The criteria for Herb of the Year is that it must be outstanding in at least two out of three categories: culinary, decorative, or medicinal. Ginger (Zingiber Officinale) is by far a winner in both the culinary and medicinal departments. The root, actually a rhizome, is what is used – gnarled and knobby, interesting to look at but without any “decorative” appeal. Nevertheless, Ginger is a valuable herb and deserves this year’s place of honor.

One of the oldest known spices, it has been a trade item worldwide for over 2,000 years. The uniquely peppery yet sweet flavor is enhanced by a lemony fragrance. No wonder it has become a part of so many culinary traditions all over the planet!

Ginger is native to southeast Asia’s tropical forests but is easily cultivated in the U.S. zones 9 – 12. The plant can grow up to four feet tall, alternating tapered leaves along its straight stem. Yellow and purple flowers may appear in Autumn, containing tiny black seeds. The rhizomes, though, are the useful parts, growing underground horizontally. New rhizomes are formed by sending up shoots. Ginger’s neat and compact size makes it ideal for a year-round kitchen herb  grown in pots, or started indoors in March and transplanted outdoors after the last frost. Plant the rhizome in loose, well-drained soil and keep it in a spot that has good light but not full, direct sun. Purchase the rhizome from a garden supply center or nursery, since grocery store ginger is likely to be treated with a chemical to prevent sprouting. For more details about growing Ginger, click here -https://extension.psu.edu/growing-ginger-add-a-little-spice-to-your-life

Adding Ginger to your diet can have many healthy benefits. It is closely related to cardamom, turmeric, and galangal.  Gingerol is the main bioactive compound in Ginger, which contains powerful anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties. It treats many forms of nausea, especially morning sickness or chemo-related.  CAUTION: women close to their due date or with a history of miscarriages should avoid Ginger because it may cause bleeding and clotting disorders. The pain and stiffness of Osteoarthritis, especially in the knees,  may be relieved by Ginger.   It has also been proven to lower blood sugar levels and improve some heart disease risk factors associated with Type 2 Diabetes. Chronic indigestion is another issue that can be relieved by this herb. Generally considered for pain relief, Ginger is especially good for menstrual cramps if taken at the onset of periods. There are also ongoing studies of its cancer-preventing benefits.

Adding Ginger to your diet is easy. Tea is the simplest way, or there are abundant recipes for tasty and nutritious servings of this versatile herb. Below are a few links.

https://www.thespruceeats.com/homemade-ginger-tea-3377239

https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/229320/malian-ginger-juice/

Carrot Ginger Miso Dressing (Oil-Free!)

Raw Gingersnap Cookies [Vegan]

10-Minute Vegan Ginger Quinoa Bowl

Carrot Ginger Soup

Each year, the International Herb Association chooses a plant to reign as Herb of the Year. This year they have selected the genus Viola for that honor.

If you google “Viola”, the actual plant’s identity may seem questionable. The Viola family (Violaceae) is huge, embracing flowers that are purely ornamental as well as native species that are useful to both humans and wildlife. Another question that may arise is how to tell the difference between Violets and Pansies.

All Pansies are Violets but not all Violets are Pansies. Both are in the genus Viola. Pansies have larger blooms that feature a central blotch of contrasting color. These are the flowers that appear in early Spring at every garden center in baskets and flats. Since they are the most cold-resistant of all flowers, even able to bloom through a light freeze, they are a good choice for early ornamental plantings, at least six weeks before other popular ornamentals. Unlike Violets, who have smaller flowers and include many desirable native wildflowers, Pansies were developed in the 19th century by amateur gardeners in England who were experimenting with the Violas known affectionately as “Heartsease”. These were especially popular in the Tudor period. When Shakespeare speaks of Pansies, he is referring to the Heartsease or Johnny jump-up, not the large Pansies we see today.

Pansy’s name comes from the French word “pensee” for “thought”. In the language of flowers, they represent loving feelings, but this may also refer to the ancestor of the modern Pansy, namely heartsease.

