A Handbook of Saxon Sorcery & Magic: Wyrdworking, Rune Craft, Divination & Wortcunning - Alaric Albertsson 2017

Wortcunning: Herbs and Their Lore
More Magic Techniques

The Old English wyrtcunnung means “plant-knowledge.” The wyrt or wort can be any plant: an herb, a spice, a vegetable, or even a tree. Wortcunning is the knowledge of or skill of working with these plants.

Wortcunning is very similar to herbology. The two terms are often interchangeable, but where herbology (herbalism) tends to focus exclusively on a plant’s physical properties, wortcunning also acknowledges the spirit of the plant. In the tenth-century Nine Herbs Charm, each of the plants is addressed as a sentient entity. The charm begins with the sorcerer speaking to the herb mugwort, saying, “Remember you, Mugwort, what you made known, what you set in order at the Great Announcing.” The wording indicates a belief that mugwort can not only hear and understand the speaker, but that it has the ability to take action. It can proclaim or “make known.” Plantain, lamb’s cress, chamomile, and five other herbs are then addressed in a similar way. These plants are more than simple, organic ingredients; they are addressed as sentient and responsive allies.

Wortcunning is herb magic, but we must recognize that the Saxons made little distinction between what we would today separate into magic and mundane categories. Wortcunning is the use of plants to create an effect or a change of some kind. If an herb can soothe a cough it does not matter, from our perspective, whether or not somebody has come up with a pharmaceutical explanation for the effect. The pharmaceutical explanation, if one exists at all, is irrelevant because wortcunning uses an entirely different map of reality. There may be a pharmaceutical explanation as to why chamomile can help soothe a cough, but from a Saxon sorcerer’s point of view, the effect is achieved because the spirit of chamomile comforts and relaxes the lic (physical body).

When I say “a different map of reality,” what I mean is a different way of defining the world around us. For example, an acupuncturist and a cardiologist use different maps of the human body. Traditional Chinese medicine, the foundation of acupuncture, acknowledges an organ known as the triple burner. This organ is found nowhere on the cardiologist’s map of the body. This does not mean that one discipline is superior to the other, or that one map is “less real.” It certainly does not mean that people in China have a different anatomy! The extra organ exists because traditional Chinese medicine defines the body in a different way than anatomical medicine does. Likewise, traditional European healing has its own map and definitions.

Another difference between herbalism and wortcunning is that the former has come to focus primarily on the medicinal or remedial uses of leaves and roots. Wortcunning can and often does make use of herbs in the same way, since an herbal remedy creates an effect or change, but wortcunning concerns itself with a broader range of effects. It is as likely to be used for prosperity, love, empowerment, or protection as it is for healing. In folklore we see examples of wortcunning in stories of love potions and flying ointments. Wortcunning is used to create or nurture many different effects such as these.

Of the different wyrdworking techniques presented in this book, wortcunning requires the most in the way of equipment and ingredients. The rúnwita can get by with a set of runes, the galdre can work with no materials at all, but the sorcerer who works with herbs will need at the very least a mortar, a cauldron, a source of water and a source of heat, as well as the herbs themselves. Do not let this discourage you. You do not initially need as much equipment as you might think. Trying to acquire every possible piece of equipment at once is a mistake made by many beginners. I recommend starting out with three essential tools and build from there. These three tools are:

· • Your myse, or working surface. A myse board or cloth is advisable for most wyrdworkers, as few of us can devote a permanent table surface to our work.

· • A mortar and pestle. This is used for grinding and mixing herbal material.

· • A cauldron, by which I mean a pot of some kind for heating water. The archaic iron cauldron is unsuitable for your work unless you routinely heat water over an open hearth.

All three of these tools have been discussed in the chapter on tools, so I will say nothing more of them here. For a source of water and a source of heat, it is assumed that you have access to a kitchen. If not, it may be difficult for you to pursue any extensive work with herbs. Fortunately this is not an issue for most people.

More essential than anything else are your herbal ingredients. Again, do not make the mistake of filling countless jars with herbs that you may never make use of. Before you purchase or plant any herb, be sure you know exactly what you intend to use it for. After we cover the most common herbs the Saxons used, we’ll go over the different ways to prepare those herbs.

A word of common-sense caution: Even an experienced wyrtwita is no substitute for the advice of a qualified medical professional. If the Saxons had access to the medical technology we enjoy today, they most certainly would have made use of it!

Saxon Herbs

Witches and Saxon druids made use of many different herbs. Let us look at some of these plants and see how they can be useful in the practice of wortcunning. Most of the herbs listed here appear in one or more of the Old English charms.

