I’ve had a work in progress running for over a decade, I don’t often talk about it anymore because I purposely distanced my beliefs and practices* from the self I was working towards being. I lost a lot of myself in doing so, and am so glad to be finding myself again amidst my notes and files; in this day and age my spirituality really shouldn’t be an issue, anyway.

Right? And if it is… I guess it is. I don’t want people trying to force their beliefs and practices on me, any more than I’d want to force mine on them. Live and let live, from now on.

Years ago, I accepted a position at the content provider that shall not be named and ran a fairly successful little area for women interested in spiritual and magickal healing methods. Over time that job turned into others, and even more, until I’d developed numerous short courses for the ‘university’ side of their site.

When I left – and I did so with my rights to my work intact legally, if unenforceable – I began work to expand and build the two healing courses into one coherent piece. Since then, I’ve added the three Reiki courses as well, and with any luck Magickal Energy Healing will be released sometime early next year. In the meantime, you’re getting a sneak peek!

Each of these methods involves blending the herb with boiling water and allowing it to steep for a recommended length of time. The fluid is then strained through a fine strainer, tea-ball, coffee filter, or cheesecloth, and ingested or used in bath water. While throwing a tea bag into a cup and pouring boiling water over it is the most common and convenient way to make tea, working from scratch is part of the experience meant to calm and focus your mind.

Chai Digestive Tea

Chai is a spicy, Mid-Eastern tea which is taken after a meal to settle the stomach and promote digestion.

1 cup water
1 tbsp. grated ginger, fresh
1 Cinnamon stick
2 whole peppercorns
4-5 cardamom pods
1/4 cup milk
pinch nutmeg (optional)
honey to taste (optional)

In a saucepan, combine water and herbs. Cover and allow to simmer on low heat for eight to ten minutes. Add the milk, and return to simmering point for a further eight to ten minutes. Pour into mug and sweeten with honey; garnish with nutmeg.

Calming Tea

4 cups boiling water
3 tsp linden flowers
3 tsp chamomile herb
3 tsp passionflower
3 tsp orange peel
1/2 tsp stevia herb

Place all herbs in a medium saucepan. Pour the water over this and cover. Let the blend steep for 15 to 20 minutes and strain.

Glas Celli Meditation Blend Tea

1 tsp cut Mugwort
1/4 tsp Rose Hips
1/4 tsp Spearmint

Blend together with mortar and pestle, or the back of a teaspoon against the inside of the tea cup. Pour hot water over all, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

ierne’s Earl Grey Tea
Soothing, wonderful for migraine

2 parts loose black tea
1 part Wild Bergamot (dried, crushed)
1 part Lavender (dried, crushed)
1/2 part Rosemary (to taste, very little)

Combine in mortar and pestle, grind together gently. Add to one cup of boiling water, and let boil for one minute, or add to tea pot or cup. Sweeten with coarse brown sugar or honey.

ierne’s Earl Grey #2
A bit more herbal, but with a kick!

1 tsp loose black tea
2 tsp Bergamot
1 tsp Lavender
1 tsp Rosemary
smallest pinch of Spearmint

Blend together with mortar and pestle or back of teaspoon in tea cup. Pour boiling water over all, and steep for five minutes. Strain and enjoy.

ierne’s Lemon Chamomile Tea Stress Relief

2 parts Chamomile
2 parts Lemon (finely grated dry rind)
1 Whole Rosehip

Blend Chamomile and Lemon with mortar and pestle. Add to boiling water. Toss in Rosehip. Boil for a few minutes, pour into cup and let it settle for five minutes.

Cleansing Simple

1 cup boiling water
1 tbsp elderflowers

Steep herb in water for 15 to 20 minutes. Strain and enjoy. Elderflower properties cleanse the body of toxins and built up waste products.

Granny Martindale’s Poison Ivy Wash

This recipe was handed down from my great-grandmother. With children and grandchildren severely allergic to Poison Ivy, it came in handy in her day. I’ve since brewed up the wash for friends and family, although thankfully I am not allergic to the dreaded weed myself.

1 part fresh Yarrow flowers (or 2 parts if the herb is dried and crushed)
2 parts boiling water

Place the herb in a quart sealer, and pour the boiling water over it. Allow to steep at least one hour, in strong sunlight. A full day and then over night provides the best results. You can add 1 part Comfrey leaf if available. Strain. Use in a spray bottle, or by wetting a cloth and gently wiping the affected area. Treat at least twice a day.

Hope you find the information useful!

‘Til next week…

<3 JL * If you’re new here or haven’t figured it out yet, I am a polytheistic pagan.