A Recipe for Spring Dreaming

Every season awakens within us a certain sort of magick. With the coming of spring we have a chance to fill our lungs with the growing light, fall in love again with our favorite flowers, and shake off the last few notes of winter song. One of the ways that I like to connect with the season is through gathering wild and abundant weeds springing up in my backyard. Many spring greens are cleansing in nature many that they help our bodies wake up after the slower season of winter and release any stagnation that may be impeding our self-healing ability. Spring is also a time of growing those little dream seeds that have been slumbering within us since Yule. 

With these thoughts of waking up the body, connecting to the joy of the season, and nurturing our visions of what might be, I created the following Spring Dream recipe. It’s an alcohol-extract which I don’t do many of but I had tinctured some Califia Mugwort (Artemisia californica) before I left Southern CA that was calling out to be used in a special way. Combined with the abundance of Cleavers (Galium aparine) growing in my Sacramento backyard and a bit of loving Lavender (Lavandula spp.) extract that I had left over from my Stank Face brew. 

Cleavers (Galium aparine)

So what do these three herbs combined create? It’s a nervine blend with a lymph toning focus and just the right amount of dream tonic. Whenever we’re trying to dream big (or better or wiser) and create change in our lives, I was taught that nervines are essential so that the nervous system can adapt appropriately. I take a few drops in the morning and evening during the season of Ostara (from about the New Moon before the Spring Equinox to Beltane) and find it to be wonderfully spring-aligning to my being. Spring Dream is a great foundation tonic to add your favorite flower and gem essences in it, too - something that I highly recommend.

Spring Dream

Either brew together or combine the following individual extracts: 

• 2 parts Cleavers (Galium aparine)
• 1 part Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
• 1/2 part Mugwort (A. californica, A. vulgaris, or your own local variety are all great options)

Recommended dosage is 1 - 3 drops up to 3 times daily. Enjoy!

If you're looking for more spring-inspired recipe and magick, be sure to check out my Witchcraft + Weeds Spring Edition post, a look at what herbs I turn to during the Spring Equinox, as well as some Spring Equinox inspired recipes.

Happy spring!

Herbs and Essences for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People

Edit: Inspired by this post and the request of readers, I wrote a whole course for plant allies and highly sensitive people - check it out!

I learned what an empath was when I was about 12 years old and it was a turning point in my young development.

Having a name for what felt like an overwhelming experience of the emotional vibrations of others that felt like something bigger than just hormonal changes led me to learning techniques to protecting my sensitive side. Even though I wasn’t ingesting much herbal medicine at that point I would wear herbs and stones as charms and found that gentle magick to work well for me. I also learned how to ground and center as well as basic shielding and warding which are not only essential skills for empaths and highly sensitive folks but for anyone pursuing magickal studies. These skills made my teen years way more tolerable and shaped me into the herbalist and witch that I am today.

But what is an empath? Or highly sensitive person? While the two terms are not interchangeable they are similar enough in my opinion that my herbal and essence-based recommendations can be applied to both. An empath is a person who has the ability to perceive and experience the feelings of other people and sometimes places. We are all empathic, but some folks empathic ability is heightened to a point that it can become overwhelming or distracting in their life. Because of their skill set many empaths go into the healing and therapeutic arts.

Highly sensitive people (HSPs) experience a heightened sense of their surroundings and may even have a more sensitive nervous system. They are often keyed in to the subtleties of others and their surroundings (including sound, light, texture, and smell) than non-HSPs. Again, everyone is prone to be more sensitive to at least one sense - HSPs are generally more sensitive in all of their senses which, like empaths, can lead to becoming easily overwhelmed. Due to their sensitivity, however, lots of HSPs thrive in the arts and activities that require great amounts of subtlety.

In short, empaths experience a heightened sensitivity to their emotional environment, whereas HSPs experience a generalized heightened sensitivity. Of course, some folks are both Empaths and HSPs while other folks are one or the other.

When it comes to herbs and essences my recommendation for Empaths and Highly Sensitive People is as follows: 

Make friends with a nervine.

Connect with an adaptogen.

Create your custom rescue remedy.

These three remedies combined with a grounding, centering, and shielding practice can be beautifully effective in protecting your energetic senses and supporting your physical form. A bit of thorn magick helps, too. I’ll also talk about additional ways of supporting your Empathic or HSP self that I have found useful for myself and my community over the years. I’ve listed some of my favorite herbal allies for Empaths and HSPs below but as always, I I recommend doing your research or working with an herbalist to find the ones best suited for your constitution.

