Herbs and Plants
of the Sabbats
Herbs, like everything in the universe,
have an aura, an invisible charge of energy
that radiates from within and without.
laurie cabot,
celebrate the earth
At the different sabbats during the Witch’s year, there are certain botanicals that align with the energies of the season. In this chapter, we will take a look at some of the herbs, plants, and flowers that are associated with each sabbat and their magick and folklore. Included in this category
will be their magickal and planetary associations, florigraphy information, and an accompanying spell or flower fascination for each sabbat.
Remember that for a plant to be classified as an herb, some part of the plant—such as the flower, fruit, seed, leaf, bark, or even the wood—must be used for scent, food, flavorings, dye, or medicine. This is the classic definition of the word herb.
Admittedly, some of this botanical information may surprise you. For example, in the Yule section, I did not want to rehash information that was previously given in chapter five, like how holly and ivy, while being two of the featured trees from the Celtic year, also play a significant role in Yuletide festivities—which I am sure you are already aware of. So in order to present some fresh information, the focus here will be on other plants that are available to you at this time of year in nature or herbs and botanicals that you can easily procure.
Magick happens during all of the seasons. Take a new look at these herbs of the sabbats, and let this information inspire you to create even more herbal spells of your own design.
Samhain
Halloween
O hushed October morning mild,
Begin the hours of this day slow.
Make the day seem to us less brief.
robert frost
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officianalis)
The herb rosemary symbolizes remembrance. I think this herb is highly appropriate at Samhain, as we remember our loved ones and the women and men who died for our religious freedom. If rosemary is burned during a ritual, it has a powerful cleansing effect. Sprigs of rosemary may be worn or braided into your hair to boost personal protection. It may also be used as a more affordable substitute for frankincense. This is a must-have herb for any sunny herb garden. The very fragrance of rosemary smells like Witchcraft to me.
A tea made from rosemary is thought to boost your psychic powers and to open up the third eye. In the art of florigraphy (also known as the language of flowers), the rosemary says, “Your presence revives me!” It also symbolizes fidelity, devotion, and good luck in the new year.
Magickal associations of rosemary include protection, love, sleep, boosting psychic power, exorcism, and healing. Rosemary is classified as a masculine herb. The astrological correspondence for rosemary is the sun, and the element is fire.
Lesser Periwinkle (Vinca minor)
This popular evergreen can be found in most garden centers across the country. This popular nursery plant can grow up to twelve inches in height, and it widely spreads out to form a dense mat of groundcover for shady areas in the garden. The folk names of this plant are many, but my favorite has to be the sorcerer’s violet. Periwinkle blooms twice a year: once heavily in the spring and then again lightly in the autumn. The flowers are purple and have five petals with a white star in the center—which is how the plant got its folk name, after all; the five-pointed magician’s star was right there for everyone to see.
Please do not confuse the annual sun-loving flower vinca for the periwinkle. I get letters from gardening Witches about this question every year. The botanical name of this enchanting herb is Vinca minor, and it is often how this magickal plant is identified and sold. You will find it in the shady groundcover section at the nursery.
Old plant lore claims that this herb should only be gathered on the night of the new crescent and the night before the full moon, for gathering an herb during the waxing moon would only increase its protective powers. This herb has ties to Samhain, as legend has it the periwinkle was commonly grown across graves in France, which means it was often gathered by magickal practitioners at the local cemeteries (and probably under the cover of darkness so folks would be able to gather the herb discreetly for their various magickal workings).
Magickal associations include protection, love, prosperity, banishing, and bindings, and as you would imagine, the herb neatly wards off the evil eye. The periwinkle is considered to be a feminine plant. Its astrological influence is Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
Pumpkin (Cucurbita)
The vining annual plant is native to the Americas. It bears fruit in late autumn. The plant creates large, broad leaves and shoots out with trailing vines that blossom. Technically, the male flowers are in leaf axils, while the female, fruit-bearing flowers are born along the vine. At the base of the blossom, a tiny pumpkin will grow.
The pumpkin is indeed considered to be an herb because parts of the plant (the fruit and the seeds) are edible. Pumpkins replaced the traditional turnip in Samhain festivities, as they are much easier to carve into lanterns for frightening away those roaming spirits. If created with intention, a carved jack-o’-lantern is indeed a powerful and protective tool.
The magickal associations of the plant are protection, harvest, abundance, and lunar magick. The pumpkin is considered a feminine plant. Its astrological correspondence is the moon, and the elemental association is water.
Recently, I was in Salem, Massachusetts, during late October for an author event. It was wild—think Mardi Gras with a witchy theme. To my amusement, I noticed people buying pumpkin seeds by the bagful in various magickal shops. When I asked one store’s proprietor, who happened to be Laurie Cabot, what was up with the pumpkin seeds, she responded that if a Witch carried pumpkin seeds in their pockets, they would be invisible.
With a clever smile, she basically explained to me that when she carried the pumpkin seeds in her pocket, she could then go about her business and walk home to her apartment without being bothered or even noticed by others. The enchanted pumpkin seeds cast a glamour of sorts on the carrier, enabling them to blend in and not draw attention to themselves. Brilliant! When you think about it, this would come in damn handy during all the tourism and Witch-wannabe craziness that hits Salem in October. That information has been tickling my imagination ever since, so here is a pumpkin seed spell inspired by my trip to Salem.
Salem Pumpkin Seed Glamour
For best results, perform this glamour during a waning moon. As the moon becomes smaller, so too will your chances of being noticed. If you like, you can place the enchanted seeds inside of a sachet bag or tie them inside of a three-inch square of plain black fabric (a very appropriate color for Samhain), and then tie it up with a satin ribbon. I would recommend using a grey-colored ribbon, both to represent the glamour and that you are working to blend in and go unnoticed.
Hold up the seeds in your hands, and visualize them glowing with a bit of your own personal power. Now, see in your mind’s eye what it is you want these pumpkin seeds to do, which is to make your actions go unnoticed and to allow you to blend in to your environment. Now, repeat the following spell verse three times:
The pumpkin is the fruit of the Lady Moon,
Now enchant these seeds and grant this Witch a boon.
