R: DIY A "Book of Leaves" or very personal Herbal.
I posted the Idea of A "Book of Leaves" for the first time about 7-14-2017.
To my knowledge, it is a new term I have coined.
>>I am sure many here at one time or another started their own "Book of Shadows" but how many have a "Book of Leaves"?
While Janice (my wife) is the Botanist in the family and has always been my go to source for that has roots or leaves.
When I started my Project "Time-Lords" I realized I needed to start my own "Book of Leaves".
And perhaps my writing about it will be of some small benefice to other Herbal novices like my self.
PS how cool is this besides modern printed high tech pictures, we can add "Real Leaves" to our "Book of Leaves"
TDK<<
We all know what is a B.O.S. "Book of Shadows", a Grimoire "Book of Incantations and Spells for the Great Art", and a Herbal "Book of plants often also of their Medical or Magical uses".
But what is a B.O.L. " Book of Leaves"?
It is really a bit of all the above. While it would be near impossible to incorporate all the knowledge of these other books into one written by one's self.
This not needed or wanted for a B.O.L., for this is a very very personal book, each unique to its own owner and author.
So you may wonder how to start and what to put in it. For this, I can only give you my own ideas and what I will do with my own B.O.L.'s.
As this is written for the "Druid's Guide to Herbalism blog and Facebook study group. It is not strange that we will try and take a bit of a Druidic approach to this.
The Three Worlds
As we all know it is said that Druids and Celts were very fond of doing things in Threes. And this fits very well with our B.O.L.
Our three Worlds here are:
1) What is Above us, let's look up at the Trees that are all around where we live and work.
2) What is beside us, this covers the plants shrubs and bushes around us and where we work.
3) What is below us, this covers the ground, its covering, and roots of all things.
Our three Worlds here are:
1) What is Above us, let's look up at the Trees that are all around where we live and work.
2) What is beside us, this covers the plants shrubs and bushes around us and where we work.
3) What is below us, this covers the ground, its covering, and roots of all things.
What to do next
Ok, let's not panic, for most of us this is an awful lot of stuff. Because a B.O.L. is a very personal book, and even perhaps a living thing. Let us start very slow. We will need a large book, while I use and sell many expensive Leather Bound Journals. Our first effort does not need to be costly. If possible use something like a large Scrapbook with removable pages. Who knows you may wish to learn book binding and make it a wonderful Leather or very thin wood cover someday.
Oh now I know this may sound strange but to make a Good B.O.L.'s I recommend you really make three separate books.
1. The B.O.L. "Book of Leaves", the big book.
2. A B.O.S. "Book of Seeds", this may be any plastic or wooden Box that will hold small samples Flower, Leaf, Seed, Bark, Branch, and Root of any plant we add to our B.O.L.'s
3. B.O.K. "Book of Knowledge", an electronic notebook, files, blog, etc. To keep the information you take from the web about the plants you pick for your B.O.L.
I like to use a Blog and just leave each info file in the Draft (Unpublished State).
As I can access it from the Web anywhere and most often in is full of Cuts and pastes from other sources on the web or Scanned books. Note be sure and try to add web link/URL to each item you save, this will be of a great help, later on, to be able to find that resource again or even cite in in some public publication you may do.
So let's start with the First World, the Trees. Pick a Tree around or near you, I picked Oak as the are all over South Florida shopping centers parking lots and we (being Druids) also planted them 40 plus years ago at home and the Cosmic Salamander Inc. Center.
Oh now I know this may sound strange but to make a Good B.O.L.'s I recommend you really make three separate books.
1. The B.O.L. "Book of Leaves", the big book.
2. A B.O.S. "Book of Seeds", this may be any plastic or wooden Box that will hold small samples Flower, Leaf, Seed, Bark, Branch, and Root of any plant we add to our B.O.L.'s
3. B.O.K. "Book of Knowledge", an electronic notebook, files, blog, etc. To keep the information you take from the web about the plants you pick for your B.O.L.
I like to use a Blog and just leave each info file in the Draft (Unpublished State).
As I can access it from the Web anywhere and most often in is full of Cuts and pastes from other sources on the web or Scanned books. Note be sure and try to add web link/URL to each item you save, this will be of a great help, later on, to be able to find that resource again or even cite in in some public publication you may do.
So let's start with the First World, the Trees. Pick a Tree around or near you, I picked Oak as the are all over South Florida shopping centers parking lots and we (being Druids) also planted them 40 plus years ago at home and the Cosmic Salamander Inc. Center.
So now that you have picked out a Tree, research it for your B.O.K. I have to admit I had no Idea about how many Herbal Medical uses Oaks have. I knew of Druidic Mistletoe lore, that the Acorns were a major and ancient, food and flour of the Celt's, Oak galls Ink (and save and galls I find) but never thought have an Oak leaf tea or bark tonic, salve, etc.
If you live in an apartment building or just to not have easy access to the trees around you. Do not worry, keep an eye out for when others trim their trees or cut them down and put clipping, etc out for garbage pickup. Also, Shopping Center parking lots and parks can often be of help.
So let's say you have filled you B.O.K. with the lore of the Tree or plant under study. You have some bits and pieces or at least a leaf or few in your B.O.S.
It is now time to start a Leaf (page in your Book of Leaves. I recommend that you start copying the outline of a real leaf. get some colored pencils and color it in. Let us assume you know it is safe to taste smell, make at tea etc of it. Save one leaf to press, dry and put in your B.O.L. while tracing and coloring it the leaf picture in your B.O.L. Taste the leaf, smell it feel it. Write all these very personal feelings in the B.O.L., you are one with the Leaf and the Book now. Add if you wish where you can find this tree, perhaps pencil a sketch of it.
Now about the important area of uses and formulation information. I would only add these to the page as you make them and use them. This book is for your very own personal work and journey.
Next start on the What is beside us. While this will be hundreds of plants just focus on those that have Healing, Conjure or food values for you.
And last, what is below us. the grasses, low lying flowers roots, etc.
Well, I hope this short guide is of some help on your never ending journey.
TDK (The Druid King)
FYI our Facebook group, you are all most welcome to join and share with us!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ADruidHerbal/
Copyright George King 7/17/2017, except images used here.
If you live in an apartment building or just to not have easy access to the trees around you. Do not worry, keep an eye out for when others trim their trees or cut them down and put clipping, etc out for garbage pickup. Also, Shopping Center parking lots and parks can often be of help.
So let's say you have filled you B.O.K. with the lore of the Tree or plant under study. You have some bits and pieces or at least a leaf or few in your B.O.S.
It is now time to start a Leaf (page in your Book of Leaves. I recommend that you start copying the outline of a real leaf. get some colored pencils and color it in. Let us assume you know it is safe to taste smell, make at tea etc of it. Save one leaf to press, dry and put in your B.O.L. while tracing and coloring it the leaf picture in your B.O.L. Taste the leaf, smell it feel it. Write all these very personal feelings in the B.O.L., you are one with the Leaf and the Book now. Add if you wish where you can find this tree, perhaps pencil a sketch of it.
Now about the important area of uses and formulation information. I would only add these to the page as you make them and use them. This book is for your very own personal work and journey.
Next start on the What is beside us. While this will be hundreds of plants just focus on those that have Healing, Conjure or food values for you.
And last, what is below us. the grasses, low lying flowers roots, etc.
Well, I hope this short guide is of some help on your never ending journey.
TDK (The Druid King)
FYI our Facebook group, you are all most welcome to join and share with us!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ADruidHerbal/
Copyright George King 7/17/2017, except images used here.
Comments
Post a Comment