Transitioning from Autumn to Winter: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Pale Misfeature

Keats described each season in his poetic works, referring to winter as a time of "pale misfeature," which refers to winter as a time of death or old age. It is often used in poetry as a metaphor to describe the deterioration that comes at the end of life, which is exactly what winter is. As the sun begins to fade in the sky and darkness strengthens its hold, the temperatures cool, the plants die or go dormant, and many animals hunker down, hiding from sight. To the untrained eye, it appears we are surrounded by death, but hiding under the mask is a sea of life resting and waiting to be reborn in spring. Winter is a time of rest and rejuvenation, a time to care for ourselves and our families to prepare for the coming spring. Self-care is of the utmost importance. The idea that we should continue to hustle and bustle is modern capitalism convincing us we are all lazy if we take a break. Winter reminds us to slow down and rest because there can be no spring without rest. This makes it a great time to work with plant allies to heal and rejuvenate your body, mind, and spirit for the changes ahead as well as get in touch with the magic of the season.

In today's post, I offer 3 herbal recipes to aid your transition from autumn to winter. These recipes can be used to create a variety of remedies including salves, oxymels, steams, baths, tisanes (teas), or tinctures. It's completely up to you how to use these recipes, but I encourage you to consult with the spirits of the plants, your intuition, and even your ancestors or spiritual guides to determine which preparation method is best for you. While taking it as a tisane may be best for me, you may need to use it as a steam.

For Achy Bones and a Weary Soul

The older I get, the more tired I feel come winter. The cold brings on new aches and pains, flaring old injuries. It also means the end of the semester at work, and therefore state-mandated testing. It's always a spring to the finish line, and it leaves me a little worse for wear each year. This recipe combines peppermint (Mentha piperita), turmeric (Curcuma longa), cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum), and black pepper (Piper nigrum) to create a remedy to soothe those achy bones and uplift your spirits, just in time for the holiday season! 

This remedy should be taken internally only. Do not attempt to turn it into a salve or other topical treatment.

2 parts peppermint

1/4 part turmeric

1/4 part cinnamon

1/8 part black pepper

optional: if taken as a tea, add honey for an extra boost; as a tincture, add 1/4 part white willow bark

For Warming the Chill

Sometimes, no matter what we do, we can't seem to get warm, I am not just talking physically. Sometimes our minds are slow and sluggish, making it difficult to complete much-needed tasks. Other times our bodies feel worn and tired, leaving us feeling chilly, even though the house is warm. Maybe you or a loved one have been standoffish or otherwise less than merry recently. This remedy is for all the chill you may feel, physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually. It's sure to raise your spirits and keep that coming winter chill at bay. Ginger (Zingiber officinale) and cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum) are both very well known for their warming properties, helping to aid in digestion and promote circulation. Orange (Citrus sinensis) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) are both powerful mood elevators. When combined with a hint of black pepper (Piper nigrum) this remedy is sure to leave you feeling merry and bright!

This remedy should be taken internally only. Do not attempt to turn it into a salve or other topical treatment.

2 part American ginseng

1 part ginger

1/2 part cinnamon

1 part orange peel

1/4 part black pepper

For Letting Go of the Past

As the seasons shift, it can be difficult to let go. Many of us continue to be stuck in previous seasons, dreaming of warmer weather, what our life used to be like, and even how much we wish the holidays were like they used to be; family and friends gathered around the table, just happy to see each other; sales that were actually sales on Black Friday; holiday decorations that weren't a bunch of cheap inflatables...I'm not talking about me at all here, am I? Haha! Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) helps with feelings of disconnection and overthinking, helping clear the way for new possibilities. Rose (Rosa spp.) opens the heart and staves off grief and depression allowing new opportunities of love and appreciation to take root, while peppermint (Mentha piperita) uplifts the spirit, and passion flower (Passiflora incarnata) helps us come to terms with our new reality. 

2 parts peppermint

1 part rose

1/2 part skullcap

1/4 part passion flower

***

As the wheel turns toward winter, these recipes can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. While I certainly love autumn, there is something special about winter. The pristine snowy landscape, the slower pace, and the chill remind me to take stock of what I have, slow down, and rest. I know we like to make lofty resolutions at the beginning of each year but remember, winter is not the time to start new things. Instead, it should be spent resting and reflecting so we can hit the ground running when Spring decides to show her lovely face once more. It's okay to rest. You aren't lazy or unproductive because you are resting. Take time for yourself this holiday season and tell capitalism it can fuck right on off!

