Hi guys,
In today's Flora Friday, I decided to cover one of the oldest forms of plant life, the fern, with fossil records dating back to the mid-Devonian period 383-393 million years ago.
I also didn't realise that ferns were linked to the element of water until I started researching and writing this post! The links to water are listed in the magic section below.
There are many different types of fern, this one above, is a Hart's-tongue Fern.
Latin name is Asplenium scolopendrium
It is an evergreen, and native to the Northern Hemisphere, although variations of this fern occur worldwide. It is a fern that does not have divided leaves as most ferns do.
According to the Woodland Trust, it is an excellent indicator that you are exploring an ancient woodland and very special site.
Uses
The fronds contain compounds that are used in medicines and cosmetics.
Its uses range from astringents and cough medicines, to treatment of high blood pressure and for healing wounds, treating piles, burns and scalds, increases bile flow so therefore liver function, treats fevers, and bladder stones.
Other medicinal uses include treatments for dysentery, diarrhoea and digestive problems. In fact, the name Asplenium, comes from the Greek meaning 'without a spleen', suggesting a long known use for treating digestive and splenic issues.
It is grown as an ornamental plant and as ground cover in woodland shade.
Magic
In magick, ferns are connected to weather magic: burning or pulling them up by the roots is said to cause storms.
In Devon (England) it is still customary to burn ferns and bracken to bring rain.
Tying a fern to to the ears of horses protects them from the devil.
In modern magic, ferns are used in rain-making, money spell and in protection.
Ferns also are said to boost the properties of other flowers when placed with them in a bunch.
in Hoodoo, it is used for protection. Crushed fern leaves on window sills keeps intruders away, and when combined with other things, it can even break and repel jinxes.
In general, it is used in banishing macicks.
Flower Language
You are my pleasure;
sincerity;
eternal youth,
Mental Clarity and concentration.
Folklore
In Slavic folklore, the fern is said to produce a flower only once a year on Mid-summer Solstice Eve, and if anyone is lucky enough to be able to find a fern flower, they are said to receive prosperity, good luck, and obtain the ability to understand the speech of animals.
However, you CANNOT share this wealth, or it will simply vanish. This is the sting in the tale, as it leads one into becoming a cold-hearted miser.
The flower is believed to be protected by evil spirits, in some cases, the devil himself is said to snatch the flowers for himself.
This is similar to a lot of European lore.
Possessing fern seeds (believed to be invisible and only to be found on Mid-Summer Eve again) variously allows one to understand the language of birds, makes one invisible, tell them where to find buried treasure, or maybe even grant them the strength of forty men!
In one Russian tale, a farmer looking for his lost cattle, gains knowledge of where they are when a fern seed falls into his shoe!
To catch a fern seed in England, one must stack twelve pewter plates in a field of ferns. The seed will fall through the first 11 and get stuck on the last plate.
Stuffing a fern into a lock will cause it to open, and it has an adverse effect on iron, so if a horse should tread on a fern it will throw a shoe.
In Hawai’ian folklore, the deity Kamapuaʻa occasionally took the form of a fern. The earth goddess Haumea also had a species of tree fern as a kino lau (body form).
This blog is for educational purposes only, please consult your doctor and experts before trying any home remedies.
I hope you found this interesting.
Kerenza x
True Souls Emporium Website
Comments
Post a Comment