Giving and Taking: Honoring the Energy of Plants

Merry Meet witches and friends! I hope you’ve been having a wonderful week and taking good care of yourself since we last talked. This week we are all about honoring the plant and getting to know them better. Let’s settle in and learn more about our babies

We feed them, water them, talk to them and adore them. Having plants can feel like a very one sided relationship but it’s so much more than that. Many of us know what plants turn carbon into oxygen but how else do we exchange energy with our plants? Why do we need each other?

Humans and plants have had a symbiotic relationship for thousands of years. Through the practice of agriculture, we grow plants that can no longer seed themselves (partially our doing on a lot of varieties sadly enough), we protect them, we learn how they can grow stronger and help them to do so, and then plants provide us with food, oxygen, medicine, and help the climate. For people who don’t embrace energy practices, this is all they know when it comes to the relationship between humans and plants. Which is honestly no small potatoes I mean feeding the world and providing oxygen is more than enough reason to be avid agriculturalists but as Witches we know there’s far more to this relationship. I feel like Ms. Frizzle about to shrink you to atom size when I say that. Let’s go deeper!!!!

Humans and plants also have an energy exchange. This is so exciting because the research on this subject is impossibly fascinating. I’ll have a later episode on how much plants are like us. it’s a HuGe fascinating rabbit hole that I want to deep dive into to do the subject justice rather than just glaze over it. There is evidence showing their senses work much like ours (I envision the flowers in wonderland but in real life the roses are taking a whiff of you as you’re taking a whiff of them!) They have even more keen senses than an animal’s, they have social networks, they have memory and an auric field that can be photographed. I’m so enamored so we’ll definitely be coming back to this In the mean time, how can you connect with the plants in your life? Energy exchanges can be performed by brewing with intention, consuming, all the kitchen witchery, and giving energy to plants. When you’re giving energy to plants, you put your giving hand onto the plant, ground yourself, then bring awareness to your core, feel the warm energy and feed in through your arm, out your palm and into the plant. I like to do this when I harvest or a tree gives me a gift to use in ritual.

Another way to keep an amicable exchange with the plants is practicing responsible harvesting. Over harvesting is a massive problem for many plants and especially for some sacred plants. Before you ever take anything you want to ask the plant’s permission first. Connect to the plant’s aura and ask if you may harvest. I personally ask if they are willing to give a gift by allowing me to harvest. It feels more respectful in my opinion. Once you’ve asked, you need to listen to what you’re feeling intuitively from the plant. Sometimes a yes will come in a warm feeling in your body. Only harvest every third, leave the crown jewel, if you’re ever uneasy, then leave that plant alone. Do not wasting the gift of the harvest by not using, allowing mold to set in or forgetting what a plant is. Label label label!

Plants just like anything love gifts. When you harvest or exchange energy with a plant or tree, you want to leave them something to show your appreciation. Potential gifts for your plants could include: water, crystal, cornstarch, diy plant food, or eggshell powder.

Knowing how to care for your plants is the ultimate way to honor the plants in your care: knowing sunlight requirements, water requirements, what their native climate is like which you can find out by googling your climate zone, whether their leaves enjoy being misted or not, if they bloom and when because it can stress a plant too much if it blooms too often, when they need a hibernation period because plants need a break too are all important care information you need to know. Keeping a journal is the best (and easiest) way to keep it all straight.

DIY plant food

- equal parts coffee grounds, banana, and egg shell (nitrogen, phosphorus and calcium)

-starch water (cooled water that is from cooked potatoes or pasta)

-banana peels water (potassium)

-fish aquarium water (nitrogen and potassium)

-green tea: 1 bag to 2 gal only apply monthly

-molasses: 2T to 1 gallon water

Spell for growth:

Water your plants with sun (sunrise) or moon water (new moon) with clear quartz inside or place a clear quartz next to the plant(s) that you’re bespelling

“ Blessed sprouts and tiny seeds your bounty will sustain my needs, full and strong you now shall grow, ‘neath the sun and moon it shall be so. So mote it be”

(words from Witches of the Craft.com)

Speak intent to them daily and record their growth for your research and Book of Shadows

Herbs of the Week!

Marigold- not calendula but similar uses, masculine Sun energy, no deity found but it’s uses and associations would lend well to sun or underworld deities, named for Virgin Mary, death/rebirth, prophetic dreams, protection, because of their sun association they’re often used for creativity and warmth which is why it’s associated with the root chakra, good for warding off the evil eye and are often the flower used during Dia Los Mertos, easy going plant to grow and very forgiving, hefty garden pest repellent from bugs to bunnies. Marigold has many medicinal uses. Its anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities have been used for centuries to ease skin infections, ulcerations, bowel problems, hemorrhoids, and varicose veins. The herb is also said to reduce fever and treat indigestion, as well as help gallbladder and liver problems. This plant is widely used in cosmetics for its toning and soothing effects. Crystals that marigold would enjoy are sunstone, citrine, or black obsidian.

Henbane- poisonous plant, name means pig bean, Saturn and Jupiter association, water element, feminine, poison, wisdom, and bindings, Demeter and Bellenus, underworld contact in Persephone, used for spirit contact, love hexes, poison on weapons, sexual stimulation, a main ingredient in flying ointment (the ointment witches used to put on brooms),sedative, antispasmodic effect deters muscle spasms, used with urinary tract infections and kidney stones, nervous disorders and asthma, Crystals it would enjoy are dependent on use quartz for anything, smoky quartz for it’s grounding qualities, labradorite for spirit contact and add a black stone for purification.

