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Episode 149: Magical Properties of Plants pt. 7
564 Plays15 days ago
Welcome back, Witches! This week, we're exploring part 7 of our Magical Properties of Plants series, all about the enchanting powers of Vanilla and Bay. We'll share the comforting, love-drawing vibes of Vanilla and the protective, wisdom-enhancing energy of Bay—plus how to incorporate them into your magical practice. Whether it’s crafting spells, creating blends, or simply appreciating their everyday uses, we’ve got plenty of inspiration to share. So brew a cup of tea, get cozy, and join us for a fragrant and fascinating chat! 🍵🌱
We would be forever thankful if you left our podcast a 5-Star review. If you really loved the show and want more Get in Loser content, check out our Supercast & Buy Me a Coffee links below. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @GetinWitches, on TikTok @weredoingwitchcraft, or email us at weredoingwitchcraft@gmail.com. You can support our show through our links below.
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Music by Karl Casey @ White Bat Audio- The Witch
References:
- Witchy Staff (2024). Magical Properties of Vanilla (Protection & Clarity). Witchy Magicks. https://witchymagicks.com/magical-properties-of-vanilla/
- Terravara (n.d.). Vanilla: Magical Properties, Benefits & Uses. Terravara. https://www.terravara.com/vanilla-magical-properties/
- Nicole McAnfield (2023). Vanilla Magical Properties and Enchanting Kitchen Witch Uses. Witches Cabinet. https://witchescabinet.com/vanilla-magical-properties-uses/
- User- Bunnypudding. Why Bayleaf is Bae- The Magickal Properties of Bayleaf. (2021) Digital Coven. https://digital-coven.com/2021/03/28/why-bayleaf-is-bae-the-magickal-properties-of-bayleaf/
- Harrison, Karen. The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them. (2020) Weiser Books, an imprint of Redwheel/Weiser, LLC
- Bay Leaf. The White Rabbit Institute of Healing. https://www.whiterabbitinstituteofhealing.com/herbs/bay-leaf/
- Laurus nobilis (lauraceae). Cretan Herbal Chem. https://cretanherbalchem.com/index.php?q=node/18
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Transcript
Introduction to Witchcraft Podcast
00:00:00
Speaker
Do you feel drawn to learn more about witchcraft and the occult but feel lost on where to start? Then welcome to Get In Loser We're Doing Witchcraft, a podcast all about what it means to be a witch and where to get started on your journey.
00:00:11
Speaker
Join us as we navigate through various witchy topics and share what we've
Magical Properties of Bay and Vanilla
00:00:15
Speaker
learned about the craft. So get in witches for part seven of our magical properties of plants series where we're focusing on bay and vanilla.
00:00:36
Speaker
Oh gosh. forgot to tell you. Sorry, I had to stretch.
Personal Anecdotes: Shoes and Pillow
00:00:52
Speaker
sorry had to stretch yesterday we had to take emily to the mall because she needed to get something to wear for um her j rosi ball that's coming And ah so we did that. And then I just perused the Doc Martin store because I want, like, you know, we've talked about this. I've been wanting another pair.
00:01:14
Speaker
Yeah. And I can't decide between the Mary Janes or like, because I also want something like with a platform situation. And I'm like, I don't know what to do. i want the platform Chelsea's. I want i want everything.
00:01:28
Speaker
um i didnt mix up love to send you pictures of it. I got this Japanese exclusive. boot that they have, and they only two sizes left and one of them was my size, which never fucking happens. That's the universe saying these are for you. Yeah.
00:01:44
Speaker
And they were 40% off. I was like, you're going to be choking me. So i was like, and Mike was like, you know, like now that you bought these, it's going to be hot as hell in Okinawa. And I'm like, I don't give a fuck.
00:01:57
Speaker
Like I will wear boots with a dress. Literally. so I will wear boots with shorts. Yeah. Exactly. I'm just like, you know what? We're also approaching rainy season. And let me tell you, I can wear these like, because my lace-up boots, it's hard to wear with my slacks that I have because it does it's not tight enough on my calf, I guess, to where okay the pants kind of flow the way they're supposed to. yeah so um But with these ones, they're kind of tight on my calf. And I'm like, I can wear these with everything. Perfect.