My movements go unnoticed and I pass easily by,
Be it bright sunshine or midnight’s mysterious sky.
A trick from a clever Salem Witch, I’ll seem invisible to all.
With a bit of glamour in my pocket and the magick of the fall,
By all the magick of three times three,
As I will it, then so must it be.
When you have finished the spell, slip a few of the seeds into your charm bag and tie it closed, or simply tuck a few seeds into your pocket or purse. Now, just go about your witchy business, confident in your spellwork.
Yule
Winter Solstice
I have forgotten much, but still remember
The poinsettia’s red, blood-red in warm December.
claude mckay
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)
A very popular tropical plant for the winter holidays, some folk names for the poinsettia include “most beautiful spurge” and “flower of the holy night.” The poinsettia has some very interesting Pagan lore. The poinsettia symbolized purity for the Aztecs and was known as Cuetlaxochitle. The plant was used both medicinally and to produce a reddish dye. Tradition has it that the Aztec king Montezuma enjoyed the poinsettia so much that he would bring the plants into his home. According to the Mayan folklore of South America, the poinsettia is considered to be a sort of divine life form.
As you would expect, the poinsettia is a native plant of Mexico and Central America, where the plant may grow as tall as a tree. The flower part of the plant is the small, golden-colored buds in the center of the colored leaves. These golden buds are correctly called cyathia. The red “flower petals” of the plant are actually not the flowers at all—those are, in fact, colored bracts, or leaves.
While the poinsettia, a member of the Euphorbia (spurge) family, is not edible, it is not as toxic as you may have heard. Spurges in general tend to be harshly laxative; while the poinsettia may make you ill, it is typically not deadly—an upset stomach is more likely. The sap of the plant may cause contact dermatitis (skin irritation), and allergic reactions to the plant, such as sneezing, are not unusual. To avoid problems, I would simply keep this plant well out of reach of nibbling pets and small children.
The poinsettia plant is a fairly new addition to winter holiday customs here in the United States. It was brought to the United States in the early 1800s by Joel Robert Poinsett, the first ambassador to Mexico. The story goes that while living in Mexico, he was so impressed by the showy plant that he brought cuttings back to his home in South Carolina, where it then thrived in his greenhouse, as poinsettias will not survive in temperatures below 50 degrees Fahrenheit. The flowers did so well that Mr. Poinsett gave the tropical plants away as gifts to his friends.
Today, hybridizers have gone crazy with the traditional red poinsettia, and now you can find these plants in shades of red, pink, white, and yellow. Also, speckled varieties in a mixture of colors are common. One of my favorite things to do on a gloomy day in early December is to visit a local greenhouse and see all the thousands of poinsettias in all their various colors all lined up on tables and waiting to be purchased.
There are no “traditional” magickal associations of this tropical plant, so I’d say it’s about time to assign it some. Due to the plant’s tropical nature and ties to the Aztecs and Mayans, the astrological association of the sun would be very complementary. The element of fire also fits nicely, since this plant is originally a flame red color and demands warm temperatures.
Mistletoe (Viscum album)
Mistletoe is commonly found growing as a parasitic plant; however, it can be a semi-parasite (the correct botanical term for this is a hemi-parasite). As a parasitic plant, it grows on the branches or trunk of a tree and actually sends out roots that penetrate into the tree and take up nutrients. However, mistletoe is also capable of growing all on its own; like other plants, it can manufacture its own food by photosynthesis.
Folk names include the golden bough and the kissing bunch; the Druids called it all-heal. Mistletoe grows on deciduous trees such as apple, ash, hawthorn, birch, and occasionally on oak trees. The plant forms pendent bushes that are two to five feet in diameter. It has been found growing on almost any deciduous tree, preferring those with soft bark. Finding mistletoe growing on an oak is rare, which is why the Celts and Druids prized it so. Mistletoe is still used today for powerful protection magick and fertility magick, as the white berries were thought to resemble drops of semen.
There are two types of mistletoe. The mistletoe that is commonly used as a winter holiday decoration is typically Phoradendron flavescens. This is a native species to North America and grows as a parasite on trees from New Jersey to Florida. The other type of mistletoe, Viscum album, is of European origin. The European mistletoe is a green shrub with small yellow flowers and white sticky berries that are considered the most poisonous. Both varieties of the plant are toxic and have twigs that fork around a central flower cluster, which produces white berries. Folk names for this plant include the golden bough, birdlime, Witches’ broom, and holy wood, while the Celts called it “a different twig.”
According to Druidic customs, the plant was to be harvested at Midsummer with a golden sickle and was never allowed to touch the ground.
The practice of kissing under the mistletoe comes from old Pagan fertility rites or some say from the legend of Balder. Balder was the best loved of all the Norse gods and the son of the Mother Goddess Frigga. She loved her son so much that she wanted to make sure no harm could ever possibly befall him. So she went through the world, gathering promises from everything that sprang from the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water—that they would never harm her son, but she overlooked the mistletoe. Enter into this story Loki, the trickster god, who discovered her oversight. He made an arrow from the mistletoe and then took the arrow to Balder’s brother Hoder, who was blind. Guiding Hoder’s aim, Loki directed the arrow at Balder’s heart, and he fell dead.
In the account of the story with a happy ending, Balder is restored to life, and Frigga’s tears became the mistletoe’s white berries. The goddess was so grateful that her son was restored that she reversed the reputation of the offending plant, making it a symbol of love and promising to bestow a kiss upon anyone who passes under it.
In the language of flowers, mistletoe conveys the flowing message, “I give you as many kisses as there are stars in the sky.” This magickal plant is considered masculine. Its magickal associations are protection, love, fertility, hex breaking, and the removal of entities and evil spirits. Its astrological correspondence is the sun, and the elemental association is air.
Pine (Pinus spp.)