Agrimony (Agrimonia eupatoria)

Highly valued by the Anglo-Saxons, the power of agrimony is found primarily in its columns of small yellow flowers. Agrimony drives away malevolent influences. The flowers can fend off the mare (a foul spirit that attacks people in their sleep) and induce a restful sleep if placed beneath the head. The simplest way to do this is to sew the flowers into a small pouch and slip this under the pillow, inside the pillow case.

When the flowers and leaves are prepared as a potion, either in an infusion or a metheglin, agrimony can drive away pernicious spirits within the body. The infused potion is said to soothe the stomach and cleanse the liver, and it can be used as a gargle to soothe a sore throat.

Sew agrimony flowers into a small cloth pouch and keep it in your pocket or wear it around your neck by a string as a protective amulet.

Alliums

This family of plants was important enough to the early English to warrant its own mention in the Alchemy of Magic chapter’s recommended list of magical components. The alliums include leeks, garlic, and onions, all of which share similar fiery, protective properties. It is worthwhile to keep a leek and a couple of garlic bulbs on hand at all times. I almost always have a few onions stored away as well. Thanks to technological advances in food preservation, it is possible today to purchase dried onion flakes that can be reconstituted easily in water. This is a viable alternative if it is inconvenient to keep fresh alliums. I prefer the fresh stalks (for leeks) and bulbs (garlic and onions), but I have used reconstituted flakes with good results.

Set out onions or garlic bulbs around the house to drive away hostile spirits.

Artemisias

This is the other family of herbs that was important enough to include in the third chapter. Wormwood, mugwort, and southernwood are the best known of the artemisias. The spirits within these plants have the power to drive away unhealthy things, and this includes flies and fleas as well as spirit beings. They should not be taken internally.

The artemisias are sacred to Woden, the magician-god who wanders the Seven Worlds. They promote visions and are useful for sorcerers who practice the art of seething (one method to induce trance states), which will be discussed in the next chapter. I often burn artemisia as an offering to Woden before beginning a divination session. Mugwort is said to be especially efficacious for this purpose.

Artemisias also have a reputation for stimulating the wód (inspiration) in a distinctly carnal way. Southernwood and wormwood both share this reputation. Placing some of either herb beneath a bed or just anywhere in the bedroom may arouse lust. Likewise, artemisias can be used in spells intended to nurture lust.

Betony (Betonica officinalis)

Also known as wood betony, this herb is used primarily for protective spells. The spirit of betony blocks outside influences. It was used by the Anglo-Saxons as a cure for elf-sickness because of its power to block the attacks of hostile Elves (spirits). Betony blocks dreams and visions that may disturb sleep. Negative influences may be blocked from the home by strewing the herb around doors and windows.

A potion made of betony leaves is said to be helpful in relieving headaches. Crumble the dried leaves and scatter them around the perimeter of your home to ward the interior from pernicious outside forces.

Chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile)

The power of this herb is found primarily in its small flowers. Chamomile, sometimes called Mayweed, is notable for its ability to relax the lic. The flowers are often sold in commercial preparations today intended to be infused into “teas” for relaxation. A stronger infusion can be used as a facial steam to relax muscles and soften the skin.

Chamomile also helps fortify and focus the hyge, the rational part of your being. The essential oil, while expensive, is especially good for this purpose. Sniffing the oil, as you would use smelling salts, causes the hyge to focus and to shake off distractions.

Cinquefoil (Potentilla reptans)

This herb was known to the Saxons as fifleafe, or “five-leaf.” It was one of the ingredients in a Saxon “holy salve” and continued to retain its reputation as a general purpose herb of power well into the Middle Ages. Its power is protective and purifying. Cinquefoil can be used in any spell for protection or purification.

Carry or wear cinquefoil in a sachet to ensure a fair trial. It has a reputation for eliciting justice.

Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)

Known to the Saxons as consolde, comfrey is one of my favorite herbs. The comfrey plant sends down a deep taproot, and so can be difficult to transplant. Once established, however, this herb will usually thrive for many years in your garden. Folklore says comfrey protects a person while traveling. I have heard that the leaf should be worn in the shoe. Presumably a portion of a leaf is sufficient for this purpose, since comfrey leaves are enormous.

A common name for comfrey is bruisewort, which describes another of its powers. An ointment of comfrey will reduce bruises and hasten the healing of cuts and scrapes. Be sure to clean any wound thoroughly before applying the comfrey ointment. The fresh leaves can be used as a poultice for the same purpose.