00:02:29
Speaker
I can't wait to see them. Perfect. Oh, they're so cute. I'm also a little jealous. I want another pair too. Yes. I think when you come visit me, we should go to the dog store and get some dogs together.
00:02:43
Speaker
Because they have a ton of exclusive ones that I'm just like why? A hundred percent. I love that. That's what we're doing. Yes. Also, i forgot to tell you, i bought a purple pillow.
00:02:57
Speaker
And you love it, right? It's amazing. This is the best sleep I've been getting. Like my neck, when I tell you this whole side, like my whole left side, like basically from the base of my skull all the way down my shoulders and like all the way like next to my scapula have been so fucking tight and just like painful from like sleeping with a pillow that was not made for the the way that I sleep apparently. Yeah.
00:03:25
Speaker
It's been awful. So Anthony was like, just get this fucking pillow and try it. If it doesn't work, we'll just like bring it back. So I've had it for three days now and I have been getting the best sleep of my life on this pillow that weirded me out at first because I could feel the holes.
00:03:42
Speaker
ah Yeah. It is weird like at first, but then you get used to it and then you're like, oh, this is amazing. And actually there was cold all night. Mm-hmm. Yeah. It's beautiful. i on mine, i keep, uh, the pillowcase I use for it is my satin pillowcase.
00:03:58
Speaker
And i had to, like, I washed it the last time we were, well, the last time we washed our sheets last weekend. And i forgot to put it in the dryer before I went to bed. and so, but I was just like, I'm still going to use this pillow yeah without a pillowcase. I was like, i mean, it comes in a little zip case.
00:04:16
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. I need to buy a new pillow case for ours because we had – all of our pillows are king-size pillows. Yeah. So all of my pillowcases are, like, twice the size of it. So my pillowcase that's on it right now is, like, folded over it.
00:04:32
Speaker
Yeah. It's, like, tucked in, folded around it. i'm like, whatever. It'll work for now. Mike was, like – because he was, like, well, just buy the one. You can have it, and then I'll try it out and just, like, see if I like it before we buy two. Yeah.
00:04:46
Speaker
And I'm like, okay, but you're not going to use my pillow though. like Yeah. such bad i know so mine and And so like, sometimes I'll come upstairs, like if I wake up before him or he goes and takes a nap and he has my pillow and I'm like, and I'm going to take that right back. This is my pillow. Go and get your own.
00:05:07
Speaker
Thank you. Yeah. This morning when I – well, I guess this – Anthony's on nights. So his morning was like 4.30 this afternoon. so I went and woke him up and the dogs ran in there and like jumped in the bed. I was like, let's go wake up dad.
00:05:21
Speaker
And they're like like all crazy. It was really funny. Yeah. But I was like sitting on my side of the bed talking to him while he was kind of waking up. And he was like, oh, let me test out this pillow. And he like laid on it. it's like, this is nice. And he just kept pulling it farther over. And I was like, no, no this is my pillow.
00:05:39
Speaker
yeah And I went up there like right before we went or started recording. I went upstairs to grab something. Fucking Nix had snuck up there, was laying like a human with her head on my pillow. And I was like, bitch, get off my pillow. Right.
00:05:54
Speaker
No. Right. She was like, don't me. She was like on her back, little feet like flopped down like this, head on the pillow. And I was just like,
00:06:06
Speaker
like, up here with my dad. You can't say anything to me. but She was up there by herself. He's at work. Oh, that's right. She went to bed. So she gave me some time with my pillow.
00:06:19
Speaker
That's when you know it's a good pillow. Okay. Honestly. approves. Like now, because now I'm, I am like officially a convert. I'm like talking Mike into the sheets as well.
