Botanical Studies: What I’m Learning in Earth Witchcraft

Botanical Studies: What I’m Learning in Earth Witchcraft is astroherbalism and astrology! I have reached a new level when it comes to my knowledge of astrology. and I’ve gotten into the study of astroherbalism more and more. They go hand-in-hand together!

You will be seeing a lot more posts weaving astrology with earth witchery in my grimoire! My plant witch grimoire is my personal space to share my feelings and impressions of earth magic.

In my grimoire, I’ll be sharing plant profiles with astrological correspondences. Throughout my life, I have always felt a strong resonance with the stars, galaxies, planets, and the moon. Especially, the moon!

The moon has my heart. When I do moon readings every month, I feel an electricity run through me, like lightning in my veins. The moon and I go way back.

As a plant witch, I often find myself wanting to know everything about the plant I am profiling. I want to know the astrological correspondences of plants, which means which planets are connected to the plant I’m working with.

When doing research, there are some important questions I ask myself to learn more about the plant I’m working with. This helps me understand the plant better, in a more personal, holistic way.

• What planet governs the plant?

• Is the plant feminine or masculine?

• What element is associated with the plant? (fire, water, air, earth)

• What are the magical properties of the plant?

• What are the medicinal properties of the plant?

For example, plants that are ruled by Saturn are poisonous more often than not. Many of them are roots or have a root system that is grounded and nourishing. You might find deadly nightshade, comfrey, henbane, and horsetail, to name a few. Plants of Saturn are going to fall under a system of structure and tradition.

Learning how planets and plants go hand-in-hand together allows me to create a system for them that can be used in spells and medicinal remedies! I have found that astroherbalism enhances my spellwork exponentially.

Botanical Studies: What I’m Learning in Earth Witchcraft

For me, studying astroherbalism makes me feel more connected to the plant! Learning about the astrology of plants makes perfect sense and pairs perfectly with what I’m already doing in my craft. The point of witchcraft is to go deeper and further, building on what you already know and love.

When learning about plant magic, I wanted to explore the entirety of the plant, from the root system to the effects the moon might have on them. For example, during full moon magic, the aloe vera plant might be a great plant to work with due to her feminine nature and her connection to Cancer. Cancer is a sign that is ruled deeply by the moon!

Once I understand the structure of the ruling planet I am working with, I can then plug in the plant properties to use in spells and rituals! The same applies to moon magic and seasonal shifts, as weather can also affect how a plant grows.

Looking at the structure of the plant profile is the science behind the plant. This sets up how it grows, what kind of crystals to use, and how the weather and seasonal shifts affect it.

Going beyond the structure requires a witchy intuition! It’s similar to the tarot card divinatory system. You memorize the card meanings and the rest is pure intuition. When creating herbal spells, you’ll be using your intuition to pick and choose spell ingredients according to both their magical and medicinal properties.

You’ll go beyond it, by working with specific plants on different days! For example, I typically do spells with my Venus flytrap on a Friday, which is ruled by Venus, and governed by the Goddess Aphrodite. Venus is associated with values, beauty, love, relationships, and money.

This is why astroherbalism is vitally important to the green witch! The moon, planets, weather, and seasonal shifts all make an impact on how an herbal spell or remedy takes off.

Planetary Magick

Sunday - Sunday is ruled by the sun and solar energy. The sun is associated with masculine plants such as sunflowers, cinnamon, cardamom, eyebright, and mistletoe. The sun burns things off and clarifies things, making things more clear and focused, leaving only truth in its wake. The sun is associated with the Sun Gods, such as Lord Hermes.

Monday - Monday is ruled by the moon and moon magic energy. The moon is associated with feminine plants such as aloe vera, moonflower, night-blooming cereus, evening primrose, night jasmine, and moon cactus. The moon brings forth a quiet, reflective energy associated with beauty, thoughtfulness, and deep insight. The moon is associated with moon goddesses such as Goddess Hecate.

Tuesday - Tuesday is ruled by Mars and its fiery, motivated energy. This always makes for a good day to get things done. Mars is associated with fire, war, and sexual energy, making it the perfect energy for plants like damiana, hibiscus, cinnamon, cardamom, and wormwood. Mars is masculine and brings up heated emotions and deep passions. It is associated with war deities like Lord Ares.

Wednesday - Wednesday is ruled by the planet Mercury, which is the planet of communication. Wednesday is always a good day for communication and writing. Mercury is gender-neutral and is associated with communicative plants such as dill weed, caraway, fennel, ginger, and lavender. Mercury brings up issues having to do with communication, travel, and technology. It is associated with the Lord Hermes, the God who governs Mercury Retrograde.