Unlike modern Pansies, Heartsease is tri-color, dark purple, light purple and yellow. (see the above photo). Instead of the characteristic Pansy blotch, they have narrow dark stripes on the petals that are nectar guides, to lead pollinators to their nectar and fertilize them with pollen from other Heartsease flowers. Then the pollinated flowers produce seeds to scatter and bloom the following Spring. Heartsease is a cool season plant, appearing in early Spring and fading away into Summer.

A sure way to tell the difference between a Pansy and a Violet is to look at how their flower petals are pointing. Four petals pointing up and one petal down is a Pansy. Violets have two petals up and three down.

Another common member of the Viola family is the Blue Violet which has small lavender flowers that pop up everywhere in Spring. These are native wildflowers and serve as host for several species of Fritillary butterflies and are also enjoyed by turkeys, rabbits, deer, mourning doves and white-footed mice. Fritillaries lay eggs on the leaves, which eventually provide food for the larvae.

Of local interest, the Viola appalachiensis is native to Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Maryland and North Carolina.

The Herb of the Year always has some medicinal and/or edible properties of course. Violas are useful in tinctures or extracts to treat skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, acne or diaper rash. Violet syrup is used for treating respiratory ailments and insomnia. Violets are an attractive garnish for salads, cheese boards and fruit plates, as well as soups, omelets, desserts and drinks. Always be sure to use pesticide-free flowers! Sweet violets, native to Europe and Asia, are used in the perfume industry for that distinctive violet scent.

Dark Moon today plus a solar eclipse escorts us into Yuletide and towards the longest night, Winter Solstice. More than ever this Yuletide, after months of history-making gloom and doom, our spirits yearn for the Light. Yet, more sheltering is necessary, perhaps even well after the Solstice, to protect ourselves and especially the more vulnerable ones among us.

The Four of Stones from my favorite deck, Wildwood Tarot, has constantly turned up in recent readings. It is both comforting and cautioning. Although, according to the interpretation given by the creators of the deck, the sunrise depicted on this card is Midsummer, it reminds me of the beam of light that illuminates Brugh na Boinne (Newgrange) on Winter Solstice.

Imagine yourself sheltering in the depths of an ancient cave while storms rage outside. The walls of this sanctuary bear ancestral symbols, spirals and sun circles, lit only sporadically by flashes of lightning. You lean back on the wall of stone, listening to the drumming of rain and hail on the roof, feeling secure with the hoard of food and drink you brought with you. Day by day, you watch a beam of pale sunlight creep slowly across the earthen floor. As it approaches your resting place beside the largest of the spiral carvings, you know you’ve weathered the worst of the hard times. Soon it will be safe to emerge and dance in the circle with your kindred and loved ones. Your heart aches to feel their arms around you and return those embraces once again. For now, you must patiently pass the time, day by day and night by night, watching for that bright ray of hope to signal a new dawn.

Even in these uncertain times, Solstice comes, without fail, right on time. May the return of the undying Sun bring you all joy, peace, and blessings of the Light!

It’s almost Autumn Equinox again, what many refer to as “Mabon”. Let it be stated first and foremost that the name Mabon only started being used for this occasion in the early 1970s. It was invented by the rather controversial but well-respected Wiccan scholar, Aidan Kelly (who also came up with “Ostara” for Spring Equinox and “Litha” for Summer Solstice) and was published in 1970 as part of his Pagan calendar. It didn’t start to catch on until four years later when it appeared in the widely-read magazine “Green Egg” and slowly crept into practically universal usage among Wiccans today. There are a few, like myself, who do not accept it and refer to the sabbat as Autumn Equinox or Harvest/Witches’ Thanksgiving. In Doreen Valiente’s book “Witchcraft for Tomorrow” published in 1978, she avoids the use of Ostara/Litha/Mabon and simply refers to the Solstices and Equinoxes as “the lesser sabbats.” To read Aidan Kelly’s own explanation of his re-naming of these sabbats, go to http://www.patheos.com/blogs/aidankelly/2017/05/naming-ostara-litha-mabon/

