ENCHANTER'S NIGHTSHADE  by Stewart Essences Circe, also known as ‘the dark goddess’, is a sorceress from Greek legends who lived on the island of Aeaea.  Traditionally, Aeaea is considered to be either one of the islands near to the Italian coast or Mount Circeo, an isolated promontory only connected to the mainland by a low saddle of alluvial deposits so that, from the sea, it appears to be an island, Circe, whose parents were Helios, the sun god and an ocean nymph called Perse, was infamous for her ability to turn humans into beasts.  Indeed, when the Greek hero Odysseus visited her island she changed all his companions into pigs, though he himself was saved from transformation by a protective herb called Moly, given to him by Hermes (a Greek god of commerce, eloquence, invention, travel and theft who also served as herald and messenger of the other gods). Moly is described as a herb with a black root, while blossoms, and magical powers.  Its surviving Botanical connection is in Allium moly, a decorative member of the protective and healing Onion family.   Odysseus persuaded Circe to return his co-sailors to human form and they all lived on Aeaea for twelve months during which time Circe bore Odysseus a son.  As he left to continue his journey, Circe advised him to block his crew’s and own ears with wax so that they could not be lured on to the rocks between Aeaea and Scylla by the Sirens - two sweet-singing bird women infamous for causing shipwrecks.  Despite such efforts Odysseus was, unfortunately, still able to hear the music but he saved the ship by ordering his deaf crew to tie him to the mast so that he could not steer off course. In modern classifications of living things, the Sirens have animal rather than plant connections – the Sirenidae being three species of aquatic salamanders that resemble eels. The Circea, however, are a genus of the Evening Primrose family (Onagraceae) whose one British member is Enchanter’s Nightshade (Circaea lutetiana).   Enchanter’s Nightshade occurs in damp woodlands of the Northern Hemisphere and has one of the strongest connections with the number two of any plant, having paired opposite leaves and only two sepals, petals and stamens in its flowers.  The ‘two’ connection would indicate that the plant was ruled by the Moon. Two is also the number of polarity, male/female; positive/negative.  It is connected with generosity, peacekeeping, sensitivity to others, emotionality, harmony and balance; also the need to counteract docility and ineffectuality and to counteract stress by creating space and peacefulness.  There are also other ‘signatures’ to be found in its fruit which bends down and is covered in hooked bristles which catch on passing animals to aid dispersal.       My own Enchanter’s Nightshade essence helps create a ‘new you’ by promoting fundamental behavioral changes in a magical way.  It captures Circe’s lesser known skills of compassionate healing which she used to counteract confusion and inaction, divert from danger and oppression, and transform primal, chaotic or destructive urges into positive drives.   The essence does this by creating the union of opposites within us, helping us to integrate our shadow rather than projecting it on to others.  It resolves any inner conflicts and can heal rifts with people, even enemies. Enchanter's Nightshade does help bring out the best and calm the beast in us.  It helps with all shadow behaviour from addictions to temper tantrums.  It is also very forgiving and helps us feel more loved and loveable when we feel guilty and ashamed.    Finally, Enchanter’s Nightshade effects spiritual purification and unity so that we feel reborn, balanced and whole – a powerful, enchanting essence for those who really want to change and move on to new ways of being and new horizons. You can buy Jan’s essence for £5.50 from  www.stewartessences.co.uk