Exoplanets: Strange New Worlds

Complete list of Magickal uses of Herbs/Plants

A Acacia – Protection, Psychic Powers. Burn with sandalwood to open psychic centers Aconite – *Poison*  Protection, Invisibility African Violet – Spirituality, Protection. Promotes spirituality when grown in the home Agaric – Fertility. Place on the altar or in the bedroom to increase fertility Agrimony – Protection, Sleep Alfalfa – Prosperity, Anti-hunger, Money Allspice – Money, Luck, Healing Almond – Money, Prosperity, Wisdom Aloe – Protection, Luck Aloes, Wood – Love, Spirituality Althea – Protection, Psychic Powers Alyssum – Protection, Moderating Anger Amaranth – Healing, Protection, Invisibility. Used in pagan burial rituals. Mends a broken heart Anemone – Health, Protection, Healing Anemone (Wood) – Healing Angelica – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Visions Anise Seed – Protection. Purification. Youth Anise, Star – Used in death and dying rituals Apple – Love, Healing, Garden Magick, Immortality Apricot – Love Arabic Gum – Purifies negativity and evil Arbutus – Exorcism, Protection. Protects little children Arrow Root – Increases one’s good fortune Asafoetida – Exorcism, Purification, Protection. Horrid odor. Use with caution Ash – Protection, Prosperity, Sea Rituals, Health Aspen – Eloquence, Anti-Theft Aster – Use in love sachets, or carry the bloom to win love Avens – Exorcism, Purification, Love. Brings protection to the home, kindred, and self Avocado – Love, Beauty, Lust

B Bachelor’s Buttons – Love. Women wear this flower on their breast to attract love Balm, Lemon – Love. Success. Healing, especially for those with mental or nervous disorders Balm of Gilead – Love, Manifestations, Protection, Healing Bamboo – Protection, Luck, Hex-Breaking, Wishes. Excellent for magick wands, representing all four elements. Banana – Fertility. Cures impotency. Use leaves, flowers, and fruits in prosperity and money spells Banyan – Luck Barley – Love, Healing, Protection. Use the grain or barley water in love spells Basil – Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection Bay – Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing, Purification, Strength Bean – Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliations, Potency, Love Bedstraw – Worn or carried to attract love Beech –Wishes Beet – Love. Use as an ink in love magick, also as a blood substitute Belladonna – *Poison* Encourages astral projection and produces visions, but belladonna is best avoided. A primary ingredient in flying ointments Benzoin – Purification, Prosperity. Provides focus. Enhances concentration. Useful in astral travel (protects spirit while travelling). Promotes generosity Bergamot, Orange – Money. Put leaves in wallet or purse to attract money. Be-Still – *Poison* Wear beans as a talisman to attract luck Betony, Wood – Protection, Purification, Love Birch – Protection, Exorcism, Purification Bistort – Psychic Powers, Fertility. Carry bistort if you wish to conceive. Burn with frankincense to increase psychic powers or when using divination. Bittersweet – Protection, Healing Blackberry – Healing, Money, Protection Bladderwrack – Protection, Sea Spells, Wind Spells, Money, Psychic Powers Bleeding Heart – Love Bloodroot –  *Poison* Love, Protection, Purification   Bluebell – Luck, Truth. Blueberry – Protection. Blue Flag – *Poison* Money. Carry the root for financial gain. Place in cash registers to increase business Bodhi – Fertility, Protection, Wisdom, Meditation Boneset – Protection. Exorcism. Borage – Courage. Drink a tea for psychic powers Bracken – Healing, Rain Magick, Prophetic Dreams. If bracken is burned outside, rain will fall Brazil Nut – Carry as a talisman for love Briony – Image Magick, Money, Protection Bromeliad – Protection, Money. Grow in the home for protection, money, and luxuries. Broom – Purification, Protection, Wind Spells, Divination Buchu – Psychic Powers, Prophetic Dreams. Drink to foretell the future Buckthorn – Protection, Exorcism, Wishes, Legal Matters Buckwheat – Money, Protection Burdock – Protection, Healing

