Herbs for Yule Facilitator : Annwyn Date : 07 December 1997

Red Deer:
1) If anyone present would like to facilitate an open discussion or present a class in Wicca 101, please E-mail me at HUZD85A.
2) Please keep all BBs, MMs, MPs, and side-conversations in IM for the duration of class, until approximately 10 PM ET.
3) Please hold all questions and comments until our facilitator opens the floor.
4) May I have volunteers who expect to attend the entire session log for backup?

Arcadia:
{--------logging

Red Deer:
5) Thank you, loggers. I'll be in touch within the week if the back up logs are needed.
With that, I pass the besom to Annie, for a discussion of "Herbs for Yule"...

Annwyn2:
been long day... so PUULLEEZZE excuse typos
all ready?

LadyGrnEyess:
ready

Trollfrog:
always

Runningwolfx:
YES

Arcadia:
ready, I will edit out typos Annie

Annwyn2:
'K

Annwyn2:
good luck Arc{g}

Arcadia:
lol

Annwyn2:
I had a different topic in mind... for class this week but after last week's class on community building thought something a little less "serious" was in order...
I had just about finished the body of the class yesterday when I decided to take a quick look at the internet to see if there was something interesting I could add... and surprisingly... I FOUND MY CLASS{g} or at least I had found someone that had written an article whose ideas reflected the "heart" of what I wanted to share

Arcadia:
{-------hate it when those things get misplaced

Annwyn2:
actually I wiped out the first class arc{g}

Arcadia:
{g}

Annwyn2:
Not so much the words exactly but the same motivation of spirit... I approached her to thank her... and asked that I might use some of her info here to which she graciously agreed... and please forgive the advertisement... BUT she is here on P* and will hold a solstice class on the 19th at I think 10pm. She is a published author... and although her approach is not completely Wiccan if the class is similar to her website... it will address/possess a lot of valuable info. In part of her post she talks of preparing for ceremony for Yule and in choosing herbs for the season... she suggests that one look at what is still alive around them in your own areas... your own yards... and as I've discussed before this will be different depending on what part of the country you are in this is something... this looking around us... that as Wiccans we should naturally do, where ever you are living there are signs, of life... death... return

Red Deer:
totally agreed Annie

Annwyn2:
it is the basis of our religion I think Red Deer
in this woman's ceremonial preparation...
Elchai expresses what is in her own backyard, Lambs Ears, some Hollyhock, lemon Balm lavender, thyme, a little remaining parsley

Nymue01:
rue

moonListener:
excuse me, but what's her name?

Annwyn2:
she suggest that some of her friends still have hehe... yeah my rue is still there to... mint... birch... barberry

Nymue01:
rosemary too

Annwyn2:
oh ... NYM...

SLAP

Warmuth:
valerian

Nymue01:
FEVERFEW!!!

Annwyn2:
can't get it to stop Warm, and Nym... my feverfew rooted

Nymue01:
{----sticking out tongue

kewl

Yeah ANNIE

Annwyn2:
"what is still green has life energy"...
Elchai says... and I add has not retreated to the underworld or taken refuge in seed awaiting the right conditions for regrowth as I read her piece... I am suddenly walking through my own garden hand in hand with this woman and I am smiling... and sharing her garden... as I think of the survey I've just done of my own I'm laughing because _I_ have Hollyhocks yet gracing my yard lemon balm... Goddess bless the chickweed that seems to grow no matter what although the little stellar flowers (five small petals)will not appear until spring again...
hehe... I went to check as I wrote this earlier... an lo and behold there was a star yet guiding me to the light that would return... braving the cold of winter{g}
In fact much of what Elchai described I had spied pinched a few for a sniff of summer... copped a feel, uh... patted gently{g} in encouragement and love AND as I read her words... I realized My garden was an incredible gift, I found COMMUNITY when I reached outside myself without barrier and opened myself without fear closed my mouth and listened it was there and the TRUTH which is to be found within in the quiet was able to speak louder cuz I WAS NOT BEING SO NOISY . What I enjoyed on this walk was finding a relationship in the physical world to the internal process of winter some things in my garden remained alive and thriving like the evergreens, boxwood pine cedars junipers etc holly these we keep as reminders of eternal life some things in my garden were gone are or only partly what they had been these remaining will prob not make the winter... their life spent and instead... their promise lies in seed and will be reborn changed yet the same others have retreated to the mother's womb to store their energy to replenish, and appear again at light's return AND Elchai... was MY... "Missell Toe"... known as the KEY that unlocks all doors hehe... I'll do ANYTHING for a METAPHOR{g}
Although the herbs listed above excepting the sage and evergreens are not traditional for this time of year because they are part of the year ahead that I SEE for myself as is a form of sympathetic magic in lighting fires... candles... etc I will use their energy to ask the return of the SUN... LIGHT NOW I've narrowed the Yule herbs down to a few that seemed to be the most accepted of he season some I do use... some I do not at the end of class if there are those that you personally use... feel free to add
I PROMISE not to get too philosophical... and only list the herbs with a few attributes For many trads... the winning of light over dark. represented by the Holly King... he being the God of the Waning year(diminishing light) and DEATH and the Oak King... God of the Waning Year (growing light)... LIFE These are the first I'd like to cover
Oak has both Sanskrit and Gaelic roots... that being Duir... which basically means door and finding MISTLETOE in an oak with Mistletoe being considered the KEY is especially auspicious. You have here the key to wisdom through the ages... you are able to reach back and approach...
the Oak was often used to mark boundaries and is a sign of strength... and protection because of its long life it is connected to traditional continuation slow to mature but then strong and durable as the God that at first refuses his Kingship holding yet onto his youth...
But at midsummer takes his rightful place to come full circle The OAK attracts lightening or sudden realization Holly is the tree known as best in fight in the summer it's leaves are supple but in winter take on a harder quality to endure the harsh winter as a tip... I have tried to include aspects that you might utilize when preparing your ceremonies.
I know this is a bit dry the Holly is best suited then to protect LIFE/LIGHT through the hard times It is used for protection and to repel and shield. It was said... that the LIGHT never deserted the Holly or let it die... the Holly protects then the light within BERRIES ARE TOXIC... BE CAREFUL AROUND CHILDREN WHEN USING THIS HERB
Red Deer:
Of all the trees in the greenwood, the Holly bears the crown...

