Rosemary

Rosemary. If you have made your way to me, you are likely needing your head clear, your home guarded, or the memory of who you are to be brought back to the front of your mind. I am the herb of remembrance. I am the herb that keeps the door of the house and the door of the mind held steady. They say where I grow, the woman of the house rules. There is truth in that.

I am a sharp, fragrant herb with needle-thin leaves that hold their scent long after they are dried. Our folks have been brewing me, bathing in me, burning me, and tucking me into doorways for generations. I am the women's herb. I am the herb of the head and the mind. I am the herb our people reach for when the spirit needs clearing and the thinking needs settling.

I am worked with by being steeped in hot water and added to spiritual baths for cleansing and protection. The water I steep in is used in head washes when the mind has been heavy or full of nonsense that does not belong to it. I am added to floor washes for the home. I am burned for smoke clearing, especially in rooms where a person has been ill or where heaviness has been sitting. I am hung over doorways and above the bed to keep what does not belong from crossing in during sleep. I am laid into mojo bags for memory, clarity, and women's protection. Pray over me as you steep me or burn me. Speak what you are clearing and what you are remembering. The work moves with the prayer.

I am not a substitute for medical or psychological care. I am not recommended in medicinal doses during pregnancy. Those with high blood pressure or seizure conditions should avoid my essential oil and concentrated extracts. Bath water and culinary use are gentle.

I am ready when you are. Bring me your prayer and let me settle your house.