The moonflower, scientifically known as Ipomoea alba, is a unique and mystical plant that holds a significant place in various cultures and spiritual practices. This nocturnal plant is adorned with large, magnificent white blossoms that unfurl in the evening, releasing an entrancing fragrance. The moonflower's charm extends beyond its aesthetics, as it is believed to possess occult powers and is associated with a range of mystical beliefs and practices. Throughout history, the moonflower has been revered for its association with the moon and the night. Many cultures consider the moonflower a symbol of mystery, intuition, and femininity. The plant's synchronized blooming with the moonrise adds to its mystical allure, as it is often connected to lunar rituals and the cycles of life and death.
Moonflower was intentionally planted in gardens. It grows from both seeds and stem fragments which can be spread by water or dumped garden waste.
The name means Beautiful Woman, and in the Victorian era, when the look of death was popular young women would use small bits of the plant to create dark circles around the eyes and to achieve pale skin. Datura, Belladonna, Henbane and mandrake contain Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine which has been used in modern medicine for several different reasons.
The plant's synchronized blooming with the moonrise adds to its mystical allure, as it is often connected to lunar rituals and the cycles of life and death. The moonflower is believed to possess spiritual properties that can enhance one's psychic abilities and intuitive powers. It is commonly used in spiritual practices such as divination, astral projection, and lucid dreaming.
Moon
Since ancient times, the moon has been associated with woman and her fertility, monthly cycle, powers of nurturing and powers of darkness. The moon, ruler of the night and the mysteries of the dark, represents wetness, moisture, intuition, emotion, tides, the psychic, moods and madness. It embodies time, for its phases provided humankind with the first calendar. In contemporary Witchcraft, the moon is the source of Witches’ power, drawn down from the sky; it is the worker of Magic. The Great Goddess, the mother Goddess, the AllDewy-One, is at her most formidable and potent as lunar deity.
In the earliest primitive times, the moon was viewed as the source of fertility of all things. Its light was considered indispensable for abundant harvests, large flocks and herds and human fecundity. It was believed that women were made pregnant by moonbeams. Women who desired children slept under the light of the moon; those who did not resorted to crude charms, such as rubbing their bellies with spittle to avoid swelling like the waxing of the moon.
Since antiquity, lunar phases have governed all facets of life. The waxing moon is auspicious for crop planting and new endeavors, for luck and increasing; the waning moon is a time of diminishing and destruction. Lunar phases have governed magical rituals for the creation and consecration of magical tools, the summoning of spirits, the preparations of remedies and charms and the castings of spells. One cut one’s Hair and Nails, entered into marriages and business arrangements, let blood and traveled according to the phases of the moon. The moon was believed to govern the humors, the moisture in the body and brain. In 1660 one English astrologer declared that children born at the full moon would never be healthy but ran the risk of moonstruck madness, or lunacy. Folklore beliefs about the moon persist to the present day. The moon still influences magic rites.
The cycle of woman’s menstruation is tied to the lunar phases. In many cultures, the words for “moon” and “menstruation” are the same or very similar (see blood).
The Moon as person and deity.
The moon was primarily a power and a force until about 2600 b.C.e., when it became personified in middle Eastern civilizations as the man in the moon or the Great man. During his waning, the man in the moon was eaten by a dragon and went down into the underworld. He rose anew as his son. The moon also was believed to incarnate on Earth as a king; some lines of kings claimed to be the representatives of the moon and wore horned headdresses. Eventually, the man in the moon was replaced by the deity of the moon, who was first a god, then a goddess. The lunar goddess was the Great Goddess, the giver of all things in her waxing phase and the destroyer of all things in her waning phase. She took on the fertilizing power of the moon and was the protector of women. As destroyer, she could bring storms, particularly heavy rains, and floods.
The lunar gods and goddesses were portrayed with crescent moons, the auspicious symbol of the waxing and lucky moon. The Great Goddess was associated with the Cow, goat and bull, whose horns represented the crescent or horned moon.
To the Greeks, the goddess Selene once was the sole lunar goddess. Selene was replaced by Artemis (Diana) and Hecate. The true power of the moon resided in Hecate, who ruled the waning and dark moon, the time when the moon slipped into the underworld and ghosts and spirits walked the earth. Hecate became known as the Three-Headed Hecate, whose triple aspects combined Selene, Artemis and Hecate. The witches of Thessaly were said to be able to draw down the power of the moon from the sky. In myth, Aphrodite taught her son, Jason, “how to draw down the dark moon” whenever he needed magic.
The Moon in Witchcraft.
In contemporary Witchcraft, worship of the Goddess is associated with the moon. The consort of the Goddess is the Horned God, the god of the woodlands, whose horns represent both the beasts of nature and the horned moon. The activities and magic workings of a Witch or Coven are timed according to the phases of the moon. most covens meet at the full moon; some also meet at the new moon. The moon is personified by a triple aspect of the Goddess, usually Diana (the roman name is more common than the Greek name, Artemis), the Virgin, who rules the new and waxing moon; Selene, the matron, who rules the full moon; and Hecate, the Crone, who rules the waning and dark moon. magic for healing, gain, luck and increase is done during the waxing moon. magical power is greatest on nights of the full moon, particularly at midnight. magic for binding, banishing and eliminating is done during the waning phase.