Dill (Anethum graveolens)

Dill exerts a general benevolent effect. It is a tonic for the hama, the protective aura, and is thus a defensive herb. It need not be ingested for this purpose. Wearing or carrying dill seeds and leaves in a sachet will strengthen the hama and unleash this herb’s protective influence.

The potion, prepared as an infusion, is useful both for soothing hiccups and for stimulating milk flow in nursing mothers.

Dock (Rumex obtusifolius)

Dock is mentioned in a tenth-century formula for curing the “water-elf disease” (wæterælfadle). This may be a reference to either chickenpox or measles, but we have no way of knowing for certain. In the formula, dock was to be mixed with eighteen other herbs. The complex herbal blend was then steeped in ale to produce a healing potion.

Dock root has been used medicinally, but most of the folklore that I have seen suggests using the seeds in spells to produce or increase prosperity. An infusion made of the crushed seeds can draw potential customers. The infusion is not imbibed by either the merchant or the customer, it is simply sprinkled around the merchant’s shop. Most people today do not earn a living by selling wares from their own shops, but a dock seed prosperity infusion can be used in many creative ways. If you work in a corporate cubicle, wipe down your desk with the infusion. If your career involves extensive travel, sprinkle the infusion over your car.

Elecampane (Inula helenium)

This herb was known to the Saxons as eolone. Another common name for it is elfwort. Folklore tells us that Elves can be found living nearby wherever the elfwort grows. This is reason enough to propagate elecampane in an herb garden!

Elecampane is a tall plant with leaves growing up to eighteen inches in length. But the power of this herb is found primarily in its root. A potion prepared as a decoction can help relieve phlegmatic symptoms (chest congestion, excessive mucous, coughing). It also fortifies the myne (emotions and memories) and can be used in love potions.

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Fennel is one of the sacred plants named in the Nine Herbs Charm. Its spirit is protective on all levels. The Nine Herbs Charm tells us that “the lord” created fennel and sent it out into the Seven Worlds. At the time the Nine Herbs Charm was recorded, “the lord” was perceived as the Christian god. In an earlier age, those who followed the ways of their ancestors may have believed it was Woden who dispersed the herb throughout the Seven Worlds.

Fennel was also used in an eleventh-century spell to protect cultivated fields. It was mixed with soft soap, frankincense, salt, and some seed taken from a beggar. The mixture was then rubbed into the wood of a plowshare. As part of the spell, the beggar was given a generous payment for his contribution of seed. The spell ensured the safety of the fields throughout the following year.

Fennel can be hung over doors and windows to protect the home. Along with vervain and dill, this herb has a reputation for warding against dark magic. Because of its protective power, it is often a component in healing potions and powders.

Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium)

As the name of this herb suggests, feverfew’s power is primarily what we would today label as remedial or medicinal. From the perspective of a sorcerer, it balances and focuses the lic. The power of feverfew is found primarily in its leaves.

Sew feverfew leaves into a sachet and wear or carry this to ward off fever. Eating three to five fresh leaves every day is believed to reduce migraines. An infused potion can be taken as a mild sedative or to help relieve congestion. I have heard feverfew described as a “protective” herb, but I do not think this protection extends beyond its ability to protect and balance the lic.

Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)

The Saxons called this herb hárhúne, meaning “plant covered with gray hairs.” Horehound’s wrinkled leaves have a covering of white or gray hairs that are especially noticeable at the tips. Horehound is found in the list of ingredients for the tenth-century “holy salve.” In addition to its general protective power, horehound stimulates the hyge. An infused potion is said to promote clear thinking.

The herb has a general soothing effect on the lic. Today horehound is best known as a treatment for congestion and coughs. It is often a component in commercially prepared cough lozenges. A potion prepared as a tincture or metheglin can help alleviate coughs and congestion.

Lavender (Lavandula augustifolia)

Nothing suggests the English countryside more than a row of lavender in bloom. Lavender nurtures harmony, and for this reason it is used variously in spells for love, protection, purification, and healing. The power of the herb concentrates in the blossoms.

When used in love charms, the dried lavender petals are often carried in sachets. These can be combined with rose petals or violets for a more efficacious charm.

The essential oil is now more commonly used to wield lavender’s healing powers. Mix seven drops of lavender oil with a teaspoon of cold-pressed almond oil (as a carrier) and massage this into the temples to help relieve a headache. Lavender oil diluted in cold-pressed almond oil is also a good blend for use in any therapeutic massage.

Mint (Mentha spp.)

The spirit of mint cleanses and revitalizes. Mint is fun to work with just because there are literally hundreds of varieties. This includes varieties of pennyroyal, as well as endless flavors of apple, lemon, ginger, and even chocolate mint! I have found spearmint to be the easiest variety to grow. Add it to the bath for a refreshing experience. Peppermint infused as a potion can help ward against pernicious cold conditions. Rubbing fresh mint leaves on the forehead and temples is said to help relieve headaches.

