Because I don't dig Toxic.

So I made my own Lemon Multi-Purpose Cleaner.

It took about three weeks to complete, really it should have been longer but I'm not a patient girl!
I used Vinegar, mixed with lemon peels and rosemary! Place it in a window, and shake daily.
The finished product come out VERY concentrated, and should be diluted with water when you go to clean.

I chose to go this route because I have small children in my home. My Nieces are constantly in and out.
I also have animals.
Plus you know, myself. So I choose to no longer poison myself.

This post was very poorly crafted.. So here are some pretty pictures!

 Before!!

After!!

My New Magickal Garden.

So I was flipping through my copy of Garden Witchery by Ellen Dugan yet again yesterday (Love and Recommend this book to all!). I was reading her section on Finding a space for your magical garden. I already have tons of gardens in my yard, but none of them are what you'd call private. We like our neighbors so there are no privacy fences up and we basically "share" our three backyards. I put share in quotations because we all pretty much keep to our own section of the back, but no one gets their panties in a twist if there's some cross over. So as I was thinking about my Magick working garden and trying to figure out where to put it I was becoming a bit discouraged. I didn't want to have it somewhere my neighbors can see. I am not ashamed, but the feeling of being watched can sometimes distract from your intentions while working magick. I decided to take Dugans advice and just walk around my yard. She said in her book you would know the spot when you see it. I wasn't holding my breath, but what the heck, why not try?

I stepped outside and had an epiphany. I know, crazy right? My yard isn't that big, this shouldn't have been to hard to figure out. We have a hug Pine Tree that separates our house with one of our neighbors. Its never raked out, and the kids are always playing under there so it never donned on me to turn it into a garden, but it was perfect. It has space, and privacy, and low branches to sit or work on. It seems like the spot has just been waiting on me all this time to figure it out. It's part sun part shade and with a little love and fertilizer it can be beautiful. I can not wait.

So there you have it. not even ten minutes and I picked out my very own special magick garden... Now the fun part! picking the plants to go in there. Raking it out, tilling the soil, and finding the stones to act as a "barrier" to keep kiddies and The monster dog out!

Do you have a special place in your yard?

Mint & Lime Healing/Energy Infusion

Mint - Healing, Strength, Money, Luck, Protection

Lime - Healing, Love, Protection 

My Fiance suffers from chronic Migraines. He often has one several days a week, and "regular" headaches almost daily. I have met others with similar problems, but never to the extent of his. As his soon to be wife, and a woman who loves him more than life, it is hard for me to watch. (this is relevant to the post!)

This week I ran across a post on Facebook about water infusions. Of course I have heard of them before. I just have yet to make one.  This time I was inspired! I wanted to try it. Loveyy has been going through a particularly bad spell the past couple of days so I decided to make an infusion to aid in his healing. I chose Mint and Lime because they compliment each other, and they are two things I know he likes.

While Cutting the limes, and bruising the Mint I thought of nothing but "Love, healing and Energy" trying to impart those attributes to my water.

I later held a small ritual in my bedroom, I have asked the Goddess to bless the water tonight. To help aid in a quick recovery of this Migraine and to boost his energy a bit during the process. I will leave it in the window all night, and instruct him to drink the water tomorrow.

We'll see!!

(P.S. My room now smells of Lavender (Thats what I smudged with during the ritual), Mint and Lime. Its quite Wonderful!

Spring Cleaning - A pagan perspective

Spring is upon us and that means it is time for SPRING CLEANING.

A few ideas.

Obviously use environmentally friendly, non-toxic cleaners. My cleaner of choice is vinegar water with a dash of mint, or rosemary... or maybe some crab apple flower essence in the case of something particularly dirty, or just plain and simple baking soda. This year I also made some Lemon Cleaner.

When you clean open as many doors and windows as you can. Cleaning stirs up dormant energies, and this way they have a place in which to go. You can also try clapping near an area you are about to clean, this will help wake up and prepare any "sleeping" energies. When I sweep I like to sweep the dirt out the front door as well (Please note : This is only Dirt! I do not sweep trash out the door.) .