Annwyn2:
hehe... just didn't want to waste the space... but yes... it has the quality also of encircling... like circling the wagons
leaving out the Holly and Ivy thingys... they are mentioned in many places and let me suggest a bit of study on Saturnalia
Both the Oak and the Holly can be added to the altar and general household decoration acorns even in this season are appropriate

Nymue01:
the seed of the oak I and there is a flour that can be made from acorns... BUT poisonous unless properly processed

Annwyn2:
Yes... NYM

Nestor11:
hmm add to that red retsina == a Greek red wine with pine resin flavor

Annwyn2:
it is said that an acorn contains a forest of trees...

Red Deer:
aye Annwyn - are completely edible after the tannic acid cooked out

Annwyn2:
right RD
I brought up the Mistletoe earlier and I won't go into the gathering of this HERB but will cover the physical qualities although the usual stories of mistletoe attach it to oak... it actual prefers to grow on the apple tree... the tree of the goddess
The magical associations for this herb that make it so important are varied

Red Deer:
down here it prefers maples

Annwyn2:
It is an herb that never touches the ground...

Red Deer:
and cypress - tree of eternity

Annwyn2:
hehe RD
spends its entire growth cycle in the host tree... (btw... although it receives nutrients from the host... it can also make its own food) it is however free of EARTHLY attachment, it is gathered at both Midsummer and YULE... BUT It's berries which due to physical characteristics is likened to semen... are on the winter growth only... it defies normal growth patterns... it can have berries... new growth... and flowers all at the same time and therefore is a prime example of the eternal round
It is said to hold the soul of its host You guys with me yet... got about 15 minutes yet?
Nymue01:
yuppers

Red Deer:
indeedie

Nymue01:
your doing great

Annwyn2:
Of course... all evergreens are considered for the qualities I mentioned before and all represent purification and cleansing Pine and juniper may also be added to the ritual cup or as incense Pine BTW is high in Vitamin C it is a tree of Peace... and brings healing and joy Juniper is said to clear the aura
which at this time of year would clear the fields for new growth and channel energy toward the "highest good of all"
Abor vitae

Red Deer:
also to promote vision(s)_juniper

Annwyn2:
Yellow cedar holds also the quality of purification incense use is good... particularly to clear the area and make sacred space prosperity is another virtue...
Yes Smarty pants... that was next
Frankincense is sacred to the SUN god Ra with obvious correlation's... to call the return of light... great as an incense it also accelerates spiritual growth... and aids in wandering the spiritual plane ... the level of CHOICE at this time of year and this is NOT a plant you will grow in your garden... it is the resin of a tree from... hmm... where RD?{g}
Blessed Thistle is also used to invoke the SUN GOD but in addition has the ability to relate to PAN

Red Deer:
africa, middle east, asia

Annwyn2:
so it has the marked quality of bridging the Vegetation and SUN cycles...
HEHE RD
it is good in the ritual bath
Bay laurel on of the major SUN herbs... as it brings the SUN back into the house... REMEMBER this is a time as strongly suited for divination as is Samhain and this herb... aligned with the Delphic Priestesses... is VITAL to this pursuit... with those unfamiliar I'd suggest keeping it to uses as incense or tea... or is a natural soother as well Rosemary is an herb that also offers protection in addition it can be a substitute for either cedar or pine... as it has a love fragrance similar to these it is evergreen although it does not do well in extreme cold it is also known as Dew of the Sea... Ros... maris