Mint is associated with prosperity. The fresh leaves are best for prosperity magic. If you have your own retail business, keep a few fresh mint leaves in your cash box to attract money. Or infuse the leaves for prosperity just as you would use a dock seed infusion.

Pennyroyal (M. pulegium) should not be ingested by pregnant women.

Nettle (rtica dioica)

Nettle is another sacred plant named in the Nine Herbs Charm. It is also known as stinging nettle because of the hairs covering the stems and leaves of the plant. These hairs have an irritant that can cause considerable discomfort, so the plant must be handled with care. Because the nettle defends itself so well with this irritant, it is a protective herb. In this way, it is similar to the sawgrass in the passage of the Rune Poem describing the mystery of the rune eolh. Wearing or carrying some nettle sewn up in a sachet affords protection against any curses or other negative energy directed your way.

Placing a bowl of cut nettles in a sickroom or beneath a bed is said to help drive away the malign influences causing the disease.

Wear skin protection when handling nettle plants. Wash gloves and clothes in very hot water to deactivate the nettle’s sting.

Parsley (Petroselinum spp.)

Most of the lore concerning parsley comes to us from the Greeks, but we know it was valued by the Saxons (who called it petresilige) because of its mention in Old English charms. The Saxons used it primarily as a healing herb. Parsley has a cleansing power. An infused potion made from the leaves can be taken as a tonic for the digestive tract. The root can be prepared as a decoction to help cleanse and remove toxins from the kidneys.

Plantain (Plantago major)

Plantain, also known as waybread, is another sacred herb named in the Nine Herbs Charm. In the charm it is called the “mother of herbs” (wyrta modor) with the power “to withstand and to rush against.” Here we see plantain as a protective herb. Carrying the root is said to protect against snakebites. This effect comes from the Law of Sympathy. Plantain’s tiny flowers rise up on thin stalks, resembling small serpents rearing their heads. This appearance gives plantain another common name—snakeweed.

This is a cooling herb. The infused potion can help reduce a fever. But I have found this plant to be most efficacious when the fresh leaves are used on external rashes or insect stings. Bruise the leaves to expose the sap and hold them as a poultice against the afflicted area. I used to have several bee hives, and I found that nothing took the fire out of a bee sting faster than crushed plantain leaves.

Raspberry (Rubus idaeus)

Raspberry was known to the Saxons as hindbrér, or “deer bramble.” It is one of the herbs listed as ingredients for the “holy salve,” suggesting the early Saxons believed this herb to have healing or protective powers. Because of the raspberry’s defensive thorns, I believe we can be safe in assuming it to be a protective herb not unlike the nettle, or the sawgrass of the eolh passage in the Rune Poem. As a protective herb, the branches can be hung over doors and windows to discourage malevolent spirits.

Of course the berries themselves are a delicious treat, and raspberries are cultivated commercially for use in many food products. Beyond this, it is the leaves that are most often used today. These can be infused as a potion to be taken by women before and during childbirth to fortify the womb.

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)

Indigenous to the Mediterranean area, rosemary was probably brought to Britain by the Romans. The herb was certainly known to the Saxons, who called it boðen. Rosemary has two qualities. The first of these is cleansing and purification. The needle-like leaves can be burned as an incense to purify an area before a spiritual ceremony. I often burn rosemary as I begin a húsel (rite of offering) to my gods. At one time, rosemary was burned in sickrooms to cleanse or purify the air. In the same way, you can burn rosemary before beginning any magic work if you have reason to believe there are negative influences in the immediate area.

In addition to its power of purification, the spirit of rosemary fortifies the myne (memory and emotional part of Self). For this reason, rosemary is used both in love spells and in workings intended to improve the memory.

Rosemary is well worth cultivating for both its beauty and scent if you live in a relatively mild climate. A tender perennial, it cannot survive harsh northern winters. It is still possible to keep rosemary if you live in a northern environment, but the plant must be brought indoors and carefully tended throughout the coldest winter months. Keep the potted plant in a cool but sunny location, water it sparingly, and take it back outside as soon as the danger of a hard freeze has passed.

Sage (Salvia officinalis)

Sage, in addition to being a popular culinary herb, promotes longevity and wisdom. Eating a bit of sage every day is said to increase a person’s lifespan. Indeed, there was an ancient adage found in some form or another throughout Europe, Persia, and even China claiming that people who grew sage in their gardens could expect to live a long time. It has also been said that eating sage every day throughout the month of May would confer immortality. All of the people who said that have long since died, so I suspect it was a bit of an exaggeration.

