H is for Honey and Horehound
In order to try to catch up with the Pagan Blog Project, I am going to be posting both my "H's" in one post.
First let us begin with Honey.
Honey is one of the oldest foods on the planet. It can be used as a preservative, antiseptic, beauty product, and its just simply tastes wonderful in my favorite teas as a sweetner.
Now to find out correspondence about honey, I turned to their makers the Bees.
It is thought that Bees are the Gods little servants.
Deity: Apollo (Greek), Artemis (Greek), Demeter (Greek), Melissa (Cretan), Potnia (Minoan), Ea (Babylonian), Kama (Hindu), Min (Kemetic/Egyptian), Ra (Egyptian), Anu (Celtic), Rhea(Greek), Persephone (Greek)
Magical Intent: To "Sweeten" a deal, a lover, a person's attitude, healing, health, happines, making something "stick", Attraction, Fertility, Purification, Love, Romance
Elemental Influence: Water and Air
Planetary Influence: Sun
One of my favorite forms to use Honey in my mundane life is that of sweetening my tea. I also like to flavor my honey for home rememdies as well. As I write this I can see upon my altar in my kitchen a jar of honey that is infusing the herbs Ginger and Garlic. I use one tablespoon of this exilir if you will during times of colds and flu. I make it in small batches and recently ran out so now the Sun is heating the honey, ginger, and garlic to infuse their healing properites with one another.
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| Photo taken later in day. The candle to the left is my Coven's symbolic candle. |
Every morning shortly after I wake up, I put my kettle on to brew my tea (or infusion which ever the case may be that morning what I am in the mood for). When I add the honey I simply repeat an affirmation of healing for that day. Its something I wrote and Iam focusing on alot since my diagnosis last year. Not only am I researching how food can effect my magic on a daily basis, I am also researching Gaia's Bounty which is not only nourishing but healing properties of food as well.
"Honey and Tea
Gaia's Bounty which nourishes me.
Honey and Tea
My Goddess I ask your grace to heal what ails me."
If you suffer allergies seasonally, I have read many places that its recommended you eat one tablespoon of honey from your local area. It will help build your immune system. Most recently I have read this in Natural Healing magazine that I obtain at my local Whole Foods.
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| Photo from Botanical.com |
Now onto Horehound...
Botanical: Marrubium vulgare (LINN.)
Family: N.O. Labiatae
Magical Intent: Revitalization, Healing, Cleansing, Protection, Mental (Inspiration & Creative Flow), if used as a drink prior to ritual, it can provide the user the ability to carry out the ritual with a clear mind. It is a good herb to use in protection Sachets.
Divination: Drink horehound in the form of a tea when handling the Tarot
Planetary Influence: Mercury, Jupiter
Astrological: Scorpio
Elemental Influence: Earth
Gender: Male
Deity: Horus, Isis, and Osiris
"The Egyptian Priests called this plant the 'Seed of Horus', of the 'Bull's Blood', and the 'Eye of the Star'. (---Grieve) Horehound is indeed a religious herb out of Egypt. It is also an important herb for those of the Hebrew religion.
Horehound is used in the mundane world as that of a healing herb for the throat. Horehound is also used in fasting for both religious and medical matters in the form of a tonic.
I am currently taking correspondence classes with Rosemary Gladstar. In one of my lessons I began to use this herb in my own personal healing repitoire. I use it in the form of a syrup and also as a throat losenge. The recipe I use the most also includes Honey (which I wrote about above) and why I wanted to post the two together.
Horehound Elixir
1/2 cup dried horehound leaves
1 cup Water
2 cup Honey
2 Tbs fresh squeezed Lemon Juice
Boil the leaves in the water in a non-reactive pot for 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat source and allow to steep for 10 minutes with the lid on the pot. Strain the mixture using either cheesecloth or coffee filter. Add both Lemon and Honey and stir until dissolved. Store in an airtight jar (I prefer Mason Jars). When needed use by the Tablespoon full.
I use this Elixir for both before I am conducting a ritual (taking it before I leave for ritual if going somewhere else other than my home) for added protection and mental clarity for spiritual use and medically for my immune system because you never know who is sick and still goes around circle shaking hands, hugging and kissing on you. With my low immune system I do what I can however I can to protect myself.
NOTE: I am not a doctor! Use this recipe at your own risk. Please seek a liscened medical practioner should you need medical help. Do not take this information in place of medical treatment. I use herbs for my own use and know what I am allergic too and what I am not allergic too.
