• I feel burnt out.

• Everything feels like too much.

• I'm exhausted.

• Who's going to take care of me?

• I could really use a break right now.

Herbs for a Nourishing Charm

Focus on herbs that feel comforting and inviting, helping us to come home to our solar self. From a magickal perspective, flowers and leaves carry nourishing energy and I'm particularly fond of plant allies like Rose (Rosa spp.) to help nourish solar energy.  While you should check out the "Guardian Herbs" section of your astroherbology profile for your Sun sign to help you explore nourishing herbs for your particular Sun energy, in general focusing on vitamin and mineral rich plants, herbs full of gentle but warm color, and herbs that you enjoy the scent, taste, and/or feel of can be good options. Here are a few Sun energy nourishing plant allies to consider connecting with:

• Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• Angelica (Angelica archangelica)

• Linden (Tilia europea)

• Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• Nettles (Urtica dioica)

• Milky Oat (Avena sativa)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Hawthorn Berry (Crataegus monogyna)

Stone allies that you might consider working with to help nourish your Sun energy, if you already have them in your collection, include Citrine, Rose Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Pink Tourmaline, and Magano Calcite. You might also consider choosing gentle and warm colors - such as rosy pinks, soft oranges, warm yellows - for any candles, fabric, bottles or other items that you incorporate into your charm.

image via @daiga_ellaby

Creating Your Sun Sign Charm

Decide the form that your Sun charm will take (i.e. a spell bottle, a charm bag, a solar altar, or something else entirely) and gather all of your ingredients and items needed as well as a candle and candle holder. If you are able to perform this charm on a sunny day, even better, but it's not necessary for success as often we need to recharge our solar energy because sunny days have been far and few between. Ground and center (perhaps with a tree of life meditation) and settle into sacred space through your preferred method. Lay the items for your charm out before you, along with your candle. Light the candle by saying:

By the light of the Sun
By the light of the fire
By the light of my heart's
honest desire
I work my magick
I cast my spell
To {charge, soothe, nourish} my energy
That all may be well.

Visualize the light of the candle (and the Sun if you are outside) growing and expanding, meeting with your own solar energy. Let the light fill up the places of your solar aura that need healing, helping to fortify your Sun energy. When ready, begin to craft your charm, naming aloud the purpose of each item that you are adding to it such as:

Calendula for energy and strength
St. Joan's Wort for hope and joy
Lemon Balm for clarity and community

Once the charm has been made, pass the charm through the flame six times, visualizing the light of the flame and the sun being gathered up into the charm. Then pass the charm between you and the the candle flame, reciting at least six times (or until the energy needed is raised) in a rhythmic fashion:

By light, I am {energized, soothed, nourished}
My Sun renewed
Round and about
Through and through

When you feel the energy has been raised, press the charm to your heart and exclaim: 

So mote it be!

You can now use your charm as you please, carrying it with you or setting placing it in an auspicious place in your home. The charm can be re-charged by putting it under sunlight and/or repeating the sun charm ritual as needed.

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While I love connecting folks with healing modalities, plant allies, and magickal practices, I've come to realize that a lot of my work is learning how to be an effective resource library and to help folks connect with their healing community. I find that astrological language can be an excellent tool for that, especially for marginalized folks who've been injured within medical systems - physically, emotionally, spiritually - feel hesitant to access the care they need. 

It was my own magickal practice that led me to re-membering, after being raised under the deep shadow of capitalism that tries to sell us the lie of the isolated individual solely responsible for earning their "wellness," that healing is a community act, that we all deserve healing resources (including accessing the work of mental health professionals) by simply existing. If you have read through this post and feel some resonance with a statement that you weren't expecting or feelings that feel hard to sit with, I invite you to seek out some of the incredible community-centered healing resources available to you (you can find a short list at the end of this post to help get you started). Part of working with paths like modern astrology is recognizing where the story of our birth chart is pointing us towards - including the types of collaborative healing spaces and skills that would benefit us the most during any and every stage of life.

That's magick, friends, clarifying our intention, naming it, asking for what we desire, and letting love open the path back home to ourselves and our community.

If you are looking to learn more about your Sun sign come this way and you can check out my astroherbology archive for an abundance of resources for your studies and practice. 

May your inner Sun shine brightly!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

Embodying Presence: Tarot and Tea for Taurus Season

Welcome to Taurus Season!

Join me as I explore tarot practices and herbal allies for the twelve seasons of the zodiac (you can learn more about the series over here). In this post we’re meeting with the Bull and learning about tarot for Taurus season and Taurus herbs to help us connect with the energy of the season (i.e. the middle of Spring in the northern hemisphere or the middle of Autumn in the southern hemisphere).

We've moved through the intensity of Aries Season, which can sometimes feel like everything needs to be done right now, into the slower pace of Taurus the Bull. In astrology, Taurus is referred to as a "fixed" sign which means that it's really good at creating roots and grounding energy. If the signs were writing books about the seasons they inhabit, Aries would give you a few quick bullet points on a post-it note (that may or may not have a corner torn off) while Taurus would present you a whole book on the subject (and the book may or may not be handmade).