Nevertheless, sage is an extremely useful and versatile plant. If I could have access to only one herb, it would be sage. And that is saying a lot since I am very fond of rosemary, but sage has so many uses! Crush a sage leaf and use it to clean your teeth. You will be amazed at how your teeth whiten. The fresh leaves are also excellent for stopping bleeding. Crush a few leaves and hold them to the cut. The infused potion can be taken to aid digestion, soothe a cough, reduce sweating, or help regulate menstruation. Gargle with this infusion if you have a sore throat, or make a larger quantity to use as a rinse for dark hair.

Wear or carry sage in a sachet to help promote wisdom. I have heard this is most useful for remaining connected with one’s common sense. It is no accident that we call this herb “sage.” It can be a strong ally during those times when you want to avoid saying or doing something foolish.

Thyme (Thymus spp.)

This popular herb is indigenous to the Mediterranean area and, like rosemary, probably came to Britain courtesy of the Romans.

Thyme nurtures courage and confidence. A potion prepared as either an infusion or a metheglin can be taken to help overcome shyness. The same potion—presumably because it confers courage—can ward off mares, the hostile spirits that disrupt a person’s sleep. Folklore says that wearing or carrying fresh thyme will give you the power to see Elves.

Vervain (Verbena officinalis)

Vervain is another protection herb. English folklore states that it should be gathered at the summer solstice, but I do not know of any people who limit themselves to that one day. Despite its scientific name, vervain is not the same herb as lemon verbena (Lippia citriodora). Either dried or prepared as an infusion, vervain can be sprinkled about the home to drive away hostile spirits.

As a protective herb, it is also used in healing work to protect the lic. The potion has been used as a general tonic and to alleviate fevers and coughing.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

The leaves of yarrow can be applied to small cuts to stop bleeding, and it is generally considered a healing herb, but yarrow’s real power is to boost or improve the functioning of other plants. A live yarrow plant helps neighboring plants resist disease and can cause their flavors and scents to intensify. Yarrow also boosts the efficacy of other herbs when it is added potions and ointments. A simple potion of infused yarrow can alleviate cold conditions.

A few yarrow leaves mixed into a compost pile will speed decomposition.

If you do extensive work with wortcunning, these are just a few of the plants you will be using. All of the herbs we have looked at here are named in Old English charms, but I do not believe it is wise or desirable to limit oneself to these sources. Traditional wortcunning made use of whatever plants were readily available, and today most of us have access to a wide variety of herbs.

The contemporary spice cabinet holds jars of barks, seeds, and leaves that the early Saxons did not have access to. A typical spice cabinet will be stocked with herbs such as allspice and basil (for prosperity), cardamom and cinnamon (to arouse passion), and cloves (for protection and purification).

One nice thing about all of the herbs you will find in your spice cabinet is that they are safe to ingest. Long ago there were European physicians who followed a principle known as the Doctrine of Signatures. This stated that the shape and color of an herb was a “signature” indicating its use. In other words, an herb with a yellow flower was useful for kidney problems (because urine is yellow) and a plant with heart-shaped leaves was useful for heart conditions. You have probably noticed that this is essentially the Law of Sympathy applied to herbs. Unfortunately, many of their patients died because, despite the shapes of the leaves and colors of the flowers, the herbs used were often highly toxic. For infusions to sprinkle (rather than ingest) or for herbs used in sachets, the Law of Sympathy is a wonderful tool, but you should never, ever ingest an herb unless you know for certain that it is edible.

I make use of plants that grow naturally in the vicinity of my home. Some, like the purple coneflower, are indigenous to North America. Other species, like dandelion and lavender, are European imports. This is in keeping with the practices of early Saxon sorcerers, who used indigenous British herbs as well as imports like rosemary. Since this is a book about Saxon sorcery, I have not included any information here about Native American herbs, but there is no reason the aspiring sorcerer should not explore these species.

Potion

The potion, a staple of the witchy stereotype, is a medicinal or magical liquid. The early Saxons would have called this a wyrtdrenc and would not have bothered to make much of a distinction between medicinal and magical wyrtdrencs so long as the desired effect was achieved.

Potions can be prepared in four basic ways: infusions, decoctions, tinctures, and metheglins. Each process has its advantages and disadvantages.

The infusion is the simplest of these procedures. An infused potion is often referred to as a “tea,” although this term can be confusing. Tea is a specific herb known scientifically as Camellia sinensis. Although its leaves are infused to produce a beverage, it is the herb and not the process that is “tea.” Confusion can result when the term is used casually in reference to the process. If we say “yarrow tea,” do we mean a blend of Achillea millefolium (yarrow) and Camellia sinensis (tea), or do we mean a simple infusion of Achillea millefolium?

