the ghost with the most
@frahnkenstein
listen to them, the children of the night. what music they make
twitter
insta
  • underworldariel-deactivated2021

    Herbs for the Mediaeval Household for Cooking, Healing and Divers Uses

    The title is a link to the New York Metropolitan Museum website, where you can download and read this piece of work for yourself for free.

    I started reading this because it was a very easy and comfortable read, and I cannot resist an old book. This was published in 1943 and investigates the Medieval history of herbs, and I can only say I wish I physically owned this book.

    It's a curious read, and can be very inspirational, but I wouldn't go as far to use it as a source without consulting modern herbal ideas, as even the 'at present' information may have changed a lot in the last century.

    However, I did still learn a lot of curiosities from this read. Here's some of my favourite things the book mentioned which I do find very valuable or inspiring (to witchcraft):

    • Betony is supposed to keep off monstrous nighttime visitors. This gave me some cool ideas for sleep paralysis spells.
    • Chaste Tree leaves strewn under the pillow and bed are said to keep off evil dreams.
    • Mallows and Rue (known as the herb of grace) were supposed to keep a witch from your home.
    • To just look at marigolds was said to draw out evil humours.
    • Mints were often used to adorn the city streets upon a triumphant return.
    • Peonies were known as 'blessed roses' and said to guard against storms, nightmares, devils, and fears.
    • In the medieval era, they believed that to carry periwinkle that was touching the skin meant the devil had no power over you. They also thought it stopped witchery entering the home and would drive any within out. They noted it to drive out any evil spirits.
    • The medieval population were seriously obsessed with worms and evil dreams/spirits. Another one they believed to rid evil dreams was rosemary. They also thought it kept you youthful, which even in the 1940s, people were still using this herb for.
    • "Why should a man die whilst sage grows in his garden?" is a popular medieval phrase.
    • Bees love thyme!
    • If you're a Middle Ages kind of witch, vervain is essential! It was known as a holy herb and said to magically work all sorts of wonders: escaping from your enemies at battle, being blessed with love, finding master knowledge.

    I think also what this book allowed me to understand is that the Medieval age was more intellectually inclined than I thought.

    By this I mean it mentions all these herbs they used and knew of, and how they used to eat meats, omelettes, pies, salads, and more.

    They mention names of ailments and illnesses that even in this present day, people seem to not believe in/understand.

    In the cooking entry for primrose, a recipe from the medieval era references using almond milk.

    It's a pleasant reminder that medieval people were people with recipes and palettes and knowledge just like us, and not some far off figments of our imagination living in stick houses.

    However, it is funny how much they talk about worms, and whilst they knew of illnesses, they definitely didn't know how to cure them.

    This is a really easy read which is formatted in an easy way to reference back to. If you're looking for a Medieval source for your witchcraft and don't mind skimming through the outdated ideas for your inspiration, download this.

    • #herbs#herbology#tips#ref#witchy#queue horizons
    May 28, 2020โ€ข1 year ago
    via

    685 notes

    1. witch-insani-tea reblogged this from strange-witch
    2. marxxfem reblogged this from balkanradfem
    3. balkanradfem reblogged this from themindbunker
    4. latenightmagic reblogged this from sagely-perception
    5. noweyesee reblogged this from sagely-perception
    6. andromidagalaxie reblogged this from sagely-perception
    7. stuckinthebeoomcloset reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    8. brujabeau reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    9. chaotic-sporatic reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    10. anotheraverageotaku reblogged this from nyano64
    11. magic-aesthetic reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    12. nyano64 reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    13. drakegryphonphoenixrisen reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft
    14. sinful-pleasures-mostly-food reblogged this from witchy-kitchen-craft