Plant Witchery: Discover the Sacred Language, Wisdom, and Magic of 200 Plants - Juliet Diaz 2020

The Sun and the Moon
The Secret Language of Plants

Just like plants, our entire being is intimately connected to the natural rhythms of the Earth, including the celestial bodies that influence her: the Sun and the Moon. There is power intertwined in this connectivity, a source of wisdom, medicine, and Magic living within the cycle of life.

Before I go into practicing Magic with plants, I want you to focus on the fundamentals of existing with our Earth and utilizing them for self-healing and growth. The messages, lessons, language, and wisdom of the plants, the Sun, the Moon, and the Earth will all be unique to everyone. I want to inspire you to build a practice that includes mindfulness and compassion to all that is, including yourself. And this starts with connecting to the wisdom waiting to be given.

We have lost touch with our connection to nature and all that is. This shows up so clearly to me when I think about our fears of aging and death, the constant pushing instead of flowing through life, and our disconnection from who we are and our purpose on this Earth.

The truth is, we are eternal beings, living in all places, in all things, all at once. When the Sun rises, so does our soul, and when the Sun sets, the Moon takes us into the deepest parts of our being. We are never alone, never lost, and never unloved. We are every color of the rainbow, the sparkles gleaming above the snow, the flutters of a butterfly, and the howling of the wolves. We are everything. We are sacred.

The Sun

I invite you to dive into your senses for a moment. See yourself standing in an open field surrounded by flowers. Your feet are bare, your toes are digging into the dirt, and your eyes are closed. It’s dark, cool, and quiet. It’s the moment right before the Sun starts to rise. As the Sun edges over the horizon, enveloping you with warmth and happiness, you naturally lift your chin up toward its embrace. You stand taller, stronger, more confident. The Sun literally lifts you up, inspiring you to rise and grow. Now take your senses to the field of flowers around you. What are they doing? What are they feeling? Yes—they are moving just as you are, reaching, growing, and embracing the Sun the very same way.

What does the Sun say to you? What lessons does it have in store for you? In my journey, the Sun has taught me many great lessons, insights that have changed my perspective on my own importance. All my life I have wanted to give, help, and serve. I want to make a difference in this world, to change lives. In this way, I can look to the Sun. The Sun is a giver. It never asks anything in return, and it doesn’t have an ulterior motive. Its fire connects to the fire within me. If I live a life during which I give and serve with purpose, I have lived a life worth living, a life ignited by a genuine force connected to the flames of our universe.

The Sun has also taught me to rise above it all. I was diagnosed with Lupus in early 2019. I was falling apart fairly quickly, barely able to get out of bed. My body and spirit were withering before my eyes. As a mother of two human boys and three precious cats; as a wife, a boss, a creative, a healer, and an activist, I felt like my life was being taken away from me. All the achievements, miracles, and goals I worked so hard to manifest into my life felt like they were all for nothing.

Lupus didn’t come in and gently introduce itself to me, it straight up grabbed a baseball bat and came in swinging. For a moment, my faith in my purpose seemed like a lie. And then, like a diamond rising early in the sky, the Sun beamed through my windows as it never had before, shooting its warm embrace straight at my feeble body. Get up! Get out of bed, my dear. You’re not wasted or dead nor broken or useless. You’re meant to rise above it all.

I saw my entire life play before my eyes—the struggles, the pain, the falls, the obstacles. I saw how I got through them all, and how I always found a way to not only survive but to actually live. The Sun reminded me of my strength, of my undeniable fire to live, and of how capable I truly was, no matter the circumstance. I got up. I understood at that moment, standing with my legs shaking in pain, that rising above it all didn’t mean physically climbing to the top. Rising above it meant setting my spirit free, allowing it to soar to the highest of peaks without trapping its potential.

Sun Spell

The Sun’s energy is always available to us, night or day, on the cloudiest day or in the brightest light. This spell will help you harness that energy and hold it deep within you, so that you can use it when you need it most.

WHAT YOU NEED

A handful of sunflower seeds, for eating

A handful of sunflower seeds, for planting (they look almost exactly the same, but make sure it’s a seed packet from a garden store)

A small pot of dirt or space of earth

WHAT TO DO

· Take an edible sunflower seed and a plantable sunflower seed and hold one in each palm. Focus your intentions on the seeds, asking them to grow for you, to stretch toward the Sun.

· Plant the plantable seed, and eat the edible seed, thanking them both for their service.

· Repeat with the remaining seeds, then water them. Take a big sip of water, feeding the seeds within you.

· Every day for 7 to 10 days, water the seeds, always drinking water yourself. Speak your intentions each day, whispering to every seed you planted.

· When each seed has sprouted, thank them once again. As they continue to grow, so will the Sun energy you carry within you.

The Moon

Oh, the beauty that is La Luna. Majestic, brilliant, and Magical. When I was a little girl I was obsessed with her light. I remember the first time I noticed the disappearance of the Moon. I was about six years old. I looked out my window, and when the Moon wasn’t there, I sneaked out and wandered the streets, searching the entire sky. Nothing. Where did she go? I thought something terrible had happened. I ran back upstairs and barged into my mother’s bedroom. “Mommy! La Luna! La Luna no esta en el cielo!” My little heart was racing, my lungs barely able to keep up with my anxiety.

“The Moon isn’t gone, amor, it’s just a phase. The dark Moon.”

