S. Theresa Dietz - The Complete Language of Herbs: A Definitive and Illustrated History

A Definitive and Illustrated History

S. Theresa Dietz

Index of Common
Meanings & Powers

M y interest in herbs started in the kitchen with my mom, Virginia, and her abiding love and praise for all the culinary seasonings that flavored her food and our familys life. I expanded my early love of culinary herbs over time to completely fill a large food cupboard and an entire drawer in my own kitchen. My daughter and son-in-law, each of my grandchildren, and my very young great-grandchildren are all foodies or foodies in the making. Every one of them has a palate that appreciates flavors. When I started exploring the language that might be inherent in culinary herbs, in particular I was thinking of my family and myself, and wondering what I might find out about what we were already using to elevate the flavors of our food.

All the while I was researching all the culinary herbs I ever knew about, I was simultaneously discovering other herbs that I had not seriously thought of as being so fascinating to explore. These other herbs were far outside the realm of my culinary interests, which is why I had not considered them before. I had not even realized that they were in the realm of herbs. And yet, there they were, just waiting to be investigated.

For the most part, there was not a thing edible about most of them. And yet, their contribution to our existence has been significant, even life-saving at times. We, on this good Earth, are quite fortunate to have so many interesting plants growing somewhere on it. Some of them have been growing to be contributions to our desire for delicious flavors, true. Thinking outside of that small circle, in some instances, they could even be the entire meal. Extend the circle a tiny bit and they could be a survival meal in desperate times. Widening it more can include herbs for plain old-fashioned safety, such as would be included in the early stuffing used in a life jacket. Or providing the perfect materials to make an enduring musical instrument. All in all, moving wider still, the circle will encompass most of the herbs that have been used as healing folk remedies for thousands of years, and as the base ingredients for contemporary medicinal formulas used today.

Over time, medicinal folk knowledge might have been handed down to me or gleaned from the advice of those around me. In some cases they were, and I would not hesitate to recommend sipping a hot tea brewed entirely of sliced lemons when sick with a cold. And I saw with my own two eyes how raw onion slices held with socks against the soles of bare feet could work to bring down a fever. There are many other herbs that I have tried for whatever reason, and many more that Id be quite hesitant to ever try unless they were prescribed by a licensed physician. All in all, I just dont know enough about medicinal herbs yet. Maybe someday I will. I am certain that I do not know enough about the medicinal properties of herbs to seriously advise anyone of anything at all regarding them. So, I wont. What I have done in this book, though, is add a symbolic note when there was an herb that might be worth a further investigation of its inherent medicinal properties, on your own. It may not be worth the time to read another word about some of the herbs, although there are several herbs in this book that might be just what you needed to wonder more about, and that might encourage further investigation, so you have a point of reference for a deeper discussion about them with your physician.

There are also the essential oils. Not all plants provide them as we know and use them. Since I was still widely exploring herbs driven by my own curiosity, I made sure that I included the plants that do provide essential oils for whatever purposes they are utilized. I have and I use essential oils myself, so I have made sure I have included the plants that produced them. In researching these precious oils, I discovered much that I needed to know regarding what more these essential oils provide when I use them in my mist diffuser on any given day, for a plethora of various reasons. I knew that I was initially drawn to my wide range of essential oils based on my own preference for pleasant fragrances. What I had not really considered was, why was that? What was it about those aromas that triggered something positive in me? It was interesting uncovering the clues that led me onward towards the surprising answers to those personal questions. I also discovered how much more these essential oils can be used magically, for a variety of purposes I may not have ever considered.

Throughout this book I mention the making of herbal sachets to carry, wear, or tuck away in some particular, significant place. A magical sachet can be made any size, and either stitched into a pouch or pulled up into a bundle to be tied off to close it. Because it is an herbal sachet, a piece of a clean, pure, plant-fiber cloth, such as cotton or linen, is a good choice of fabric to employ. It can be tied off with a thin strip of the same fabric, or a piece of white or colored cotton embroidery thread. Most of the sachets that I have made and used for my own magical purposes are small. Most of them have been no larger than an oversized tea bag, but even being this small in size, they are still mighty powerful.

All of the herbs mentioned in this book mean something, and they just might have the power to actually manifest a magical effect if the enablement is, at the very least, a heartfelt wish. If you find an herb interesting, do take the time to do more research before employing it, keeping in mind before making that wish that it is important to know more about what you might be touching. Never touch a plant without knowing what you are getting yourself into. Some herbs, even in this book, exude such a deadly sap that just touching the plant can do grave harm. This book is merely a hint at which herbs are best to just look at. Any of these herbs can inspire the formulation of a mystical, vividly lucid, and very magical mental image of an herb, which can be utilized as a magical proxy. A sharply vivid mental image can be just as effective in a magical working if employed with well-focused intent.

As I mentioned in The Complete Language of Flowers, in folk magic the utilization of one particular plant over any other in any working is dependent upon the possible inherent power of any magically potent plant. Intuitively sensing which plant will create the effect you intend is part of the magic. Remember, too, the humble