Gloomy's Garden & Witchery ~ End of year 2025 ~ Chat 'n' Stuff

Hello again,

Just thought I would post my last video of the year (2025) on my YouTube channel, of your viewing pleasure...

I hope you enjoy it 😊 

I will be taking a break from all socials over the next 3-4 weeks, so I hope you have a wonderful Christmas if you celebrate it, a Magnificent Midsummer celebration for those of you who celebrate that, and a very Happy & Safe New Year too.

See you in 2026 my loves.

Blessings to you all

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal profile ~ Lavender

 Hello my lovelies,

Well I am sneaking in one more Herbal profile into my last day of my week off, especially for you - this time it is the wonderfully scent filled, calming LAVENDER... I will be working with this beautiful plant in the coming week.

BOTANIC NAME ~ Lavendula officinale / L vera

AKA ~ Spike, Elf leaf, Lavender angustifolia, English lavender, French lavender.

GENDER ~ Male (Hot).

ELEMENT ~ Air & Water.

PLANET ~ Mercury.

DEITY ~ Artemis, Hecate, Isis, Freya, Hermes, Quan-Yin, Virgin Mary.

CRYSTAL ~ Moonstone.

NOTED ~  For its sense of calm, it also conjures happiness and can transport the mind to a sunny mediterranean type field all abloom.  Lavender's message is of Loyalty.                                                               

FOLKLORE ~ At one time Lavender was carried with Rosemary to preserve chastity.  Many a young girl's "Hope Chest" had little sachets of Lavender amongst the linens, to keep them fresh until the young lady was married.  Lavender was also used during the War when surgical supplies were scarce, for cleansing and purification.

USES ~ Can be used in baths, bath bombs, oils and salves.  Good for healing of the skin.  It is a relaxant, calming, sleep inducing, antibacterial plant - can be used in tea mixes for pain relief.  Often used to enhance tranquility. Also used as a disinfectant to purify and cleanse areas within the home.

You can also use the flowers in baking - steep the flowers in milk and add it to baked goods.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Used for Protection, purification and Love.

Thrown onto a Midsummer fire by Witches as a sacrifice to the ancient Gods.

Lavender is a frequent addition to healing sachets, and especially bath mixtures and added to incense to cause sleep.

Carry the herb to visualise ghosts.

Used in purification sachets, incenses and spell bags.

Used widely to attract men for sexual favours!!!

Can be added to smoke blends to enhance the meditative state.

And YES - I did add a couple of pages to my book:

I even added a little secret panel, which lifts to reveal a pressed lavender plant.

GARDENERS ~ Lavender likes a chalky alkaline soil, so use plenty of dolomite or lime mixed into the soil  - work one or two handfuls into the soil just under the roots as well, plus sprinkle it through the topsoil as well, forking it in slightly.  They also need plenty of water plus good drainage.  Trim the flowers to encourage the plant to get bushy and produce more flowers.  If planting in the soil, just watch out because it can go feral and spread.  

Can be kept in a pot, but will need constant care:

I hope you enjoyed this little deep-dive into the life of Lavender ~ there is still many, many things to learn about this plant, this is just what I have come to learn in a couple of days. 

Thanks for reading and until next time ~ take care of yourselves and those you love ❤️ 🧡 🫶 🥰 

Blessings to you all,

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profile - SAGE

 Hello my lovelies,

I hope you are all enjoying this Herbal Profile series this week whilst I am on holidays ~ I hope it gives you an insight into what I have been doing over the past few weeks ~ getting to know herbs and flowers that I have growing in my garden.  This is going to be the last one for the week, as it is a herb that I am working with whilst on holidays.  Today I bring you the wonderfully wise SAGE.

BOTANIC NAME ~ Salvia Officinalis / Salvia spp.

AKA ~ Common Sage, Garden Sage.

GENDER ~ Male (Hot).

PLANET ~ Jupiter & Moon.

DEITY ~ Jupiter, Venus, Artemis, Diana, Huggeia.

CRYSTAL ~ Clear Quartz.

NOTED ~ For its wisdom - hence the saying "wise old sage". Sage is well named coming from the Latin salvere, to save.

Used by Native American Indians in smudging ceremonies.

FOLKLORE ~ The Chinese drank sage tea as often as possible, and their records show how high a value was placed on the health giving properties - 4lb of china tea was exchanged for 1lb of sage by the merchants of the time.

