by Kenneth Johnson

There is a wonderful passage in one of the old epics of King Arthur. It
says whenever the knights began their quest for the grail, they plunged
straight into the wilderness where the woods are thickest.
Clever knights. They knew where to find the magick. But then perhaps
they were not so clever. After all, don't most of
our European fairy tales begin in much the same way? The tree spirit,
the elvish helper, the old Witch, or the magick fountain–all are
discovered when the heroine or hero of the story wanders away from the
well-ordered village, the peaceful town, the easy and well-marked path
and enters the wilderness. Perhaps it was simply common knowledge back
then that the primal chaos of trees, rocks and water
was the most potent magical energy source available.

In many, if not most magickal and folk traditions, the world is the body
of the Earth Mother herself. It is no wonder, then, that the trees who
constitute Her beautiful hair and the rocks which
constitute Her strong bones are the source of so much magick. Whoever
we may be, of whatever cultural origin, all our ancestors were tribal at
one time or another and hence they all lived close to the magick.
Wherever we now live, wilderness is generally not that far
away–perhaps in the closest state park or forest area. And there are
many ways you can touch the magick of the wilderness for yourself.

First, like most traditional peoples the world over, pre-Christian
Europeans seem to have believed that the center of shamanic power lay in
our midsection-between the lower diaphragm and the middle belly.

Once you are in the woods, focus your attention on this spot on your
body. Don't worry too much about its exact location, it's a little
different for everyone. Your body will find it for you if you simply
focus on seeking a primal source of internal energy. Keep your awareness
there, as if it is the actual center of your being. Once you have done
this, you will find that the paths of energy in the Earth itself just
seem to pull you along. When you're really focused, you will be aware of
zones of power in the Earth. When you've found such a place of power,
there are a number of things you can do.

First, you can work with the rocks. Most rocks, whether tiny stones or
great boulders, have a 'soft spot' somewhere which allows you to enter
into them in the spirit. Use your intuition, eyes and sense of touch to
find that spot. Then, meditatively, go inside. Many people
report seeing visions of long ago–the very past of the Earth itself.
The whole record of Mother Earth's experience is stored
insdie Her bones the rocks.

If there is a stream or a lake, you have a wonderful place to get rid of
some of your emotional baggae. In European folk songs, sad lovers are
always sitting by the banks of a lake or river. Why? Because it
is believed that water purifies our sexual selves and washes away
negativity. Give your sorrows to the water and meditatively feel them
slip away from you forever.

If there are plenty of trees, you may be able to locate one that 'likes'
you. I'm not joking. Place your back against a tree so
it can feel your aura. If it likes you, you will know. Then you can
become one with the tree. Feel its essence go into your center of power.
Then open your eyes. If you are lucky, you will be able to see
the world through the tree's eyes. Believe me, when this works it's
better than any psychedelic.

Finally, you can simply dance. That's right. There's no particular
reason to sit still in a place of power. You might as well just dance,
moving to your own inner music and the music of the Sun and
the wind. The rocks and trees will enjoy it.


Scent Boxes For Your Windows  
Adapted from Window Boxes,
by James Cramer and Dean Johnson (Storey Publishing, 1999).

Fill a window box to overflowing with highly scented plants
--old-fashioned roses, heliotrope, night-sceented stock,
alyssum, scented geraniums, lilies of the valley,
carnations, jasmine, and lavender are favorites.
In the evening, these window boxes come into their own.
The aroma of heliotrope, nicotiana, or whatever you choose, is carried
on a breeze through the window screen to the kitchen, porch,
upstairs bedrooms, or wherever you wish.
  
Here are five wonderfully fragrant ideas for scent boxes
to help get you started:
  For a LEMONY KITCHEN box,
plant sweet basil, mints, lemon balm, lemon
verbena, lemon thyme, and dill.
  For a SCENTED NIGHTTIME window box,
plant white nicotiana, white or purple
heliotrope, moonflowers, sweet alyssum, and night-scented stock.
  For an OLD-FASHIONED VICTORIAN scent box,
plant lavender, pinks, white petunias, sweet peas, and jasmine.
  For a MINT JULEP box,
plant peppermint, spearmint, and pineapple mint.
(Have a Bourbon rose blooming nearby for good measure!)
  For a BAKERY WINDOW box,
plant scented geraniums, chocolate cosmos,
chocolate mint, and rosemary.


SOURCE(S)
Garnet
GreenWitchGarden
Monday, May 15, 2006

Making Herbal Candles