Mathilde Kschessinska (31 Aug 1872 – 6 Deb 1971)

Herb and Flora Properties

A

Acacia: Exorcism, banishing, money, love, to be burned for alter offering, aiding in psychic powers, meditation, protection                                                                          

Acorn: Strength, money and wealth, protection

Adam and Eve Roots: (TOXIC) Attract love, happiness

Adders Tongue: Healing, divination

African Violet: Protection, promote spirituality

Agaric: (TOXIC) Encourage fertility

Agrimony: Protection, banish negative energy-entities, reverse spells, break hexes, promotes sleep, psychic protection, returns spells to their senders

Ague Root: Protection, break hexes

Alder: Whistles entice the Elemental earth, water magic, strength

Alfalfa: Abundance, prosperity, money, anti-hunger, frugality, providence, place in the kitchen

Alkanet: Repel negativity, attract prosperity, purification All Heal- Mental powers

Allspice: Money, luck, healing, prosperity when burned, courage, magickal power, love, lust

Almond: Prosperity, success in business ventures, money, wisdom, love, anger management

Aloe: Protection, luck, money, repel evil, healing, beauty, success, peace                          

Aloes, Wood: Love, spirituality, money, protection  Althea - protection, psychic power, attract good spirits

Alyssum: Protection, calm anger

Amaranth: Healing, protection, healing heartbreak, invisibility Amber: Healing                                      

Ambergris: Lust, sex Anemone - health, protection, healing

Angelica: Protection, exorcism, remove curses and hexes, healing, visions, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house, increases life energy bringing warmth of Fire element, wards off negativity when sprinkled around the house                                                                       

Anise: Divination, psychic awareness, joy, dreams, luck, love, enthusiasm, Winter Solstice, entices the spirits to aid in spells

Apple: Love, healing, garden blessing, buried in the garden on Samhain as food for the departing spirits, to be shared with one you love,  immortality, happiness, luck, broken heart, spirit food, the goddess 

Apricot: Love

Arabic Gum: Purification, spirituality, protection

Arbutus: Exorcism, protection    

Arrowroot: Protection

Asafetida: Purification, protection, exorcism

Ash: Prosperity, protection, healing, love, wands, leaves for prophetic dreams, sea rituals, longevity, peace, luck, purification, study, enhances magic, besom

Aspen: Protection, eloquence, anti-theft

Aster: Love                                                                                            

Astragalus: Fortification, Strength

Avens: Exorcism, love, purification, Exorcism, purification, love

Avocado: Beauty, love, lust

B

Bachelors Buttons: Love

Balm of Gilead: (TOXIC) Love, manifestations, ease a broken heart, protection, healing, love

Bamboo: Protection, luck, break hexes, wishes

Banana: Prosperity, fertility, potency

Banyan: Luck, happiness

Barley: Healing, protection, love

Basil: Exorcism, love, protection, prosperity, wealth, repels negative energy, sympathy, wealth, flying, courage, business, fertility, healing relationships, ensure faithfulness on masses  

Bay: Psychic powers, protection, healing, purification, strength, wish magick, wisdom, good luck, fertility, banish negativity, energy, insight, divination, victory, prosperity, employment, mental power, burn for psychic powers 

Bayberry: Employment

Bean: Love, protection, exorcism, wart charming, reconciliation, potency                                                                  

Beech: Creativity, wishes, fertility, balance mental health

Beet: Love

Belladonna: (TOXIC) Visions, astral protection, divination

Benzoin: Purification, prosperity, astral projection, confidence, protection

Bergamot: Success, money, confidence, protection, prosperity, employment, unwanted advances

Be-Still: (TOXIC) Luck

Betony: Love, healing, burn at Litha for purification, protection; place under pillow to be rid of nightmares; sprinkle around doors to ward off despair, psychic awareness

Birch: Purification, protection, exorcism, cleansing, beauty, catalyst, blessing, health, besom, beginnings

Bistort: Fertility, psychic powers

Bittersweet: (TOXIC) Protection, healing, broken heart

Black Cohosh: Courage, love, protection, potency

Black Hellebore: (TOXIC) Invisibility, exorcism, astral projection

Black pepper: Courage, protection

Black Snakeroot - Love, lust, money

Blackberry: Healing, protection, prosperity, money, pies for Lughnassadh

Blackthorn: Returns evil to it's sender

Bladderwrack: Psychic powers, protection, money, water or sea spells, wind spells, travel,  psychic Clarity

Bleeding Heart: Love

Blessed Thistle: Protection, animal healing, abundance

Bloodroot: (TOXIC) Love, purification, protection

Bluebell: Luck, truth

Blueberry: Protection

Blue Cohosh Root: Courage, balance, protection 

Blue Flag: (TOXIC) Money, wealth, success in business

Bodhi: Wisdom, fertility, protection, meditation

Boneset: Protection, exorcism

Borage: Courage, psychic powers, carry leaves for protection

Bracken: Protection, healing, fertility, prophetic dreams, rune magick

Brazil Nut: Love

Briar: Add to tea for clairvoyant dreams, protection

Briony: (TOXIC) Mage magick, protection, money

Bromeliad: Protection, money

Broom: (TOXIC) Divination, wind spells, purification of the circle, hung indoors for protection

Bryony: (TOXIC) Pleasure, reveal secrets 

Buchu: Prophetic dreams, psychic powers

Buckeye: Luck, divination, money, wealth, prosperity, gambling

Buckthorn: Protection, exorcism, wishes, legal matters

Buckwheat: Protection, money

Burdock: Protection, healing, wards off negativity, purifies, protects (washing floors or dried root on red string around the neck), happy home, clears space & holds the space safe, spirit of north

C

Cabbage: Luck

Cactus: Protection, chastity

Calamus: (TOXIC) Luck, protection, healing, money, purification

Calendula: Stress management , opening to the 3rd Chakra, helps energy move outward from center of body extending in all directions

Camellia: Prosperity, wealth, luxury

Camphor: (TOXIC) Healing, divination, chastity, past lives, prophetic dreams, purification, psychic awareness, unwanted advances

Caper: Lust, love, potency

Caraway: Protection, lust, healing, mental powers, repel negativity, psychic healing, vitality, energy, magickal power, anti-theft

Cardamon: Lust, love, burned in love spells and in love sachets

Carnation: Protection, strength, healing, altar offering to the goddess, strength

Carob: Protection, health

Carrot: Fertility, lust, vision, the God aspect

Cascara Sagrada: Protection, money, legal matters

Cashew: Prosperity, money, communication

Cassia: Psychic awareness, spirituality

Castor: (TOXIC) Protection, repel negativity

Catnip: Love, beauty, happiness, power, courage, positive cat magik, friendship, joy, anger management, depression management, familiars

Cat Tail: Lust

Cayenne: Exorcism, healing

Cedar: Healing, purification, money, protection, cleansing, courage, stopping sexual harassment, prosperity, aura field and space

Celandine: Joy, protection, happiness, escape, legal matters, depression management

Celery: Lust, psychic powers, mental clarity, concentration, peace

Centaury: Snake removing

Chamomile: Purification, tranquility, money, sleep-rest (tea), love, luck, meditation, prosperity, incense for the God, gambling, hex breaking, legal matters, peace, dreams, dexterity, protection

