Sara C. Snider's Blog, page 6

A to Z Herbarium: Quince

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Quince

Protection, Love, Happiness

 

Quince was used in worship to various deities, particularly Venus (Aphrodite for the Greek), who is often depicted with a quince in her right hand. As such, quinces are associated with love and happiness. Bridal couples in Roman times would share quince fruit to ensure happiness. This tradition lasted throughout the Middle Ages.

Carrying quince seeds protects against, evil, harm, and accidents. Pregnant women who eat quince will supposedly cause their...

A to Z Herbarium: Poppy

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Poppy

Fertility, Love, Sleep, Money, Luck, Invisibility

 

Poppies are associated with sleep and death, in a relationship that dates back to ancient Greece. The flower is the symbol of Hypnos, the god of sleep, and grows in his Underworld cave along the river Lethe (“forgetfulness”). He is the son of Nyx (“night”) and Erebus (“darkness”), and brother to Thanatos (“death”).

Poppies are also associated with Demeter, the goddess of fertility, agriculture and harvest. Apparently, when her d...

A to Z Herbarium: Onion

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Onion

Protection, Healing, Money, Prophetic Dreams, Lust

 

Onions were worshiped in ancient Egypt. The multiple layers symbolized eternity, and were used in funeral rites. Paintings of onions appear on the inner walls of the pyramids and within tombs. They have also been entombed with mummies, found frequently in the pelvic region, the thorax, flattened against the ears, attached to the legs and feet, and placed in front of the eyes. King Ramses IV was entombed with onions in his eye soc...

A to Z Herbarium: Nutmeg

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Nutmeg 

Luck, Money, Health, Fidelity

Fun fact: Nutmeg is the seed of an evergreen tree native to the Banda Islands of Indonesia. The seed, while still in its husk, is shrouded in a lacy red covering. This covering is dried to become the spice mace.

Carry a whole nutmeg seed to bring good luck. It will also ward off rheumatism, cold sores, neuralgia, boils, and sties. (I’m not sure how it does all that from your pocket, but OK.)

According to an old Creole spell, if you sprinkle nutmeg in...

A to Z Herbarium: Mallow

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Mallow

Love, Protection, Exorcism

 

Carrying mallow will attract love. If a loved one has left you, then placing a vase of mallow outside your door or in a window will make them think of you, and they might return.

Burning mallow will cleanse an area, and anointing oneself with mallow oil protects against magic and demons. Mallow seeds gathered at night during a full moon can be made into an oil to promote fertility.

Mallow contains a fair amount of mucilage, which makes it soothing on a...

Hazel and Holly — Before the Fall

Previous: Stained Glass Memories, Part Two

 

In the darkness, the shadows constricting Hazel tightened their grip. The sound of soft, careful footfalls came to her ears. She held her breath, and her gut twisted in fear as the steps grew louder, closer.

She tried to move away but her binds still anchored her. Heart pounding, she hunched over and managed to summon a feeble ball of blue flame in her cupped hands. It flickered into illumination just as a pale hand from one of the familiars grabbe...

A to Z Herbarium: Lavender

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Lavender

Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace

 

Lavender is perhaps most used in love spells and sachets. Adorning clothing with the herb will attract love, and rubbing lavender on paper is useful for writing love notes. It’s said to attract men in particular, and lavender oil was worn by prostitutes many centuries ago to advertise their profession and attract customers.

It’s perhaps a little ironic then that during the Renaissance it was believed...

A to Z Herbarium: Knotweed

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Knotweed

Binding, Health

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Knotweed “binds” woes and miseries by holding it in one’s hand, visualizing one’s problems going into the herb, and then burning it. When carried, it strengthens and protects the eyes.

Used in binding spells to restrict someone or control their movements in some way. Carrying powdered knotweed in a packet is used to attract love, and slipping the herb in someone’s tea is supposed to make one more attractive to them.

Drinking knotweed tea is useful as a diuretic,...

A to Z Herbarium: Juniper

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Juniper

Protection, Anti-theft, Love, Exorcism, Health

 

Juniper has been used throughout Europe as a protective herb. Wearing a sprig of the plant will protect against accidents and attacks by wild animals. It can be hung at the door to protect against evil forces and people. It also guards against theft, ghosts, and sickness.

Burning juniper will help psychic powers, break hexes and curses, as well as drive off snakes and aid in exorcism rites. It was also used as one of the earliest in...

A to Z Herbarium: Ivy

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Ivy

Protection, healing

 

Ivy is worn by brides for good luck; women will carry it for good luck in general. It protects against negativity and disaster wherever it grows or proliferates.

Symbolically, ivy is feminine. When paired with holly, which is symbolically masculine, it is said it will bring peace in the home between husband and wife for the following year.

Thyrsus

Though ivy is potentially toxic, especially in large doses, it has nevertheless been used to treat ailments such as...