Hi, my loves and welcome to WiccaNow. Recently I’ve been talking about an eclectic range of things. I’ve written up my favourite kitchen witch recipe, I’ve posted about herbs for anxiety, I’ve made a guide to the 20 most common types of witches and I’ve also shared an abundance spell for the full moon. Today I want to continue my meandering path by sharing the magickal uses, properties and benefits of one of our powerhouse herbs, namely sage.
Sage is one of the most commonly recognized magickal herbs. It’s used for smoke cleansing, protection and purification. It’s associated with the air and earth elements and is ruled by Gemini while being associated with the Gods Jupiter and Zeus.
Today I want to share a brief history of sage with you, along with a detailed explanation of its medicinal benefits, magickal properties and a few ways to effectively use it, grow it and store it. Let’s get into it!
Disclaimer: Please note that we are not medical professionals and everything written here is a product of our own research. Don’t take any advice given here over that of a trained doctor. If you ingest any herbs, always make sure that you’re 100% sure that they’re safe. If you’re pregnant, always consult a doctor before ingesting herbs and plant you aren’t familiar with.
The History of Sage
Sage, officially named Salvia Officinalis, is a member of the mint family and is native to the Mediterranean region. It’s a healing herb which has been used since ancient times to increase fertility, dispel negative influences, ward off evil and much more. The Romans even called it a “holy herb” and they included it in many of there religious practices. They also cooked with it as the believed it would help them digest fatty foods better.
During the Middle Ages, many old herbalists (Pliny, Dioscorides, Galan etc) all wrote about the healing properties of sage and its use as a diuretic, an aid for ulcers, a herb which helped to stop wounds bleeding and a remedy for sore throats. Discorides even went so far as to claim that sage was one of most appreciated and important herbs of all time.
In France, sage grew prolifically and was often drunk as a tea. The Chinese realised the healing prowess of sage began trading the French sage tea for their own tea. They believed that the sage tea was so valuable that they were willing to trade 4 pounds of Chinese tea for 1 pound of Fench sage tea. They appreciated the medicinal properties of the sage tea and believed that it would relieve stomach and digestive issues as well as aiding the nervous system while treating cold and joint pain. They also used it to treat typhoid as well as kidney and liver issues.
In 812AD, Charles the Great ordered sage to be planted in all medical gardens and made it mandatory that it be grown in any monastery garden, something which apparently still stands today.
Where Does the Name “Sage” Originate From?
Sages’ botanical name (Salvia Officinalis) derives from the Latin word “salvere” which means “to be saved”. The “Officinalis” part of the name refers to the plants’ prolific medicinal uses, as the word “Officina” refers to the traditional storeroom in monasteries where herbal remedies were stored. Officinalis is a name given only to plants which have an extremely well established medicinal or culinary value.
Other Common Names for Sage
- Garden sage
- Kitchen sage
- True sage
- Common sage
The Medicinal Benefits of Sage
- High in vitamin K and Iron
- Full of antioxidants
- Great for oral health
- May help to ease symptoms of menopause
- Positively impacts cognitive function and may be a treatment for Alzheimer’s and other neurological disorders.
- May lower cholesterol and blood sugar levels
- It can help with inflammation
- Helps to promote healthy skin and can aid in healing wounds
- May help to control anxiety
- May help to ease pain and swelling associated with tonsilitis
The Magickal Properties of Sage
Sage is a powerful magickal herb which has been used for hundreds of years a cleansing and purifying herb. Its magickal energies make it a great choice for protection spells and it’s also powerful when used in money and abundance spells.
The Uses of Sage in Magick
- Wisdom
- Healing
- Protection
- Purification
- Clarity
- Abundance (particularly money)
- Dreams
- Psychic protection
- Intuition
Correspondances of Sage
Planets: Jupiter and the Moon
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Deities: Jupiter and Zeus and the Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess
Elements: Air and Earth
The Difference Between Common Sage, White Sage and Clary Sage
There is a lot of conflicting information about what form of sage to use for smoke…
Click here to read this complete article.