The noble pine tree is a gorgeous evergreen tree classified as a coniferous tree. There are over one hundred varieties of the pine. Pines grow all over the globe, in many shapes and sizes. Some varieties of this tree may reach heights up to 135 feet. A few varieties you may be familiar with are the slash pine (Pinus elliottii), the Eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), and the Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), which is the national tree of Scotland.
The fruit of the pine tree, the cone, is a fertility symbol and is often used to tip magickal wands. The pine was the sacred tree of the goddess Astarte and also of the gods Pan, Dionysus, and Sylvanus, who often accompanied each other (all three were gods of the woods, forests, and fields). Pine boughs, trees for decorating, and other items made from the pine, such as wreaths, are a classic plant to add to your Yuletide festivities and decorations.
Bringing fresh greens in the house at midwinter was thought to ensure health and good luck for the entire year. Rumor has it that it also gave the winter faeries a place to hide, as they came inside with the greenery, giving the faeries a holiday of sorts as they enjoyed the warmth, activity, and mood of the home during the Yuletide festivities.
In the language of flowers, the pine tree symbolizes friendship, loyalty, endurance, and long life. The astrological correspondence for the pine tree is Mars, and the elemental association is air. The tree is considered to be masculine, and the magickal uses for pine are many, including protection, prosperity, and healing. Also, it is said that burning pine needles will return any manipulative spells straight back to the sender.
Return to Sender: Pine Needle Spell
This spell can be cast at any time, day of the week, or moon phase. What matters most is your intention. If your intention is to end the manipulation of another by magick, then put on your game face, take a deep breath, and get down to business.
This spell requires an old cauldron or fireproof dish, matches, and a small handful of dry pine needles. You will also need a small container full of water when the spell is finished. It is best to work this spell outside and with safety in mind. Set the cauldron in a clear, safe area—on top of a table or in the middle of a concrete, brick, or stone patio. Make absolutely sure that the cauldron or burning dish is resting on a fireproof area.
Next, arrange the needles inside of the cauldron and strike the match, setting the needles to light. In this case, we want the smell of sulfur to sting the air. Visualize that the smell of sulfur will follow the troublemaker around for a time. Sound nasty? Well, breaking a spell that was cast on you is not for the faint of heart. Self-defense is your duty; this is a serious spell and not one to be done casually.
As the pine needles start to burn, repeat the spell for as long as there is a flame. If you have to relight the needles to burn them all away, then do so.
These fragrant pine needles, so green and so lush,
Return all spells cast on me back in a rush.
As the pine burns, all ties to me fade away,
Now I am uncrossed, free and clear, come what may.
As the smoke billows up, return the spell back to sender,
May this teach them a lesson they will always remember!
After the needles are completely burned away, keep an eye on them for at least fifteen minutes. While you are doing so, contemplate why the person who cast on you would have been foolish enough to do so. What have you learned from this? After the fifteen minutes has passed, take the water and pour it on top of the ashes. Then say the following to close up the spell:
By fire this spell was cast,
By water it is finished.
As I will it, so must it be.
Remember to be smart and safe and use your common sense. Never leave the small fire unattended, and keep extra water nearby in case of an emergency.
Imbolc
Candlemas
Why, what’s the matter,
That you have such a February face,
So full of frost, of storm and cloudiness?
shakespeare, much ado about nothing
Common Crocus (Crocus)
Do not confuse the early spring-blooming garden variety crocus with saffron crocus. The everyday variety (Crocus) comes in over eighty species, and the predominant colors of the blossoms are white, purple, and yellow. Found in rock gardens and flower beds, these cheerful and hardy blooming bulbs come in all sorts of combinations and colors, even stripes, and yes, they have been known to bloom cheerfully away in the snow and ice.
In the language of flowers, the common crocus symbolizes that you shall remain young at heart, no matter what your age. The magickal associations are freshness, love, and romance. The astrological association for the feminine common garden crocus is the planet Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
Garden Witch Tip: The common crocus is not meant to be consumed. However, in the interest of lending some clarity to these two bewitching plants, here is the information on the saffron crocus as well.
Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus)
Unlike their common garden-blooming cousins, the saffron crocus does, in fact, bloom in the autumn, and the flowers are a soft lilac-pink color. The stigmas of the saffron crocus are a highly prized culinary spice. Why? Because they are expensive and costly to gather. It takes over 1,700 flowers to produce one ounce of saffron. Saffron is also used as a dye and in cosmetics. Magickally, saffron was considered to be an aphrodisiac and was used to promote love and lust as well as to strengthen psychic abilities.
The definition in the language of flowers is different than that of the common crocus. Here, the masculine energies of the saffron crocus warn you of excess and not to overdo it, which is probably a nod to the cost of obtaining this magickal herb. The planetary correspondence for saffron is the sun; its elemental association is fire.
Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The botanical name for this flower translates to “milk-white flower.” Folk names include Fair-Maids-of-February, winter bell, Candlemas bells, and the milk flower; it was known to all the old-time botanists as a bulbous violet. This plant begins flowering in late January or early February in the northern temperate zone. The white flower has six petals, the outer three segments being larger and more curvy than the inner petals. The plant grows four to six inches tall. There are about twelve species of Galanthus and many variations of the spring-blooming, bulbous herb.
In the language of flowers, this plant means hope, renewal, and also consolation. The snowdrop is a divine flower; it brings the hope and promise of spring during the darkest and coldest winter days. As I researched this flower, I discovered that this is the flower of the archangel of Saturn, Cassiel, who is also known as the angel of temperance, creativity, and good fortune. He is associated with the following attributes: acceptance, wisdom, good luck, creativity, and optimism. This archangel inspires us to expand our minds, be creative, and think on a higher level. Cassiel, as the angel of good fortune, will help you to create your own luck, so you can have the strength and the conviction to work hard and then to reap the rewards of all that effort.
The astrological correspondence for the snowdrop is Saturn. A good elemental association for this flower would be the element of earth.