00:06:30
Speaker
Maybe we should get the sheets too. And he's like, those sheets sheets are so fucking expensive. Yeah. But we have Layla sheets like the company that I bought our mattress from. So they are expensive cooling sheets and they're so soft.
00:06:47
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. we i don't think um i can't remember for I can't remember the brand, but it's a brand that everybody buys their sheets from, and I think it starts with B. It's like Brooks something.
00:06:59
Speaker
yeah. don't know. Like all the podcasts. the Like Brookstone or Brook... but I can't remember. It's something like that. I know what you're talking about. There's like ads for them on like every podcast listen Every podcast.
00:07:12
Speaker
Mike got them. And I'm just like, did you listen to a podcast about that? And he was just like, no, I just did research. And I was like, oh, I know those sheets. I know those sheets from listening to Generation Y. But we have those.
00:07:27
Speaker
but They were an ad all on the basement yard the first time I heard about them. Yeah. And I was like, oh, and They're really good sheets. Like they're really good.
00:07:37
Speaker
and The only thing is like, I don't know why I feel like the pocket isn't deep enough if you have like a really good king mattress because it will pop off. And I'm like, God damn it. Ours, like we bought them from the company that made our mattress because we were like, well, we had bought upgraded to a king.
00:07:56
Speaker
And so all of the sheets and shit we had were queen sized. So we were like, well, we might as well get the nice cooling sheets that go to it. so Yeah. And then we bought the pillows and they're too hard for me.
00:08:07
Speaker
so Of course. yeah yeah are other done So now he has two pillows. Yes. Yeah. But we digress. Yeah. Those are not the things we're talking about today.
00:08:20
Speaker
but No, we're not. alone No, no, no, no. Yeah.
Vanilla: History and Magical Uses
00:08:25
Speaker
We're talking about some cool magical plants, aren't we? It's my favorite. It's my favorite episodes. Yes. Yeah. I went down some rabbit holes for this episode. i just couldn't stop. Like i didn't know all of the things about vanilla that I, now I know. And I love it.
00:08:43
Speaker
was going all sorts of directions with mine. And then I was like, no, no, get rid of some of these things because your notes are long. So I did my best to pare them down.
00:08:53
Speaker
Oh, okay. Well. I didn't. No, I'm just joking. There was more. There was absolutely more I could put, but I was just like, okay, this is like four pages. I need to stop now. Yeah. I think our notes are about equal in length. So yeah, it'll be good. It's a nice long episode because last week's episode was a bit short. this week's episode is a bit longer to make up for that. So there you go.
00:09:14
Speaker
You're welcome guys. And Ostara is right around the corner. Yeah. Happy Ostara. And if you want, you can like this, let this episode help guide you and maybe some of your Ostara planning, depending on yeah what you choose to do.
00:09:27
Speaker
And if you do something really cool, we'd like to hear about it. Please tell us about it. Oh my God. Please tell us all your things. Yes. Yeah. But you know, without further ado, I'm going to be focusing on vanilla. So sit back and relax and listen to some shit about vanilla.
00:09:47
Speaker
So to kick off, I'm going to talk a little bit about some lore associated with vanilla and then also some history and just some basic stuff. So vanilla is known as the queen of spices and it's magical history and just history in general might be surprising to some. It was for me, maybe some people know about this, but I did not. So I was like, oh, this is, this is nice.
00:10:11
Speaker
So the lore surrounding vanilla has to do with a legend in what is now considered Mexico. So the legend goes that there was a time where there was no such thing as vanilla.
00:10:24
Speaker
And in the city of, I'm just going to preface this with saying, I looked up how to say most of these things, some things there was not pronunciation for, and i do not speak ancient American Mesopotamian languages. So I don't know exactly how to say this stuff. You don't speak these languages. Yeah, I know. Right.
00:10:45
Speaker
Surprise. um But so I'm going to try my best. Sorry if you know, you know how to say these things and I'm butchering it, but I don't really know how to say it, but okay. So in the city of Papantla, a man named Tenitsli and his wife had a daughter named Princess Sakopontzia.
