Flower Power: Tapping Into Floral Magic

Many traditions turn to the natural world for healing. Even within pharmaceuticals, plants have provided a starting point for the development of various medications. After a winter dominated by darkness, it is reassuring to know that there is creativity stirring deep within the belly of the earth promising life to come. As days grow lighter and warmer, blossoms and spring blooms are coaxed out, dressing nature in regal purples and golden-yellow. So, it is worth asking, what other magical properties do flowers possess?

Illustration by Rachael Olga Loyd

Illustration by Rachael Olga Loyd

Dandelion

Urban legend dictates that plucking this sunny-headed flower will result in wetting your bed. It is not known where this idea originates, but it is interesting that herbalists recommend dandelion for its diuretic purposes and to help with bloating. The name for this ubiquitous weed comes from the French, dent-de-lion – tooth of a lion – so it’s no surprise that it is associated with courage and bravery. It can be used in spells for courage, tenacity and perseverance. Once this bloom dries, you can make a wish and think of loved ones separated by distance while blowing the seeds. Drinking dandelion tea is said to increase psychic powers and the seeds can be used in spells for communication.

Hellebore

This flower may look like rose but is actually related to the buttercup family. Ranging in hues of yellow, green and purple, its folkloric association links it to sorcery as it was believed to be an ingredient of ‘flying ointment’, a hallucinogenic that once rubbed onto a person’s body, would give them the ability to fly. Another use for hellebore is detailed in Burton’s manual of 1628, Anatomie of Madness where he writes:

“Borage and hellebore fill two scenes,

Sovereign plants to purge the veins,

Of melancholy and cheer the heart.”

Passion Flower

This vine plant with showy flowers can be both woody and herbaceous. It is said to be beneficial for anxiety as well as insomnia due to its sedative properties and the belief that is may be responsible for increasing levels of gamma-aninobutyric acid in the brain, which helps to regulate moods. 

Borage

Also known as Star Flower , the Celtic name for this flower is ‘borrach’ meaning ‘courage’. This edible blue bloom is therefore associated with courage and psychic ability. Most people will have encountered borage without realising as it is an ingredient of Pimms. Clinical studies show that borage seed oil “reduces cardiovascular reactivity to stress by reducing the systolic blood pressure and heart rate and by increased task performance .” (Haughton 2001)

Lavender

The folkloric associate of this somnambulant flower is that is counteracts the evil-eye. Another folklore links this flower to the plague since it is one of the constituent ingredients of ‘Four Thieves Vinegar’, a brew that was believed to protect people from contracting the disease. One story behind the name of this potion involve four thieves who were caught stealing from the homes of plague victims. They apparently bargained the recipe for the potion in exchange for clemency. Whilst recipes varied, lavender remained present in each, likely for its aromatic properties which mask the less palatable ingredients, like vinegar and garlic. An aromatherapy staple, lavender promotes feelings of relaxation and wellbeing. 

Foxglove

Foxglove is said to come from the name ‘folks glove’, a plant beloved by fairy folk. An old myth from the West Country states the when the foxglove bobs in the wind that they are in fact bowing their heads to the fairy folk as they pass by. The Anglo-Saxon word foxes-gleow means ‘a ring of bells’ and associates the bloom with the Norse legends of foxes who wear the flower around their neck, the ringing of the bells making a spell of protection. This plant is highly toxic but is believed to provide your home with protection if planted in your garden.

Lilac

Another heady aromatic flower, lilac is known for protection and is said to drive away evil. Some believe it brings bad luck into the house, however, lilac is a popular ingredient in many perfumes and scented candles similar to jasmine. Lilacs originate from Arabia and come to Europe via spain in the 1500s. Celtic cultures believed that this flower had the ability to transport people to the spirit world.

Yarrow

Yarrow is one of the oldest medicinal plants long been recognised for its healing properties due to its ability to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure. This easily found in parks and hedgerows, is also known as a symbol of protection. Yarrow blossom is also associated with energy, in particular creative energy. Its Latin name millefolium translates to ‘thousand leaves’ and is linked to mythic hero Achilles. Also known as the herb of Venus, hanging dried yarrow about the marital bed was said to ensure that love would last.

Tarot Journaling: An Introduction

Diaries have been conceived of as gifts for the dead, yet they now reign — in the form of their contemporary cousins, journals - as customised tools for self-study and reflection by the living. Repositories of the conscious and unconscious forces in our lives, journals enable us to glean insights into our thoughts, feelings, and behavioural patterns, and how these shift over time. 

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Tarot journals are akin to the eclectic sketchbooks of artists, the prospecting field books of archaeologists, the grammar notebooks of language learners. We jot down notes to remember ourselves with, to create our very own reference book, a guide to our uniquely personal psyche.

Historically, the post-1970s proliferation of self-help oriented tarot workbooks and guides signalled a sea change from the use of tarot as divination apparatus to a focus on self realisation. 1980s proponents such as Mary K. Greer and Rachel Pollack noted that through the tarot (as with the journal), we can ‘find ourselves’ by ourselves; reflected, thought about, psychoanalysed, even conjured into being, without the help of therapist or teacher. This tendency is assisted by the multiplication of specialised tarot decks published today — from queer, sex positive, and feminist decks to those illustrated with faeries, Arthurian knights, and even cats.