Going through our possessions (at least) yearly is an huge, yet important task. If you are like me you might shop out of anxiety, or frustration. You may have been given gifts that no longer serve a purpose, or were given by someone no longer a part of your life (An ex-boyfriend, an friend you are no longer friendly with). You may have papers from work that are no longer needed, but remind you of work every time you see them. There are a million little things we accumulate over a year. And ALL of these things hold energy. Unwanted, and unnecessary energy.

When I look at financial papers from work I immediately feel more anxious that I had ten second previously. Its not the papers fault... Its just what the paper brings to mind, and that effects my energy in the moment. When I see items I purchased out of frustration, I feel FRUSTRATED. Why did I waste my money?! Did I really need that Extra Measuring cup that I have YET to use? No.

So we need to go through these things and dispose of them to help rid our homes of these energies, and make room for new more positive ones to enter. You can donate, and recycle. Give things to the neighbors who might find them useful.

The task of going through everything in your house may be daunting, but when it is done you will feel SO much better. Take it section by section so that you don't get overwhelmed. And don't expect it to be finished in a day.

A little of this an that. An Easter Blog.

So today we celebrated "Easter" 

Well... My mom and brothers celebrated, I was there. Mom got me an Easter basket like she always does, only this year instead of a Chocolate bunny she stuck a Chocolate Cross in there... Wonderful. I didn't say anything because it may not have been a slight. But I doubt it.

My Nieces had an egg hunt today. It was a blast, and I took the youngest (M) around the yard to find them. 

Easter dinner consisted of Homemade spaghetti sauce, using the tomatoes we froze from last spring. It Tasted wonderful.

M of course was on sugar overload and exhausted by the time dinner rolled around and temper tantrums were happening ever few seconds. That was about the same time I was whipping out the sage for some post Easter frenzy cleansing. After just a few seconds she had calmed down completely and we haven't had a tantrum since. If you have never tried sageing a child, I suggest you give it a go. I have always been a firm believer in the stuff, and used it frequently even before my pagan days.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Now, moving on...

My Full moon ritual was lovely. I performed it a night late. on the last night of the Full moon Cycle, but it was still wonderful. I sat skyclad upstairs in front of my big bedroom window (Neighbors cant see in that one!) and  laid my supplies out. I planted a lavender seed in a small pot and it was all real simple and real beautiful. 

I don't want to go into it too deep because it was mine, and it was personal.

I hope you all are enjoying the start of spring!  

Back in action. Full Moon Style.

They should fire me from Blogging. Honestly, I get so excited about it write and write and write, and then one day I just Disappear Poof! Gone. But here I am back in action!

I'm nothing if not persistent.

My Wedding is officially 88 days away. EIGHTY-EIGHT. So I cant promise I will be on a whole lot.

So tonight is the full moon. March's Full Moon :)

I have A small ritual planned which I am excited about. I thought I would post it in case any of you wished to use it as well. You can always feel free to adopt and change it for your own.

_______________________________________

Full Moon Banishing and Growth

What I will be using:

Candle

Seed

Soil in a pot

Sage

(Cleanse the area with sage.)

(Light Candle) 

"Goddess of the Moon I welcome you." 

(Quiet Meditation for as long as you need)

"Tonight I wish to let go of __(Something you wish to let go of)

You have seen me through the cold of winter

Now I face the growth of Spring

New light, New Success, New Opportunities

This seed represents me and my journey 

Both Mundane, and Spiritual

As it is Watered and Tended it shall grow

And with it so shall I

(Plant seed)

(Meditate)

Blessed Be Goddess

(Blow out candle)

Magickal Cleaning.

Start the New Year Clean -

In many traditions it is important to start their years with a clean home.

Depending on how thourough you are you may see this as a general wipe down, or a hands and knees scrubbing the floor time.

It is important though, when cleaning your home to leave the windows open. That way the built up energies you are stirring have a place to go, and can leave your home.

Sweeping and mopping the floors - this is a must in most houses. Sweeping stirs stagnant energies, and gets them moving. Start in the back of your home and sweep towards the front. This way you can rid the house of the negative energies, by sending them out the front door.