C Cactus – Protection, Chastity. Calamus – *POISON* Luck, Healing, Money, Protection Camellia – Brings riches and luxury Camphor – Chastity, Health, Divination Caraway – Protection, Lust, Health, Anti-Theft, Mental Powers Cardamom – Lust, Love Carnation – Protection, Strength, Healing Carob – Protection, Health. Wear or carry Carrot – Fertility, Lust. Eat the seeds to become pregnant Cascara Sagrada – Legal Matters, Money, Protection. Sprinkle infusion around your home before going to court Cashew – Money Castor – Protection Catnip – Cat Magick, Love, Beauty, Happiness Cattail – Lust. Carry if you don’t like sex, but want to Cedar – Healing, Purification, Money, Protection Celandine – Protection, Escape, Happiness, Legal Matters Celery – Mental Powers, Lust, Psychic Powers Centaury – Burn to drive off snakes Chamomile – Money, Sleep, Love, Purification Cherry – Love, Divination. Chestnut – Love. Chickweed – Fertility, Love Chicory – Removing Obstacles, Invisibility, Favors, Frugality Chili Pepper – Fidelity, Hex Breaking, Love. China Berry – *Poison* Carry seeds for luck and to bring change into your life. Chrysanthemum – Protection. Promotes mental health. Use in rituals of death and dying. Cinnamon – Spirituality, Success, Healing, Power, Psychic Powers, Lust, Protection, Love Cinquefoil – The five points of the leaves represent love, money, health, power, and wisdom. Citron – Psychic Powers, Healing. Clove – Protection, Exorcism, Love, Money. Burn as an incense. Clover – Protection, Love, Money, Fidelity, Exorcism, Success. Coconut – Purification, Protection, Chastity Coffee – Ritual stimulant. Cohosh, Black – Love, Courage, Protection, Potency Coltsfoot – Use in love sachets and spells of peace and tranquility. Love, Visions. Columbine – Love, Courage. Comfrey – Good for any magickal healing. Worn or carried, it ensures safety during travel. The root is used in money spells. Copal – Love, Purification Coriander – Love, Health, Healing Corn – Protection, Luck, Divination. Cornflower – Patron herb of herbalists. Blue leaves make a lovely ink for Book of Shadows. Cotton – Luck, Healing, Protection, Rain, Fishing Magick. Cowslip – Healing, Youth, Treasure Finding. Crocus – Burn in a censor with alum to see a vision of the thief who robbed you. Love, Visions. Cucumber – Chastity, Healing, Fertility Cumin – Protection, Fidelity, Exorcism, Anti-theft Curry – Protection. Burn the specific plant, not the mixture of spices, to repel evil at night. Cyclamen – Fertility, Protection, Happiness, Lust. Add to handfasting or wedding cake. Cypress – Longevity, Healing, Comfort, Protection. Wear at time of crisis

D Daffodil – Love, Fertility, Luck Daisy – Lust, Luck Damiana – Lust, Love, Visions Dandelion – Divination, Wishes, Calling Spirits Deerstongue – Lust, Psychic Powers Dill – Protection, Money, Lust, Luck Dock – Healing, Fertility, Money Dogbane – Use the flowers in magickal love mixtures Dogwood – Wishes, Protection. Dragon’s Blood – Love, Protection, Exorcism, Potency Dulse – Lust, Harmony Dutchman’s Britches – Love

E Ebony – Protection, Power Echinacea – Strengthening Spells Edelwiess – Invisibility, Bullet-Proofing Elder – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Prosperity, Peace Elecampane – Love, Protection, Psychic Powers Elm – Love Endive – Love, Lust Eucalyptu – Healing, Protection Eyebright – Mental Powers, Psychic Powers