With Taurus there is no big rush to get somewhere as the energy of the Bull helps us to feel what it is to arrive and be present to a place and space (including our internal environment as well as our external one) for a greater length of time than we might be used to. Taurus season can be a helpful time to explore concepts of embodiment, to seek out experience first instead of jumping into analysis mode, and to imagine ourselves as moving gardens. 

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Taurus is a sign of slowness and embodiment, of being of the Land. As an earth sign, Taurus helps us to connect with seasonal changes as a source of wisdom, including the seasonal and tidal changes of our bodies. Taurus season encourages honesty born of observation (i.e. knowing what sort of conditions are needed to grow a particular plant and not pretending or teaching otherwise).

Taurus asks us, "How would you grow if you didn't feel rushed?"

An important aspect of Taurus season (and where Taurus lives in your birth chart) is recognizing that everything takes time and nothing is grown in a vacuum. In other words, we can make choices of how we embody time (whether or not we're experiencing it at any given moment as too fast or too slow) but it takes a lot of soil and bugs and sun and water and hope to grow a thing, much of which we have no control over. The following Taurus Season tarot spread encourages us to pause and observe so that we can tap into the wisdom of what we need, the resources we have, and how we can better support our slowness.

Embodying Presence
Taurus Season Tarot Spread

Card 1 & 2. That Which Centers & Nourishes You

These cards help you connect to the steadiness that Taurus Season can bring, highlighting the practices, people, places, and experiences which center and nourish you. These are things which you might seek to bring more into your life during Taurus season so that you are better able to connect with the energetic flow of the next month.

Card 3. That Which Needs Slowing Down

The gift of Taurus is learning how to slow down and take account. This card highlights what area of your life would benefit best from taking a moment to pause, rest, and consider what it is you really need. It's an invitation to switch from autopilot mode to intentional presence.

Card 4. That Which Helps You Grow

This card helps you to connect with the question posed earlier - "How would you grow if you didn't feel rushed?" In other words, this card helps to highlight allies in helping you grow in ways that support your becoming, that help you flourish in the garden of our interconnectedness.

Card 5. A Message for Taurus Season

A general message, signs to pay attention to, and perhaps next steps to take as we move into Taurus season.

Bonus Card: That Which Guards the Neck

If you feel connected with the philosophy of astroherbology you can pull an additional card to help you understand the current energies of your neck, throat, and voice, including physical experiences and energetic ones, and what tension or wisdom you might be keeping there. I encourage you to take a somatic approach with this card - when you pull the card, first observe before rushing to analysis, following the feelings and sensations that it evokes from your body to understand its meaning. 

Salvia mellifera - photo by author

A Tea for Taurus Season

How do we nourish the sign of Taurus? As one of the slowest-moving signs of the zodiac, Taurus asks us to slow down and take account of what we need. Taurus also traditionally guards the neck, throat, and vocal cords (click here for a full list of traditional correspondences for Taurus), so our tea blend combines herbs that help us feel grounded, expressive, and deeply nourished. Sage (Salvia officinalis) is a classic Taurus herb - earthy and associated with longevity, Sage helps to support throat health, enhance cognition, and connect with the wisdom of the world around and within us. Rose (Rosa spp.) is an herb of Venus, Taurus' guardian planet, and an important plant ally for finding wisdom distilled through experience. Finally, Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) adds just enough warmth and energy to help us still feel momentum to show up in our life in the ways that we are called to.

Sidenote: You'll find that there is overlap between the herbs used for the Taurus Tea and the herbs used for the Aries Tea. This is for a few reasons, first of which is that Aries and Taurus (and Gemini) all share the same season so it makes sense that there would be similar herbs associated with each sign. Second, I'm trying to keep the variety of herbs I recommend throughout this series to a minimum so folks don't feel overwhelmed with the need to go out and get fifty different herbs. I hope it brings a feeling of calm to your practices and encourages a depth of relationship with our plant allies.

To make your tea, combine the following herbs:

• 4 parts Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus)

• 1 part Sage (Salvia officinalis)

• ½ part Rose (Rosa spp.)

These proportions are only suggested guidelines, so feel free to play around with them to your liking. As you make your tea, slow down, breathe deep, and infuse the blend with your intentions for the season (or whenever you’re drinking this tea to connect with the energy of Taurus). If you’re looking for more breathwork practices to help you connect with the energy of the season, come this way.

image via @danielabeleva

Seasonal Reflections

What does the land feel like, look like, smell like this season?

What is coming to the surface from within me?

What is receding within me?

What am I feeling grateful for?

What am I grieving for or feeling challenged by?

What am I feeling inspired and where is it calling me to this season?

What am I calling to me?

What am I called to give?

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May Taurus season be steady and full of blessings for you and your community. If you’re looking for more spring inspired healing ways and magickal practices, come this way.

