F is for FoxGLOVE...

Dear Littler B,

Hi there again, in catch-up mode I am actually writing this letter (and hopefully the next 3) while a passenger on a several hour trip to see the only known Tennessee Tardis. Look that up now (TARDIS - see below for pics), you have the ability since it has been around in my time about 50 years so in your time it is roughly 25 years or so. This is going to be a great escape for you when you become my age.
It is a part of a television show that you will fall in love with. Your love for time-travel related anything will only increase exponentially as you become my age wishing I could return to the time when I was you.

In continuing with the vein of information I have been writing to you over the last week and a few days, we are keeping up with teaching you things you will need to know over the next couple of decades. Today, in keeping up with the additional #AtoZChallenge I have reached the letter F, so....

is for FoxGLOVE...

You will notice several times in this letter that “GLOVE” is typed in capital letters and there is a reason for that.

FoxGLOVE, or Digitalis Purpurea is a poisonous flower. It is one of the MOST poisonous plants so when you work with it USE GLOVES!!!!

Origins & Identification

While this plant is generally known to be native to European areas, (mostly Ireland, Scotland and England) it was brought over to the United States as an ornamental garden plant. Originally it was known to the Anglo-Saxons as Foxes Glofa (the glove of the fox) because the flowers look like the fingers of a glove. There are however many folk names for this plant such as dead man's bells, fairy fingers, fairy bells and many more.

While there are several variations, common versions in the US are the purple and white biennial versions which can grow anywhere from 5 to 8 feet tall. Red varieties however are perennial and reach about 3 feet tall.

Practical Uses of FoxGLOVE 

While this beautiful and unique flower can often be found in gardens across the country, it has long been known for its poisons extract digoxin which is similar to a steroid. The flowers bloom from the bottom up and the flowers at the bottom contain more toxin than those going up the plant.  All parts of this plant from seeds to flowers contain digoxin which, even in small amounts can be fatal. This is one of the best examples of the need for herbal supplements to be closely monitored and standardized. In incorrect measurements, you are a goner for sure.

It is ironic that this plant is not only lethal but also a life saver to someone with certain heart conditions. Digitalis can cause the heartbeat to increase. Digoxin is still extracted and synthesized pharmaceutically to use for certain heart medications. One of the most known medications that use this chemical is Lanoxin.

I'm just going to tell you now dear littler me, stick to having it as a pretty flower in the garden.

Metaphysical Uses of FoxGLOVE 

FoxGLOVE is known to have feminine energies, its planetary alignment is Venus and is associated with the element of Water and Isis or Hera. One of its biggest known magickal properties is protection. This is one of the main reasons it is planted near the home.

In the old days, Welsh women would boil the leaves and make a black die to draw a cross on the floor at the entrance of their homes to protect against evil doers coming into their homes. (If you do this, do not be around the steam or smoke without proper masks as even the fumes are toxic!!!)

As we are Irish, I will focus here on the aspect of FoxGLOVE's properties that I appreciate the most, the connection with the Fae and the Fairy Folk. This plant should be planted anywhere you wish to invite members of the Fae. Folklore in some parts of the world say that the "fox" portion of the name because these bell shaped flowers were a gift from the fair folk to the fox so that they could ring the bells to warn others of their kind when danger was near.

It is said that the dew collected from foxGLOVE to be used in ritual to commune with the fair folk and carrying foxglove leaves wrapped in cloth will ensure the fair folk are near and hear your requests. The leaves are said to be used to break a fae enchantment and involve burning however  You will have to do some research on this one because I am not quite sure how to use it correctly for that safely! 

Come away, O human child!
To the waters and the wild
With a faery, hand in hand,
For the world’s more full of weeping 
than you can understand. - Yeats

I think at this point I've given you quite a bit to get you started. I hope it has been helpful, dear little one. I know how much of a soft spot you have in your heart for the fairy folk and are always looking for more and more ways to connect with them so now you know a few more!

Wisely knowing how wise I am not,

Bigger Little B.



PS. Just in case this helps you later on down the road, here is a photo of that TARDIS you are supposed to look up.

A is for Anise...

Dear Littler B,

In keeping up with the challenges given, I will be teaching you a bit about the herbology to come for you. The way I see it - the more I teach you now, the more knowledgeable you will be at a younger age than I was. It will be less "hitting the books" research you will have to do, as they have yet to spread use of the new invention of the internet where you are in the 1980s. This should become a great go to guide for you. You can take all these letters and combine them into your own book. The kids of today don't even realize how spoiled they are with information at their fingertips any time they want.

Writing about GOOD HEALTH for the Crazy 4 Blogging challenge today is a relatively easy task given the theme that I have chosen for my A-Z.  So here we go dear little one. Pay attention, its great stuff!







is for Anise..

I know that many people have by now heard of Anise, something they would pick up in a produce or spice section at in a grocery store. I am here to tell you a little bit more about this herb in both it's practical and metaphysical forms.

Origins & Identification

Anise is a delicate, flowering plant mostly found in the Mediterranean and Southern Asia areas. The plant grows on average in the range of 18" - 24" with green leaves that can only be described as featherish and parsley like. The flower portion of the plant is dainty and white. The pods that grow on the plant contain the seeds that are used for cooking, making oils and other applications.  A lot of people get anise with star anise confused as they are which is similar in taste (also similar to the flavor of fennel & licorice). Anise seeds are generally more of a curved shape.
 