I had seen the Moon changing sizes, but this was the first time I realized there were times when she was simply not there. I was terrified—the Moon was my night-light, the God I prayed to every night. My mother walked me back to bed and she lay down with me while she explained the different phases of the Moon. My crying stopped, and as I calmed my breath, the most Magical thing happened. My mother gasped, “Ay dios, mira!” Out my window, sparkling bright flickering dots rose, floating right there. We watched in awe. My mother took a deep breath. “This is a gift from the Moon, letting you know she’s still there for you. She sent lightning bugs to light you up.”

After that, at every New Moon I would collect a few lightning bugs and place them in a big jar on my windowsill, and then let them go in the morning, thanking them for their light.

The Moon is always listening, eager to connect with you, and eager for you to connect with her. She taught me to take my time, to honor the changes in my life, and to be patient in the timing of the divine. The cycles of the Moon create a ritual, one we have been a part of since we were in the womb of our mother.

The Moon rules everything that flows on the Earth, including you. Your moods and emotions, your sense of being and spiritual presence. As she does the oceans, plants, animals, and even the soil. Working with the Moon has been in my practice since I was a little girl. It has helped me become more in tune with my spirit, body, and my own biochemistry. I’ve learned to understand myself better, my emotions, my thoughts, my body and what it needs, and how to ground and balance myself through each phase. She is always there, always present, even when we don’t see her watching over us. Each phase holds significant physical and spiritual meaning and influence.

Working with the Moon in an intimate way can open your heart and mind to incredible wisdom. The Plant Witch lives in harmony with the Moon, as well as with the Sun and seasons. The Earth is her religion, her Magical ceremony. We have the power to tap into the Moon’s energy in each of her phases.

PHASES OF THE MOON

New Moon

This is a time to go within, a sacred exploration of the inner self. In this phase, at the start of the lunar cycle, we sort the seeds and choose which ones we want to cultivate, putting in motion the things that we desire and need for the month ahead. Each New Moon allows us to reset. It is a new beginning that brings us endless possibilities. This is an ideal time to plant seeds, both literal and metaphorical, as the Earth is at her most fertile during this time.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: new beginnings, self-love, peace, creativity

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: avocado, African violet, peace lily, never-never plant

Waxing Crescent Moon

Around 3½ to 7 days after the New Moon, the growing Crescent Moon urges you to begin to tend to your planted seeds. The plans and intentions that you planted during the New Moon require you to gather information and observe. Be mindful of shifts and things moving in your favor. The ever-brightening light of the Waxing Crescent allows you to peer deep inside and see how you truly feel about what’s happening in your life, from your work to your relationships.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: awareness, reflection, clarity, self-awareness

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: bloodroot, fern, cedar, iris

First Quarter Moon

We reach the First Quarter 7 to 10½ days after the New Moon. This is a time when the Moon is beginning to bask in her power, and she can help you draw in whatever you need to fulfill your intentions. What are you looking for? What do you feel like your life has been missing?

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: luck, abundance, manifestation

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: arrowhead, birch, cactus, holly

Waxing Gibbous Moon

The Waxing Gibbous Moon occurs 10½ to 15 days after the New Moon. In this phase we are called to fully trust in the universe and in the self. This is the time to ask yourself the hard questions: Do I need to refine my intentions? Change them? Do I need to redirect them altogether? There is no need to fear shifting tides, for wherever you feel pulled to go or whatever you feel pulled to do, there is no right or wrong. Trust that it will always work out the best way to serve you.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: truth, self-awareness, healing, clarity

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: adder’s-tongue, bay laurel, garlic, liverwort, fern

Full Moon

The Moon reaches climax—full and brilliant—15 to 18½ days after the New Moon. This is the time of illumination. With her light fully shining over you, you are able to bask in your complete power. If there are any spells you’ve been preparing, now is the time to put them into action.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: spiritual development, healing, luck, abundance, psychic ability, opening the door between realms

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: oxalis, blackthorn, mullein, cattail, belladonna

Waning Gibbous Moon

This phase occurs 3½ to 7 days after the Full Moon. Waning Gibbous, also known as the Disseminating Moon, allows you to see clearly, to determine what no longer serves you, and to reveal the truths all around and within you. This is a time to prune away what you no longer need or want. Look at your accomplishments with beaming eyes, and celebrate.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: clarity, unblocking, truth, abundance, amplification

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: prayer plant, bleeding heart, goldenrod, lovage

Third Quarter Moon

This final quarter of the Moon, 7 to 10½ days after the Full Moon, pushes us to heal the self and share that healing with the world by being compassionate and allowing our light to shine brightly. Now is the time to release the things we are scared to let go. Forgiveness is key in allowing yourself to step into the truth of your being, to live as your best self. Release things that haunt you, so that there is space for new and better things.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: banishing, energy clearing, healing, peace

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: datura, ginger, apple, moonwort

Waning Crescent Moon

Approximately 10½ days after the Full Moon, the Waning Crescent, also called the Balsamic Moon, allows you to dig deep. In the previous phase, you worked to find what you need to release . . . now ask yourself, what is left? There are always secrets that we hide even from ourselves, fears and limiting beliefs that stand in our way. Do some divination work at this time, and pry away all that no longer serves you.

EFFECTIVE SPELLS: new beginnings, awareness, self-awareness, intuition

PLANTS TO WORK WITH: ZZ plant, pothos, agrimony, hawthorn