Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs - Scott Cunningham 1985

Bean
The Herbs

(Phaseolus spp.)

Beans not used for food may be poisonous.

Folk Name: Poor Man’s Meat

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mercury

Element: Air

Deities: Demeter, Cardea

Powers: Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliations, Potency, Love

Ritual Uses: Some beans’ flowers are white, and hence sacred to the Goddesses of old Europe. Beans are always sacred to harvest goddesses. According to tradition only the highest-ranking priestess in Scotland could either plant or cook the bean. Beans, along with pork, were offered to Cardea in Rome on June 1st. They are also associated with the Underworld and the dead; and in ancient Rome they were distributed and eaten during funerals.

Magical Uses: In general, beans were used in classical times (and still are) as a charm against evil sorcerers. Put a bean in your mouth and spit it out at the person. Dried beans are carried as an amulet against negativity and evil magic. They are also used in rattles to scare away spirits, especially those who have entered into bodies and made those people sick. To avert evil spirits, say very quickly three times in one breath, Three blue beans in a blue bladder. Rattle, bladder, rattle.

If a couple is quarreling, the woman should carry three lima beans strung on a silk thread for two days. The couple will quickly smooth over their difficulties.

Beans help cure impotency if they are carried or eaten. This is due to the fact that they resemble testicles.

A bean love spell: a woman should place seven beans of any kind in a circle on the ground. Next, she must have the man of her choice step into the circle or walk over it. If this can be done, he will be attracted to her. (But this might also be manipulatory.)

To cure warts, rub a dried bean on each wart during the waning Moon. As you do this say: As this bean decays, So wart, fall away!