As always we’ll end today’s episode honoring a Famous Witch in history. The practitioner we honor this week is:

Isobel Gowdie or Goudie or Gaudie

Isobel Gowdie or Goudie lived in Auldearn, Scotland during the 1500-1736 witch trial period. Her confession came in the year 1662 and since we don’t know how old she was, there’s no birth and death dates. She and her husband, John Gilbert, a cottar, lived around Loch Loy and they never had any children but she was still a house wife. Both John and Isobel were considered of low status and illiterate or generally uneducated as some sources say but in the records it’s said that despite this Isobel spoke with eloquence. I’m not sure if that meant she spoke with sheer confidence about utter bull or if she had formal education in the way of the day aka orally. We do know that Isobel was a Witch and she had a coven that met with some frequency. We’ll get to her confessions but what’s so bizarre is that she gave up these confessions with no torture necessary. Coven bonds are sacred and this was smack in the middle of the European Witch Trials, there was a hefty chance you and your whole dang coven would be killed so why she so readily confessed is a bit of a mystery. There’s speculation that is was because she was a part of a conspiracy to torment the local minister, Harry Forbes, who was a zealous extremist with a fear of witchcraft. I imagine him to be like the preacher in Season One of Outlander who was so snakey and sleazy because Claire cured the boy with medicine and told people to not rely on religion to fix a physical problem that ole homeboy turns around and makes himself a martyr at her her witch trial so that Claire will be condemned to the stake. Much like Father Sleazeball McSerpent, Harry Forbes attended every one of her confessions. He probably had to most likely being the only pastor figure in the town buuuuuuuuuuut I’m sure he and Father Fun Sucker had similar personalities. Just speculation.

Ok down to the good stuff! Isobel’s confessions.

There were 4 confessions in total and they happened over a six week period sometime in 1662.

1st confession: She named Janet Breadhead and Margret Brodie as coven members- did not learn snitches get stitches-, she renounced her baptism and happy handsome Devil popped up and claimed her as his. I’m interested to know if she meant the Devil we don’t believe in or Lucifer Morningstar aka the Fallen. I have questions. Hit me up! On second thought, do not hit me up. It’s Samhain season, the veil is thin, do not hit me up. Any way! Devil guy marked her as his by way of blood feeding from her shoulder and according to Isobel there was sultry consummations that took place after the blood. She describes him as very cold, he had cloven feet though he often wore shoes or boots so you didn’t see them (maybe she’s talking about Baphomet???). Isobel confessed that they stole a child’s body from its grave, spoiled crops, and naked dancing with her coven. They raided the cellars of the prominent families by riding spectral horses and going through the windows. Goudie had clay poppets of the sons of the Laird of Park to cause them death or suffering. Lastly and most fantastically, the whole coven was entertained by the Queen of Elphame (Elfheim???) at Downie Hill. I want to know ALL about this and Isobel gave a full account but the judge had the recorder write ETC instead of everything she said! The only thing that is described is the water bulls that frightened her. The thing that makes me laugh the most during all this is in order to keep her husband John none the wiser, she filled her spot in the bed with brooms

2nd confession: Isobel expands on the details about the coven by revealing each member’s coven or craft name as well as their spirit guides or familiars. She even outed her own called Red Reiner. She claimed that each coven member could transform into an animal such as cats, horses or in Isobel’s case a hare. She also revealed 27 benevolent and malevolent chants that were taught to the coven by the Devil. He also made them elf arrows that were enchanted by elf boys. Each coven member was given an entire quiver of them with no bow and instructed to use them by flicking their thumbs. These arrows were meant only to be fired in his name and the targets would instantly decease on impact. Isobel also revealed the spells they used to bring illness to Minister Forbes.

3rd confession: Isobel reveal who she killed with the sassy Satan arrows and expressed regret for doing it but then she ratted out her coven members and who they killed. Obviously she never heard of snitches get stitches. She recounted an errand she ran as a hare where she was chased by dogs. She talked about dining with the Devil, how he beat coven members, and their responses to that. I really think that was unnecessary but ya know. She finished it of by recounting more of her and Devil sexy times and described his genitalia in full detail. He must have something exotic going on I assume.

The fourth one was just confirming her other testimonies were. 41 people were arrested because of her stories.

It was thought that Isobel suffered from a condition called ergotism. Ergotismis the effect of long-termergot poisoning due to theingestion of the alkaloids produced by the purple club-headed fungus that infects rye and other cereals. The symptoms can include painful seizures and spasms, diarrhea, paresthesias, itching, mental effects including mania or psychosis, headaches, nausea and vomiting. Usually the gastrointestinal effects precede central nervous system effects as well as gangrenous symptoms but I think those aren’t necessary to our story.

We don’t know what actually happened to Isobel Gowdie because 90% of the witch trials weren’t documented so neither was whether they lived or died but most were killed and that’s probably what happened to her as well. Her memory lives on in novels, songs, plays, radios, and lectures.

I hope you found some inspiration and some knowledge you can add to your arsenal from this episode!