The infusion is a process used to extract the desirable properties from leaves and blossoms. To make an infusion, place a handful of fresh herbs, or ½ to 1 ounce dried herbs, into a large mug or bowl, using a perforated tea ball or basket to simplify straining. Put two cups of water into your cauldron and bring this to a boil. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and let this steep for anywhere from five to thirty minutes, depending on how strong an infusion you desire. Do not put the herbs themselves over direct heat or you will lose much of their power. After steeping, strain the herbal matter from the liquid.

The disadvantage of an infused potion is a short shelf life. Any of the liquid that is not used immediately should be refrigerated, and even then must be discarded after several days.

The decoction is similar to an infusion but is used for bark, roots, and other thick, woody parts. Chop 1 or 2 ounces of the thick herbal material and place this in your cauldron. Add two or three cups of water. Bring this to a boil, and then lower the heat and let it simmer for half an hour. If more than half the liquid evaporates as it simmers, add a little more water to make up the difference. As with an infusion, strain the herbal matter out before using the potion. This, too, needs to be refrigerated and can be kept under refrigeration for up to three days.

A tincture is an alcohol extraction. This has a much longer shelf life than either an infusion or decoction. The advantage of a tincture is that you can prepare it weeks before you actually need it. The disadvantage of a tincture is that you must prepare it weeks before you actually need it.

To prepare a tincture, begin by mixing 1 cup of water with 2 cups of a good-quality, 80-proof vodka. After this, put about 6 ounces of dried herb (or 1 pound fresh herb) into a wide-mouthed jar. Pour the water and vodka mixture over this. Cover the jar and store it in a cool, dark place for the next two weeks. Shake or swirl the jar gently every other day.

After two weeks, strain the liquid through cheesecloth to remove the herb matter. The resulting tincture can be stored for up to two years if kept away from heat and light.

It is best to extract a tincture from only one kind of herb. To create a more complex tincture, blend two or more tinctures together after completing the extraction processes separately.

Although technically a potion, a tincture is exceptionally potent. If taken internally, no more than a few drops should be ingested at a time. And of course, you should never ingest a tincture if you are not certain that the herbal component is safe and edible. Some people dilute tinctures in water, often adding a little honey to improve the flavor.

A metheglin is a less potent alcohol extraction, using mead rather than distilled vodka as a base. Mead is a drink made of fermented honey. The process is otherwise very similar to making a tincture. Place a good quantity of herb into a jar and cover this with mead. Use the ratio given above. Store the mixture in a cool, dark place for two weeks, shaking gently every other day. Whether you use a sweet or dry mead is your personal choice.

If you brew your own mead, you may want to experiment with adding the herbs while your mead is still fermenting. I describe the process of brewing mead in Travels Through Middle Earth, and there are many good mead-making books available today.

It usually is not necessary to dilute a metheglin, since it has a significantly lower concentration of alcohol than a true tincture. Nevertheless, this variety of potion is unsuitable for children or for people who have issues with alcohol.

Ointments

An ointment extracts the herbal properties into a fat. Ointments were originally made with animal fats. The Saxons used either butter or soft, fatty soap. Later herbalists used lanolin. The disadvantage of animal fats is that they go rancid. Today we have petroleum jelly (soft paraffin), a substance used in many cosmetics. Ointments made with petroleum jelly can be kept for years.

Some care must be taken when making an herbal ointment in order to avoid burning oneself. The petroleum jelly must be slowly melted in a double boiler. If you do not have a double boiler, you can put the petroleum jelly in a small pan, and place this in a larger pan holding a couple inches of water. The important thing is that you do not place a pan of petroleum jelly over direct heat.

After the petroleum jelly has melted, add your herb. About 2 ounces of dried herb works with a standard-sized jar (7—8 ounces) of petroleum jelly. Let this sit over a low heat for two hours. Watch the double boiler arrangement closely, carefully adding more water to the lower pan when necessary.

After two hours, remove the upper pan and strain your liquid ointment through cheesecloth to remove the herbal matter. Wear rubber gloves while doing this to protect your hands. The liquid ointment will be very hot and cannot be easily rinsed or wiped off if a drop spatters onto your bare hand. Pour the ointment into jars carefully but without hesitation. The ointment will begin to solidify soon after you have removed it from the heat.

