Month: June 2023

Yarrow Practical Uses

The Norway SpruceLeave a comment

Yarrow is one of the most ancient herbs for practical medicine and ceremonial healing. Its pollen has been found in Neanderthal burial sites. Traces of yarrow leaf have been found in the teeth of a 50,000 year old Neanderthal man.  

Yarrow is a joy to gather as it usually symbolizes the first days of Summer here in Western New York. For ceremonial and divinatory use, yarrow is traditionally gathered on Midsummer’s Day. Otherwise, it can be harvested soon after the flowers have opened and once the morning dew has dried.  

Yarrow was named for the Greek warrior Achilles, whose longevity in battle was credited to being dipped in a warm bath of yarrow shortly after birth. Later in life, it’s said that he used yarrow leaves to heal the wounds of his men. 

Yarrow is a strong ally for heavy bleeding and also works as an antiseptic. It finds its way into the medicine cabinet as a diaphoretic for colds and flu, made from yarrow’s flowers. It is also used as a bitter for improving digestion when taken before a meal as an aperitif and is effective for stomach and menstrual cramps and intestinal flus. 

Yarrow’s roots have anodyne and anti-inflammatory qualities that can be used for tooth and teething pain. A frozen or cold cloth soaked in a decoction or diluted tincture will reduce inflammation when chewed. 

It may also be used as a mild sedative to promote sleep or to calm anxiety. As a traditional divinatory and ritual herb, yarrow has been used in Native American sweat lodges, Chinese oracular ceremonies and European love charms for millennia.  

A wash of the leaves or flowers will disinfect wounds and can be followed by a chew-and-spit poultice of fresh or dried leaves to stem bleeding and speed healing. Fresh yarrow leaves are preferred, as the dried leaves seem to lose their volatile oils very easily. 

Astringent tannins in yarrow have made it a valued remedy for the reproductive system among midwives and herbalists. 

Dried, powdered leaves are great for the medicine cabinet. A centuries-old Romani remedy is that it can be applied to cuts and wounds to prevent infection and stop bleeding. A pinch of the powder in the nose will also help quickly curb a nosebleed. Refrain from inserting fresh yarrow leaves into your nostrils. 

Tincture ratios and dosage: 

Leaf: Fresh (1:2 using 95% alcohol) or dry (1:5 using 50% alcohol); preparation 1–3 ml, three times a day. 

Flower: Fresh (1:2 95% alcohol) or dry (1:5 50% alcohol); preparation 1–3 ml, three times a day. 

Root: Fresh (1:2 95% alcohol) or dry (1:5 50% alcohol); preparation 1–3 ml, three times a day. 

Infusion ratios and dosage: 

Leaf: Infusion of 1 to 2 teaspoons (5–10 ml) of the dried leaves per 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water, up to three times a day. Higher doses can be used acutely, as needed, for a short period. 

Flower: Infusion of 1 to 2 teaspoons (5–10 ml) of the dried flowers per 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water, up to three times a day. 

Root: Decoction of 1 to 2 teaspoons (5–10 ml) of the dried roots per 1 cup (240 ml) of boiling water, up to three times a day. 

Avoid ingesting during pregnancy. Both internally and externally, yarrow may cause side effects for those with Asteraceae sensitivity (contact dermatitis, photosensitivity, and allergic reactions) although reactions are very rare. Be sure of your yarrow identification, as there are poisonous look-alikes, including poison hemlock.  

Be safe! 

Summer Solstice

hrukjanLeave a comment

Among the many gods, goddesses, spirits, ancestors and beings that we venerate on this endlessly generous Summer Solstice, we would like to give special reverence to the great Horned One who bestows protection and abundance among the wild realms of the land. May his health be mirrored within all of us.

May all beings thrive under the sun.

“Horns pierce the sky,
Soul of the land,
King of the woods,
Lord of the trail.

God of the wild,
And all that roam,
Scents of the Earth,
Flowers and bone.

Flowers and bones.”

ᛋ : ᛉ : ᚷ

Hailaz and happy Summer Solstice!

