The Druidic College

Summer’s blaze singes spring’s tender leaves. Beneath the summer skies the season is changing. The air is crisp with fresh cool breeze. Red berries ripen weighing on branches. Sweet and ripe upon the vine, Ancient fruits of wisdom turn to wine.

Summer rays fade as cobwebs gather. Autumn leaves change.

Yule is an Old Norse word, which literally mean “Wheel.” For the Norse, Celtic and Roman Pagans this was a time when the Goddess turned “The Wheel of the Year” to its beginning point, the “New Year.” The tarot card “Wheel of Fortune” is linked astrologically to the Tropic of Capricorn, when the sun reaches the lowest point of the year, Yule - the Winter Solstice. The Wheel represents a cyclic time, the year and its seasons.

Many decks show the Wheel of Fortune with a crank.

Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger, Linn.) a member of the Solanaceae family, to which belong the Potato, Tobacco and Tomato, and Belladonna. This herb is called "Black Henbane" because its flowers have heavy purple veining. This herb is also known by its scientific name 'Hyoscyamos', which translates as 'Hogbean'. Some think this may possibly be an altered form of ‘Dioscyamos’ that translates as 'Divine Bean' or ‘God’s Bean’. According to Dioscorides, the Celts too considered the plant sacred to their God of prophecy. They called it 'Belenuntia', herb of Bel, which still echoes in 'Beleño', the Spanish name for Henbane.

Cultivated by the Egyptians, Greeks, Hindus and Arabs, Calendula (Marigold) grew in European gardens and has been used medicinally since the 12th century. Its name comes from the Latin word, calends, the first day of every month, because of its long flowering period. It is important to note, however, that not all household plants called marigold are members of the calendula family.

The philosophy of tinctures is to capture the spiritual and physical essence of the plant. Tinctures have proven to be more powerful and longer lasting than dried herbs. What are tinctures? A tincture is a liquid herbal extract made by soaking herbs in solvents such as pure grain alcohol or vodka, which helps extract the active constituents from the herbs. The liquid is then pressed out and the herbs discarded. A tincture can be made of one herb or a combination of herbs. Alcohol helps to preserve the benefits of the herbs, so you can keep tinctures or extracts in your medicine cabinet for a long period of time. Tinctures will keep up to three years and keep their potency if stored properly. They should always be protected from light.

Once you have decided what kind of a tincture you want, there are several items that you will need to gather. First you need either powdered herbs or cut and sifted as much as possible, or fresh cut herbs. Vodka, brandy or rum, 80-100 proof to cover the herbs. Mason jars with lids. Muslin or Cheesecloth that is unbleached.

In the ancient days, our ancestors revered the Vernal Equinox as a time when the young Solar God awakens the Earth Goddess. She begins her cycle of fertility, her womb swells, feeding and nourishing the plants and animals. There are many myths abound concerning the return of spring as our pastoral ancestors celebrated the “rising of the sap” after a long winter of hibernation, and the return of the fruitfulness of the earth and the rebirth of their livestock.

The botanical name Rosmarinus is derived from the old Latin for 'dew of the sea', a reference to its pale blue dew-like flowers and the fact that it is often grown near the sea.

Several studies done in the last several years show that oil from the leaves of the very plant sold as a spice for flavoring can help prevent the development of cancerous tumors in laboratory animals.

Rosemary was once considered as one of the great cure-all herb. Pliny mentioned it for its medicinal and cosmetic powers and early Arab physicians revered it.

Mentha x piperita
Family: Lamiaceae (Labiatae)

Peppermint is one of the most popular herbs used today. The word mint usually invokes visions of candy canes hanging in Yule trees or chewing gums. A summer-growing, perennial aromatic herb, peppermint is a hybrid of Mentha spicata (spearmint) and M. aquatica (watermint). The plant grows wild throughout Europe and North America in moist areas and is thought to be of Mediterranean origin. The leaves and stems of peppermint contain volatile oils that give the plant its pungent fragrance and taste. The oil contains menthol, which is responsible for the sensation of coolness that is characteristic of peppermint. The name peppermint is from the species name piperita meaning “peppery,” which distinguishes peppermint from other mints.

In China, St. John’s wort where it has been listed for thousands of years in that country’s highly esteemed herbal pharmacopoeia, is known as Qian Ceng Lou. The historical use of medical St. Johnswort has been documented dating back to 400 B.C. in Greece and Rome. The ancient Greeks and Romans noted that St. John’s wort was used for snake or reptile bites, menstrual cramping, gastrointestinal distress, ulcers, depression or melancholy, superficial wounds, or sciatica. Other uses of the herb extended into the spiritual or mystical realm.

The Sky is infinite-never ending. It meets the earth upon which we stand. Wave your arms you are touching the Sky. The wind is the Sky in movement. You can feel it on your skin. Sometimes the Sky is cool and sometimes it is warm, quiet and light. When the Sky is balmy the Sun has warmed it. During the day the Sun is visible to us sighted ones. The Sun is a large ball of fire thousands of miles from the Earth out in the Sky. The Sun is fiery orange yellow. Orange Yellow can be described as hot, sizzling, or warm. The Sky is light.