00:11:06
Speaker
And the legend states that this daughter was so beautiful that Tenitsili and his wife didn't want to marry her off because no one would be good enough for her. Instead, they dedicated to they dedicated her to Tanoa Keahuha, who was a goddess of crops. and so the princess dedicated her life serving her temple.
00:11:27
Speaker
One day, a prince named Zakatan Akska, saw her picking flowers as an offering to the goddess, and he was so overcome by her beauty that he decided he was going to kidnap her.
00:11:39
Speaker
So the next day he hid in the bushes waiting for her to pass. And when she did, he jumped out and basically urged her to flee with him. And she did. So whatever he said must've really impressed her. I don't know.
00:11:52
Speaker
But while they were on the run, priests of another God caught them and they offered their bodies up as sacrifices. And so the story goes that on the spot where she was killed and her blood was shed, the grass began to wither and die and in its place grew vanilla.
00:12:10
Speaker
oh Yeah. Kind of sad, but yeah you know I don't know. It is kind of sad if you think about it. But thank you for the vanilla. ah Yeah. Thank you for the vanilla. Because I in ah so historically, vanilla was first known to be harvested in Mesoamerica and what is now known as Mexico And the Tontanac people were the first peoples who cultivated the vanilla orchid.
00:12:38
Speaker
So vanilla was considered sacred to the Tontanac people and was used in ritualistic practices for centuries until it caught the attention of the Aztec empire. The Aztecs incorporated vanilla into their drinks to enhance their flavor.
00:12:52
Speaker
And vanilla was used because of its soothing properties. So it was eventually brought to Europe because Spanish explorers arrived in the quote unquote new world and were first introduced to vanilla.
00:13:05
Speaker
And they were so enthralled with it that they had to bring it back. And by the 16th century, vanilla became a staple for many nobles throughout the continent of Europe. And for centuries as well, vanilla plants only thrived in Mexico because the melopona bee, which was native to that region, was the only pollinator.
00:13:26
Speaker
But in the eighteen hundreds French colonialists introduced vanilla to Réunion, which is a small island in the Indian Ocean and in Madagascar, but the plants wouldn't produce the pods.
00:13:40
Speaker
Until 1841, 12-year-old enslaved boy named Edmund Albius on the island of Reunion, discovered how to hand pollinate vanilla flowers.
00:13:52
Speaker
His technique revolutionized vanilla cultivation, which in turn made Madagascar the world's top producer of vanilla. that was little crazy in that crazy because That is crazy. is crazy.
00:14:05
Speaker
Yeah. He's just over there fucking being the bee? Edmund the bee? Yeah. Edmund the bee, yeah. So a quick aside about Edmund, as we can probably all guess, he never actually received any financial rewards or widespread recognition during his lifetime.
00:14:22
Speaker
And even after slavery was abolished in that area in 1848, he lived in poverty and worked as a servant for his entire life. Some botanists acknowledged his contribution, but he died in obscurity in 1880,
00:14:37
Speaker
Which is, you know, it's just sad because it's like this kid was 12. This kid was fucking 12. This kid was 12 and he figured out how to fucking be a B. Yes. And he did this like with, i mean- Europeans were trying to do this for years and they couldn't do it. And he figured it out at 12. It's just wild. What kind of resources do you think this 12-year-old enslaved boy had? Exactly. It's not like he had all these resources at his hands to figure out how to hand pollinate shit. He wasn't a botanist.
00:15:07
Speaker
Yeah. so Wild. Today, though, many recognize his contributions and he is honored in ah Madagascar and on the island of Reunion. But it's still just sad knowing that He is the reason for this and not many people know.
00:15:24
Speaker
Well, thanks, Edmund. We love vanilla. We do. Yes. Thank you, Edmund. We praise you. um So some basic herbalism qualities of vanilla. Vanilla is known as vanilla planifolia, vanilla aromatica, or vanilla tahitensis.