An Angelic Herbal Enchantment for Motivation
I designed this spell for myself when I was under the deadline gun to finish this very book. It was early December, and the completed manuscript was due in mid-February. My nerves were shot, as I was constantly interrupted by phone calls, errands, my kids coming home from college, decorating for Yule, and my other family commitments, not to mention trying to find time to shop for Yule presents.
As I researched the snowdrop plant, I stumbled across the information on the archangel Cassiel and his links to it, and I felt my stomach flip over. I got that psychic tingle that lets me know when I am on to something good. In the past, I had worked magick with angels, but it wasn’t something I did on a regular basis.
Regardless, I knew there was a reason I had found all the information and how suitable and appropriate it seemed for my needs. It felt like the universe was giving me a psychic nudge. After all, I had been asking the God and Goddess for help to get this project finished on time, and right there, falling neatly into my lap, was this fabulous information. So, with the holidays fast approaching and the deadline getting closer every day, I decided to give this a try. It worked so well for me that I decided to share it with you. Oh, and if you are wondering—yes, Witches can work with angels. Try it out for yourself and see how you do.
Since this archangel is aligned with Saturn, work this spell on a Saturn’s day—Saturday. If possible, work with the snowdrop plant; a blossom or two in a little vase would be lovely. If you cannot procure the fresh blossoms, then I would light a snow-white candle instead. Votive, pillar, jar, or taper candle—it’s your choice. (Being a practical Witch, I found a picture of the blooming snowdrop plant on the web, printed it out, and glued it onto a seven- day jar candle.)
Once you have the flowers arranged and/or the candle burning, repeat the following spell verse:
I call upon Cassiel; the snowdrop is your sacred flower,
Help me finish my project in a timely manner and hour.
Even as the snowdrop blooms in the darkest and coldest of days,
Help me to remain strong, focused, and motivated, come what may.
May Cassiel, the archangel of creativity,
Assist me now, and as I will it, so must it be!
Allow the candle to burn out in a safe place on its own.
Ostara
Spring Equinox
Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king;
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
thomas nashe
Violet (Viola odorata)
Folk names for this fragrant herb include blue violet and sweet violet. The heart-shaped leaf of the violet is an amulet that protects from all evil. Wearing a chaplet of violets is an old way to cure a headache. Violets were often utilized with rose petals and lavender in love-drawing sachets and as a main spell component for romance magick. As these little beauties are a sacred plant of the goddess of love, Venus, she is sure to lend you a hand with your herb magick when the spell ingredients feature the violet.
In the language of flowers, the violet symbolizes modesty and sweetness, while a rarer white violet declares innocence and honesty. Magickal uses are protection, love, and lust. Also, the violet is a classic plant that is used to protect a person from being faerie led or tricked. Its protective qualities make it an ideal plant for working faerie magick. Try gathering the violets into a little posy and tucking it into a small glass or vase. This is thought to appease the nature spirits and the faeries.
On an interesting note, the violet is also the sacred flower of the archangel Sachiel. Sachiel is the archangel of Jupiter. His day is Thursday. Sachiel’s energy brings riches and a sense of charity. All financial situations, politics, and material wealth are under his influence, which makes sense since he is aligned to Jupiter and Thursday, that being the classic day to work any prosperity magick.
So here is another bit of information for you to file away. Yes, the traditional magickal correspondences for the violet are Venus and love. However, the violet is a powerful little flower with many uses and associations such as the following little morsel of flower lore. According to tradition, all “blue” flowers are sacred to Aphrodite and Venus. Adding this spring flower to any spell or ritual while invoking the goddesses of love will gather their attention and grant their favors. The classic astrological influence of the violet is the planet Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Easily identified by its bright yellow flowers, dandelions may be considered weeds by many a homeowner, but in the old days, dandelion greens offered a much-needed edible source and a spring tonic. The flowers can be made into wine, and the leaves—which have lots of vitamin A and C—may even be tossed into a salad. A few of the folk names for dandelion are blowball, lion’s tooth, and wild endive. The root of the dandelion will yield a magenta dye.
In the language of flowers, the dandelion is called an oracle of love. It also reminds you that wishes do come true. The magickal properties of this herb include divination, increasing psychic abilities, and granting wishes. Old flower folklore suggests plucking a dandelion’s seed head on the night of a full moon, then requesting the aid of the four winds. Make a wish, and blow away the seeds.
This masculine plant is sacred to Hecate. Its astrological influences are Jupiter, and the elemental correspondence is air.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
This variety of clover and the following one are common plants that have some similar properties as well as their own unique messages and magick. Clover is a perfect plant to celebrate the spring, green magick, and new beginnings. Tucking the four-leaf clover in your wallet will encourage an increase in your cash. Traditionally, placing a four-leaf clover in your shoe is thought to ensure good luck and ease on your travels; it will also allow you to see the faeries. To do that, you are supposed to stand still for three hours. (Good luck.) All varieties of clover are sacred to the faeries. Wear a crown of clover blossoms and sit out in the garden this spring, and see what they show and teach you. You remember how to make those, don’t you? Just about every kid has made clover flower necklaces and crowns at some time. Seems to me a little foolishness this spring will do you wonders. Besides, the faeries will get a good chuckle at you sitting there trying to make it perfect. Don’t obsess over it being gorgeous; instead, just relax and enjoy yourself. The clover is a perfect plant to incorporate into your springtime magick.
In the language of flowers, the four-leaf clover announces that “you are mine” and that “you are lucky.” The three-leaf clover is a symbol for the power of three. Those three leaves are also a sacred symbol of the Celtic triple goddess Brigid. While the red clover’s flower is typically a reddish color, there are some varieties of red clover that produce pink flowers. These pink-blooming clovers warn you, “Do not trifle with my affections,” while the red clover requests entreaty and asks that you “remain faithful even though we are apart.”
