by Ellen Dugan
Garden Witch Tip: The common crocus is not meant to be consumed. However, in the interest of lending some clarity to these two bewitching plants, here is the information on the saffron crocus as well.
Saffron Crocus (Crocus sativus)
Unlike their common garden-blooming cousins, the saffron crocus does, in fact, bloom in the autumn, and the flowers are a soft lilac-pink color. The stigmas of the saffron crocus are a highly prized culinary spice. Why? Because they are expensive and costly to gather. It takes over 1,700 flowers to produce one ounce of saffron. Saffron is also used as a dye and in cosmetics. Magickally, saffron was considered to be an aphrodisiac and was used to promote love and lust as well as to strengthen psychic abilities.
The definition in the language of flowers is different than that of the common crocus. Here, the masculine energies of the saffron crocus warn you of excess and not to overdo it, which is probably a nod to the cost of obtaining this magickal herb. The planetary correspondence for saffron is the sun; its elemental association is fire.
Common Snowdrop (Galanthus nivalis)
The botanical name for this flower translates to “milk-white flower.” Folk names include Fair-Maids-of-February, winter bell, Candlemas bells, and the milk flower; it was known to all the old-time botanists as a bulbous violet. This plant begins flowering in late January or early February in the northern temperate zone. The white flower has six petals, the outer three segments being larger and more curvy than the inner petals. The plant grows four to six inches tall. There are about twelve species of Galanthus and many variations of the spring-blooming, bulbous herb.
In the language of flowers, this plant means hope, renewal, and also consolation. The snowdrop is a divine flower; it brings the hope and promise of spring during the darkest and coldest winter days. As I researched this flower, I discovered that this is the flower of the archangel of Saturn, Cassiel, who is also known as the angel of temperance, creativity, and good fortune. He is associated with the following attributes: acceptance, wisdom, good luck, creativity, and optimism. This archangel inspires us to expand our minds, be creative, and think on a higher level. Cassiel, as the angel of good fortune, will help you to create your own luck, so you can have the strength and the conviction to work hard and then to reap the rewards of all that effort.
The astrological correspondence for the snowdrop is Saturn. A good elemental association for this flower would be the element of earth.
An Angelic Herbal Enchantment for Motivation
I designed this spell for myself when I was under the deadline gun to finish this very book. It was early December, and the completed manuscript was due in mid-February. My nerves were shot, as I was constantly interrupted by phone calls, errands, my kids coming home from college, decorating for Yule, and my other family commitments, not to mention trying to find time to shop for Yule presents.
As I researched the snowdrop plant, I stumbled across the information on the archangel Cassiel and his links to it, and I felt my stomach flip over. I got that psychic tingle that lets me know when I am on to something good. In the past, I had worked magick with angels, but it wasn’t something I did on a regular basis.
Regardless, I knew there was a reason I had found all the information and how suitable and appropriate it seemed for my needs. It felt like the universe was giving me a psychic nudge. After all, I had been asking the God and Goddess for help to get this project finished on time, and right there, falling neatly into my lap, was this fabulous information. So, with the holidays fast approaching and the deadline getting closer every day, I decided to give this a try. It worked so well for me that I decided to share it with you. Oh, and if you are wondering—yes, Witches can work with angels. Try it out for yourself and see how you do.
Since this archangel is aligned with Saturn, work this spell on a Saturn’s day—Saturday. If possible, work with the snowdrop plant; a blossom or two in a little vase would be lovely. If you cannot procure the fresh blossoms, then I would light a snow-white candle instead. Votive, pillar, jar, or taper candle—it’s your choice. (Being a practical Witch, I found a picture of the blooming snowdrop plant on the web, printed it out, and glued it onto a seven- day jar candle.)
Once you have the flowers arranged and/or the candle burning, repeat the following spell verse:
I call upon Cassiel; the snowdrop is your sacred flower,
Help me finish my project in a timely manner and hour.
Even as the snowdrop blooms in the darkest and coldest of days,
Help me to remain strong, focused, and motivated, come what may.
May Cassiel, the archangel of creativity,
Assist me now, and as I will it, so must it be!
Allow the candle to burn out in a safe place on its own.
Ostara
Spring Equinox
Spring, the sweet spring, is the year’s pleasant king;
Then blooms each thing, then maids dance in a ring,
thomas nashe
Violet (Viola odorata)
Folk names for this fragrant herb include blue violet and sweet violet. The heart-shaped leaf of the violet is an amulet that protects from all evil. Wearing a chaplet of violets is an old way to cure a headache. Violets were often utilized with rose petals and lavender in love-drawing sachets and as a main spell component for romance magick. As these little beauties are a sacred plant of the goddess of love, Venus, she is sure to lend you a hand with your herb magick when the spell ingredients feature the violet.
In the language of flowers, the violet symbolizes modesty and sweetness, while a rarer white violet declares innocence and honesty. Magickal uses are protection, love, and lust. Also, the violet is a classic plant that is used to protect a person from being faerie led or tricked. Its protective qualities make it an ideal plant for working faerie magick. Try gathering the violets into a little posy and tucking it into a small glass or vase. This is thought to appease the nature spirits and the faeries.