Make Friends with a Nervine

Nervines are herbs that are nourishing and restorative to the nervous system. There are two main types of nervines: relaxing and stimulating. We’ll be focusing on the relaxing nervines for our needs as Empaths and HSPs are often overstimulated when they’re feeling out of balance. Nervines help the body to return to a state of rest and relaxation and many of them are great tonic herbs meaning that they can be taken daily for a long time. I’ve listed a number of my favorite herbs for Empaths and HSPs below, highlighting three that I’m particularly fond of.

Milky Oat (Avena sativa) : I was just talking about Milky Oat in my most recent newsletter. It’s known as a tophorestorative to the nervous system meaning that it brings the nervous system back into balance. Milky Oat is a great nutritive herb that can be taken on a daily basis. I love it for Empaths and HSPs because it feels gentle in the body but has a powerful and long-lasting effect. Read my full plant profile on Milky Oat.

Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) : Skullcap is great for symptoms of anxiety, especially when there are hurried and worried thoughts, that can accompany heightened sensitivity. I’ve written about Skullcap a number of times including as an ingredient one of my favorite self-care teas that I highly recommend for Empaths and HSPs. Read my full Skullcap plant profile.

Rose (Rosa damascena) : Beautiful, amazing, unfolding Rose! Rose has gentle nervine qualities with the extra magick of thorn medicine. Rose is an ancient herbal ancestor and they’ve been a guide of healing wisdom through the ages - who better to turn to when life feels too big and overwhelming than to one who has seen it all and thrived? 

Additional nervine options:

• Gotu Kola (Centella asiatica)

• Blue Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

• Chamomile (Matricaria recutita)

• Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata)

• Lavender (Lavandula spp.)

• Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

• St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Connect with an Adaptogen

Adaptogens are herbs that help us to adapt to stress. They are not meant to be a replacement to good stress management and therapeutic support, but they are excellent at supporting are ability to shift perspective and reconnect to a place of centeredness within ourselves. Many adaptogens can be stimulating because part of learning how to adapt to stress is having all of our organ systems working well and adaptogenic herbs can help to wake up sluggish systems. Too much stimulation from an herb, however, can be detrimental to Empaths and HSPs, but not always. Again, get to know yourself and your constitution when choosing herbs. I’ve listed adaptogens that are less stimulating in their energy as compared to some adaptogens, but still bring in that much needed ability to restore the body to balance after a period of stress.

Eleuthero (Eleutherococcus senticosus) : I really like Eleuthero because of it’s gentle nature (you might be sensing a theme here with the emphasis on gentleness as an important form of remedy for Empaths and HSPs). It can be used with young and old for an extended period of time without overstimulation. Eleuthero strengthens our energy and inner vitality which in turn supports the resiliency of Empaths and HSPs. If you’ve found other adaptogens to be too stimulating, you might find yourself enjoying Eleuthero.

Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum) : Empaths and HSPs could learn a lot from the vibratory interconnectedness of the mushroom kingdom. Like other adaptogens, Reishi supports vitality and longevity with especial attention paid to the immune system. Reishi can help Empaths and HSPs transition from feeling overwhelmed by their heightened perceptions to being grounded in their gifts of interconnectedness.

Additional adaptogen options:

• Sacred Basil (Ocimum sanctum)

• Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

• Schisandra (Schisandra chinensis)

• Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea)

Create your Custom Rescue Remedy

Here’s where the essence part of my recommendations come in. Many of you are probably familiar with Dr. Edward Bach’s Rescue Remedy. It’s a staple in many a holistic apothecary and for good reason - it’s effective, non-invasive, and can be used for everyone. If you don’t have time to put together your own personal rescue remedy based on my recommendations below, just go ahead and get your own bottle of Dr. Bach’s Rescue Remedy - it’ll serve you well.

The idea of a custom rescue remedy is to create an essence blend that meets your unique needs and the type of stress response you find yourself going through again and again. I’ve given recommendations for essences from the Bach and Flower Essence Society companies because they are easy to find in wellness stores and online. I’ve also recommended a handful of gem essences which you can either make yourself or find online. You can choose a 2 - 4 essences from the list below (or any that you come across in your studies) and combine a few drops of each into a one-ounce dosage bottle that you can then take 1 - 3 drops from as needed or three times daily as a tonic. Trust your intuition - your extra sensitivity is meant to help and guide you - and create a blend that will help you integrate useful information and leave out the rest.

