Yona Circle
Tuesday Techniques

Advanced Pharmakeia
The World of Sacred Smoke: Bayberry

We learned in First Degree Lessons that various Plant Allies can be harvested, dried and utilized in various ways for Sacred Smoke. Those names vary by Path. There are names that are of science, botany, land based, nicknames, and more. The names given by the Pagan or Indigenous Paths are typically names related to the Spirit of that Plant Ally. Bayberry is not as known as some other herbs in Western Esoteric Magick because it is global. It is native to this world and that Sacred Knowledge was not shared regarding it was not shared as Knowledge for the other Plant Allies were. Most often it is found in American Folk Magick and Hoodoo.

But all humans call on the Plant and Animal Allies of this planet for their Magick & Medicine.

The Spirit of that plant we choose is what we focus on as Practitioners worldwide. It is encouraged to pay attention to the scientifically proven properties of the plant as well, for Matter’s sake. It is also encouraged that we seek out someone who has results to report in the use those Plant Allies for Magick and Medicine, too, when more research is needed. That Experience of utilization in practice is priceless. Once the knowledge is acquired from an experienced Practitioner and we understand their results, we in turn can access the energy of the plant in our Practices more accurately to determineif it yields the same result for our Medicine and Magick.

This is the one of the only ways we will find and gather actual working knowledge FOR ALL and not internet memes and unfounded regurgitations.

For this part of our Book of Shadows, which we have been keeping for some time now, if is advised that we are to update our notes about these Plant Allies. The names, Intent, results. Share that Knowledge with others.

As we know smoke is difficult for many humans to Experience in many forms, including lighting these smoke bundles outside. This in turn will often better allow us to garner that understanding through Experience diretly, one Plant Ally at a time. A suggestion from other Practitioners to explore:

“As you move through the list of smudge sticks and bundles, notate the plant, how it looks, how it smells, how easily it lights, etc. Set an Intention that is closely related to the Plant Ally and determine how strong that is for you. Notate that. Some plants work differently with different Practitioners. Some Plant Allies have masculine energy, some feminine. We all know they each have different Intentions, but what are yours? Will they work with it? Explore that.”

Next to “sage” and its various species found on the Plains around the world, there is also Sweet Grass. This plant is primarily found in the upper Northeastern United States in brackish and marsh-like areas. Right behind that for use around the world is Bayberry.  

Bayberry Knowledge

Known as:
Arbre a suif, Candleberry, Chinese Bayberry, Myricae Cortex, Red Bayberry, Small Waxberry, Southern Bayberry, Sweet Fern, Sweet Gale, Tallowberry, Tallow Shrub, Wachsgagle, Waxberry, Wax Myrtle, Yang-Mei.

Found:
Along coastal mountains around the world. In the United States, Several Bayberry plants are a native species. It can be found from Ontario east to Nova Scotia and south to Ohio and North Carolina. Different species can be found across the United States in both the annual and evergreen species.

Uses:
Magick: This is a ritual Plant Ally. (the whole plant)

Medicinal: Medicinal use is sparing. An early sign of “too much” is dry mouth and cramping.

Decoction: Sore throat gargle (whole plant)

Tea: Fever. Stomach ailment. (leaves)

The root can be dried and ground into a fine powder for any of these uses.

While we see many commercial products containing this plant, not many take the time to understand who they are working with. To them, “it smells nice”. However, make room for that. Simply because someone does not understand what they are doing does NOT mean their Spirit does not understand. We cannot separate the pieces of whole.

If we notice that we or someone around us consistently seek out a scent or taste or feeling based on smell, explore that. The Spirit will draw to it what it needs at that time, even if we do not understand the “why”.

Correspondences:
Earth – Protection/Ground/Heal
Jupiter – Fortune/Prosperity
Feminine – Plant as a whole
Yang – Masculine (burn bundles, twigs, bark)
Yin – Feminine (Berries, leaves)

General Knowledge:
Bayberry female plants are the only ones with berries. If you plan to cultivate these near your home, you will need to plant both male and female of the same species to obtain these berries. She only “releases fruit” when her flowers are fertilized by the essence of the male. (pollen)

Harvesting:
When harvesting berries from your personal plants or foraging from the wild (after positive identification), Bayberry gives up her berries easiest when they are “massaged” from her twigs, not pulled. Bayberry askes that you respect taking from her if you wish to work with them. Liken it to a baby suckling from its mother. Strong but not painful. This goes for her leaves too. She asks that you pull gently. If the leaf is ready and she is wanting to work with you it will pull away easily, not pulling over the entire plant.

Some difficulty in harvesting “too early” will be evidenced to us by the difficulty in the release of her pieces. Stop. Give her some time.

The Bayberry wax (or Myrtle wax) is harder to find, but is sometimes marketed as a vegan substitute for beeswax. It has an earthy, resinous fragrance and a dull green color. If you can find (or make!) Bayberry wax, it makes beautiful candles for Spellwork.

Metaphysical Properties:
Business Success (Profit), Exorcism, House Blessing, Luck, Money-Draw Magick, Persuasion, Winter Magick

Candle Work Substitute: A green or white candle anointed with Bayberry oil is a suitable substitute for a Bayberry wax candle.

Magickal Notes:
This Plant Ally can be asked to work on other magicks for you. It is believed that due to its strength in its vow to “help humans” succeed around the world that it is used in exorcisms and house blessings.

Part of the Winter Magick is the use of the Bayberry candle from Samhain (Celtic) through Yule (Norse) at night to not only “guide Spirits home” but “bring fortune upon the home”. It is around this time of year that you will see others giving the “gift” of the Bayberry candle but many do not understand what they are sharing.  

Tuesday YN4

General - Journal - Book of Shadows

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