Wunjo

hrukjanLeave a comment

Wunjo is closely related to the feeling of love, whether intimate or familial. We see this in the proto-Indo-European root word wenh₁-, which means “to love, win” and “to wish.”Many words have come from this root and it seems this sound denotes a sort of happiness, kindness, and affection. We see another related word in the Latin venia meaning “kindness, mercy, grace” and in the modern English/Old French word venial meaning “able to be forgiven, worthy of forgiveness.”

We see connections associated with Wunjo in both words, as during the process of forgiveness one shows great love. Other words derived from these roots are the proto-Germanic word wanjaną which means “to make accustomed to,” indicating an act of extreme care and kindness to guests.

Wunjo is this process, formula, and understanding; the living phenomenon of the Wish, of love, and kindness. Wunjo is the creation of bliss, joy, and satisfaction in life.May all beings thrive and experience great love.

Hailaz / Namaste

Shirts and Logo Analysis

hrukjanLeave a comment

Our first batch of shirts have arrived and look awesome.   

These will be given out to members, donors, volunteers and collaborators in order to spread not only the sign, but the culture of the Ansuz Society.   

Our hope is that these will be worn with modesty, positivity, and respect.   

For those who would like to purchase a shirt directly, they can be ordered for $20 with free shipping in the USA. Please use the contact form to order. Sizes available are small, medium, and large. Very limited quantity available. 

While we invite everyone to interpret these symbols as they see fit, we would like to offer a brief overview of the design:  

-3 Ansuz runes representing the gods Odin (soul), Vili (will), and Ve (body); the 3 components necessary for human life.   

-the related Sanskrit word ásu, meaning “breath, spirit, life force, life.”  

In regards to the triangular shape, we have a strong emphasis on the fire element, hence one interpretation of the triangle as fire. This fire is being propagated by the breath or wind represented by the Ansuz runes. The upward triangle also has associations with the air element, and therefore, is another representation of the breath, wind, and soul of which Odin is said to have given to mankind. With these connections in mind, this sign can be viewed as an internal flame driven by the winds of inspiration, or, Odin.  

We also believe that all matter is a form of the Great Mother who strives for union with the Great Father (source of consciousness). That said, another interpretation of the upward triangle is to represent the male aspect of primordial awareness; the unmovable, foundational consciousness which exists in all sentient life.  Because of this connection, the upward triangle can also be perceived of as representing Shiva, as his half of the Shatkona is the △ shape, while Shakti is symbolized by the ▽ shape. This primordial awareness, associated with male energy, is called by many names across the world and seen in deities such as Odin, Shiva, and Vajradhara.  

May all beings benefit from these signs. 

Hailaz / Namaste  

-Ansuz Society

Elderberry and Elder Lore

The Norway SpruceLeave a comment

One could spend a lifetime soaking up Elderberry lore. Please, if we have missed something important, let us know!

Elder can be found most prominently in European history and mythos. Elderberry gets its name from the Old English aeld, which means “fire.”  This association with fire comes from archeological evidence suggesting the use of its hollow branches to blow into fire to get it going.

In Celtic Ogham, the Ruis (ᚏ) symbol represents the Elder. In Old Irish, ruise means “red” or “redness”. This Ogham refers to blushing, intense emotions, shame, being red in the face and the glow of anger. It also refers to the practice of using Elderberries to redden one’s cheeks. Ruis shows sacrifice must be made in order to gain. We must face our failures and pain on our path to achievements.

Elder is sacred to many goddess-traditions and especially to the goddess Frau Holle. It is said that Frau Holle lived inside of the elder bush and she has been referred to as the Elder Mother. Frau Holle has been represented in various ways in several cultures and has gone by many names in Germanic mythology including Mother Earth, Perchta, Odin’s Wife, Frigg, Holda, and several more. She has many faces.

Frau Holle is alternately a hag and a nurturing mother, believed to be a bridge between life and death; communicating with and helping souls to pass over. She holds the power to unleash a variety of magicks on all beings and things in the world. Not one part of the Elderberry bush is to be cut or burnt without permission from her. If one does, you may experience her wrath.

In Danish, the Elder Mother is called Hyldemoer and is associated with Elves, commonly perceived as living within the roots of the Elder tree. Elder wood was considered dangerous to use when building cradles for fear that the Elder Mother could torment or steal the child away.

