By Day of Greenleaf, Yaiyr
An excerpt from Day’s book, Magdalene the Wizardess
Notice below that when another student of the Magdalene, Nethan’el, asks a follow up question on that topic, she goes on to provide other important information, including a list of some key ways that herbs are used in Nasarean Magical Herb Craft.
Magdalene’s List of Seven Key Categories of Magical Herb Craft
[Nethan’el – a disciple of the Lord and Lady – asked:]
“Miriam, you listed fifty of the many herbs used in white magic enchantments.
In what ways are they used?”
Miriam winked at Negohah [the elder Wizardess in attendance] and said, “Properly, I hope!”
She then said, “Understand that though we have loosened the boundaries tonight, certain topics are the domain of The White Rose [The Order of Initiated Nasarean Wizards].
“You will learn many specific enchantments in your ongoing studies within Essene Mountain of Peace. And yet I recognize that this group is special: You are the companions of the Lord and Lady! So, I will provide a general overview in response to your question, though you must wait until you are an initiated Green Wizard to learn the specific enchantments. This overview will give you a general idea of the various ways we use herbs in white magic enchantments.
“Three categories of herb craft that come under the heading of Wortcunning, which is Herb Knowledge, are as follows.
The first is Food Herb Craft.
The second is Medicinal Herb Craft.
The third is Magical Herb Craft.
Green Wizards study all three.
Under the heading of Magical Herb Craft is found the answer to your question, Nethan’el.”
“In our Magical Herb Craft classes, the fifty herbs I named and many other herbs are used in the following manner:
1. Culinary Magic, which is an esoteric aspect of Food Herb Craft;
2. Herbal Seed Magic;
3. Herbal Fairy Powder Magic;
4. Herbs Mixed with Salt Magic;
5. Herbal Amulet Magic;
6. Herbal Talisman Magic;
7. Herb Bag Magic.”
Wortcunning is an old English term that we employ here to capture the magical spirit of the term ‘Herb Knowledge’. Wort is the old English word for herb and cunning stands here for ‘knowledgeable wisdom’. The term Wortcunning is preferable to the modern English equivalent because the modern has lost the traditional sense of the magical aspect of herb craft. Wortcunning is clearly inclusive of all the herbal lore, dividing it into categories such as Food Herb Craft, Medicinal Herb Craft, and Magical Herb Craft, which makes it the perfect word to convey the traditional meaning of Nasarean Herb Knowledge.
We have in recent paragraphs looked at Magdalene’s answers to two of the questions she was asked by students at that portion of the Green Wizards of The White Rose meeting that included some of the travel companions not yet initiated into the order (but getting close to being eligible). A third question posed to Miriam on the topic of herbs relates to proper dosage and includes essential information about only using strong herbs when actually needed. The question was asked by Miriam’s disciple Flower, originally from Ethiopia. In The Holy Megillah: Nasarean Bible of The Essene Way, we read:
Magdalene Answers Question About Proper Herbal Dosages
320. The next question was asked by Flower.
321. Flower said to Miriam, “On our journey to the wedding, I overheard you advise a woman to eat medicinal nettles for her condition.
322. You spoke about eating a few at first and then adding more the next time.
323. My hearing of that conversation has motivated me to ask the following question.
324. How does an aspiring herbalist learn the correct dosage for nettles or other herbs?”325. Miriam replied, “In regard to medicinal herbs and right dosage, I teach the methodology of My Mother, Zibiah.
326. The first time you eat or drink a medicinal herb, try only a tiny bit, even if others try more.
327. If you have no bad reaction, next time increase the dose a bit.
328. Always err on the side of caution.
329. And realize this: the best herbalists are those that do not overuse or over prescribe medicinal herbs.
330. For, lo: medicinal herbs insert a corrective vibration into our system when needed.
331. To insert corrective vibrations that are not called for by the current condition can actually throw the body out of balance.
332. Wherefore, the wise herbalist only uses or prescribes medicinal herbs when needed, unless that herb is a general tonic that will not create an imbalance when used in the absence of specific symptoms.
333. “This is a lifetime study.
334. Zibiah told me, ‘Miriam, tell this to your herb students: The best teachers are lifetime students.’
335. The main premise in determining dosage is this: Use only the amount needed to produce the desired effect, not a pinch more!”