Sage was used in the Middle Ages to treat many maladies including fevers, liver disease and epilepsy.  It was a common belief that sage strengthened one's memory.

USES ~ Sage can be used for any culinary purpose and is usually mixed with Rosemary and Thyme to be put on meats, pies, baked goods etc.  In a tea, it improves digestion, supports cognitive function and helps with anxiety.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Sage is used for Protection, Purification, Wisdom, Longevity & Health, and Prosperity.

Add to healing and prosperity sachets, incenses and amulets.

Sage is used to cleanse a magical space via burning the herb.

It is used to ease grief from the loss of a loved one.

Burn a black candle that has been dressed with sage essential oil for cleansing negative energies from your home.

White Sage was the most common sage used by Witches for these purposes, but due to the unethical over harvesting of white sage, it has now become very hard to get and very expensive.  I have had mine for years and use it sparingly (see picture to the right) I find normal garden sage is just as powerful.

Yes - I did another entry into my little book too...

(My writing is not getting any neater LOL)

GARDENERS ~ Sage needs an alkaline soil, so put plenty of dolomite into the soil and throughout the topsoil when planting.  Sage loves hot sun and dryness so it will give you a sturdy little bush in no time.  She doesn't like wet feet - so make sure drainage is excellent.  She can be a bit like a spoilt child at times and can turn up toes overnight without any apparent reason if the weather or the soil condition is not to her liking.  Talk to her gently, whisper how lovely she is, keep an eye on her needs, and she will love you back.

So this ends my week of blogs on Herbal Profiles.  I will be doing more as I do them, just not all in one week hahaha.... I hope you have enjoyed this brief interlude into the flowers and herbs in my garden and what they are used for.

Until next time, please take care (especially as we are in the Silly Season...),

Blessings to you all.

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profile ~ YARROW

 Hello again for the fourth time this week (can you tell I am on holidays???).  

Today I am bringing you another herbal profile - this is another plant that I have growing in my garden, and I am currently drying - it is YARROW.

BOTANIC NAME ~ Achillea millefolium

AKA ~ Herbal Militaris, The Soldier's herb, Seven year's love, sanguinary, thousand seal, woundwort, stench weed, ladies mantle, milfoil, field hops and many, many more..

GENDER ~ Female (cold).

ELEMENT ~ Water.

PLANET ~ Mars & Venus.

DEITY ~ Achilles, Venus, Quan-Yin.

CRYSTAL ~ Bloodstone.

NOTED ~ For its healing properties both internally and externally.  It is a herb of peace and friendship.

FOLKLORE ~ It was used on battlefields during times of war and conflict to stop wounds from bleeding out.  The Druids used yarrow stems to divine the weather for each coming season, and according to the ancient writings, they were more accurate than those of our satellite pictures today. Used by Chiron the Centaur to cure the heel wound of Achilles

USES ~ Internally it has a calming affect and can also increase perspiration.  Yarrow tea can be taken to relieve all bodily weaknesses caused by infectious diseases like colds and flu, or any other prolonged debilitating illness, it is often mixed with other herbs to speed up its work.  Externally it is an antiseptic and speeds up wound healing.  Can be used in oils and salves for a healing balm.  Great for men who cut themselves shaving - just go out to the herb garden, grab some Yarrow leaf and press it firmly against the spot - the bleeding will stop.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ It is used in workings for Healing, Courage, Friendship, Psychic abilities, Hex breaking, Love, Clairvoyance, Exorcism and keeping negative energies at bay.

Used in Love sachets and marriage charms.

If worn as an amulet it will ward off negativity.

A tea of Yarrow drunk before divination will enhance one's powers of perception.

Can be added to incense blends to keep evil at bay.

FOR GARDENERS ~ it is a great thing to mix Yarrow and Comfrey into your compost bin to speed up the compost activation.  All you need is a few leaves chopped up and mixed in to your compost.  Yarrow will also enhance the flavour, strength and health of any other herb gown near it (but beware - it spreads like the mint family does, so be careful where you put it in your garden).  I have a white variety (as seen in these pictures) growing by my Sage and WOW - that sage (& Yarrow) is potent..  I would love to find the pink or red variety to grow as well - but I haven't seen any for sale yet.

