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la dama damiana:                               lush medicine, lush magick

11/5/2015

 
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I remember when I first learned about the predominantly Central American herb Damiana. I delighted in the name; it was so phoenetically resonant with La Dama,
"The Lady", and very much an herb for women- as well as an herb for pleasure and relaxation. 
I then learned that in French/Italian origin, the name Damiana translates to "Untamed", and that in Greek it means "the wild one who tames", and my Damianaic delight grew :)


​One of my first herbal alchemical attempts as
a budding priestess was to concoct a
Damiana liquer (see recipe below)
which is a famous aphrodisiac tonic
(although I surely needed no additional help
with my libido!). I was again damiana-delighted
years later to discover that Damiana Liqueur
is actually produced and sold in a bottle
that is shaped like a lush Goddess figure! 
A bottle is often traditionally given as a
wedding present to newly married couples in Mexico, in celebration of conjugal pleasure and fertility. I still have yet to obtain one of these bottles, but I will! 




☽
...Damiana Cordial: 1 ounce damiana leaves, 2 cups brandy, whiskey, or rum, 1 ½ cups of water, 1 cup of honey, vanilla extract or rose water (optional): soak damiana in liquor for 5 days- strain and bottle- soak the remaining alcohol infused leaves in spring water for 3 days in fridge- warm water extract and dissolve honey into it then combine with the alcohol and stir well- bottle in clean bottle and brew at least a moon cycle...

​Damiana is indeed famed and prized for it's beneficial effects upon the libido- and those benefits are enjoyed by both sexes. It is definitely a tonic for potency and reproductive energy, energizing the sexual centers in a balanced way for both women and men.
Rooting us within delicious Root Chakra flow!

Damiana is an herb that gets us in touch with our earthy sensualism- grounding us in the pleasures of physicality, which is so lacking in healthy ways in our modern world. It opens us up to physical experience that connects us with divinity- serving as a bridge between body and spirit. It is thought to be a mood enhancer; reducing anxiety (including social), uplifting and relaxing one as the doors open to the higher dimensions of ecstatic experience. Damiana is not just a sexual tonic- it is a nervine tonic as well. 


Damiana truly loves the ladies, however. In addition to being a known female sexual herbal ally, damiana also serves women during menses. This herb both encourages ease of flow and eases menstrual complaints (do not take during pregnancy as it is indeed considered an emmenagogue), as well as menopause. It is said to ease both PMS and hot flashes. It is a female hormonal balancer, and does not have any significant estrogenic effect, and is considered an anti-aromatase herbal supplement which is thought to be helpful in fighting breast cancer. 

The folkloric uses of damiana are also enchanting. Long used in folk magick, charms, and spellcraft related to love and sexual happiness, damiana is also an herb that allows us access between the worlds. It is a wonderful herb for intentions related to astral travel, dreaming, and psychic work. In fact, damiana is a popular ingredient in incenses and ceremonial smoking blends for these very properties. I personally have smoked damiana for this purpose and I can report it does stimulate vivid and lucid dreaming that traverses the dimensions. It is a wonderful herb to employ at the Full of the Moon for any of these purposes. 


☽...Veil Incense: equal parts Damiana, Mugwort, Frankincense. Burn on charcoals to encourage psychic work, astral travel, visions and potent dreaming...

I have loved La Dama Lady Damiana ever since those first early days.
She is a truly enchanting herbal ally- with lush medicine and lush magick in abundance.
Make her acquaintance. She is a Lady with many gifts to impart.

-Nuit Moore


Sources:
http://www.rainbow.coop/library/anti-aromatase-activity-of-damiana/
http://happyherbcompany.com/damiana
http://www.damiana.net/


#damiana #herbalism #aphrodisiac #lovemagick #psychic #menstruation #libido #sexuality #dreammagick #loveherbs #dreamherbs #womensherbs 
​


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    Nuit Moore
    The Scarlet Shakti

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