Magickally, the masculine red clover may be utilized in prosperity spells and is used to promote love and a dose of healthy lust. Carrying red clover blossoms on your person was thought to attract a new lover. It also helped you heal after a breakup or a love gone sour. The astrological association for the red clover is the planet Mercury, and the elemental association is air.
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
The white clover is a plant that is grown either as a hay crop or as a method of putting nutrients back in the soil as a type of green fertilizer. White clover has pale blossoms, which state in the language of flowers that “I will be faithful.”
Clover foliage is also used to predict the weather. If you find clover with their green leaves closed up tight, that is thought to be a sign of a coming rainstorm. Magickal uses besides the obvious four-leaf good-luck clover are varied and interesting. Scattering the blossoms of the white clover at the four main corners of your home will ward off ghosts and entities. Also, the white clover, with its pale crescent marks on the leaves, is thought to counteract a hex or manipulative magick. The astrological powers are the same as the red clover: the planetary influence is Mercury, and the elemental association is air.
A Silly Springtime Clover Spell for Prosperity
Head out to the yard or park this spring, and gather up a handful of blooming clover. Any moon phase or day of the week will work out fine, just pick out a pretty spring day that you can enjoy. To begin, tie the stems from the clover into a chaplet or necklace, and then sit on the grass like a kid. Take off your shoes and socks, and dig your toes into that new green grass. Feel the gentle spring breeze; now, ask the faeries to bless you with prosperity and generosity this spring. Sure, the following verse is tongue-in-cheek—it’s supposed to be silly and make you smile. Repeat the following verse three times:
Here I sit in my crown of clover,
Spring faeries, come and look me over!
If you bless me with good luck and prosperity this year,
I vow to be generous and help others far and near.
Enjoy the pretty spring weather and stay on the grass for a while. When you are ready to go, wear your flower chains home and allow them to dry out. Save them, and use them in other spells and charms.
To hold up your part of the vow to the fae, donate to a charity. How about the American Cancer Society, the Humane Society, or a local animal shelter? They can always use a donation or a volunteer. I have a friend that knits little blankets for a cat shelter and another who knits blankets for babies in the ICU. You could adopt a shelter animal, take good care of it, and give it a loving home. Help out a kid, and purchase something from their fundraiser for their school or sports team. Come on, there are plenty of opportunities out there for a little kindness. Give something back, and the faeries will reward your kindness.
Beltane
May 1
The fairy queen
Bids you increase that loving humour more.
thomas campion
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Folk names for this lovely perennial herb include queen of the meadow, lady of the meadow, trumpet weed, and little queen. This blooming herb is almond-scented with creamy white flowers. This was a popular flower in bridal bouquets, which helped earn the flower another one of its folk names, bridal wort. This was a classic strewing herb in medieval times, for not only were the flowers fragrant, but the foliage had a clean hay scent as well. Meadowsweet was also popular for use in the creation of perfumes, as the oil from the flower buds is sweetly scented. It is also a classic dyeing herb; the flower tops yield a yellow-green dye, the leaves and stems a blue tint, and the roots yield a black dye.
This was a sacred herb in Druidic tradition, and it formed a sort of magickal trio of herbs with vervain and mint. Meadowsweet is popular to work into faerie magick, as the fae value strongly scented flowers and herbs. In magick, the meadowsweet flower is worked into spells, arranged into tussie-mussies, and tucked into sweetly fragranced charm bags and sachets to encourage love and good cheer. Meadowsweet promotes peace and contentment, and it also aids in divination. This herb has the planetary correspondence of Jupiter and the elemental association of air.
Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
There are many varieties of ferns from all over the world; however, I want to focus on a common fern that is considered an herb: the male fern. This species of fern is found growing in shady, damp woodlands and hedges in North America and Eurasia. This is a gorgeous specimen of deciduous fern, and it is described as having elegantly divided green fronds that will unroll from the crown of the rhizome. Actually, the young curled fronds of the male fern can be boiled and used as a vegetable. You will see these referred to occasionally as fiddleheads.
Magickal uses of the male fern include invisibility, faerie magick, protection, healing, lust, and also for encouraging good luck. According to old herb lore, dried fern, when burned indoors in the fireplace or woodstove, will drive away negative spirits and entities, while if the dried fern fronds are burned outdoors, the smoke is thought to encourage rain. The seeds that appear on the underside of the fern fronds are said to grant invisibility. The fern’s root, or rhizome, was a popular ingredient in old love spells.
In the language of flowers, the fern symbolizes fascination and a tempestuous passion. The masculine energies of the fern have the planetary correspondence of Mercury and the elemental association of air.
English Daisy (Bellis perennis)
This perennial daisy is also known as the lawn daisy. This dainty flower is a native of Europe and Western Asia. It grows up to six inches in height, and the flowers are tiny with white ray florets surrounded by yellow discs. This plant attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is described as being short-lived and is a classic symbol of innocence, youth, and spring.
Magickally, this flower induces loving feelings and fascination. Also, it is a classic herb to use in children’s magick; in fact, one of its folk names is bairn wort, which translates to “babies’ herb.” In floral vocabularies, the English daisy symbolizes a newborn baby and happiness. The astrological association for the English daisy is Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
American Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
This perennial daisy is much larger in stature than its tiny cousin. The sun-loving oxeye daisy grows up to three feet in height and is a popular flower for gardening and floral arrangements. This particular daisy is sacred to Artemis, Maiden Goddess of the hunt and of the waxing moon. One of the folk names for this flower is rather illuminating: moon daisy. This plant has feminine energies and is considered to be a woman’s herb. White daisies are a classic Beltane flower, and legend has it that the daisy, in all its shapes and sizes, is a faerie plant.
In the language of flowers, the oxeye daisy symbolizes purity, simplicity, and patience, and is used to signify affection. It may also be used in divination. The classic “he loves me, he loves me not” charm is typically worked with a daisy. Magickally, the oxeye daisy is worked into faerie magick, love and romance spells, and spells for children and happiness. The magickal correspondences for the oxeye daisy are the planet Venus and the element of water.
