Welcome to my humble laboratory where I do my researches and conduct my experiments. The specimens jars are on your left on my undying self-loathing is on you right, please mind your steps, the floor is still wet
(Iâm not dead, this is just a very niche joke⊠haha get the reference?)*
To put in context my writings, here are some factoids about me:
You may call me Frankie, I do publish my work online under the name Frankinsheets here and on AO3.
My pronouns are currently He/They.
Currently entering my 3rd decade of life.
Completely fluent in English and French, but prefer to compose in the former because⊠well, have you ever written something in French? The horrorsâŠ
I am politically on the extreme left, I would best describe myself as a anarcho-socialist.
I am a queer person, for my gender I do believe to be a DemiboyâMy feelings being personally put into these terms: I am nonbinary but if I am having to be perceived, I do prefer to be so as a boyâand as it come to my sexuality it would be mlm: being a man?? that is in a monogamous long term relationship with another man (and having attraction to masculinity only).
I work full time in a funeral home as a Funeral Director with a background in the Mortuary Arts, with studies in anatomy, physiology, pathology and microbiology.
Mainly reading and writing nonfictions, but I occasionally read fictions. Not talking of the crackship content that I consume on AO3 at 3am, the main genre of fiction that I find myself reading are horror, science-fiction, historical fiction. I do indulge in poetry from time to time, mainly as a reader, not so much as a writer.
My works are crafted with passion but made with limited time and ressources. I, in no way shape or form, claim to be a good writer, I am always open to critiques and ready to learn. Please feel free to contact me.
*To tie back with the joke in the title of this post: No I do not believe in the theory of <<La mort de lâauteur>> in a pure academic way. The author and the socio-political environment around it will always influence its work and therefore its analysis. The Death of the Author, though would be fascinating to take in consideration when it comes to transformative works such as fanart and fanfiction. Tell me if you know anyone who made a paper on this subject, I would to peruse it.
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Statues: Work in progress
Word count: 5,673
Chapters: 5/?
Category: Nonfiction
---
Magical properties of the Plantae kingdom; a compilation from various esoteric works throughout the ages.
This paper will offer knowledge about plants, trees, fungi, algae and what a lot of witchcraft practitioners call «herbs». The language of flowersâpopularized during the Victorian era, with many books published on the subject since thenâis a rather well-known tool among artists to convey emotions as well as to deliver meaningful messages to their readers. With this guide I wish to give my fellow craft persons the capacity to use all and every resources that Mother Nature puts at our disposition to embellish our lives with.
What you do with this knowledge is yours.
Disclaimer
The rituals and remedies in this work are historical and spiritual references used for teaching purposes only. The contents are not meant to diagnose, treat, prescribe, or substitute consultations with a licensed healthcare professional. Readers are advised to avoid external and internal use of plant materials or any derived natural treatments without the supervision of a trained medical professional, especially when taking them alongside pharmaceuticals, supplements, if pregnant or immunosuppressed. These recipes should be used as a holistic tool next to modern medical treatments and not as a replacement for the latter. The âWarningâ section in each entry is based on the average adult human body, and adverse effects can be vastly different for children, animals, and people with various body conditions. Cross-referencing and doing your own research is highly recommended. The author is not responsible for any actions taken by the readers.
Preface
Magic is shaped by its people.
It is a universal tool that humours the need to control the uncontrollable, to actualize whatâs needed, adding weight to the balance. All around the globe and throughout all the ages, we can find evidence of people practicing some kind of magic, having these common principles as the process: channeling, transforming, and manifesting. From divination to hexing, exorcism, to deity worship, from the north to the south, east to the west, they all somehow fall into this simple recipe. Being such a simple concept, magic has taken many forms and will still have many more to come. It is constantly being reformed by the userâs culture and its knowledge of the world around it.