Beltane is part of the season of Taurus and here is where you can find an in-depth tarot spread for the sabbat (for my southern hemisphere friends, you can find a tarot spread for Samhain over here). Enjoy!

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

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Notes

*Sometimes I think that Taurus is in fact a very fast moving sign but appears slow to us in the same way that light traveling from a dying star may appear to be relatively static to us but is, in fact, traveling at nearly the speed of light.

Cool + Considered : Burdock Plant Profile

During these hot summer months, cooling herbs are key allies for our health and wellbeing. There are a number of cooling herbs we can befriend, including Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Rose (Rosa damascena), and Aloe (Aloe vera). One of my favorites is Burdock because it has such a wonderful way of balancing heat in the body, is mild in taste, and is one of those herbs (like Oats) that act as much as food as it does medicine.

I created this profile for the students who attend The Plant Sabbat but thought it would be fun to share with you, too.

What are your favorite ways to use Burdock? Let me know in the comments below. If you're looking for all my plant profiles click here and you can learn how to connect with any plant with the Plant Ally Project. Enjoy!

Common + Folk Names : Bardane, happy major, hardock, hareburr, cockleburr, clotbur, love leaves, hurt burr, beggar’s buttons

Element : Water

Zodiac Signs : Taurus

Planets : Venus, Jupiter

Moon Phase : Waning Moon

Parts used : Root and seed.

Habitat : Native to Eurasia and grows throughout North America. Thrives in damp areas, disturbed soil, and roadsides.

Growing Conditions : Self-seeding and relatively easy to grow. Prefers full sun and moist, rich soil.

Collection : Collect the root of a in the summer or fall of the plant’s first year or the spring of the second.

Flavor : Bitter, sweet

Temperature : Cool

Moisture : Dry

Tissue State : Dry/Atrophy, Damp/Stagnation

Constituents : Vitamin C, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, polyacetylenes, chlorogenic acid, taraxosterol, arctigen, inulin, lactone, volatile oils, flavonoids, tannin, mucilage, resin, pectin.

Actions : Adaptogen, alterative, antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, anti-candida, antitussive, aperient, aphrodisiac, cholagogue, demulcent, diaphoretic, diuretic, expectorant, febrifuge, galactagogue, mild laxative, nutritive. The seed is alternative, anti-inflammatory, depurative, diaphoretic, diuretic.

image source

Main Uses : Burdock is a clearing herb. It draws toxins out of the body, especially from the gut, the tissues, and the liver. As a blood-purifier, the herb helps to support the work of eliminatory organs like the liver and kidneys. It is a traditional remedy for kidney stones. As a cooling and moistening herb, Burdock is especially useful for issues that arise from excess heat including inflammation (especially when inflammatory skin conditions are an issues), fevers, and illnesses such as tonsillitis or dry coughs. Acting on the liver, Burdock helps with the secretion of bile and stimulates the actions of the gall bladder. The herb is indicated for poor glandular function in general including the lymph system, pancreas, endocrine glands, prostate, and spleen. As for most liver herbs, Burdock can be helpful for those in recovery from alcohol addiction. It is good to use cleansing Burdock with diuretic herbs such as Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) to make sure that you are pulling out toxins from the body effectively.

The heat and pain of arthritis and gout are alleviated by Burdock as the root breaks down excess uric acid in the joints. Some indicators for Burdock can seem contradictory - excess internal heat can result in a dry digestive tract (constipation and dry fecal matter are indicators) but it can lead also to weepy skin conditions. This is because hot and dry internal heat has pushed all moisture and oil in the body system to the extremities. Of course, to keep things interesting, Burdock can also be strongly indicated in the case of dry and scaly skin conditions. Remember, you are looking for excess heat and how it is manifesting the body when considering Burdock.

Traditionally, Burdock has been used since the Middle Ages for the treatment of cancer including by famed herbalist and mystic Hildegard of Bingen. Modern research continues to look at Burdock as a useful ally in the treatment of not only cancer but HIV, alerting us to Burdock’s immune-boosting qualities.

Burdock combines well with other nutritive herbs such as Milky Oat (Avena sativa) for creating a restorative tonic for undernourished body systems. Insulin rich, Burdock acts as a prebiotic in our gut, helping to cultivate healthy flora. It also helps with the digestion of fats and oils. Enjoy the tea 30 minutes before a meal for best results. Another indicator for Burdock is a sweet tooth and maybe even sugar addiction for those who rely on the quick fix of sugar for energy. There can be a deeper emotional tie to pleasure (or lack thereof) in life and the use of sugar as a quick but ultimately unsatisfying replacement. Approach all diet discussions with nuance and compassion, being sure to examine your own relationship to food and prejudices about size and appearance. Use the essences of Burdock, Crap Apple, and Pretty Face for help.

image source

Brigitte Mars offers an interesting insight into how Burdock is especially useful for city dwellers: 

“During the Industrial Revolution, burdock was used as a medicine to help people cope with pollution or, as John Kelton said in 1870, ‘the constant deterioration of the blood from impure air and exhaustion by day, bad ventilation at night and want of attention to ordinary requirements of life.’” (The Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine, 67)

Burdock has a low amount of estrogen content which means that it can be useful for folks experiencing menopause when combined with stronger estrogenic herbs such as Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) and Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa). Use with practitioner support for supporting transgender and gender variant transitions on the transfeminine spectrum.