When moping, I like to create floor washes, to give a little added oomph to my house cleaning. You can try a Rose Water wash, which will help promote feelings of love and agreement in your home. I also enjoy a crabapple wash. Crabapple is great for cleaning extra dirty messes. So after a fight or during a time of stress I will add a few drops to my wash, to help rid the house of the negative vibes that are floating around.

Vinegar - This fellow gets special mention because it is dear to my heart. I have used vinegar for years and years, it predates my magickal side. It is wonderful for everything mundane! But also it is great magickally. It sends away negative unwanted energies. It is also used to protect the home from invaders. I always keep a bottle of diluted vinegar on hand, it works wonders for keeping the animal smell out of your rugs!

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Basil (extended)

Common Basil

General Info:

There are multiple varieties of Basil in the world; some speculate that there are up to 150 different types. This post will discuss what is the most known, and used variety as of late, Common Basil. Common Basil has also often gone by the names of Sweet Basil, St. Josephs Wart, American Dittany, and the Witches Herb. Scientifically however, it is known as Ocimum Basilicum. Basil is most commonly thought to have originated in India. Though there are some individuals who think it may have originated as far east as China. From there it has continues to spread all over the world.

Identify:
When identifying plants in the wild, a person needs to take care, and should never use something they are not one hundred percent sure about. Common Basil is identified in several ways. The easiest way would be by scent. It has a very distinct scent; simply rubbing the leaf between two fingers is the best way to smell it, as this releases the oils. Please note though, dried basil and fresh basil do not smell the same. If a person is unfamiliar with basils scent, it can also be identifies using sight. Common Basil has smooth green leaves. The edges of the leaves are not jagged, and have so serrations. They are fat looking leaves that slightly curl underneath at the edges, and can be as wide as an inch and a half at the center when fully grown. The leaves are shaped almost like an oval, but come to a point near the stem at the bottom of the leaf. If allowed to bloom, without being pruned or cut back, small white flowers will bloom. Basil, like most herbs does not have bark, or wood on it. So if the plant has a wooden stem, do not use it. The veins on a Basil leaf are easily seen. They are a light green color.

Growing:
Basil is a fairly easy plant to grow. It can be found in countries all over the world. When planting however keep in mind basil is best grown in warm, dry climates. Therefore, full sun would be best. Basil can be kept in a pot indoors, but it will not flourish as well as an outdoor plant would. In cooler climates, like New England, where frost and snow are going to occur Basil should be treated as an annual. However, if grown in warmer climates, where frost stays away, it can be treated as a perennial that will reseed itself, year after year.

Medical:
Medically, Basil is fantastic, and can be used to treat a variety of health problems. If boiled with Cardamom, in two quarts of water, then mixed with sugar and milk it can be taken as a fever reducer. This method is especially effective for young children. Basil is a natural anti-inflammatory, so it can be taken to help reduce swelling in the body. Also, as it comes from the mint family, basil has digestive aids in it. It is often used, like mints to help with cramping, vomiting, and constipation. More often than not, Basil is put into liquid form, such as teas, to aid with the above mentioned ailments. However, it can also be finely ground and put into capsules for convenience. Just chewing the leaf itself is good for oral health. It can reduce halitosis, as well as cure the mouth of any infections. To treat infections of the mouth, chew a few leaves twice daily.

Food:
Basil is perhaps most famous for its use in the world of foods! Common basil is mainly used in Mediterranean dishes. Though there are certainly enough varieties of basil to use in almost any dish. Basil is best used fresh, though dried will certainly be acceptable. When working with fresh basil, you should always tear, as opposed to cutting because it releases the juices better and is more potent. When adding basil to hot dishes, such as sauces, and soups, Basil should be added at the very end for maximum potency. Adding a handful of fresh uncut basil leaves to any salad, or chopped tomatoes can never go wrong. They are a delight and add that little extra something to put the salad over the top. Fresh basil should only be kept in the fridge for a day or two, after that it loses its potency and is no good. However, to keep it fresh longer, it can be blanched and then stored in the freezer.