A Goddess Blessing for Children
Here is a good spell to work with your children. For best results, work the spell during a waxing moon. As the moon grows fuller, so will the Lady’s blessing increase upon your child. If you’d like to work the spell as soon as possible, you can always work on a Monday, no matter what the lunar phase, for Mondays are sacred to the moon and all of her magick.
Gather a few daisies. These may be picked from your own garden or purchased from the local florist—whichever is the easiest and most practical way for you to procure the flowers. Now gather the flowers together, trim the stems to a workable length, and bind them together loosely with a white ribbon. Tuck the flower stems into a sturdy little vase or cup filled with water, and set them in a prominent spot in the child’s room.
Bless the flowers by holding the child’s hands above the flowers and repeating the charm three times. Note that this is worded either for an older child to work the spell all by themselves or for an adult to work the spell for a young child.
By the light of the Lady’s waxing crescent moon,
Artemis, hear my call, and grant me now/this child a boon.
Please bless and protect me/them through all of my/their days,
May I/they come to know your magick in wonderful ways.
By the fascination of flowers and the charm of daisies,
May my request be granted with the power of three times three.
Allow the daisies to remain in their vase until the flowers begin to fade. Once they do, remove the ribbon, and then return the flowers to nature neatly by adding them to your compost pile or putting the faded flowers with your other yard waste. Save the ribbon as a token of the Goddess’s favor and affection.
Midsummer
Summer Solstice
Merry Margaret,
As midsummer flower,
Gentle as falcon
Or hawk of the tower.
john skelton
Vervain (Verbena officinalis)
Vervain is a plant with power and magickal versatility; some folk names include enchanter’s plant and holy wort. Vervain is a hardy perennial plant with small, pale pink- and lilac- colored flowers that bloom midsummer. It is the herb most often used to “make spells go,” as vervain gives magick a little extra kick and punch and speeds up the outcome of your spellwork. It will nicely complement any type of spellwork—love, protection, vision questing, purification, prosperity, turning your rival into your ally, bestowing peace, healing, and granting a good night’s sleep.
In the language of flowers, this feminine herb speaks of granting good luck and making wishes come true—perhaps because of this, vervain is considered to be an excellent herb for a bride to carry in her bouquet. In the older language of flowers, the definition of the blooming vervain is just one word: Witchcraft.
Other quick herb magick tips include tucking a sprig of vervain into your wallet; it’s thought to help you hold on to your cash. If you grow vervain in your Witch’s garden, it will bring prosperity to your whole house. Lastly, if the blossoms are hung in the bedroom, they promote conjugal bliss and pleasant dreams. The planetary correspondence is Venus. The elemental association is Earth.
A Vervain Charm for Prosperity
A good time to work this spell would be during a waxing moon. As the moon grows fuller, so will your cash increase. If you do not have the option of waiting for the waxing moon, then work your prosperity spells on a Thursday. Thursday is associated with the planet Jupiter and the magickal influences of prosperity, financial gain, and health.
To begin, take a fresh sprig of vervain (you could use dried if that’s all you can find), and hold the herb in your hands. Close your eyes, and visualize that the herb is surrounded with a bright green light. It pulses with positive energy, and your hands will probably start to feel warmer. Clearly see that this herbal charm will bring prosperity and cash in the best possible way, straight into your hands. Then tuck the herb in your purse or wallet, and repeat the following charm three times:
As I tuck a sprig of vervain into my purse or pocket,
Money will always be found, so they say, right in my wallet.
I empower this herb of Venus to grant me prosperity,
Bound by the element of earth and the power of three time three.
Cinquefoil (Potentilia reptans)
This herb is also called five-finger grass, as the shape of the leaves look like little hands. Wearing a sprig of cinquefoil is very protective and will bestow articulacy upon the wearer. Magickally, cinquefoil increases cash, strengthens the bond between mother and child, and it can also cleanse you of any negativity. But what this herb is most famous for is that it can break any spells cast on or against you, whether you feel this is a serious problem from an unethical caster, an overzealous lover who is dabbling, or someone who is trying to persuade you to be their friend. In this last scenario, you would feel tugged or pulled toward another person that you previously disliked or were very distrustful of. Now you notice these new feelings out of the blue, and when such a switch is out of character for you, there might be manipulative magick afoot. If you begin to suspect that someone else’s magick is at work and it is influencing your actions, then this is the masculine herb to work with for both speedy and excellent results.
According to some floral languages, cinquefoil symbolizes a loving relationship between mother and daughter, which is interesting, as traditional magickal correspondences list this as an herb aligned with masculine energies. Its astrological correspondence is Jupiter, and the elemental association is fire.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Folk names for this herb include “the leaf of the blessed” and Tipton’s weed. This perennial herb has woody stems and grows up to three feet in height. The five-petaled, golden yellow flowers bloom midsummer and yield yellow and red dyes. Some sources claim that the plant is toxic and may harm livestock if eaten in large doses, while other herbal reference guides warn that it may cause contact dermatitis (skin rash). This perennial is aggressive and can take over a garden in a few years, so plant it in a spot where it can go crazy or be prepared to keep it under control by thinning it out every other year.
If St. John’s wort is gathered on the day of the summer solstice, it is thought to be doubly powerful, granting the powers of invincibility and making you seem irresistible to others. Flower folklore also states that it will help improve your mood and ward off depression. If the stems of this herb are bundled together with a red string or ribbon and hung inside the home, it is thought to protect your home from lightning and from negative entities or ghosts.
Another simple herbal spell calls for the blossoms and leaves of the herb to be placed under your pillow before you turn in for the night. If you do, it is thought to grant visions of your future spouse.
The folklore about this plant is fascinating. The plant’s botanical name, Hypericum, is derived from a Greek term meaning “over an apparition,” which links into the belief that the herb was so intolerable to evil spirits that a mere hint of the fragrance of the plant would cause them to fly away. This also explains the custom of bundling the herb with a red ribbon and then hanging it up in your home on Midsummer’s day.
