Sophia Sargent - The Magical Garden: Spells, Charms, and Lore for Magical Gardens and the Curious Gardeners Who Tend Them

Other Books by Sophia

The Little Book of Office Spells

The Little Book of Love Spells

The Little Book of Hexes for Women

Sophias Web Site:

www.psychicsophia.com

This book is dedicated to my sister Richenda, who wisely says, You can never have too many garden books.

and

To Elsa Sargent, a talented gardener and painter, who once said in a garden: This is my church. These words have never been forgotten.

CONTENTS

Introduction

Why do people kiss under the mistletoe during the holiday season? Why are forget-me-nots called that? Why do some people burn sage to remove negative energy? What is Deck the halls with boughs of holly all about, anyway? In a word, magic!

If you have ever wondered what the hidden meaning of different plants might be, this book is for you. Plants have been used for thousands of years for magical purposes as well as for food and medicine. There are millions of stories and myths about magical plants, and they have been passed down for centuries within cultures and traditions and within families like mine. Here is a sampling.

Every plant has physical properties that we can discover by observation, but almost all cultures, especially ancient ones, believed that every plant had a spirit and a spiritual essence that could be used in rituals and spells to affect others and the world. Some plants are said to eliminate bad spirits; others, by their hidden natures, are said to bring love or prosperity. Some naturally curse people; others heal. Every culture has these plant stories and myths. Some are widely believed, even today; others have been relegated to old wives tales. Yet today, with the ever-growing popularity of natural medicine and herbal medications, people are once again remembering and seeking out the spiritual and magical nature of plants. This book is for those people.

In this tome you will discover curious legends, spells, little rituals, and bits of folklore surrounding hundreds of flowers, herbs, bushes, and trees, many of which are right outside your door in your (or your neighbors!) garden. Although they are presented simply to entertain the curious, who can say if some of these magical items and attributes are true or not? Mint tea does calm one down and promote digestion, this we know, but does it also draw money to your home? Who can say? That is for you to discover, if you wish.

We do know that gardens heal; they cheer us up and make us feel good. This is the real magic of Mother Nature, the Earth Mother. She provides much of what we need in this life, and for that we should be grateful and honor her. Every time we lovingly tend our gardens and soak up all the wonderful living green energy surrounding us, we are doing so. Keeping this in mind is important.

This book is fun and maybe reveals a bit of the hidden magic lurking in your garden, yet you are the one responsible for all magic in your lifethe power is within you! Plants may or may not help you in doing your will, but in the end, it all comes back to you. Remember the old law of magic, as real in the garden as anywhere else: Whatever you do returns to you three times over. Bring joy and healing to your garden and to your family and friends, and you will receive the same in kind!

Nothing is better than gardening and messing around with plants! Hopefully this book will let you look at your garden in a new light and maybe spread a little mystery and magic in the green shadows! Will garden magic work? Were the old wives and the ancients right? Find out for yourself!

Heal the Earthrebirth!

Sophia

To Get a Vision of Your Future Garden

When you know that you want to put in a new garden or radically extend an old bed, but youre not exactly sure what it should look like, do this at night, and you will receive a garden vision. If done right, you will see what your garden will look like and what plants should be in it. This is best done at spring equinox, or on a full moon.

Go out to where the new garden bed will be and sit, facing north, with a cup at least half full of red wine. The moon must be overhead and visible.

Get comfortable and then move your chalice so the moon is reflected in the wine, then say:

Draw down, moon!

Draw down, moon!

Grant me a vision,

Grant me a boon.

Diana tharna,

Bring it soon!

Draw down, moon!

Draw down, moon!

Whisper your desire to see a garden vision. See the chalice filled with moon power, then drink most of the wine. Look deep, deep, deep within the chalice, and you will see your future gardenwhat you should plant and so on. When done, pour out the rest of the wine and thank the moon, then go to bed and dream of flowers.

Spell to Get a Green Thumb

Use this spell to acquire the ability to grow green things with innate talent and creative grace.

The Green Man is said to be the collective essence of Mother Nature expressed as active growing flora. His smiling leafy face can be seen in many gardens, in ancient church naves, and even in Roman and pre-Roman art. Some refer to the Green Man as the son, lover, and/or father of the Earth Mother. The spirit of greenery is a wise spirit to invoke into your life if you are to be a successful gardener, or so the old legends tell us. More and more gardeners are hanging representations of the Green Man in their gardens with great green results.

The Green Man was sometimes identified with Esus, the Celtic god of spring. Whatever his mischievous origins, the Green Man is the power lurking in every garden shadow. What every gardener wants lurks there as well, because everyone wants a green thumb, right? This is what one has when one becomes the Green Wo/man. To get his green-thumb blessing (a thinly veiled identification of one having the power of the Green Man), try this.

You Will Need

a vine

some grasses

a tree leaf

part of a vegetable or herb

a flower

a clay cup

rainwater

The Spell

On one of the great feast days (the equinoxes or the solstices), go out into the greenery about your house and gather a vine, some grasses, a tree leaf, part of a vegetable or herb, and a flower. Place them all in a clay cup, and put rainwater in it. Let it stand outside one full day, from dawn to dawn, open to the sun.