Chapparal: Fire element rituals, Protection, Spirit of South 

Cherry: Love, divination, burn chips at sabbats, creativity , victory

Chestnut: Love

Chickweed: Love, fidelity

Chicory: Favors, frugality, remove obstacles, invisibility, frigidity, liberation

Chili Pepper: Fidelity, love, break hexes

China Berry: (TOXIC) Luck, change

Chrysanthemum: (TOXIC) Protection

Cilantro: Health

Cinchona: Protection, luck

Cinnamon: Prosperity, success, spirituality, healing, lust, protection, love, psychic powers, passion, power, dreams, strength, astral projection, courage, money, purification, personal empowerment

Cinquefoil: Money, protection, sleep, prophetic dreams, purification, lust, prosperity, divination dreams 

Citron: Healing, eaten to increase psychic powers

Civet: Love, lust, sex

Cloth-of-Gold: Animal communication

Clove: Protection, exorcism, purification, love, money, mental clarity, burn for wealth, wards off negativity, counter spells, cleansing, divination, luck, depression management, psychic awareness, prophetic dreams, happiness, gossip 

Clover: Success, protection, money, exorcism, love, fidelity, consecration, beauty, luck, youth, healing, faeries, prosperity

Club Moss: Protection, power

Coconut: Purification, protection, chastity, Water

Cohosh, Black: Courage, protection, potency, menopause

Coltsfoot: Love, psychic visions, healing, wealth, prosperity

Columbine: Courage, love

Comfrey: (TOXIC) Money, root or leaves for healing, carry for safe travel, protection, stress management, safe Journeys (Worldly or through Meditation) , Winter Solstice 

Copal: Love, purification, exorcism, protection, spirituality, earth element, sets sacred space, allows guides and guidance to come

Coriander: Love, health, healing, protection, longevity

Corn: Divination, protection, luck, money

Cornflower: Psychism

Cornsilk: Water element, stimulates flow

Cotton: Luck, healing, protection

Cowslip: Youth, healing, treasure finding, luck, love, psychic dreams

Crocus: Love, visions, wisdom

Cubeb: Love

Cuckoo-Flower: Love, fertility

Cucumber: Healing, fertility, chastity

Cumin: Exorcism, protection, prevents theft, fidelity, love

Curry: Protection, exorcism

Cyclamen: Fertility, protection, happiness, lust, broken heart

Cypress: Healing, protection, comfort, longevity, peace, sleep, liberation

D

Daffodil: Love, luck, fertility

Daisy: Love, lust, Luck, depression management, faeries and elves, happiness

Damiana: Divination, love, lust, sex magick, dreams, visions, psychic powers, opens door between worlds

Dandelion Leaf and Root: Purification, divination, wishes, calling spirits

Date Palm: Potency, fertility

Datura: (TOXIC) Protection, sleep, break hexes

Deerstongue: (TOXIC) Lust, psychic powers, gossip management

Devil's Bit: Love, protection, luck, exorcism

Devil's Shoestring: Protection, luck, gambling, power, employment

Dill: Love, lust, seeds draw money, leaves for protection, flowers for love

Dittany of Crete: Manifestations, astral projection

Dock: Money, healing, fertility

Dodder: Love divination, knot magic

Dogbane: Love

Dogwood: Protection, wishes

Dong Quai, Slices: Health, vitality, fire element rituals

Dragons Blood: Power, protection, exorcism, potency, love, courage, fortune, catalyst, magick power, strength, purification, stimulates action of other herbs in incense blend, stimulates movement of energy

Dulse: Harmony, lust

Dutchman's Breeches: Love

E

Ebony: Protection, power

Echinacea: Strengthening spells, health, strength, wards off negativity or undesirable energies

Edelweiss: Invisibility, bullet-proofing

Elder: (CAUTION: SEEDS ARE POISONOUS, TOXIC)  Money, wishes, theft protection, exorcism, healing, prosperity, sleep, wards negative thoughts when used as wind chimes, blessings, do not burn the wood of elder for it is sacred to Hecate, see fairies in the trees at Litha, flowers used as an alter offering, berries for esbat wine, flowers added to candle spells directed at hecate during the new moon, cleansing, offering

Elderberries: Prosperity, protection, sleep, joy, visions, banishing, energy, ancient wisdom, contactwith elementals, invoke magic

Elderflower: Purifying, healing

Elecampane: Love, protection, psychic powers, anger management

Elm: Protection, love, attracts elves

Endive: Love, lust

Eryngo: Peace, love, lust, traveler's luck

Eucalyptus: (TOXIC) Healing, protection, joy, purification, air element rituals

Euphorbia: (TOXIC) Protection, purification

Eyebright: Joy, psychic powers, mental clarity, mental ability and clarity, visions

F

False Unicorn Root: Connection to magical realm, contains energy and intention

Fennel: Protection, exorcism, healing, purification, virility, sacred to the God, hung over doors at Litha, strength, courage, money

Fennel Seed: Stimulates movement

Fenugreek: Prosperity, wealth, money, mental powers, clearing

Fern: (TOXIC) Money, wealth, eternal youth, protection, outside for rain, luck, riches, health, exorcism

Feverfew: Protection, wards sickness, wards accidents in traffic

Fig: Divination, fertility, love

Figwort: Protection, health

Fir: Health, prosperity, birth and rebirth 

Flax: Luck, money, protection, purification, beauty, psychic powers, healing, health, initiates flow

Fleabane: Exorcism, protection, chastity

Forget-Me-Not: Mental powers

Foxglove: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, TOXIC) Faeries and elves, lust, grow in garden for protection of the house and yard

Fragrant Bedstraw: Love

Frankincense: Exorcism, purification, protection, spirituality, power, meditation, blessing, concentration, banishing, courage, divination, healing, love, purification, consecration, sets sacred space, sets safe space for guides to come in, spirit of east or north

Fumitory: Money, exorcism

Furz/egorse: Burn at Ostara for protection and as a preparation for any conflict

Fuzzy Weed: Love, hunting

G

Galangal: Protection, legal matters, lust, health, money, psychic powers, break hexes, energy, strength, courage

Gardenia: Love, peace, healing, spirituality, psychic awareness

Garlic: Protection, healing, health, exorcism, lust sacred to Hecate, flowers for altar offerings, cloves for protection, anti-theft, wishes, relief from nightmares

Gentian: Power, love, break hexes, wishes, theft

Geranium: (TOXIC) Courage, abundance, health, love, protection, fertility

Giant Vetch: Fidelity

Ginger: Love, money, success, power, aphrodisiac, psychic ability, apathy, lust, good health, magickal power, fire element rituals, brings into existence, bringer of the manifestation, 3rd chakra vitality, inner strength, stimulates flow of energy, spirit of south

Ginseng: Longevity, sexual potency, protection, healing, love, lust, wishes, beauty, vitality, fertility, desire, encourages a long lasting affect, strength

