Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen (13 page)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Conscious mind, money, weight loss, love

Lore:
To those of us familiar with dill only in the form of pickles, its history may come as a surprise. The Egyptians knew of it and considered dill sacred to Amsety, one of Horus' four sons who guarded the canopic jars in which a mummified person's internal organs were kept.
23
The ancient Greeks used dill fruits (seeds) as money.
56
To fortify themselves prior to battle, Roman gladiators rubbed their bodies with dill-scented oil,
94
while emperors placed crowns of dill on their heads to ensure lengthy and successful reigns.
56

Europeans have long used dill in spells and rites. In France, dill was a strong protectant against “evil.” Spaniards wore snippets of dill on their clothing to drive away demons, and brides in Germany carried wedding bouquets that contained dill for “good luck.”
56

Though a Mediterranean plant, dill has travelled around the world. Fresh stalks of dill are still sold in India for both culinary and protective use.
56

A few generations ago, cranky children were fed dill water to cause them to fall asleep. In herbal medicine of the Renaissance, dill was prescribed for exactly the same purposes. It was chewed, eaten, or worn to bed for this purpose.
56, 94

Magical uses:
Dill's strong, fresh scent was probably responsible for its constant use in folk magic and religion throughout the ages. Its powers have not yet faded from the mind: eating pickles before sleep is said to create strange dreams, and pregnant women sometimes crave dill-flavored pickles.

Fish cooked with dill leaves is said to “exhilarate” the brain, leading to increased mental faculties.
56
This may be true for two reasons: the effects of the herb itself and the fact that such a meal would be less of a digestive burden than others.

Ruled by Mercury, the planet of intelligence, dill “seed” (actually fruits) or “weed” (leaves) may be added to diets designed to increase the ability to use the conscious mind.

Or, eat dill-flavored foods to bring money into your life, to help your business prosper, and to ensure that the money you do receive is spent wisely. Dill pickles are perfect for this use.

What other miracles have been attributed to dill? For centuries, dill has been used to lose weight. Dill tea or pickles are both said to be helpful in achieving this common goal. Just don't sprinkle dill onto a hot-fudge sundae and expect it to work weight-loss magic.

Dill is also added to love foods.

Fennel

(Foeniculum vulgare)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Physical strength, weight loss, protection

Magical uses:
Add these fragrant seeds to dishes designed to promote physical strength. Fennel has been used for this purpose for hundreds of years.

Additionally, use fennel as part of a weight-reducing diet. The seeds are also added to protective dishes.

Garlic

(Allium sativum)

Planet:
Mars

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Protection, health

Lore:
In antiquity, garlic was given to insane persons in the belief that it would cure them.
23
The conquering Romans spread garlic throughout their newly acquired lands, and Roman soldiers ate garlic for courage in battle.

Around the Mediterranean, and particularly in Italy, garlic is considered an excellent protection against “evil.” The power of the smelly bulb against vampires is another example of this belief from Eastern Europe.

In 1597, an Englishman wrote: “If a woman cannot smell the savor of Garlike being set by her bedside in the night, she is undoubtedly with childe.”
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Garlic was once also thought to keep rats and mice from fruit-bearing trees.

Magical uses:
The intensity of the smell and taste of fresh garlic make it useful in protective diets. If you enjoy garlic, by all means add it to a diet designed to guard yourself.

Some experts say that we should eat a clove of fresh garlic every day for good health. This presents no problem to garlic lovers (who even enjoy garlic ice cream). If you're not ready for a daily clove, simply add some garlic to your food every day for continuing good health. Visualize as you cook and eat. Use only fresh garlic. No freeze-dried, dehydrated, or bottled garlic!

Ginger

(Zingiber officinalis)

Planet:
Mars

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Love, money

Lore:
Ginger is native to Asia and seems to have been introduced to the West by Alexander the Great in about 340
b.c.e.
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The Chinese placed ginger in tombs to feed the dead, and hung portions of the root over doorways to guard mother and baby during childbirth. They also saw in the spicy plant a tool for communicating with their deities. Ginger was and still is an important part of religious offerings throughout China and in Hong Kong.
19

Pacific Islanders chewed fresh ginger rhizome
¶¶¶
during healing rituals and, while at sea, spat the masticated spice at oncoming storms to stop their progress.

Since this is a book about food, I feel compelled to write that a dime-sized piece of crystallized ginger is one of the best remedies for an upset stomach. So, too, is ginger tea, made by pouring hot water over sliced fresh ginger.

Magical uses:
Ginger is rarely used in Western cooking, which is a shame because it's so versatile. If used, it must be sparingly added, however, due to its intense flavor.

Gingerbread and ginger ale—when they're made with real ginger—are both love-inducing foods. Ginger can be added to other dishes of this nature. The easiest way to add ginger to your diet is to simply chew a very small piece of crystallized (candied) ginger while visualizing. Though you may fear the ginger will burn you tongue, it won't. It is hot, yes, but not as hot as chili pepper. Eat no more than a dime-sized piece.

Ginger-flavored dishes are also excellent for increasing income. Visualize as you cook and eat, of course.

Horseradish

(Cochleria armoracia)

Planet:
Mars

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Purification, protection

Magical uses:
American folklore states that the best horseradish is made from roots that are dug at the Full Moon (this is when they're at their tangiest).
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Add prepared horseradish sauce to purification and protection diets. Eat it only if you enjoy its curiously strong taste.