00:15:41
Speaker
But those are going to all be different. Species? Yeah. That's how you know that you're using like medicinally correct species. um Because like plants like marigold and calendula will have similar names, but you you look at the – because they'll call like calendula pot marigold, but it's calendula and you use it like herbally. So knowing that name to know the species, make sure that you're using the correct thing.
00:16:09
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. Well, good to know. Also, quick little aside, I don't know if this would come through on the podcast, but I can hear my child laughing her ass off upstairs. I don't know what she's watching. it but but She is cracking up. It is seven o'clock.
00:16:26
Speaker
It is seven o'clock. um why is What is she doing? i don't know. Anyway, having the best time. having the best So the actions associated with vanilla, it is aphrodisiac, which means it enhances sensuality, pleasure, and relaxation. It's nervine, so it calms the nervous system and reduces stress and anxiety.
00:16:48
Speaker
It's a carminative, which eases digestion and soothes the stomach. It's an antioxidant, which means it helps combat oxidative stress and inflammation.
00:16:58
Speaker
And it's an antidepressant, which means it lifts the mood and promotes emotional wellbeing. Its energetics are warming, moistening, and sweet and aromatic. And then it's also associated with the energy of the feminine.
00:17:13
Speaker
The parts used are the fruit and the bean. So the pod part and the bean. um Its form is found in an extract, paste, or just the whole bean itself.
00:17:25
Speaker
Folk names include banille and something that I'm, another word that i'm I don't know how to say. Like I literally just do not know how to say this, but it starts with T. So that's all I guess. I would say best guess.
00:17:41
Speaker
Tuxachetal. There we go. took That would be my best guess. Yeah. And so we're just going to go from there. It doesn't mean that it's right. um So sorry about that, guys. um But it is definitely like a Mesoamerican-ish for sure.
00:17:57
Speaker
The planet it's associated with is Venus. The sign is Taurus. The chakra it's associated with are the sacral and solar plexus chakras. The day of the week is Friday.
00:18:09
Speaker
The element is water, and the deities associated with vanilla are Xana, Aphrodite, Persephone, Mani, and all of the Aztec and Mesoamerican deities.
00:18:20
Speaker
So medicinally, vanilla is used for its calming and mood boosting qualities. Vanilla reduces stress and anxiety, making it great for aromatherapy and emotional healing.
00:18:32
Speaker
And there's a study done on premature babies that found that those who smelled vanilla before and during a blood test appeared calmer than a control group. Incredibly interesting. I love that. Yeah.
00:18:44
Speaker
And it can be used for digestive support to help soothe nausea and digestion and stomach discomfort. For hormonal balance, which is thought to support reproductive health and libido.
00:18:55
Speaker
For skin healing, because vanilla has mild antimicrobial properties and is sometimes used in skincare, can be helpful if you have skin issues. But I was reading online and I will talk about this, I think in the risks as well, but because for some people you can have an allergy to vanilla, it's recommended to dilute it with a carrier oil if you are using it on your skin.
00:19:20
Speaker
So using vanilla medicinally, vanilla infused honey is pretty easy to make. And all you'll need is one cup of honey and one vanilla bean. What you'll want to do is slice the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the seeds.
00:19:34
Speaker
Place the seeds and the whole pod into a clean jar and then pour honey over the vanilla, making sure it covers the beans and the pod completely. Then you'll stir well and seal the jar, letting it infuse for one to two weeks in a warm and dark place.
00:19:51
Speaker
And you'll want to stir occasionally and you can either take the vanilla pod out after it's infused or you can leave it in for a stronger infusion. This is one my favorite things to do with herbs, rose petals and honey, lavender and honey, because then we can use it in our tea. We can top bread with it. And you're getting the benefits of the herb and the honey. And it's delicious.
00:20:13
Speaker
Yeah. Yeah. So another thing that you can do is make vanilla tea or a tincture. And so I have, I mean, obviously with vanilla tea, you can even just buy vanilla tea if you want to, but making a tincture is pretty easy little concoction to make as well.
