Common Name: Pokeweed Folk Name: Pigeon Berry Parts Used: leaf, shoot/stem, root, fruit/nut Planet: Uranus Element: Air Gender: Masculine Medicinal Uses: Shoots are eaten after they are properly boiled for a long period. The anti-inflammatory root is given for swollen throat glands. It is purgative and narcotic, expels phlegm, soothes arthritis, kills sperm, and, with the leaf, treats fungal infections. Further research has shown that a component of Pokeweed is useful to the immune system and has proteins that inhibit flu, herpes, and leukemia. This herb must be used with care, respect and expertise because used wrongly it can be deadly. Folklore: The Declaration of Independence was written in fermented…

Common name: Star Anise   Folk name: Chinese Anise   Parts used: leaves, oils, bark, seeds   Planet: Jupiter   Element: Air   Zodiac: Pisces, Sagittarius   Gender: Feminine   Goddess/ God: Buddha, Quan Yin   Medicinal uses: The fruits and foliage yield essential oil for medicinally promote appetite and digestion and to relieve chest complaints, rheumatism, and flatulence. Japanese Star Anise (Illicium anisatum) has cardamom-scented, poisonous fruits, used externally in Asian medicine. Its flower lacks scent and the leaves are a poison.   Folklore: The seed and pods are used as a spice in Asian cookery, notably as an ingredient of Chinese five-spice powder. The Japanese Star Anise is…

This month’s herb is a special one, for its species holds two powerful herbs in occultism. Juniperus communis, or Common Juniper and Juniperus Virginiana, otherwise known as Cedar wood (Cedar for short). So as a special treat I will be posting occult correspondences for both these popular magickal and medicinal herbs. First up:   Folk name: Common Juniper Parts used: leaves, berries, wood, essential oil Planet: Sun Element: Fire Gender: Both, this herb has feminine and masculine energies Goddess/God: Inanna also called Ishtar Medicinal uses: The cones or “berries” yield brown dye and the antiseptic, diuretic, and detoxifying Juniper oil, used to treat cystitis, acne, eczema, cellulite, and rheumatism. Folklore:…