Licorice

(Glycyrrhiza glabra)

Planet:
Venus

Element:
Water

Energies:
Love, sex

Lore:
The Roman Pliny wrote that keeping a piece of licorice root in the mouth staved off hunger and thirst.
59

In American folk magic, a cross made by tying together two pieces of licorice root with red yarn is carried for protection against injury and negativity.
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Magical uses:
Licorice, and the candy after which it is named, has long been linked with love and sexuality. Licorice created from artificial flavors possesses no special energies, but black licorice made from true licorice extract can still occasionally be found, and can be chewed for love. Check for it in health-food stores. Failing this, chew on a piece of licorice root while visualizing love or enhanced sexual activities.

Mace

(Myristica fragrans)

Planet:
Jupiter

Element:
Earth

Energies:
Psychic awareness

Magical uses:
Mace is the bright red aril (covering) removed from nutmegs. It is added in small amounts to foods in order to strengthen psychic awareness.

Marigold

(Calendula officinalis)

Planet:
Sun

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Happiness, protection

Lore:
Several centuries ago, the marigold was as common as dill or sage. Its bright orange petals were used in making custards and were added to soups and stews. The color and vibrancy of the flowers make them perfect for garnishing autumn and winter foods.

The flowers of this true marigold (not to be confused with the Mexican variety,
Tagetes
spp.) were dried and made into a tea which was drunk for happiness.

Magical uses:
Add fresh marigold petals to foods to promote happiness. Or, add to protective foods to boost their energies.

Marjoram

(Origanum marjorana)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Air

Energies:
Love, peace

Lore:
According to Pliny, a species of this plant (gold marjoram) was grown in Roman and Greek gardens. If it flourished, the gardener was guaranteed plentiful money. If it died, however, the owner faced ruin. This belief survived until the 1400s in Venice.
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Magical uses:
Use marjoram in love foods. Drink tea made of one teaspoon mixed marjoram and thyme steeped in a cup of water. Sweeten with honey, visualize. Marjoram is also used in peaceful foods.

Mustard

(Brassica
spp.)

Planet:
Mars

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Protection, courage

Lore:
The Greeks believed that Aesculepius discovered this plant. American folklore states that carrying mustard seeds while on journeys guards you from accidents.
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Magical uses:
The seeds of this plant are used to make the familiar spicy mustard sauce. Mustard is wonderful for promoting protection and courage, if it's eaten with visualization. Large amounts aren't necessary; simply use a bit of the prepared mustard, or add a few seeds to other foods.

Nutmeg

(Myristica fragrans)

Planet:
Jupiter

Element:
Fire

Energies:
Psychic awareness

Magical uses:
This powerful spice can be added in small amounts to psychic-awareness foods. Sprinkle some onto a glass of eggnog. While visualizing, drink to open your psychic awareness.

Eating large amounts of nutmeg will produce vomiting, so the tiniest fraction of a teaspoon will do.

Oregano

(Origanum vulgare)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Air

Energies:
Peace

Magical uses:
This common Italian culinary herb is a wonderful peace-inducer. Sprinkle onto foods, especially cheese pizza, to give them a peaceful energy. (Using oregano on a pizza that contains meat will cancel its effect.)

Parsley

(Petroselinum sativum)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Air

Energies:
Protection, sex, money

Lore:
Parsley has long been linked with the mystic arts. Even today, Mexicans wear a sprig of the herb over an ear to cure a headache.
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Gardeners in Europe are still told that, to ensure proper germination, curses should be sown into the soil with parsley seed.

Magical uses:
Why do chefs still place sprigs of parsley onto plates of food? Today, this is done for decoration. But at one time, the herb guarded food from contamination by “evil” before the meal could be eaten.

Parsley is a nutritious as well as a protective herb. Grow or buy fresh parsley and munch a small amount every day to strengthen your own natural psychic armor. Or, add the fresh (or dried) herb to protective foods to strengthen their powers.

In France, parsley has a reputation for stimulating sexual desire. This idea dates back to the time of Dioscorides, who stated in his ancient Greek herbal that parsley “provokes venery and bodily lust.”

Contemporary magical practitioners in Louisiana prescribe magical parsley baths to attract money.
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Place about two cups of fresh parsley (or three-quarters cup dried parsley) into a large square of doubled cheesecloth. Tie the cloth tightly to trap the herb inside and add to the bath. Visualize as you soak.

Peppermint

(Mentha piperita)

Planet:
Mercury

Element:
Air

Energies:
Sex, purification, healing

Magical uses:
Peppermint tea seems to have been used since the days of ancient Greece for stimulating interest in sexual activity. While many feel that it has more of a cooling effect, it's certainly worth a try.

Peppermint tea is drunk as part of personal purification rituals. Put one teaspoon of the dried herb into a teacup while visualizing purification. Add nearly boiling water, steep for thirteen minutes, and drink. The same tea can be used for healing.

Spearmint (that bright green herb that is usually sold simply as “mint”) can be substituted for peppermint.

Poppy

(Papaver
spp.)

Planet:
Moon

Element:
Water

Energies:
Fertility, love

Lore:
Poppies were known to humans as far back as the Stone Age. They seem to have been sacred to the Cretan mother goddess and they certainly were sacred to Demeter, Ceres, and Spes.
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In Europe, poppy seeds were once used to create invisibility. Did it work? I don't know—those who tried it dropped out of sight.