Love Yourself

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day, which can be a complex emotional event for some. While I have read cynics speak of Valentine’s Day as a holiday created by Hallmark to sell more cards, the truth is far more complex. I have never really looked into the history of Valentine’s Day until right now, and it seems that there are a few different stories. It might have started as the Roman festival Lupercalia. This fertility celebration was held around the same time as Valentine’s Day is now and has the obvious fertility connection, but there is no proof beyond that of the connection (as far as I can tell). Saint Valentine himself didn’t seem to have many connections to romance, but he did have connections to Spring. Perhaps this is what led to the connection to romance in the 15th century. A bunch of seemingly innocuous events and a few nudges from card makers later, here we are with the big celebration of romance that is modern day Valentine’s Day.

I’m not here to talk history, though. Instead, I’ve been thinking of how to turn this whole Valentine’s Day into something that everyone can dip into, whether single or not. There are so many different types of love. Romantic love. Familial love. Divine love. Today, I want to focus on a type of love that many of us struggle with: Self love.

I’m not talking about a narcissistic obsession with self, but instead loving and accepting yourself. Josh and I both like to compare it to the love of your child. If you are a parent, you love your child. You want them to grow into their power and become the amazing person that they are meant to be. That doesn’t mean accepting bad behavior, selfishness, and cruelty. You see their weaknesses and try to help them grow out of those weaknesses. You also see all the amazing things that your child brings to the world and you do your best to nurture those amazing things.

If you can do that for your child, why can’t you also do that for yourself?

There are a lot of excuses for why, of course. Cultural baggage. Childhood baggage. Personal baggage. I know that it can be difficult. Sometimes, we need a little help.

To find a little support in this process, I have a suggestion. Why not try a little bit of natural magic?

I’m going to be upfront about this. While I have tested out many different amulet recipes to a whole range of successes and failures (aka learning experiences), I have not tested out this one. So, if you are up to a little experimentation, try this out with me. I’m going to lay out a very basic recipe to try out. Take it and play with it a little. If you work in a magical tradition, work that into it. If you have personal amulet making techniques that you like, try it out.

The first step is to pick a Friday to make this amulet. When making amulets, I try to keep moon cycles and astrological influences in mind. While it won’t make or break an amulet, it can be helpful to ride helpful energetic tides.  You can even do it the day after Valentine’s Day, if that sounds like something you want to try. Astrologically, it’s not a bad time to try it out. The moon is on the way to full in Cancer. Venus is hanging out in Capricorn. The astrological currents shouldn’t mess with the work.

When you are ready to make the amulet, you’ll need a red circle of cloth about 4 or 5 inches in diameter. Make sure it’s made of natural fiber, such as cotton, wool, or silk. I find that material from plants or animals hold energy far better than synthetics. Draw the rune Mannaz on the outside of the to-be amulet. This rune means “man,” but it is also used to mean “self.”

The next step is to get a stone. I suggest getting a piece of rose quartz. It’s a nice stone that has a history of being used in works of love and the heart. While there are other stones that related to the heart and love, but this is a good one for gentle self love. As you place it there, tell the stone why you’re putting it in there. Tell it you are putting it there to be the heart of this self love amulet.

Now, for the herbs. When making these amulets, I like to use three herbs together. The first herb will not surprise anyone who has done any work for me. It’s my favorite green ally, lemon balm. I often refer to this plant as the rose quartz of herbs. It’s calming and great for the heart. As you add this herb, talk to it. Let it know that you are adding it to support your heart in love.

Next herb is rose. Rose petals are beautiful, and they are flowers of Venus. They are classic for love magic and this is no exception. If you can get pink rose petals, even better. As you add the petals, tell them you are adding them to love yourself with strength and balance.

The final herb to add is St. John’s Wort. St. John’s Wort has a long history as a medicine and magical herb, so it will be perfect for your amulet. As you add this herb, tell it that you are adding it to banish the negativity in your heart.

If you are a Reiki practitioner, you can write the Reiki symbol and the emotional healing symbol on a small piece of paper to put in the mix as well. If you aren’t a Reiki practitioner, don’t worry about it.

Gather the ends up, making a little bundle. Take a green string (again, natural fibers) and tie the bag shut. If you have a way you’d like to bless it, try it out! Extra work is not mandatory, though. You can call it good once you tie it shut. Keep the new amulet on your person. When you need a little more self love, put it to your heart. Focus on the energies of the amulet working with the energies of your heart center.  See how that feels for you.

If you’re crafty, you can also make a more complex bag. You can try sewing something together using red (or pink) fabric and green thread. You can get creative with its appearance with beads and tassels. You can turn it into a necklace that hangs perfectly at your heart. That part is up to you, your ambition, and your creativity.

Let me know if you decide to make one. Send me photos of your creation. I love to hear people’s experience in the work.

With that, I wish you a happy Valentine’s Day. May you feel deeply loved.

Be well

• The Green Mountain Mage