Maenad & Moonflower

The seasoned green witch knows the first rule of wildcrafting is ‘Leave more than you take’. Bindweed is one of the few, complete exceptions to this rule. Short of some extensive soil excavation, no amount of removal will entirely purge an area of bindweed that has grown to a harvestable size.

Listed as an invasive species in any state it can be found growing in the wild, bindweed is known for extensive root structure. It grows in almost any condition, sun or shade and spreads its roots both wide and deep creating a dense mat. Bindweed will grow back from the smallest of root ends so pulling it out is ineffective and sometimes counterproductive as one plant can produce multiple replacements from the different sections of roots let behind. In addition to its problematic roots, the seeds of this genus can germinate after up to 20 or more years of dormancy.

Bindweed can easily outgrow other native species and as such is known to reduce biodiversity in areas where it is found so if you need it for any spells, go get it.

Worn in an amulet, the dried flowers will ward off negative energy

If you believe yourself to be the target of a non-physical attack, write the name of the attacker on a piece of paper and burn with a knot of bindweed

The flowers can also be used in spells to smother the intentions of others

Substitute the roots in any spell that calls for High John the Conqueror root

The vines can be wrapped around a couple’s wrists during a hand-fasting ceremony

Convolvulaceae - Bindweed

Wild Morning Glory, Creeping Jenny, Sheepbind

Bindweed is a voracious, invasive species that grows in ‘prolifically disturbed areas’. It can send roots down multiple feet into the ground and can regrow from deep in the earth even after being pulled out almost entirely. Although most of it’s associated spells and potions are darker in nature (binding and banishing) it does have some lighter uses as well if you know what you’re about.

Associations

Saturn

Water

Dionysos

Magical Uses

Binding

Handfasting

Liminal Bridging

Banishing

Note: Bindweed is toxic, notably the seeds. Be careful.

Best cast during a waxing or full moon.

Materials:

Agrimony, Horehound, Nettle, St. John’s Wort (to heal)

Epidote, Opal, Obsidian, Smoky Quartz (to charge with positive energy)

Myrrh, Pine, Sage, or Cedar incense (to banish negative energy)

Symbol of related element

Paper or similarly biodegradable container (envelope or satchel)

Before you begin, sit alone and think about the mood and feelings you wish to let go of. Do you feel like you’re carrying around a great burden on your shoulders that constantly weighs upon you (earth) or do you feel like you’re being swept to and fro along in your life, out of control (air)? Do you feel like you’re drowning and can’t break through the surface (water) or like you’re just burned out, nothing left to run on (fire)? Use this elemental association in your casting.

To begin the spell, light your incense. Pass your herbs and crystals, and anything else you wish to add, through the smoke to strip it of the negative energy that is affecting you. Place the cleansed materials in your envelope etc and seal as you recite the following incantation:

“Darkness and sorrow, all shadows of grief,

cast out with a sunburst and shine with relief.”

Concentrate on feeling yourself let go and dispose of your package of ensnared sadness according to the energy you feel it has:

Air: Hang it from a high branch of a tree or set it atop a hill and let the wind carry it away

Fire: Burn it and scatter the ashes in a southern wind at sunset

Water: Cast it into the ocean or running water. Or drown it in a jar and pour the contents down a westward facing slope

Earth: Return it to the Earth by burying it, perhaps cover it over with a small cairn of stones

It's here. Come join me.

A vigorous, low-maintenance perennial that grows well in most conditions but does not enjoy wet soil.

Plant in sun or part shade if you have particularly hot summer afternoons. St. John’s Wort appreciates moist, well-drained soil that isn’t too alkaline.

Not all species produce the active compound hypericin, the namesake of the whole genus. Common St. John’s Wort, hypericum perforatum, does and can be identified by the tiny holes in its leaves. Check other species for hypericin’s telltale red stain when crushing the leaves or flowers.

Note: Hypericin can cause photosensitivity and has many documented drug interactions.