Yarrow Environmental Essence : This is actually a blend of essences that I highly recommend for HSPs. In fact, if you were to take one essence long term, this is the one that I recommend. Yarrow Environmental Essence helps HSPs to deal with their increased sensitivity while also protecting against the impact of overstimulating and polluted environments. It’s an essence blend that I take regularly but one that I make sure to have with me any time that I travel as it’s an excellent adventuring companion.

Black Tourmaline Gemstone + Essence : A wonderfully protective and grounding essence for those Empaths and HSPs struggling to feel safe and centered in the world. I recommend keeping a piece of the stone near your work or study space as well as wearing it on your person in addition to using it as a gem essence.

Red Chestnut Flower Essence : Red Chestnut is especially useful for Empaths who get caught up in the emotions of others, trying to take on other’s problems, and become the ultimate harmonizer of all situations everywhere. The essence helps remind Empaths that these are not their feelings and they are not responsible for them. The essence teaches appropriate boundary-making.

Additional flower and gem essence options:

• Rose (Rosa damascena) Flower Essence

• Beech (Fagus Sylvatica) Flower Essence

• Aspen (Populus tremuloides) Flower Essence

• Dill (Anethum graveolens) Flower Essence

• Campion (Silene californica) Flower Essence

• Smoky Quartz Gem Essence

• Rose Quartz Gem Essence

• Kyanite Gem Essence

• Garnet Gem Essence

🌿

Looking for plant allies for social gatherings? Come this way.

It's my hope for you that after reading this post you feel like you have a few new tools to use on your journey as an Empath and/or Highly Sensitive Person through this world. We need your gentleness and attention to subtlety to help keep us paying attention to the heartlines of the world.

P.S. Interested in learning more about your unique gifts and sensitivities as a healer? I've created a space to help you discover just that.

Homecoming : The New Moon in Capricorn

Dismount!
Drop back and watch
constant thoughts galloping past

Watch the riderless horses,
thick as a running forest
streaming by.

Witness!
Rising from the forest,
a still and silent moon.

- Susa Silvermarie - 

The New Moon in Capricorn is a beast between. Born of water and earth, they are half goat, half fish. Caught up in the slow energy of late winter and not yet seeing the light of early, the New Moon in Capricorn can reveal to us what is happening behind the scenes. We have come to the valley of the overlooked. 

The recklessly bold energy of the New Moon in Sagittarius gives way to the landing place of Capricorn. We have come home. We are tackling the tasks that need doing. We may even be growing roots - for new beginnings of the New Moon is not just about movement and going elsewhere but also about choosing to stay still and stand steady. Discoveries that we make about ourselves and our world can’t take root unless we give these seeds of wisdom space, time, and nourishment - three key qualities of Capricorn. 

image source

It’s really important to know how to work with Capricorn energy in our age of hyper-connectivity and deep fears of missing out which has led to all sorts of social and spiritual FOMO. Here’s, too, where the trickster energy of the goatfish shows up - we think that we just need to take a bit of time off and relax when often there are some buried narratives about ourselves and our self-worth that we need to unpack. As healers it’s important for us to help those we serve to engage with tricky energy in their lives by starting to ask “Why?” in a non-judgmental, observational fashion.

Why don’t I take time off?

Why don’t I eat the foods that make me feel good about myself?

Why don’t I have a spiritual practice that reflects my values?

Asking why rarely leads us on a journey that is a straight line from point A to point B. Through asking why we find ourselves between the worlds, back and forth along the tracks of memory and projection. The inherently grounding, yet liminal goatfish serves as an important guide to the work of why. When we remain curious about our lives and the work we do it’s harder for us to feel left behind - because we’re always exploring and participating in our existence no matter where or who we are.

Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Plant Ally for the New Moon in Capricorn

Mullein is described by Nicholas Culpeper as being under the guardianship of Saturn. The herb is a great ally during the winter months, helping to clear phlegm from the system, reduce inflammation, and protect against infection. It’s excellent for clearing out chronic, long-standing coughs, especially dry and spasmodic coughs, and can help with a number of respiratory complaints including bronchitis, asthma, and general lung weakness.

