#plant spirits

[lailoken]

Not long ago, my husband and I were lucky enough to meet a truly awe-inspiring tree—a centuries old Sitka Spruce that was likely once utilized by the indigenous population for funerary rites.

While the area surrounding the tree was (rightfully) fenced off to prevent disrespect or damage to the site, I was able to lay my hands on the exposed roots that crept beyond the enclosed perimeter, and that still felt very powerful and special.

[the-clumsywitch]

[witchboychan]

Witch Tip 118:

Want a plant thats easy to tend to? Are you sick of mourning the death of your leafy friends?

Get bamboo

Seriously.

I had the same bamboo plant since 2020

Its still alive and I water it once every 2 weeks when i occasionally remember it needs water. Its my neglected child but its still thriving.

[elminx]

I want to root an avocado pit - Does anybody have any experience or practical advice?

[witchofwolfwood]

Sometimes you get home from an emotionally exhausting day at eleven pm, want nothing more than to grab the closest cat, get in your bed and have a good long cry... And then you remember when gathering materials yesterday you promised a tree spirit you'd give them an offering and have a chat today so you think longingly about your cuddle cat and cry session and drag yourself outside.

[resolvedbrunette]

Continuum rosemary

[mamamoon92]

🖤🔮✨

[emeraldislewitch]

trying my hand at growing some of the golden rod i harvested with my brother yesterday. we’ll see how that goes. green thumbed i am not.

i harvested some chamberbitters and yellow wood sorrel today. i’m going to need to get my jars out of storage if i keep harvesting all the native plants. i’m trying not to buy herbs online bc it’s not always sustainable (for me and my wallet as well as the earth).

i’ve been pressing plants in books and my golden rod (harvested, not my new buddy) is currently hanging from some twine i tied to a sandal in my over the door shoe rack. we make do.

i’m wondering if i should catalogue the plants i collect and the research on them here before i put it all in my big, fancy, ridiculous journal so 1) i don’t make mistakes in the pretty book, 2) i have a reference on me when it’s physically impossibly to tote the tome around, and 3) maybe it can help some strangers online.

i don’t know, i think it’s a good idea though. executive function has been great since starting the new meds so odds are high i actually do this.

[solarpunk-0possum]

Witch tip: if it's within your ability, walk places. Even if it's just down the block to the gas station for a snack, walk when you can. Not only is it better for the environment (and your gas bill) you get a chance to meet all the local plant spirits. Learn their names too, if you can, plant scanner apps work pretty well for that.

[sunflowersanddaydreamsingreen]

I have a friend coming down to the lake today who has agreed to let me experiment on them with tea blend flavors. I wanted to try out fennel, a flavor profile outside my comfort zone. So this morning I brewed a couple herbs to test out fennel in a blend. The blend was just fennel and rosemary for flavor, and my ever-present blue butterfly pea for color. It was so good. I didn’t crush the fennel seeds this time, so the flavor was present, but not overwhelming. The rosemary paired perfectly with it. This really motivates me to try other licorice-esque flavor profiles. I’m really excited to see how my friend likes it.

Fennel

From The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison:

Scientific name: foeniculum vulgare

Other name: fenkel

Element: Water

Planets: Mercury, Moon

Parts used: seed, leaf, essential oil

“Like white Sandalwood, fennel enjoys the dual ruleership of Mercury and the Moon. It aids in obtaining psychic impressions (Moon) and interpreting those impressions accurately (Mercury). Fennel is also used in protection rites – strew the whole seeds in each room, burn in an Incense blend, or make an Infusion with the seeds and wash the walls and floor. Burning fennel in Incense or anointing the Third Eye also clears the mind and aids in memory. Fennel seeds are tossed at a wedding couple like rice for health and abundance in the relationship.”

From Entering Hekate’s Garden by Cyndi Brannon (repeat information omitted)

Genius: foeniculum

Classification: Vegetable

Spiritual properties: Communication, courage, healing of the mind, sexuality

Physiological properties: armomative, digestive, pesticide

Magickal properties: breaking curses and bad luck, clarity, communication, courage, dealing with authority and govt, prevention, psychic witchcraft, visions

Elemental correspondences: Air [note that the previous entry listed water]

Archetype: Rixipyle (Breaker of Chains)

World: Upper

Zodiac: Aquarius, Gemini

Color: blue

Stone: blue agate

Animal: magpie

Indications: Generally safe in small doses, but not for use during pregnancy. Take caution with children and pets.

**Select Notes**

“ An ancient member of Hekate‘s garden, this licorice-flavored plant was consumed for courage, protection, and strength, and for victory in competitions by the ancients. Fennel is a breaker of chains meaning that it has the power to remove blockages, especially for all forms of communication.

“Fennel is sometimes used in love philters, to encourage sending off the right signals regarding romance and sex, giving it a reputation as a sexual stimulant. It’s applications extend to all manner of communication problems, from breaking curses to removing barriers for successful engagement with authority figures and government, rendering it in apothecary necessity.”

