City Magick: Urban Rituals, Spells and Shamanism - Christopher Penczak 2001

City Plants
Tools of the Trade

Plant magick is a time-honored tradition among sorcerers. We still take the puffy heads of dandelions and make wishes as we scatter the seeds. The witches of Shakespeare most likely were not killing off newts, toads, and bats, but taking herbs named after these animals and adding them to their potions. The folk names have changed and we don’t know what they might have been using, but we have other plants, like deer’s tongue, cat tail, bleeding heart, maidenhair, kangaroo paw, and, my all time favorite, dragon’s blood. No dragons will be killed here. Dragon’s blood is a red powdered resin, named after dragons because it is so powerful.

By knowing the power of each plant, you use the natural spirit helpers in the environment around you. The dried herbs and spices of the kitchen are powerful, but there are living plants all around you. If there aren’t, there should be. Magick wielders are the secret guardians of the land, promoting the growth and health of all things.

The key to plant magick is to understand the nature of the plants. Each plant has a signature, through its color and shape, to indicate its medicinal and magical uses. Liver problems often give one a yellow complexion, indicating the dysfunction. Dandelion flowers are yellow, indicating a sympathy between them and liver disease. Dandelion root is used to aid liver cleansing and healing. This system of relationships is often called the Doctrine of Signatures.

Signatures also apply to the elements. Plants that are bushy, low to the ground, or have vast roots or large seeds are influenced by the element of earth. They are for healing and physical advancement. They can be used in money and home magick. Plants with sharp points or bright, warm colors are related to fire. They work with spirit, will, and passion. Tall plants, with starlike flowers or strong aromas, are related to air. They work on the mental process and bring clarity of thought and spirit. Plants filled with water, like many fruit and vegetable plants, or with leaves that hold water after the rain, are obviously water plants. They often have cooler colors. They work in the realms of emotion, healing, and love.

Plants can relate to any combination of elements, depending on the mixture of characteristics. Use your instinct to determine the powers of new plants, but also ask the plants themselves. Connect to and communicate with them. Attune yourself to them, much as you would to any other spirit helper. When you talk to a plant, listen and see if it answers in your mind. When you start talking to your houseplants, really talk to them, and listen for their answers.

Many traditional magick wielders lived in very rural places, ideal spots to collect a full apothecary of medical and magical herbs. City dwellers have a more difficult time. They are there, however, if you know where to look for them. Make the effort to include plants in your magick and in your life.

Start by noticing the plants already around you. Pay attention to them. Many office buildings, shopping malls, lobbies, restaurants, libraries, airports, and friends’ apartments are decorated with houseplants. Some companies make a living by taking care of other people’s houseplants in the city, particularly big displays in public areas. Notice the variety of life all around you. If you haven’t taken the time before, it may surprise you. As with a lot of things, we tend to take plants for granted. Expand your awareness; go walking through the park. There is life hiding all around in the park. Notice the trees growing through the concrete sidewalks. They are alive, not just ornamental. Honor them and acknowledge them. They help clean the air in the city, providing oxygen for us. Very few people take the time to notice them. Let them know you appreciate them.

EXERCISE 15 -PLANT-SPEAK

The first time you attempt this, start by doing Exercise 1 to bring yourself to a meditative state (see page 17).

Sit in front of a plant. If you can touch it, do so. Feel your energy mingle.

Look closely at the plant. Notice its signature and elements. Appreciate its simple beauty.

Feel your energy reach out to the plant and communicate with it. Speak to it in words and pictures. Introduce yourself. Ask the plant about itself. Wait for and be open to the answer. You may receive a message in many ways. If mind-speak does not work for you, speak with your full voice. Plants like to hear us, too, but they are really reading our thoughts and feelings.

When the experience is complete, bring your awareness back to ordinary consciousness.

You may want to bring more plants into your home. You can keep them by the windows, or in window boxes to let the more seasonal plants experience the outdoors. Develop a relationship with them. Commune with them before asking them to participate in your magick. Ask them what they need to grow well. In general, they need moderate amounts of water. Some thrive in direct sunlight, while others need less light. Soil types vary, too.

You can always buy cut, dried herbs and commune with the spirit and energy in them. Most cities have an herbalist shop or natural food store where you can procure all natural herbs for your magick and medicinal needs. Some occult shops carry a supply of the more unusual ones. And there is always the spice rack. I think, however, that working with living plants gives you a more complete appreciation for the plant kingdom. You will then be able to commune better with plant spirits from dried herbs and roots.

When actually using living plants in ritual, if you need to use a part of the plant, ask permission first. Then listen for the answer. If the answer is no, the plant may give you a reason or a better suggestion. You can dry out the part you take-perhaps a leaf, flower, or root-or you can use it fresh. Plant parts may be added to brews and potions. Check with a good herbalism and houseplant book for poi, sonous plants to make sure you don’t use anything toxic. Never consume a plant or plant product without checking first. Many houseplants are toxic, so I suggest not consuming any. Here are some common houseplants you can use in magick.

African Violet

The African violet can be a temperamental plant. People either have a knack for them, or they have a horrible time with them. I wonder if that’s because of the magic involved. African violets raise the level of spirituality in the room, marked by its frequently blooming flowers of purple, violet, blue, and white. They take their light indirectly and tend to burn in bright sunlight. The soft fuzzy leaves hate getting wet. Perhaps this earth and air spirituality does not like to confront the water and fire aspects of its owners. Use African violets for working with the earth and sky energies in your body, like the axis of the Worldscraper.

