Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants - Juliet Diaz 2020

Chinaberry Melia azedarach
A Compendium of Plants

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES

banishing, purification, energy clearing

Also known as paraiso, Persian lilac, and pride of India, chinaberry grows all over the world, from India to Africa to Hawaii. She is known for her timber, and her seeds are also used to make jewelry, especially rosaries.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

The fruit of chinaberry is poisonous to humans, but the leaves (which are also poisonous) can be stored with your produce to keep insects out. If used with care, an infusion of chinaberry leaves can calm Braxton-Hicks contractions.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

Gather chinaberry leaves into a bundle and use it to sweep your home, clearing out evil spirits or stagnant energy. You can also perform this same ritual on yourself, brushing her leaves over your body, whisking away whatever may have latched on to you. Incorporate chinaberry into your banishing spells, or whenever you need to set some boundaries. Set your intentions while holding her in your hands, then bury her into the earth.

PLANT WISDOM

Chinaberry is a staple in many cultures and practices. She is great for banishing, purification, and setting boundaries, as she speaks of the importance of spiritual cleansing and keeping a healthy connection between yourself and the spirit world. Chinaberry is a little hard to get to know. She needs to trust that you are devoted to her, and so it takes a little work to establish your relationship. Start off with the techniques for connection from Practice forest bathing, and do that for a few weeks before attempting to work with her. She needs to see that you are serious about your work, and not just using her. I meditate with her often, and work with her in my practice as often as possible. Chinaberry shows up in dreams only to those she has been working with for a long time, but those dreams are vivid and bring an abundance of wisdom.