In the language of flowers, this magickal herb declares that you are a prophet, and it also symbolizes protection and superstition. A masculine herb that has long been associated with Midsummer as it blossoms right at that time, St. John’s wort has myriad other magickal uses too. This herb may be worked into spells for faerie magick, protection from malevolent faeries, healing, protection, potency, love, joy, and divination. Its astrological association is the sun, and the elemental correspondence is fire.
Lughnasadh
August 1
If August passes flowerless,
and the frosts come,
will I have learned to rejoice enough
in the sober wonder
of green healthy leaves?
denise levertov
Sunflower (Helianthus annus)
The sunflower is indeed classified as an herb, as the seeds are edible. This fast-growing and stately flower comes in myriad varieties, colors, and heights these days. The stems are typically thick, tall, and hairy. The sunflower produces heart-shaped leaves, and typically its blooming time is late summer. The sunflower is easy to start from seeds and is a very popular garden plant for sunny gardens—especially children’s magickal gardens. The sunflower is a plant of the Americas and was utilized in Aztec rituals and perhaps worn by priestesses to denote their rank. Also, the sunflower is thought to be a favored plant by the garden faeries.
According to flower folklore, sleeping with a sunflower beneath your pillow will tell you the truth in any matter. In florigraphy, the sunflower symbolizes haughtiness and ostentation. Other definitions declare that this bright solar flower says you have lofty but pure goals.
Magickally, the sunflower is used to symbolize fame, riches, and royalty. Growing the tall flowers in your sunny gardens is thought to bring success and good fortune to the gardener of the home. As you would expect, the masculine energies of sunflowers carry the planetary association of the sun, for the head of the flower turns toward the sun and follows it during the day. Its elemental correspondence is fire.
Hollyhock (Althea rosea)
What is an old-fashioned Witch’s garden without the stately hollyhock? There are over sixty varieties of these plants, which are classified as biennials. If you are unfamiliar with the term, a biennial is a plant that grows vegetatively the first year and then is fruiting or dormant the second year. Hollyhocks thrive in full sun and are drought-resistant plants. They can grow up to six feet in height and come in single- and double-blooming varieties. They come in a rainbow of colors: white, red, burgundy, dark purple, yellow, and many shades of pink, from the palest blush to a deep rose. I love these old-fashioned flowers and have yellow hollyhocks planted next to my arbor.
The flowers of the hollyhock are at their peak in July and August, thus making it a perfect flower for Lughnasadh. In the language of flowers, the hollyhock symbolizes fertility and abundance. It also says that “You have inspired me to achieve great things.” A white blooming hollyhock indicates female ambition.
Magickally, hollyhock flowers will attract prosperity, success, and wealth. These are a favorite faerie plant, and if you plant hollyhocks by the entrance of your garden, the plant’s lucky energies will bless your home with prosperity all year long. The faeries are thought to favor white and pink hollyhocks most of all; supposedly they like to use the hollyhock petals for dresses. The hollyhock’s astrological influence is the planet Venus, and it is considered to be a feminine plant. The suggested elemental correspondence is water.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Folk names for calendula include pot marigold, summer’s bride, and marygold. This tender perennial can grow up to twenty-eight inches in height and is not to be confused with the French marigold. The calendula bears tall, orange-yellow flowers that resemble daisies, and their leaves are paddle shaped. The petals of the pot marigold may be tucked into a charm bag and taken into court to help grant a favorable outcome of the proceedings. Sprinkling the golden calendula petals under the bed will make your dreams come true.
Magickally, the flowers themselves promote cheer and good health. They were also popular as bridal flowers and are often worked into love-promoting sachets and romantic charm bags. In florigraphy, the calendula blossoms symbolize affection, constancy, and an enduring love. The pot marigold is considered to be an herb with masculine energies. Its planetary association is the sun, and its elemental correspondence is fire.
French Marigold (Tagetes patula)
This little pungent sun-loving annual is a popular bedding plant, and when you say marigold, typically this is the variety of plant everyone pictures. What makes the French marigold so strongly scented? The fernlike leaves are dotted with scent glands. Marigolds come in a variety of colors: gold, orange, and yellow and red combinations. They are typically found ready to plant in six-pack cells at the nursery and garden center.
French marigolds are popular companion-planting specimens. I always plant marigolds with my tomatoes, as they strengthen the tomato plant and actually ward off some pests that tomatoes are prone to. The marigold will also protect other plants from rose, tulip, and potato nematodes. All the flowers of the Tagetes species will yield a yellow dye, and the flowers are often added to potpourri mixes for their sharp scent and bright colors.
A common magickal use for the French marigold is to string together heads of the golden flower and to create a garland out of them. Then the garland is hung across the doorway to repel evil and stop it from entering the house. Oddly enough, in the language of flowers, the French marigold warns of jealousy.
This marigold is also wildly popular in the Hispanic Festival of the Dead celebration and is used as decorations on November 1. The petals are scattered on gravesites, and the marigolds are strung together into garlands that adorn the graves of the beloved dead. The planetary association for the French marigold is the sun, and the elemental correspondence is fire.
A Marigold Protection Charm
For this herbal charm, you will need thirty-six inches of strong, white cotton thread, a medium-sized sewing needle, and about twelve to eighteen marigold blossoms. I would work this spell on a bright sunny day. If you’d like to add some energies for specific days of the week, consider a Sunday for success, a Tuesday to incorporate Mar’s warrior energy, or choose a Saturday to add the banishing energies of Saturn.
To begin, thread the needle and tie a large knot at the end of the thread. Set this aside for the moment. Now, from your garden, gather a dozen or so French marigold blossoms. Remember that the scent of these flowers is strong, so if you find it displeasing, wear garden gloves as you gather the blossoms. Once you have the flower heads gathered, pick up your needle and thread, and string the flowers one by one onto the thread. I find it best to go through the green, fleshy part of the flower underneath the petals.
