The Magic of Flowers: A Guide to Their Metaphysical Uses & Properties - Tess Whitehurst 2013

Dandelion
The Flowers

Aflower famous for wishes, dandelion is also a symbol of cosmic harmony. In his different guises he encapsulates all four elements as well as the sun and moon: in his yellow phase he is aligned with the sun and Fire as well as the Earth element, and in his white phase he is aligned with the moon and Water as well as the Air element. This can be especially helpful for magical workings aimed at equilibrium and yin/yang balance.

His name is derived from the French and means “lion’s tooth,” and—as you’ll learn—he’s an obvious favorite of the author Ray Bradbury.

Magical Uses

Animal Protection

Any part of the dandelion can be helpful for magic involving animal protection.

ANIMAL PROTECTION CHARM

Sew a small charm bag out of muslin. Add a teaspoon or two of dried dandelion root, along with the seeds from one white dandelion and a small white quartz point. Tie it closed with hemp twine, hold it in both hands, and say an earnest prayer or invocation to St. Francis asking for strong and lasting protection for your beloved friend. Place it near a photo of the animal to magically ensure his or her safety. (Of course, take precautions in the physical world too—shots, tags, checkups, etc.!)

Divination

Would you like to know whether or not you are truly in love? Try this little ritual suggested by the free-spirited Clarisse in the novel Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. Rub a yellow dandelion gently under your chin. If your skin turns yellow, you’re in love.

To enhance your intuition, wear or carry a pouch of dandelion root or daily drink a cup of tea made by simmering a small handful of dandelion root for ten minutes and straining.

Happiness

Sunshiny yellow dandelions embody the energy of pure happiness, joy, and summertime. As Ray Bradbury describes in Dandelion Wine, you might make dandelion wine in the summer and then drink it in the winter to experience a bit of “summer caught and stoppered.” This would be especially useful for those with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) or anyone who gets a little down in the winter months.

Simply taking the flower essence is also great for lifting the spirits, especially for those craving warmth and the sun.

Healing

Dandelion root is an excellent blood and liver purifier, which in turn can also have a positive effect on the skin. (See “Clover” entry.)

Dandelion root tea can have a strengthening and grounding effect on your energy field, and—when drunk regularly for a few weeks to a month—can help fortify and invigorate your overall physical health.

Dandelion leaves are also a nourishing addition to salad.

When your magical aim is inner balance and equilibrium for the purpose of sound physical health—if you feel a little off or if your immune system could use a bit of a boost—you might incorporate both yellow and white versions of the dandelion into your magical workings.

INNER EQUILIBRIUM BATH

Draw a warm bath. Light one yellow and one white candle. Place three yellow dandelion blossoms, two white dandelion blossoms, a handful of fresh dandelion leaves, and a handful of dried dandelion root into the bath water. Say:

Sun, moon, day, and night

Earth below and fire bright

Water of the lunar tides

Breathe across the fields wide

Balance me and make me whole

Nourish my body and my soul

Thanks and blessed be to thee

As I will, so mote it be.

Soak in the water for at least forty minutes while feeling yourself energetically adjust into a state of balance and strength.

Wishes

Children and whimsically minded folk everywhere agree that blowing the seeds off a fuzzy white dandelion while thinking of a wish will greatly increase its chances of coming true. This, of course, is a magical spell that the flower faeries teach to generation after generation of kids. (Do you remember a particular adult ever teaching you this practice? I rest my case.) And, after all, making wishes come true is a small price to pay for the wonderful service of helping give birth to a new crop of healthy dandelion babies.

Magical Correspondences

Elements: Fire and Earth (yellow), Air (white)

Gender: Male

Planet: Sun (yellow), Moon (white)