So I've been working on my connection to the element of Earth so that I can grow my own witch's garden/balcony (all bar one Mint plant, anyway) but also so that I can be more in tune with Nature.
I've wanted to have my own witchy herb garden on my balcony because I don't have an actual garden space for myself and I don't want to keep asking my downstairs neighbours to help me when they have their own gardens plus I'd like to actually grow my own plants for my own spells and rituals because I believe this will give me a greater relationship with the plants.
I've never really been able to keep a plant alive for very long but I hope to be able to change this and deepen my connetion to Earth by growing and nurturing my own plants. I have installed an app on my phone called Planta that I have used for the last month or so to keep the Mint properly watered and I figured it could be useful for growing my seeds.
I had a packet containing 6 different plants but I only planted 5 of them because one was Foxglove which is very toxic to cats and I'd like my cats to live to old age if possible. The other five were Butterfly Flower, Gaillardia, Evening Stock, Echinops (also called Globe Thistle) and English Lavender. While Lavender is toxic to cats, I don't plan on placing the pots where my cats can easily get to them so they should be safe.
Butterfly Flower might be better known as Butterfly Weed or Pleurisy Root. The name "Pleurisy Root" comes from its use to cure pleurisy and other respiratory illnesses. However, I am not really interested at this stage of my path in its medicinal uses so this fact is not useful for my Craft. But, the fact that this plant doesn't just attract butterflies is interesting – it also attracts the Fae to the area! This is useful to me as I do wish to work more closely with them and communicate with them. Butterfly Flower can also be used for spiritual healing. It is also used in India in daily puja rituals as an offering. It's associated with the Moon, and has themes of healing, protection, vulnerability, and being unself-conscious when expressing creativity.
The Gaillardia is also known as the Firewheel, or Indian Blanket Flower. It is a very vibrant flower and there are 2 legends about its name: the first is a Native American story about how when a weaver died, her grave was covered in flowers as bright as the blankets she had made; the second says that this flower got its colouring from the time when Cortez wreaked death and destruction on the Aztecs, for which the flower felt pity and caught the blood of the Aztecs as it fell. The Kiowa tribe which lives in the Great Plains of the US see it as a flower of good luck. It is associated with the Sun, the element of Fire and the zodiac sign of Leo. Gaillardia has themes of longevity, bravery, and comfort.
Evening Stock is also known as Night Scented Stock, Ten-week Stock (because it grows really quickly), Brompton Stock, Common Stock, Hoary Stock, and Gilly-flower. It can be used for relaxation, completion, contentment, affection or spells help you to slow down. Deities associated with this plant are: Nox, Zephyros, Flora, and any Lunar deities. It's associate with Jupiter and the Moon, as well as the zodiac sign of Sagittarius. This is an annual plant so it does need to be replanted every year.
Echinops is also known as the Globe Thistle. It can be used for leaving the "dead" past behind, third eye protection, attracting the Fae, and honouring the Moon - for those who feel called, it can also be used to break hexes or curses. It is associated with overcoming adversity, devotion, determination, protection, resilience, bravery, and strength. Echinops is associated with the Third Eye chakra, the planets of Mars and the Moon, and Thor the god of Thunder. The elements Echinops is associated with are Fire and Air.
Lavender is a very well-known plant so I'll try to be as concise as possible here. It is associated with Wednesday, the elements of Air and Water, the planet Mercury, and the Zodiac signs of Gemini, Leo, Pisces, Taurus and Virgo. It is very typically associate with relaxation, calm, ease, happiness, cleansing, and attraction. Lavender can also be used with healing associations too. It can assist with creating calm on every level - physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Since I planted my seeds almost two weeks ago, I can verify that the Evening Stock has grown the quickest and I've already moved the seedlings into their own individual pots so that they can thrive without fighting for nutrients. I didn't expect to have as many as I do - 31!! - so I will be gifting plenty away to neighbours or anyone in my local area who wants this plant for this year.
I hope this has inspired you to start your own Witch's Gardens, armed with the knowledge that you can grow from seeds if you are willing to commit to it and learn for yourselves.
Peace and love to all!
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