Question of the Week: Paganism and Monotheism

Many people think of paganism as a polytheistic spirituality/religion.  Acknowledgment of multiple gods is fairly widespread.  However, I have also heard that some actually consider their brand of paganism to be monotheistic–that the multiple gods are in fact only facets of one ultimate deity.  So my question this week asks you what you think.

Is paganism polytheistic or monotheistic?

Post your answer in the comments below!

And remember, there aren’t necessarily right or wrong answers–but if I find anyone flaming someone else’s answer, that person will be banned.   Fair warning.

Snapshot Saturday: Winter Snow and Birds

Due to the recent snowstorm, I decided to take some pictures of the scenery.  Sadly I couldn’t snap the blue jays, we have fewer of those around, but I saw plenty of cardinals.

Two cardinals in a bush outside my window

Little bird outside my window

My cat staring at the snow

The tree in the front yard, with some sunshine in its snow-laden branches

Herb Spotlight: Peppermint

By Guest Contributor: Tori

Herb Description
Peppermint is a type of mint that is often used to flavor things.  It also has a lot of positive medical uses to go along with the magical ones.  For medicinal purposes, peppermint tea is very easy to find in your grocery store.  For magical purposes it depends on your supplier.  You can always substitute other types of mint, but make sure you look substitutes up to be sure that the associations you want are still viable.  Many grocery stores will sell fresh mint in the vegetable section (fresh herbs are always preferable to dried ones, but for the more exotic plants dried is probably the only way you can get it), though the specific type may vary.  Sometimes stores even sell live mint plants, which are great to have around.

Magical Uses
Peppermint is one of those herbs that have a lot of associations. In herbal magic, peppermint is used for money, protection, purification, healing and love/lust.  Frankly, I am not surprised at peppermint’s diversity, since it is a relatively easy herb to obtain and generally considered pleasant.  A lot of herbs have a smell that is not always appreciated, but peppermint, and the mints in general, are pretty much always enjoyed (if you don’t like mint I’d be interested in hearing the reasons).  It is just a fresh and pleasant smell.

One thing to keep in mind when using mint is that it can have a strong smell.  Be careful with how much you add.  Start with a small amount and add more to get the ratios with the other herbs right.  Also, since mint flavors are so common it is best to make sure that the associations you, or whoever you are making the sachet/oil/pouch/etc. for, have mint fit in with your methods.  If you are trying to make a spell to attract a casual lover you probably do not want to use mint if its strongest associations are with your grandmother.  That will kill just about anybody’s buzz.  In the cases when you’re making something for another person, it would be best to keep the mint for healing and protection spells.

Medicinal Uses
As well as being versatile for magical uses, peppermint is good for a lot of medicinal ones as well.  This seems to be because its general affect is calming, along with a bit of numbing.  A tea is the most common way to apply it, but occasionally an oil or just a leaf are used.  A note about the oil: it can cause a rash, especially in children, so do not use on children at all and only a small amount, preferably diluted as most oils should be used, on yourself.  With essential oils ALWAYS look up if they are safe for skin contact, since some really are not (note cinnamon oil here).

Peppermint is helpful with hoarse throat, indigestion, gas, motion sickness, moodiness (although in my opinion any tea is good for moodiness because tea is just good like that), various PMS symptoms (remember relaxing), and is even said to increase a mother’s milk.  Keep in mind though that peppermint, like many things that have a noticeable effect on you, can interfere with medications.  So, if you are taking medications make sure to get a list of things that interact poorly with it before taking anything that has an effect on you.  I have also read that if you rub a peppermint leaf, so that the juices touch your skin, on your skin it has a numbing effect.  I wouldn’t do this on or near any open wounds, though.  I am just reluctant to put anything other than some rubbing alcohol and a band-aid near those.

Sample Recipe
Here’s a sample recipe for a money oil using mint.  Now, it is important to note that I make my recipes up myself with the occasional assistance from books.  I strongly believe that magic has to do with how the herb’s energies work with you and part of that is certainly the associations you make with the herb, not just what the books say are true.   I will probably get into that sort of thing in some other post (assuming Sita approves).

Tori’s Minty Money Oil:

• 2 drops of mint oil – I add this because it has a clean feeling to me, so it will be a more pleasant acquisition of money.  This will help it be more from a study you participate in or new clients, as opposed to an inheritance.  Mint is also a fire herb, and I think creativity and passion and all that good fire stuff is especially good for any new ventures.
• 1 drop of patchouli – This is an earth herb and a strong earth association is necessary in a money recipe.  Patchouli is related to prosperity and its scent should mix well with the mint.
• 1 drop of orange oil – Orange is good for luck and luck is always useful.

Sources
University of Maryland Medical Center
Healing Remedies by Joan Wilen and Lydia Wilen
Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham

Question of the Week: Defining ‘Witch’

There are many interpretations, definitions, and connotations for the word ‘witch’.  It is a very loaded and historical word in our language.  Often used as a derogatory or demeaning term for undesirable or wicked people, it has a different meaning within the pagan community.  Some people say that no one is a Witch unless they are part of a coven and trained by another Witch.  Others say that anyone who practices magic can be identified as a witch.  I’m sure there are others out there with another meaning or no particular meaning for this word.

So my question of the week is:

How do you define the word “witch”?

Post your answer in the comments below!

And remember, there aren’t necessarily right or wrong answers–but if I find anyone flaming someone else’s answer, that person will be banned.   Fair warning.

Polls

Hey all, so I figured out how to work the polls feature.  Yay me!  I’m going to offer some polls every now and then, maybe once a week if I can think up questions.  Anyway, that box on the top left that’s white and has the options for you to choose from?  It’s not an ad, it’s a poll, and you can click on it and use it without fear of clicking on an ad.  I swear, it’s not an ad!  Please use it and let me know what you think of the question!