Merry Meet all:

 

I thought I would post a little bit about some of the herbs that we hear about but don't know much about.  Feel free to correct me or add to the information I will give.  I will be using sever al different sources and will be sure to put them down.  I know that some of the lethal or poisonous herbs we don't hear or read much about.  But we see them listed in things and think Boy I need that in my witches cupboard.  For safetyis sake I don;t really ercomend you keep them around if you aren't going to be using them for anything or at least make sure they are well marked so that you do not accidentaly use them for what they are not intened for.  Also if you have doubts about an herb or it is in an unmarked container cause you forgot or thought you would remember what it was. Please , please throw it away.  It is better to be safe than sorry.  I have had to do this myself a couple of time so now I make sure all of my herbs are well marked.  So I hope this is helpful and informative for everyone.  here goes.

 

 

Althought mandrake is one of the botanical backbones of a magical garden, most people purchase the desiccated roots from the herb store to incorporate into their spell work, charms, fetishes and talismans.  Keep in mind that mandrake's fame comes from the hallucinogenic hyoscyamine, atropine, and scopolamine content which makes it LETHAL to man and beast.  The twelve inch long folliage is slightly pubescent or fuzzy and it growsin a rosette shape.  The leaves are at first upright, then later, they lie flat on the ground.  they have wavy or crenelated margins and the entire plant reminds one of a fuzzy, flattened head of romaine lettuce.  The flowers, which are produced in early spring, are upright facing, tubular bell shaped, and greenish white in color.  The deep yellow smooth skinned fruit is ovoid, and has a pineapple like fragrence.  Often called Satan's apples, they too are FATALLY TOXIC.  Although the plant is quite unassuming in appearance, it is the vaguley human shaped roots which are very similar in appearance to the unrelated gingseng root which have endowed the mandrake with eminent mystery and Power.

(taken from Llewlllyn's 2003 Herbal Almanac)

 

 

 

Alraun, Anthropmorphon, Baaras, Brain Thief, Circeium, Circoea, Galgenmannchen,Gallows, Herb of Circe, Hexenmannchen (German: Witches' Mannildn), Ladykins, Mandragen, Mandragor, Mannikin, Raccoon Berry, Semihomo, Wild Lemon, Womandrake, Zauberwurzel (German: Sorcerer's Root)

 

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Fire

Dieties:  Hecate, Hathor

Powers:  Protection, Fertility, Money, Love, Health

Magical Uses:  A whole mandrake root placed on the mantle in the home, will give the house protection, fertility, and prosperity.  mandrake is also hung on the head board for protection during sleep, carried to attract love and worn to prevent contraction of illnesses.  Where there is mandrake, demons cannot reside, and so the root is used in exorcism.  To "activate" a dried mandrake root (i.e. to bring it's powers out of hibernation) place it in some prominant location in the house and leace it undisturbed for three days.  Then place it in warm water and leave overnight.  Afterwards, the root is activated and maybe used in any magical practice.  The water in which the root is bathed can be sprinkled at the windows and doors of the house to protect it or onto people to purify them.  The mandrake has also long served as a poppet in image magic, but it's extreme scarcity and high cost usually forces the Magician and Witch to look for substutes: Ash Roots, Apples, The root of the Brony, The American May-Apple, and many others have been used.  money placed beside a mandrake root (especially silver coins) is said to double, and the scent causes sleep.

(taken from Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs)

 

 

MANDRAKE: POISON (substutute Ginger Root or Fennel Root) calling upon spirits, communicate with spirits, offering, exorcism, protective watcher.

(taken from Green Magic The Sacred Connection To Nature by Ann Moura)

 

 

Love and laughter

~Raveness~