Magick:
Just as Basil has an abundance of use in the kitchen, and quite a few ways to help keep a person healthy, it has just as many ways to be used magickally. To start off with it is quite popular in love magick. It can be used to test fidelity, keep a person faithful, and to help end lovers quarrels. One common way basil is used for love magick, is by sprinkling a bit of crushed basil in the bed, to keep a lovers heart true. Basil is used in magick involving money and luck as well. Often time’s individuals will keep a bit of Basil in their pockets when they go out gambling. It is also put in the corners of businesses to help attract customers. And last, but not least, it is used often for protection. Sprinkling Basil around a home can help in keeping the home safe. It is best to remember when using basil in magick that it is a fire element. It falls under the planet of Mars, and is also male in gender. While these seem like small details, when it comes to spell crafting, they can be important.

In closing, Basil is an herb most should carry in their home. Be it for magick, cooking, or healing. Possibly even for all three. 

FACEBOOK PAGE

So, I have decided to make a page, relating to the subject of green witchcraft on facebook. :)

You can find it here, and it would be so awesome if you guys could check it out! (keep in mind I just started it!)

Yule and Christmas

Yule and Christmas, one of the biggest controversies in the community this time of year.

Yes, I understand the whole "Christians stole december, yada yada... boo hoo." I also understand, that as a pagan, maybe this should upset me a bit more, but it doesn't.

We try to pretend that most Christians don't know the reason Christmas is celebrated in December, and thats just not true anymore. Most of them understand that Jesus wasn't born in december. What it really comes down to now, is TRADITION. Traditionally, for hundreds of years, that is when and how, and the way they have celebrated it, and you are probably not going to change that. Why would you want to? It doesn't bother me. Honestly, it just makes the world extra pretty for me to look at, with everyone putting up their sparkly decorations.

No, I don't appreciate pagan bashing and I will say Happy Holidays, instead of Blessed Yule, to avoid some conflict. I am not ashamed.  (though, Happy Holidays can sometimes get you in just as much trouble!)

This post is coming off much harder than I anticipated. I have just been so flustered lately, I hesitate even going to my facebook, because I KNOW there are going to be negative posts from both sides of the Fence. My Christian friends complaining that Christmas is being destroyed by the term "Happy Holidays" And My pagan friends complaingin that our holiday was stolen, and christians are arrogant bigots. It gets old.

What a beautiful time of year it is, why can't we all just get along? Appreciate the beauty around us. Accept that no one path is the "perfect" path.

I will end this rant, before I waste to much time, but I will leave you with this...

Have a Blessed Solstice, And May your Christmas, and New Year be just as bright.
I for one, will be celebrating them both. To appease both myself, and my Christian relatives.

Bright Blessings to All,
May the God and Goddess be ever present in your lives,
Rose

I am Thankful.

Today was a pretty great Thanksgiving, one of the best I've had in years. I was nervous, because of the people we had coming over, but it turned out great. Hestia really had my back. :)

I am thankful for so many things, but today the one thing that really come to mind, is the freedom of religion we have in this country. Now, that doesn't mean we aren't still persecuted.. but legally, we are free. And that hasn't always been the case, in the past we have had to hide. Hide, and die, if we were found out. Sometimes, I feel people forget that. I feel like it gets taken for granted. But not from me.

I am Thankful for it.

And I always will be.

Thanksgiving Tribute to Hestia

So, my family is coming over for Thanksgiving. WONDERFUL! (please, note sarcasm)
We originally were supposed to be going to my brothers, which was great, because if it got to overwhelming, I could just leave. But at the last minute things changed, so it's now going to be hosted here.
Its going to include a whole mesh of people, who don't really get along. So I decided to get the jump on Mojo-ing my house with feel good vibes. Much of it includes cleaning, with specific essences and oils, smudging, and all that. But I also decided to pay tribute to Hestia, Goddess of Hearth and Home, in the hopes that she will help me maintain the peace.

This is the altar I put together in her honor, it sits above our woodstove.

Magical Housekeeping

SO I bought a new book the other night.

Magical Housekeeping
by Tess Whitehurst

 I have to be honest, I am only like 13 pages in. However, this book has already inspired me. She writes about clearing clutter out of your life, both physical and emotional. Which is what I really need right now.