YES - I did another entry into my little book of Mischief,

even has a little secret addition:

Yarrow pressed onto the page from my garden..

Yarrow has to be one of my favourites in the garden, not only is it handy to have, but it looks pretty with its feathery leaves and stems of flowers in the spring and summer.

So there you have it - a run down on the wonderful YARROW.

Join me next time when I will be looking into another herb from my witches garden.

Until then, take care of yourself and those you love,

Blessings to you all.

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profiles ~ ROSEMARY

 Hello there you mighty bunch of lovely people,

Today I am doing a herb profile on ROSEMARY....

BOTANIC NAME ~ Rosemarinus officinalis

AKA ~ Dew of the sea, Sea dew, Rosmaris, Rosemarine, Rosemarie, Guardrobe, Libanotis.

GENDER ~ Male (Hot).

ELEMENT ~ Fire.

PLANET ~ Sun.

DEITY ~ Jupiter & Hecate.

CRYSTAL ~ Aventurine.

NOTED ~ For remembrance, for it's unique taste and smell, as a "clear all" for your health.

FOLKLORE ~ Rosemary evokes sweet remembrance, and is often used at funerals, also ANZAC day parades (Australia) to remember those who fell in the wars.  It is believed that it grows where the sea can be seen, where the righteous abide, or where a woman rules the house.

USES ~ Rosemary is an all purpose herb which can be used in all sorts of culinary dishes from seasoning meats, to adding to bread, stews, soups and seasonings.  It makes a wonderful tonic and is great for both hair and skin.  Using a Rosemary toner will tighten up your skin and heal it of any acne nor skin irritations.  Rosemary can be made into an oil and put into salves, skin creams, soaps, shampoos and conditioners.  The parts used are the leaves ~ dried, powdered and fresh.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Can be used to cleanse your work or ritual area.

(Smoke stick like in the picture here -------->)

It is used for purification, love, protection, to improve the intellectual aspects.

Add to all purification workings, bath sachets, love incenses, protection incenses.

Wear a sprig of Rosemary to aid memory, use in Sea rituals or in sachets to ensure sage passage whilst travelling.

Use Rosemary soap to wash hands before a ritual.

Burn a Rosemary & Juniper mix as a healing/recuperation aid.

Use in baths to sooth the body.

Drink Rosemary Tea to help your liver function, and open up the mind for meditation.

Again here is what I wrote in my book with my scruffy writing LOL (Hopefully one day my writing will be neat and tidy....but don't hold your breath haha).

Rosemary is very easy to grow and is always a handy herb to have on hand.  I have two plants growing, one in my front garden, and one in a pot out in my back garden - it grows well in either the ground or a pot, so it's easy to grow if you don't have a yard, or if you live in an apartment- just grow some on your window sill or balcony if you have one.  It loves a good prune every now and again, but be sure to only take about a quarter of the plant so as not to kill it.  It also loves a good soak of SEASOL fertiliser every now and again.

AND as always, please consult your medical practitioner before you use ANY herbal remedy as they may have contraindications to any medications you may be taking.

I hope you enjoyed this little delve into Rosemary.

Let me know in the comments below how you use Rosemary - what is your favourite thing to do with it (be it culinary or Witchy..)

Until next time, please take care of yourselves and each other.

Blessings to you all,

Annette )O( xxx

Herbal Profiles ~ Chamomile

 Hello my lovelies,

Here I am again with another Herbal Profile from the plants in my garden ~ this time it is the beautiful calming CHAMOMILE...

Roman Chamomile

BOTANIC NAME: Anthemis nobilis.

AKA: Maythen, Manzanilla, Whig plant, Roman chamomile, German chamomile, Ground Apple, Chamaimelon, Camamyle, Camomile.

GENDER: Male (Hot).

ELEMENT: Water.

PLANET: Sun.

DEITY: Ra, Helios, Apollo, Balder, Cernunnos.

NOTED ~ For it's calmative, purification and meditative states.

FOLKLORE ~ Egyptian women mixed it with rose petals to apply it to their skin for a youthful appeal.  Cooks used to soak rancid meat in to mask the odour (way before modern food preservation techniques).  In the Middle Ages they use to scatter the flower on the floor to repel vermin and pests, plus as to serve as a natural deodoriser. 

