Friday, August 17, 2012

Make your own Candle Wicks



How to Make Your Own Wicks for Candles

Dissolve 2 tablespoons of table salt and 4 tablespoons of borax in 1
½ cups of warm water.

Soak a 1-foot length of regular cotton kite string or twine in the
solution for 15 minutes.

Hang each string with a clothespin for 5 days to be sure it is
completely

Use a paperclip to dip each string completely in melted wax 3 to 4
times, coating it completely. Hang it up to dry as before

Store wicks rolled up in a newspaper

Prosperity Pentacles

~Prosperity Pentacles~

· 4 tbsp. Ground Cloves
· 4 tbsp. Ground Cinnamon
· 4 tbsp. Ground Nutmeg
· 4 tbsp. Ground Ginger
· 3 drops Cinnamon oil
· 3 drops Clove oil
· 3 drops Nutmeg oil
· 2 tbsp. Gum Arcabic
· 4 tbsp. Water

Gather all of the spices above and mix them well together. Add the
Gum arcabic to the water and mix the two thoroughly. Once that is
Done, let that mixture stand until all of it is absorbed by the
Water. Add the spices to the mixture and blend well with your
Fingers. This will make a firm dough mixture. If this mixture is too
Wet add a few more bits of the ground spices. Once it is all mixed
And ready, take you hands and form this mixture into flat one inch
Circular shapes. With a knife or the end of a brush trace along the
Inside of the circle and pentagram onto each of the circles. When
This is done, set these in a warm, dry place to harden. When they
Are dry, you can carry this in your purse or pocket to promote
Prosperity. You can also place these on your altars with the
Appropriate incenses and green or gold candles. After about a month
Or so, refresh your prosperity by either burying it in the earth or
Wrapping it up and storing it in a safe place. Enjoy!

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Simple Healing Herbal salve & dehydrate plantain

PLACE IN A CROCKETTE ON LOWEST SETTING FOR 4 HOURS
- 2 Tbsp crushed calendula flowers
- 2 Tbsp dried plantain leaves
- 1/3 c extra-virgin olive oil
THE AFTER THE OIL IS COOL YOU WILL NEED
- 10 drops lavender essential oil or rosemary essential
oil
- 1-2 Tbsp bees wax
- 1/4 tsp vitamin e (2 capsules)
1. First, you'll make an herb-infused oil: In a crockette, combine crushed Calendula flowers and dried plantain leaves with extra-virgin olive oil. Leave uncovered, and on lowest setting for about 4 hours. After remove the oil from the heat and allow it to cool completely. Strain away the herbs through several layers of cheesecloth and discard.
2. Then you make the balm: To make the balm, combine the infused oil with 1 or 2 tablespoon of grated beeswax and put it into a small stainless steel bowl; set the bowl into a pot of water and heat just until the beeswax melts, stirring gently to help the melting. To test the consistency, insert a cool metal spoon into the balm and check the balm that sticks to the spoon; it should be spreadable but firm. If it's too oily, add another few nshavings of beeswax. At this point, add a natural preservative to your balm to prevent spoilage. Vitamin E, squeezed from capsules, works very well. About 1/4 tsp. (two capsules) to preserve this much balm. also add the Rosemary essential oil or Lavender essential oil now.
3. After you've blended in the vitamin E, transfer your final product to a sterile glass jar. Use a clean spoon or small spatula to transfer the balm to avoid introducing bacteria to the jar. How to use it: Apply the balm to rashes, scrapes, and other small or superficial abrasions (don't use it on deep cuts). You can also apply it regularly to help heal chronically chapped skin. Stored in a cool, dark place, the balm should keep for up to a year. Discard if it smells rancid.
4. To dry plantain in dehydrator or oven: plantains 1/4 cup water with 1 tablespoon lemon juice Thinly slice the plantains using a cheese slicer or cut into 1/8 inch slices with a knife. Combine the lemon juice and water in a shallow bowl, and dip, but do not soak, the plantain slices into the liquid to prevent the fruit from browning. Pat the fruit dry. Lay the prepared plantain slices on the tray in the food dehydrator on 95 degrees F and dry for 24 hours for chewy plantains or for 30 hours for crispy plantains. Alternatively, turn the dehydrator to 140 degrees F for eight to 10 hours. Use the oven to dry the prepared plantains by setting the prepared slices on a wire rack set on a baking sheet. Set the oven to the lowest setting, 150 degrees to 200 degrees F and place the plantains inside with the door slightly ajar to release moisture. Dry overnight, between eight and 12 hours or until the desired texture.