Formulations:

* The seeds are very easy to work with. Release their properties by lightly grinding them in a mortar with a pestal. To enhance communication, grind clockwise; to remove barriers, reverse the direction.

* Five is the number most associated with fennel. Release its property by using multiples of five when grinding and use seeds and multiples of the same number.

* Fennel is excellent as part of a tonic, although continued daily use beyond six weeks is not recommended. To make a tonic, add 1/2 tsp to a cup of boiled water. Let the mixture steep for 15 minutes, as fennel is a bit slow to release. Use on its own or mix into your daily tonic.

* Carry fennel seeds in a glass vile. They’re excellent for digestion and for on-the-go witchery. Slip a few seeds in where needed. Chew the seeds to ease digestion and to speak the truth. Five will do the trick.

* Fennel is strongly associated with Mercury. Adding this planetary symbol to any working will increase its potency.

Pharmakeia:

“Fennel is a very specific botanical that is eager to help with a variety of situations involving breaking barriers to communication. It is excellent for breaking down resistance. Drink a tonic and watch your procrastination dissolve.

“Fennel at the threshold ensures that only the truth is spoken within. Add it to your home wards—those protective barriers placed at the entrances or around the perimeter…”

Rosemary

From The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook by Karen Harrison:

Scientific name: Rosemarinus officinalis

Other name: elf leaf

Element: Air

Planet: sun

Parts used: leaf, essential oil

“ The reviving scent of rosemary stimulates the memory and thought process. Its scent when burned or added to any herbal preparation adds an energy of protection and purification to a space. The oil applied directly to rashes and skin blemishes clears the area, and when inhaled, its aroma aides the memory and brain functions. Sprinkling rosemary leaves over a grave brings comfort to the dead and memories for the ones left behind. Rosemary placed in the bath before bedtime wards away nightmares, and when carried in an Herbal Amulet, it gives confidence and courage.”

From Entering Hekate’s Garden by Cyndi Brannon (repeat information omitted)

Genus: salvia rosmarinus, formerly rosemerinus officinalis

Classification: herb

Spiritual properties: Cleansing of the spirit, contentment, invigoration, recollection, restoration

Physiological properties: rub sore muscles and joints with rosemary oil, rub on temples to ease headache, drink a tonic to improve sleep and ease nightmares. Since it is so beneficial, it makes an excellent ingredient in a daily infusion. Balances the menstrual cycle and eases symptoms.

Magickal properties: awareness, banishing, cleansing, comfort, confidence, contentment, focus, loving spirits, memories, renewal, youth

Part used: leaves

Planetary correspondences: Sun

Elemental correspondences: Fire [note: previous entry indicated air]

Archetype: Ergatis (Energizer)

World: Middle

Zodiac: Virgo

Color: Pink

Stone: pink quartz

Animal: toad

Indications: generally safe for all. Large quantities may cause stomach upset.

**Select Notes**

“Rosemary is a kitchen herb with potent magical properties. It was used by Hekate‘s ancient whitches to ward off evil, improve memory, and for invigoration. The traditional lore is that, where Rosemary grows, the woman of the home will be in charge and well. It is not surprising that some husbands ripped the plant from the ground to prevent this from happening. Nowadays, we women can rule the home as much as witches with Rosemary as one of our familiar spirits.

“Rosemary is strongly associated with the sea, given its natural habitat along the shores of the Mediterranean, making this a suitable offering to Hekate Einalia, in her role as a goddess of the sea. Rosemary brings clarity to emotions, tempering the saltiness and depths of the deep blue. It is a warming plant that restores our inner fire without causing an inferno. It is suitable for loving remembrance of the departed, but note that Rosemary is not a botanical used alone for summoning the departed or spirits. Add Sage and Mugwart to a bundle for these workings.”

Formulations:

* Rosemary is an essential in a witch’s apothecary, for it stands alone as the supreme bringer of loving purification and protection. It’s like Hekate’s arms, enveloping you in fierce love.

* oils, tinctures, infusions, and waters can all be made with rosemary.

* Rosemary poultices placed on a sad heart will help it mend.

Pharmakeia:

“ To ensure an untroubled home, free of stress and conducive to health for the occupants, grow rosemary by your main entrance. It’s one of my ultimate witch tips. Rosemary grows well without our involvement. Make sure the plant is big enough to be comfortable. Since this proud member of Hekate’s garden is so hearty, my Rosemary is a bellweather for our home. If the plant shows signs of distress, I investigate to see who isn’t doing well or if there’s a problem with the house or land. A bath infused with rosemary lets you soak in protection and contentment.”

 Both of these books are fantastic and indispensable references in my witchy library. Entering Hekate’s garden provides workings with each plant entry. My notes have been truncated to allow for space. I highly suggest investigating both books on your own.



[hare-beneath-pine]

do you have any book recommendations for working with plant spirits?

In terms of spirit work techniques, not really. Six Ways by Aidan Wachter does have some techniques that have been useful for me, but the book is pretty broad. I do like it but it may not be what you're looking for.