A less private vision of the cards has also been fostered by the Internet-era photographic sharing of spreads. Their collective interpretation on social media platforms has created communities of tarot enthusiasts engaged in mutual support, and bound by narratives of self-care. This public display of eclectic, sketchbook-style #tarotjournals on Instagram can be seen as an inevitable conjunction of these trends for self-guidance, empowerment, and the reconfiguration of public-private distinctions. Tarot journals are material yet ethereal objects which serve both as logbooks and spaces for stream of consciousness narratives about ourselves, as well as our spiritual and psychological journeys. They also assist us in moving towards a stronger acquaintance with the cards.

So how might you go about keeping your own? Here’s a short guide to help you get started.


Choosing your blank canvas

If, like me, you’re a stationery hoarder then there are a few things to consider before writing anything down. If you’re into pictures rather than (or as well as) words then you might consider plain or graph paper instead of lined. Similarly, if you’re a cut ‘n’ paste kind of witch then a ring bound journal might be your ally, as it allows more space for mixed media creations. There’s no need to overspend on your ideal canvas though — remember that ultimately it’s the content which counts. If you do feel like purchasing something new rather than using just any old notebook which is lying around, I highly recommend Coloring Book of Shadows’ Tarot Journal as a starting point.

How often to journal?

The worst outcome of starting any new habit is to punish yourself over how little you are actually doing it. So bear in mind that you don’t have to journal every day, or even write down every spread. But when you have the time and the inclination, make the most of it. I often use my journal to riff on spreads I’m particularly struck by, or that I just can’t seem to make head nor tail of. Writing helps me to get out of my head and deep into my heart. If you’re feeling reticent about jotting down whatever comes to mind then Natalie Goldberg’s Zen writing guide Writing Down the Bones might assist in freeing up your imagination.

How to write down a spread

My daily draw tends to be a three card spread, and when I’m journaling I like to take up a good portion of the page with my card names and numbers, which is particularly helpful when I get retrospective and go over old journal entries for reference or clarity. Experiment with different layouts and figure out what is both practical for you, and aesthetically pleasing. Don’t worry about changing things up - consistency is, let’s face it, a restrictive bore. If you’re stuck for ideas then Instagram is a hotbed of tarot journaling creativity — don’t worry about borrowing other people’s templates. You’ll figure out your own in time as you become ever more comfortable with the process.

A note on materials

Pencil, coloured pens, watercolour, collage - moods rather than words can work beautifully when it comes to keeping a journal of any sort. Feel free to make a mess and use whatever materials are to hand. As with botanists sketching flowers, drawing or painting your spread can be a wonderful way of getting intimate with your cards, the archetypes and symbolism they embody, and the colour magick they utilise. There’s so much to explore that a pictorially-based tarot journal can be a true gateway beyond conscious thought.

Rewind the clock

One of the massive benefits of journal keeping is the possibility it opens up for looking back over old entries, for revisiting your feelings and thoughts weeks, months or even years ago. Whenever I’m writing down a new spread I tend to flick through my journal to find out when a card last arose for me, and what it meant at that point in time. This enables me to chart arcs in my life, on a multitude of scales, and to note the way in which a particular card’s qualities can shift and change through familiarity. It also helps to remind me that every tarot deck is an amorphous and shifting entity, as prone to lively change as I am.

Cunning Folk Spring Equinox Tea Blend

**In light of COVID-19, we and Earth Remedies have decided it’s our social responsibility to cancel the Spring Equinox Event in London this week. All ticket-holders have already been informed and their tickets reimbursed. At present, we’re not making a profit from Cunning Folk content, but we’d very much like, in the coming months, to print our first issue. If you like our content and would like to donate, please follow this link. We’re very grateful to all readers and supporters. Please also check out the homemade remedies from our friends and collaborators Earth Remedies.*

Source: Unsplash

Source: Unsplash

Self-isolation needn’t mean going without Spring Equinox. Below is our in-house herbalist Maggie Eliana’s tea blend that we would be drinking at the Equinox event, were it going ahead this week. For those in densely populated areas, we realise foraging for herbs might not be an option. UK residents can still order herbs from Baldwin & Co. This coronavirus highlights the inevitability of change and our interdependence. While drinking this tea, you may want to write a list of intentions for the coming year or reflect on the strange times we’re living through.

The spring equinox is a time of renewal and rebirth of nature and of ourselves. A time for cleaning out the cobwebs of last year and a chance for new beginnings, outward growth, and balance. This tea blend is formulated with herbs that traditionally represent spring and the equinox, and have traditional uses associated with the cleansing and balancing energies we strive for at this time of year. 

Calendula provides protection and healing; Rose attracts love, balances the heart and mind; Dandelion increases psychic abilities, cleanses the body and mind; Nettle provides purification of the spirit and the body.

Tea blend (for 1 cup)

2 tsp calendula flowers

2 tsp rose petals

1 tsp nettle leaf

½ tsp dandelion leaf


Put your herbs in a tea strainer. Place this in a cup and pour over freshly boiled water. Steep for 3 minutes. Enjoy your herbal infusion! More on celebrating Spring Equinox here.