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Magical Properties of Lepidolite

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A Complete Guide to Algiz, the Elk rune

We continue our runic study journey today by looking at Algiz (AHL-geez), the Elk rune. Algiz is the rune of protection, independence, and courage, characteristics I think we could all use right now in times of trial and turmoil. As someone deeply involved with spiritual activities, Algiz is a favorite of mine, often gracing my spells and altars for its magical properties.

As done in my previous article on Jera, today's post will include a deep dive into the runic poems, Algiz's cultural significance, its correspondences, how to work with it, its meaning in a spread, and its relationships with runes. Also included is a free printable for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire!

Algiz's Portrayal in the Rune Poems

Algiz ᛉ is the fifteenth rune and the seventh rune in the second ætt. Unlike other runes, Algiz does not appear in the Icelandic or Norwegian Rune Poems. However, as the Younger Futhark gradually replaced the Elder Futhark in the 8th century, Algiz became inverted and took on a new meaning, "Yr" meaning yew, which is associated with death and funerals. Yew is mentioned in the runes poems, but we generally associate it with Eihwaz instead. 

Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem

Eolh-secg eard hæfþ oftust on fenne 

wexeð on wature, wundaþ grimme, 

blode breneð beorna gehwylcne 

ðe him ænigne onfeng gedeþ.

Translation:

The Eolh-sedge (elk-sedge) is mostly to be found in a marsh; 

it grows in the water and makes a ghastly wound, 

covering with blood 

every warrior who touches it.

Despite its absence from the other rune poems, we can glean some information from the Anglo-Saxon Rune Poem. First, its association with the elk. In Norse mythology, the elk is a guardian, anticipating and defending against threats. The elk acts as a protective shield. Elk antlers were said to ward off evil and Algiz famously looks like antlers. In Grímnismál, the stag/elk Eikthyrnir is said to "stands in Valhall and bites from the limbs of the tree; and from his horns distils such abundant exudation that it comes down into Hvergelmir, and from thence fall those rivers called thus: Síd, Víd, Søkin, Eikin, Svöl, Gunnthrá, Fjörm, Fimbulthul, Gípul, Göpul, Gömul, Geirvimul." So not only is the elk a symbol of protection but also life and fertility, as water is a life-giver. As such, Algiz is a protector, divine shield, and bringer of life and abundance. 

The poem, however, warns against Algiz's darker side, saying that even the best of shields can fail and leave you hurting. Inverted, Algiz represents a lack of protection, change, and death, "covering with blood every warrior who touches it." This last line, however, could also be interpreted to mean strength and ferocity, that even when faced with death, the elk does not back down and fights until the very end. Algiz thus symbolizes perseverance and determination, even in tough times.

Being in the second ætt, Algiz is associated with Heimdal, the guardian of the Bifrost. All runes within the second ætt are symbolized by resilience, strength, survival, and the cyclical nature of life, and Algiz is no exception.

Algiz's Cultural Significance

Unlike other runes, Algiz has never been found to begin a word, instead being found only in the middle or end of words. As mentioned above, when the Younger Futhark began to replace the Elder Futhark, Algiz evolved into "Elox" or "x" and later into "Yr." This evolution is part of the reason the modern English alphabet ends in XYZ (Elox [x], Yr [y], Algiz [z]).

While its original name is lost to the annals of history, we do know it was frequently carved or painted onto wood or stone, particularly near areas known for their sacred healing. These areas were usually freshwater springs or other such water sources that were thought to be capable of healing, regeneration, and life.

A carved runic waystone, repainted to clearly show the Elder Futhark

Some have suggested Algiz may have been carved into weapons or onto shields for protection, but I could find no verifiable sources to corroborate this suggestion. Most Nordic weapons have severely deteriorated with time, leaving any inscriptions illegible. Despite the lack of evidence on weapons, Algiz is featured on the Golden Horns of Gallehus, two horns that were found in Denmark dating to the early 5th century. This would have been the beginning of the Germanic Iron Age. Unfortunately, the original horns were stolen and melted down in 1802 and in the late 18th century, the casts of the horns were also lost. However, 17th and 18th-century drawings have allowed us to replicate the horns, clearly showing Algic along the opening. What these horns were used for is unknown, but the inscription, which includes the Algiz rune is believed to say "I Hlewagastiz Holtijaz made the horn."