Thursday - Thursday is ruled by Jupiter, which is the planet of growth, abundance, and expansion. It is the ideal day to do a money spell. Jupiter is associated with wealth and abundance, making plants like Pilea money plant, mint, cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon the perfect companion piece. Jupiter brings up issues with money and spiritual growth. It is associated with Lord Hades, also known as Pluton, the God of Greco-Roman money magick!

Friday - Friday is ruled by the planet Venus, which is the planet of money and love relationships. Friday is the optimal time to perform a love and attraction spell, as it is usually known as date night in many cultures. Venus is feminine and powerful, making her the perfect pairing for plants like the Venus flytrap, orchids, rose geranium, ylang-ylang, and asters. Venus brings up issues of money, love, beauty, and values. It is associated with the Goddess Aphrodite, also known as the goddess of beauty and love.

Saturday - Saturday is ruled by the planet Saturn, the planet of structure and restriction. Saturday is a great day for performing a sacred ritual or any kind of traditional ceremony. Saturn is strong and set in its ways, making it the perfect pairing for comfrey, henbane, deadly nightshade, and other bone-healing plants. Saturn brings up issues with government, discipline, and willpower. It is associated with Lord Zeus, the god of all gods in the Greco-Roman tradition!

Moon Magic and Plants

The moon phases are another structure that can be incorporated into plant spells! The moon can be used to amplify a spell and make it highly potent.

New Moon - The new moon is a time of fresh starts and new beginnings! It’s the optimal time to put your intentions into the universe. Fast-moving plants such as mint, coffee, tea, rosemary, ferns, and pine needles make great new moon plants.

Waxing Crescent Moon - The waxing moon is a time for growth, development, and increasing things in your life! This moon phase is the optimal time for learning, studying, and developing skills. Plants like rosemary, blueberry, ginger, and ginkgo biloba are perfect for the waxing moon phase!

Full Moon - The full moon is a time for detoxing, cleansing, healing, and releasing things! It’s a great time to manifest big-ticket items. Powerful, intoxicating plants like blooming night cereus, rose, moon cactus, and evening primrose make great full moon plants to work with!

Waning Crescent Moon - The baneful moon is a time of deep reflection, shadow work, and dark magic! This moon phase is optimal for journaling, meditating, and doing any kind of protective work. Plants like deadly nightshade, Venus flytrap, mandrake root, oleander, and high John the Conqueror root are associated with the waning crescent moon phase!

Eclipse Season - Eclipse season is a time of tower moments and destruction. Nine times out of ten, something will be leaving your life soon, for new growth to happen. Plants associated with eclipse season are those that cause death and destruction. Therefore, poisonous and carnivorous plants work best here, including pitcher plants, henbane, wormwood, mugwort, and master root plants.

Retrogrades - When the planets go retrograde, they appear to be going backward in the sky. This creates a sluggish, downward energy. Plants associated with retrogrades include yarrow, snake plant, aloe vera, and monstera.

AstroHerbalism

Learning to combine my love of planetary magick with my love of plant witchcraft has been life-changing! It has enhanced my practice and I’ve found my spells have even more layers and depth than before.

Astrology and moon magick have always been something that is near and dear to my heart. When I first began my intuitive moon readings, it was through a group text message that was read by only family and friends. I’ve come a long way since then.

Finding out there was a correlation between plant allies and the planets changed how I practiced witchcraft. I have come to discover that it brings more meaning and depth to each spell.

I am completely enthralled with astroherbalism! There’s something to be said about going deeper into my botanical studies, as I venture closer and closer to working with poisonous plants.

I’m already working with several poisonous plants, in the astral realm and the physical realm, but I’d like to take it a step further. Plants like mandrake root and belladonna are at the top of my list for sure!

To get there, it’s good to look at these deadly plants from a cosmological point of view. Which planets are destructive and what astrological sign completes that planetary alignment?

For example, Pluto is the planet of destruction and the watery sign of Scorpio can talk about fears and hidden depths. It’s a sign that is directly linked to the moon, death, and rebirth. I have found a correlation between Scorpio and Pluto that connects to the poisonous plant family.

On the flip side, I have discovered that many positive and uplifting plants have a dark side too. For example, daisies can represent the loss of childhood innocence or sexual abuse while henbane can bring peaceful calm and healing to a situation.

It’s just like the tarot cards. There’s an upright meaning and a reversed meaning. There’s a positive connotation to the sun tarot card, but on the flip side, it could mean the revelation of a hidden truth that could floor you.

In other words, there’s a dark side and a positive side to every plant and planet. You just have to look a little further and deeper to uncover the truth.

My botanical studies always keep me on my toes! As an advanced-level green witch, the buck doesn’t stop here. I should always be learning, growing, and expanding my mind. Thanks for reading, friends! xoxo