Magical Flowers & Essences

Magical Properties of Flowers

Agrimony - Since ancient times Agrimony has been used to heal wounds.
Widely used as flower essences, Agrimony aids in the stabilization of one’s sensitivities. It helps alleviate mental worry and torture. It is recommended as a treatment for those who wear a false mask of cheerfulness. It is helpful for optimism, cheerfulness, emotional honesty and self acceptance

Angelica - a protective herb illness and poisonings. It became thought of in such high regard that was named root of the Holy Ghost’.  More on botanical.com

Bluebell - Do they ring at night and call fairies to their revels? More on botanical.com 

Clover - those with four leaves were said to protect against fairy tricks. It is said an ointment of clover would make faeries visible .

Cowslip - Shakespeare called them “fairy favours”. Also called fairycup, as fairies like nestling in its drooping bell. Shakespeare referred to cowslip in several of his works. Ariel in The Tempest was often to be found lying in a cowslip’s bell.

In a Midsummer Night’s Dream : ‘The cowslips tall her pensioners be; In their gold coats spots you see; Those be rubies, fairy favours, In those freckles live their savours. I must go seek some dewdrops here; And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear.

Daisy - children were dressed in daisy chains not only for charm, but for protection as well.

Dandelion - Legend has it that long ago world had more fairies and nature spirits than. To hide themselves, some fairies dressed in yellow hid beneath dandelions. Notice that if one steps on a dandelion it will spring up again, as it is caused by the fairy who dwells there.

Because the dandelion’s flowers open at dawn and shut at dusk, they have been referred to as “dandelion clocks” alerting the shepherd in the field to begin making his way home.

Ferns -Long known as hiding places for fairies and pixies and the like. In Russia it is said that, when ferns bloom golden a handful of the seeds should be tossed in the air. they are said to lead to hidden gold.

Foxglove - Known as ‘fairy’s glove’ by th e Welsh and ‘fairy bells’ by the Irish. “Fox” is a variation of ‘folks’. It was said that the fairy folk love tall foxglove so that it would bend and nod in respect in the garden– in the presence of an angel or superior being.

Garlic - used in healing and protection for thousands of years. In many traditions it was hung in strings from homes and sterns of boats to prevent attack by witches and sorcerers.

Lady’s slipper - A native American legend tells of a young Indian princess who gave her shoe to an injured rabbit . As she continued on her way, her feet began to get sore and become spotted with bleed from briers. As she rested, a bird asked the Great Spirit for help. When the kind-hearted girl awoke she discovered the most beautiful pair of lady’s slipper moccasins she had ever seen. The red-purple spot and scarlet lines inside the flower are reminders of little marks on the girls feet.

Lily - A protective plant used to keep ones home free of unwanted intruders. Oberon, king of the fairies and elves carried a lily as a magic wand. Lily of the Valley blossoms appear to form little stepping ledges fairies can climb and swing. Also known as Our Lady’s tears since, according to Christian legend, the tears Mary shed at the cross turned to Lilies of the Valley. Other names include May Lily, May Bells, Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-Heaven, Male Lily and Muguet.

Traditionally, Lily of the Valley is sold in the streets of France on May 1. Lily of the Valley became the national flower of Finland in 1982. The Norwegian municipality Lunner has a Lily of the Valley in its coat-of-arms. It is the official flower of Alpha Delta Phi fraternity, Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity, Kappa Sigma fraternity, Delta Omicron fraternity, Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, and Alpha Phi sorority.

The name “Lily of the Valley” is also used in some English translations of the Bible in Song of Songs 2:1, although whether the Hebrew word “shoshana” (usually denoting a rose) originally used there refers to this species or not is uncertain. The meaning of this flower is “You will find Happiness.”
Marigold - In folklore it was said that marigolds would help you see fairies dancing before you.

Mistletoe - revered as a sacred plant by many ancient peoples of Europe and associated closely with magic and medicine.

Mugwort - Traditionally used to enhance clarity and inner visions in women It also was thought to enhance the world of psyche and dreams. It is a common ingredient in dream pillows which to gain visions of the future. Pliny in his Naturalis historia recommended travelers to carry mugwort with them to ward off danger. It was placed in the entrance of buildings to stop lightning from striking.

Mullein - Known to the ancients as a protective herb against evil and illness. Carried when on journeys it was considered a talisman of safety.

Peony - In pagan times dried roots were carved into amulets. Seeds were made into a necklace by threading together on to white thread. It was thought to have been created by the moon goddess and to reflect her light through the night.

Primrose - The primrose has always been associated with safety. Blooms would be left in entrance ways to request fairy blessings. Bunches would be left in cowsheds to convince the fairies not to steal the milk. (Though we don’t think fairies actually eat the milk, but they are mischievous at times). should you wish to see a fairy, you would eat the flowers. A bunch of five freshly gathered primroses gathered from the water’s edge, placed on a standing stone, may be one way the Fairyland.

Evening Primrose — Most of the wildflowers in this group open their blooms after sunset. seen widely in North America it blooms with yellow flowers from June to September. American Indians used it for treating obesity and sore muscles. Evening Primrose oil is a natural source of gamma-linolenic acid.

Rose - Much legend surrounds the rose. In Greek mythology goddess of flowers, Chloris, found the body of a beautiful nymph and asked the Three Graces to create a very special flower her. The Graces gave the flower joy, brightness and charm. Then she asked Aphrodite the goddess of love, to give the flower beauty. the god of wine, Dionysus added a nectar to create a beautiful perfume. Zephyr the wind god to blew away the clouds so that the rose might enjoy the warmth of the sun.

The rose became known as the Queen of Flowers. According to Eastern traditions when a soul knocked at the door of the next world and all material things had to be left behind only the red rose was allowed to accompany that soul over the threshold.

St John’s Wort - Its flowers are said to symbolize the sun dispelling the forces of darkness. The name comes from the Greek meaning ‘over an apparition’ because of it apparent power to protect against evil. Sprigs were hung at homes and church doors on Midsummers’ Day to protect them from thunder, lightning, fire and other unpleasant things. Stepping on the plant was said to cause a fairy horse to rise up and take the mortal on a wild ride lasting all night

Snowdrop - Oberon’s daughter Kenna fell in love with the son of King Albion. Oberon objected to the couple’s love and banished him from fairyland. He returned with an army to fight defiantly against his banishment but was wounded and snowdrop was applied to his wounds.

Vervain - Considered sacred, it was used as a used for casting spells and was the vital ingredient of magic potions. Romans used it for ritual cleansing and held an annual festival called verbenalia in its honor. According to Dr Edward Bach, verbain is helpful for “Those with fixed principles and ideas, which they are confident are right, and which they very rarely change. They are strong of will and have much courage when they are convinced of those things that they wish to teach.” Dr Bach was the originator of the 38 flower essences, used widely today for correcting emotional imbalances.

Water Lily - Its botanical name from Nymphe, the Greek water nymph and goddess of springs. Nymphs and water lilies have long been entwined in their love for water. In medieval Germany water lily was symbolic of female purity. Little nymphs disguised themselves as flowers to avoid being noticed by people.

Yarrow - It was thought to be endowed with spiritual properties and was preserved in temples and treated with special reverence. It was also thought to be a love charm.