 Here is a picture of what the actual plant looks like when you are ready to identify it and grow it.

Down to the nitty gritty....

Practical Uses of Anise


Anise, besides being a culinary delight is used in making various teas, medicines and liquors. Everyone I know where I come from (predominantly Italian area of NJ) has either bought or tried my anisette cookies (if not - look below for the recipe). The flavor almost reminds me of licorice, and surprise - they are one of the main ingredients in black jelly beans! Anise is also used to make some root beers.  I would be remiss if I failed to mention that it is also an ingredient in Jagermeister and sambuka. Um, nuf said?

Being in the herb/spice category, of course there are going to be some practical health applications or we would not still be using them today.  A great detailed source of information can be found on Nutrition and You's website (including the USDA breakdown) where they have done a much better detail of the health benefits and nutrients.  Anise is known among other things to be an anti-oxident, aid in digestion, encourage the growth of red blood cells, and believe it or not - an aid for lactating mothers in producing milk.  Last note on health, have you ever been in an Indian restaurant and seen these to help dinner breath? Yep! Candy coated Anise & Fennel seeds!

Metaphysical Properties

Ok, now dear young one - onto the fun stuff. The metaphysical properties (yes that means what's so magic about it?).

It is also known by folk names Anneys, Aniseseed, Yanisin and Sweet Cumin). There are so many magickal properties of this one in both seed and oil form that it is hard to list them all.  Here are some of the big ones. Protection, purification, clairvoyance and prophetic applications. Anise, known for it's antiseptic properties even to the ancient Egyptians, is a great addition to a purification and protection bath.

Anise is associated with the element air, aligned with Jupiter influence and is a masculine plant and as such can be used for those things that are associated with that element: Intuition, thought, inspiration etc. especially when seeking clairvoyance or prophetic information. In the same way anise can also be burned while meditating.  Use this as an addition to a dream bag to put under your pillow at night to enhance dream work.

Hope this information has been intriguing and educational, enough to get you curious to go find out more!

Wiser but still never wise enough,

Bigger Little B

Favorite Italian Anise Cookies! courtesy of Woman's Day!

I Challenge You

Dear Readers,

Today I am going to take a step outside of my normal format (in a way) to address you dear reader as opposed to the typical letter to myself. I decided because it is Leap Day, it was a chance to shake it up and deviate for a day.

I want to talk to you all about a subject that is very near and dear to my heart, Communication.

As defined by dictionary.com

Communication[kuh-myoo-ni-key-shuh n] 
noun

1. the act or process of communicating; fact of being communicated.

2. the imparting or interchange of thoughts, opinions, or information by speech, writing or signs.

3. Something imparted, interchanged, or transmitted.

4. a document or message imparting news, views, information, etc

5. passage, or an opportunity or means of passage between places.

In the day and age that we are in, so many people send a multitude messages and post so many comments on this site or that, but hardly say anything of meaning. The personal aspect of communication has been stripped away from our day to day life. We are able to drop a message to anyone and have it delivered to their intended recipient within seconds no matter where in the world that person is.

We have become a society that attempts to get our thoughts and purpose out in 140 characters or less. As a result we are often quick to the point and lack feeling and substance in what we say. The art of language has been butchered into quick one-liners and acronyms.


In the day before we all took to our "inbox" to search for that couple line message answering a question or sending the most recent photo we went to our mailboxes to wait for a letter to arrive, old fashioned hand written letters.  They would come to us in beautiful script (which most children today can not even read as it is not taught in a large number of schools), depending on who they were directed to they might have drawings in the margins or the light scent of perfume. Often times they would be multiple pages with thought out sentiment that people today don't necessarily take the time to include.

"I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead"  ~ Mark Twain

I stumbled upon a site recently that supports the importance of letters as they used to be. The organization is called Letters Live. Unfortunately for me they are based out of England, but fortunate for me it seems one of my absolute favorite actors takes part in the organization so I have gotten to watch him read several letters like this one:

Benedict Cumberbatch in Letters Live

YOUR CHALLENGE


I urge you - oh dedicated social media user, visit this website and look around. Go to YouTube and search for Letters Live.  Listen to the thoughtfulness and beauty that is in a single letter.  Let it inspire you to take up a pen and a piece of paper. Take up multiple pieces of paper if the spirit hits you and write a letter from the heart. You will not have the backspace button at hand so the thoughts you put down will be provoking and real.

Now comes the twist that you knew I would put on it.  As you prepare to put your ink to paper I want you to envision the recipient of your letter. I want you to see the person as if they were right there with you, sitting just across the table from you.  Imagine that person in the flesh, solid, listening, curious as to what you have to say.

Now, I want you to imagine the face of that person is yours at the age of 16 years old.

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart" ~ Wordsworth

So many of you have expressed the feeling that you had thought of doing something like this.  Today, I encourage you to write that letter.

Sincerely,

Bidy




I would love to hear from you, my readers. I would love you to share your letter with me and if inspired and are interested in writing a guest post, allow me to share your letters with my readers.

You can reach me via email at:   Bidy@dearlittlerme.com