Still, there is something to be said for Mabon after all, even though he was nothing more than an obscure figure who appeared in the ancient Welsh tale of Culhwch and Olwen, part of the collection known as the Mabinogion. These tales were originally only fragments found in the White Book of Rhydderch (dated at 1325 CE). They survived in their entirety in the Red Book of Hergest (around 1400 CE). The text of Culhwch and Olwen, which is somewhat difficult to read but worth the effort, can be found at http://www.ancienttexts.org/library/celtic/ctexts/culhwch.html

I decided to re-read the Culhwch and Olwen story last week as a kind of Autumn Equinox preparation, just to see if perhaps I missed something about Mabon that would actually connect him with this season of the year. I still didn’t find anything besides the rather far-fetched but popular neopagan theme of a mother mourning her missing son (he was kidnapped when he was only three days old, the reason is unclear), which sort of goes with Autumn but there are lots of better known myths, such as Demeter and Persephone. In mulling over the entire story, something suddenly occurred to me that actually does make Mabon – as well as almost the entire cast of characters – shine as an example worthy of emulation. It lies in the special gifts owned by each member of Arthur’s war-band, including Mabon after he was released from captivity.

The story of Culwch and Olwen, in a nutshell, goes like this. Culwch’s stepmother wants him to wed her daughter but he refuses and so she puts a curse on him that he can marry no one else but Olwen. This is supposedly impossible since Olwen, a woman of mysterious beauty, is daughter of the giant Ysbaddaden Penkawr, who is also under a curse that he must die if she ever marries. For that reason, no one has ever actually seen Olwen and anyone daring to approach her castle meets with a dreadful fate. Not to be discouraged, and feeling powerful pangs of love for Olwen due to his stepmother’s curse, Culwch goes to none other than his cousin, Arthur, stating his predicament and asking for his help. Culwch names the warriors he wants for this difficult quest, an extremely long list that includes some of their outstanding talents, such as being able to communicate with animals, special weaponry abilities, superhuman speed or strength, and so forth. Naturally Arthur cannot refuse such a challenge. He summons his war-band and off they go to meet with Ysbaddaden so that Culwch can ask for Olwen’s hand. The giant is not so easily persuaded – after all, her wedding means his death – and he presents them with a series of impossible tasks, the last of which is obtaining a comb and scissors from between the ears of a monstrous boar so that he can have a shave and haircut for his daughter’s wedding. Ysbaddaden is confident that this will never happen anyway. Oh, and by the way, the only one who can hunt the boar is Mabon ap Modron because only he can control the only hound capable of dealing with the boar, and Mabon has been imprisoned at some unknown location since he was three days old. Good luck, Arthur and Culwch! Needless to say, each of the impossible challenges is met, mainly through the use of some special gift possessed by a member of the war-band, Mabon is eventually found, released, the comb and scissors are applied to Ysbaddaden’s shaggy head, and as far as we know Culwch and Olwen lived happily ever after.

So it occurred to me that the success of this quest would have been truly impossible if not for the individual gifts of each warrior – something that ONLY THEY COULD DO. Some of the names on the list are familiar to us today from Arthurian legend, such as Kai, and some are relatively unknown, which included, perhaps at least until 1970 or so, Mabon ap Modron. Yet each one distinguished themselves through doing something that no one else could do. The combination of these gifts is what brought the story to its happy ending.

The moral of this story is – at “Mabon”, Autumn Equinox, or Harvest Home, whatever name you may prefer, seek out your own special gift. It may be right out front, as bold as King Arthur himself, or it may be locked away since you were a child, like Mabon. This can take some time to discover, or it may be already known. As we enter the dark half of the year, the Dwelling Within Time, it is the perfect season for delving deeply into your shadows and questing for long-buried treasures. Every person possesses a trait that enables them to do something that no one else can. There are others who have the same ability, certainly, but what matters lies in the perspective of your own life’s present circumstances. What potential strength or talent is waiting to be put to use? It could be something as simple as controlling a dog (as Mabon did) or something as magical as casting a glamour. At the moment of birth, the stars blessed each of us with a particular weaving of purpose. That pattern is sketched in our palms, our fingertips, and our very souls. As we move from Autumn’s pleasant golden haze into Winter’s long nights, seek your true calling, your own special harvest, and reap the riches that you always had, your destiny fulfilled.

