Herblore and the Magick of Rosemary
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Rosemary was originally cultivated on the shores of the Mediterranean. In fact, the herb's Latin name, rosmarinus, is derived from the words "ros", which is translated to dew, and "marinus", which means sea, as Rosemary can survive on just the spray in the sea air. It is a plant well suited to growing in poor or sandy soil, high salt, high wind areas such as the conditions found by the sea.
Rosemary's symbolic uses are deeply inlaid within many cultural traditions including weddings, funerals, and during religious ceremonies. The herb is seen by many as a gift by the gods and as a symbol of love, friendship, and trust. In modern times rosemary is grown throughout the world and is widely used as a medicinal herb and to season food.
History
Rosemary is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). The first records of rosemary's use as a medicinal herb date back to ancient times in the civilizations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The herb was thought to have strong effects on memory and in strengthening the mind. Later accounts include that of Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, who claimed that drinking rosemary water led to her longevity as she lived beyond 70 years old while suffering from both gout and rheumatic disorder. Additional historic uses of the herb include its burning to purify the air near ill people to ward off infection during the plague, and it was also used by the French to kill germs during World War II (by utilizing its aromatic/essential oil properties).
Magickal Uses
Rosemary is male in nature and ruled by Leo, the element fire and the sun.
It’s sacred to Hebe, Aphrodite and the Virgin Mary.
Rosemary can be used in spells for fidelity and remembrance as well as to dispel jealousy.
Rosemary is useful for ritual baths, and for making sacred herbal water for ritual cleansing, blessing and purification. Bathing in rosemary will enhance your memory and will make you more memorable to those you meet throughout the day.
Use rosemary in spells to enhance memory, including those spells for success in school. Also use for spells to retain youth and burn as incense when you are meditating or doing dream work to remember your past lives.
Place rosemary under your pillow to help you to remember your dreams and to keep away nightmares and other unwanted nighttime visitations.
Rosemary may be used in handfasting ceremonies in a variety of ways. It can be carried or worn by the bride and/or groom to symbolize love and loyalty and it may also be gifted to guests for the same purpose. If a bride and groom plant a rosemary plant together on their wedding day, they can watch it as it grows to divine the family’s fortune.
If you haven’t chosen a partner yet and have several to think about, name a pot for each one and plant rosemary in each pot. The one that grows the fastest and strongest is your best choice. If you don’t have any options, make a poppet of yourself and stuff it with rosemary to attract a lover to you. You can also do this to attract healing energy.
Burn rosemary and juniper together to aid with healing, and to fumigate a home where there has been a long illness to drive out the negativity associated with disease. It can also be burned with sage to fumigate a ritual area or to drive negativity away from any space, object or person.
Wear Rosemary oil on those occasions that you want to make a lasting impression.
Download a FREE PDF here, a gift from our Coven!
Health Benefits
Antioxidant
The rosemary herb is used in modern times to treat a variety of symptoms and illnesses. The most prominent modern use of rosemary is as an antioxidant. The primary goal of the herb in this use is to prevent the damage caused by oxidative stress that occurs during many diseases. The brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the condition's role in diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in rosemary, such as the carnosic and rosmarinic acids, are highly effective in combating this problem.
Anti-bacterial
The compound also exhibits anti-inflammatory,antiviral, and antibacterial properties. The herb is used by many as a natural antibacterial and antiviral. Rosemary is touted for its ability to eliminate several harmful forms of bacteria while leaving helpful bacteria undamaged. This use of the herb is particularly effective in fighting yeast infections or candida. Rosmarinic acid is found in a variety of herbs other than rosemary, these include thyme, oregano, and peppermint.
Anti-carcinogenic
Studies have also shown that rosemary is a potent anti-carcinogenic and may play a role in treating cancer in the near future. One such study was conducted on rats and showed that rosemary, when administered in a powdered format, prevented the effects of carcinogens by 76% and decreased the incidence of tumors in mammary glands. In addition, by reducing the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, the herb also decreases the chances of developing skin cancer.
Memory Booster
Rosemary has been thought of as a memory booster throughout history. Recent advances in the science surrounding the herb have shown that it inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a compound that plays a role in sections of the brain responsible for memory and reasoning. Rosemary may also promote memory function by increasing blood flow to the brain.
Nutrition
Since it is also commonly used as a seasoning, there are many ways to incorporate rosemary into the typical diet. The most common method is to simply season prepared food with the herb to taste. A tea can also be made by adding two teaspoons of the rosemary leaves to hot water and allowing it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Herb butters and oils are made by adding the leaves or oil of the plant to the butter or oil and mixing thoroughly. Oil extract from the flowers is considered to be the best in quality. Rosemary is also available in capsule form.
Muscle Pain Relief
The leaves are often used to make tinctures that are applied directly to the skin to treat maladies such as muscle soreness and sprained ankles.
