Simple Shampoo Old-fashioned Castile soap can also be dissolved in warm water to be used as shampoo. After shampooing, rinse your hair with lemon juice to make it shine. Adding essential oils to store bought shampoo If you like your store-bought shampoo but would like to add to it a little, the essential oils that old-timers relied on for hair care really do work.
To make toothpaste with a more traditional toothpaste consistency and a mint-y taste, mix together 6 teaspoons of baking soda, 1/3 teaspoon salt, 4 teaspoons glycerin, and 15 drops of peppermint or wintergreen extract. Depending on how much you use at a time, this recipe is good for 15-20 applications and should be stored in any appropriately sized container with a snug lid.
The best deodrants is plain old baking soda. You can pat it right onto your skin or mix it with a little cornstarch for extra staying power and moisture control. Try 1/2 cornstarch and 1/2 baking soda. Some readers say that mixing in anti-bacterial tea tree oil makes it even more effective. .
To use the herbs fresh, simply wash them in cool water and pat them dry. They can be kept lively for a few days by putting them in a vase of water and keeping them in a cool area (if your fridge isn’t too cold, that’ll do nicely).If you wont be using them within a few days, or want to put them in a sachet, tea or incense, you will probably need to dry them.Tie a string around the base of a bunch o...
Record any observations you make while working with the herb along with it’s location in your harvest journal. If the plant is particularly fragrant or effective, write it down so you know to go back! If it doesn’t work well for you, make note of that, too.
Having taken from the plant, you should give thanks for the gift. Tell it that you’re grateful, and assure it that it wont be misused. Then, provide payment!Pour the fertilizer you brought at the roots of the plant. If you stumbled upon the plant accidentally and don’t have your fertilizer with you, make some other form of offering. Traditionally, a small coin at the base of the plant can show you...
Using your sharp implement, make a clean, angular cut near a joint. This will make it easier for the plant to heal and regrow. You will want to choose a portion of the plant that is not the oldest (dark and woody), and not the youngest (the lightest with the most budding leaves). A good middle-aged branch is best. Be sure to never take more than 25% of the total plant growth. While you are harvest...
Before you cut the plant, you should take some time to connect with it. Examine it to see if it is healthy. Take your time identifying it. Feel the plant’s energy and let it get to know you. Once you’ve determined that the plant is a good candidate, you should ask its permission to take it.This process is intuitive. Some believe you should ask aloud, others that you can ask silently, communicating...
forests or natural fields on public land, but for many it can be a challenge to source wild herbs.If you live in a city, find out if there are any nature trails or reserves in your area, then check what their policies are. You can also search for vacant lots, or neighbors with a green thumb. Make sure to ask before helping yourself! Sometimes you can find areas beneath power lines where herbs and ...
Many of Krampus’ minions are also real Christmas/winter folk figures in European cultures, such as the Yule Goat (Scandanavia). The creatures with Icelandic names (Stekkjarstaur, etc.) are named after the Icelandic Yule Lads who are said to visit homes each of the thirteen nights before Christmas. The gingerbread cookie that is lowered down the chimney is attached to a hook. Meathook (or Ket...
Talismans are special objects that people have used for centuries for protection, luck, and focus. You can make your own talisman to help you with your goals. Here’s a simple, step-by-step guide for beginners. Step one: Pick your object. Choose something small that feels special to you. It could be a stone, a piece of jewelry, a coin, or even a dried flower. Hold it in your hand. If it feels right...
The first thing you will need is a cutting tool. Some traditions recommend the use of a sickle-shaped tool with a white handle, called the Boline. Here’s an example of what one looks like: Personally, I don’t recommend the use of a Boline. Here’s why: If your beliefs don’t specifically demand the Boline, I instead recommend a pair of garden pruning shears with white handles. They are affordab...