I think it is important to look at the sources, the classics, the very fundamentals of how and why we do magic the way we do today. It is also imperative that we try to shape it back to our own image. Pushing back against stigma and adapting the old to the new is our duty for the next generation of magic practitioners. For that, it is important to reflect on the source of our knowledge along with its use. A good exemplification is the many faces that Witchcraft, utilizing the same core principleâMagicâbut having different inceptions, forms a full array of practices. One side of the spectrum is the day-to-day practical low magic customs and the other is the ceremonial and elaborate form of high magic practices. The former is the craft of ideas transformed by the witch so it can be set forth as intended, in its raw, simple, and locally based wayâmaking it accessible to anyone without any strict rule set. The latter is an elaborate equation, that cumulus a certain agglomeration of knowledge and actions that results in the wonder wanted. It is ritualistic, complex, and requires many resourcesâwhich can be rarely substitutedâ making it quite inaccessible for a day-to-day practice. If both high and low magic, like their names suggest, are two sides of the same coin, what ultimately separates them? Their roots are not the same. A lot of folk magic came from the desperate, just like most of the occult came from the boredom of the upper class. High magicians having time and money on their side would travel the world, often to a colonized territory, then wander back to their motherland. With this, they salvaged stories of faraway religions, strange practices, and previously unknown remedies that they would include in their work without grasping the impactânor the originatorsâof those new concepts and integrating them into their belief system. Therefore, actively reducing their profile to a one-dimensional point of view of a foreigner. It cast many ethnic groups as lesser than while taking components from them without credit or care. In this digital age, more and more knowledge is accessible from the comfort of our home, making it a propitious opportunity for cultural exchangeâwhile sometimes unfortunately blurring the lines between appreciation and appropriation.
This is why it is also important to note that some of the content from this paper will have information about close practices and are included only to point back to open practices that have been influenced by the former. Giving credit, when credit is due. Reassigning meaning to some washed out traditions, while offering a concise reason to discontinued some others.
The language of the text was also modernized to suit better the reality that we currently live in. As an example, the words Masculine and Feminine when it comes to describing the magical energy of an object have been replaced by Active for the former and Passive for the latter. The utilization of the binary sexes was mainly used within alchemy and no longer reflects todayâs standards and only propagates unhelpful stigma about magic. Active, balanced, and passive energy is more straightforward anyway and is way more self-explanatory. Anatomical sexes are mentioned in historical concepts and are separate from gender identities that are manifested within different cultures.
The content within this paper is intended as a resource for all curious minds that desire to acquire knowledge with intent and respect.
Knowledge is power; what you do with it, then, is your own
âTrue,âThis!
Beneath the rule of men entirely great
The pen is mightier than the sword. Behold
The arch-enchanters wand!â
itself a nothing!â
But taking sorcery from the master-hand
To paralyze the Caesarsâand to strike
The loud earth breathless!âTake
away the swordâStates can be saved without it!â
Richelieu; Or the conspiracy, 1839 by Edward Bulwer-Lytton
Aa~
âAfoot and light-hearted I take to the open road,
Healthy, free, the world before me,
The long brown path before me leading wherever I choose.Â
Henceforth I ask not good-fortune, I myself am good-fortune,
Henceforth I whimper no more, postpone no more, need nothing,
Done with indoor complaints, libraries, querulous criticisms,
Strong and content I travel the open road.
The earth, that is sufficient,
I do not want the constellations any nearer,
I know they are very well where they are,
I know they suffice for those who belong to them.â
Leaves of Grass, 1855 by Walt Whitman
Abre CaminoâKoanophyllon villosum
Â
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Florida Keys, Thoroughwort
Origins: Central America
Parts used: Leaves and stems
Energy: Active
Planet: Saturn
Element: Air
Magical properties: Cleansing, healing, and boosting psychic powers.
Â
Within the Santeria tradition, Abre Camino is renowned has a mighty plant «opening the roads» as its namesake can be directly translated from in Spanish. The shrub can remove blockage that is in the way of your goal. No matter the subject of your spell, however abstract or concrete, Abre Camino is the key that can unlock the door to move forward. The plant also have some diuretic properties, making it great for any urinary issues, such as urinary track infections. Brewing the leaves as a tea is a simple way to tackle the problem alongside modern treatments.
