Author: A Solitary Pagan

(Barosma betulinayAgathosmabetulina) P KFolk Names: Bookoo, Bucoo, Buku, OvalBuchu, Short Buchu, Sab, PinkaouGender: FemininePlanet: MoonElement: WaterPowers: Psychic Powers, Prophetic DreamsMagical Uses: An infusion of buchu, whendrunk, enables one to foretell the future.Frankincense mixed with buchu isburned directly before retiring to produceprophetic dreams. Only a small amountshould be burned...

(Bryony spp. dioica) PoisonFolk Names: Gout Root, Ladies’ Seal, MadRoot, Snake Grape, Tamus, Tetterberry,Wild Hops, Wild Vine, Wood Vine, EnglishMandrakeGender: MasculinePlanet: MarsElement: FirePowers: Image Magic, Money, ProtectionMagical Uses:The briony root is often used as a substitutefor the rare mandrake root in variousimage magic operations.Money placed near a briony root willincrease, as ...

(Cytisus scoparius) PoisonFolk Names: Banal, Basam, Besom, Bisom,Bizzon, Breeam, Broom Tops, Brum,Genista Green Broom, Irish Broom, IrishTops, Link, Scotch Broom, Hog WeedGender: MasculinePlanet: MarsElement: AirPowers: Purification, Protection, Wind,Spells, DivinationMagical Uses: Broom is used in purificationand protection spells, and is hung in thehome to keep evil out. Also, an infusion ofbroo...

(Pteridium aquilinum) XGender: MasculinePlanet: MercuryElement: AirPowers: Healing, Rain Magic, PropheticDreamsMagical Uses: If you burn bracken outside,rain will fall.Bracken is also used for protection,healing and fertility. If the root is placedbeneath the pillow it causes solutions ofproblems to appear in dreams.

(Ficus religiosa)Folk Names: Bo-Tree, Peepul Tree, Pipul,Sacred TreeGender: MasculinePlanet: JupiterElement: AirDeities: Buddha, VishnuThe HerbsPowers: Fertility, Protection, Wisdom,MeditationRitual Uses: The plant is sacred to Vishnuwho, like Buddha, was said to have beenborn beneath it. In the East, sacred fires arefed with its wood. Since Buddha also satbeneath this tree in meditation for six y...

(Campanula rotundifolia)Folk Names: HarebellPowers: Luck, TruthMagical Uses: If you can turn a bluebell insideout without tearing or damaging it, you willeventually have the one you love.The next time you see a bluebell, pick itand repeat the following words:Bluebell, bluebell, bring me some luckbefore tomorrow night.Slip it into your shoe to seal the spell.Anyone who wears a bluebell is compelled...

Planet: VenusElement: WaterPowers: Love Gender: Feminine Magical Uses: Crush the flower. If the juiceis red, your love has a heart full of love foryou. But if it is white, he or she doesn’t loveyou. When grown, the plant brings love.The bleeding heart, when grownindoors, has the reputation of producingnegative vibrations. To forestall this, planta coin in the soil and all will be right.

(Beta vulgaris) Large amounts of the leaf: XFolk Names: Mangel, MangoldGender: FemininePlanet: SaturnElement: EarthPower: LoveMagical Uses: If a man and woman eat of thesame beet, they will fall in love.Beet juice is used as an ink in lovemagic, and is also a blood substitute.

(Fagus sylvatica) Large amounts ofthe nut: XFolk Names: Bok, Boke, Buche, Buk, Buke,Faggio, Fagos, Faya, Haya, HetreGender: FemininePlanet: SaturnPowers: WishesMagical Uses: Take a stick of beech, scratchor carve your wishes onto it, bury it in theground and leave it there. Your wish willcome true if it is to be.Carry the wood or leaves to increasecreative powers.

(Phaseolus spp.)Beans not used for food may be poisonous.Folk Name: Poor Man’s MeatGender: MasculinePlanet: MercuryElement: AirDeities: Demeter, CardeaPowers: Protection, Exorcism, WartCharming, Reconciliations, Potency LoveRitual Uses: Some beans’ flowers are white,and hence sacred to the Goddesses of oldEurope. Beans are always sacred to harvestgoddesses. According to tradition onlythe highest-r...

(Laurus nobilis) GFolk Names: Baie, Bay Laurel, Bay Tree,Daphne, Grecian Laurel, Laurel, Laurierd’Apollon, Laurier Sauce, Lorbeer, NobleLaurel, Roman Laurel, Sweet BayGender: MasculinePlanet: SunElement: FireDeities: Aesculapius, Apollo, Ceres, Faunus,ErosPowers: Protection, Psychic Powers, Healing,Purification, StrengthRitual Uses: The ancient priestesses ofApollo chewed bay leaves to induce a pr...

(Ficus benghalensis) GFolk Names: Arched Fig, Indian Fig Tree,Indian God Tree, Vada TreeGender: MasculinePlanet: JupiterElement: AirDeity: MauiPowers: LuckRitual Uses: The banyan is reverenced bythe Hindus, and the tree is planted outsidearound their temples. It is also connectedwith the worship of Maui in Hawaiian andPolynesian religions.Magical Uses: To simply sit beneath or lookat a banyan tree...