Goat's Rue: Healing, health

Goldenrod: Prosperity, money, divination, luck

Goldenseal: Money, healing

Gorse: Protection, money

Gotu Kola: Meditation

Gourd: Protection

Grain: Protection

Grains of Paradise: Love, lust, luck, money, wishes

Grape: Mental clarity, money, fertility, garden magick, happiness

Grass: Psychic powers, protection

Ground Ivy: Divination

Groundsel: Health, healing

Gum Mastic: Magickal power

H

Hawthorn: Happiness, fertility, powerful wands, protection, chastity, fishing magick, faeries and elves, purification, business, depression management, purity, cleansing

Hawthorne Berries: 4th chakra strength and vitality, love, contentment

Hazel: Luck, fertility, protection, wishes, nuts strung on cord in house or ritual room to invite the help of plant fairies, used for wands, healing, anti-lightning, love, aphrodisiac, wisdom, divination, mental powers, intelligence, inspiration

Heather: Luck, protection, red to start or end an affair, white for protection, purple for spiritual development, use at samhain to invite spirits to visit, rain making, spirituality

'Heliotrope: (TOXIC) Exorcism, prophetic dreams, healing, wealth, invisibility, money, spirituality, prosperity, psychic awareness

Hellebore, Black: (TOXIC) Protection

Hemlock: (TOXIC) Astral projection, diminish libido, power, purification, charging, alignment

Hemp: Healing, love, visions, meditation

Henbane: (TOXIC) Love, luck, divination, invisibility

Henna: Healing, health, love, change, dying material

Hibiscus: Love, lust, divination, 5th Chakra

Hickory: Legal matters

High John the Conqueror: (TOXIC) Strength, confidence, health, love, money, success, happiness, break hexes, increase strength, legal matters, anointing, victory

Holly Thistle: Purification, break hexes

Holly: Protection, luck, dream magic, anti-lightning, balance, dreams, enhances magic, holiness, consecration, beauty 

Honesty: Money, protection

Honeysuckle: Protection, money, psychic powers, confidence, broken heart, luck, happiness, healing, depression management

Hops: Healing, sleep, stress management, opens the channel in and out of the body in relationship with the universe 

Horehound: Exorcism, healing, purification, protection, mental clarity, balance, banishing, opens air element within body & in the world, opens channel for clear communication

Horse Chestnut: (TOXIC) Healing, money

Horseradish: Exorcism, purification

Horsetail: Fertility

Houseleek: Love, luck, protection

Huckleberry: Protection, luck, dream magic, break hexes

Hyacinth: (TOXIC) Business, court cases, sleep, depression management, love, protection, happiness

Hydrangea: Break hexes

Hyssop: Healing, protection, purification, wards negativity, prosperity, money, banishing, dragon energy

I

Indian Paint Brush: Love

Iris: Purification, wisdom, courage, reincarnation, spirituality, happiness

Irish Moss: Luck, money, protection, opens throat, opens channel for clear communication

Ivy: (TOXIC) Divination, protection, healing, fertility, love, fidelity

J

Jasmine: Divination, love, money, prophetic dreams, sleep, prosperity, spirituality, visions, confidence, broken heart, astral projection, business, court cases

Jimson Weed: Protect against evil spirits

Job's Tears: Luck, wishes, healing

Joe-Pye Weed: Love, respect

Juniper: Protection, love, exorcism, health, anti-theft, banishing, peace, wishes, aphrodisiacs, sets sacred space, spirit of north

K

Kava Kava: Lust, protection while traveling, astral projection, visions, luck, visions, protection, love, opens one to receiving guidance and guides

Kelp: Wind spells, psychic powers, protection, connection to divine source through the physical and spiritual, unity, life-force strengthening, spirit of center

Knotweed: Health, binding spells, protection

L

Lady's Mantle: Love, self control

Lady's Slipper: Protection

Larch: Protection, anti-theft

Larkspur: Protection, health

Lavender: Protection, call in good spirits, love, sleep, longevity, happiness, peace, healing, burn for purification, peace, use in bath for purification, burn at Litha as an offering, psychic awareness, chastity, liberation, menopause, childbirth, grief or loss, youthful vigor, stress management, travel, anger management, attracts elves

Leek: Exorcism, love, protection

Lemon: Purification, love, friendship, longevity, cleansing, healing, peace, success, broken heart, anger management, devotion

Lemon Balm: Love, success, healing, depression management, aphrodisiac, soothe emotional pain after relationship ends

Lemon Verbena: Protection, purification, love, power, beauty, youth, happiness, peace, mental and emotional balance, summer solstice

Lemongrass: Psychic powers, mental clarity, lust, repel snakes

Lettuce: Love divination, sleep, protection, chastity, luck

Licorice: Love, lust, fidelity, aphrodisiac, meditation, harmony

Life-Everlasting: Health, healing, longevity

Lilac: Eorcism, protection, purification, beauty, love, peace, psychic awareness

Lily: Protection, exorcism, repel negativity, truth, break love spells, strength, purification, breaking hexes

Lily of the Valley: (TOXIC) Mental clarity, happiness, insight, depression management, peace

Lime: Healing, love, protection, cleansing, happiness, purification

Linden: Healing, protection, luck, love, sleep, bark for protection, leaves and flowers for immortality, good fortune, youth, attraction, longevity 

Liquid Amber: Protection

Liverwort: Love, protection

Lobelia - (TOXIC) healing, love

Loosestrife: Peace, protection, harmony, purple restores harmony and brings peace

Lotus: Protection, spirituality, love, lock opening, liberation, mental powers

Lovage: Love, attraction, cleansing, purification

Love Seed: Love, friendship

Lucky Hand: Protection, luck, money, travel, employment

M

Mace: Psychic powers, mental clarity, divination'

Maguey: Lust

Magnolia: Fidelity, past lives, peace, sex, broken heart, beauty, wisdom

Mahogany, Mountain: Anti-lightning 

Maidenhair: Beauty, love

Male Fern: Luck, love

Mallow: Love, protection, exorcism

Mandrake: (TOXIC) potency, exorcism, protection, fertility, money, love, health, protection, catalyst, prosperity, divination, increase psychic powers, aphrodisiacs, cursing enemies, building, banishing, protection in the subconscious, unconscious and underworld,

Maple: Money, longevity, love

Marigold: Prophetic dreams, protection, legal matters, marriage spells, enhanced psychic powers, pick in full sun, business and legal matters, clairvoyant dreams, mixed with water and rubbed on the eyelids to see fairies

Marjoram: Protection, love, happiness, health, money, depression management, prosperity

Marshmallow: Healing, friendship, boundaries, love, protection, strength, emotional balance'

Masterwort: Protection, strength, courage

Mastic: Psychic powers, lust, manifestations, love, magick power

May Apple: (TOXIC) Money, prosperity

Meadow Rue: Love, divination

Meadowsweet: Love, divination, peace, happiness, harmony, 3rd chakra

Mesquite: Healing

Milk Thistle: Creativity, protection, dispel, transformation

Mimosa: Love, protection, prophetic dreams, purification, past lives, visions

Mint: Exorcism, protection, money, lust, healing, travel, alter offering for helpful spirits , love, luck, anger management, dreams, abundance, prosperity, rejuvenation