In an ancient Irish collection of stories known as “The Lays of Fionn Mac Cumhail”, there is a tale called “The Headless Phantoms”. In this tale, Fionn stays in a strange and otherworldly house where elder logs are burnt. He spends the evening being forced to face a myriad of horrible monsters.

The Romani were so fearful of the wrath of the Elder Mother that they would go through great lengths to inspect each bundle of firewood to be sure there was no Elder before casting it upon the fire. It is said that “should you doze off under an Elder bush, you may be taken away to the otherworld or you may never wake at all.

The Elder is known as a great protector and powerful ward against evil. Elderberries are still commonly planted in gardens to watch over the plants. Leaves of the bush were placed above doors to ward off witches. Elderberries on windowsills are supposed to keep vampires from entering. The vampire’s compulsive need to count all the berries would keep them occupied until dawn.

It has also been used in a variety of burial rituals. Green Elder branches were placed in fresh graves to protect the dead from evil spirits. Carrying or wearing any part of the Elder would protect you from harm. Elderberry oil (or water) has been used in blessing rituals. Among Christian traditions, the Elder was a fearful symbol of sorrow and death. In medieval times, some Europeans would tie Elderberry twig hoops to parts of the body that had rheumatism and believed that this would cure it. The Romans created hair color from the dark juice of the berries.

Mara

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“…We tend to think of Mara as something ferocious that is going to come along and cut us up or drag us off; it is not necessarily that dramatic or that overtly unpleasant. Mara is anything that obstructs the practice of Dharma and seduces you into abandoning the practice of Dharma and favoring worldly activities…”

-K.K.R.

Mara is a Sanskrit word meaning “death” and has relation to the Vedic god of death Mrtyu. This word stems from a more archaic Indo-European root mer-, which means “to die.” With this in mind, and in the context of Buddhism, we can associate Mara with anything that makes our focus on the Dharma “die”, become distracted, or diminish.

It is important that we consider all distractions in our practice as potential incarnations and activities of Mara. If it is more applicable to your vocabulary, viewing these distractions as demons can be equally beneficial. However, this concept isn’t to be externalized in meaning, as the root of Mara lies within us and not on the outside. Even in the case of a wild animal devouring us, we cannot view the animal as Mara, but instead, our attachment to our own body as the essence of Mara’s activity.

Mara(s) can generally be classified into four different categories. The first applies to our “unskillful” emotions such as greed, hate, and ignorance. The second applies to death and the circumstances that cause death. The third applies to conditioned existence and its symptoms. The fourth applies to the being Mara and his daughters, who tried to prevent Gautama Buddha from attaining liberation on the night of his enlightenment.

Although some of these have “external” sounding features, it is important to remember that all phenomenon we experience as Mara can be associated with our own ignorance in perception, and therefor, exist within us as obscurities. For instance, during meditation, a barking dog only exists as a Mara/demon in the sense that our perception is being disturbed by it, due (most likely) to our attachments to silence, control, and comfort. If one shifts their perception to pure emptiness, one makes their mind like the space inside a cave, where sound may enter and echo, but ultimately, moves through like wind and attaches to nothing.

If our mind rests in this realization of emptiness, then all external phenomenon move through it like clouds in the sky or waves in the ocean.

May all sentient beings conquer the Maras that obstruct their Dharma practices.

Hailaz / Namaste

Fuþark

hrukjanLeave a comment

We are very pleased to bring you a new sound offering in honor of this particularly auspicious full moon. Through these songs, we strive to bring together Pagan voices from all over the world, spreading a network of support, positivity, and spiritual action. We would like to thank Desert Rose Arts, Marble Mountain Woodworks, and Dodssang Tempel for their excellent vocal contributions. Other voices have asked to remain anonymous. This track is meant for quick practice as opposed to our longer version of the Elder Futhark. By listening to this brief galdr, one can quickly memorize the names and order of the Elder Futhark runes with ease; solidifying them internally for use at any moment of need. The Ansuz Society family tree is growing. With deep roots, we stretch towards the sky. May all sentient beings thrive under the guidance of the ancient runes.