On an interesting note, the violet is also the sacred flower of the archangel Sachiel. Sachiel is the archangel of Jupiter. His day is Thursday. Sachiel’s energy brings riches and a sense of charity. All financial situations, politics, and material wealth are under his influence, which makes sense since he is aligned to Jupiter and Thursday, that being the classic day to work any prosperity magick.
So here is another bit of information for you to file away. Yes, the traditional magickal correspondences for the violet are Venus and love. However, the violet is a powerful little flower with many uses and associations such as the following little morsel of flower lore. According to tradition, all “blue” flowers are sacred to Aphrodite and Venus. Adding this spring flower to any spell or ritual while invoking the goddesses of love will gather their attention and grant their favors. The classic astrological influence of the violet is the planet Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Easily identified by its bright yellow flowers, dandelions may be considered weeds by many a homeowner, but in the old days, dandelion greens offered a much-needed edible source and a spring tonic. The flowers can be made into wine, and the leaves—which have lots of vitamin A and C—may even be tossed into a salad. A few of the folk names for dandelion are blowball, lion’s tooth, and wild endive. The root of the dandelion will yield a magenta dye.
In the language of flowers, the dandelion is called an oracle of love. It also reminds you that wishes do come true. The magickal properties of this herb include divination, increasing psychic abilities, and granting wishes. Old flower folklore suggests plucking a dandelion’s seed head on the night of a full moon, then requesting the aid of the four winds. Make a wish, and blow away the seeds.
This masculine plant is sacred to Hecate. Its astrological influences are Jupiter, and the elemental correspondence is air.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)
This variety of clover and the following one are common plants that have some similar properties as well as their own unique messages and magick. Clover is a perfect plant to celebrate the spring, green magick, and new beginnings. Tucking the four-leaf clover in your wallet will encourage an increase in your cash. Traditionally, placing a four-leaf clover in your shoe is thought to ensure good luck and ease on your travels; it will also allow you to see the faeries. To do that, you are supposed to stand still for three hours. (Good luck.) All varieties of clover are sacred to the faeries. Wear a crown of clover blossoms and sit out in the garden this spring, and see what they show and teach you. You remember how to make those, don’t you? Just about every kid has made clover flower necklaces and crowns at some time. Seems to me a little foolishness this spring will do you wonders. Besides, the faeries will get a good chuckle at you sitting there trying to make it perfect. Don’t obsess over it being gorgeous; instead, just relax and enjoy yourself. The clover is a perfect plant to incorporate into your springtime magick.
In the language of flowers, the four-leaf clover announces that “you are mine” and that “you are lucky.” The three-leaf clover is a symbol for the power of three. Those three leaves are also a sacred symbol of the Celtic triple goddess Brigid. While the red clover’s flower is typically a reddish color, there are some varieties of red clover that produce pink flowers. These pink-blooming clovers warn you, “Do not trifle with my affections,” while the red clover requests entreaty and asks that you “remain faithful even though we are apart.”
Magickally, the masculine red clover may be utilized in prosperity spells and is used to promote love and a dose of healthy lust. Carrying red clover blossoms on your person was thought to attract a new lover. It also helped you heal after a breakup or a love gone sour. The astrological association for the red clover is the planet Mercury, and the elemental association is air.
White Clover (Trifolium repens)
The white clover is a plant that is grown either as a hay crop or as a method of putting nutrients back in the soil as a type of green fertilizer. White clover has pale blossoms, which state in the language of flowers that “I will be faithful.”
Clover foliage is also used to predict the weather. If you find clover with their green leaves closed up tight, that is thought to be a sign of a coming rainstorm. Magickal uses besides the obvious four-leaf good-luck clover are varied and interesting. Scattering the blossoms of the white clover at the four main corners of your home will ward off ghosts and entities. Also, the white clover, with its pale crescent marks on the leaves, is thought to counteract a hex or manipulative magick. The astrological powers are the same as the red clover: the planetary influence is Mercury, and the elemental association is air.
A Silly Springtime Clover Spell for Prosperity
Head out to the yard or park this spring, and gather up a handful of blooming clover. Any moon phase or day of the week will work out fine, just pick out a pretty spring day that you can enjoy. To begin, tie the stems from the clover into a chaplet or necklace, and then sit on the grass like a kid. Take off your shoes and socks, and dig your toes into that new green grass. Feel the gentle spring breeze; now, ask the faeries to bless you with prosperity and generosity this spring. Sure, the following verse is tongue-in-cheek—it’s supposed to be silly and make you smile. Repeat the following verse three times:
Here I sit in my crown of clover,
Spring faeries, come and look me over!
If you bless me with good luck and prosperity this year,
I vow to be generous and help others far and near.
Enjoy the pretty spring weather and stay on the grass for a while. When you are ready to go, wear your flower chains home and allow them to dry out. Save them, and use them in other spells and charms.