Mistletoe: (TOXIC) Healing, protection, love, fertility, health, exorcism, hunting, success, catalyst, lust, liberation, sexual potency 

Molukka: Protection

Moonflower: Liberation

Moonwort: Love, money, divination

Morning Glory: (TOXIC) Peace, happiness, depression management

Moss: Luck, money

Motherwort: Balances within, self empowerment, 2nd chakra

Mugwort: Astral projection, strength, psychic powers, protection, prophetic dreams, healing, divination, rub fresh herb on crystal balls and magick mirrors to increase their strength, pick on full moon night, clairvoyance, purification, sex, renewal, fertility, clearing, sleep, visions, opens one to the teachings of the subconscious and unconscious self, 6th and 7th chakras

Mulberry: Protection, strength

Mullein: Exorcism, health, protection, courage, love divination, calling spirits, dreams, opens life energy flow through the body

Musk: Purification, sex

Mustard: Fertility, protection, mental clarity, health, money

Myrrh: Spirituality, purification, protection, healing, exorcism, wards negativity, burn for purification and consecrations, banishing, sets sacred space, ancient wisdom

Myrtle: Peace, money, love, youth, fertility, sleep, healing, prosperity

N

Narcissus: Peace

Nasturtium: Healing

Neroli: Love

Nettle: Exorcism, protection, healing, lust, abundance, 3rd and 6th chakra, banishing, stress management, gossip management

Niaouli: Protection

Norfolk Island Pine: Protection, anti-hunger

Nutmeg: Protection, money, health, luck, fidelity, break hexes, burn for prosperity, love, psychic awareness, relief from nightmares

Nuts: Fertility, prosperity, love, luck, use for tips on wands, gifts, communication

O

Oak: Protection, health, money, healing, potency, fertility, luck, the God, wands, burn leaves to purify the atmosphere, acorns draw money, burn wood for good health, acorns draw money, power, balance, prosperity

Oak Moss: Court cases, money, protection 

Oats: Money, offering to the god, stress management

Oleander: (TOXIC) Love

Olive: Healing, peace, fertility, potency, protection, lust, victory, spirituality

Onion: Exorcism, healing, protection, purification, money, prophetic dreams, lust

Orange: Love, divination, luck, money

Orange Bergamot: Prosperity, success, energy, joy, friendship, success, prosperity, psychic awareness, peels for love, incense for good fortune  

Orchid: Love, psychic powers

Oregon Grape: Money, prosperity

Orris: Divination, protection, love, prosperity, money, clairvoyance, sex, psychic awareness

P

Palmarosa: Hhealing, love

Palm Date: Fertility, potency

Pansy: Love, divination, rain magick, mental powers, strength

Papay: Protection, love, wishes

Papyrus: Protection, wisdom, self-insight

Parosela: Hunting

Parsley: Purification, protection, lust, love, fertility, prosperity

Passion Flower: Peace, sleep, friendships prosperity, increase libido, popularity, anger management, stress management

Patchouli: Money, fertility, lust, break hexes, incense for drawing money, earth, underworld, business, confidence, court cases, love, desire, prosperity, protection, success, sex, enemies

PAU D'ARCO: Fertility, wards off negativity, clears

Pea: Money, love

Peach: Exorcism, love, fertility, wishes, longevity, broken heart, youth

Pear: Love, lust

Pecan: Money, employment, prosperity, dreams, discipline

Pennyroyal: Exorcism, consecration, strength, protection, peace, healing

Peony: Exorcism, protection, purification

Pepper: Exorcism, protection, use in amulets or grow for protection, wards negativity

Peppermint: Purification, sleep, love, healing, psychic powers, divination, money, apathy, exorcism, insight, lust, menopause, clears energy and space

Pepper Tree: Protection, purification, healing

Periwinkle: (TOXIC) Protection, money, love, lust, mental clarity

Persimmon: Healing, luck, changing sex, insight into others

Petitgrain: Protection

Pilot Weed: Protection

Pimento: Love

Pimpernel: Protection, health

Pine: (TOXIC) Protection, exorcism, money, healing, fertility, brush outdoor ritual area with a branch to purify and sanctify, burn for cleansing, needles in money spells, spirituality, gambling, dreams, cleansing, banishing, purification, prosperity, employment, birth, rebirth, strength, life and immortality 

Pineapple: Luck, money, chastity, hospitality, protection

Pipsissewa: Money, calling in good spirits

Pistachio: Breaking love spells

Plantain: Protection, healing, strength, snake repelling

Plum: Protection, love, healing, self-confidence

Plumeria: (TOXIC) Love

Poke: (TOXIC) Courage, break hexes

Pomegranate: Divination, luck, wealth, wishes, fertility

Poplar: Money, astral projection, success

Poppy: Fertility, love, sleep, money, luck, healing, invisibility

Potato: Healing, image magick, astral projection, separation, foundations, earth energy

Prickly Ash: Love

Primrose: Protection, love

Purslane: Protection, love, happiness, luck, sleep

Q

Quassia: Love

Queen of the Meadow: Power, protection

Quince: Protection, love, happiness

R

Radish: Protection, lust

Ragweed: Courage, faeries and elves

Ragwort: Protection

Raspberry: Healing, visions, protection, love, alleviates labor pains, spirit of center, spring equinox

Rattlesnake Root: Protection, money

Red Clover Blossoms: Abundance, love, money, protection, success, summer solstice

Red Root: Clears energy, dispels

Rhubarb: Health, protection, fidelity

Rice: Protection, money, fertility, rain, blessings, weather magick

Roots: Protection, divination, power

Rose: Beauty, protection, purification, love, psychic powers, healing, divination, peace, luck, courage, catalyst, sex,  sleep, prophetic dreams, anger management, love divination, abundance, attraction, prosperity

Rose Geranium: Protection

Rose Hips: Healing, luck, call in good spirits, abundance, strength, fall equinox ceremony

Rosemary: Exorcism, protection, healing, love, lust, mental clarity, sleep, youth, burn for purification, wards negativity, love, blessing, consecration, cleansing, strength, wishes, dreams, beauty, theft, healing, psychic ability, spirit of south, grow to attract elves, blessing

Rowan: Protection, success, psychic powers, healing, power, wands and amulets for knowledge, incense of leaves and berries for divination, fires to call upon spirits for help, grow for protection of the home, inspiration, wisdom, enhances magic, attracts faeries 

Rue: Exorcism, protection, purification, break hexes, health, mental clarity, healing, blessing, consecration, use in altar oil, love, money and wealth, gossip management 

Rye: Love, fidelity

S

Saffron: Love, lust, healing, strength, happiness, psychic powers, wind raising, depression management

Sage: Purification, protection, wisdom, longevity, wishes, health, immortality, intuition, divination, luck, prosperity, money, spirituality, menopause, psychic ability, clears, inner guide, longevity, vision

Sagebrush: Exorcism, protection, purification, joy, peace

St. John's Wort: (TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, courage, strength, happiness, health, love divination, burn at Litha to send away negativity, wear for invincibility, willpower, gathered at Litha, power, stress management