External uses include using the oil and leaves as a poultice for skin inflammation and rashes including psoriasis, eczema, glandular boils, and ringworm. Make a hair rinse of the root for remedying dandruff and preventing hair loss. Use in after-sun care. Useful for case of hot and red acne that has not come to a head. Made into a facial toner, the root helps to regulate the excretion of sebaceous glands in the skin, making it especially useful for those with oily skin. Use as well for swellings, sprains, and tumors. Skin conditions are especially connected to deep seated emotional imbalances - use flower essences along herbal remedies. The tincture can internally to successfully treat external symptoms, too. “In the Native American healing tradition, the plant was used by the Malecite, Micmac, Ojibwa, and Menominee for skin health. Further, the roots were dried by the Iroquois over a fire and stored for food for the following year.” (1)

Burdock root is quite edible and pleasant in flavor. It’s a popular addition in Japanese, Hawaiian, and New Zealand cuisine.

Magickal Uses : Burdock is considered a protective herb and the root can be buried at the four corners of the home or powdered and traced around the home. The dried root can be cut and made into small button like beads as a protective amulet. The flowers are symbols of abundance. Use the burrs to help the magick stick to something. Use the plant to help you connect with Bear energy - Arctium comes from the Greek word for bear.

The Burdock Personality : The Burdock personality is very good as masking their emotional suffering, but eventually their physical suffering comes to the surface. They embody burnout - their internal heat has burned them up from the inside out. They tend to be anxious and worried about rocking the boat - until they find themselves so angry they can’t not express their anger. Irritability, crankiness, and explosive outbursts can follow and can feel especially overwhelming as this has not been their typical pattern. Burdock helps them to access the liberating powers of their anger. Anger on the surface goes after those we love and has a tendency to wreck relationships. Deep anger that is given space to come to the surface and allowed to breathe and burn off can be healing. The anger of a Burdock person is often from a much earlier period in their life when they weren’t able to safely express their anger then. Burdock helps them get the chance they never had to be angry - it clears the path for a clean, transformative burn.

Contraindications : Avoid use during first trimester of pregnancy - herbalist Anne McIntyre recommends avoiding throughout all trimesters and during breastfeeding. Avoid with insulin and other hypoglycemic medications. Needs careful monitoring of blood sugar levels with diabetic patients. Be aware that Burdock and Rhubarb leaves are similar looking but Rhubarb leaves are toxic.

Dosage : Standard dosage - 1 tsp per 8 oz water; Adults 30 - 60 drops tincture or 1 - 10 drops for drop dosage. 

image source

Burdock + Dandelion Toffee

by Julie Bruton-Seal & Matthew Seal from Backyard Medicine

Dig several roots of burdock and dandelion, in spring or fall. Strip the root bark off, and clean and chop up the inner part. Weight out 3 to 4 ounces of each. Load into a saucepan and cover with a pint of water. Bring to a boil and simmer for 20 minutes. Allow to cool.

Simmer again until the roots are tasteless (i.e. have surrendered their content to the liquid). This reduces the mixture by about half. Strain and add 1 tablespoon butter and 12 tablespoons of sugar. Boil for 5 minutes then simmer for 20 minutes more. It will become toffee-like. Test the toffee by pouring a drip of it onto a cold plate, as you would in testing jam: when it crinkles into soft threads, it is ready. Pout it into a buttered shallow tin. Before it sets totally, mark out squares and save the toffee slab in greaseproof paper: or stretch it out by hand into taffy: this is ale and pliable, ideal for balls, plaits, etc.

(1) Quoted from https://www.mountainroseherbs.com/products/burdock-root/profile but the original source can be found here: Moerman, D.E. 1998. Native American Ethnobotany at http://herb.umd.umich.edu/.

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Witchcraft + Weeds : Healing + Magickal Practices for Autumn

The Autumn Equinox acts as the hinge of a door, where we swing from the bright half to the dark half of the year.

Known by many names such as Mabon, Alban Elfed, the Feast of Avalon, Winter Finding, the Second Harvest, and Witches’ Thanksgiving, the Autumn Equinox is an opportunity to give thanks for the abundance of the year and prepare for the slower months of winter.

The air has started to turn cooler and the leaves paint their faces red, orange, and yellow as they prepare to descend to earth. In September, I begin to pull out my knitted clothing and find myself preparing heartier meals as well as teas full of berries and roots. During the later months of autumn, especially between Samhain and the Winter Solstice, I pay attention to the movements of the land spirits and the migratory patterns of the Wild Hunt, setting out offerings and lit candles for both. 