Hang a bundle of dried St. John’s Wort on your door to protect you from ill wishes and malevolent spirits

Bring in positive energy with a bouquet of St. John’s Wort gathered on Midsummer Day

Carry a sachet of St. John’s Wort or a bottle of Sang du Christ oil for protection and courage

Burn St. John’s Wort in the home to purge malicious spirits

Place stems of St. John’s Wort under your pillow for dreams of your future spouse

Wearing St. John’s Wort leaves about your neck will ward off sickness and tension

Applied topically, oil infused with hypericin from St. John's Wort can help ease depression. However, it can also cause photosensitivity and react with many different medications.

Hypericum - St. John’s Wort

Goat Weed, Klamath Weed

St. John’s Wort blooms starting in mid-June, around St. John’s Day, hence the name. Additionally, some varieties produce hypericin which stains red when released by crushing the leaves or flowers. Oil infused with St. John’s Wort is often referred to as ‘Sang du Christ’ or ‘Blood of Christ’ and has been used to drive away evil spirits and cure insanity.

Associations

The Sun, Leo

Fire

Lugh, Mithras, St. John

Magical Uses

Exorcism

Creating positive energy

Healing

Protection from black magic

Note: St. John’s Wort has many drug interactions. Do your research before using it medicinally.

The sun rises, eternal

dawn, and progress, unstoppable

like a landslide, a new skin

a new coat of paint on a worn surface.

For we are outdated

old and threadbare, archaic

'new' is here and we are antiques.

You see? We have rust in our blood.

But we are strong. We are indomitable.

We made the 'new'; we enact change.

It is not our replacement. It belongs to us.

We are not commodities.

And that rust?

That is our magic.

Best cast during a waning or new moon.

Materials:

Powdered foxglove or agrimony, pine resin (to weaken)

Dolomite, kunzite, or zoisite (to help break down)

Frankincense (to burn away negative energy)

Coarse salt or iron shavings (for banishing)

Light a small fire in your cauldron or altar dish. Place your stone(s) on/around your workspace. Light the incense. Sprinkle the salt or iron into the fire to transform it to accept your intent. Picture the difficulties ahead of you and sprinkle the foxglove or other herbs into the fire while repeating:

“Decresce indevitatus obex meorum”

(Let the barriers before me diminish)

A simple charm to attract fairies.

Materials:

Floral incense

Tourmaline (esp watermelon), moonstone, eudialite

Foxglove, honeysuckle, primrose, lavender

Moon water, fruit wine, raspberry seed oil, honey

A trinket (like an earring), glitter

Combine in a very small bottle and pass through the incense while reciting:

"Folk of the hill, wild and free - let your notice fall upon me."

Wear or place somewhere to draw fairies to you.

My bottle has a sprig of lavender and primrose, foxglove seeds, a piece of quartz, a faceted gem, elderflower liquor, homemade berry wine and full moon water. I used what I had available that fit the charm; the above list is simply a guide.

Grows readily from seed.

Foxgloves self seed easily and will naturalize over an area with proper growing conditions in just a few years. It helps to thin the seedlings out though, keeping up to 18" in between them so they have room to spread their leaves out.

Can grow in full sun but if you live somewhere with hot summers you'll have better luck growing foxglove in partial to full shade. I live in zone 6 and my foxgloves are in almost full shade.

Digitalis grows as a biennial (flowering the second year) or a couple years past that as a short lived perennial.

They like somewhat acidic soil and also benefit from added iron. Historically, people used to look for patches of foxglove as a sign that an iron deposit could be found underground.

Include stems of foxglove with cut flowers to prolong the life of mixed boquets

Collect dew from foxglove flowers to use when communicating with or summoning fairies

Use digitalis leaves to break enchantments (especially fae)

Place an arrangement of cut foxgloves near the marital bed when trying to conceive

Plant foxglove anywhere you wish to welcome fairies, they will be appreciative

Use digitalis in spells to remove unwanted attention

Digitalis - Foxglove

Fairy slippers, witches' gloves, fairy thimble

Toxic ☠️

According to lore, fairies would ring foxglove bells to warn foxes of approaching hunters.

Associations:

Venus or Saturn

Air

Juno/Hera

Magical Uses:

Fairy work

Spirit summoning

Protection from curses