AcaciaâAcacia sensu lato
Warnings: Overuses may cause hair loss and stunt growth
Other names: Wattle, Thorntree and Arabic gum.
Origins: Southern hemisphere
Parts used: Wood, seeds, and leaves, gum.
Energy: Active
Planet: The Sun
Element: Air
Magical properties: Protection, healing, Â and boosting psychic powers.
In the Exodus, acacia wood is described as being used to build God's very first temples and tabernacle.[1] The famous Ark of the covenant is supposed to be made of acacia wood.[2] It would have been indeed a fairly easy resource to find in the Sinai Peninsula. Because of these frequent apparitions within this sacred text, Acacia wood has been associated with protection, worship and connection to the divine. Furniture made of this wood are still used in churches and temples. Not only those who adders to the Abrahamic faith hold a certain reverence for this wood. Some people around Southeast Asia sometimes hang young sprigs of the tree over their beds or carry it as amulets as an old way to ward off evil.
Adderâs tongueâErythronium americanum
Â
Warnings: Contain thiaminase, which breaks down Vitamin B1 from The body.
Other names: Dogâs tooth violet, Adderâs mouth and American adderâs tongue.
Origins: North America
Parts used: Leaves
Energy: Passive
Planet: The Moon
Element: Water
Magical properties: Healing
Â
Adderâs tongue is named so for is stalk protruding out of the plant, more or less looking akin to a snake tongue flicking up in the air. This plant had the reputation of healing minor skin wounds and ulcers. The healer would soak the leaves in cold water, then wrap them in a clean piece of cloth. It would then be applied directly on the skin rash until the herb gets warmed up by the wounded body heat. The leaves and wrappings would then be discarded by burying them in muddy soil.
African VioletâSaintpaulia ionantha
Â
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: None
Origins: Southeast Africa
Parts used: Flowers and leaves
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Spirituality, healing, and protection
Â
Some say that the plant helps create a sacred space around it. The plant would absorb any harmful energy as long as it is taken care of properly. The flowering plant is also a good source of vitamins, such as vitamins A and C, making it a good candidate for boosting the immune system, fitting a cough along with treating bruises as a cataplasms.
AgaricâAmanita muscaria
Â
Warnings: Poisonous
Other names: Death cap, Redcap mushroom, Fly fungus.
Origins: Northern hemisphere
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Active
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Magical properties: Spirituality and fertility
Â
In addition to the advert effects like vomiting and diarrhea, consuming the mushroom gives the consumer hallucinations. Some people would use agaric to enhance their spiritual journey. Some would put the fungus above their bed to promote fertility and help with conception.
AgarwoodâAquilaria agallocha
Â
Warnings: Considered endangered worldwide.
Other names: Aloes wood, Eaglewood, Oud
Origins: South Asia, Middle East
Parts used: Wood and sap
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Spirituality and strength
Â
Agarwood and its derived resin called oud, has been used for ritualistic magic for a long time. Egyptians would attract good fortune with it and would be utilized by magicians throughout the renaissance to evoke spirits of all sorts. It is said to be quite potent and be used to strengthen any kind of effect seeker by the user. The complexity of the formation of oud in nature and its wide use by practitioners has made this tree quite inaccessible nowadays. A good substitute as a spell booster is cinnamon; coming from a commoner, less expensive, and especially less endangered tree.
AgrimonyâAgrimonia eupatoria
Â
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Church steeples, Sticklewort and Stickwort
Origins: Northern hemisphere
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Active
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Magical properties: Protection, love, healing, and sleep
Â
Agrimony has beenâfor a long timeâused for protection against hexes and witches. It is even said that it can revert energy, returning unwanted spells back to the senders. It also has the reputation to make someone fall into a profound sleep, not unlike a coma, if placed under oneâs head. Ironically, for the English used it as an aphrodisiac. In more contemporary settings, Agrimony is a great ingredient for skin care, helping with acne, allowing the skin barrier to heal.
Ague rootsâAletris farinosa
Â
Warnings: Do not ingest raw; it may cause abdominal pain and vomiting. Do not use if diabetic. Do not use if pregnant, it may fluctuate the oxytocin level. The plant is also considered endangered in Canada.