Ointments extracted with petroleum jelly do not blend into the skin. They form a surface over the skin, holding the spirit or essence of the herb in contact with you. Because it blocks the pores, an ointment such as this should be spread only over a small portion of the skin. An ointment should never be applied to a burn under any circumstances!

Although not exactly an ointment, a cold oil infusion is similar in that it extracts herbal properties into a fat. To make a cold oil infusion, fill a wide-mouthed jar with your herb. These cold infusions work best when using leaves or flowers. Pack the herb into the jar fairly tightly. Then cover this completely with a cold-pressed oil. I prefer cold-pressed almond oil, as it is a light oil that accepts the spirit of the herb well. Cover the jar, put it on a sunny windowsill and leave it there for several weeks. Although you should usually try to keep your herbs away from light, which causes their essence to break down, this is one procedure where bright light facilitates the infusion. Essentially you are using light much in the way heat is used in an ordinary water infusion, or “tea.”

After several weeks, strain the oil through cheesecloth to remove the herbal matter. For a stronger oil, repeat the process again using fresh herbs and covering them with your infused oil. After creating your cold oil infusion you will want to keep it away from light and heat as you would any other herbal preparation. A cold infusion can be kept for a year or more if stored properly.

As with everything else associated with wortcunning, exert some restraint regarding these preparations. When you first start working with herbs, you can usually rely on ordinary infused or decocted potions. If you find yourself using an herb again and again for the same purpose, you might then consider preparing a tincture or ointment.

A sorcerer who specializes in wortcunning may eventually build up a supply of various metheglins, ointments, and oils. In the final chapter, we will discuss how a wyrtwita might develop his or her cræft. When you do make herbal potions and ointments, do not hesitate to use your other arts to enhance their efficacy. Galdor may be chanted while grinding your herbs, heating water, and bottling potions. Runes can be marked over the preparations or inscribed on their containers to imbue them with specific influences. The rune ur, for example, is usually appropriate for enhancing herbal preparations intended to fortify or empower a person. Using your telga, mark the rune over the potion or ointment as you recite from the Rune Poem, “The aurochs is brave and has horns above. The fierce beast fights with its horns, this great wanderer of the moors, this proud creature.” You may have noticed that I have paraphrased this slightly to give it more power as an incantation.

As a Saxon sorcerer, you should not hesitate to weave your skills together like this.

Growing Your Own

You can obtain your herbs from a number of sources. The most convenient, perhaps, is your local supermarket. From a non-culinary perspective, the selection is limited, but you will find leeks, garlic, sage, dill, fennel, parsley, rosemary, and other useful herbs in the vegetable and spice aisles. Other than leeks and garlic, you will also pay a premium price for a teeny bottle of dried herb.

If you are lucky, there may be a nearby retailer specializing in herbs. An herb shop will usually have a greater variety of herbs available for a lower cost per ounce. The proprietor probably has considerable knowledge of herbs and their uses. Even if his or her knowledge of the magical properties of herbs is limited, a proprietor of an herb shop is usually well versed in the remedial and cosmetic uses of plants. An herb shop is also a good place to acquire some of the equipment you will eventually need if you intend to make extensive use of wortcunning. If an herb shop does not carry mortars or cheesecloth or ointment jars, the proprietor or a clerk may be able to suggest where you can purchase such items.

In this day and age, there are many Internet companies offering dried herbs. Finding these can be tricky, because many of the companies offering “herbs” are marketing their own commercial preparations. Of course, there is nothing wrong with commercial preparations if they are suited to your needs. But if you just want the herbs and not the preparations, typing the words dried bulk herb retailers into your search engine should bring up lists of online companies offering herbs that you can use in your art.

There will be times when it is prudent to purchase your herbs from a supplier, whether your source is the supermarket, a local herb shop, or the Internet. But if it is at all possible, I strongly encourage anyone with an ardent interest in wortcunning to consider growing at least some of his or her own herbs. There are multiple benefits to this. The first is the obvious advantage of knowing exactly how fresh your herbs are. Herbs on a supermarket shelf may be months old at the time of purchase. Herb shops—whether with a storefront or on the Internet—have a stronger incentive for offering fresh product since herbs are the foundation of their business. Still, the only way to know for certain when your herbs were harvested is to grow them yourself.

Growing your own herbs will also help you connect with your “good neighbors”—the Elves who dwell unseen in the world around you. While this may appear on the surface to fall under the domain of spirituality rather than magic, it does not hurt to build good relationships with the local spirits. Many Elves concern themselves with the growth of herbs, grasses, shrubs, and trees. Sharing in this interest will attract their attention and, hopefully, their good will.