For research/background materials, I like The Dictionary of Plant Lore by Watts, The Anarchist Free Herbal, older online herbals like Grieves and Culpeper (often outdated in terms of medical info), Chevalier's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, The Modern Herbal Dispensatory by Easley and Horne, Iwígara by Salmon, and Plants Have So Much to Give Us... by Geniusz.

[lailoken]

Hello there! What do you think happens to tree spirits or genus loci after their trees/sacred spaces are destroyed? Do you think we can talk here about them 'passing on' in some way, becoming, let's call it, the 'Green Dead'? Could that be possible? Or do they simply cease to exist?

Hello there!

This is a fascinating subject, but not one I have the easiest time explaining.

I believe that all living things possess a spirit that "moves on" after death. As such, I believe that trees— just like humans or centipedes—move through the Otherworld after phsycial death and into the Quietus, where they are rejoined with the Universal Wellspring and eventually "re-spun" into the pattern of the Wyrd.

That being said, I think certain plant souls can linger or be transformed into Gloaming Spirits in their own right. In this way, some trees may haunt a place (though, I imagine it would have to be a fairly old and powerful tree that was deeply disrespected), and other trees may become Fae spirits of the Elemental Clade. For all I know, the Arboreal Tutelary Spirits I venerate (such as the Elder Mother or the Juniper Mistress) were simply the firstborn souls of their respective plants, who went on after death to grow in power and wisdom as the ages passed.

It's hard for me to say more beyond that, but I do like your wording of "the green dead!"

[vacantwoodsenthusiast]

Not me leaving my garden for 7 weeks only to come home and find I accidentally successfully grew Datura stramonium from seeds I thought were dead. They need a reporting and some love but holy crap yall weren't joking when you said these things were tough plants

[enchanted-moura]

A Better Green Witch w/ Juliet Diaz | Better Witch Podcast | Ep. 4

[elminx]

Walk With Me: 1/1/2023

Part of my personal superstition about the new year is that what I do on the first of January will have an impact on the entirety of the year ahead. With that in mind, my partner and I knew that we wanted to head out for a new year's walk. We both are deeply connected to the earth and ground best by being outside. Luckily, there is no shortage of places to get in a wonderful time in the woods nearby to where I live.

My partner had been wanting to take me to a semi-local old mineral mine that they found a while back while hiking with some friends. First, we approached from the cliffside which gave me a gorgeous view of the old stones of the mountainsides and my favorite of all of the evergreens, Eastern White Pine. I've written about Eastern White Pine a bunch in the past - it is a native to my area of the Northeast and I love to use it to make infused vodka. It's also quite good in all types of cooking - we've even added it to batches of fire cider in the past.

After scouting out the remains of the mine from above, we followed the trail around and down into the bowl below. This is a very old mine and it has been reclaimed by much of the vegetation that is native to this area (and some that aren't). I was particularly enamored with the beautiful Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) that was growing tall and proud in the meadow space.

Here in the bowl left by the former excavations, we were mostly following deer trails through the foliage. The deer had munched on the closest staghorn, leaving behind long strange spirals at the tops of the plants. Staghorn sumac is edible and has many medicinal properties. As a spice, sumac is popular in a lot of Middle Eastern cuisines. I've been meaning to harvest some but want to be certain to find a place where the sumac will be free of toxins before trying it out.

Staghorn sumac wasn't the only edible plant that I found nearby. We also found some Cattails growing along the frozen pond. I've been told that Cattails are more of a survival food and that they are considered to be an acquired taste (at best) but I still would like to try some if I can source them safely.

On the less native side, many of the plants were covered in our local menace: Oriental Bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus). Bittersweet is extremely invasive in my area and every year it chokes out and brings down monstrous trees that have been alive for hundreds of years. It's sad to see Bittersweet so far out into the wilderness as we are here.

Sadly, it was not the only invasive that I found. Somehow, out in the middle of the woods on a game trail, we came across Rosa multiflora. This is a highly invasive Asiatic rose that is supposed to be all over my area but I rarely see it. I suspect that it is just less showy than Rosa rugosa. I almost didn't recognize it because its hips were so tiny!

In any case, it was nice to see some color in the world. January is filled with many shades of gray and brown that are only sometimes broken up by the omnipresence of our many evergreens. Though I appreciate our pines, spruces, firs, and mountain laurels - it's nice to see a splash of red in amongst the forest. It is a reminder that even in winter, food can be found. And that soon enough, the ground will thaw and the cycle will be reborn anew.

[luc3]

Against all plagues. /2

Decoction of Absinthe in sea water.

(…) There reigned lately in this country (Germany), (…) a kind of measles so malignant, that a young girl who was attacked by it, had gangrene in her face and her lips almost entirely taken away ; but fortunately I managed to remedy it with sea water, in which I had boiled wormwood, and I have used this remedy successfully ever since. This kind of specific has become a "secret" : and such in general are all these family remedies (…). (…)

in "Anecdotes de Médecine, Lille, 1776.

(wink @appleandelder)