Saltpeter: Unwanted advances  

Sandalwood: Protection, exorcism, purification, wishes, healing, spirituality, full moon esbats, wards negativity, spirit offering, luck, sex, banishing, astral projection, business, success, mental powers

Sarsaparilla: Love, money, inner strength, grounding, purification

Sassafras: Money, health, healing

Senna: Love

Serpentaria Root: Love, aphrodisiacs

Sesame: Money, success in business, lust, happiness, gambling

Shallot: Purification

Shamrocks: Faeries and elves

Shepherds Purse: Sleep, depression management, healing

Skullcap: Peace, love, fidelity, stress management, anxiety management

Skunk Cabbage: Good fortune, legal matters, legal matters

Slippery Elm: Halts gossip, aids verbal communication and development, enemies, friendship, ends disputes

Sloe: Exorcism, protection, banish negative energy/entities

Snakeroot: Money, luck, break hexes, love, lust

Snapdragon: Protection, break hexes, exorcism, prophetic dreams, prosperity, gossip management, money and wealth

Solomon's Seal: Love, exorcism, protection, an offering to the elementals for their aid

Sorrel, Wood: Healing, health

Southernwood: Love, lust, protection, faeries and elves

Spanish Moss: Protection

Spearmint: Healing, love, mental clarity

Spiderwort: Love

Spikenard: Health, fidelity, love, luck, strength, wisdom, mental powers

Squill: Protection, money, break hexes, business

Star Anise: Psychic powers, luck, good fortune, spiritual powers

Stephanotis: Lust

Stillengia: Psychic powers

Straw: Luck, attracts fairies, do not burn magik infused straw, it will bring ill-fortune, used as an image to protect an area, image magick, fertility 

Strawberry: Love, luck, joy, broken heart

Sugar Cane: Love, lust, prosperity, sympathy

Sumbul: Psychic powers, love, luck, health

Summer Savory: Mental clarity and strength, mental powers

Sunflower: Wisdom, health, wishes, fertility, happiness, friendship, prosperity

Sweetgrass: Calling in good spirits, bringer of positive energy, clears, seals In, burned after white sage which clears, spirit of east

Sweetpea: Strength, courage, friendship, chastity,  truth, love

T

Tamarind: Love

Tamarisk: Exorcism, protection

Tangerine: Magickal power

Tansy: Healing, health, longevity

Tea: Strength, courage, prosperity, riches, health

Thistle, Holly: Purification, hex breaking

Thistle, Milk: Exorcism, protection, healing, strength, break hexes, snake enraging

Thyme: Purification, courage, psychic powers, sleep, wards negativity, burn for purification, and healing spells, love, renewal, youth, divination, prophetic dreams, faery folk, romance

Ti: Protection, healing

Toadflax: Protection, break hexes

Toadstool: (TOXIC) Rain making

Tobacco: (TOXIC) Healing, purification, offerings

Tomato: Protection, prosperity, love

Tonka: (TOXIC) Courage, love, money, wishes, luck, friendship, prosperity

Tormentil: Protection, love

Trefoil: Decorate alter, protection, luck, when taking one, leave a bit of ginger or milk poured into the ground as payment to the fairies

Trillium: Love, luck, money

Tuberose: Love, lust, peace, psychic awareness

Tulip: Protection, prosperity, love

Turmeric: Purification (used with sea salt), fortification, strength, clears aggression

Turnip: Protection, endings, banish negativity

U

Uva Ursa: (TOXIC) Psychic powers

V

Valerian: Protection, purification, love, sleep, prophetic dreams, peace, sex, friendship, anxiety management, self esteem

Vanilla: Love, lust, mental clarity, money, confidence, attracting people, magickal power, prosperity, success, wishes

Venus Flytrap: Protection, love

Vervain: Sleep, protection, purification, love, money, peace, healing, gather/burn at Litha, altar offering, brings riches, creativity, wards psychic attack, youth, chastity, astral projection, unwanted advances, anger management, prosperity

Vetch, Giant: Fidelity

Vetivert: Love, luck, money, break hexes, wards negativity, anti-theft, exorcism, wishes, peace, protection, prosperity, divination 

Violet: Protection, healing, love, lust, luck, wishes, peace, sleep, insight, visions

W

Wahoo: (TOXIC) Courage, success, break hexes

Walnut: Health, mental clarity, wishes, infertility, spirituality, travel

Watercress: Healing

Wax Plant: Protection, power

Wheat: Money, fertility, prosperity

White Willow Bark: Healing, blessings, binding, sacred earth connection between human and earth and spirit, protection, spirit of east

Wild Lettuce: Love divination, protection, sleep, opens to the deeper consciousness, attunes to deeper meanings

Wild Plum: Healing

Wild Yam: Fortification, grounding, release, 1st chakra

Willow: Protection, healing, love, burn bark with sandalwood for divination, vitality, energy, ending pain, moon magic, wishing, spirits, death passage, besom, inspiration, pyschic energy 

Wintergreen: Protection, healing, break hexes, strength, good fortune, opens channels

Winter's Bark: Success

Wisteria: Spirituality

Witch Grass: Exorcism, happiness, love, lust

Witch Hazel: Protection, chastity, healing, beauty, unwanted advances

Wolf's Bane: (TOXIC) Protection, invisibility

Wood Betony: Love, purification, protection

Wood Rose: Luck

Wood Sorrel: Healing, health

Woodruff: Protection, money, victory, add to Beltane wine to clear away barriers, success, changes, psychic awareness, prosperity 

Wormwood: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, BURN IN WELL VENTILATED AREA, PREFERABLY OUTDOORS TOXIC) Exorcism, protection, love, psychic powers, calling spirits, protection while traveling, evocation, divination, scrying (stronger when combined with Mugwort) at Samhain, sacred to the moon, good luck, clairvoyance, divination, safety in cars

Y

Yarrow: Hhealing, divination, exorcism, protection, courage, love, psychic powers, happy marriage (wedding bouquet), wards negativity, defense, protection, gather at Litha, happiness, fidelity, broken heart, prophetic dreams, spirit of south, clears, stimulates movement

Yellowdock Root: Clears stuck energy, fortification

Yellow Evening Primrose: Hunting

Yerba Mate: Love, lust, fidelity

Yerba Santa: Protection, healing, psychic powers, beauty, clears channel to divine life force

Yew: (CAUTION: POISONOUS, TOXIC) Yule symbol for death and rebirth, used for dagger handles, raising the dead, psychic awareness, spirits

Ylang Ylang: Insight, love, past lives, peace, sex, visions

Yohimbe: (TOXIC) Love, lust

Yucca: Protection, purification, transmutation

Which Juliette binoche films would you reccomend ?

