Greek myth tells us that Hecate, the patroness of witches, Instructed her daughters in the herbal arts. They, in turn, taught All witches how to use this knowledge. Plant lore from that point Forward became a sacred trust for wise people and cunning folk Everywhere - for healing, love, fertility, prosperity, and of Special importance, for magick!
This myth, which is but one of many linking witches and nature Together, gives us a peek into the minds of our ancestors. It seems That our predecessors were a very superstitious lot. Exactly when And where all the superstitions about witches and plants developed Is fuzzy because it predates written history. What is quite certain Is that historians, philosophers, and modern Witches alike have Found it difficult, if not impossible, to read anything about one of These subjects without stumbling across information on the other.
For example, in reading a Celtic book about trees, you might Discover that ash wood was essential in a witch's broom to prevent Drowning (you know how witches hate water). In a medieval treatise On herbalism, you might discover that all witched HAD to grow Hemlock in their garden to honor Hecate...not to mention the herb's Used in their wicked spells! According to these two guidelines, I Would be considered only half witch, for I love to swim (no ash Required) and the only hemlock in my garden is in the mulch!
Speaking of gardens, popular folklore has it that the sun should not Be allowed to shine on a witch's plants because the light would Steal the power of the herbs. Around the magickal garden one could Always find a hawthorn hedge to protect the power contained therein And provide the witch with a handy place to hide. And what the witch Didn't grow herself, she'd find elsewhere. For example, if a broom Wasn't handy, a witch could gather a handful of hay to fly upon Instead. While she was out and about, the witch might also get some Mullien to make candles and a harebell to use for a thimble.
Be that as it may, for every witch-friendly herb in folklore, there Is also an anti-witch herb to keep us on our spiritual toes! These Flowers and plants were just waiting to be plucked and carried, Bound in sachets, sprinkled in wine, buried at a crossroad, or Tossed into running water by someone who thought he was enchanted. One example is elderberry. When steeped in water and dabbed on a person's eyes, it allows that person to see a witch no matter his or Her guise. Another example is the combination of rowan and red Thread, one of the most popular and powerful anti-magick charms.
Different cultures had their own uniqye outlook about witchy Wildflowers and plants. People in medieval Germany carried marjoram Sprigs to safeguard themselves from a spell. But witches in medieval France used them in love potions! Agrimony and hazel were used by Witch hunters to uncover occult activity, while the witches Themselves were using these plants to keep nasty critters like Goblins at bay and to divine for water. Similarly, it was common Practice (and still is in some areas) throughout Europe to lay a Broom across the threshold to keep a witch from entering, yet this Very same broom could be used as the witch's magickal Transportation!
In retrospect, all this superstition is rather amusing to a Modern-minded witch who has grown accustomed to logic and Convenience. Even so, we have to consider the times and settings in Which our ancestors lived. The beliefs they held dear were not just Happenstance or whinsy. They had grown out of a long-term love Affair that humankind developed with nature and Her cirizens. Through a combination of respect, faith, and old-fashioned Stick-to-itiveness, the ancient magicians and cunning folk built a Metaphysical system that would endure through the millennia to heal Our bodies, nurture our minds, and advance our spirits.
Thus, the superstitions about magickal flowers and plants are Actually very important to our studies and applications today. Underneath the leafy layers of lore are some notable historical Roots and extremely useful correspondences that shouldn't be tossed Away just because they're quaint by our standards. It is into these Old roots that we gently dig so that we can transplant the treasures Found there into modern practice.
