Hay, Man: The Curious Life and Times of Scarecrows As the spring season of seeding and planting unfolds with shoots and blooms, it also marks the time of year long ago in Europe, when children scuttled through the plots, sounding … Continue reading →
The Voice of the Mother My breath is on the morning and my smile is summer. From my hands the birds of the air take their food. The mild ox is my friend, the wolf trots by my friendly side: … Continue reading →
is not the watch-word of the Craft. We are Witches, not physicians, and it is within the purview of the Witch to both heal and harm. Consider: when one heals, one is cursing illness, by banishing it from its host … Continue reading →
Over hill, over dale, Thorough bush, thorough briar, Over park, over pale, Thorough flood, thorough fire, I do wander everywhere, Swifter than the moon’s sphere; And I serve the fairy queen, To dew her orbs upon the green. The cowslips … Continue reading →
The Berwick Witches In the 1590’s a number of people from East Lothian, Scotland, were accused of witchcraft in the St Andrew’s Auld Kirk in North Berwick. The trials ran for two years and implicated nearly 100 people. The accused … Continue reading →
More suggestions on woods for burning, this from traditional English lore. Several versions of this poem exist with multiple variants. I learned it first from Paul Huson‘s Mastering Witchcraft, which he calls “The Dartmoor Verse”. Oak logs will warm you … Continue reading →
Below is a list of the most common woods for burning, there are more. It is worth remembering that ALL wood will burn better if split. There is an old saying, “before starting a fire – collect the right wood.” … Continue reading →
This method uses essential oils instead of fresh/dried herbs, and the method is slightly different. First, here are three recipes for a salve base to which you will add your essential oils. Again, proportions are in parts, so if you … Continue reading →
Salves are used to treat itchy skin, dry skin, boils, infections and even aches and pains depending on the herbs used. That lip balm in the little tin or tube? That’s a salve. Making salves at home is relatively simple … Continue reading →
The Witches Reel Cummer gae ye afore, cummer gae ye, Gin ye winna gae, cummer let me, Ring-a-ring-a-widdershins Linkin lithely widdershins, Cummers carlin cron and queyn Roun gae we. Cummer go ye before, cummer go ye Gif ye willna go … Continue reading →