Other names: Bitter grass, Crow corn, Stargrass, Colicroot, and Unicorn root.
Origins: North America
Parts used: Flowers and roots
Energy: Active
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Magical properties: Protection, peace, Â psychic power, banishing.
Â
Grinding up this plant up to a powder form, that is then sprinkled around can create a magic circle, acting as an aegis during magical works. Itâs protecting properties can also be used for uncrossing works of various forms. In addition to protection, Ague roots do also enhance psychic abilities. It is probably due to the fact that the raw plant is considered as a narcotic. Â Some medium do steep the plant into a tea to enhance their divination skills.
Air plantsâTillandsia
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: None worth mentioning
Origins: Central and South America
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Magical properties: Cleansing, grounding, and peace
This silvery plant have a unique way of finding nutriments. They have a special kind of cells coating its leaves, called trichome. These cells gives the Air plants the ability to imbibe water within sole from the moisture from the air. Their roots on their part, serve mainly as an anchor point for plant, grappling wherever they can. These hardy little fellas are beautiful manifestation of perseverance, of making with of what oneâs have. Many practitioners use this low maintenance plant for cleansing while bringing serenity to a chaotic environment.
AlfalfaâMedicago sativa
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Buffalo herb, Lucerne and Purple medic
Origins: Northern hemisphere
Parts used: Sprouts and leaves
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Magical properties: Prosperity
Being technically a legume, this plant is a great pollinator with its sprouting flowers and is often used on grazing grounds, plus forage for farm animals. Alfalfa is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, E, and K and even contains a good amount of potassium, calcium, phosphorus, and iron. Being so closely related to agricultureâthat which in turn was associated with prosperity back in the dayâthe herb is often used nowadays for money spells. It can be scattered around oneâs property to promote abundance and can be kept in the kitchen to ensure that no famine would strike the owners.
AlkanetâAlkanna tinctoria
Warnings: Not for internal use
Other names: Dyerâs bugloss and Orcanet
Origins: Europe
Parts used: Roots
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Purification and prosperity
Incense made of this herb can quickly purify itâs surrounding and attract prosperous opportunities.
AllspiceâPimenta officinalis
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Jamaica pepper, Myrtle pepper and Pimento.
Origins: Central and South America
Parts used: Dried berries
Energy: Active
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Prosperity, psychic boost and healing
Coming from the tree of the same nameâwhich is technically just a really tall evergreen shrubâone can find small berries that first appear green then matures into a beautiful deep blue hue. These little berries, alike his originator tree, mingles a myriad of scents and flavours akin to black pepper, cloves, cinnamon, or even nutmeg. A chemical compound called Eugenol, best describe as an aromatic oily substance, can be extract from the berries. It has antiseptic and anesthetic properties. With such qualities, allspice has been used throughout history as topical directly on the gums for tooth-aches and as various poultice for muscle, joints, and menstrual cramps. Being such a versatile herb, allspice is often associated with the fire element. The fiery strengths of allspice boosts the energy all around it, empowering any kind of magical work undertaken with it. Like many spices used to cure and seasoned food, being a luxury reserved back in the day for the wealthy, gives the dried berries its association with prosperity. Adding allspice to incense, candles, or even everyday dishes can promote prosperity and augment the odds of getting petty cash seemingly out of sheer luck.
AlmondâPrunnus communist
Warnings: Do not use if pregnant. Careful not to confuse it with Bitter Almonds which are toxic.
Other names: Greek nuts
Origins: Europe
Parts used: Wood and Seeds
Energy: Active
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Magical properties: Prosperity and wisdom
The entire tree, not just the nuts, is used as a ritualistic tool for prosperity magic. Many folktales and traditions confirm the latter. Itâs said that successfully climbing an almond tree will assure the climbers success in any business venture. Having almonds in your pocket can help guide the walker to treasures. Some even think that eating the nuts can somehow promote wisdom. The wood of this tree is often used to create wands because the tree is strongly linked to the air element whichâunder certain traditionâruled the magic tool as well.