F Fennel – Protection, Healing, Purification Fenugreek - Money Fern – Rain Making, Protection, Luck, Riches, Health, Exorcism Feverfew – Protection Fig – Divination, Fertility, Love Figwort – Health, Protection Flax – Money, Protection, Beauty, Psychic Powers, Healing Fleabane – Exorcism, Protection, Chastity Foxglove – *Poison* Protection Frankincense – Protection, Exorcism, Spirituality

G Gardenia – Love, Peace, Healing, Spirituality Garlic – Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Lust, Anti-Theft Gentian – Love, Power Geranium – Fertility, Love, Health, Protection Ginger – Love, Money, Success, Power Ginseng – Love, Wishes, Healing, Beauty, Protection, Lust Goats Rue – Healing, Health Goldenrod – Money, Divination Goldenseal – Healing, Money Gorse – Protection, Money Gotu Kola – Meditation Gourd – Protection Grain – Protection Grape – Fertility, Garden Magick, Mental Powers, Money Grass – Psychic Powers, Protection Ground Ivy – Divination Groundsel – Health, Healing

H Hawthorn – Fertility, Chastity, Fishing Magick, Happiness Hazel – Luck, Fertility, Anti-Lightning, Protection, Wishes Heather – Protection, Rain Making, Luck. Heliotrope – Exorcism, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Wealth, Invisibility Hellebore, Black – *Poison* Protection. Provides an aura or mantle of invisibility. Hemlock – *Poison* Destroys sexual drive. Induces astral projection. Hemp – Healing, Love, Vision, Meditation Henbane – *Poison* A love-bringing herb when worn. Henna – Healing. Hibiscus – Lust, Love, Divination Hickory – Legal Matters High John the Conqueror– Money, Love, Success, Happiness Holly – Protection, Anti-Lightning, Luck, Dream Magick Honesty – Money, Repelling Monsters Honeysuckle – Money, Psychic Powers, Protection. Hops – Healing, Sleep Horehound – Protection, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Healing Horse Chestnut – Money, Healing Horseradish – Purification, Exorcism Horsetail – Snake Charming, Fertility Houseleek – Luck, Protection, Love Huckleberry – Luck, Protection, Dream Magick, Hex Breaking Hyacinth – Love, Protection, Happiness Hydrangea – Hex Breaking Hyssop – Purification, Protection

I Indian Paint Brush – Love Iris – Purification, Wisdom Irish Moss – Money, Luck, Protection Ivy – Protection, Healing

J Jasmine – Love, Money, Prophetic Dreams Jobs Tears – Healing, Wishes, Luck Joe Pye Weed – Love, Respect Juniper – Protection, Anti-Theft, Love, Exorcism, Health

K Kava-Kava – Visions, Protection, Luck Knotweed – Binding, Health

L Lady’s Mantle – Love Lady’s Slipper – Protection Larch – Protection, Anti-Theft Larkspur – Health, Protection Lavender – Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity (with rosemary), Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace Leek – Love, Protection, Exorcism Lemon – Longevity, Purification, Love, Friendship Lemongrass – Repel Snakes, Lust, Psychic Powers Lemon Verbena– Purification, Love Lettuce – Chastity, Protection, Love, Divination, Sleep Licorice – Love, Lust, Fidelity Life Everlasting - Longevity, Health, Healing Lilac - Exorcism, Protection Lily - Protection, Breaking Love Spells Lily of the Valley – **Poison to cats** Mental Powers, Happiness Lime – Healing, Love, Protection Linden – Protection, Immortality, Luck, Love, Sleep Liverwort – Protection, Love Loosestrife – Peace, Protection Lotus – Protection, Lock-Opening Lovage – Love Love Seed – Friendship, Love Lucky Hand – Employment, Luck, Protection, Money, Travel

