#plant spirits

[oliviarampaige]

“Soothsayer”

Day 22 - Botanical Beasts

Can you escape the entropy?

[lailoken]

Not long ago, my husband and I were lucky enough to meet a truly awe-inspiring tree—a centuries old Sitka Spruce that was likely once utilized by the indigenous population for funerary rites.

While the area surrounding the tree was (rightfully) fenced off to prevent disrespect or damage to the site, I was able to lay my hands on the exposed roots that crept beyond the enclosed perimeter, and that still felt very powerful and special.

[songsofbloodandwater]

I'm surprised I haven't see anyone mention something like this online but in my experience, plant's seasonality is not just biological, it's spiritual aswell. It seems people are so used to almost every spice and herb being available to them from a supermarket year-round, and so disconnected from their living plant form, that they call on the aid of any herbal ally at any time of the year and expect the same answer, and the same potency. When, in my experience, that doesn't make any sense.

Some plants are stronger than others in particular times of the year. Some are effective year-round. Some only step up to aid when there's a need for them, under very specific circumstances relating to you and your specific situation at the time. One herbal spirit may be my ally for the summer, and another in the winter, for the exact same purpose. Except one of them is readily available (out in the field, and also spiritually awake and willing to work) during the season that the other isn't. Evergreen plants are great for a number of reasons, one of them being how they're available all year round and to me, that means their Spirits can also help us all year round.

Plant spirits can be reawakened out of season, sure, but in my experience their efficacy is not as great. The amount of effort you put into that reawakening will directly translate into the potency you obtain, and it probably still won't be as good as a plant spirit in season. Simple because the latter is a spirit that has adapted to work and succeed in that environment. The out-of-season plant spirit likely hasn't.

[luc3]

foi/foie/fois

Sometimes you don't know if these plants that you are going to prepare in a herbal tea are to support your liver, your blood pressure, or your heart, or. If you have asked their Spirits to lend you a little of their strength, their friendship and to continue to support you in their eternal benevolence.

(your liver is almost nothing.)

[witchboychan]

Witch Tip 118:

Want a plant thats easy to tend to? Are you sick of mourning the death of your leafy friends?

Get bamboo

Seriously.

I had the same bamboo plant since 2020

Its still alive and I water it once every 2 weeks when i occasionally remember it needs water. Its my neglected child but its still thriving.

[invoke-parlay]

My baby sunflower that’s growing next to my monster (that clearly blocked out the sun for this guy a bit). Still so pretty. I love when they bloom with so many heads.

August 31, 2024

[thedawnwitch]

Plant ancestral ally unlocked: Viola Cornuta / Pansy

[appalachianhearthcraft]

Fresh water for my Pothos. 🪴

[headlessmage]

Originally I had planned a spell that would incorporate taking branches from my weeping willow and honeysuckle, and weaving them together to encircle everything else. I knew both would be very useful within the spell, but I couldn't figure out the right way to go about it. Both plants seemed willing and open to it (especially with an exchange of goods), but it didn't feel correct removing from them for the sake of this spell.

After working with them for a bit longer and thinking on it, I asked if they would be able to lend their energy and strength to the spell from a small distance. They made it work, and after some offerings of honeycomb and nourishment to their plants, seem to be working very well with the spell itself!

I'm not sure if this will absolutely last long term (especially come winter or any disease or harm to them), but as I do not expect this spell to need to last forever, this seems like a better method than cutting off their branches and potentially damaging their growth in the process. I do anticipate needing to do more in terms of offerings however, to ensure consistency and continued strength.

[knightofhylia]

a really good perspective on offerings and what we give and expect from the other side!!

[elminx]

I want to root an avocado pit - Does anybody have any experience or practical advice?

[lailoken]

Rejoicing a Treasure Conserved

As some of you may know, I am currently dealing with an especially difficult Faerie Physic case right now—possibly my most vexing to date—and it has taken a lot out of me. Between this work, and my paying work that I still have to keep up with to make a living, I have been burning the candle at both ends. In this time of stress and danger, I felt strongly compelled to turn to my chief Herbal Ally—the Ghost Pipe.

Despite the population of Ghost Pipes that I spent years stewarding in a devotional capacity being entirely depleted last year in what I believe was an unethical foraging harvest, I felt a strong call to revisit the site and look for any plants that may have managed to survive somehow.

After making my way to the forested site mentioned above, I began my search along all the places I previously saw colonies growing, but dishearteningly, I found nothing. Finally, I remembered the time a year ago that I felt called to spread seeds from the previous year's pods along areas that I intuitively felt would support Ghost Pipe cultivation. At the time, I didn't realize how fortuitous this act of sowing would be, as it was only a few months later that the area was ecologically divested. Remembering this, I went to a particular spot that I remember spreading an especially large amount of seed powder in, and I was literally choked up to discover, not only a young colony of Ghost Pipes just beginning to peak their heads above the soil, but a small snailshell (which have an especially powerful and longstanding role in my tradition as Fae Omens of the wild).

After lowering myself to the ground in worship and offering up prayers of gratitude and joy, I carefully concealed the area with bracken ferns and marked it with a subtle arrangement of sticks that I implanted in a nearby mound of earth. As a lovely bonus, I stumbled upon a small patch of Gnome Plants while marking the area for later notice—with these plants often showing up in my Craft as meaningful Fae Omens in their own right.

I will be returning often to check on and nurture this population of nacent Ghodt Pipes, as well as doing whatever I can to conceal and protect it.

[midwestbramble]

The Local Walnut Trees

Yesterday, while walking my dog, I found the first fallen walnut on the sidewalk. Despite the 100 degree heat (Fahrenheit), this is just one more promise of bearable weather to come. It’s the perfect time to head out to the guardian black walnut.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🍂๋࣭ ⭑⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

I make sure to grab my water bottle on my way out the door and in my car I blast the cool air. The radio man tells listeners there’s a heat warning and to stay inside, but the walnut tree has witch folklore and I don’t plan to be too long (found here).

I pull into the parking lot and two older ladies warn me again about the heat as I get out. They came out earlier and are getting ready to leave. I acknowledge them and then realize I left the water in the car. Luckily I was still in the parking lot.

The river greets me with a welcoming bubble, I greet it in turn. A cicada left its shed exoskeleton on the trail board. Birds sing and fly past, warning squirrels of my passing. It seems as though no one has taken this particular path in a while, as I’m assaulted with spider webs to the face. Then, she is there. The guardian tree.

Today, I share with her my water. I speak with her about the weather, tell her what I have found, and thank her for what she provides. Not just me, but everything in those woods. This is a simple ritual but it is fulfilling. I say my goodbyes for now and make my way back to the car. Before the parking lot, just in my path, there is one lone walnut.

⋆.ೃ࿔*:･🍂๋࣭ ⭑⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[witchofwolfwood]

Sometimes you get home from an emotionally exhausting day at eleven pm, want nothing more than to grab the closest cat, get in your bed and have a good long cry... And then you remember when gathering materials yesterday you promised a tree spirit you'd give them an offering and have a chat today so you think longingly about your cuddle cat and cry session and drag yourself outside.

[mamamoon92]

🖤🔮✨

[resolvedbrunette]

Continuum rosemary