Alocasia
Warnings: Do not ingest, most subspecies of the plant contains raphids that are irritants that give forth to painful swellings with burning sensations within the oro-pharynx & hypo-pharynx, which in severe cases can lead to respiratory distress. Alocasia is also high in oxalate that can form crystals damage able for the unitary system like the kidneys and bladder.
Other names: Spoon lily, Chinese taro, green shield
Origins: South Asia
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Passive
Planet: Uranus
Element: Air
Magical properties: Amplifying, grounding, and fortuity
This quite sizable houseplant can be a wonderful addition to a room where the energy needs to be unclogged and balanced. The airy Alocasia with his peaceful aura, can easily boost oneâs moral while promoting new opportunities for the plantâs caretaker. Like a fresh draft of wind, the plant push away what stales and make places for the new. Balance is key with Alocasia, it never overdone it. What takes, it gives.
Aloe Vera
Warnings: Do not use if pregnant or nursing. Not for internal use, may cause diarrhea. Considered invasive worldwide.
Other names: Burn plant, Medicine plant
Origins: Middle East
Parts used: Leaves
Energy: Passive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Magical properties: Fortuity, healing, and protection
Aloe Vera is hardy succulent that can thrive with very little care in a great variety of environment. With prickly thorns adorning each sides its leaves, the plant is safeguarding its precious jelly inside. The later contains many soothing properties that are still used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. The gel like inside of the plant can not only form a physical barrier on a wounded skin, making it harder for external agents to make contact with the epidermis and its subsequent layers. It would trap in the skin moisture, so that the damaged membrane would be allowed to heal more easily. In addition to the physical barrier, the gel offer a chemical aegis in the forms of antioxidants and antibiotics, both fighting against possible infections during the healing process. The plant may be ingested if prepare correctly and be consumed with moderation. With so many warding properties, Aloe Vera is easily seen as a protective plant. Preserving the skin and the soul that encapsulate it. In Egypt, sprigs of Aloe were hung over the main door of a house to drive out bad events and bring in good ones. Meanwhile, in South Africa, Aloe Vera is used more as a good luck charm for its tendencies to shift things in your favour. In Mexico, freshly cut Aloe can be seen as an offering on shrines of deities and saints of diverse faiths.
AplectrumâAplectrum hyemale
Warnings: Poisonous
Other names: Adam and Eve roots and Putty roots
Origins: North America
Parts used: Roots
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Relationships and longevity
Indigenous people to the Americas were reported to use the roots of this plant to mend pottery. Thence itâs common name; Putty roots. The freshly harvested rhizome, when crushed, produces a white substance that, with added water, becomes a very effective adhesive. The bulbous corms and the slender rhizome each vaguely resembles female and male genitalia respectively. Within the context of a spell or ritual, they can represent partners within a hetero-normative relationship. One attracts the other, sticking them together ensuring long-lasting love. One could use two corms or two rhizomes to create the same effect for same-sex relationships. To represent a non binary partner, cedar seeds can be a good substituteâcedar being traditionally a gender neutral tree.
AltheaâAlthaea officinalis
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Marshmallow, Sweet weed
Origins: Europe, North Africa and Western Asia
Parts used: Roots and young leaves
Energy: Passive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Magical properties: Protection and psychic abilities
To carry the plant or burn it in the form of incense can bring protection to the user. Voodoo practitioners says that the plant is an excellent «spirit puller» meaning that it can attract good entities during ritual if placed on an alter.
AlyssumâAlyssum spp.
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Alison, Madworth
Origins: Europe, Asia, and Northern Africa
Parts used: Young leaves, stems, and flowers
Energy: Passive
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Magical properties: Protection and peace
The Greek physician and father of pharmacognosy, Dioscorides, pictured Alyssum as a protective plant. As an amulet it can expel charms, especially glamour spells that could be affecting the user. Alyssum was also used to treat rabies, way back before we had treatments for it. The act of calming the rage caused by hydrophobia gave the pacification properties that people associate with this plant. They say that the plant has a calming effect just by being close to it.