May all of Autumn’s changing colors bring you joy, peace, and wonder!

(If you’d like to follow Arthur’s trail as he hunted the legendary boar, you can find a map and other fun features at www.aattt.org.uk/index.php?lang=1)

This is a seasonal question that arises every September. Ragweed is notorious for sparking pollen allergies and has no other purpose that I know. Goldenrod, on the other hand, has many uses, most importantly providing important late-season nourishment for pollinators, especially bypassing migrators, when most of the summer’s flowers have gone.

It really isn’t difficult to tell the difference between these two native plants. Ragweed can be identified by its relatively ragged appearance. The leaves are ferny and the plant itself is seedy. It rarely grows more than a foot or so tall. Goldenrod looks much neater, with long, woody stems whose leaves are edged with small teeth and usually alternate, tapering to a point. Three veins run parallel from the base of the leaf, which has a hairy underside. Goldenrod stands much taller than ragweed. They can often be found growing side by side, with the ragweed closer to the edge and the goldenrod drooping its yellow blooms gracefully in the background.

 Goldenrod’s botanical name is Solidago which means “to make whole or heal”. It is a member of the Aster family and cross-pollinates easily, so there are over a hundred different species. When planning to grow goldenrod in your pollinator garden, be sure to purchase a native species, not a hybrid. Hybrids may be visually appealing but offer little if any nourishment for the butterflies and bees.

Its flowers and leaves are used to treat kidney, bladder, or urinary infections, stones of bladder or kidneys, joint pain, or hemorrhoids. The plant contains chemicals that increase urine flow and reduce swelling. People with latex allergies or allergic to chamomile, marigolds, mugwort or ragweed should avoid goldenrod . The pollen is not airborne (it is pollinated only by insects) and therefore is not a cause of respiratory reactions, but it can cause rashes and other allergy-like symptoms if not used with caution. Medicinally, it works like “water pills” so it should not be taken by anyone already on those, as well as anyone with a tendency to fluid retention.

Some “folk names” for Goldenrod are Aaron’s Rod, Woundwort, and Blue Mountain Tea. The plant is Airy and feminine in nature and ruled by the planet Venus. Probably because of its color, it is often used in money spells, and it is said that if it springs up suddenly near your house door, unexpected good fortune is soon to arrive. Supposedly if you hold a flower in your hand, it will nod in the direction of a lost object or – even buried treasure!

An interesting side-note: while I was walking in the woods behind the local park this morning, admiring the goldenrod (and ragweed) I found a neatly folded bundle of cash on the path, a ten dollar  bill and four ones. So maybe there’s something to the old folk beliefs about Goldenrod after all.

The first of August, or the full moon closest to that date, is when Lughnasadh or Lammas is celebrated. Many consider these to be the same festival, the names interchangeable. If you dig a little deeper into the origins of both, you’ll discover that this is not necessarily true.

Lughnasadh or Lunasa is a Celtic festival mentioned in one of the oldest Irish chronicles, Lebor Gabal Erenn (Book of Invasions). These writings date back to the tenth or eleventh centuries but were no doubt the recordings of more ancient oral traditions.  Lughnasadh is the funeral feast and games proclaimed by Lugh in honor of his beloved foster mother who, according to legend, died of exhaustion after clearing the fields. She is widely considered to originally have been an Earth Goddess.  The celebration, typical of the Celts, included games similar to the Olympics, as well as trading, contests of craftsfolk and artisans, horse races, matchmaking, and of course plenty of music, singing and dancing. A strict truce was in effect for the duration of the festival, which could go on for days. It is still celebrated in the Celtic lands today with many of the same traditions in the form of country fairs, visits to holy wells, and climbing hills to gather berries. The famous Puck Fair is probably a remnant of Lughnasadh, and if you look around you in early August you’ll find plenty of late summer community fairs happening, half-forgotten echoes of Tailtiu’s funeral games. With the early harvest of vegetables and fruit, it’s the perfect time to eat, drink and be merry.

