Herb of the Month (October): Elder/ Elderberry

Elderberry
sambucus
(sambucas nigra, sambucus canadensis, sambucus laciniata, sambucus racemona)
Element: water
Ruling planet: Venus
Sacred to: the Mother Goddess
Used for: exorcism, protection healing, prosperity, sleep.

Elder goes by many folk names, such as trom (the Irish name) Frau Holle (German), Old Lady, Yakori bengeskro ("devil's eye" in Romany), and Lady Ellhorn, to name a few.
Elder sap is red like blood, and it has been though that elder trees are home to spirits. When cutting a piece of elder, a witch or folk healer would say:

"Lady Ellhorn, give me of thy wood,
And I will give thee of mine,
When I become a tree."

It is sometimes associated with grief. In Christian tradition, Judas Iscariot was said to have hanged himself on an Elder tree.

It is used to ward off demons and negative spirits, as well as protect against sorcery or spells against you.
Hang it over your door to protect the home.
It has been used in burial rites in Britain, and is sometimes used to protect the dead on their journey into the afterlife.

The flowers are used for wine, cordial, flavor syrups, ice cream, and Sambuca, an Italian liqueur.

Medicinally, ederberry is used for fevers, coughs, colds, and sore throats, among other things. (I recently took elderberry lozenges for a very sore throat, and they helped alot, and tasted really yummy.)

Certain people, including some Gypsies, think that it is bad luck to burn elder wood, so it is never used in a campfire.
Elder is very popular for wands and flutes. Scott Cunningham says "Make flutes from the branches and call forth spirits with their music. Best done at midnight in a deserted place far from the haunts of humans".

Ruis (elder) in the Celtic tree calendar is from November 25 to December 22. Each tree in the calendar corresponds to a line from "The Song of Amergin", which purportedly comes from the Chief bard of the Milesians when they invaded Ireland circa 1268 C.E. The line "I am a wave of the Sea" corresponds to Ruis/elder.

I hope that you found this helpful, I certainly learned a lot about elder when researching it! I want to make my own elder wand, and dedicate it to the Mother Goddess. I can't wait for Samhain! I am currently working on compiling some purification techniques for a hardcore Samhain purification. I love a good purification, it always feels so good!

Blessed Be,
Eirwen


Bibliography:

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

"What is the Celtic Tree Calendar?" by Linda Kerr
http://www.faeriefaith.net/treecal.html

The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

The Ultimate Herb Book by Antony Atha

The White Goddess by Robert Graves

August Herb of the Month: Apple Mint

Element: Air
Ruling Planet: Mercury
Sacred to: Hades (Pluto), Hecate
Used for: Money/Prosperity, Lust, Healing, Travel, Exorcism, Protection, Attracting Good Spirits.

Magickally as well as medicinally, apple mint is used for pretty much the same purposes as other mints.

It is grown as an ornamental plant (look at the pretty green and white leaves!), and used in jellies and teas, and some recipes (see below for a recipe for Apple Mint Couscous).

All mints are sacred to Mintha (Mentha, Menthe). Mintha was a nymph, who fell in love with Hades, and he loved her as well. Persephone (his wife) became jealous, and trampled Mintha, killing her. (In some versions, Demeter, Persephone's mother, is the one to kill Mintha). Hades was saddened by the death of his love, and he raised her up as the first mint plant.

Apple mint can be used to fight headaches, and calm stomach problems. It is often eaten or drunk in teas. It can also be used in a balm to soothe muscle pains.

Worn around the wrist, mint protects against bad health.

To attract money, place or rub a few mint leaves in your purse or wallet.

To expel evil, sprinkle salt water with sprigs of mint, rosemary, and marjoram.

Place it on the altar to attract good spirits, it is extremely useful for this purpose.

Keep some apple mint close to you for protection, prosperity, good health, and to attract good spirits to your home and hearth.

Apple Mint Couscous:

Ingredients

* 1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon butter, in all

* 1 cup peeled and finely chopped sweet apples

* 1 tablespoon minced shallots

* 1 teaspoon minced garlic

* 3 tablespoons chopped fresh mint, plus extra for garnish

* Salt and pepper

* 1 cup couscous

* 1 tablespoon olive oil

* 1 cup chicken stock

* 2 ounces crumbled feta

* Fresh rosemary

Directions

In a saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of butter. When the butter is melted, add the apples, shallots, garlic, and mint. Saute for 2 minutes. Add the couscous and olive oil and saute for 1 minute. Stir in the stock and bring to a boil, stirring for 2 minutes. Reduce the heat and cook for 1 minute. Stir in the remaining butter and remove from the heat. Cover and allow to sit for 2 minutes. Uncover and fluff with a fork. Fold in the feta cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Mound the couscous in the center of the platter. Lay the carved lamb over the couscous. Garnish with fresh rosemary and mint.

(courtesy of Emeril Lagase, http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/emeril-lagasse/apple-mint-couscous-recipe/index.html )

Refrences:
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham
Green Witchcraft by Ann Moura
The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

Thanks so much for bearing with me!!! I am really going to try my best to keep this blog up to date. I know I am a month or two late on starting Herb of the Month, but I'll continue doing it. Stay tuned for September's Herb of the Month: Chamomile!!!

Blessed Be,
Eirwen

New Herbs

I got some new herbs for my garden today! I got some chamomile, fennel, and apple mint. I have never heard of apple mint before, but I'll learn. That's part of the fun, bumbling along my path, learning how to grow and use herbs by trial and error (not too much error though, I'm careful about learning which ones are poisonous!). I'm excited about the chamomile especially, I love chamomile tea and I can't wait to drink tea that I grew! I am going to look up apple mint. That's going to be my herb of the month. I will pick a new one every month, and talk about the medicinal and magickal properties of it, the history and lore, as well as what kind of tasty food stuffs you can make with it! So the herb of the month, coming soon!