AmaranthâAmaranthus hypochondriacus
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Love lies bleeding, Velvet flower
Origins: South America
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Passive
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Healing and spirituality
Amaranth was actually banned by the Spanish colonists during their occupation of what is now known as Mexico. The reason for the ban was the Aztecs continuous use of the plant in death rituals and burials. They say that the dried flowers could call forth the dead and help the grievers.
AnemoneâAnemone pulsatilla
Warnings: Not for internal use
Other names: Windflower, Meadow anemone
Origins: Southern Hemisphere
Parts used: Flowers
Energy: Active
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Protection and healing
Anemones are a good flower for healing rituals, especially the freshly blossomed buds plucked at the beginning of spring. The red-coloured ones are said to have protective properties.
AngelicaâAngelica archangelica
Warnings: Do not use if pregnant or diabetic. Photo-toxic; avoid sunlight for day after direct skin contact with the plant derived products.
Other names: Wild celery, Garden Angelica
Origins: Europe
Parts used: Roots and seeds
Energy: Active
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Banishing, protection, and healing
By its name, Angelica is closely linked to angels and therefore shares the same attributes. It is said to expel evil, protect the innocents, and heal those in need. The legend says that a nameless monk received a vision of the Archangel Micheal himself, giving him the plant, announcing that it was the cure for the black plague. There is truth to this myth, the plant do harbour some natural antibacterial properties, which could have been useful to somewhat prevent diseases. Another tale tying the angel to the plant is the one that Saint Micheal, when the first time descending on earth, landed on a field sprouting the plant on the spot. The flower does bloom during the Saint's feast day.
AniseâPimpinella anisum
Warnings: Do not use if pregnant
Other names: Aniseed, Sweet cumin
Origins: TĂŒrkiye
Parts used: Seeds
Energy: Active
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Magical properties: Protection, purification, love, and healing
Anise is commonly used for driving off and preventing evil. Its purifying qualities are helpful when it comes to nightmares, allowing the space and the user to reject bad dreams but not the act of dreaming itself. Within the preeminent work of Dioscorides,[3] anise is place in high regards as a medicinal plant. It says that treatments made with this plant can help with arthritis as well with rheumatism. As for the ancient Romans, they would implement the plant as a key ingredient uses for the union of two lovers. They would incorporate some in baths for the couple to bathe with before the ceremony and adding some more to the wedding cake, assuring a long loving partnership with lots of offspring.
AppleâPyrus spp.
Warnings: The crushed seeds are poisonous in large quantities
Other names: Love fruit
Origins: Central Asia
Parts used: Wood and fruit
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Love and healing
The apple, being such a common and widespread fruit, has often being used to depict as the forbidden fruit from the book of Genesis, despite never being formerly identify as such in the text. The easily recognizable fruit came to be associated with the divine trees from the Garden, which are immortality, love, and hubris. These themes can be found linked to the apple in many traditions other than Christianity, such as in Celtic tales, Greek mythology and even in some Wiccan practices.
ApricotâPrunus armeniaca
Warnings: The kernels are poisonous in large amounts
Other names: None worth mentioning
Origins: Central Asia
Parts used: Fruit
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Love and peace
It is said that eating this fruit can pacify oneâs mood, bringing calm and loving energy. The sweet aroma of the apricot is a excellent candidate for love spells.
Arabic Gum
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Egyptian gum and Indian gum
Origins: Middle East
Parts used: Sap
Energy: Active
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Magical properties: Spirituality and purification
This tree gum is often used as an incense to cleanse and purify a space. It can be added to a blend or be used alone on a burning charcoal.
ArbutusâArbutus unede
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Madrones and Strawberry tree
Origins: Western Europe
Parts used: Wood
Energy: Active
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Banishing and protection
Ancient Romans valued this tree as a potent protector, especially toward small children.
