Plant Magic: Wisdom from the Green World

Whether you live in a city or the countryside, the magic of plants can be found everywhere and sometimes where you least expect it. Be open and explore the magic that surrounds you.

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Sandra Kynes

Sandra Kynes

The author of over a dozen books, Sandra is an explorer of history, myth, and magic. Her writing has been featured in SageWoman, The Magical Times, The Portal, and Circle magazines, Utne Reader and Magical Buffet websites, and various Llewellyn almanacs. Although she is a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids, she travels a solitary Goddess-centered path through the Druidic woods. She has lived in New York City, Europe, England, and now Maine where she lives in an 1850s farmhouse surrounded by meadows and woods.  

Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Bloodroot: A Not-So-Scary Plant

The genus name was derived from the Latin sanguis, meaning “blood,” which refers to the reddish-brown or red-orange juice that oozes from the rhizome/root when cut. Bloodroot was used by a number of Native American tribes as a dye for cloth and baskets. It was also an ingredient in war paint. This sweet little woodland plant was also used as a love charm.

The root was used medicinally for a range of ailments. European settlers adopted its therapeutic use and bloodroot continued to be listed as an official botanical drug in the United States until the early twentieth century. Although it is no longer considered safe for herbal medicine, bloodroot is often used an ornamental garden plant. The plant has a threatened or endangered species status in some areas; check vendor sources when purchasing bloodroot.

Magically, bloodroot can be used to release attachments, sprinkle crumbled, dried leaves in a meadow or wooded area. Burn a dried leaf to bolster courage or to add strength to spells. Place a flower or leaf on your altar to aid in divination. For esbat and women’s rituals, place three flowers on your altar or prepare a candle with flower essence. Place a few pieces of dried root in a sachet and carry it with you to attract love or under your bed to enhance lovemaking. If you find bloodroot in the wild, work with its energy and leave an offering.  

 

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Is it Wolf’s Bane? Leopard’s Bane? No Just Arnica

Poor Arnica (Arnica montana) has been misidentified for centuries. During the Middle Ages in German-speaking areas of Europe, it had the folk name wohlverleih, meaning “bestowing wellbeing.” Unfortunately, the name was misunderstood and arnica was called wolfsleiche, which meant “wolf’s corpse.” German mystic and herbalist Hildegard of Bingen (1098-1179) added to the confusion by calling it Wolfesgelegena.

Its folk name leopard’s bane is another case of misidentification. Arnica looks very similar to great leopard’s bane (Doronicum pardalianches), which was believed to have the poisonous power to bring down a leopard. While arnica does not have the power to dispatch a great cat, Hildegard noted that it was an aphrodisiac and used in love magic.

In addition to love spells, Arnica has other magical qualities. Place a sprig of leaves on your altar to increase and enhance your psychic abilities during divination sessions. Use the seeds for a protection spell. Sprinkle them at the corners of your property as you visualize energy rising and creating a dome of safety. Raising energy inside your home with arnica helps settle restless spirits.

 

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs
Winter Fairy’s Fire

Because the brilliant, fire-colored flowers of the flowering quince stand in stark contrast to the winter landscape, stories indicated that some type of faery magic must have been involved. Appearing in late winter, the blazing flowers reputedly melted away the snow into drops of crystals and drove away clouds in the sky. At night the blossoms put out a call to every type of elf and faery to come dance and hasten the end of winter.

Although the flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is grown for its beauty the fruit is edible, but not straight off the tree. Since ancient times, the quince was a fertility symbol and often given to new brides. The Romans dedicated the tree to Venus. The fruit became an integral part of marriage ceremonies with the bride and groom partaking of honeyed quince. Eating the fruit was symbolic of consummating the marriage.As part of a hand-fasting ceremony, exchange gifts of quince to symbolize love and harmony in the marriage.

Quince is also a tree of protection. Carry several dried seeds in a pouch for protective energy as well as to attract luck. To remove any form of negativity from your life, burn a small twig or several dried leaves. As for faeries, cut a branch in late winter when the buds appear and put it in water to bloom indoors to attract them to your home.

 

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

January 6th, Twelfth Night was originally a Pagan festival until the fourth century CE, when, like many Pagan celebrations, it was usurped into the Christian calendar. Twelfth Night is also known as Epiphany and the ancient Greeks held a commemoration to deity. Drawn from the Greek word epiphaneia, meaning “appearance,” or “manifestation,” in the Greco-Roman world it signified a deity visiting devotees in a sacred place. The word also had the connotation of deity revealing him/herself in order to aid humans.

