Handfasting Herbs

Anise, Pimpinella anisum
Herb of protection; averts “evil”. In Ancient Rome, Anise seeds were baked into the Wedding cake and served at the end of the Feast.

Apples, Malus spp.
Symbolic of love, healing and immortality.

Damiana, Turnera aphrodisaca
Worn, drunk, burned and carried to promote lust, and especially effective when placed in something red (* Damiana is available as an alcoholic beverage).

Elderflower, Sambucus nigra
Leaves, flowers and berries are used in wish fulfillment rituals and to bring blessings and luck to a handfasting pair.

Ginger, Zingiber officinalis
Enhances all spells, especially love ones.

Holly, Ilex aquifolium
Traditional crown for the Groom.

Ivy, Hedera spp
Traditional crown for the Bride.

Jasmine, Jasminum officinale
Promotes spiritual love.

Lavender, Lavendula vera, L. officinalis
Classic love herb, carried to protect against abuse.

Lemon Verbena, Lippia citriodora, Aloysia citriodora, Verbena triphylla
Oil and Incense is protective and purifying, and is a common love spell ingredient.

Licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra
Chewed to increase sexual activity, bringing forth fidelity and passion to a sexual union.

Lotus, Nelumbo nucifera
Antidote to a love spell. Considered a spiritual elixir and brings the blessings from the Gods when worn.

Maple, Acer spp.
Classing love ingredient for spells.

Marjoram, Origanum majorana; Wild Marjoram, O. vulgare
Woven into wedding wreaths to bring joy.

Meadowsweet, Spiraea ulmaria
Herb of happiness. Flowers are placed in the bridal bouquets.

Quince, Cydonia vulgaris, Pyrus cydonia
Served to the woman to ensure fidelity; also served to a pregnant woman to bring brilliance to her unborn child. 

Rose, Rosa spp.
Red roses are symbols of passion, pink are symbols of love.

Rosemary, Rosmarious officinalis
Herb of consecration and remembrance. 

Skullcap, Scutellaria galericulata, S. lateriflora
Used to strengthen marriage vows.

Yarrow, Achillea millefolium
Hung over the bridal bed.

Handfasting Herbs

Genie is the pseudonym for a feral child who spent nearly all of the first thirteen years of her life locked inside a bedroom strapped to a potty chair. She was a victim of one of the most severe cases of social isolation ever documented. Genie was discovered by Los Angeles authorities on November 4, 1970.

During the day, she was tied to a child’s toilet in diapers; some nights, when she had not been completely forgotten, she was bound in a sleeping bag and placed in an enclosed crib with a cover made of metal screening. Indications are that Genie’s father beat her with a large stick if she vocalized, and he barked and growled at her like a dog in order to keep her quiet. He also rarely allowed his wife and son to leave the house or even to speak, and he expressly forbade them to speak to Genie. By the age of 13, Genie was almost entirely mute, commanding a vocabulary of about 20 words and a few short phrases (nearly all negative, such as “stop it” and “no more”).