00:20:32
Speaker
And so what you'll need is two to three vanilla pods, a cup of brandy or vodka. And I was reading also, if you are sober, you can also use glycerin and a small glass jar with a lid.
00:20:45
Speaker
And so what you'll do is you'll slice the pods open to scrape out the seeds and place the pods and seeds in a jar. And you'll pour the alcohol or the glycerin over the vanilla, making sure it's completely covered.
00:20:58
Speaker
And you'll seal the jar and shake it gently, then store it in a cool, dark place for about four to six weeks, shaking every few days. And once it's infused, then you'll strain out the vanilla and transfer it to a dropper bottle.
00:21:12
Speaker
And then you can place a few drops of your tincture in your tea or in warm water to aid in digestion, relaxation, or even mood support. So super easy things you can do with vanilla.
00:21:24
Speaker
um And as far as magical uses, vanilla is very commonly used in kitchen witchcraft. It's known as a compelling herb, which means that it helps when used in recipes that are intended to assert your will over a situation or a person.
00:21:40
Speaker
And it can be used in spells for friendship and in love spells. But as we've mentioned before here at Get in Witches, We would recommend if you're using vanilla for love, use it to attract love or in your own self-love spells, not to try and manipulate somebody else's feelings.
00:21:58
Speaker
So for love and attraction spell ideas, you could wear vanilla oil or perfume to enhance your natural allure and draw love into your life. Add vanilla beans or vanilla extract to a love spell centered on a need for deepened passion and long lasting relationships.
00:22:16
Speaker
You could even infuse candles with vanilla oil before a self-love ritual. Vanilla incense can also be used to help boost feelings of comfort and inner peace, and it can help to improve your mental focus while studying or meditating.
00:22:31
Speaker
It can also be used in money spells or recipes. And so for some prosperity and abundance spell ideas, you can a place a vanilla bean in your wallet to attract financial success add vanilla to a money drawing spell, and you can even use vanilla in your baking while focusing on a goal related to wealth to manifest prosperity.
00:22:54
Speaker
And I've also linked an article in our show notes. It's from um Nicole from the witch's cabinet, and she has a ton of amazing magical recipes using vanilla for i mean, there were so many of them on there. I didn't include any of them in what I've just talked about, but there are so many amazing little recipes that she has already created. So if you're wanting to incorporate vanilla into your cooking and also have it tied to a specific sabbit or to um a specific method of of a spell work, she probably has it listed on there because she has a ton of them.
00:23:31
Speaker
And so as with just about everything, um Too much of a good thing can be not so good. And that's the same with vanilla as well. So there are some risks and some side effects to talk about. So for the most part, vanilla is completely safe to consume and the odds of consuming too much vanilla to be unsafe is relatively low.
00:23:51
Speaker
However, some people who have skin contact with vanilla can develop contact dermatitis because of an allergy. So just make sure that if you are putting it on your skin, dilute it with a carrier oil and just maybe test it out first before you like lather it in on you, like if you put it in your bath water or something.
00:24:09
Speaker
And then vanilla also has a toxic counterpart. Some vanilla extracts, particularly if manufactured in Mexico, may contain extracts from the tonka bean, which is pretty similar in taste.
00:24:22
Speaker
The tonka bean The tonka bean contains coumarin in significant amounts. And although it is naturally occurring, it has been linked to certain cancers, liver damage, and impaired cognitive function. And coumarin is also naturally occurring in other herbs like cinnamon. And so this is just kind of a general warning, like not to overdo it.
00:24:43
Speaker
And as we say with everything, do your own research. And maybe if you have certain health conditions, be cognizant of where you're obtaining your herbs, um especially for vanilla. So That is vanilla.
00:24:56
Speaker
You should always be cognizant of where your herbs are coming from if you're ingesting them. Absolutely. 100%.