The Autumn Equinox marks the turn of the wheel from the healing mutable earth sign of Virgo to the harmonizing cardinal air sign of Libra. The bright and bold energy of summer laughs and tumbles with joyful exhaustion to the cool embrace of fall. There is a necessary period of reassessment as we organize for autumn and winter after the more lax period of the summer. But it’s not an excuse to get so tightly wound that we forget about the pleasure of the season and growing dark. Spend time not only preparing your home for the healing embrace of dark, but your body, too. Drink nutritive teas, eat healing and hearty stews, and add spice into your diet to support your inner digestive fire.

Weeds

Body System Focus : Skin + Nervous System
or Give Thanks + Rebalance

Within the four elements system of traditional western herbalism (I write more about TWH energetics over here), the season of autumn alchemizes fire into earth or heat into cooling dryness. Our bodies are awoken from the languid repose of heat into a sharpening crispness in the air. The summer is over and we are in the midst of harvest season. It's time to shift our focus from the outward growing of the summer to the gathering-in of resources in the autumn. Make warming stews full of herbal and vegetable roots. Integrate oily herbs into your daily routine to nourish your nervous system and protect your skin from the inside out. The plant allies of the Autumn season help us to get grounded as the winds of the season rush around us. Many of the weeds of the season are hearty berries and roots which restore the nervous system and balance the landscape of the skin. If you’re struggling to get grounded and find your flow this autumn, check out the healing ways of Virgo.

While our foraging opportunities grow smaller as the days grow colder and darker, there are still some amazing herbal allies to connect with. While the trees and bushes are losing their leaves, what remains are bright antioxidant rich berries sharply accented against grey skies. The energy of the fields that were full of green herbs in the spring and summer have now gone down below into the ready-to-harvest roots. Enjoying foraged weeds as food and medicine is an amazing way to connect with the season and practice self-care. If you want to learn more about the healing properties of weeds, I highly recommend checking out The Wise Wisdom of Weeds: 13 Essential Plants for Human Survival by Katrina Blair.

Hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna) : The red berries of the Hawthorn bush glow bright as the light fades and the skies grow heavy with clouds. Hawthorn is one of the first herbs many Traditional Western Herbalists turn to for supporting cardiovascular health. The herb nourishes and feeds the heart working best as a long-term tonic (i.e. multiple months of use if not longer). In other words, Hawthorn is a cardiac tophorestorative - which is a restorative tonic for the heart - bringing the hard working muscle back into balance whether from an illness, stress, or the affects of aging. One of the folk names for Hawthorn is “hagthorn” reminding us of the plants long connection with hags, witches, and otherworldly womxn that we can choose to connect with as the veil thins towards Samhain.

Burdock (Arctium lappa) : A wonderful blood purifier and kidney detoxifier that pulls waste from the cellular level, Burdock is an excellent ally to work with throughout autumn and winter. Because Burdock is so cleansing, it is of benefit to combine it with diuretic herbs (such as Dandelion Taraxacum officinalis) to help flush out the system. It's consider an oily herb in traditional western herbalism, which means it helps with dried out conditions as well as lubricate the nervous system and other passageways of the body. The internal cleansing that Burdock brings about manifests externally, too, helping to alleviate skin problems such as acne and eczema. The herb supports a healthy immune system and has historical use as an ally during times of dire illness such as leprosy and cancer.  

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) : Every season needs a good bitter herb and Goldenrod delivers. The bitter flavor of a plant lets us know that it is good for the digestion, helping us to absorb nutrients and eliminate waste. Goldenrod is indicated when there is a runny nose, watery eyes, and a state of uncomfortable damp. Sinus and ear infections can be helped with the cooling and anti-inflammatory herb. The plant is also a wonderful topical remedy for sore muscles and inflammation. 

Rose Hips (Rosa spp.) : Another flash of bright red in the landscape, Rose Hips are wonderful allies in keeping us healthy during the cold months of the year. Rose Hips have one of the highest concentrations of vitamin C found in a herb - about 1700–2000 mgs per 100 dried grams. The herb also helps with digestion and elimination, which is especially useful as we switch over to heartier food. Since they are cooling, Rose Hips are also useful in reducing fevers and their astringency helps with runny noses and other symptoms of colds. They are an excellent addition to convalescent brews and, being Rose, they are also helpful in all matters of the heart. 

Elder (Sambucus nigra) : The deep purple berries of the Elder are a welcome sight during the autumn. As humxns we’ve had a long relationship with the Elder Mother who has been cultivated since the stone age. It is one of the fastest-acting immune herbs that I’ve experienced and my absolute favorite for preventing and reducing the length of colds and the ‘flu. Since they are so high in antioxidants, Elder berries also protect against oxidative stress and can be used over a long period of time to restore a body to balance and health. The plant is under the guardianship of Venus (especially when the energies of the planet manifest as a Crone) and is an excellent ally to working with the sign of Libra. 

