Taraxacum officinale
Other names : Witch Gowan, Lion's teeth, clocks and watches, piss-a-bed, Blowball, Puffball, Priest's crown, wet the bed.
Planetry ruler : Jupiter
Element : Air
Gender : Male
Associated Deities: Brigid, Hecate, Theseus
Magical Uses : Divination, wishes, calling spirits, psychic powers, abundance
A well known hardy perennial plant that is considered a weed by many people. It is however, an incredibly useful plant for healing and magic as all parts can be used. The young leaves in Spring can be added fresh to salads and smoothies and the older leaves used for tea, wine, magical and medicinal uses. The roots can be gathered in Spring or Autumn and roasted for a caffeine-free coffee, and between June and August for medicinal purposes. The flowers can be used to make wine and beer, or an infused oil which is an excellant rub for muscle tension and cold stiff joints. It is also good for dry skin.
Dandelions were used as a general cure-all in the 11th and 12th centuary by Arab healers. It's also mentioned in the Welsh herbal of the Physicians of Mydrai dating from the 13th centuary. Before the 1st world war it was grown as a commercial crop, and in world war 2 the roots were used as coffee and the leaves as a food.
Dandelion is a powerful diuretic which doesn't strip the body of potassium like orthodox drugs do. It stimulates the kidneys and can be used for water retention. It can also help with rheumatism, athritis, skin problems, sluggish liver, digestion problems and constipation. Dandelion has amazing detoxifying properties that can help filter toxins from your kidneys and purify your blood. It can also help nursing mothers to produce more milk. It's high in minerals and vitimins including zinc, calcium, potassium and vitimins A,B and C and can be used as a very effective Spring tonic.
The plant itself is almost indestructible as it has very deep tap roots making it hard to dig out. If even the tiniest part is left behind it will regenerate. Dandelion's are a favourite with bees as they are an important honey producing plant.
Folk magic
Send loving thoughts to someone special by blowing on the seed heads.
A popular children's game is telling the time by counting how many puffs it takes to blow at the seed heads until all the seeds have dispersed.
To dream of dandelion was considered bad luck.
To find out how long you will live, blow once on a seed head. The number of remaining seeds correspondes to the number of years you have left.
Burying dandelions in the north west corner of your garden will bring favourable winds.
Dandelion tea placed beside the bed before going to sleep will call the spirits to you. It can be drank to help enhance psychic powers and divination.
The flower head is associated with solar energies and can be added to sun and divination incense.
The white seed heads are associated with the moon, the element of air and Sylphs.
The root descends to the Underworld and defies death which makes it a good plant for working with Hecate. The root can be gathered fresh, cut into small pieces and pierced in the centre with a large needle. It can then be threaded onto string, dried and worn as a ritual necklace when calling on Hecate.
I also read that it is associated with Brigid which makes sense because of her solar and Spring associations. In Gaelic its name is 'Bearnan Bride' which means 'Little notched plant of Bride'.
Increasing Psychic powers tea or loose incense mix
Dandelion leaves
Marigold petals
Cinnamon
tsp honey if desired.
Dandelion and bacon salad
Other names : Witch Gowan, Lion's teeth, clocks and watches, piss-a-bed, Blowball, Puffball, Priest's crown, wet the bed.
Planetry ruler : Jupiter
Element : Air
Gender : Male
Associated Deities: Brigid, Hecate, Theseus
Magical Uses : Divination, wishes, calling spirits, psychic powers, abundance
A well known hardy perennial plant that is considered a weed by many people. It is however, an incredibly useful plant for healing and magic as all parts can be used. The young leaves in Spring can be added fresh to salads and smoothies and the older leaves used for tea, wine, magical and medicinal uses. The roots can be gathered in Spring or Autumn and roasted for a caffeine-free coffee, and between June and August for medicinal purposes. The flowers can be used to make wine and beer, or an infused oil which is an excellant rub for muscle tension and cold stiff joints. It is also good for dry skin.
Dandelions were used as a general cure-all in the 11th and 12th centuary by Arab healers. It's also mentioned in the Welsh herbal of the Physicians of Mydrai dating from the 13th centuary. Before the 1st world war it was grown as a commercial crop, and in world war 2 the roots were used as coffee and the leaves as a food.
Dandelion is a powerful diuretic which doesn't strip the body of potassium like orthodox drugs do. It stimulates the kidneys and can be used for water retention. It can also help with rheumatism, athritis, skin problems, sluggish liver, digestion problems and constipation. Dandelion has amazing detoxifying properties that can help filter toxins from your kidneys and purify your blood. It can also help nursing mothers to produce more milk. It's high in minerals and vitimins including zinc, calcium, potassium and vitimins A,B and C and can be used as a very effective Spring tonic.
The plant itself is almost indestructible as it has very deep tap roots making it hard to dig out. If even the tiniest part is left behind it will regenerate. Dandelion's are a favourite with bees as they are an important honey producing plant.
Folk magic
Send loving thoughts to someone special by blowing on the seed heads.
A popular children's game is telling the time by counting how many puffs it takes to blow at the seed heads until all the seeds have dispersed.
To dream of dandelion was considered bad luck.
To find out how long you will live, blow once on a seed head. The number of remaining seeds correspondes to the number of years you have left.
Burying dandelions in the north west corner of your garden will bring favourable winds.
Dandelion tea placed beside the bed before going to sleep will call the spirits to you. It can be drank to help enhance psychic powers and divination.
The flower head is associated with solar energies and can be added to sun and divination incense.
The white seed heads are associated with the moon, the element of air and Sylphs.
The root descends to the Underworld and defies death which makes it a good plant for working with Hecate. The root can be gathered fresh, cut into small pieces and pierced in the centre with a large needle. It can then be threaded onto string, dried and worn as a ritual necklace when calling on Hecate.
I also read that it is associated with Brigid which makes sense because of her solar and Spring associations. In Gaelic its name is 'Bearnan Bride' which means 'Little notched plant of Bride'.
Increasing Psychic powers tea or loose incense mix
Dandelion leaves
Marigold petals
Cinnamon
tsp honey if desired.
Dandelion and bacon salad
225g young dandelion leaves
100g streaky bacon, diced
1 cm slice of white bread,cubed
4 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp white wine vinegar
1 clove garlic, crushed
Salt and Pepper
Oil for cooking
Wash and dry leaves and tear into salad bowl. Make a vinaigrette using live oil and vinegar and season to taste, adding a little sugar if desired. Fry bacon, garlic and bread in oil until golden brown. Pour mix over dandelion leaves and mix well so all leaves are coated. Add vinaigrette and toss well.
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