Herbal Correspondences
Herbs
have long been used for magical and ritual purposes, as well as for healing.
Here's a sampling of correspondences that I use, as well as a smattering
of some herbal lore throughout history.
Lore
The agave,
or century plant,
is also known as the Mexican tree of life and abundance. If you live in
a climate that's friendly to one, it might be nice to have around the house.
Almonds
have long symbolized hope. In Greek legend, the Thracian princess Phyllis
was abandoned by her fiancé, the Greek prince Demophon, at the altar.
Legend has it that she died of a broken heart and was transformed into
an almond tree by the gods.
Haitian
shopkeepers sprinkle basil
water over their shops to dispel evil and ensure prosperity.
In Scandinavian
and Germanic folk lore, the first man sprang from an ash
tree (European ash).
Carline
thistles are believed to protect one from
harm. Folks in some parts of Germany still carry them for protection.
Even the
simple bean was
important to those in the past. In Rome, household heads would follow a
simple ritual of spitting beans to repel evil from the household. The Romans
also put hawthorn leaves
in cradles to protect their children.
Black
hellebore, or the Christmas
Rose, was used to bless and protect homes
and animals. It was also believed to ward off evil and negate the powers
of a witch. Medieval folks believed that spitting beans
in a supposed witch's face would dispel her powers.
Correspondences
Balance/Harmony
clover or
trefoil
honeysuckle
lilac
pennyroyal
gardenia
Banishing
beans
clover,
red
garlic
ginseng
lilac
Beauty
catnip
ginseng
lemon
maidenhair
yerba
santa
Blessings
birch
mimosa
moss
sweetgrass
sunflower
Courage
allspice
black
pepper
dragon's
blood
garlic
lemon
oak
thyme
tonka
bean
yarrow
yellow
rose
Divination
broom
hibiscus
meadowsweet
mugwort
orris
Exorcism
angelica
bay
birch
broom
cinquefoil
ferns
frankincense
juniper
lilac
mandrake
mistletoe
myrrh
pine
sagebrush
thistle
Fertility
cucumber
geranium
hazel
juniper
mistletoe
oak
orange
patchouli
pine
sunflower
Health/Healing
ash
apple
eucalyptus
ginger
ginseng
mandrake
may apple
mints
mistletoe
rue
willow
Love
apple
cedar
cherry
clover
hawthorn
juniper
lemon
verbena
meadowsweet
mint
maple
primrose
roses
sweet
orange
vervain
yarrow
Luck
clover
honeysuckle
oak
tonka
beans
vanilla
Magical
Powers
carnation
dragon's
blood
ebony
ginger
rowan
vervain
Meditation
blue lilac
chamomile
jasmine
lavender
passion
flower
Money
almond
cedar
clover,
red
honeysuckle
Irish
moss
maple
Peace
lavender
lilac
meadowsweet
myrrh
vervain
Prosperity
beans
cinnamon
cinquefoil
clove
clover
dill
fir/pine
ginger
goldenseal
Irish
moss
mandrake
mustard
seed
oak
patchouli
(preferably the live plant)
woodruff
Protection
basil
bay
broom
cinquefoil
clover
dill
ebony
ferns
garlic
ginseng
hawthorn
holly
ivy
juniper
lavender
mistletoe
oak
patchouli
pine
needles
red geraniums
rosemary
rowan
thistles
vervain
woodruff
Psychic
Awareness
angelica
ash
bay
frankincense
hazel
honeysuckle
juniper
marigold
nutmeg
peppermint
rowan
star
anise
thyme
vervain
yarrow
Psychic
Dreams
heliotrope
marigold
mimosa
mugwort
rose
Purification
betony
broom
camphor
cedar
copal
eucalyptus
galbanum
hyssop
peppermint
pine
sage
thyme
valerian
verbena
vervain
Spirituality
cedar
elder
frankincense
gardenia
myrrh
oak
sandalwood
Wisdom
basil
cedar
hazel
myrrh
sage
Back
to the Shadows?
Originally
composed 29 June, 1996.
This
page last updated and revised 28 July, 2000.
Copyright
Laurel Reufner, 1996. Comments? Email me!