When I picked this book up, I thought it was going to be something completely different. And had I taken the time to read the first page, I may have put it down and said "not for me" but I'm glad I didn't.

Their are 10 types of physical clutter, some of which include paper, furniture, food, clothes, and even car clutter.

She includes a ritual to get you started, which includes drinking some tea, and lighting a single white candle.

I highly reccommend you check this book out!

Herbs A-Z : GINGER

Ginger

Photo Credit

AKA: Ginger root, African Ginger,

Planet : Mars

Gender : Masculine

Element : Fire

Mundane Uses : Ginger is a widely popular herb. It's uses are so diverse that I believe everyone should keep some on hand at all times.

Digestive wise, ginger helps protect and heal the gut. It is often used as a digestive aid. It increases an individuals saliva and stomach secretion production, which helps ease digestion without causing further discomfort. It is also used for relieving naseau.

Ginger helps in destroying the host of a virus. It also causes a person to sweat when ingested, which in turn, protects the skin from infection. Sweating is also helpful if you come down with a cold or flu, which is where to phrase “sweat it our came from”. The tea itself, also eases the symptoms associated with colds.

Although it has yet to be confirmed, researchers have found that ginger shows hope for being a possible anticancer agent. DRINK UP!

It helps relieve heartburn

Ginger has anti inflammatory agents in it, which assists with those suffering from arthritis or other conditions causing joint pain.

And if all of that wasn't good enough, ginger stands alone as an awesome tea, and a perfect additon to many dinner and dessert recipes!

Magical Uses: Magically Ginger is used in spells and working for the following : success, power, love, money, and healing.

To attract money and wealth to you or you, you can try planting whole ginger roots in the ground. These can often be found in your local health food store, or grocery store. Some have also been known to sprinkle dried ginger in their pockets, to attract money to them throughout the day.

If trying to obtain a job, you could perhaps make a sachet that included ginger in it for both money and success. Basil and Alfalfa would also be good to add in, as they both pertain properties related to good fourtune, and money matters. Also a bit of sage for luck wouldn't hurt!

It has been thought that consuming ginger before attempting spell work will add power to your workings. Especially in regards to love magic. I would suggest perhaps, making it apart of your regual magical ritual, try drinking a cup of ginger tea while preparing and centering yourself to begin.

It is told, that long ago, people would chew up ginger and then spit it out at the base of an illness. While I find that thought... disturbing, to say the least, using ginger in healing magic is not a bad idea. Obviously, just drinking the tea will aid with certain illnesses. You might also want to try sprinkling dried ginger underneath the sheets or matress of someone who is ill, to encourage speedy recovery.

Random Information :

Native to southeast asia, but can be found on almost every continent.

Dates back over 4,000 years, and has been used medicinally for the past 2,000.

Sources:

http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/family/medical-uses-for-ginger-ga.htm

http://pagandreams2.blogspot.com/2007/11/magickal-properties-of-herbs-part-1.html

http://www.tarnablackelm.org/herbs/ginger.html::

Goals.

So on the forum I frequent I am participating in Life's to-do list. This season runs from June 20th(I'm a little behind) to September 21st.

I am documenting my goals here so I can keep myself honest and accountable for them!


Here they are : 

1. Cleanse with a salt wash and sage every room in the house once we fully take it over.
        Loveyy and I are taking over the house in July, we will have the entire thing! However, it has some seriously bad built up vibes, so it needs a good cleansing. 
2. Give Loveyy a compliment everyday.
       He deserves it!
3. Finish reading Hekate : Liminal Rights and Earth Wisdom
       I need to just do this already, I keep stalling.
4. Look up and document (on Blog and in BOS) 10 new herbs.
       Oh my poor Herbs A-Z is getting left behind in the dust of my life! 
5. Go on 3 Camping Trips. Enjoy the Earth while its void of snow!
       Loveeee Campinggg. :) 

Litha 2012.

Last night Loveyy and I attended a Litha ritual. It was amazing as expected, and we both had an awesome time. We danced, and there was singing, and just a whole bunch of Joy and Love.