About my 4th harvest of 2025

USES ~ Make into a tea for a good night's sleep. Make into an infusion to cleanse your house (windows, door frames, floors) by adding the infusion to a bucket of water.  You can make a hair rinse (infusion same as cleaning for your house) or add powdered chamomile to your shampoo mix. You can soak it in milk to add to baked goods.

Plant near other plants to dispel pests.

Drying it on paper

ALLERGIES ~ If you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, marigold, or any plants related to the Asteraceae or Compositea species ~ best avoid this one.

If you are pregnant ~ then consult your medical practitioner before using any herbal remedy.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Use in prosperity charms to draw in money.  Add to incenses to bring on restful states for meditation, it induces sleep if burned.

Used for purification, love, evil eye protection, strength in difficult times.

Here is the excerpt in my book - not a really good picture because of the shadow in my room and the fact that I did a drawing on the other side of the page which sort of buckled the paper a bit...hence why I have taken to drawing on a piece of paper, cutting it out and sticking it in my book...

Again - please don't mind my scribble hahaha..

I keep mine in a jar so that I can use it when I need to (for tea, or tea blends, for using in incenses, oils, washes etc).

I also have an deck of cards called "The Green Witch's Deck of Magical Herbalism" by Arin Murphy-Hiscock, which has the most beautiful cards of all the herbs and flowers that a Green Witch would use. Each card has a load of information as to what it is used magically for - but also the booklet has a lot more.

I am finding them handy as I research the information for my own purposes.

I use it to find a plant to work with for the week - when I say "work with" it's more like a get to know in depth - though I feel like I have only skimmed the surface with these plants as I go - there is much, much more to know about them.

So this is CHAMOMILE, I am sure you are all familiar with it, or have used it in one capacity or another.  Maybe I have told you something you didn't know ~ maybe not.

AND - if you have any further information on the wonderful Chamomile, I would be only too happy to receive that in the comments.

Until next time take care,

Blessing to you all,

Annette )O(

Herbal Profiles ~ Cornflower

 Hello my Magical Unicorns,

I came up with this brilliant idea a month ago about doing herbal profiles for plants that I have growing in my garden.  I thought I would draw a picture, put all the correspondences in, both Muggle and Witchy, and all at the same time build up my apothecary stock.

I decided to work one week with each flower, plant, herb etc and build up a relationship with said plant, dry them or have them on my Altar, put them in oils, use them in teas etc,, looking up in my reference books all the details of them.

Then I decided (quite recently) - Maybe I should put them on my blog for all to see!!  Now mind you, as my writing is not that neat in my book (I will show pictures of it anyway), I have decided to write all the correspondences down in text (so you don't have to read my awful writing).

So my first offering is the humble CORNFLOWER:

BOTANIC NAME: Centaurea cyanus.

AKA: Bachelor's Buttons.

Gender: Female (Cold).

Element(s): Air and Earth.

Planet: Venus & Saturn.

Deity: Venus, Brigid.

Crystal: Blue Sapphire.

NOTED ~ for its calmness, serenity, peace, tranquility and openness.  It's a real beauty of the natural world. It is a symbol of hope.

FOLKLORE ~ They were said to be worn by unmarried young men in love ~ they would wear them in their lapels and if the flower faded quickly, it was taken as a sign that the man's love was not returned.  If it lasted, then the man was in luck and could pursue the lady in question.

                                                                                    

  

USES ~ Used in traditional medicines, the dried flower can help reduce swelling, it helps with menstrual cramps, yeast infections, and many other conditions.

You can make a tea with either fresh or dried flowers (has a spicy flavour similar to Cloves), you can add the petals to a salad.

You can also make a tincture from the flowers by immersing 1/2 jar of dried petals in 80-100 proof vodka for 6-8 weeks in a dark cupboard.

This tincture can then be strained and used as a pick-me-up when your moods are down and you need self love.

ALLERGIES ~ If you are allergic to ragweed, daisies, chrysanthemums, marigold, or any plants related to the Asteraceae or Compositea species ~ best avoid this one.

If you are pregnant ~ then consult your medical practitioner before using any herbal remedy.

WITCHCRAFT USES ~ Sprinkle petals in your right shoe to draw in love.  It is used to draw love to yourself. Use Cornflower to enhance psychic awakening.  It helps access self knowledge and enhances meditation or divination sessions (if drunk as a tea). Use it in incense blends. Make ink out of the blue petals to write in your Grimoire. Can be used to dye eggs or materials.  Use in workings that require LOVE, carry a sachet with Cornflower in to invite love to YOU...