00:25:06
Speaker
All
Bay Leaves: History and Benefits
00:25:07
Speaker
right. So I am going to be talking about bay, and I can't believe that it took us this long to do a deep dive on bay. know. it every spell. I know. brought up bay leaves like how we've used them in certain things we've talked about them like minimally but we've never actually done like a full deep dive on bay which blew my mind when I was looking at our list I was like well I guess I know what I'm covering yeah so bay is also known botanically as loris nobelis
00:25:38
Speaker
It's also known as the bay laurel, pepperwood, sweet bay, noble laurel, Roman laurel. In modern day Greece, it's known as Daphne and its boughs are the national symbol for Greece.
00:25:52
Speaker
In the first century BC, Dioscorides named the plant Daphne in his Materia Medica, recording its medicinal uses to be geared towards soothing the stomach, and he described two varieties, noting them to be the narrow-leafed and the broad-leafed bay.
00:26:11
Speaker
Bay is a type of tree that is part of the laurel family of evergreen trees, and they can be between 40 and 60 feet tall, which is insane, though it's noted to be like a super slow growing tree.
00:26:23
Speaker
The leaves of the tree are glossy, dark green, and extremely aromatic. These trees are native to the Mediterranean, California, Mexico, India, and Indonesia, and they prefer rich, well-drained soil with sunny exposure.
00:26:39
Speaker
And this, I thought this was kind of funny. So eventually these trees will produce flowers and small fruits like in the springtime. And when I was like researching like, when does this start? Because it was all like, eventually, eventually.
00:26:53
Speaker
It's anywhere between the time that the tree has reached 10 to 30 years. so So anytime between 10 years to 30 years, you might get flowers that smell really nice and a fruit that apparently like the birds love.
00:27:09
Speaker
Oh. Their scent profile is considered to be floral, which I thought was a little odd because personally, I feel like bay leaves are more herbaceous.
00:27:19
Speaker
Right. And they're even like commonly compared to oregano and thyme, which are two other herbs that I would consider to have like herbaceous scent profiles over floral ones. So maybe I just don't know my scents. I don't know.
00:27:33
Speaker
To me, a bay leaf is herbaceous. It's not floral. So who knows? Maybe my nose is broken. There's several different species of bay trees that are used both medicinally and in culinary creations.
00:27:45
Speaker
And each of them have similar aromatic properties and flavor profiles. The most common ones that are used are the Mediterranean bay, which is the Loris nobilis. And this is like the most common one. This is the one that when you go to the grocery store and you get a container of bay leaves, it's the Mediterranean bay leaves.
00:28:04
Speaker
The next one is the California Bay, and this is the Umbaleria Californica, and it carries the strongest bay flavoring. um The Indian Bay is known as Cinnamoma Tamala, and this one's a lot milder, and it has a slight cinnamon flavor profile to it. I'm going to try that one. I'm sorry. I was like, where does this one come from? Because I have never seen it.
00:28:29
Speaker
yeah I'm going to start looking for it, though. And then the next one is the Mexican Bay. And this one is the Litzia glausensen, which I couldn't find anything on the flavor profile other than it tasted like bay. So I'm assuming it's just regular bay, just their version. It's slightly different.
00:28:50
Speaker
Bay leaves are harvested year round, but only after the tree itself is a couple of years old. The flavor and fragrance are strongest before the plant blooms. The fresh leaves are extremely bitter, and through the drying process, they gain a deeper flavor that's been used in culinary preparations as far back as the ancient Greeks.
00:29:10
Speaker
And the older the leaves are, the stronger the flavor will be. In early Greece, there was an annual athletic competition held to honor Apollo, where the winner was crowned with a wreath of bay. In ancient Rome, bay laurel was used as a symbol of victory.
00:29:26
Speaker
And in Chinese folklore and Taoism, There is um a person known as Wu Gong, and he was said to have committed some quote-unquote ill deeds.
00:29:40
Speaker
And as a punishment, he was required to cut down a self-healing bay laurel tree that was located on the moon. The story is part of a like mid-autumn festival that's known as the Moon Festival.
00:29:52
Speaker
And there's actually several versions of the story. But the main theme is that he was set out to perform this impossible task And that he didn't give up.