As apart of the ritual we all were given a piece of thyme, and  small pebble. We were to meditate on where we wanted our spiritual journey to take us in the coming year. Once we had grounded and focused and truly had an answer in our mind, we were to get up and toss the thyme into the fire, releasing our intentions into the universe. We were told to keep the pebble as a reminder.

I've heard of people doing this before, and I thought it would be neat.

Neat, does not come close. It was an awesome experience. I really did think long and hard, and my pebble now sits on my altar, as a constant reminder.

Here is what I meditated on:


By June 21st of next year, I want to have solid roots in my belief system. I know it is ever developing, but I want to know what I believe I want my practices to be an every day thing. The research will be never ending, I'm sure. I will never know everything. But I want to be comfortable. I want to be able to call myself a Pagan, or a green witch, and know exactly what makes me so.
Next June 23rd, I am getting married. And after the wedding, and the honey moon, we are coming out to our families. I want to have answers for their questions. I want to be confident so I can answer their accusations, and hostilities without feeling guilty.

Last night was an important night. I finally acknowledged to myself, that though I still believe he exists, I no longer follow the Christian God. I believe in many of his principles, and I believe Jesus Christ was his son, but his church, and he himself, do not call to me as strongly as others.
It is a bittersweet feeling, literally as I type this I can feel my pulse quickening, and the fear rising. Fear of the unknown. Fear that I am choosing wrong, that I'll be damned. But I have to remind myself : Live in this moment. Live for the life I have today.
If The Christian God is the way, and I am choosing wrong so be it. I am a good person, I live my life without hate. And I do not believe I would be damned in his eyes. How could he send me to hell, merely for following another?

I am happy to have made this choice. I am certainly glad I did before I had children.
What a strange religion Christianity is - To inspire such fear in their followers hearts. My children will know a religion of Love and tolerance. Of respect, and freedom.

Fathers Day

Fathers Day is a tough one in our household.
Lovey lost his father when he was just 16, and my father, is not technically absent, but not really their either.

Sure he does things for me. He loves me. But he is not perfect, by any stretch of the imagination.

It is even more difficult for me because I am and always have been a "daddy's girl". I have looked up to my father and love him with every fiber of my being.

I forgive him every time he lets me down. I lecture him when I think he's being an idiot. But no matter what, he is my father, and I love him.

So happy father's day dad.
I love you, despite your inadequacies.

A day trip to the Gem Store.

Recently I acquired some unexpected cash. So I decided to take a trip to the gem store a few towns over. I needed to beef up my basically non-existent collection of stones!

 

Above is a picture of my completed purchase. 

Top- Stone Elephant, inside there is a baby elephant! You can't see it well in this picture though. I have a collection of elephants so I had to get this to add to it! It was surprisingly affordable, and I am not sorry I bought it.

First Row (top to bottom) - Green Moss Agate, Snowflake Obsidian, Tigers Eye, White Onyx

2nd row (") - Carnelian, Hematite, Iron Pyrite "fools Gold", Black Tourmaline

3rd Row ( " ) - Red Jasper, Amethyst, Moonstone, Rose Quartz,

4th row - Apache Tears, Sunstone

I had an awesome time. Though being in the store gave me a headache. Damn my empathetic self!  

Some side notes:

I didn't know Onyx came in white, I had always thought it was black. period. So I was pleasantly surprised to find this. I wasn't drawn to the black at all. In fact, I did pick it up several times, but ended up leaving without it. The white, however, sits with me nicely. 

I have heard Rose Quartz is typically hard to find, but I guess up in NH we are pretty abundant with it. Fools Gold is the same way, ridiculously easy to find, which is why I had to grab some! 

I grabbed a decent amount of Amethyst, both tumbled and rough, as well as a small sphere of it. Amethyst is my birthstone, so it has always held a special energy for me.

Moonstone is the other one I have a ton of, to represent Hecate, and I can't wait to put it on the altar I plan to make for her shortly!

Sunstone was awesome to find, and I put it right up on the altar I have dedicated to Gaia. I almost didn't notice it, until lovey pointed it out in a basket on the floor.