ugh, pretty much her entire filmography is on spot but here we go: I first saw her in the unbearable lightness of being (1988); she’s exceptional in it, pure Juliette, pure brilliance, she made a perfect Teresa. I love the work of Philip Kaufman, I think he can never go wrong – I’d definitely recommend the film whether you’re familiar w Kundera’s novel or not. then i’d go with les enfants du siècle (1999) for it’s a period drama & it’s terribly underrated; again, her portrayal of George Sand is extraordinary to say the least & it spoke volumes about her potential as an actress. chocolat (2000) is another favourite of mine; it supremely just does it on all levels for me–makes me feel nostalgic over & over again. it’s lovely, lovely & she was so exquisite in it. however, when it comes to her best performances:  trois couleurs: bleu (1993) directed by kieslowki is sublime; best film out of the entire trilogy plus it just shows that Juliette clicked so much w her head director–I believe he brought out the best in her acting & what they achieved together is transcending aka this one’s poetry in motion, you can’t miss it, it’s moving and 100% raw. les amants du pont-neuf (1991) is nice; I was first introduced to the work of Carax w that one and although I came to love mauvais sang (1986) a lot more, still, this is good work and Juliette is kind of beating herself in her own game acting wise. top favourite of mine is also copie conforme (2010); it’s subtle, it’s Cannes at its best & it’s a tricky film; requires a lot of patience but communicates its images so efficiently. elles (2011) is my guilty pleasure, I won’t expand on it but I was head over heels when I first saw it so yeah…and words and pictures (2013) – ahh so, so, amazing…she co-stars w Clive Owen and the thing works because it’s just not overdone, it’s very American at the core of it but it still works Idk. 1.000 times goodnight (2013) – I’d recommend it any day for the cinematography is glorious and number one is camille claudel 1915 (2013) – to this day I haven’t seen a biography film which spoke more to my heart. wholly and unequivocably. I still can’t get my head around how superb it is and how majestic Juliette is in it.

《Mad Hatter》

A story about little hatter I drew last year.

Francesco Solimena,Diana and Endymion (detail) 1705-10.

Matilda —¿Siempre es así de dura la vida o nada más cuando se es chico?

León— Siempre es así.

📽 : The Professional (1994)

THE WICCAN REDE

The Wiccan Rede is a statement that provides the key moral system in your Path. It’s important to acknowledge, in any discussion about the Rede that this is simply a guideline. There is a significant amount of variance from one path to the next and even from one individual to another. There is a good deal of room for interpretation and personal alteration. Many Wiccans even choose to claim the shorter rendition which reads simply as such: 

SHORT VERSION

“Eight words the Rede fulfill, ‘And it harm none, do what ye will.”

“An” is an unnecessarily archaic way of saying “as long as” or “if.”  It’s intended to be conditional. If this happens, that happens. It’s a “cause-and-effect” statement.  It implies that “doing no harm” is transitory, because it is a condition that might, or might not, be present.  If you are doing no harm, then you can do what you will.

I would argue that “doing no harm, ever” is simply not possible. Have you ever eaten a steak?  The cow was butchered and you consumed it.  How about a celery stick? That plant was destroyed for your sustenance. It’s not realistic to believe that one can live life and do no harm; just that one should go out of one’s way to minimize harm!  

A Wiccan should do their best not to cause harm; and that means that we should do our best to consider the effects of everything we do; magickally or otherwise. Moral decisions should then be made according to what is going to cause the least harm, including to ourselves.

FULL VERSION (Angelfire Rendition)

“Being known as the counsel of the Wise Ones: Bide the Wiccan laws ye must, in perfect love and perfect trust. Live and let live, fairly take and fairly give. Cast the Circle thrice about to keep unwelcome spirits out.

To bind the spell every time, let the spell be spake in rhyme. Light of eye and soft of touch, speak ye little, listen much. Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, Let love and light be our guides again. Deosil go by the waxing Moon, sing and dance the Wiccan rune. Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.

When the Lady’s Moon is new, kiss thy hand to Her times two. When the Moon rides at Her peak then your heart’s desire seek. Heed the Northwind’s mighty gale; lock the door and trim the sail.

When the wind comes from the South, love will kiss thee on the mouth. When the wind blows from the East, expect the new and set the feast. When the West wind blows o'er thee, departed spirits restless be.

Nine woods in the Cauldron go, burn them quick a’ burn them slow. Birch in the fire goes, To represent what the Lady knows. Oak in the forest towers with might, In the fire it brings the God’s insight. Rowan is a tree of power, Causing life and magick to flower. Willows at the waterside stand, Ready to help us to the Summerland.

Hawthorn is burned to purify, And to draw faerie to your eye. Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning, Adds its strength to the bright fire burning. White are the flowers of Apple tree, That brings us fruits of fertility. Grapes grow upon the vine, Giving us both joy and wine. Fir does mark the evergreen, To represent immortality seen. Elder is the Lady’s tree, Burn it not or cursed you’ll be.

Four times the Major Sabbats mark, In the light and in the dark. As the old year starts to wane, The new begins, it’s now Samhain. When the time for Imbolg shows, Watch for flowers through the snows. When the wheel begins to turn, Soon the Beltaine fires will burn. As the wheel turns to Lammas night, Power is brought to magick rite. Four times the Minor Sabbats fall, Use the Sun to mark them all.

When the wheel has turned to Yule, Light the log the Horned One rules. In the spring, when night equals day, Time for Ostara to come our way. When the Sun has reached it’s height, Time for Oak and Holly to fight. Harvesting comes to one and all, When the Autumn Equinox does fall. Heed the flower, bush, and tree , By the Lady blessed you’ll be. Where the rippling waters go, Cast a stone, the truth you’ll know. When you have and hold a need, Harken not to others greed. With a fool no season spend, Nor be counted as his friend. Merry Meet and Merry Part, Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.

Mind the Three-fold Law you should, Three times bad and three times good. When misfortune is enow, Wear the star upon your brow. In love you must be ever true, Unless your love is false to you.

Eight words the Rede fulfill, ‘And it harm none, do what ye will.’“

BREAKING IT DOWN

Now isn’t that a mouthful! Believe it or not, each line has its own special meaning, which of course is up for personal interpretation from the individual. Here are some examples from Angelfire to get you started in your studies.  

“Bide the Wiccan Laws ye must, In perfect Love and perfect Trust.” Basically, this refers to Perfect Love and Trust in the Divine, not necessarily in a human person. Remember, all Wiccans are human first, and they will have the same faults and shortcomings as everyone else. Honor them for their knowledge and experience, but don’t expect them to be saints! “Live and let all else live, Fairly take and fairly give.” Pretty self-explanatory… “Cast the Circle thrice about, To keep unwelcome spirits out.” This refers to casting the circle first with your athame, sword, staff, or whatever tool you use, then casting again around fully with salt & water, then a third casting is done with the Incense. (Not necessarily in that order - it goes by tradition) “To bind the spell every time, Let the spell be spake in rhyme.” This refers to your "younger self” or subconscious mind, which hears and reacts more quickly and more fully to rhymes and chants. It also makes it fun for your inner child, and this will enhance your magickal workings.

“Light of eye and soft of touch, Speak ye little, listen much.” “Light of eye” is an injunction against staring forcefully at another, and comes from the “evil eye”. Be gentle in both your gaze and touch. Avoid violence! The second line has always been sage advice. “Honor the Old Ones in deed and name, Let love and light be our guides again.” Similar to "Honor thy father and mother” but this means anyone elder, not just family. Somehow politeness is being lost in today’s society.  “Deosil go by the waxing moon, Sing and dance the Wiccan rune.”