Drawing of the image panels of the smaller of the Gallehus Horns, projected onto a flat surface, by J.R. Paulli (1734), reprinted in H. Klingenberg (1973)

Its inverted use in the Younger Futhark, however, took root quickly during the World War II era, becoming known as "totenrune." Yes, I am speaking about Nazis and Germanic occultism here. It commonly appears on tombstones across several European countries to note birth year (upright) and death year (inverted). It was also used in obituaries, replacing the asterisk and cross symbols previously used, further connecting Algiz to the cycles of life and death. It was during this same time that Algiz became known as the "Life Rune."

By Grüne Minna – Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0

It should be noted that Algiz has been co-opted by ecofascists and white supremacist groups. Ecofascist propaganda often depicts Algiz in natural landscapes, which seems harmless to the untrained eye. As a movement, however, ecofascists seek to challenge modernity and a return to the medieval while advocating and/or accepting violence in such a way as to reinforce existing systems of inequality. It is a form of environmentalism that suggests only certain people are entitled to control and enjoy nature and its resources, using words such as "native species" and "invasive" to describe different people groups. In 2005, environmental historian Michael E. Zimmerman defined "ecofascism" as "a totalitarian government that requires individuals to sacrifice their interests to the well-being of the 'land', understood as the splendid web of life, or the organic whole of nature, including peoples and their states".

Apart from ecofascism, white supremacist groups, including neo-Nazis, often use Algiz in their logos, propaganda, uniforms, flags, and other group materials. Some even tattoo the rune on their body. Often called the Life Rune, the Nazis used the rune in the SS's Lebensborn which encouraged SS troopers to have children out of wedlock with "Aryan" mothers and to kidnap "Aryan" children from nearby countries to raise as Germans. Neo-Nazis, wishing to continue with "tradition" included Algiz in their logo, re-popularizing it as a hate symbol.

As with all things, context matters. Algiz is not a racist or hateful symbol; it's simply one that has been co-opted by hate groups. Using it in your magical practice does not mean you support or agree with hate groups. However, it is important to recognize that Algiz is a dog whistle, especially when tattooed on someone's body, so I would avoid such uses and be mindful of its presentation.

Algiz's Correspondences

It should be noted that general correspondences are not mentioned in any Nordic text. Instead, these are a best guess based on experiences from both myself and others. In fact, most of these are of modern invention, pulling inspiration from Wicca. As with all correspondence lists, you can add and subtract based on your experiences.

• Upright Meaning: protection, defense, guardian, sanctuary, instinct, courage, independence, awakening, heightened intuition, internal strength, willpower, good health, life
• Reversed Meaning: warning, helplessness, vulnerability, challenges, exposure, unsupported, unhealthy, death
• Letter: Z
• Element: Air
• Zodiac: Cancer
• Planet: Jupiter
• Animal: elk, moose, swan
• Colors: gold
• Deities: Heimdall, the Valkyries
• Plants: elder, yew, sedge, rushes, angelica, marigold, rosemary
• Crystals: agate, amethyst, slate, aquamarine
  
  

How to Work with the Algiz Rune

Incorporating runes into your magical practice can be incredibly rewarding and bring new energies to spells and rituals. But how exactly can you use Algiz in your workings?

1. Create a protection amulet using the Algiz rune.
2. Draw an Algiz rune in a protection oil on your doors and windows or paint it on your walls (in the same color) to prevent negativity from entering your home.
3. Carve the Algiz rune into candles during protection magic and rituals.
4. Imagine the Algiz rune surrounding you and forming a protective energy shield around you.
5. Incorporate into bind runes for protection and strength.
6. Add to spells to ensure they endure and are long-lasting.
7. Draw on spray bottles filled with cleansing sprays to add protection.
8. Meditate on the Algiz rune as a symbol of strength, courage, life, and protection.
9. Use in spells to set boundaries.
10. Draw the Algiz rune on your face in moisturizer, sunscreen, or foundation to protect against anxiety and depression.
11. Use the Algiz rune to seek divine strength and intervention and call upon the Valkyries or Heimdall. 
12. Draw with a spoon or other cooking utensils in food for good health and inner strength.
13. Add to your altar during Winter Nights or Yule to ensure your family is protected during the darkest half of the year.

Algiz's Meaning in Rune Spread

What does it mean if Algiz appears in a rune spread? Algiz holds various meanings depending on its position and relation to other runes in the spread. When found upright in a spread, Algiz often means that the future will change for the better and you will be well supported by your family and friends. It could also symbolize that you are under divine protection, a guardian angel if you will, looking out for you, or that your own inner strength is enough to help you manifest your goals and desires. Spiritually, Algiz is a symbol of spiritual awakening and heightened intuition. It often represents becoming more attuned to one's inner self and encourages us to trust our instincts and continue to rely on our intuition.

