Magickal Properties of Cherry for Herbalism & Witchcraft

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Lore & History of Cherry Tree

Cherry trees are part of the Prunus genus of the Rosaceae family, consisting of variations from chokecherry, cherry blossoms, black cherry, etc.

The cherry tree also produces toxins in branches and leaves that have yet to mature. 

Although the wood is prized for furniture due to its dense beauty, in some Scottish areas, bringing in cherry wood indoors is thought to bring misfortune.

In Celtic regions, it is thought that using cherry wood for a walking stick will prevent one from getting lost and help dispel evil.

In the creation of wands (or wands), cherry is considered a mighty wood, especially in cases of divination.

In old European tradition, cherry stones were counted after a meal to determine a future husband's profession.

Eating cherries is believed to help those contemplating a decision by assisting them to be guided by their heart.

It is said that serving one a pie made of cherries will bolster affection.

Although cherry blossom trees differ from cherry fruit trees (one focuses on cultivating fruit while the other flowers), they are from the same genus and carry the same metaphysical attributes.

In areas of Japan, cherry blossoms were believed to be places for mountain deities to dwell.

Sakura (cherry blossom) represents the beauty of the fragility of life and its contradictory nature. Many Buddhist lore surrounding spirits inhabiting trees are specific to the cherry blossom trees.

Magickal Attributes of Cherry Tree

Cherry carries feminine energy related to the water element and the planet Venus. It is often associated with the deities Venus and the Buddha.

Its occult attributes include Attraction, Beauty, Divination, Fertility,  Empowerment, 

Heart, Love, Opportunism, Youthfulness

Magickal Uses of Cherry

• Bake and serve a cherry pie to promote attraction

• Eat a handful of cherries to help make a decision

• Bathe in cherry blossom scents to increase beauty

• Use cherry seeds for divination practices

• Create a rod from cherry bark

• Add cherry simple syrup to morning coffee to bring opportunities

• Eat cherry jam to promote the opening of the heart

• Anoint candles with cherry juice when performing love, sex magick

• Feed cherries to a significant other to promote passion

• Visualize someone while tying a cherry stem with your tongue to bond them to you.

• Sit under a cherry blossom tree when meditating or performing magick for rebirth 

Medicinal Actions of Chokecherry

In folk medicine, chokecherry is an antispasmodic, antiseptic, expectorant, and sedative. Its sedative and expectorant actions and drying energy make it a widely used herb in cough syrups.

Energetically, chokecherry is drying & cooling.

Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, Antidiarrheal, Antispasmodic, Astringent, Circulatory Tonic, Demulcent, Expectorant, Gastric stimulant, Sedative, Vulnerary

*Safety: The seeds, leaves, and stems are toxic and not fit for consumption largely due to the hydrocyanic acid content.

Chevallier, Andrew. Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. St Leonards, Nsw., Dorling Kindersley, 2001.

Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. Woodbury, Mn., Llewellyn Publications, 2013.

---. Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen. Llewellyn Worldwide, 8 Apr. 2012.

Giesecke, Annette, and P Ovidius Naso. The Mythology of Plants : Botanical Lore from Ancient Greece and Rome. Los Angeles, Ca, J. Paul Getty Museum, 2014.

Hoffmann, David. Medical Herbalism : The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine. Rochester, Vt., Healing Arts Press, 2003.

Schulke, Daniel, and Benjamin Vierling. The Green Mysteries an Occult Herbarium. Three Hands Pr, 2017.

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