Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Recently I’ve been sharing guides for all my favourite magickal plants and herbs, like this guide to the magickal properties of fennel. I’ve also shared a post about using ginger in magick, one all about lemon balm, another about oaks and acorns and most recently a post about the magickal properties of oregano. I want to continue this today by sharing a guide to the magickal properties of parsley!
Parsley has an interesting history and has been connected to death and the underworld in many different cultures in Europe. The magickal properties of parsley include protection, purification, lust, love and communication with spirits among others. Its medicinal benefits are varied and include being full of antioxidants, helping with skin irritations and aiding digestion.
Disclaimer: Any medicinal benefits given here are a product of my own research and as such should not be taken over the advice of trained medical professionals. If you are ill, please go and see a doctor. Always make sure that anything you consume is 100% safe. If you are pregnant, consult your doctor or midwife before consuming something you haven’t tried before.
If you enjoy reading about the magickal properties of different herbs and plants, check out this gorgeous plant magick grimoire we’ve created! It contains 29 beautifully illustrated pages for all our favourite plants. The best bit? This version comes as a digital download, so you don’t have to wait through pesky shipping times or delays. What’s not to love? Check it out below or keep scrolling to read all about the magick of fennel!
History of Parsley
Parsley, also called Petroselinum crispum, is a flowering plant in the Apiaceae family which also contains celery and carrot. It grows all over the world and prefers moist but well-drained soil with a lot of sun. There are 3 varieties of parsley which might commonly be used; curly leaf, flat leaf and root parsley.
Native to the Mediterranean regions of Western Asia and Southern Europe, it was believed by the Ancient Greeks that parsley sprung from the blood of the hero, and son of death, Archemorus as he was consumed by serpents. This led to the belief that parsley was sacred and caused superstitions about it being placed on tables in the home. It was used to decorate tombs and was made into wreaths for the victors of funeral games. The Greeks also fed parsley to their horses to give them strength.
Parsley was used medicinally long before it was used as a garnish for food. It was believed to help digestion, toothaches and bronchitis among other things. Pliny the Elder (23-79AD) considered it a cure for food poisoning due to bad fish and also used it as a flavouring for brothers and sauces. Many people also believed that it was an antidote to poisons.
Parsleys use as a garnish can be traced back to the Romans. They liked to eat parsley the day after feasting as they thought it would help with their hangovers. It was also placed on the tables during the feast and was worn around the necks of the feasters as they believed that it would absorb the oders of the food they were feasting on. They would consume a few leaves at the end of feasting to freshen their breath and get rid of any lingering food-related smells, particularly garlic.
The Romans are responsible for bringing parsley to England. They carried it with them during their campaigns and presumably planted seeds wherever they went. This is actually how quite a lot of herbs were spread around Europe. It’s thought that the Charlemagne (742-814AD) increased the popularity of parsley because he had it planted in all of his gardens.
Parsley was used medicinally all through the middle ages. The famous botanist Nicholas Culpepper (1616-1654) talked about parsley bringing “urine and women’s curses”. This references it’s diuretic effects and the belief that it could bring on delayed menstruation while also relieving cramps and pains associated with the menstrual cycle.
Early settlers to the Americas took parsley seeds with them and introduced it there, where it became a popular addition to spice cabinets and gardens.
Fun Facts about Parsley
- The key ingredient of salsa verde is parsley. It’s also one of the main ingredients of tabbouleh.
- Parsley is a great companion plant for both tomatoes and roses.
- Monarch butterflies like parsley.
- The Romans has a saying “the man’s in need of parsley” for people who looked very ill. This originated because they used to sprinkle corpses with parsley to deodorise them.
- The Romans also believed that parsley was magickal and believed eating the seeds would make them invisible and super strong.
- Superstitious farmers in Medieval times refused to plant parsley because of the long germination time of the seeds. They believed…
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