Aloe

There are many varieties of aloe, but the one we are talking about is the houseplant with thick juicy leaves. You can break off the leaves and use the juice to heal burns, cuts, and other skin damage. The thick watery gel inside indicates an emotional component, but hidden, protected by the tiny spikes. Aloe is a plant of protection for the self and home, used for healing and good luck. Some research indicates that its juice works, both internally and externally, to heal cancer. The spikes indicate it can be used both to cause cuts and holes, and to heal them. This includes external lacerations and energy holes in the aura.

Cactus

Cactus is a colorful desert plant, not in pigment, but in character. It is a stem succulent that holds its water in the center. The cactus is a survivor, storing water for a long time. It is the plant of the hearty traveler. The spines protect it from those seeking to take the water from it. Cacti in general are used for protection. The spines are used by witches to write out spells, carve candles, and as a substitute for iron nails in protection and binding spells. A variation of a binding spell is to fill a bottle with cactus spines, salt, and a paper with the name of the antagonist. This spell protects the caster. Cactus spines can also be used as voodoo-doll pins, both to hurt and to heal. Native shamans have used the cactus for healing. The sacred peyote sacrament, used to induce visions on shamanic quests, comes from the cactus family.

Fern

Lush, leafy fern plants are becoming more popular in home arrangements and office settings. In the wild swamps and woods, these are plants of protection. Legend says that their seeds can grant the power of invisibility. Those sitting near ferns in an office will often go unnoticed by their co-workers, as if camouflaged. They can be particularly useful if you don’t have an office door and want to screen out unwanted visitors when working.

Hyacinth

Hyacinths are very magical flowers. The purple or pinkish flowers promote peace and love. Their scent helps alleviate grief over the loss of a loved one. They are named after Apollo’s mortal lover, Hyacinth. Apollo created the flowers after her accidental death. The dried flowers or oil can be used in love potions and charms. Try adding it to a variation of the love oil recipe given previously.

Ivy

Ivy is a ground plant, reaching for the heavens. It seeks something higher, but doesn’t always have the support to reach up. It needs structure to grow up toward the heavens, whether a building face or tree. Ivy is known as Gort by the Celts, and, although it is not a tree, it fits in the Ogham tree alphabet. You can train ivy to grow around a shape or form, mimicking our own ability to change, adapt, and learn new skills. Use ivy in magick when you need to adapt to new situations or seek and accept support from others. Traditionally, ivy is used for healing, protection, and good luck.

Jade Plant

Jade plants are my favorite plants. In the last office where I worked, I adopted an abandoned, mutated strain of the jade tree. Jade plants are bright green, like the mineral used for healing, improving eyesight, and love spells. I think the jade plant can do all those. The waxy leaf protects from dryness, while it holds in water. Emotions are present, but controlled. I feel the jade tree is a strong earth-and-water plant.

Mother-in-Law’s Tongue

This long-leaved plant often has yellow stripes on the side of its leaves that look like giant tongues sticking up out of the ground. The obvious association is to the powers of speaking and communication. Mother-in-law’s tongue can aid in all manner of family quarrels, easing tension, and promoting a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

Palm

Many types of palms live indoors, but they all have a lot in common. All are tall, topped with a fanlike leafy crown. They reach toward the heaven without need of support, unlike the ivy. They bring clarity, vision, and the ability to rise above petty concerns. They have been the source of fibers, waxes, oils, fruit, and sweets. They are fertile providers, used in magick for fertility, protection, and clear decisions.

Peace Lily

Peace lilies extend their white tropical flowers up through their green leaves like a point of white light. They promote peace and harmony, granting subtle illumination and insight into your environment. They work much like African violets, but are not as temperamental.

Philodendron

Philodendron has many species in its class. They are a low-light-level plant, preferring indirect light. Philodendron are ideal in an office with no windows. Magically, to me, they adapt to the darkness and carry their own light within. Use philodendrons in magick when you are in dark times and need to stay cheerful and happy despite difficulties. Many philodendron have heart-shaped leaves, indicating that they are used in love magick and healing the heart.

Spider Plant

Spider plants are another favorite of mine, just because they are so prolific. The long green leaves, often striped with white or yellow, reach out like a spider. When this plant runs out of room in the pot, it projects out and flowers with small white buds. The flowers eventually grow into baby plants, hanging down like spiders from a web. They reach down from the air to touch the ground. I find them good for grounding into the body and the material world from more lofty pursuits. They are very fertile and also help when you need to work on a problem from many angles. They just create more paths. They adapt to the situation. Use them for grounding or when you need to grow in a new direction because you feel trapped.

Peace Water

Offices are often places of high stress, tension, confusion, and sharp feelings. The mechanisms of office politics can play havoc with co-workers. It’s hard to maintain an air of balance and tranquillity in the midst of all this, but some magick can help.

This potion is useful if you have office plants. Your magick can be disguised as a moment of watering the plants around you. Take the fresh flowers of either an African violet or a peace lily, or both if you have them, and let them soak in a bowl or bottle of water. Charge the flower to bring peace and tranquillity before setting it into the solution. You may visualize white, violet, purple, or blue light in the liquid. In this way, you are making something similar to a flower essence. You may even add a few pinches of some harmonious herbs from your spice rack, like allspice, marjoram, rosemary, or thyme. Let the mixture soak for at least 12 hours, if not longer. Then put it in a spray bottle and use it to mist your plants. You can add more clear water to the solution to fill up the bottle. Spray this mist on office plants when tension runs high, or water each office plant with a few drops. It will bring more calm to the office. Visualize colored lights spreading throughout the office. Even if you water only the plants directly around you, imagine the peaceful mist expanding to fill the entire building. The water itself doesn’t need to be everywhere for the vibration to be carried.

Shake the bottle each time before using, to activate the energy within it. This solution will only remain potent for five to seven days, depending on how much intent you put into it. After that, you will have to repeat the process, or try to re-energize the existing solution with concentration and visualization.