Add the herb to your cold and flu blends with Elder (Sambucus nigra) and Peppermint (Mentha piperita) for a lung-opening, immunomodulating blend. Mullein is useful, too, for Capricorn folk who tend towards stagnant cold states which lead to swellings and cysts as the herb helps to dissolve such manifestations of buildup. As a decongestant, Mullein is good for allergies such as hay fever, helping to clear phlegm and relieve pain. In her Physica, Hildegard von Bingen recommended Mullein for “one who is hoarse or has a pain in his chest” recommending that they combine the herb with Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) in a medicinal wine. As a moistening diuretic, Mullein helps to soothe an inflamed urinary system and help with the release of urine. The herb also helps to remove toxins from the body because of its ability to move water out of the body. Mullein can be used for nerve pain and combines well with other nervines such as Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and St. Joan’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

Topically, the mucilaginous Mullein is excellent for dry skin conditions but also as a healing compress or salve for boils, bruises, inflammation, hemorrhoids, eczema, sciatica, and joint pain. Mullein is useful in cases of bulging discs and bone setting. The herb helps the skin repair after a wound, burn, sore, and ulcer and can be used for skin infections, too. The long thick stems are sometimes referred to as Hag’s Tapers (the dried stalks dipped in wax will burn as a somewhat messy candle) as they are associated with the magickal workings of Witchfolk.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon of Capricorn : Birch (Betula alba), Elm (Ulmus Procera), Larch (Larix decidua), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Rock Water (Aqua petra), Yarrow (Achillea millefolium). Agate, Amethyst, Flourite, Garnet, Tourmaline.

Essential Oils of Capricorn : Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Melissa (Melissa officinalis), Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora). 

image source

Ritual

Taurus is an Earth sign that teaches us about our physical form and Virgo as an Earth sign which highlights our experience of our physicalness and our physical needs. Capricorn is an Earth sign that signifies the vibrations that underly all forms - it's the moment of something becoming. The following ritual helps us to tap into the power of sound to connect to vibration and all of its magick (whether through sound, sex toys, ocean waves or through the hum of singing bowls).

Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). Hold an intention in your mind that answers one of your questions of “Why?” For example, you might have asked “Why do I struggle to drink enough water everyday?” and your answer may have been “Because I haven’t quite made the connection between the sacredness of water and the sacredness of my body and its needs.” Your intention might be “To create a sacred connection between the water of my body and the waters of the world in order to nourish my body everyday.” With that intention held in your heart (and maybe even written down and placed on an altar before you) begin making a low hum. Notice how the hum feels in your body. Follow the sound. You might go up or down an octave. Open your mouth and hold a single note. The main purpose is to follow sounds that feel good and powerful to you. It’s not about sounding “good” but about sounding like you to you.

You are, by holding your intention, and making a vibrating sound, relaxing your cells, nourishing your nervous system, and making change all the more possible for you. 

When you are done toning, place your forehead on the ground if you are able or raise your hands to your face or some other way of returning to yourself and grounding.

Cards are from The World Spirit Tarot

Oracle

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

Why am I here?

Additional queries to consider:

How grounded am I?
How comfortable with change am I?

Tarot Cards of Capricorn

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 Capricorn 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 Capricorn.

• Tarot Card of Capricorn: The Devil
• The Earth Signs of Taurus, Virgo, and Capricorn : Ace of Pentacles
• Jupiter in Capricorn : Two of Pentacle
• Mars in Capricorn : Three of Pentacles
• Sun in Capricorn : Four 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 Capricorn by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. Check out the magick of each phase of the Moon. For those of you ready to learn how to live 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!

Witchcraft + Weeds : Healing + Magickal Practices for Winter

The days grow shorter and the longest night of the year spreads its cloak of stars across the land. Known by many names including the Winter Solstice, Yule, Midwinter, Alban Arthan, it’s a time of cold, the steady burn of the hearthfire, and gathering together with friends and family.

Even the cities can take on a strange and peaceful silence during the winter (especially after a fresh snowfall). The woods are dark, branches stripped of their leaves, and most animals are hibernating or have moved south to warmer climates. The sharp icy air tingles with the magick of a thousand candles and twinkling lights. I find myself under blankets, sipping hot teas and cocoas, while lost in a good book (it's probably on witchcraft). Now is a quiet time in the apothecary - herbs have already been harvested and charmed into remedies during the fall and, except for the occasional custom blend for a new cold or deep need to create another herbal coffee, there is blissfully less to do.