Algiz can also act as a warning, especially when found in reverse, or indicate a vulnerability or weakness that needs to be addressed. Building defenses and shadow work are worthwhile pursuits. It can also represent sudden illness, mentally or physically, and that a change in course is required to avoid disaster. It's time to raise your defenses.

Below are some examples of how to interpret Algiz when it's next to or near other runes:

• Near Ingwaz, it could indicate a wedding
• Near Berkana, the family unit is strong, and partners are supportive
• Next to Uruz, it may indicate a person is aggressive and stubborn, wanting things to be their way
• In proximity to Ehwaz, it may indicate travel, particularly for work
• Near Thurisaz, sudden positive changes or shifts
• Next to Ansuz, it could suggest care should be taken when sharing information, so exercise caution
• Reversed and next to Raidho, may indicate you are on your own and the person you normally rely on will not be of assistance

Algiz's Relationships with Other Runes

Algiz, while positive, can complement other runes or be opposed by others depending on their placement. Algiz, when in its upright position, compliments Fehu, the rune of wealth, suggesting that your wealth and prosperity as well protected. It also compliments Thurisaz, another protective rune, suggesting you have both divine and personal protection as a deterrent against threats. When paired with Uruz, it can represent raw power and strength that manifests in a controlled and protective manner.

On the other hand, both Isa/Isaz and Hagalaz/Haglaz oppose Algiz. Isa represents ice, therefore suggesting that any protection you have may no longer exist and you are on your own. Action should be taken to rebuild your defenses and look for new allies. Hagalaz, which symbolizes obstacles and hindrances, suggests that strength is needed in the future and to fortify your defenses now.

***

Algiz invites us to remember that strength comes from within, and that the best form of protection is a well-laid plan. It's a reminder that we are divinely protected, but that all good things eventually must end. Below you will find a printable, cheat-sheet that includes a summary of all important information that you can incorporate into your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

Click the image below to download your free cheat sheet for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire.

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Book Review: Becoming Baba Yaga by Kris Spisak

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

It's been a while since I read an occult book! Lately, I have been focusing on reading fiction as a way to help dissociate from reality. Don't get me wrong, I am still doing the work, but we all need a break and to take time for self-care. Reading is one of the ways I do that. Despite focusing mostly on fiction lately, I finally got around to reading Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods by Kris Spisak. I was obviously meant to wait to read this book until after the election, as Baba Yaga has many lessons to teach us during such trying times.

Unlike many other occult books I have reviewed here on Flying the Hedge, this book is purely a breakdown of folklore. There are no discussions of practical application, just pure folklore analysis and history. In case you haven't figured it out yet, I am a sucker for folklore. The stories we tell and pass down ring with truth and give us amazing insight into how our ancestors lived, survived, and taught lessons. Baba Yaga is one such figure and boy oh boy does she have some lessons to teach us, despite the lack of practical application, if only one knows where to look.

Spisak does not hold your hand in this book, leaving the reader to do the majority of the work. Sure she breaks down some of the lessons we can garner from the stories about Baba Yaga, but you are required to figure out how to use the knowledge and lessons contained in the stories and analysis. Media literacy is a skill that must be honed through trial and error, and what better place to start than with a teacher such as Baba Yaga?

Each chapter opens with a story, many of which Spisak added to without taking away from the lesson within. These stories are an amalgamation of hundreds of stories passed down through the generations, which have transformed with the people telling them. Following the short stories, Spisak breaks down some of the meaning and history behind the tales, sometimes going so far as to discuss language throughout the centuries. I am such a sucker for language. That analysis of each tale is fascinating and paints Baba Yaga in a completely new light, giving more depth and meaning to her stories than what modern media has. I found myself unable to put the book down once I got started, having to remind myself that it was time to sleep as I had work in the morning.

As I mentioned, this book does not offer practical application, but I don't feel it needs to. The purpose is to ground Baba Yaga in our reality and learn from the lessons she has to share with us. She teaches us to be loud when others are silent; to be cunning and self-sufficient; to be a great power capable of great transformations. She also reminds us that to be such things as a woman will transform us into a "witch" as nothing hates a loud, outspoken, sexual woman more than the patriarchy. In times of great change and turmoil, Baba Yaga reminds us to go against the grain, even if it's difficult to do so. According to  Timothy Snyder in his book On Tyranny: Twenty Lessons from the Twentieth Century, one of the greatest ways we can fight back against tyranny and authoritarianism is to not get comfortable and to not go quietly into the night. What better way to do so than to turn into Baba Yaga ourselves?