Sources: Herbwisdom.com
#Aromatherapy #Medicinal #Herbs #Rosemary
Rosemary was originally cultivated on the shores of the Mediterranean. In fact, the herb's Latin name, rosmarinus, is derived from the words "ros", which is translated to dew, and "marinus", which means sea, as Rosemary can survive on just the spray in the sea air. It is a plant well suited to growing in poor or sandy soil, high salt, high wind areas such as the conditions found by the sea.
Rosemary's symbolic uses are deeply inlaid within many cultural traditions including weddings, funerals, and during religious ceremonies. The herb is seen by many as a gift by the gods and as a symbol of love, friendship, and trust. In modern times rosemary is grown throughout the world and is widely used as a medicinal herb and to season food.
History
Rosemary is a member of the Mint family (Lamiaceae). The first records of rosemary's use as a medicinal herb date back to ancient times in the civilizations surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The herb was thought to have strong effects on memory and in strengthening the mind. Later accounts include that of Queen Elisabeth of Hungary, who claimed that drinking rosemary water led to her longevity as she lived beyond 70 years old while suffering from both gout and rheumatic disorder. Additional historic uses of the herb include its burning to purify the air near ill people to ward off infection during the plague, and it was also used by the French to kill germs during World War II (by utilizing its aromatic/essential oil properties).
Magickal Uses
Rosemary is male in nature and ruled by Leo, the element fire and the sun.
It’s sacred to Hebe, Aphrodite and the Virgin Mary.
Rosemary can be used in spells for fidelity and remembrance as well as to dispel jealousy.
Rosemary is useful for ritual baths, and for making sacred herbal water for ritual cleansing, blessing and purification. Bathing in rosemary will enhance your memory and will make you more memorable to those you meet throughout the day.
Use rosemary in spells to enhance memory, including those spells for success in school. Also use for spells to retain youth and burn as incense when you are meditating or doing dream work to remember your past lives.
Place rosemary under your pillow to help you to remember your dreams and to keep away nightmares and other unwanted nighttime visitations.
Rosemary may be used in handfasting ceremonies in a variety of ways. It can be carried or worn by the bride and/or groom to symbolize love and loyalty and it may also be gifted to guests for the same purpose. If a bride and groom plant a rosemary plant together on their wedding day, they can watch it as it grows to divine the family’s fortune.
If you haven’t chosen a partner yet and have several to think about, name a pot for each one and plant rosemary in each pot. The one that grows the fastest and strongest is your best choice. If you don’t have any options, make a poppet of yourself and stuff it with rosemary to attract a lover to you. You can also do this to attract healing energy.
Burn rosemary and juniper together to aid with healing, and to fumigate a home where there has been a long illness to drive out the negativity associated with disease. It can also be burned with sage to fumigate a ritual area or to drive negativity away from any space, object or person.
Wear Rosemary oil on those occasions that you want to make a lasting impression.
Download a FREE PDF here, a gift from our Coven!
Health Benefits
Antioxidant
The rosemary herb is used in modern times to treat a variety of symptoms and illnesses. The most prominent modern use of rosemary is as an antioxidant. The primary goal of the herb in this use is to prevent the damage caused by oxidative stress that occurs during many diseases. The brain is particularly susceptible to the effects of oxidative stress, as demonstrated by the condition's role in diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that the antioxidants in rosemary, such as the carnosic and rosmarinic acids, are highly effective in combating this problem.
Anti-bacterial
The compound also exhibits anti-inflammatory,antiviral, and antibacterial properties. The herb is used by many as a natural antibacterial and antiviral. Rosemary is touted for its ability to eliminate several harmful forms of bacteria while leaving helpful bacteria undamaged. This use of the herb is particularly effective in fighting yeast infections or candida. Rosmarinic acid is found in a variety of herbs other than rosemary, these include thyme, oregano, and peppermint.
Anti-carcinogenic
Studies have also shown that rosemary is a potent anti-carcinogenic and may play a role in treating cancer in the near future. One such study was conducted on rats and showed that rosemary, when administered in a powdered format, prevented the effects of carcinogens by 76% and decreased the incidence of tumors in mammary glands. In addition, by reducing the damage caused by ultraviolet radiation, the herb also decreases the chances of developing skin cancer.
Memory Booster
Rosemary has been thought of as a memory booster throughout history. Recent advances in the science surrounding the herb have shown that it inhibits the breakdown of acetylcholine, which is a compound that plays a role in sections of the brain responsible for memory and reasoning. Rosemary may also promote memory function by increasing blood flow to the brain.
Nutrition
Since it is also commonly used as a seasoning, there are many ways to incorporate rosemary into the typical diet. The most common method is to simply season prepared food with the herb to taste. A tea can also be made by adding two teaspoons of the rosemary leaves to hot water and allowing it to steep for 10 to 15 minutes. Herb butters and oils are made by adding the leaves or oil of the plant to the butter or oil and mixing thoroughly. Oil extract from the flowers is considered to be the best in quality. Rosemary is also available in capsule form.
Muscle Pain Relief
The leaves are often used to make tinctures that are applied directly to the skin to treat maladies such as muscle soreness and sprained ankles.
Sources: Herbwisdom.com
#Aromatherapy #Medicinal #Herbs #Rosemary