M Mace – Psychic Powers, Mental Powers Magnolia – Fidelity Maidenhair – Beauty, Love Male Fern – Luck, Love Mallow – Love, Protection, Exorcism Mandrake – *Poison* Protection, Love, Money, Fertility, Health. Maple – Love, Longevity, Money Marigold – Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Legal Matters, Psychic Powers Marjoram – Protection, Love, Happiness, Health, Money Mastic – Psychic Powers, Manifestations, Lust May Apple – *Poison* Money. Meadow Rue – Divination Meadowsweet – Love, Divination, Peace, Happiness Mesquite – Healing Mimosa – Protection, Love, Prophetic Dreams, Purification Mint – Money, Love, Lust, Healing, Exorcism, Travel, Protection Mistletoe – Protection, Love, Hunting, Fertility, Health, Exorcism. Moonwort– Money, Love Moss – Luck, Money Mugwort – Strength, Psychic Powers, Protection, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Astral Projection. Mulberry – Protection, Strength Mullein – Courage, Protection, Health, Love, Divination, Exorcism Mustard – Fertility, Protection, Mental Powers Myrrh – Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Spirituality Myrtle – Love, Fertility, Youth, Peace, Money

N Nettle – Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Lust Norfolk Island Pine – Protection, Anti-Hunger Nuts – Fertility, Prosperity, Love, Luck

O Oak – Protection, Health, Money, Healing, Potency, Fertility, Luck Oats – Money Olive – Healing, Peace, Fertility, Potency, Protection, Lust Onion – Protection, Exorcism, Healing, Money, Prophetic Dreams, Lust Orange – Love, Divination, Luck, Money Orchid – Love Oregon Grape – Money, Prosperity Orris – Love, Protection, Divination. The root is used to find and hold love P Palm, Date – Fertility, Potency Pansy – Love, Rain Magick, Love, Divination Papaya – Love, Protection Parsley – Love, Protection, Purification Passion Flower – Peace, Sleep, Friendship Patchouly – Money, Fertility, Lust Pea – Money, Love Peach – Love, Exorcism, Longevity, Fertility, Wishes Pear – Lust, Love Pecan – Money, Employment Pennyroyal – Strength, Protection, Peace Peony – Protection, Exorcism Pepper – Protection, Exorcism Peppermint – Purification, Sleep, Love, Healing, Psychic Powers Periwinkle – *POISON* Patron herb of Wiccans. Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Money, Protection Persimmon – Healing, Lust Pimento – Love Pine – Healing, Fertility, Protection, Exorcism, Money Pineapple – Luck, Money, Chastity Pistachio – Breaking Love Spells Plum – Healing Poke – Courage, Hex Breaking Pomegranate – Divination, Luck, Wishes, Wealth, Fertility Poplar – Money, Flying Poppy – Fertility, Love, Sleep, Money, Luck, Invisibility Potato – Image Magick, Healing Prickly Ash – Love Primrose – Protection, Love Purslane – Sleep, Love, Luck, Protection, Happiness

Q Quince – Protection, Love, Happiness

R Radish – Protection, Lust Ragweed – Courage Raspberry – Protection, Love Rattlesnake Root – Protection, Money Rhubarb – Protection, Fidelity Rice – Protection, Fidelity Roots – Protection, Power, Divination Rose – Love, Psychic Powers, Healing, Love, Divination, Luck, Protection Rosemary – Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth Rowan – Psychic Powers, Healing, Protection, Success Rue – Healing, Health, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Love Rye – Love, Fertility