Dahlia Flower Essence : If you are someone who struggles with the growing dark and feel increasingly weary and sad during the cold months of the year, Dahlia might be a good ally for you. The essence helps us to reconnect with happiness from a place of resiliency, placing aside the expectations of how we and others think we should be and stepping into a more optimistic and confident expression of our self.

Witchcraft

Autumn is a time of gathering in energies after the exuberance of summer. It’s time to put to good use what you’ve learned so far this year and stretch your magickal muscles. Try out new magickal techniques or dust off old ones to try again with renewed focus. The days are growing shorter and the veil is becoming thinner. Spend time connecting with your ancestors and those that have gone before you. Remember that you, too, will be an ancestor one day - what is the legacy that you are leaving behind? It’s time to practice your magick from a place of sovereignty and confidence. Below I’ve listed three paths of autumn magick that I practice to help me connect with the energies of the season.

3 Paths of Autumn Magick

Clearing Out : We clear out stagnant energy so that we may be renewed again at the coming new year at Samhain. Rituals include all forms of purification and cleansing magick for yourself as well as your home and belongings; burn clearing incense such as Juniper (Juniperus communis), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), and Copal (Bursera odorata), followed by herbs that bring in energies and qualities that you desire (such as Rose (Rosa spp.) for love or Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) for psychic gifts); hex-breaking baths and charms; cleansing and aligning your energy centers; grounding and centering meditations; divination to help you discover what needs cleansing or letting go of; clean and organize your house; renew the energies of your altar; pay attention to and release negative self-talk that doesn’t serve you; let go of relationships that don’t affirm and celebrate who you are.

Clearing Out Meditation : In a comfortable position, visualize a warm red glow descending from above towards you and emerging up from below you. The red energy flows throughout your dislodging and removing stagnant energy. Next, visualize a orange light coming from above and below to flow through your body with its gentle cleansing glow. Continue in this manner with the following colors: yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. When all seven colors have moved through your body and aura take a deep breath in and visualize the colors settling around you like a protective circle. 

Giving Thanks : We give thanks in order to recognize and celebrate the abundance in our lives, honoring the people, places, and opportunities that have been of benefit to us. Rituals include ones of gratitude and giving back. Write that letter, email, text or pick up the phone and call the person who deserves your thanks and gratitude; light a candle or hearthfire and name the multiple streams of abundance in your life whether it’s a job, comfortable housing, the technology to access the internet, clean water, good food, family and friends, the ancestors who insured your ability to exist, and more; invite friends and family over for a thanks and gratitude community potluck (aka Witch’s Thanksgiving); donate time and money to a local community cause from food kitchens to animal shelters, community gardens and youth programs; recognize the ways that you don’t celebrate abundance in your life and work to shift your perspective; create an abundance branch in your home to hang above your altar with ribbons, leaves, and other objects with what you’re grateful for written on them; give offerings to the land spirits, the ancestors traveling the land, and honor the Wild Hunt who helps lost spirits find their way home to peace and rest.

Giving Thanks Meditation : Get cozy and draw your attention to your heartbeat. We are shaped by the sounds of hearts beating - first the one we felt in the womb and then our own. If you can be grateful for nothing else, choose to be grateful for the heart beating in your chest, which give you life and possibility. Taking a deep breath in and guided by your heartbeat, think or say out loud, “I am thankful for…” and notice what comes up for you. You might think “I am thankful for…” and an image of your garden shows up in your mind. Hold your hands over you heart and say or think, “I am thankful for my garden.” Continue in this fashion for however long you like. Just before you’re done, say, “I am grateful for those things I have not remembered and honor them still." Finally, raise your arms to the sky and say “I am uplifted by my gratefulness.” Touch the ground (or reach towards the ground) and say, “I am grounded by my gratefulness.” Finish by placing your hands over your heart and saying, “I am centered by my gratefulness.”

Going Deep : We draw our energy inwards into our own depths so that we might better know the roots of who we are and where our power emerges from. Rituals include ones that evoke deeply meditative states and direct your energy to the underworld; trance and journeywork to the underworld and the realm of the ancestors; ancestral rituals and honoring, including setting out an extra plate at meal times and leaving a bowl of water (changed regularly) on your altar; performing shadow work and soul alignment work; seeking out therapeutic support (such as EMDR) for processing past traumas that prevent you from calling all parts of yourself home; soul retrieval rituals; working with Sage, Crone, and Elder God/dess/es; learning how to scry; doing grief and sorrow magick; allowing yourself to mourn for that which has been lost, including mourning the current state of affairs in the world; take time to sit in the dark without any source of light; spend a day and night in silence.

Going Deep Meditation : Go to a dark space. Wear loose, dark clothing. Lie down and place a heavy rock or weighted pillow or something similar on your belly. This is the anchor which draws you down into the depths. Bring yourself into a meditative space and then visualize a staircase below you. Walk down the steps slowly. When you reach the bottom notice what is there - this will offer you insight into what you keep hidden from the world yet is a significant part of you. Find the dark pool of water - it may appear suddenly, it may be hidden. Gaze into the pool of water, asking to be shown a message of wisdom from your deep self. When all has been seen, give thanks, and return up the staircase to your body. Remove the stone from your belly, giving it a kiss to thank the earth for giving you form, and then perform a grounding and centering of your choice.

