Herbs for Spring Equinox
Firstly they are going to be last years herbs because lavender, is not a spring plant. Nether is lilac (though I dry what I can from my bush in the garden). Even the lemon balm (which is growing in the front garden already) is a late summer herb. In fact most of the herbs do not scream "spring" to me.
Secondly some of them are poisonous in whole or part too. No-one should use lily-of-the-valley. Ever.
For me this equinox has a hint of the dark equinox (and maybe a pinch of that incense blend in the mix.)
It is rather low on dried flower petals because they tend to smell like burning paper. More resins and oils and woods like myrrh, copal, birch resin, rose wood, willow, cinnamon and the like.
In truth I think of the smell of fresh cowslips and primroses, I think of pussy willow, catkins, damp green spaces as well as baking of sweet bread and buns full of saffron, cinnamon, cardamon and plump dried fruit.
While reading and researching is a key part of pagan and witchcraft practice, it does really need not to be dogmatic. Putting in herbs or plants that can be dangerous without warning can be harmful to yourself and others.
Just because someone wrote it somewhere doesn't make it fact.
For The Mighty Isle our customs are more black morris, boxing, egg rolling, running, people clean and clear family and loved ones graves and put fresh flowers, walk bare foot, watch the sunrise on top of the mountain, make cakes (simnel, hot-cross buns and tansy seed cake) and pies (pork, cheese and ham).
Fresh green salads and fish were plenty (though at different times different folks could afford different fish) but fresh meat was not so much.
It was a time of charity and giving, as well as partying, drinking and courting (counting how many seeds were in your cake was how many years it would be until you wed).
Spring equinox is coming...
Bright Blessings xxx
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