Color of the day: White Incense of the day: Basil Incense of the day: Basil Many magical practitioners are familiar with the concept of working in a sunwise direction. The term used to describe this motion is deosil, which comes from the Scottish Gaelic word deisil (or Irish deiseal), meaning "Sun-wise" or "toward the south." Widdershins, the opposite type of motion, was known as tuaitheal, "left-hand wise," or "northward." Right-hand movement was lucky or auspicious and left-hand motion unlucky (or associated with waning energies). For this reason, magical herbs were sometimes gathered with the right hand, as in this folk charm for gathering St. John's wort: St. John's wort, St. John's wort, My envy whoever has thee. I will pluck thee With my right hand And preserve thee With my left. I will gather my little plant So that mine may be Its power over all I see. |