The power of the moon also is drawn down for a trance ritual called DrAwIng Down the moon, in which the high priestess invokes the spirit of the Goddess into her so that She may speak to her followers.
Some feminist witches have a ritual of howling at the moon in order to connect with the primitive power of the Goddess within.
The moon is associated with the metal Silver, favoured by Witches for its properties as an amulet (see Amulets) and as an enhancer of psychic powers.
SEE ALSO:
- Witchcraft Glossary
- Witchcraft
FURTHER READING:
- Crowley, Vivianne. Wicca: The Old Religion in the New Millennium. revised ed. London: Thorsons/Harper Collins, 1996.
- Guiley, roseMary Ellen. Moonscapes: A Celebration of Lunar Astronomy, Magic, Legend and Lore. New York: PrenticeHall, 1991.
- Green, Marian. A Witch Alone: Thirteen Moons to Master Natural Magic. London: Thorsons/Harper Collins, 1991.
- Starhawk. The Spiral Dance. revised ed. San Francisco: HarperSan Francisco, 1989.
Datura comes in many variety of species. Of these I have personally worked with, D. stramonium commonly called Jimsom weed. D. inoxia, which is commonly called Moonflower (see blog about confusing Moonflowers here) D. metele, which have beautiful white and purple blooms, and D. Wrightii which is often called Sacred Datura. Datura contains several alkaloids classified as tropanes. Many Solanaceae plants contain Solanine which is a glycoside. This causes symptoms such as headache, vomiting, and coma if ingested. Datura, Belladonna, Henbane and mandrake contain Atropine, Scopolamine, and Hyoscyamine which has been used in modern medicine for several different reasons. However this does not mean that you can also just use the plant for medicine. It is incredibly more complicated than that. These alkaloids are contained in the seeds and blooms of the Datura plant. Datura is a sacred plant and should be treated as such. Though used in Witches flying ointments they should be prepared with knowledge. Witches such as Sarah Lawless have brought the popularity of Traditional Flying ointments to the world of witchcraft. It has encouraged people like myself to come out of the closet and share their work with poison plants. Datura boasts beautiful purple or white flowers among rich green colored leaves and purple shaded stems. It has been sacred to witches, Mayans, and is still revered in modern day mexico and around the world. Personally I use Datura in my ointments and with magic. She is incredibly powerful, magically speaking and has a strong will, she does what she wants when she wants. However with respect she can be very powerful ally.
Some practitioners also incorporate moonflower into their rituals for protection or to enhance love and romantic relationships, invoking the plant's energy to attract positive energy and purify the soul. In addition to its metaphysical properties, the moonflower is known for its medicinal uses. In traditional medicine, various parts of the plant, including the flowers, leaves, and seeds, are used to create remedies for conditions like insomnia, anxiety, and digestive issues. These medicinal properties further add to the allure and value of the moonflower in occult practices. While the moonflower is revered for its occult powers, it is important to approach its usage with respect and caution. As with any spiritual practice, it is crucial to conduct thorough research, seek guidance from experienced practitioners, and use the moonflower responsibly and ethically. In conclusion, the moonflower is a mystical and captivating plant that holds occult powers and is associated with various spiritual beliefs and practices. Its association with the moon, intuitive abilities, and medicinal properties make it an intriguing tool for those seeking to enhance their spiritual journey. However, it is crucial to approach the moonflower and its occult powers with respect, caution, and responsible usage..
Reviews for "The Moonflower and its use in Protective Spells and Amulets"
- Sarah - 2 stars - I was really excited to read "Occult Powers of the Moonflower" because I thought it would be an intriguing and mysterious story. However, I found it to be extremely confusing and hard to follow. The plot seemed to jump around without much explanation, and I often found myself wondering what was happening. The characters were also underdeveloped and lacked depth. Overall, I was disappointed with this book and wouldn't recommend it to others.
- Michael - 1 star - I'm sorry to say that "Occult Powers of the Moonflower" was a total letdown for me. The writing style was convoluted and pretentious, making it difficult to connect with the story or the characters. The author seemed more focused on trying to sound profound rather than actually telling a captivating tale. The plot was scattered, and the pacing was inconsistent, leading to a disjointed reading experience. I had high hopes for this book, but unfortunately, it fell flat.
- Emily - 3 stars - While "Occult Powers of the Moonflower" had some interesting ideas and concepts, it ultimately failed to deliver a compelling story. The pacing was incredibly slow, and it took a long time for anything significant to happen. The characters were also quite forgettable, and I didn't feel invested in their journey. Additionally, the ending felt rushed and unsatisfying. Overall, I think this book had potential, but it fell short in execution.