Notes:
This nice smelling salve soothes and protects cuts and scrapes. It is so gentle you can even use it on diaper rash. Herbs: Calendula (Calendula officinalis) and Plantain (Plantago major). Calendula and plantain are known for their ability to speed skin healing. Both soften skin, relieve pain, and are antibacterial. Calendula can be bought in any nursery also know as pot marigold. Plantain grows wild in your back yard or roadside.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

making Herbal Beads

Herbal Beads

tapestry or carpet thread (smooth, not fuzzy)
a darning needle
a button
a small knife
dental floss (for the finished beads)
a food processor or spice mill (optional)

1/2 cup flowers or herb leaves, fresh or dried
3-4 tablespoons all-purpose flour
water
10-15 drops essential oil (complimentary to your
herbs)

If you're using fresh flowers (or fresh scented geranium leaves),
take petals and discard the hard parts like stems and such. Try to
use only the parts that are aromatic. Process the herbs until they
are pureed or very finely chopped. The easiest way to do this is in
a food processor. If you are using dried herbs, process them the
same way or rub them through a sieve to make a powder.

Once you've pureed or finely chopped your plant material, begin
adding the all-purpose flour. The amount listed is approximate. You
will need more flour if your puree is soupy or your chopped herbs
are very moist. You may need less if your plant material is drier or
if you use powdered herbs.

If you use powdered plant material or if your plants are dry, you
may need to add water. Start with 1 tablespoon and begin mixing the
plant/flour mixture.

The dough should be about right when it looks like craft clay for
kids (e.g. Playdough). Add a little more flour to the mix if it
seems too soft or a teeny bit of water if it seems too stiff. The
dough will definitely be too soft if you pull on it and it easily
stretches like kneaded bread dough. I do most of my dough mixing
right in the food processor, periodically playing with the dough to
see if it feels workable.

When the dough seems right, begin by pinching off chunks and shaping
them into beads. You'll notice that chopped plant material will
cause your beads to look course at this point. They're still quite
attractive this way! Another way to make the beads is to roll a
chunk into a long tube or snake and then chop off bead-sized bits
with a knife.

The dough remains workable for quite some time, but if it starts to
feel very dry to the touch, it's starting to harden. Making the
amount specified above should keep them from beginning to harden
before you're done. If they start, try moistening the surface of the
dough very lightly and working the moisture in quickly.

Once the beads are shaped, you can add essential oil to them if you
like. Adding the oil sooner usually results in poorer quality beads
because the oil evaporates quickly when you mix everything together.

Once your beads are shaped, knot the end of the thread and string it
through the bottom of the button. Use enough thread to string your
beads with room between them for moving around as they dry. String
the beads carefully, being sure they have their holes where you want
them (some people may not want the hole to go right through the
middle). The beads will shrink slightly as they dry.

Hang the beads in a warm, dry place with plenty of circulation and
away from lights. It should take about 3 or 4 days to dry fully. The
size of your beads and the weather will make a difference.
Be sure to slide the beads on the string every so often tokeep them from
sticking together or to the string..

When the beads are dry, store them in an airtight container until
you're ready to string them together. I've found that dental floss
(not tape!) works best for stringing the beads together.

Other Hints and Tips

Dried, scented geranium leaves held their scent throughout the dough
drying process and required absolutely no essential oil.