Kinnickinnick

Kinnickinnick is a blend of various dried herbs, barks, and leaves, each carefully selected for its aromatic qualities, medicinal properties, and symbolic significance. Traditionally, common ingredients include dried tobacco leaves, bearberry (also known as uva-ursi), red willow bark, and sometimes additional herbs such as mint, mullein, or sage. The specific ingredients used may vary depending

White Sage

One of the Four Sacred Herbs of the Anishinabe Ojibway, indigenous tribes across North America use White Sage ceremonially and as a medicinal plant. The aromatic smoke of White Sage is believed to carry prayers and intentions to the heavens, invoking spiritual guidance and protection for oneself and the community. The leaves are dried and

Sweetgrass

Sweetgrass (Hierochloe odorata) is a very hardy perennial, able to grow in the Arctic Circle. The base of the leaf, just below the soil surface, is broad and white, without hairs; the underside of the leaf is shiny and glabrous. One of the Four Sacred Herbs of the Anishinabe Ojibway, Sweetgrass is revered by many

Tobacco

One of the Four Sacred Herbs of the Anishinabe Ojibwe, Tobacco is used to communicate with the Spirit World and to show respect to elders, teachers, and community leaders. When the leaves are dried and smoked in the ceremonial pipe, the smoke carries our prayers and intentions through the Hole in the Day to the

Red Willow

Red Willow, also known as Red-Osier Dogwood, is a medium deciduous shrub with red branches and twigs. One of the primary traditional uses of Red Willow lies in its analgesic properties. The bark of Red Willow contains salicin, a natural compound akin to aspirin, which serves as a potent pain reliever. Indigenous communities use Red

Bearberry

Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) is a low-lying shrub that grows predominantly in soils composed of sand, gravel, or dunes in boreal forests. When smoked in a pipe, or when steeped as tea, bearberry leaves have a calming effect on the nervous system and are used to cure anxiety, migraine headaches, and general pain. Smoking is the

Mjölnir

To many Norse Pagans, the pendant of Mjölnir is more than just jewelry; it’s a symbol of protection and honor; a physical sign of our strength, a beacon of power. It acts as a conduit, to the Mighty Thor, wielder of Mjölnir, protector of Midgard, and to the other Gods within our pantheon, inviting the

Goddess Rosary

In this post, we are reclaiming the Roman Catholic rosary as a tool for worshiping the Goddess in modern pagan traditions. In the Roman Catholicism, the rosary is a devout and widely practiced form of prayer, consisting of a sequence of meditations that revolve around the repetition of the Hail Mary and Our Father prayers,

A Journey Around the Caim Part 3

Walking the Caim The most effective way to utilize the Caim is to walk the sacred circle. Those familiar with nature-based spiritualities will be familiar with this concept, but we are now performing it with the therapeutic approaches explained in the second article. Gather markers to place at the four directional points and at the

Mint

There are over 600 kinds of mint worldwide. The tell-tale way of determining whether a plant is in the mint family is by the smell of the torn leaves. Mints have square stems, oblong leaves that taper to a narrow tip, with toothed edges. They vary from dark green to light green.” With its invigorating

A Journey Around the Caim Part 2

Modern Psychology & Caim Before giving the teaching on walking the caim, it will be useful to understand how modern psychology intersects with the ancient caim teachings. As a psychiatric technician at our regional medical facility, Warren General Hospital, I conduct therapy groups in our acute care inpatient mental health unit. I developed a therapy

Stag ~ Gaelic: Damh (Dav [like Have]) / Norse: Steggi (Stay-gee)

Perhaps the most important prey animal hunted in ancient times, the stag served as a great provider for our ancestors. His hide covered our earliest homes and provided material for clothing, his meat sustained us during the difficult winter months, and his bones were fashioned into tools both sacred and ordinary.   Celtic Symbolism: “I

A Journey Around the Caim

The Irish Gaelic word Caim (pronounced Kime like Lime) means “Protection” or “Sanctuary”, a magical circle which guards one from harm. Each of the cardinal directions were understood to possess sacred associations relating to natural cycles such as the seasons, the four elements, the four quarters of the moon, the four ages of human life,

Raven ~ Norse: Hrafn (H-ray-fen) / Gaelic: Bran (Bran)

Norse Symbolism In Norse mythology and culture, ravens played a significant role, serving as symbols of intelligence, wisdom, power, prophecy, and as messengers of the gods.  Despite their association with death, ravens were seen as powerful protectors and guardians. It was believed that if a raven perched on a person’s home or property, that person

Chamomile

Used as an herbal remedy for thousands of years, Chamomile is used to treat an extensive list of ailments, including fever, headaches, kidney, liver, and bladder problems, digestive upset, muscle spasms, anxiety, insomnia, skin irritations, bruises, gout, ulcers, rheumatic pain, hay fever, inflammation, hemorrhoids, colic, and menstrual disorders. The generic name, Matricaria, comes from the Latin matrix,

“Trapped in a Bottle” Banishing Spell

For removing an evil presence from your home. “Evil” here refers to anything intending malicious harm against you , your family, home, etc… Materials: A rose (either wild or cultivated) , sea salted water (This can be made with sea salt added to spring water), a glass jar or bottle (wine bottles work very well

Blue Vervain

Vervain (Verbena officinalis), also known as common vervain or common verbena, is a flowering perennial plant native to Europe, North America, and Asia. The plant is recognized by its jagged, tooth-shaped leaves and clusters of delicate, mauve or pale-purple blossoms. Rich in compounds known as flavonoids, vervain is a potent anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antispasmodic, anti-depressant, anxiolytic,

Wintergreen

Wintergreen is easy to identify by the small, shiny, almost waxy oblong green leaves that come to a point where it connects to the stem (these leaves can also sometimes be purple). The underside of the leaves often has black speckles or dots. It sprawls out to form a woody groundcover. When you break apart

White Cedar

The needles of the White Cedar (also called Arbor Vitae) may be dried and burned as an incense to purify an area from negative thoughts and energies, and to call in protector spirits, especially the spirits of one’s ancestors. The technique is known as smudging and involves wafting of the smoke about oneself and the

Longevity Spells

Longevity Spells ***Just a sampling from the Encyclopedia of 5,000 Spells. There are many more.*** Aaron’s Rod Longevity spell Aaron’s rod is the botanical nickname given to golden rod and mullein. Use either plant in this spell. Create an infusion by pouring boiling water over Aaron’s rod. Add the strained liquid to a bath to