The Winter Solstice marks the turn of the wheel from the mutable fire sign of Sagittarius to the cardinal earth sign of Capricorn. The frenzy of preparation and transition during the fall settles into the soft energy of winter (especially after the winter holidays have passed). Spend time outdoors enjoying the refreshing chill in the air, but be sure to balance it with warm downtime indoors. Read that book you’ve been putting off. Drink warming teas and add warming spices to your food. Do those things which make you feel cozy.

Weeds

Body System Focus: Kidneys, Bladder, Liver, + Brain
or Strengthen + Settle Into Your Flow

Within the four elements system of traditional western herbalism (I write more about TWH energetics over here), the season of winter is the transformation of the dryness of earth into the coldness of water. Our bodies are moving from the busyness of gathering our resources in the fall to the settling depths of winter’s dark. It’s time to move from the hurry, hurry, get it done of fall into the slow down and have another cup of tea of winter. Continuing the magick of fall with warming stews and root vegetables. Heating and warming herbs are a must to help us keep our internal fires well taken care of as well as herbs that support the immune system. The plant allies of winter are immunomodulating and sometimes immunostimulating. They are often diuretic in nature, supporting liver and kidney health. If the magick of winter is difficult to connect to, check out the healing ways of Capricorn to help you find a spark of joy.

Weeds are scarce during winter, but the ones that remain are often roots, trees or connected to trees. Evergreens are persistent allies during the winter season and they’re scent alone can have an uplifting and invigorating affect on the body. Autumn's retreat from the summer is complete and the time of the Oldest Ones has arrived with their bare rattling bones and stone teeth. 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.

Pine (Pinus spp.) : Evergreens like Pine offer some of the only color in far northern climates, keeping their green wrapped around them throughout the year. The needles of the tree are a rich source of vitamin C and make a enjoyable tea. Pine also supports healthy circulation and is a great preventative and restorative remedy from winter illnesses like laryngitis, bronchitis, and the ‘flu. It helps to protect cells from damage - an excellent ally in preventative care against cancer. I collect chunks of the recently fallen sap and add it to honey to create a antiviral, analgesic, and expectorant syrup for coughs and colds. Add the needles to baths for pain-relief and to soften tight muscles. Incorporate Pine into your practice if your health is impacted by feelings of guilt and failure - the tree teaches us how resilient by showing us what is no longer necessary to carry.

Chaga (Inonotus obliquus) : Chaga is a mushroom that grows on trees such as the Birch. It has recorded use in traditional Chinese medicine since the first century and is a prized medicine in many far northern habitats where it can be found growing wild. I was first introduced to Chaga while living in Maine where I would make crockpots of Chaga hot cocoa at the cafe I worked at (it was amazing stuff). Like many mushrooms, Chaga helps to regulate the immune system - a common need during the winter when colds are passed around like gifts. Chaga has been used in cancer care as it inhibits the growth of tumors and its rich antioxidant content. It’s a hepatoprotective mushroom, acting as a guardian of the liver. I love incorporating it into chai blends and herbal coffees as it lends an earthy and grounding taste.  

Uva Ursi (Arctostaphylos spp.) : Known also as Bearberry, Uva Ursi is an evergreen shrub with extensive use in both European and American Indian medicine. Where Pine is warming, Uva Ursi is cooling, reducing inflammation and toxin-supporting heat. It’s a classic remedy in traditional western herbalism for kidney complaints including urinary tract infections, urethritis, bladder and kidney stones, kidney infections, pulmonary edema, and more. Uva Ursi also helps with the imbalances to the skin brought about by kidney problems including acne, rashes, and dandruff (use both topically and externally). Uva Ursi is powerful medicine and should only be used for a week at a time with week-long breaks in-between. 

Oregon Grape Root (Mahonia aquifolium or nervosa, Berberis aquifolium or nervosa) : Similar to Uva Ursi, Oregan Grape is another evergreen shrub with antimicrobial and diuretic gifts that support the liver. The root is powerfully cleansing, sweeping through the body and clearing out excess heat. It opens the blood vessels helping to lower blood pressure. It dries up wet, damp, mucusy coughs and assists with general debility. Oregon Grape is a powerful ally when it comes to staph and other infections. The herb is also a great winter bitter, stimulating a sluggish digestive system and supporting a healthy appetite. Like Uva Ursi, skin problems caused by a sluggish liver and digestion are alleviated with Oregon Grape. 

