Worts and All~SAGE, THISTLE & SOLOMON'S SEAL~The THREE Worts of Autumn!
By Goldie Brown, Airmid by Morgaine du Mer

Merry greet and happy Autumn, Broomstix readers! Your wortcunning friend, Airmid, is here again, ready to share some thoughts with you about Fall herbs. There is a long list of herbs that people think of when Autumn Equinox comes around, but Sage, Thistle and Solomon's Seal are my three favorites. All three of them give us what we need at this time of the year--strength, protection and wisdom. In fact, sage is at the top of my list all year. Why is it an Autumn herb? It's not just because its one of the most popular ingredients in turkey stuffing! Long before sage was a cooking herb, it was used for medicine--mainly as a cleansing agent or a diuretic. Folks washed their mouths with sage tea for stronger gums and whiter teeth. It is also an insect repellent, although it does attract bees to the garden.

The magical uses of sage can be seen from what it does as a medicine. As above, so below! Sage cleanses, strengthens and repels pests on a mystical level too. This is especially useful in Autumn, as we move towards the dark part of the year. Sage's cleansing is especially good for negative energies or leftover stuff you don't want around you.

A sage smudge stick!

Stalks of sage can be braided and dried to make what's called a "smudge stick." Normally we think of "smudging" as making something dirty, but the sage smudge actually makes things clean. NEVER do a sage smudge without an adult because it could be a fire hazard. One end of the sage stick or wand is lit until it glows, like incense, then the fire is blown out so there's a smoky smolder. It can be carried around (always with something under it to catch burning ashes--use a bowl, dish or large, flat seashell) to places in your home where there are spooky shadows, especially corners, windows and doorways. The smoke can be fanned out with a feather or fan. IMPORTANT: ALWAYS smudge with the windows open, fan the smoke away from yourself, and most importantly, be sure to avoid exposing pets, especially birds, to the smoldering sage!

My second favorite Autumn "wort" is Thistle. Everybody knows what thistles look like. It is easy to see, from their prickly heads, that they are ruled by Mars and used for energy and warding and guarding. Sometimes if you find a thistle that's tall enough, you can make a nice wand or even a walking stick from it. Any part of thistle, even just one or two of its prickles, can be carried as a charm for strength and protection. If grown in the garden, especially right by the door to the house, thistle will keep away thieves or other unwanted visitors.

Thistle protects and heals :)

As a medicine, seeds of thistle have been used for 2000 years to treat liver disease and protect the liver from poisons.

Finally, we have the beautiful Solomon's Seal, our last of the three herbs of Autumn. As Samhain approaches, we seek wisdom to reflect upon the darker and perhaps more difficult sides of our lives. King Solomon was famous for his wisdom, as well as his sorcery. In Autumn, when the Solomon's Seal plant falls off the stalk, it leaves behind a scar that looks like a magickal seal or sigil. Did the wise and magickal King Solomon put his mark on this plant to remind us of its powers? This knobby, scarred root can be carried as an amulet of protection, or placed on the altar to support success. It is burned when athames are consecrated. Any place that needs protection can be sprinkled with an infusion of this root. For ages, the Cherokees used the Solomon's Seal root as incense to purify their homes. It smells like popcorn, by the way!

The lovely Solomon's Seal...

The roots of Solomon's Seal were made into an ointment for healing bruises or swellings. It has also been used to help mend broken bones.

...and the equally useful Solomon's Seal root!

Stay safe, happy and healthy this Autumn. Until we meet again on Samhain, blessed be!

back