This is my book that I am writing my herbal profiles in - yeah - my handwriting leaves a lot to be desired

So there you have it, my little delve into this beautiful Cornflower.  I love watching these come 

up in the garden each year in Spring, their flowers always remind me of fairy wings, which always brings a smile to my face - they are so cheery.

I hope you will love this series that I am about to embark on, I was going to do video's on 

YouTube, but I am still very camera shy.

Until next time, take care my loves,

Blessings to you all 

)O( Annette

Witchcraft Series ~ Altar Cloths, and how to make your own!!!

Hello my little Henbanes,

Today I have uploaded a video regarding making your own Altar cloths instead of buying ready made/printed ones from your metaphysical stores for an exuberant price.

It's very easy - honestly, if I can do it - you can!!

So all you little witches who would love an Altar cloth and don't know where to start - check this out!!

Catch you all next time & many blessings to you!!

Annette )O( xxx

BELTANE in Australia 2025....

Bealtaine Blessings to all my Witches, Wizards, Ghouls, Goblins and Fae Folk in the Southern Hemisphere...(even though this year it is actually on the 8th November - but I am getting in early hahaha!!)..

I know I had a rant about it being called Bealtaine in Australia seeing that is the Celtic word for MAY - and it's November.... but I have caved in under the pressure and am still calling it Bealtaine..

Bealtaine/Beltane/Beltaine is celebrating Spring's arrival with modern and traditional rituals.

Feasts, Fires and Abundance encapsulates the energy of this season - even though due to fire restrictions in Australia, we cannot have our bonfires to celebrate (like they do in the Northern Hemisphere).  

Here are a few ways we in Australia can celebrate:

Handfasting - a time to celebrate commitments and partnerships (or renew them).

Candle Leaping - instead of bonfire leaping - place a lit candle in a cauldron and leap over it for good luck, fertility and purification.

Incense Leaping - same thing with the cauldron, put a bunch of herbs relating to your intention - like purification or cleansing, releasing negative energies etc., light it so it smokes. Jump over the smoke and envision the smoke cleansing, purifying or whatever your intention was, and releasing it to the universe.

Cleansing Rituals - cleaning your home with herbal/floral imbued water (ie., chamomile brewed in water) to cleanse your home of any negative energies.

Altar Cleansing - cleanse your altar for the season and add spring colours like red, yellow, orange, gold and green. Add in herbs, flowers and candles, plus any Deities that you honour at this time.

Rituals - Perform a ritual to honour the power of female energy through meditation and affirmation.

Kitchen Witchery - bake a cake or make a feast for family and friends (or invited guests).

Nature - be in nature and give thanks to the land spirits for all that you have, take time, breathe and be enveloped by the sights, sounds and smells of nature. Give an offering to the land spirits as a way of saying thanks for your abundance.

So whatever you are doing, whichever day (1st or 8th November) you may be celebrating, may you have a Blessed time....

ALSO: Samhain Blessings to all our Northern Hemisphere folk too.

                                                        AND Happy Halloween to all!!       

Blessings to you all,

Annette )O(

Should we call it Bealtaine in Australia/Southern Hemisphere???

 

Hello my glorious Witches, Wizzards, Goblins and Fae Folk,

So here is something to get the old grey matter working......

Today I thought we would look at the word Bealtaine in Australia or Southern Hemisphere - which is usually celebrated around the same time as the Northern Hemisphere celebrating Samhain - on the 31st October - 1st November.

I have a bit of an issue with us calling it Bealtaine, or Beltane, or Beltain - in that the Celtic word for the month of MAY is Bealtaine - and as we in the Southern Hemisphere celebrate this season at the end of October, early November - I don't feel comfortable with calling the Sabbat Bealtaine - or MAY!!

I think we need to reinvent the wheel of the year to coincide with our seasons - not with the Celtic months of the year.

So for Bealtaine for instance - I came up with Beltober hahaha, which is what I am now going to call it.

What are your thoughts on this?

Do you know if anyone in the Pagan Community in the Southern Hemisphere has reinvented the wheel of the year to our seasons?  I would be very interested to find out!!

Let me know in the comments (which I have now activated for everyone to be able to comment).

Blessings to you all

Annette )O( xxx