Dandelion Root (Taraxacum officinale) : Roasted Dandelion Root is an essential part of my cozy winter practice. The root supports liver health, gently detoxifying the overtaxed organ. It is wonderfully useful for skin complaints like acne and eczema both as an internal and external treatment. I incorporate the roasted root into chai blends and herbal coffees (both of which, you may have surmised at this point, are very popular in my house during the winter) and it brings a rich coffee-like flavor to the brew. If you’re someone who suffers from heartburn and excess acidity, try adding some Dandelion bitters into your routine before and after meals. Dandelion Flower Essence can be useful for folks who struggle with the dark of long winter nights, feeling hopeless and forlorn. The essence helps to bring brightness and levity to dark places.

Elm (Ulmus Procera) Flower Essence : Elm Flower Essence is for the doers and great sacrificers who do what needs doing, but at the end of the day they are left utterly exhausted. Folks who are best served by Elm are ones that struggle to take time off because so much of their self-worth is tied up in feeling useful to others. Elm teaches us how to find self-worth from within by taking much needed time off. The tree shows us different ways of connecting and communicating with people that doesn’t rely on us wearing ourselves thin. Elm is also useful for anyone who needs to take a break and put their busy lives and what they think must absolutely get done this very second into perspective.

Witchcraft

Winter is a time of both gathering in (as was begun in Autumn) and gathering together. Spend time working on your grimoire or book of shadows by candlelight. Gather together with covenmates, family, friends, and those you love the most for good food and celebrating. Spend time gazing into the dark curve of the night’s mirror and discover what you find gazing back. Open up to the wonder of the season and connect with your inner child who has never lost touch with their magickal thinking. Take a moment to step out of the busyness of the year - whether pleasurable or stressful - and find yourself connecting to your purpose. For to follow the wheel of the year is to honor the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, learning from all three overlapping and entangled phases. Sometimes it’s hard to discover what we feel the purpose of life is until it feels too late. So perform some meditative magick and imagine that you’re about to step through life into death. What would want to know that you had spent your life doing? I have found such a practice to be life-affirming, purpose-aligning, and interwoven with the energies of winter. To help you continue to dive into the world of winter magick, I offer you three forms of winter magick that I practice to help me settle into the power of the darkest part of the year.

3 Paths of Winter Magick

Settling In : We settle in to the season of slowness and dark. Rituals include long-term spells and charms completed over a series of days and weeks; house protection charms and first foot rituals; bringing warmth and nature indoors including candles, evergreen boughs, berries and citrus; divination for goal setting with an emphasis on timing; spells to protect your time; homecoming and soul-loss rituals; body-centered practices to help you come home to your self; pay attention to your need for quiet, calmness, and time spent alone or only with the closest of companions (including our animal friends). 

Settling In Meditation : Beginning in a position that is comfortable for you, notice where there is tension in your body. Then turn your attention to your feet. Create tension in your feet by tightening your foot muscles and curling your toes - hold this for a few seconds and then release the tension (if you have trouble releasing the tension try saying out loud any of the following words: release, soften, open, trust). Then create tension in your lower legs, holding it for a few moments and then releasing. Follow through to your upper legs, bottom, belly, chest, hands, arms, neck and head. Take a deep breath and observe how your body feels different than when you began.

Connecting Cosmically : We listen to the depths within us so that we may remember and connect to our starry origins. Rituals revolve around connecting to the cosmic dance of dark and light; standing in stillness with the sun on the night of the solstice; rising up singing with the dawn; incorporating astrological correspondences and magickal techniques into your workings; studying the night sky and your birth chart; being caught up in your smallness; finding rapture in your never ending expanse.

Connecting Cosmically Meditation : If you’re able perform this meditation under a night sky please do. Spend some time centering yourself through your breath. Listen to the stars in the sky and in the earth beneath you. Listen to the stars in your blood. With every in-breath call the stars towards you. With every out-breath, glow brighter. In with stars. Out and bright with your glow. Repeat this simple cycle for however long you desire. Be sure to end your meditation with a firm grounding and centering, perhaps choosing to eat salty food to help you return fully to your body.