S Saffron – Love, Healing, Happiness, Wind Raising, Lust, Strength, Psychic Powers Sage – Immortality, Longevity, Wisdom, Protection, Wishes Sagebrush – Purification, Exorcism St. John’s Wort – Health, Power, Protection, Strength, Love, Divination, Happiness Sandalwood – Protection, Healing, Exorcism, Spirituality Sarsaparilla – Love, Money Sassafras – Health, Money Savory, Summer – Mental Powers Skullcap – Love, Fidelity, Peace Senna – Love Sesame – Money, Lust Shallot – Purification Skunk Cabbage – Legal Matters Slippery Elm – Halts Gossip Snakeroot – Luck, Money Snakeroot, Black – Love, Lust, Money Snapdragon – Protection Solomon’s Seal – Protection, Exorcism Sorrel Wood – Healing, Health Southern Wood – Love, Lust, Protection Spanish Moss – Protection Spearmint – Healing, Love, Mental Powers Spiderwort – Love Spikenard – Love Star Anise – Psychic Powers, Luck Strawberry – Love, Luck Sugar Cane – Love, Lust Sunflower – Fertility, Wishes, Health, Wisdom Sweetgrass – Calling Spirits Sweetpea – Friendship, Chastity, Courage, Strength

T Tansy – Health, Longevity Tea – Riches, Courage, Strength Thistle – Strength, Protection, Hex Breaking, Healing Thistle, Holy – Purification, Hex Breaking Thistle, Milk – Snake enraging Thyme – Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage Toadflax – Protection, Hex Breaking Toadstool – Rain Making Tobacco – Healing, Purification Tonka Bean – *DO NOT CONSUME. BELIEVED TO CAUSE CANCER* Love. Money. Courage. Wishes Turmeric – Purification Turnip – Protection, Ending Relationships

U Uva Ursa – Psychic Workings

V Valerian – Love, Sleep, Purification, Protection Vanilla – Love, Lust, Mental Powers Venus Flytrap – Protection, Love Vervain – The Witches Herb. Love, Protection, Purification, Peace, Money, Youth, Chastity, Sleep. Healing. Vetch, Giant – Fidelity Vetivert – Love, Hex Breaking, Luck, Money, Anti-Theft Violet – Protection, Love, Lust, Luck, Wishes, Peace, Healing

W Walnut – Health, Mental Powers, Infertility, Wishes Wheat – Fertility, Money Willow – Love, Divination, Protection, Healing Wintergreen – Protection, Healing, Hex Breaking Witch Hazel – Protection, Chastity Wolf’s Bane – see Aconite Wood Rose – Luck Woodruff – Victory, Protection, Money Wormwood – Psychic Powers, Protection, Love, Calling Spirits

Y Yarrow – Courage, Love, Psychic Powers, Exorcism Yellow Evening Primrose – Hunting Yerba Mate – Fidelity, Love, Lust Yerba Santa – Beauty, Healing, Psychic Powers, Protection Yucca – Transmutation, Protection, Purification

It’s essay writing season for tons of students!

After being a college writing tutor for over a year, I thought I would share my advice with all you awesome people on tumblr. This is how I write essays, but if you’ve got more tips, feel free to add them below. 

Happy writing. You can do it!

The story of Patrick

This Is Why Scientists Will Never Exactly Solve General Relativity

“One of the most valuable lessons I ever got in my life came during the first day of my first college math class on differential equations. The professor told us, “Most of the differential equations that exist cannot be solved. And most of the differential equations that can be solved cannot be solved by you.” This is exactly what General Relativity is — a series of coupled differential equations — and the difficulty that it presents to all those who study it.

We cannot even write down the Einstein field equations that describe most spacetimes or most Universes we can imagine. Most of the ones we can write down cannot be solved. And most of the ones that can be solved cannot be solved by me, you, or anyone. But still, we can make approximations that allow us to extract some meaningful predictions and descriptions. In the grand scheme of the cosmos, that’s as close as anyone’s ever gotten to figuring it all out, but there’s still much farther to go. May we never give up until we get there.”

In our best theory of gravity, General Relativity, we can compute to arbitrary accuracy the effects on matter of any spacetime that we can write down. Unfortunately, most of the spacetimes that we can dream up in our head aren’t ones that we can write down, and most of the ones that we can write down can only be solved approximately, not exactly.

This is not a flaw nor a benefit: it is simply a property of the theory that we have. Is it the final answer? Perhaps not. But it’s the best one we’ve got so far. Here’s what it means.