To hold up your part of the vow to the fae, donate to a charity. How about the American Cancer Society, the Humane Society, or a local animal shelter? They can always use a donation or a volunteer. I have a friend that knits little blankets for a cat shelter and another who knits blankets for babies in the ICU. You could adopt a shelter animal, take good care of it, and give it a loving home. Help out a kid, and purchase something from their fundraiser for their school or sports team. Come on, there are plenty of opportunities out there for a little kindness. Give something back, and the faeries will reward your kindness.
Beltane
May 1
The fairy queen
Bids you increase that loving humour more.
thomas campion
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Folk names for this lovely perennial herb include queen of the meadow, lady of the meadow, trumpet weed, and little queen. This blooming herb is almond-scented with creamy white flowers. This was a popular flower in bridal bouquets, which helped earn the flower another one of its folk names, bridal wort. This was a classic strewing herb in medieval times, for not only were the flowers fragrant, but the foliage had a clean hay scent as well. Meadowsweet was also popular for use in the creation of perfumes, as the oil from the flower buds is sweetly scented. It is also a classic dyeing herb; the flower tops yield a yellow-green dye, the leaves and stems a blue tint, and the roots yield a black dye.
This was a sacred herb in Druidic tradition, and it formed a sort of magickal trio of herbs with vervain and mint. Meadowsweet is popular to work into faerie magick, as the fae value strongly scented flowers and herbs. In magick, the meadowsweet flower is worked into spells, arranged into tussie-mussies, and tucked into sweetly fragranced charm bags and sachets to encourage love and good cheer. Meadowsweet promotes peace and contentment, and it also aids in divination. This herb has the planetary correspondence of Jupiter and the elemental association of air.
Male Fern (Dryopteris filix-mas)
There are many varieties of ferns from all over the world; however, I want to focus on a common fern that is considered an herb: the male fern. This species of fern is found growing in shady, damp woodlands and hedges in North America and Eurasia. This is a gorgeous specimen of deciduous fern, and it is described as having elegantly divided green fronds that will unroll from the crown of the rhizome. Actually, the young curled fronds of the male fern can be boiled and used as a vegetable. You will see these referred to occasionally as fiddleheads.
Magickal uses of the male fern include invisibility, faerie magick, protection, healing, lust, and also for encouraging good luck. According to old herb lore, dried fern, when burned indoors in the fireplace or woodstove, will drive away negative spirits and entities, while if the dried fern fronds are burned outdoors, the smoke is thought to encourage rain. The seeds that appear on the underside of the fern fronds are said to grant invisibility. The fern’s root, or rhizome, was a popular ingredient in old love spells.
In the language of flowers, the fern symbolizes fascination and a tempestuous passion. The masculine energies of the fern have the planetary correspondence of Mercury and the elemental association of air.
English Daisy (Bellis perennis)
This perennial daisy is also known as the lawn daisy. This dainty flower is a native of Europe and Western Asia. It grows up to six inches in height, and the flowers are tiny with white ray florets surrounded by yellow discs. This plant attracts pollinators such as bees and butterflies. It is described as being short-lived and is a classic symbol of innocence, youth, and spring.
Magickally, this flower induces loving feelings and fascination. Also, it is a classic herb to use in children’s magick; in fact, one of its folk names is bairn wort, which translates to “babies’ herb.” In floral vocabularies, the English daisy symbolizes a newborn baby and happiness. The astrological association for the English daisy is Venus, and the elemental correspondence is water.
American Oxeye Daisy (Chrysanthemum leucanthemum)
This pere
nnial daisy is much larger in stature than its tiny cousin. The sun-loving oxeye daisy grows up to three feet in height and is a popular flower for gardening and floral arrangements. This particular daisy is sacred to Artemis, Maiden Goddess of the hunt and of the waxing moon. One of the folk names for this flower is rather illuminating: moon daisy. This plant has feminine energies and is considered to be a woman’s herb. White daisies are a classic Beltane flower, and legend has it that the daisy, in all its shapes and sizes, is a faerie plant.
In the language of flowers, the oxeye daisy symbolizes purity, simplicity, and patience, and is used to signify affection. It may also be used in divination. The classic “he loves me, he loves me not” charm is typically worked with a daisy. Magickally, the oxeye daisy is worked into faerie magick, love and romance spells, and spells for children and happiness. The magickal correspondences for the oxeye daisy are the planet Venus and the element of water.
A Goddess Blessing for Children
Here is a good spell to work with your children. For best results, work the spell during a waxing moon. As the moon grows fuller, so will the Lady’s blessing increase upon your child. If you’d like to work the spell as soon as possible, you can always work on a Monday, no matter what the lunar phase, for Mondays are sacred to the moon and all of her magick.
Gather a few daisies. These may be picked from your own garden or purchased from the local florist—whichever is the easiest and most practical way for you to procure the flowers. Now gather the flowers together, trim the stems to a workable length, and bind them together loosely with a white ribbon. Tuck the flower stems into a sturdy little vase or cup filled with water, and set them in a prominent spot in the child’s room.
Bless the flowers by holding the child’s hands above the flowers and repeating the charm three times. Note that this is worded either for an older child to work the spell all by themselves or for an adult to work the spell for a young child.
