Thousands of Little-Known Plant Species Are at Risk of Extinction

When I copy and paste from this source it always looks messy for that I apologize but there is nothing I can do to change it. The reason I am posting this is it will have an impact not only on Mother Earth’s over all ecosystem but it will affect the types of esstenial oils, herbs, plants, and flowers we have available to use fo spells, rituals, homemade remedies, etc. Always keep in mind with anything that is affecting our pericous Mother Earth – one person CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE either in a positive or negative way. Let it be said about each of us that care for and nuture Mother Earth that our impact or in modren terms our carbon footprint was small and we did everything we possibly could and maybe to help rejunvanate her for the coming generations instead that we helped to helped to rape and defile her more.

When researchers used machine learning to evaluate 150,000 plant species, they found that 10 percent were likely to qualify for the IUCN Red List

image: https://thumbs-prod.si-cdn.com/_JnAnE2G-nALqQOb4Hu7xBeZBH8=/800×600/filters:no_upscale()/https://public-media.si-cdn.com/filer/07/9f/079f4287-c7e8-4299-8c33-29183b314310/symphyotrichum_georgianum_georgia_aster_earlier_bloom.jpg

The Georgia aster is one of many threatened plant species (Wikimedia Commons)

By Meilan Solly

SMITHSONIAN.COM
DECEMBER 4, 2018

35911011447

When it comes to endangered species, animals like the Asian elephant, black rhinoceros and Bornean orangutan tend to draw the most attention. But a new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences places the spotlight on an entirely different—but equally at-risk—kingdom of life: plants.

There are nearly 400,000 known plant species spread out across the globe, but as Gregory Barber reports for Wired, less than 10 percent have been assessed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. In total, the plants actually included on the list constitute just five percent of all known species.

Read more: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/thousands-little-known-plant-species-are-risk-extinction-180970945/#celsF5rgoor34Auw.99
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Lady Beltane’s recovery and New Posts on Website

Lady Beltane is home and resting after her knee surgery. The surgeon did a great job on her left knee.

Lady Beltane managed to get some posts scheduled for these days but please do not expect them every day this week and possibly the beginning of next week. She is kind of loopy from pain pills and a herbal tea mixed of her own.

Any candles, or prayers or healing energy for Lady Beltane would be very welcomed and appreciated. Thank you to those that have done either one or all three things asked for.

Blessed be dear ones

Also Remember the 20% off Sale That is Currently Going On At Our Store

Witches Of The Craft®

20% off your purchases at Magickal Necessities. Use the Promo Code: Autumn

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Last Harvest of the Year for Northern Hemisphere

According to legend and some pagan path gradations the last day to harvest all fruits and vegetables this year is Tuesday, October 30th. After this date we are to leave anything still growing on trees, plants, shrubs, and vines for three main reasons. First reason. Is as an offering to the Gods, Goddesses, and Elements that helped the fruits and vegetables to mature from the seedlings in the spring until their fruition in the fall. The second reason is to allow the Fae Folk (if you are blessed with them in your yard or close, that help us tend our gardens, trees, shrubs, and flower beds. The third reason is so our wildlife brother and sisters can eat them where they are or bring them into their place of waiting out the cold, rainy, and snowy days ahead.

So think upon these things are you finish harvesting what you have grown and leave a few of whatever you do not have to have to feed your family there to honor the Gods, Goddesses, Elements and to help feed the Fea Folk, animals, and birds.

This is another way for us to honor the energy that contacts all things be the part of Mother Earth and/or a deity.

Also when you are done with your harvesting do a short ritual to thank everything and everyone for what you have been able to gather through out the growing season. Give the part of Mother Earth you used as a home vegetable garden a good sprinkling with water, add your homemade or if you have to buy compost make sure it is organic.

Do not forget to gather and dry your cooking, medicinal, and ritual herbs that are grown outdoors by this date also. For indoor growing herbs just snip some off and sprinkle it in your yard as a thanks and offering.

COVEN LIFE STUDENTS ONLY; Write to me if you are not sure how to do a thankfulness ritual. We have chat this Sarurday from 5:00 to 8:00 PM CT where we can discuss this topic further.

Rue Moon

“There is nothing to rue about having Ruta graveolens in the Moon garden. Rue foliage is soft, with a slight oval, rounded, blue-green leaves on a perennial shrub that can live for decades in gardens where it is happy.

Some find the scent released from the glands in its leaves over-powering. Others think of it as enticing. Rue is a common ingredient in Mediterranean dishes, in which small amounts are added to salads and cheese spreads. It is believed to have been a key ingredient of four thieves vinegar – that infamous formula that was thought to have protected a party of thieves who robbed victims of the Great Plague of London.

Michelangelo and Leonardo DaVinci were said to have partaken of rue to improve their eyesight and to release their inner artistic visions. In the early days of the Roman Catholic Church, it was called “the herb of grace” and was a symbol of repentance. SMall bundles of rue were used to sprinkle holy water at mass. Rue is perfect for breaking hexes or protecting one from the evil eye.”

