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

Elder Sambucus nigra
A Compendium of Plants

ESSENTIAL PROPERTIES

opening the door between realms, healing, protection

Once thought to be a variety of honeysuckle, elder or elderberry is now known to be in the family Adoxaceae. The berry, bark, and flower of this large shrub-like tree are gifts to the world. The elder tree is sacred to a number of cultures’ spiritual practices.

MEDICINAL PROPERTIES

Elderberries are powerful healers, and an elderberry syrup can soothe a sore throat, help cure a cold, and even relieve flu symptoms—she is taken in many homes around the world during the winter months to prevent illness. Make sure you’re using Sambucus nigra, though, as other varieties are poisonous. Elderflower wine serves as another way of accessing elder’s powers, as does her wood.

MAGICAL PROPERTIES

Elder has a dual nature—she is protective, but can also call evil spirits to you under certain circumstances. Elder is a gateway between realms and can be used to summon creatures of various kinds, most notably fairies. But elder is a great healer, and is sometimes called Elder Mother because of her potent healing magic. Smash some elder and rub it all over your hands, then place it over the parts of your body you wish to heal. You can also paint a circle of elder on your forehead and meditate to have her bring you into other realms. But please be careful, and make sure you have other plants there beside you who can protect you from evil spirits.

PLANT WISDOM

If you’re not a fan of poetry, elder’s message can be a little hard to interpret—she’s very poetic and often speaks in rhyme. The best way to feel her message is by feeling her vibration—and knowing that there is so much wisdom to be found in learning to connect with those who are hard to understand. The language of vibrations and energies is universal and one we all must work on. Once you’ve formed a relationship with her, elder loves to visit you in dreams. If you travel all over in your dreams, she will come along and keep you company, reminding you that in real life you need to practice some grounding.