Hot Cocoa Contentment Charm

This time of the year is not just about doing depth magick, but autumn is also a time of gathering in for the purpose of getting cozy and comfortable. The spring and summer are busy and energetically outward driven times of the year, so when autumn finally arrives it can feel so good to put on our oversized sweater and curl up with a good book. And you know what would make that scene even better - a hot drink to enjoy. The Hot Cocoa Contentment Charm will help you brew up some contentment to help you settle back into your body and magickal practice with comfort and ease. It’s a get charm to do after a house cleansing or any time you need to help settle the energy in your self and your home.

For this ritual you’ll need your favorite hot cocoa mix (you can try one of mine if you like), your mug of choice, and a bit of peace and quiet. Cacao (Theobroma cacao) or chocolate is a great messenger plant - it delivers the message of whatever charm you’re using it for to it’s desired location. In this instance, Cacao is helping us distribute a sense of contentment within ourselves and our home. 

Brew you cocoa and as you do, chant the following charm while stirring it:

One bird,
One toad,
One serpent,
One hare,
Each bring four blessings
To my brew here
Of peace,
Of ease,
Of love,
Of pleasure,
So I may know
the joy of leisure.

Go room to room in your home with your cup full of hot cocoa saying each time:

Contentment is delivered to this place
I now dwell in a peaceful space

In the final room to be blessed, and the one where you are planning on getting cozy and drinking your hot cocoa, end your charm by saying “Blessed Be!” three times.

Tell me about your favorite magickal and healing practices for autumn in the comments below. Check out my recipes and herbs for the autumn season as well as a tarot season to help you connect to the energies of fall.

Grounded Strength : The New Moon in Taurus

Within and around the earth,
within and around the hills,
within and around the mountains,
your authority returns to you.

- Alfonso Ortiz -

The youthful energy of the Aries New Moon has matured into the grounded sturdiness of Taurus. The New Moon in Taurus is a good time to get your dream garden growing - both of a physical and esoteric variety. All Moons during Taurus are an excellent time to ground energy to be eventually use for healings, life projects, and magickal goals.

Since Taurus is a fixed earth sign it is one of the most body-centered (and centering) signs of the zodiac. When the New Moon is in the sign of Taurus we are reminded of the sacredness of our physical form. In fact, we are encouraged to revel in our physicalness and the pleasure of what we can experience with our sense of touch. If the sign of Aries can be described as headstrong, Taurus can be described as bodystrong. 

Astrologer Judith Hill describes the energy of Taurus as that of a greenhouse - the sign is excellent at absorbing and storing energy for a slow and steady release. With that in mind, consider what energy you want to fill yourself with at the Taurus in New Moon. Maybe you’re studying a new healing modality or trying a new self-care practice and are seeking to infuse these new endeavors with the energy you need to see them through. At the Taurus New Moon you have an opportunity to draw in energy for whatever project you have ahead of you. More importantly, it’s an auspicious time to identify the source of where you are drawing your energy from. Are you drawing energy from a place of authenticity and self-worth or are you driven by FOMO and a bad case of comparing yourself to others? The New Moon in Taurus is about getting back to your garden of magickal pleasures and stop peeking over the fence at everyone else's. However you choose to ground in the energy of the New Moon, remember to care for and celebrate the physical vessel (aka your body) that you’re storing it in. If that feels hard and challenging - that’s alright -  remember that magick is transformative and powerful because it requires us to expand beyond what we have previously thought possible. Work your body-positive, I'm-a-sacred-space-in-movement magick under the Taurus New Moon - it’ll be well worth the effort.

Rose (Rosa spp.)
New Moon in Taurus Plant Ally

As an herb of Venus, Rose harmonizes wherever it is given. The flower asks us the very grounding and Taurean question, “What are you experiencing?”

Rose is an ancient plant - fossils of the flower have been found across Europe, North America, and Asia dating back from as early as the Miocene period (7 - 26 million years ago). There are a vast variety of Roses in the world, but the three traditional medicinal varieties Rosa gallica (also known as as Provins or Apothecaries rose), Rosa damascena (or Rosa x damascena to denote its hybridity, also known as damask rose), and Rosa centifolia (also known as Provence Rose). Two other varieties, Rosa canina and Rosa rugosa, are also commonly used in western herbalism. The flower has been used medicinally for thousand of years, with Dioscorides recording Rose as a cooling and contracting medicine. Herbalist, mystic, composer, and badass Hildegard von Bingen recommends in her Physica placing Rose petals on the eyes in the morning to refresh them and draw out any imbalance in the bodily humors. Additionally, she recommends that someone who is “inclined to wrath” should use a snuff of powdered rose and sage. The sage “eases the wrath and the rose cheers.”