AsafoetidaâFerula assa-foetida
Warnings: Do not use if pregnant or have colic
Other names: Assyfetida, Devilâs Dung and Stinking gum
Origins: Middle East and Eastern Europe
Parts used: Roots
Energy: Active
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Banishing and protection
The very pungent smell emitting from the taproot can be used as a potent repellent, perfect for exorcises and for protection spells. It is not recommended for long-term ritualistic uses, for the smells can be easily overwhelming, even so far as to say nauseating.
AshâFraxinus excelsior
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Fraxinus
Origins: Northern Hemisphere
Parts used: Wood
Energy: Active
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Protection
The Norse believed that Yggdrasil, the tree branching all the worlds together, was an Ash tree. Like many tall trees, it is considered to have good protective properties. Although it is said that the ash tree attracts lightning, so it is not a good practice to use one for cover during a storm.
AsterâCallistephus chinensis
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Chinese Aster, Starwort
Origins: Eurasia
Parts used: Flowers
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Love
The blooms of the flower attract love; to carry the plant or even growing it in a garden will activate its effect.
AvensâGeum urbanum
Warnings: Not for internal use
Other names: Geum, Golden star, and Colewort
Origins: Worldwide
Parts used: Roots and leaves
Energy: Active
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Banishing and purification
Can be added in mixtures and incense to be burned as a cleansing ritual and can even banish if necessary.
AvocadoâPersea americans
Warnings: Not for internal use
Other names: Alligator Pear, Avocado Pear
Origins: Central and South America
Parts used: Fruit
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Love and Lust
The fruit is considered an aphrodisiac; eating it can increase oneâs lust. Bringing the pits into oneâs home can welcome love into it.
Bb~
'The Poplars are fellâd, farewell to the shade
And the whispering sound of the cool colonnade,
The winds play no longer and sing in the leaves,
Nor Ouse on his bosom their image receives.''
The Poplar Field, 1784 by William Cowper
Balsam PoplarâPopulus balsamifera
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Balm of gilead, Balsam tree, Black cottonwood
Origins: Northern hemisphereÂ
Parts used: Whole Plant
Energy:Â Passive
Planet:Â Venus
Element:Â Water
Magical properties: Love, protection, and healing.
This tree is said to protect those with a broken heart. To carry its buds can mend oneâs heart and potentially attract new love. The products from this tree have been traded all throughout history for its scent and aroma. Women would use it to create perfumes to seduce men. Dioscorides, the physician from Ancient Greece, also praised the plant for its healing properties, apparently helping with menstruation issues and regulation.
BambooâBambusa vulgaris
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: None worth mentioning
Origins: Asia-Pacific region
Parts used: Wood
Energy: Active
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Magical properties: Protection and divination
Bamboo has been used as a divination tool by east Asian people for thousands of years now. There is a practice derived from Buddhist and Taoist religions that consists of asking the divine questions. The answers are interpreted by the placements of small bamboo sticks thrown on a flat surface. Bamboo wood is also used as a protective barrier around oneâs properties and can even bring good fortune to the residents.
BananaâMusa sapientum
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Dessert banana
Origins: Indomalayan region
Parts used: Fruit
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Magical properties: Fertility and prosperity
It is said that bananas can help with fertility issues, such as impotencyâprobably due to its resemblance to the male appendage. Due to his fruitfulness, the banana tree is also often associated with prosperity.
BanyanâFicus benghalensis
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Arched fig, Indian fig tree, Indian God tree
Origins: Indian subcontinent
Parts used: Whole plant
Energy: Active
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Magical properties: Peace, Psychic boost and luck
Banyan is a very important symbol for India, being its national tree and is also respected within Hinduism. The tree is often planted near temples, allowing their followers to pray under it. It is said to do so brings luck and clarity. Crossing waters, the Banyan tree is also related to the worship of the God Maui within Polynesian religion and Hawaiian culture.
BarleyâHordeum spp. vulgare
Warnings: Do not use the sprouted seeds if pregnant or at all if celiac
Other names: Malt
Origins: Fertile Crescent
Parts used: Seeds
Energy: Passive
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Magical properties: Love, healing, and protection
An old way that people would seek healing via the power of visualization is by harvesting some barley that has been laid down by the wind, symbolizing oneâs body folding from the pressure of nature. The barley would be then placed around a stone, imagining all the pain from the disease getting into the rock. It would be then placed into flowing waterâlike a river or a streamâletting the water run through it, gently washing away the pain from the ore therefore the casterâs body.
