Sprig of Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the oldest forms of incense, and is used for food, medicine, and magic. Sometimes called Dew of the Sea, Elf Leaf, Guardrob, or Incensier, Rosemary is native to the Mediterranean Region and thrives along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

The use of this herb is ancient. References to rosemary were found written in cuneiform on stone tablets dating back to the fifth millenium B.C.E. Rosemary is again and again mentioned throughout the anals of Europeon history for it’s properties of purification and its healing powers.

In folklore it was said that a healthy rosemary plant grew where a woman was head of the family. Rosemary is associated with goddesses, especially of the sea. According to legend, it was draped around the Greek goddess Aphrodite when she rose from the sea. Catholic healers associated it with Mary. The legend says its flowers were once white, until Mary laid her cloak over them while resting. When she picked up her cloak again, they were blue. In fact, the flowers can be white, pink, blue or purple, depending on the cultivar.

Rosemary Correspondences

Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Feng Shui Element: Wood
Ritual Uses for Rosemary: blessings, water rites/sea rituals, weddings, new moon, remembrance rituals for the dead, transformation, invocation, attract elves and faeries, and meditation
Magickal Keys: good for the “three P’s” of Purification, Protection and Passion [Read more…]