As the Northern Hemisphere Begins to Settle in For The Cold Tempatures and Shorter Days

Now is the time to finish your final harvest as anything left on plants, trees, and vines on Samhain, October 31st is for the wildlife, gods, and goddesses to enjoy.

It is time, if you can, to can fruits and vegetables. To pick, during the right Moon phase for optimal power, and dry your herbs. To stick up on other non-perishables you have to buy, put extra meat and homemade or store bread in your freezer. I even buy a small thing of powdered milk in case we get snowed in.

I also check to make sure I have all my magickal supplies, candles, herbs, oils, etc, stocked and ready for use. I also make sure I have my Yule log under a trap so I don’t have a problem lighting on the Winter Solstice. Whenever possible I do a ritual outdoors for Samhain and the Winter Solstice because I do not have any type of fireplace indoors.

As for my home now is when I do a fall cleaning and through smudging in every room and my basement. I want to make sure I do not have any negativity in my home before the windows are closed and the furnace turned on giving it and/or nasty beings a place to hide in.

Please tell us what you do to get ready for you he darker and colder time of the year. Leave as long a comment as you want to. I hope I can get some new ideas from others on preparing for this time of year.

The Practice of Esoteric Herbalism

When many people begin exploring the world of magic, myth and legend one of the first places they turn to is plant magic. There are hundreds of resources on plant based practices, herbalism, and the creation of botanical preparations for both healing and ritual. Some people are interested in the chemical components of plants, others look to their astrological and elemental correspondences or the large body of plant folklore. There are numerous authors that write on the many different facets of plant based practices, and there are still many that are yet to be explored. New ways of working with ancient plants are being revealed and practitioners are finding that there are new plants waiting to be discovered and worked with. The practice and process of esoteric herbalism is about exploring the subtle nature of plants and how they can be worked with in a ritual setting. Plants can open us up to new insights about ourselves and the world around us, and act as magical catalysts that enhance our own working through their unique combination of energies.

To continue reading…..

Lunar Herb: Evening Primrose

Plants of the Moon

Lunar herbs help us connect with the energy of the Moon, bringing its influence into magic and rituals. The moon plays a prominent role in the spiritual practices of Pagans and Witches alike. It is described as being feminine in nature due to its connections to water and the subconscious, as well as its correlation to the twenty-eight day cycle of the menstrual period. The moon has a major influence over men and women here on Earth, its waxing and waning tides directly influencing how we feel, the way we express our emotions, and how we relate to others. The moon also represents mystery, occultism, the sub-conscious and the dream world. Mythologically it is associated with a number of goddesses both dark and light. The moon also has this dual nature, during its waxing cycle its energy is building making it a powerful time to manifest our desires and reflect our light back out into the world around us.

To continue reading…. .

Smokeless Way to Smudging with White Sage and Sweet Grass

I know there are people for one reason or another that can not burn the White Sage and Sweetgrass to cleanse their self or home because of the smoke. So I tried this alternate way yesterday and got the same results as burning them. White Sage takes away the negative energy in your home and Sweet Grass brings in the positive energy.

Crush the White Sage into a powder and tear the Sweetgrass into very tiny pieces and combine them in a bowl or on a plate used only for this purpose. Than walk each room in your home counter-clockwise starting at the door people use the most to enter and exit your home. As you are walking ask the Mother Goddess and the Father God or whatever deity you have as your patrons to take away all negativity, anger, resentment, etc from your home and replace it with love, positive energy, and harmony while you asking for this energy exchange sprinkle the White Sage and Sweet Grass mixture on the floor in the center of the room in the shape of a pentagram and put some in each corner of the room. The pentagram does not have to be perfect or even completely solid. Leave the pentagram in place until you feel it is time to sweep it up, do not vacuum it up. Leave the mixture you put in the corner of each room there this helps to keep your home environment a more positive space. Take the mixture you have swept up and dump it in your yard to be reclaimed by Mother Earth.

You can use these links to Magical Necessities to buy lose White Sage, not the bundles and a rope of Sweet Grass

White Sage 1 oz. White Sage

Sweetgrass Braid24 Inch Sweetgrass

Now for using White Sage to cleanse yourself Magical Necessities carries a soap made with White Sage. Use it when taking a shower again asking for all negativity to be removed from you and for positive, loving energy to replace it. All your negativity will just disappear down the drain. This soap can also be used before you do a ritual to cleanse yourself for it.

Here is the link from Magical Necessities to order the soap

White Sage Soap

Herbalism in Magic

Herbs

Herbs have enormous magical power, as they hold the earth’s energy within them. Each herb has unique properties that can enhance one’s magical goals. Herbs also may have medicinal properties. The magical practitioner can draw upon either aspect when performing a spell.

Following are three key herbs I use in my work, and the magical properties associated with each (I will discuss additional herbs in the Forum):