Lammas comes down through the centuries as a similar celebration of early August harvest, but this name derives from the Anglo-Saxon “Hlafmaesse” which  means “loaf-mass.” It was originally a church festival where loaves made of the first wheat were brought for a blessing, with all due revelry.  Perhaps it has older pagan origins, although the name connects it mainly with Medieval times.

Over the years and especially in the last several decades with the rise of Wicca and neoPaganism, the distinctions between these two feasts have blurred so that Lugh is now connected with Lammas as much as he is with Lughnasadh – and, remember, Lughnasadh was intended to honor his foster mother and not Lugh himself! It is also doubtful that he is a “Sun God” but rather, with his Spear still a prominent part of his lingering lore, more likely associated with lightning. That is material for another blog entry, though.

Whether you celebrate it as Lughnasadh or Lammas, I wish you all the bounties and blessings of this first harvest!

 

 

 

 

 

In Ireland, the last Sunday in August is Bilberry Sunday or Fraochán Sunday, when everybody heads to the hills to pick bilberries. It’s a festive occasion for all, the youngest and the oldest and all in between. Bilberries are the Irish version of blueberries. The annual event is connected with Lughnasadh, the first harvest, the foreshadowing of summer’s end.

We don’t have bilberries where I live, but the Elderberries are in full fruiting so I’ve made my own tradition of Fraochán Sunday by harvesting them for elderberry elixir. The huge tree that I respectfully address as “Mother Elder” is about ten feet tall and perhaps equally as wide. She is absolutely loaded with berries this year, much to the delight of the birds and me. I’ve been watching robins, cardinals, mockingbirds, grackles, sparrows, even the occasional bluejay, merrily feasting. Sometimes its comical to see the larger birds try to maintain balance on the fragile branches while gobbling away. Over the weekend I harvested two bountiful batches which still left plenty for my feathered friends. I can only reach about halfway up Mother Elder’s majestic height and the birds prefer to pick from the top anyway.

Often when I harvest from my garden, a chant comes into my head. As I gathered berries, this little rhyme came to me:

O Mother Elder, thank you for your berries,

O Mother Elder, blessed be your Faeries!

Precious gems so dark and rich,  gathered by your grateful Witch –

O Mother Elder, thank you for your berries!

The recipe for the elixir I make is as simple as that rhyme. I remove the leaves and stems and wash the berries, then fill a mason jar about up to its shoulder. Mash the berries. Then cover them with ginger brandy. I like ginger brandy for this but any brandy will work just as well. Lid securely on, the jars get stored away in a dark, cool spot for about a moonth or six weeks. Then the mixture gets put through a fine strainer and back into the jar (with a generous dollop of honey) for keeping. Small doses of the elixir are powerful enough to stave off a cough, cold, or what-ails-you over the winter. For adults, two or three tablespoons as needed is good. It’s also safe for children, the dosage reduced to teaspoons according to their age.

O Mother Elder, thank you for your berries!

 

 

Now is the time when Fleabane is in bloom all across North America. Its familiar, cheery daisy-face with the sunny yellow center is a familiar sight in roadsides, meadows, lawns and gardens. The color of its petals ranges from bright pink to white. Many consider it a weed and a “bane” to their carefully sterile lawns, but I’m happy to see it gaining popularity as a welcome addition to gardens, and even being commercially cultivated.

Does Fleabane repel fleas, as its name suggests? This misnomer came from the old practice of strewing dried flowers on the floors of rooms where fleas thrived, which was generally everywhere. Fleabane really has no effect at all. The scientific name describes this plant more accurately as Erigeron annuus.  Annuus is for its annual appearance and Erigeron comes from the Greek words for “early” and “old man”, since it flowers earlier than most wildflowers, in early spring, and forms fuzzy white heads when it goes to seed while still producing new blooms. It is in the Aster family, perhaps surprisingly, since most Asters flower in Autumn.

If Fleabane doesn’t repel fleas, what good is it anyway? All parts of it can be used as medicine. The leaves and flowers can be collected, dried, and stored in a tightly sealed jar to be used for tea which can treat a sore mouth or urinary tract problems. A tincture of alcohol and water made with Fleabane leaves and flowers is an even better way to extract its benefits.

