Tag: Magick

Plant Spirits and Allies

Animism is the belief that all things have a spirit. This can include spirits of places, such as meadows or forests, spirits of natural features, such as stones or plants, spirits of everyday objects, such as lamps or your house, etc. There can, of course, be some debate as to where one spirit ends and another begins. Is is that every room, or every wall, or every brick in every wall has its own spirit, or is it all of the above? If a plant reproduces to make more versions of itself, are those still the same spirit or are they new ones? Do they develop their individuality over time? Whatever your specific views may be, many agree that such spirits can make powerful allies if we build relationships with them.

In Shamanism, relationships with plant spirits are particularly important. They can provide valuable information and support when it is needed. The plant can reveal information on its healing properties, and the spirit itself an greatly aid the healing process. Some argue that experiences generated by certain natural psychedelic substances taken to aid shamanic journeys, are in fact messages from the plant spirits conveyed in the form of visions (Baghramian, 2015).

In order to learn from a plant spirit, one should find a plant they feel called to, observe it for a while, and begin talking to its spirit. Permission should be sought to take a part of the plant away, and this should be done in a respectful way which will not harm the plant. One can then journey to meet the plant spirit in non-ordinary reality and converse with it (Baghramina, 2015). Another method is to find a plant one is attracted to while holding their intention or question clear in their mind . An offering can be made to the plant, though it is important that it is suitable and does not harm the plant or wildlife around it. While sitting in a meditative state with the plant, attention should be paid to any messages that are received. These messages can be visual, auditory, kinaesthetic, or cognitive, and as such present themselves as seeing, hearing, feeling or knowing (Farmer, 2009).

Violas in my garden.

With time and patience, plant spirits can become allies who are willing to aid us in our endeavours. However, as with any relationship, there has to be some give and take, some reciprocity, and efforts should be made to maintain the relationship. With time, you may even be able to ask your plant spirit ally to perform certain tasks for you, such as warding your home for example (Sebastiani, 2017).

There are many ways to deepen our relationship with spirits and allies. So, in the spirit of making these alliances (terrible pun intended), why not challenge yourself to explore something different. May marks the beginning of the 30 Day Plant Spirit Ally Challenge, organised by Hagstone Publishing. I’m excited to try it!

References:
Baghramian, A. (2015). The Magic of Shamanism. Barcelona: Guid Publicaciones.
Farmer, S. D. (2009). Earth Magic: Ancient Shamanic Wisdom for Healing Yourself, Others and the Planet. London: Hay House UK Ltd.
Sebastiani, A. (2017). By Rust of Nail & Prick of Thorn: The Theory and Practice of Effective Home Warding. Smashwords Edition.

Common Sage

As a witch, you more than likely have stumbled upon the idea of smudging with sage, and maybe even done it yourself. Smudging is a Native American practice that uses white sage, and has recently been surrounded by much talk of cultural appropriation. Luckily, with over 750 species of sage out there, there are other choices.

Its Latin name Salvia comes from the word ‘salveo’, which means ‘to save’ and refers to the widely recognised medicinal uses of this plant. Salvia officinalis also known as Common Sage or Garden Sage, is probably the most commonly used type of sage in cooking, and therefore the most easily obtainable one.

It is a fairly hardy plant, able to survive most winters outside. Seeds should be planted in spring and are easy to grow, with little maintenance needed and no common pests or disease that you need to worry about. It needs full sun and well drained / dry soil.

My garden sage, in need of some TLC after winter.

Sage is an antiseptic. It can be made into a gargle when infused as a tea to aid sore throats and throat infections. However, drinking the tea for more than a week or two at a time can cause symptoms of poisoning due to the herb’s strength.

As witches, we also value its cleansing and protective properties. It can be used in a cleansing bath, before or after a ritual, or maybe even as a part of it. To infuse your bath simply add 7-8 drops of sage essential oil to a full bathtub. Alternatively, you can get a small bit of muslin or similar fabric and fill it with dried sage. Tie it with a string and attach to the tap, so that water flows through it as you’re filling your bath. Sage can also be grown, harvested and dried into a cleansing stick or burned as incense to cleanse your space. Personally, I like to cleanse the house every couple of weeks with it, as I find it really lifts the energy at home. Similarly, a couple drops of essential oil can be added to home made cleaning products, to obtain the same cleansing and protective effects. Other magical correspondences include healing, wealth and wisdom.

Resources for this post:
Jekka’s Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar
A Concise Guide to Herbs by Jenny Linford
Traditional Herbal Remedies by Jenny Plucknett
The Kitchen Witch by Soraya