If you have no connection with them, Elves are not necessarily well meaning. I do not understand why people who understand that mortal men are not always benevolent and that animals are not inevitably harmless, believe that every spirit around them is friendly. This is not always so. As with incarnate spirits—men and women and animals—friendship and trust with the Elves must be earned. And why would anyone not want to develop friendly alliances with the spirits around us? Connecting with the local Elves by working with them in a congenial way may alleviate some problems in your life before they even arise.

Those who work a lot with wortcunning are more likely than other sorcerers to develop strong alliances with the Elves. Some of these entities are the spirits of the plants themselves. The early Saxons knew of the wuduælfen, or tree spirit, known to the Greeks as a dryad. Moss wives (móswífes) are the spirits of the bog plants that die back every year. Every plant has its own mód, its own spirit, that responds to the surrounding environment. Sorcerers who connect with these spirits find that they can be useful allies and mentors.

Digging in the soil and working with your growing plants may also draw the favor of greater spirits. Some of the Saxon gods are sovereign over horticulture and may take an interest in your activities. Thunor, known to the Scandinavians as Thor, is known for his association with thunder and the weather, but many people do not realize this is directly related to his interest in the activities and well-being of farmers. Thunor is the Great Protector, and throughout much of human history, few things needed protection more than a tribe’s annual crops. It was believed at one time that Thunor’s rolling thunder caused grain to ripen.

The Lord of the Elves, Ing Fréa, known to the Scandinavians as Freyr, also takes a keen interest in green growing things, both cultivated and wild. He is the same Ing described in the twenty-second passage of the Rune Poem. Ing’s beloved consort, the Ettin-maid Gearde, is sovereign over gardens and cultivated fields.

Growing your own herbs is not difficult. Many herbs are amazingly easy to grow; some as easy to grow as weeds. Some, like dandelion and plantain, literally ARE weeds! If you have a sunny spot in your yard or on a patio, you can grow herbs. Annuals like basil and dill are simple to grow from seed, while perennials can provide you with years of fresh herbal material for very little work on your part.

The following plants make a nice, small wyrtbedd (herb bed) of traditional Saxon herbs:

· • dill

· • parsley

· • spearmint

· • sage

· • mugwort

· • yarrow

· • comfrey

All of these plants are relatively easy to grow. Keep in mind that the comfrey will grow quite large and, with a taproot reaching down ten feet or more, it can be difficult to move once established. Be sure it has plenty of space. A rosemary bush makes a nice addition to this collection if you live in a mild climate. If your winters are cold, you can still set a pot of rosemary out in the garden, but you will need to bring it inside before the first hard freeze.

Growing your own herbs will give you an awareness of the seasonal cycles. You will gain a renewed appreciation of Sunne, the sun goddess, and the moon god Mona. You will become more attuned to the natural forces: wind, sunlight, and rain.

Even if you do not have a yard or balcony, you can still grow a few herbs on a sunny windowsill. Sage, creeping thyme, basil, spearmint, and parsley are a few of the herbs that can be successfully grown indoors if given sufficient sunlight. In my experience, indoor herbs tend to do better when grouped closely together. I do not know why; perhaps it satisfies their social needs. Whether indoors or on a patio, give your herbs the largest pots you can manage. Large pots give your plants more room to stretch their roots. They also allow for a greater margin of error. A large pot of soil is less likely to become severely over-watered, dried out, or depleted of its nutrients. That is not to say these things cannot happen in a large pot, but it takes more negligence on your part. And nobody can hover over his or her plants every hour of the day, so give both yourself and your plants some leeway and plant them in large, deep pots.

When setting up a witch’s garden—whether in your yard, on a balcony, or on a windowsill—take the moon into consideration when planting seeds or setting out young plants. The god Mona governs the rhythm of life: the tides, the menstrual cycle, and the growth of plants. Seeds should be planted and young plants set out when the moon is waxing, growing from dark to full. The exceptions are root crops, plants whose valued gifts are tubers and roots that develop underground. Root crops should be planted in the third quarter of the moon, after it begins to diminish but before it is half dark. Very few plants used in wortcunning are of this nature, although elecampane and some of the alliums are notable exceptions.

We have looked at several traditional modalities, or cræftes, for working magic. In the next chapter we will explore the skill of knowing when to reweave the web of wyrd.

Review

1. Describe two uses for comfrey.

2. In the tenth century, dock was used in a charm to prevent the water-elf disease. What other, non-medicinal effect do sorcerers sometimes use it for today?

3. What is the difference between an infusion and a decoction?

4. What substances did the early Anglo-Saxons use as base materials for making ointments? What is the primary disadvantage of these substances?

5. Describe the process of creating a cold oil infusion.