Root extract can work as an anti-inflammatory as well as treatment for coughs, colds, menstrual problems or miscarriage healing. Essential oil of Fleabane works well against fungus and eases itchy skin irritations.

DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT OR ALLERGIC TO RAGWEED, DAISIES, CHAMOMILE OR SIMILAR PLANTS. ALWAYS CONSULT WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR GUIDANCE IN USE OF ANY HERBS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE ON OTHER MEDICATIONS.

Aside from its herbal uses, Fleabane is a good pollinator plant, providing nectar early in the season. Crab spiders often prowl Fleabane, hunting for prey. It also serves as host to the lynx flower moth. Goldfinches, ground finches and sparrows love the seeds.

Even if Fleabane doesn’t actually live up to the name it was given, it is still a useful plant, worthy of our respect and admiration.

 

In these disturbing times of pandemic, separation, and mass graves, this prayer may be said for the departed and departing. It comes from Byron Ballard and can be found in her book “Earth Works”. She has just now suggested speaking the prayer each night at sundown, especially for those buried or cremated alone and without comfort. Please join us if you will.

 

You have come to the end of this pathway
In a journey to which we bear witness.
You have come to the end of a pathway
That is barred with a gate and a door.
May this door open swiftly and silently.
May this gate give you a moment’s grace
In which to rest your spirit before you venture through.
We stand here with you, as your companions,
As your family, for you are beloved.
But, for now, we must remain here.
We can not go with you to this old land.
Not yet.
For you will see the Ancestors.
You will see the Beloved Dead.
You will walk among the Divine Beings
That guide and nurture us all.
You go to dwell in the lands
Of summer and of apples
where we dance
forever youthful, forever free.
We can hear the music in the mist
The drums that echo our sad hearts.
We can see your bright eyes and your smile.
And so we open the gate.
We push back the door.
We hold the gate open.
We glance through the doorway,
And with love and grief and wonder
We watch you walk through.
Hail the Traveler!
All those remembered in love, in honor,
Live on.
Farewell, o best loved,
O fairest,
Farewell.

Every year, popping up as reliably as April showers and robins’ return, the question arises without fail: How to tell the difference between henbit and deadnettle, and does it really matter? The ubiquitous little purple flowered plants that emerge each Springtime in gardens, edges of lawns, and wherever else the soil has been disturbed are widely considered “weeds” and eliminated on the spot. For those of us who cultivate pollinator plants, however, we welcome both of these as early heralds of Spring.

Both henbit (Lamium amplexicaule) and purple deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) belong to the mint family, although neither tastes like mint.  They taste more like kale or spinach. Both appear in early Spring. They are in the category of winter annuals, which means that in the Fall they grow as a tiny rosette of leaves, overwinter, then form their flowers in Spring. After their seeds set, in late Spring to early Summer, they die away again for another year. The flowers of both henbit and deadnettle are double-lipped and tubular, on the characteristically square stems of their mint family.

How to tell the difference?

Henbit’s flowers are pink to purple with darker purple spots compared to deadnettle. The flowers are longer and more slender. Henbit’s leaves are round, crinkly, and scalloped with no stems.

Deadnettle’s leaves are purple at the top of the short stems, heart or triangle shaped with rounded teeth on their edges. The purple fades to green as they grow.

Both plants are important early Spring food for pollinators, especially honey bees and bumblebees, giving them a jump-start in March and April, before the bigger nectar and pollen sources appear.

Henbit and deadnettle are useful to humans as well. Both provide Iron, Vitamins A, C, and K, and fiber. Be careful to wait until you can readily identify deadnettle by its flowers before picking it because it can be mistaken for other plants that have similar leaves, some of them poisonous.

Henbit can be eaten raw, cooked, or brewed as tea. It is a digestive aid, especially helpful for easing bloat, also reduces fever.

Deadnettle tea is also a digestive aid, especially as a laxative. It can also provide relief for menstrual cramps and heavy flow. DO NOT USE IF PREGNANT!

Now that you know the difference between these two early Spring “weeds”, pass it on!

 

(photos of henbit and deadnettle from http://foragedfoodie.blogspot.com)