Apache Tears I had also never heard of before.. Aparently they are a type of obsidian, I grabbed them for what seemed like no reason, only later did I think it was my Native American Ancestors that were probably nudging me towards that one. They look black, but when held to the light, they are see through and appear almost amber. They do that even when untumbled, which I thought was neat. "Apache Tears have an uncanny ability to lend support during times of sorrow.  They will gently help one to accept and then release their grief, thereby releasing and removing blockages.  "

 Anywho.. enough rambling from me!

Do you have any special stones? 

My new "Shampoo"

Recently I challenged myself, I wanted to attempt to give up shampoo and switch over to washing my hair with Baking Soda and Vinegar. I kept putting it off and putting it off, but this week I finally said NO MORE and went ahead and tried it.

The results were awesome! My hair is just as clean as before, and now I don't have to worry about my body soaking up all of the awful chemicals that often go along with those "high grade" or even the cheap shampoos.

How does it work? 
Easy! I bought two bottles, they're the kind you can get for like a dollar at the store to put ketchup and mustard in. I put baking soda in one with enough water to make it in to a paste. Then in the other I put roughly 3 tablespoons of vinegar and filled with water.

I wash my hair with the baking soda, be mindful when doing this though, it doesn't lather quite like regular shampoo so you won't want to put a whole ton in one spot. Rub it in, let it sit for a minute or so and then rinse out. next take the vinegar bottle and apply some to the ends of your hair. Again, let it sit and then rinse it out. This acts as the conditioner.

Keep in mind, not everyone's hair is exactly the same, if it comes out greasy, try less vinegar, if it's to dry, you can try adding a bit of oil to the conditioner rinse. Olive Oil will work just fine.

When your hair is drying, it will feel different, I spent the whole first night freaking out. I almost jumped in and washed it with my old stuff. But I held strong! Once dry, and brushed, it looks and feels great,

There you have it, my new healthy hair wash!

Herbs A-Z : Fennel

Fennel

Photo Credit

AKA: Fennel Seed,

Planet: Mercury

Element: Fire

Gender: Masculine

Fennel! What an awesome plant, everything on this bad boy - seeds, leaves, and root are edible. It is for that exact reason that I think everyone ought to have this growing in their garden! I have one growing outside right this minute. And what an awesome surprise to find out today that it is a perennial! (Always a bonus!)

Mundane Uses:

Fennel has been used for centuries as an appetite depressant. Because of this it may be good to try to add to your diet when attempting weight loss.

It can be used for digestive problems such as intestinal gas, bloating, and heartburn.

Fennel can be handy for women to keep around. It has been used for increasing the flow of breast milk, and can also be made into a paste to reduce swelling during breast feeding. It is used for promoting menstruation, and increasing a womans libido. Every ladies dream herb, right? 

And it just gets better, Fennel is full of iron, so for those that suffer from anemia, it may be a good idea to add this to your diet. The leaves make a great addition to any salad! And the seeds can be easily added to most meals.

Magical Uses:

Fennel is an awesome herbs to keep around an magical household. It is often used for protection. Grow it around your house, or hang by the windows and doors to ward off evil spirits. Similarly, for a less obvious method, you could try washing your window sills and doors with a soap, fennel, and salt mixture. Fennel also makes a great addition to any purification ritual.

This herb promotes confidence and courage. Before battle Greek soldiers would often chew the seeds. Farmers have also been known to wash their tractor blades with a mixture soap and fennel to encourage the land and promote a strong crop. For a more modern use you could try keeping it on you, or adding it to a meal, before a big test or event you need a little boost of confidence in!

Random Information:

“Fennel dates back to nearly 500 BC and its name comes from the Greek word "marathon" because the Battle of Marathon was fought between the Greeks and the Persians on a field of fennel.” **

http://www.webmd.com/vitamins-supplements/ingredientmono-311-FENNEL.aspx?activeIngredientId=311&activeIngredientName=FENNEL

http://www.ecademy.com/node.php?id=176651 **

http://www.shee-eire.com/Herbs,Trees&Fungi/Herbs/Fennel/Factsheet1.htm