BasilâOcimum basilicum
Warnings: Not recommended in large amounts if pregnant, nursing, or to use internally
Other names: Sweet Basil, St. Josephâs Wort, Witches herbs
Origins: Central Africa, Southeast Asia
Parts used: Leaves and stems
Energy: Active
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Love, banishing, cleansing, and protection
In some parts of Eastern Europe, basil would be used as an aphrodisiac. Some women would rub the herbs fresh directly onto their skins, creating an alluring aroma. Basil is also said to repel goats for the sake of attracting scorpions. Despite this fun fact, witchcraft practitioners have been using the herb for all kinds of purposes. Being an easily accessible plant all around, it can cleanse, protect, and of course, banish just by strewing around the dried leaves on the floor.
BayâLaurus nobilis
Warnings: None worth mentioning
Other names: Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay
Origins: Mediterranean region
Parts used: Leaves
Energy: Active
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Magical properties: Protection, divination, and purification
In Ancient Greece, the priestess of Apollo would use bay leaves as a way to enhance their connection to the God. By surrounding themselves with the smoke of the burned dried leaves and by masticating on the fresh herb, it would bring them into a trance state, ideal for prophetic visions. Many practitioners nowadays still use this plant for the same purpose. As an incense, or in a brew, in a spell bag, or under a pillow, bay leaves are a sure way to bring about answers to questioning minds. It is also said that the herb is a fantastic source of protective properties. To place the leaves at the windowsill can prevent lightning from striking nearby. To hang bundles of the plant can ward off malicious ghosts such as poltergeists. Plus, to plant the very tree near someoneâs house will avert any illness that could affect the residents. A very popular practice is to write oneâs wish directly on the leaf, then burn it, ensuring the prayer comes to fruition.
BeanâPhaseolus spp.
Warnings: Beans other than those from the Phaseolus variant may be poisonous
Other names: Poor manâs food
Origins: South America
Parts used: Seeds
Energy: Active
Planet: Pluto
Element: Water
Magical properties: Protection, banishing, and love
For a very long time, various beans were mainly used as safeguards and to repel evil. A very amusing way to put some kick into a banishing spell is to spit a bean directly onto the person you are trying to banish. If not effective, it would surely be cathartic. A less direct approach would be to rattle the beans in some kind of amulet or any receptacle. The sounds, it says, can ward off ill intent spirits, driving them away from inside the body of the afflicted. Beans are also known to quell coupleâs quarrels. Carrying beans in oneâs pocket is supposed to appease the other party over time. Kidney beans are often used as a correspondence for fertility issues, especially towards men, for the simple reason that the legume is vaguely shaped like testicles.
*32 entries to be added in this chapter*
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Bibliography
Blackthorn, Amy. Blackthorn's botanical magic: the green witch's guide to essential oils for spellcraft, ritual, and healing. Newburyport, Massachusetts: Weiser books, 2018.
Cunningham, Scott. Cunninghamâs Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Woodbury, Minnesota: Llewellyn Publications, 2021.
Diaz, Juliet. Plant Witchery: discover the sacred language, wisdom, and magic of 200 plants. Carslburg, California: Hay House, 2020.
Dioscorides. De Materia Medica. Johannesburg, South Africa: Ibidis Press, 2000.
New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition of the Holy Bible with Apocrypha. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publications, 2023.
An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Chapters: 1/1
Fandom: Original Work, No Fandom
Rating: Teen And Up Audiences
Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings
Additional Tags: Poetry, Bad Poetry, Sonnets, Shakespearean Sonnets, Past Trauma, Writing Exercise, Anatomy, Art Therapy, no beta we die like poe, AI will take Em Dashes from my cold dead body!!!
Summary:
A classic Shakespearean sonnet is poem consisting of 14 iambic pentameter lines organized in three quatrains and one concluding couplet.