18th century herbalist, J. Quincy, (as quoted in The Western Herbal Tradition: 2000 Years of Medicinal Plant Knowledge) wrote that Rose “raises the spirits and gives sudden strength and cheerfulness” and categorized Rose as primarily a herb of the heart and the head. The herb assists with memory and promotes clarity of mind, heart, and spirit by connecting all three. Rose nourishes the body and is sweet medicine which calms the nervous system. Within Ayurveda, Rose is considered a rasayana (rejuvenative tonic) and medhya (brain tonic and nervine) for all of the doshas or constitutions. 

The benefits of Rose for the skin are manifold as anti-inflammatory, astringent, vitamin and mineral rich herb and can be used in oils, scrubs, and baths for skin health and beauty. As a humectant, Rose water adds and maintains water to the skin. You can also keep Rose water in a spray bottle to use as a mild antiseptic for first aid needs. 

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon in Taurus: Aspen (Populus tremula), Gentian (Gentiana amarella), Willow (Salix vitellina), Wild Rose (Rosa canina), Hazel (Corylus avellana), Peacock Ore, Lapis Lazuli.

Essential Oils for Taurus: Rose (Rosa spp.), Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata), Sandalwood (Santalum album), Violet (Viola tricolor).

image source

Inner Sacred Space Grounding

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). The following technique is slightly more advanced than a typical grounding and centering meditation but it is a rewarding challenge. It's partially adapted from a meditative technique by Starhawk. The best thing about the Inner Sacred Space Grounding is that it continues to do the work of keeping you grounded and energized even when you’re not actively practicing it.

Find a comfortable position to be in - I prefer to sit cross-legged on a cushion with my hands gently holding my belly. Begin by taking four centering breaths in the following fashion:

• Breathe in to the count of four (I measure my count with my heartbeat). 
• Hold your breath for four counts.
• Breathe out for four counts.
• Pause for four counts before taking another breath.
• Repeat.

This breathing technique helps to quiet the mind and center your focus. I find it immeasurably valuable to quickly ground in my body whether beginning a meditation or for when I'm feeling a spike of stress and anxiety. 

Continuing to breathe gently into the softness of your belly, you are going to begin to visualize yourself within yourself. Visualize yourself pulling back from the edges of your body. Draw your consciousness inwards so that you feel yourself inside of your body as if it were a sacred space that you can draw back into. Feel yourself growing smaller in the powerful space of your body, drifting down into the sacred cavern of your belly. From here, the place where you can store energy for healing and magick, it’s time to perform a tree of life grounding and centering.

Remaining within yourself, visualize a root extending from inner-you down deep into the earth. Breath into this root as it extends downwards to the crystalline center of the earth. With every out-breath your root extends and with every in-breath you pull up green energy through your roots back into inner-you. The green energy stretches up into all parts of inner-you until you are completely filled with it from your toes to fingertips to the very top of your head. The energy extends out of the crown of your head skywards in the form of branches. With every out-breath your branches extend upwards and with every in-breath your branches pull celestial, lunar, and solar energy into inner-you. Let the currents of green and celestial energy mingle throughout your body.

When you feel sufficiently charged-up, begin to pull back your roots and branches until they have formed a small but powerful sphere of centered energy in the belly of inner-you. This is a continuous conductor of energy that you can connect to and direct towards healing and magickal projects. You can go within yourself, the sacred space of your body, to access it at any time, including repeating this simple ritual to continue to revitalize your inner energy. Inner Grounding is also excellent to do when you're caught up in a cycle of FOMO and the comparison game as it will help to draw you back to what you really want and need.

When you’re ready, expand your consciousness to fill up the entirety of your physical form. Come fully back to your body by giving yourself a self-massage or squeezing your feet, head, and belly. Blessed be! 

Oracle

With a divinatory tool of your choosing ask the following question. You can also ponder it during meditation or through journalling.

What am I currently experiencing in my body as a healer?

Additional queries to consider:

• What am I not saying?
• Where am I least grounded as a healer?

Tarot Cards of Taurus

Every card within the tarot deck has an astrological association. The following correspondences follow the system laid out by the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. You can add these cards to your altar as part of your New Moon in Taurus magick or use them in readings to help with determining celestial influence or timing (i.e. this will come to pass at when the Moon is in Pisces).

• The Sign of Taurus: The Hierophant
• Mercury in Taurus: Five of Pentacles
• Moon in Taurus: Six of Pentacles
• Saturn in Taurus: Seven of Pentacles
• The Earth Signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn: Ace of Pentacles

Find all of the New Moon Healers Project posts right over here. Be sure to share your insights and experiences in the comments below or via instagram with the tag #NewMoonHealersProject.

Need more astroherbology in your life? You can learn more about the astroherbology of Taurus by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. For those of you ready to learn how to work your magick and create your herbal remedies by the cycle of Moon and star, you're invited to join the The Lunar Apothecary.

Blessed New Moon, wise healers.
May your healing be healing to us all.
May our healing be healing to you.
Blessed be! Blessed be! Blessed be!