"Deosil” means clock-wise, or sun-wise, and the waxing moon is from New Moon to just before the Full Moon, while the moon is “filling out. This is the time to ask for what you want to have joyful in your life. "Rune” is another name for spell, but specifically a rhymed, chanted, spell working. This is evolved from the use of a single rune (such as today are used for divination) to represent the person’s desire.

“Widdershins go when the moon doth wane, and the Werewolf howls by the dread Wolfsbane.” Now “widdershins” is counter clockwise, and the waning moon is after the full moon, when it is “dwindling.” This is the time to get rid of unwanted habits, weight, bad feelings, or anything you wish to be rid of. “Baneful” comes from “banish” and that’s what it means. “When the Lady’s moon is new, Kiss the hand to Her times two.” It was the custom in days gone before to send kisses to the New Moon. It must have been a very wide spread custom as I have seen references to the Inquisition warning people that those who did it would be closely watched for signs of heresy and witchcraft! “When the moon rides at Her peak, Then your heart’s desire seek.” This of course is the Full Moon, and the time when the magick of the Moon is at full power. “Heed the North winds’ mighty gale, Lock the door and trim the sail.” These next four verses are “wind wisdom” and refer to the times when the wind comes from the four directions, and also refers to the four seasons. The North wind is well known for the winter storms it brings. Lock everything up tight!

“When the wind comes from the South, Love will kiss thee on the mouth.” The warm southern wind brings Springtime, when young fancies turn to romance. “When the Wind blows from the East, Expect the new and set the feast.” The second line refers to the tendency the East wind has to bring changes, and unexpected visitors. “When the West wind blows o'er thee, Departed spirits restless be.” The West is the direction that the souls of those passing on to the Summerland will take. (I suppose they have to work harder when the wind is against them!) “Nine woods in the Cauldron go, Burn them quick a’ burn them slow.”

Nine woods are placed in the Beltain fires and each one is significant. “Birch in the fire goes, To represent what the Lady knows. Oak in the forest towers with might, In the fire it brings the God’s insight. Rowan is a tree of power, Causing life and magick to flower. Willows at the waterside stand, Ready to help us to the Summerland. Hawthorn is burned to purify, And to draw faerie to your eye. Hazel-the tree of wisdom and learning, Adds its strength to the bright fire burning. White are the flowers of Apple tree, That brings us fruits of fertility. Grapes grow upon the vine, Giving us both joy and wine. Fir does mark the evergreen, To represent immortality seen. Elder is the Lady’s tree, Burn it not or cursed you’ll be.” Count them, Elder is the 10th tree, and the Balefire only gets Nine. This is a warning to those who would burn the elder, and refers to the English elder, but I don’t burn the American one either. “Four times the Major Sabbats mark, In the light and in the dark.” The eight Sabbats are divided in two: the Major and Minor Sabbats. The Major Sabbats are: Samhain, Imbolc, Beltane, and Lammas. “As the old year starts to wane, The new begins, it’s now Samhain.” For many Wiccans, Samhain marks the New Year and is the most important Sabbat. It’s the time to remember the ancestors, and the time to celebrate the harvest and all that has been accomplished over the year.   “When the time for Imbolg shows, Watch for flowers through the snows.” Imbolg, is a preparation for spring. At Imbolg, Wiccans clean and organize their living environments, as well as their minds and hearts, in preparation for the upcoming season of growth. It’s a time to shake off the doldrums of late winter and light the fires of creativity and inspiration. “When the wheel begins to turn, Soon the Beltaine fires will burn.” Beltane is the time of the marriage and union of the Goddess as Mother Earth and the God of the Greenwood. It is an ancient fertility festival marking the beginning of the planting cycle. The festival was to ensure a good growing season and a bountiful harvest. Beltane is light-hearted and joyful. “As the wheel turns to Lammas night, Power is brought to magick rite.” For the ancient Pagans, Lammas was a time of both hope and fear. They held hope for a bountiful harvest and abundant food, but they feared that the harvest wouldn’t be large enough and that the cold months would be filled with struggle and deprivation. At Lammas, modern Wiccans also face their fears, concentrate on developing their own abilities, and take steps to protect themselves and their homes.   

“Four times the Minor Sabbats fall, Use the Sun to mark them all.” Now these Sabbats are called “Minor” simply because they happen at the start of the season, when the sun is just entering the Fixed Astrological signs of the four seasons. All of the Sabbats are considered “solar, meaning that they are calculated by the sun. These Minor Sabbats include Yule, Ostara, Litha, and Mabon.  “When the wheel has turned to Yule, Light the log the Horned One rules.” Yule is the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Some Wiccans consider Yule to be either the year’s beginning or the end. This is the time to celebrate the return of the light. Yule is the solar turning of the tides, and the newborn Sun offers a fresh start and, literally, a new day. It’s a time of renewal and hope. “In the spring, when night equals day, Time for Ostara to come our way.” Winter is now over. Light is increasing. The day and night are equal in length at the equinox. Spring has arrived or is coming soon. Ostara is the time of fertility, birth, and renewal. The ice is thawing, and the growing season for plants and animals begins. Growth is the theme of the day.   

“When the Sun has reached it’s height, Time for Oak and Holly to fight.” Litha is the longest day and the shortest night of the year. Light triumphs, but will now begin to fade into darkness as autumn approaches. The crops are planted and growing. The woods and forests have reached their peak fullness. This is the time of abundance for wildlife, including people! The holiday is joyous. “Harvesting comes to one and all, When the Autumn Equinox does fall.” At Mabon, the day and the night are equal in length, in sublime balance. For many locations, Mabon coincides with the final harvest of grain, fruits, and vegetables. Mabon, also called Harvest Home, is the time of thanksgiving. The beauty and bounty of summer gives way to the desolation of winter, and the darkness overtakes the light.   

“Heed the flower, bush, and tree, By the Lady blessed you’ll be.” All life is Sacred to the Goddess, and proper respect should be shown for the sacrifice of Her Creatures and Plants so that we may eat and survive. “Where the rippling waters go Cast a stone, the truth you’ll know.” This is referring to a water divination, where one tosses a pebble into the surface of still water to watch the ripples and divine the future. “When you have and hold a need, Harken not to others greed.” One should not do magick out of greed, but out of need. So if someone offers you money to do a spell for them, what is your motivation? And what is theirs? Do you want to attract dependent people to you who could possibly put so many demands on your energy that you have no time for yourself? This one is thought provoking, isn’t it? “With a fool no season spend, Nor be counted as his friend.” Or in other words, people know you by the company you keep…. “Merry Meet and Merry Part, Bright the cheeks and warm the heart.” Also self explanatory… we’re all pretty happy to see one another, and open expressions of affection are encouraged. “Mind The Threefold Law you should, Three times bad and three times good.” The Threefold Law is a religious tenet held by some Wiccans that states that whatever energy a person puts out into the world, be it positive or negative, will be returned to that person three times. “When misfortune is enow, Wear the star upon your brow.” In this form, it means to open your third eye and listen to your higher self/Spirit Guide/Guardian Angel whenever you find yourself in difficulties.  “In love you must be ever true, Unless your love is false to you.” A witch does not give her or his word lightly… and a vow of true love is also not spoken lightly. However, if your lover is untrue to you they have already broken vows with you. “Eight words the Rede fulfill, ‘And it harm none, do what ye will.’” This is the law by which most Wiccans live, with harm to none. 