Fast forward to medieval times, this day was the traditional end of the winter solstice revels. Although mistletoe and holly decorations were usually burned to mark the end of Yule, in parts of northwest England Twelfth Night Holly Night was the last big blowout of the season. It was customary to carry one or more flaming branches of holly through the town accompanied by a loud band and fireworks.

If you prefer, Twelfth Night can be celebrated on a much smaller and quieter scale to honor your special deity on this day of epiphany. Gather a few holly leaves and write the name of a goddess or god on each one. Use additional leaves or a sprig of holly to honor multiple deities.

Go to a place outdoors where it is safe to burn things. Light a candle and then hold the leaves between your palms as you say: “On this day of epiphany; I take time to honor thee. Your love and guidance I request; and through your power I will be blessed.” Touch the holly to the candle flame and then drop it into your cauldron or other vessel. Repeat the incantation as the holly burns. When the ashes cool, scatter them on the ground.

 

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Mistletoe Means What?

Growing atop trees, mistletoe seemed to suddenly appear out of nowhere. However, by the fifth or sixth century, people had figured out that birds dropped the seeds. The common name comes from the Old Saxon mistel, which evolved into the Old English mistiltān (mistel meaning the plant and tān, “twig”). The word mistel was also used for a bird that fed on the berries and called the mistel-thrush. However, rather than meaning “bird twig,” most etymologist refer back to the Old High German mist, meaning “dung” and in Old Dutch, “bird lime.” So basically, the plant may have been known as “bird dung twig.” What’s love got to do with it?

According to Norse mythology, after the god Balder was slain with a branch of mistletoe and brought back to life, his mother the goddess Frigg declared that from that time forward mistletoe would be a plant for love, not death. This idea had staying power. In the past, it was believed that sweethearts who kissed under a sprig were destined to marry but only if the mistletoe was burned on Twelfth Night (January 6th). Mistletoe gathered at the summer solstice was used as a household amulet and hung above a doorway to ward-off mischievous spirits.


In the folklore of Germany, Austria, and Flanders, mistletoe grew where an elf had sat in a tree. According to legend, a person could see and talk to ghosts while holding a piece of mistletoe. In England, Wales, and France, it was regarded as a plant of good fortune. A sprig was hung in the home for a year and replaced with a fresh one at Yule.

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Posted by on in Culture Blogs

From the time they burst forth in the spring until they are whisked away by the wind in the autumn, leaves enfold the world with aerial enchantment. Personifying energy and growth, leaves give magic and personal endeavors an encouraging boost. In autumn, leaves embody the turning cycle of the wheel of the year. In the autumn, gather the most colorful fallen leaves and allow them to dry. They will curl into various shapes. Pressing autumn leaves preserves their original shape. Place a few between two layers of paper towels on a table, and then put a large book or two on top to keep them flat. It will only take a couple of days.

A method called rubbing can be used to save the image of a leaf, which can be incorporated into a journal or book of shadows. This can be done with fresh or dried leaves, although you will need to be especially careful with dried ones. Position the leaf underneath the page where you want its image, and then carefully rub with the side of a colored pencil over the paper. The details of the leaf will be captured.

Using dried leaves is an easy way to incorporate the energy of trees into spells and rituals. Also place dried leaves or leaf rubbings on your altar as a reminder of transition and change as the earth prepares for a winter’s rest and we prepare for our journey through the dark of the year.

 

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  • Sandra Kynes
    Sandra Kynes says #
    Unfortunately I couldn't upload a photo of autumn leaves so you will need to use your visualization skills.

Posted by on in Culture Blogs

Goldenrod (Solidago virgaurea) and sweet goldenrod (S. odora) brighten the autumn roadsides, fields, and meadows. The genus name comes from the Latin solida, meaning “whole,” and ago, “to make” suggesting that goldenrod has been used for a range of medicinal purposes. According to folklore, goldenrod points toward hidden treasure or marks hidden springs. It was also believed that carrying a piece of goldenrod would aid in finding treasure. Blooming at the same time as ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia), goldenrod took the rap for causing hay fever until studies showed that its pollen is too heavy to be airborne. Use dried flowers in a sachet for spells to attract wealth and prosperity. Place several sprigs of flowers and leaves on your altar to aid in divination. Cut long stems of flower plumes and place these wherever you need to lift and boost energy. Goldenrod is associated with the element air. Its astrological influence comes from Venus.

 

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