Red Deer:
rhos mhuir

Anneyn2:
it then also has a relationship to MARY
hehe... yes RD
QUEEN of HEAVEN and with that giver of life it offers protection and is "enlivening" and the aspect of memory would be in touch with what has past and those that passed before and what is to come
many uses for this... will discuss at end
ASH, very important spect of the Solstice as it represents the inner and outer worlds connected... this really is the basis of YULE bringing from inside... the deep(self) that which you wish to manifest into the world... it is tied to the chain of events of the world brings connection

Nymue01:
rebirth

Annwyn2:
also removes unwanted energies...
yep
but Birch... the tree in this cycle would be more explicit for that need.
I'm not covering all the trees at this time
A surprising herb for me... is Chamomile soothing and cleansing qualities plus purification and it is used to invoke the sun god closely associated with the SOLAR PLEXUS

Nymue01:
bring forth it's birth

Annwyn2:
bathing herb or in ritual cup helps you direct your center of light from within brings about a more relaxed feeling about seeing and working with the divine spirit bring forth into form...
yes NYM
A word of caution I just learned Chamomile... seems relatively harmless... but in those with reaction to the aster family and in particular ragweed... may cause SEVERE allergic reaction

Nymue01:
NOW you tell me!!!

Annwyn2:
not common... and I've always seen it as NO prob... but just have to do that in my current studies! Chamomile... helps uphold... your INNER truth... that which you seek in the winter months lastly and quickly and then I must Pee{g}Sage taken in the ritual cup sage helps us stay bright and sunny in disposition

Nymue01:
gee... thanks for sharing that {g}

Annwyn2:
also healthwise dispels toxins
HEY I'm honest if nothing else{g}

Nymue01:
LOL

Annwyn2:
sage represents your inner teacher... helps silence your mind and connect to the wisdom of the (S)ages. awakens inner guide...
No fancy closing... just done
uh... brb

Nymue01:
Annie... since you told me about sage... it's worked great a knocking out viruses

Runningwolfx:
what type of sage oils or dried herbs??

Targe Dubh:
Nym ... how do you use the sage?

Nymue01:
I made tea with fresh sage from the garden

Annwyn2:
yep... but also basil... easy for that rather than employing more serious herbs

Runningwolfx:
k

Cloudburst:
Tea's good with dried, too

Annwyn2:
basically good for treating symptoms

Targe Dubh:
the same kind you cook with? or the kind grown for smudging?

Annwyn2:
uh... yeah... but not same qualities Targe... better grow your own... very easy
yep all same... ALTHOUGH

Cloudburst:
yup

Red Deer:
or another kind altogether {g}

Annwyn2:
different NA's use different varieties of SAGE and some use artemisias... but call them sage

Red Deer:
wait a minute...

Targe Dubh:
I have some an Indian friend gave me for smudging ... would that work as a tes?

Red Deer:
big diff in NA sage, dalmation sage (cooking)and sage sage

Annwyn2:
I would think he used proper preparation so yes Targe

PAniteowl:
???

Cloudburst:
Real smudging sage is something else than our garden/cooking item, so ask him if he grew it out here in the east or got it from a westerner

Annwyn2:
generally cooking sage is salvia officinalis... what is dalmation?

Targe Dubh:
grown here in Indiana by a river

Red Deer:
same...

Runningwolfx:
mine is from the west

Annwyn2:
hehe... Cloud... you been on same search

Red Deer:
but is different from the many garden salvias - often called sages here - grown for bloom

Cloudburst:
Garden sage works pretty food for smudge - smudging sage isn't nearly so terrific for cooking

Annwyn2:
Little one up... BRB

Red Deer:
western is usually called white sage

Nymue01:
give her a hug from me

Red Deer:
get a hug from her for me {g}

Runningwolfx:
yes it is white sage...

Cloudburst:
garden salvias are hybrids from officinalis - dalmatian, etc. are sagebrush

Targe Dubh:
so which is best for tea?

Cloudburst:
or relatives, anyway{g}

Red Deer:
aye, so heavily hybridized for bloom as to lose many aromatic qualities in leaves
salvia officinalis Targe - cooking sage

Targe Dubh:
thankx :)

Nymue01:
Targe... I use a tri-color sage
works in tea

Targe Dubh:
thankx Nym

Nymue01:
strong taste though
NO foxglove though

Red Deer:
aye Nym... there are several hybrids of Salvia off. that are bred for food / herbal use rather than for flowers

Targe Dubh:
I use yerba santa for colds as well

Nymue01:
russian sage looks beautiful, but not worth diddly
pretty only

Red Deer:
well folk, 'tis time to close the logs...

Flidais:
i use nyquil for colds... when you're passed out ya don't feel a thing {g}