WHAT’S YOUR RENDITION?

As mentioned before, in any discussion about the Rede, this is simply a starter’s guideline. There is a significant amount of variance from one Path to the next and even from one individual to another. It’s all about your personal beliefs, your key moral system in your Path. There is a good deal of room for interpretation and personal alteration. With that being said, I want to know your personal Rede! Do you use a pre-written traditional Rede or your own Rede? Leave a comment or reblog with your own version (if you’d like to share) and (if you have the time) what it means to you! 

Today we bring to you perennial fan-favorite Terry Jeffords!

Terry Jeffords is one of the main characters of Brooklyn 99, a Mike Schur and Andy Samberg project which aired on Fox in 2013, which moved to NBC for its final seasons from 2019 - 2021. Portrayed by Terry Crews, Jeffords is first the sergeant then lieutenant of the eponymous 99th precinct, and has variable roles throughout the series’ tenure, most often filling the niche of mother hen adjacent to Captain Holt’s stern father figure.

Given of course that he is played by Terry Crews, we can be assured that this man is beefcake central. Although it is often hidden under tasteful pastel shirts and ties patterned en vogue, Jeffords’ physique is remarked upon at least once per episode, with the occasional episode centering around his stature. In one notable instance, he is unable to perform a undercover operation and must train Jake Peralta in his workout routine so that he may take his place – what actually takes place is a montage of Peralta desperately working to make up the lack in his physical prowess before giving up. This happens multiple times throughout the series. In another instance, Peralta takes a running leap at Terry, causing him to drop his coffee in favor of catching Peralta. When asked if it was any effort at all to hold up a grown man, Jeffords replies that it’s about the same as holding a couple of grapes. Indeed, the entire precinct knows what’s up with Sergeant Jeffords – and if it were not clear to the audience, we have regular reminders from Gina, for whom it is a running gag to attempt to get Terry to remove his shirt. Queen Gina speaking for all of us, as usual.

Now if you have been following this blog for a while, you will know that one thing that we value just as much as having the skill to make one’s pecs dance (which we see Terry do onscreen multiple times), it is a family man, and Terry’s a family man to a T. His introduction to the series and the first major character arc that he goes through has to do with the anxiety he feels as a new parent of twin baby girls - what would they and his lovely wife do if he were to fall in the line of duty? He overcomes this anxiety with the help of Gina and Captain Holt (and much departmental mandated therapy), but his love and respect for his wife and daughters shine through in every episode thereafter, and quite often carry over into all of his other relationships with the team. Terry could easily be played off as the stereotypical aggressive black man, but the show’s narrative emphasizes that Terry’s heart is as big as his muscles, and that he values his wife and all of the women in his life just as much as he does the yogurt in his fridge.

And it is clear that his comrades value him all the same. This author would hesitate to call a married and devoted man a slut (although we do learn that he and his wife conceived their children to Beyonce, so mad respect for that game), but we do know that Terry is a major Chad, having earned the respect of everyone in the 99 - indeed his team’s reliance on his opinion of them often leads to some comedic miscommunications, such as when Amy and Gina discover that Terry is writing a childrens’ book for his twins and that the two female leads are inspired by them. They bicker and argue over what this means until Terry delivers a rousing speech in the elevator about how they should come to trust and respect themselves a little bit more (which veers into charmingly awkward territory as the elevator ride only commences when Terry has finished). And Jake, main character that he is, has never had a bad thing to say about Terry that he hasn’t immediately corrected.

If Terry is to have a flaw in himbodom, impeccable specimen that he is, it is that he is too intelligent. It would be easy to write it off as simply detective-savvy - the man is the sergeant of a major precinct in the largest local police organization in the world, after all - but we see demonstrated time and again that not only is Terry a genuinely intelligent man with a lot to offer in many academic pursuits, he’s actually a huge-ass nerd. A notable instance is the case he insists on solving for the protection of a JRRT-GRRM-esque author that Terry has idolized since his childhood, using the book’s lore and the author’s own professional history to solve the case. Indeed, resident bookworm Amy indicates in one episode that if anyone in the precinct were to solve a particularly hard word-puzzle, it would be either her or Terry. Bold words from someone with more than a dozen organizational binders.

This author’s ambivalence cannot be overstated when we say with certainty: that man is not a himbo.

Total Himbo Score: 21

The Merchant of Venice (2004) | Belmont

Art history books

As requested, here’s a short list of art history books that I found extremely helpful during my undergraduate degree. Most of them are just introductory but good reads nonetheless. If you need book recommendations on specific artists, art movements or genres, don’t hesitate to send me a message. 

Here we go!

1. A World History of Art by Hugh Honour & John Fleming. This book is HUGE and it’s available to purchase online in various editions - any of them is okay for an introductory reading. 

2. The Story of Art by E.H. Gombrich. Although this book contains next to none female artists, it’s still a good introduction to the art world. 

3. Concepts of Modern Art edited by Nikos Stangos. Good read, covers a lot of areas. Also, I found it for £0.01 on Amazon, so not that bad. 

4. Learning to Look at Paintings by Mary Acton. Self-explanatory really. 

5. The Lives of the Artists by Giorgio Vasari. Vasari is perhaps the first to have carried out some sort of primordial art historical research. Although he includes lots of anecdotal stories about artists, these should be read lightly and not be taken all that seriously. However, he does provide us with some invaluable information! 

6. Looking at the Overlooked (Four Essays on Still Life Painting) by Norman Bryson. Nothing is what it looks like. Basically. 

7. Art Since 1900 - Modernism, Antimodernism, Postmodernism by Hal Foster and Rosalind Krauss. Another huge book. It’s also very heavy. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

8. Classical Art: From Greece to Rome by Mary Beard and John Henderson. For statues and things like that. 

9. Ways of Seeing by John Berger. This book you guys, if you intent to buy a book, get this one. 

10. The Social History of Art, Volumes 1, 2, 3 and 4 by Arnold Hauser. An overview of art history by perhaps the most well-know Marxist art historian.

I am sure more will come to mind as time passes so I will make sure to update this brief list accordingly. Feel free to also add more suggestions if you have any good art history books in mind. Remember that the above are more or less introductory readings than anything else. I hope these recommendations are somewhat helpful to you!

The most under-appreciated film in history has to be The Prince of Egypt. I mean, I don’t care if you follow the religion, this a good fucking movie.

I mean, look at the love they put into the Egyptian culture and hieroglyphics: 

Everybody is actually a realistic color of where they live:

ThE MOTHERFUCKING ART THEY PUT INTO THIS MOVIE

The fucking music alone won a fucking oscar people:

The fucking cast like have you seen this line-up???:

Strong female characters:

And last but not least - THE. MOTHER. FUCKING. BEAUTIFUL. HAIR:

and best of all, even though it’s based off of a bible story, it isn’t trying to ram god down your throat. legit the whole movie is about loving yourself and others