Wishing Well : We welcome in the magick of being awestruck and enchanted through wishing ourselves and others well. Rituals include any and all activities which delight your inner child; performing spells to help you find your joy; connecting with the house and land spirits from a place of joviality and play; creating a ritual that your tween/teen witch self would be proud of; giving sacred gifts and hosting giveaways; rituals of wishing others good fortune as well as community blessings for health and longevity; inviting in the possibility that you are not and have never been broken; remembering to pay attention to the beauty of the world - beauty is always seeking you, so try and let it find you. 

Wishing Well Meditation : Start your meditation by focusing on the statement, “I am enchanted by…” and give space for thoughts, memories, and visions to arise eventually completing the sentence (i.e. I am enchanted by snow flurries dancing along windowsills). Dwell for a time in the feeling of enchantment and of being awestruck. Reflect on the following statement, “I enchant the lives of others by…” In other words, how to move others deeply and help evoke from them a joyful awe of the beauty of the world. 

Sacred Cocoon Oracle

Talisman of Sacred Time

Set aside some time when you'll be uninterrupted (this is the first act of magick for our spell). Make yourself some hot cocoa, get comfortable, and grab a journal or your book of shadows to record the messages you’ll be receiving. The following ritual is part divinatory and part craft. You’ll be creating a talisman to protect your time as sacred in order to help you make choices in your life that align you with your purpose. In other words, instead of spending another weekend shopping mindlessly or scrolling the internet aimlessly, choosing to spend your time caught up in that project you’ve been wanting to do but putting off. Or choosing to lie down, read a book, and go to bed early instead of working another 6 hours into the dusk of morning.

You will need a small pouch of black fabric, some dried Thyme (Thymus vulgaris), a piece of paper and pen, and a tarot deck (or oracle, runes, ogham feda or similar divinatory system).

Begin with divination. Three cards are cast, one for each part of yourself offering a message regarding how to align with time in a sacred manner (i.e. how to spend your time, what to do less of, etc.):

• A message from your past self.

• A message from your present self.

• A message from your future self.

Record any notes and observations that you want to remember. From each card find one word of power. For example, your future self may advise with the word, “explore” while your past self reminds you to “reconcile” and your present self speaks “be.” Write these three words on a piece of paper that can be folded small enough to fit into your talisman pouch.

Keeping the cards out before you, begin to assemble your talisman. Touch the empty pouch to your past, future, and present card, saying:

What was, what shall be, what is.

Repeat this twice more. Then following the same order, say three times through:

Is sacred, is sacred, is sacred.

Finally, fold up your paper and place it in the pouch. Add to it three pinches of Thyme. Thyme is an herb that helps us to bend and shape the current of time running through all of the worlds. Speak the three words of power as you touch each card again with your pouch. Using our example, you would say three times through:

Reconcile. Explore. Be.

Tie up the talisman and seal the spell with a “So mote it be!”

Carry the talisman with you, either wearing it around your neck, slipping it in your pocket, a bra, or other space where it shall be kept close. Speak your words of power to it when you feel time slipping away to regain your footing or when you are spending your time in a way that pleases you to ensorcel it with purpose.

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

Blessed winter!

Reckless Abandon : The New Moon in Sagittarius

Restore us to memory
As the new ones begin to stir
We continue to kindle the hearth
To preserve the flame
For we are forged from stardust
The light of the heavens - 
We are filled by ancient cultures
Who lifted their eyes beyond.
We are the constellations.
The Cosmic Sea

- Karin A. Larsen -

The New Moon in Sagittarius is a bow pulled taut, it’s arrow not seen, but its point aimed at the distant horizon. For some the October New Moon in Libra marked Lunar Samhain while for others (like myself) it’s the New Moon in Scorpio which is Samhain’s Moon. For me, tonight marks the end of the lingering season of Samhain as Sagittarian energy pulls us towards the dark of winter with an archer’s precision and focus.

New Moon Sagittarian energy is recklessly bold. It’s not necessarily the best time to try and make big commitments, but to experiment with and try new things while the night holds sway over the year. Witches and other magickal beings have long understood the power of the dark. We can change forms more readily, move unwatched, and pull away from the glare of the scrutiny of our day lives. We have the opportunity to become more ourselves without the expectations of others cutting up our flow (work started at the New Moon in Libra).

