masept8

Welcome to mishka's apothecary and milkweed September 8, 1999

Merry Meet Everyone and welcome to the first issue of Mishka's Apothecary. I looked up the definition of Apothecary and it didn't quite match MY definition. So like the good little witch that I am......I threw it out and eclectically made up my own. I've always fantasized of opening my own apothecary type shop. If my fantasy ever became a reality, this is how it would be............. As you enter, leaving the mundane world behind you, you notice the sweet scent of incense in the air. You can't quite put your finger on the name of the scent yet it's familiar. It makes you feel content, peaceful, safe. You hear music playing lightly in the background. A haunting tune, slow and melodious, yet filled with emotions. A smile starts to form as you remember hearing this song once before. You look around, and even though the lights are dimmed, you have no trouble seeing. Candles of all colors and sizes are burning, adding their flickering star-like bursts of light to the room. You notice a small table with two chairs off in the corner of the room and decide to take a seat and wait for someone to come out to help you. As you wait, you gaze about the room in amazement.From floor to ceiling, from side to side, it's solid shelves filled with jar after jar of herbs, incenses, and oils. You're still viewing the room when you hear a noise behind you. You turn, there I am, and I say........... Welcome to Mishka's Apothecary...........what are your needs this day? Today we're going to talk about Milkweed. Hold it down folks! I can hear you roaring. You're probably asking, out of all the herbs, incense, or oils I could have talked about, why in the world did I pick Milkweed? Simply put......because I wanted to. It fits in with the season and the subjects on the list. So why not? Milkweed is ruled by the planet Jupiter and is associated with the Autumn Equinox (remember that folks.......the equinox approaches). You can use milkweed to decorate your autumn altars and keep the pods for painting, etc. as Yule decorations. Milkweed can be used in a variety of ways. You can use the shoots like asparagus, and the newly opened leaves like spinach. The unopened flower buds taste alot like broccoli. You can even eat the pods. You cook them like okra. Cover with boiling water and boil 1 minute. Drain and repeat 3 times then boil for 10 minutes. Milkweed juice, when used to anoint an infant during a baby blessing ritual will bring inspiration, imagination, and creativity to the child. Milkweed is the patron herb of the Monarch butterfly. The little people are also partial to milkweed, so by planting it in your garden not only will you get butterflies, but it will encourage the prescience of elves and fairies also.(See how milkweed ties in?) Milkweed has been used for a variety of medicinal purposes. It's been used to treat ringworm and is still used today to treat poison ivy.Early American doctors used it to treat asthma and pleurisy. It's also been used to get rid of warts by rubbing the milk from the milkweed on the wart several times a day. This was a remedy used frequently by Native Americans. The milkweed pods produce down that has insulating properties. During World War 2 the down was used to stuff life jackets. It's been used in the past and is still used today for stuffing jackets, pillows, and blankets. This is a multi purpose herb. It feeds us, can clothe us and keep us warm, treats us medicinally, and brings the beauty of butterflies and fairies to our garden. And since we could always use beauty in our life, I say plant milkweed! Until next time.......... Blessed Be, Mishka

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