I highly recommend reading Becoming Baba Yaga: Trickster, Feminist, and Witch of the Woods by Kris Spisak and even pairing it with Baba Yaga's Book of Witchcraft: Slavic Magic from the Witch of the Woods by Madame Pamita which touches on many of the same stories with practical application built in. Between the two of these, you are well on your way to becoming Baba Yaga herself.

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Magical and Medicinal Uses of Borage

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Powers: Courage, Joy, Happiness, Protection

Magical Uses and History: Often referred to as starflower for its bright blue, star-shaped flowers, borage is often viewed as the flower of courage and happiness. Where exactly it gets its name is up for debate, but some suggest it comes from the Celtic borrach meaning "courage" or possibly from the Latin borra meaning "rough-hairy." 

While absent from most classical and modern pharmacognosy, borage does appear in some ancient writings from Greece, particularly Dioscorides and Pliny. Both of these references are rather generic and vague, leaving us to guess as to what plant they were talking about. In both texts, borage is referred to as bouglōsson meaning "ox tongue" and is said to bring cheerfulness when added to wine. Pliny also believed borage to be the Nepenthe referenced in Homer's Odyssey which induced absolute forgetfulness when infused in wine. This was done not out of malice, but to wipe away the fears, stresses, and concerns so happiness and joy could take root. Pliny called this mixture Euphrosynum after Euphrosyne, the Greek goddess of joy. This is corroborated by more contemporary courses which also cite borage as having a euphoric effect. The eleventh-century School of Salerno states that borage "warms the heart and brings good cheer." which is further supported by Burton in his Anatomy of Melancholy, Herard, and Culpepper, who all write borage leaves are useful against melancholy and help bring joy. Culpepper, in particular, suggested taking borage as "candied or jellies flowers" which I believe would make anyone cheerful. Modern research indicates that borage does in fact uplift one's spirits by stimulating adrenaline production, acting as a natural antidepressant. As such, borage can be used in spells, rituals, and recipes to fight depression and anxiety while bringing joy and cheer. Carry fresh blossoms to stimulate happiness, burn as incense to bring joy, add to spells for happiness, or drink as tea for the same purpose.

Apart from bringing cheerfulness, borage has also long been used to induce courage. In Rome, borage flowers were eaten by soldiers before they went into battle, while Crusaders floated the flowers in their stirrup cups and Medieval knights wore scarves embroidered with borage flowers for the same reason. Sometimes the flowers were added to wine or beer to induce courage (liquid courage anyone?). According to an old English adage, ‘Sow Borage, sow courage’. As mentioned earlier, borage may get its name from the Celtic borrach meaning "courage." The Druids considered borage sacred and used it to consecrate weapons before battle to promote courage and strength of will. In Floriography, borage is the symbol of emotional fortitude, while in Victorian flower language, borage is said to mean blunt or rough-mannered. Robert Tyas suggests that a person under the influence of "warming cordial" may well be given the courage that leads to brusque or inappropriate comments. Some sources state borage was brewed as a tea and given to someone you wanted to marry to give them the courage to propose! As such, borage can be added to spells, rituals, and remedies for courage and strength. Wear it in your buttonhole, drink it as tea or mull it in wine, burn it as incense, or add it to spell bags for courage, strength, conviction, and protection. 

When combined with its ability to bring joy, borage is particularly useful in times of great stress, turmoil, or upset. It makes a perfect ally for the darker part of the year and is a favorite among spiritual activists.

Borage can be used in a number of spells including:

   Happiness Spells

   Courage Spells

   Protection Magic

Medicinal Uses: The dried leaves of borage are commonly used as a restorative agent for the adrenal cortex after exposure to steroids or cortisone to reduce stress both internally and externally. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, borage is also used to treat conditions such as pleurisy. Therefore, borage is often used to treat coughs, asthma, bronchitis, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. The seeds and leaves can also be used to stimulate the flow of milk in nursing mothers. Borage seed oil is naturally high in omega-6 fatty acids and gamma-Linolenic Acid (GLA), which is essential to maintaining skin health and barrier function. As such, it's often used to treat skin conditions such as eczema and dermatitis.

Preparation and Dosage: To create an infusion, combine one cup of boiling water with 2 teaspoons of dried borage. Let the mixture infuse for 10-15 minutes. Drink up to three times a day. As a tincture, take 1-4 milliliters up to three times a day.

Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!

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