Photo by Raul Petri

There’s a real optimistic streak to the New Moon in Sagittarius. We’re reminded to be playful and flexible in our mindsets in order to bring about healing. A healer’s purpose is to not only to help provide physical relief to their clients, but to help those they serve ask the question, “What if?”

What if I put my healing first?

What if I said no to people who are emotionally draining?

What if I said yes more?

What if I allowed myself to imagine a life that I love?

What if? What if?

I’ve experienced it again and again in my practice where I ask, “But what if…” and there’s a sudden - sometimes dramatic, sometimes subtle - shift in the person to whom I’m asking the question. And that’s when the adventure of healing really begins.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Plant Ally of the New Moon in Sagittarius

One of the greatest gifts of Dandelion to heal is through its ability to help vitality move freely through the body. The primary way that the herb accomplishes this is by clearing the blood of toxins and waste material. Dandelion has a tonic effect on the blood, lymph system, and liver, helping to detoxify all three and improve the eliminatory qualities of the liver and gallbladder. Part of its blood purifying qualities comes from its high nutritive salt contents which cleans the blood and clears excess acid. Nicholas Culpeper writes in his Herbal that Dandelion “is under the dominion of Jupiter. It is of an opening and cleansing quality, and therefore very effectual for the obstructions of the liver, gall and spleen, and the diseases that arise from them, as the jaundice, and hypochondriac.”

One of the indications that Dandelion might be useful for a client (and one of the ways that it shows its Sagittarian connections) is that symptoms improve with movement - such as through massage or gentle exercise. I love Dandelion’s ability to help us rewire us from a state of survival (where we rarely ask a what if question that is for our benefit) to one of thriving (where we’re always curious about what the future might hold). Magickally, Dandelion has become a modern symbol of revolution, resistance, and transformation (how very Sagittarian!). Incorporate it into your protest and march magick as well as other activism related pursuits.

Flower + Gem Essences for the New Moon of Sagittarius: Peach (Prunus persica), Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris), Sage (Salvia officinalis), Yellow Flag Flower (Patersonia xanthina), Zinnia (Zinnia elegan), Chrysocolla, Moonstone, Peacock Ore.

Essential Oils of Sagittarius: Black Pepper (Piper nigrum), Marjoram (Origanum majorana), Nutmeg, Ginger (Zingiber officinale), Pine (Pinus sylvestris).

Photo by Andrew Robinson

The Ritual of Dangerous Questions

As healers and magick makers we not only provide relief and refuge to our communities, but we ask dangerous questions that challenge cultural norms. We ask what would happen if Black lives mattered. What would change if womxn’s stories of sexual harassment and abuse were taken seriously from the start. What would happen if the rights of the environment were considered along with the rights of people and creatures. To be able to ask dangerous questions on a cultural level, which change minds and shift narratives, we also need to know how to ask them on a personal level.

For this ritual you will need a candle as well as a pen and paper. Begin in a sacred way (read the New Moon in Aquarius post for further inspiration). Place the candle before you and before you light it say:

Questions hidden
Wisdom hidden

Then light the candle and say:

Questions asked
Wisdom known

 Bring yourself to a meditative state where your mind is soft, your body comfortable, and your heart curious. Ask yourself, “What if?” Observe what follows. It might be a flurry of questions. It might be silence with a very tentative voice asking something in the background. After a few moments choose a few what if questions that came up for you - especially the ones that feel a mix of scary and exciting - and write them down. You can then free write under each question, continue to meditate with them, get up and dance with your question or whatever else feels good to you. Indulge your curiosity and the healing power it possesses.

When done with your ritual either let your candle burn out (if there is any left) or blow it out with the intention of lighting it again when you’re feeling resistance to asking “What if?” again in your life.

The World Spirit Tarot

Oracle

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

What if I acted with reckless abandon?

Additional queries to consider:

• What problems have I been running from?
• Where am I most distracted in my life?

Tarot Cards of Sagittarius

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 Sagittarius 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 Sagittarius).

• The Sign of Sagittarius: Temperance
• Mercury in Sagittarius: Eight of Wands
• Moon in Sagittarius: Nine of Wands
• Saturn in Sagittarius: Ten of Wands
• The Fire Signs of Aries, Leo, and Sagittarius: Ace of Wands

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 Sagittarius by reading my in-depth profile on the sign. Check out the magick of each phase of the Moon. For those of you ready to learn how to live 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!