Thread them together carefully; if you get too rough with the flowers, they will shatter or break apart. Once the flowers are all strung, slide them to the center of the thread, and remove the needle and put it away. Now, tie a knot on the other end and fasten the marigold garland above the outside of your front door. Arrange the flowers again as you like. You can space them out or keep them in the center.
Once they are set up to your liking, hold your hands up to the garland and enchant it with a bit of your own personal power. Visualize that the marigold garland is growing brightly and will deflect and neutralize any negativity. See in your mind’s eye that the flowers act like a barrier and no evil or bad luck will be able to enter your home. Now open your eyes, and repeat the following charm three times:
With this garland of French marigolds,
All around my home protection grows.
On a bright summer day, I spin this spell,
Bringing harm to none, may it turn out well.
Allow the garland to stay in place as long as you wish. Once the flowers dry out, you may save the garland and use it in other protection spells, or if you feel that the magick in the flowers is spent, return the flowers to nature by adding them to your compost pile or into your yard waste.
Mabon
Autumn Equinox
Autumn resumes the land, ruffles the woods with smoky wings, entangles them.
geoffrey hill
Maple Tree (Acer spp.)
What is autumn without the maples turning red, orange, and yellow across North America? The maple tree can reach heights of up to 115 feet. The maple tree is also an herbal tree, as the sap of the sugar maple (Acer saccharum) is boiled down into maple syrup. In fact, it is the syrup that “flavors” the magickal associations of this gorgeous herbal tree; magickal uses include prosperity, sweetening up someone, children’s magick, and love spells.
In the language of flowers, the maple leaf symbolizes elegance and beauty, while other floral languages say it signifies reserve and shyness. Astrological associations for all species of this masculine tree are Jupiter, and the tree has the elemental association of air.
A Harvest Maple Leaf Spell for Abundance
For best results, work this spell on a Thursday (Jupiter’s day) during a waxing moon. You will need one orange candle, a candleholder, matches, maple leaves, and a safe, flat surface to set the spell up on.
Gather together a handful of pretty maple leaves that have started to change over to their autumn colors. Arrange these around the base of the orange candle in its holder. (We are using the color orange in this herbal candle spell to symbolize success and the season of harvest.) Please be sure to keep the foliage well away from the candle flame. Once the candle is burning away, repeat the following spell verse three times:
I call upon the power of Jupiter—aid me, please,
Bring abundance into my life by the power of three.
I am open to new opportunities and success,
As this maple leaf spell spins out, may I be truly blessed.
By the power of the harvest and of the herbal trees,
In the best possible way, abundance will come to me!
Allow the candle to burn out in a safe place. Once it does, gather up the maple leaves and any leftover candle wax, and tuck them into a small envelope. Seal up the envelope, and carry it with you to keep those prosperous and abundant vibes going strong.
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum officinale)
Folk names include lady’s seal and St. Mary’s seal. This shady perennial belongs to the same family as lily of the valley. It is readily available as a nursery plant and grows from eighteen inches to two feet in height. It bears white, tubular flowers that dangle from the stems in clusters. While the plant is considered toxic, so long as you do not have toddlers running amok who may want to nibble on the leaves, you should be fine. Consider adding this enchanting plant to your shady sorceress gardens this year.
Magickal uses include exorcism and protection. Some texts suggest sprinkling the plant in the corners of the house to drive away entities and all negativity. Since this herb is toxic, though, I would suggest instead that you place some of the foliage and the flowers into sachet bags and then tuck those up and out of reach of pets or small children. Classically, however, it is the root that is often used in magickal procedures.
This enchanting herb is considered to be feminine. The astrological correspondence is Saturn, and the elemental association is water.
Woodbine (Lonicera caprifolium)
Woodbine is known today as honeysuckle. This shrub and vine blooms in the summer, and then it continues to bloom sporadically throughout the early fall. It adapts easily to sun or shade and is worth growing in your magickal gardens.
There are over 300 varieties of honeysuckle worldwide; they thrive from Asia to America. Most of these plants are deciduous; however, a few such as the Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica) do stay evergreen. The blossoms are sweetly scented and trumpet-shaped and come in myriad colors, depending on the variety of the honeysuckle. It also produces clusters or single red to black poisonous berries in the fall. Berry color and arrangement will vary widely according to the subspecies of the honeysuckle, but all of the berries are considered toxic.
Woodbine is also associated with the Ogham, which is a magickal alphabet and divinatory tool all in one. The lesson of the woodbine is to embrace the sweetness of life. According to flower folklore, the honeysuckle, or woodbine, promotes prosperity and good fortune. When the flowers are brought into the house, they bring money-drawing energies into your home. In the language of flowers, the honeysuckle/woodbine symbolizes a person who is generous with their affections and a devoted friend. Other florigraphy charts list the plant as suggesting the bonds of love and fraternal joy. In a more old-fashioned definition, the plant is said to mean “a plighted troth.”
As you would expect, honeysuckle attracts bees, hummingbirds, butterflies, and the fae into your garden; most sweet and strongly scented old plants will. If, however, a honeysuckle vine or shrub is growing outside of your business or home, then the prosperous vibrations from the plant will bring wealth straight to your door.
Magickally, honeysuckle foliage and flowers are often incorporated into money spells and worked with a complementary green-colored candle. The astrological correspondence for this masculine herb is the planet Jupiter, and the elemental association is earth, both of which link neatly with prosperity magick.
A Song of the Seasons
I have found all things thus far, persons and inanimate matter, elements and seasons, strangely adapted to my resources.
henry david thoreau
Magickal herbalism and green witchery are enchantments suited to all four of the bewitching seasons. The trick here, my witchy friends, is to open your eyes and take a careful look around you at the natural resources that are available to you all year long. For those of you who have read my books before, you know that this is a common theme of mine; it is an important one. Green magick happens all year long, not just on soft summer evenings when you’ve been puttering in the garden.
Look within yourself, and then look carefully at the natural world around you. Magick is everywhere. It has always been up to you as to how to proceed and what to do with the opportunities that surround you.