00:30:03
Speaker
So since the tree itself was self-healing, it would simply just grow back after being cut down, making the task impossible. Herbally, the parts used are the leaf, the fruit, and the oil.
00:30:15
Speaker
Its herbal energies are warm, dry, pungent, bitter, and aromatic. um The herbal actions of bay in Western medicine are that it's antiseptic, antiparasitic, diaphoretic, emetic.
00:30:29
Speaker
um It's an excitant, an amenagogue, carminative. It's an insecticide, aromatic. It has anti-cancer properties. It's antimicrobial.
00:30:39
Speaker
And it's known as a deodorant. Its key actions in Eastern medicine are that it soothes the stomach and the lungs. It disperses dampness. And it calms the shens.
00:30:51
Speaker
Which is, i believe, so in, I don't know a ton about Eastern medicine because that is like a whole nother ballgame. But there's a thing called the penion. So it's the shin of the penion, not the shin of your legs.
00:31:06
Speaker
Oh. Just, I was like, fine how do I clear this up when it's on a podcast and you can't see the spelling of the word? Yeah. So the organ systems that Bay is most commonly used for in Western medicine include the stomach, the kidney, and the liver.
00:31:22
Speaker
In Eastern medicine, Bay is used for cases with the lungs and the stomach. In terms of key medicinal uses, Bay can be used externally to treat sprains, bruises, and earaches, as well as to promote healthy hair growth.
00:31:37
Speaker
Internally, it can be used to treat gas, upset stomachs, wheezing, to aid in cancer prevention, and to open the sinuses. Key uses in Eastern medicine are that it aids in digestion, bloating, full feeling, cools sore throats, helps with coughs, opens up mucus-filled nasal passages, soothes asthma symptoms, helps soothe a stuffy chest,
00:32:02
Speaker
And that the aromatic qualities of bae help calm and soothe anxiety. And then something that I found that I thought was interesting, it's not necessarily medicinal. Bae also helps to both deter and even kill insects.
00:32:18
Speaker
So in entomology, it's considered a key ingredient in what is known as a killing jar. And what they do is they like crush fresh young leaves and put it in a jar under a layer of paper.
00:32:32
Speaker
And the vapors from this will kill insects slowly while keeping them relaxed, which allows them to be mounted for preservation and studied, which is awful.
00:32:43
Speaker
yeah But also, like, science sometimes needs these things. Right. So i was like, that's kind of sad. But also, like, I guess it's kind of cool that they also found a natural thing to do this with.
00:32:57
Speaker
um It's also said that scattering bay leaves in your pantry will help repel meal moths, weevils, flies, roaches, mice, and silverfish.
00:33:08
Speaker
Does it have to be fresh or can it be dried? Dried. Dried, crumbled um in your pantry is supposed to help repel. Yeah. Bay is generally considered safe, but typical warnings are always to check with a doctor if you're pregnant or if you're using medications.
00:33:25
Speaker
before using bay outside of general culinary preparations, though you should not ingest the leaves as they're extremely abrasive to the digestive tract. So most of us probably already know if you've ever cooked with bay, you take it out before you serve the dish.
00:33:42
Speaker
Or we play the game of, did you get a bay leaf? Because I only found one and I used two. yeah no ah yeah so um And then, you know, like I was saying earlier, this is where it's very important to like really know the botanical names because some laurel trees are toxic. So you should always check that you're using the correct plant by knowing the botanical name.
00:34:06
Speaker
There's also been some scientific studies done with bay leaf extract that have shown it to contain anti-cancer properties that can protect against early stage colorectal cancer.
00:34:17
Speaker
The research showed that the properties were also available when bay was used in culinary recipes. Other studies have proved that by taking 1 to 3 grams of bay leaf extract in capsules,
00:34:30
Speaker
that it could help to reduce glucose and cholesterol levels. And because, you know, I love a good scientifically backed episode, another study that was published in 2017 found that bay leaf essential oil effectively treated candida. And for those that aren't sure what that is, it's a common yeast infection.
00:34:51
Speaker
So moving on to magical uses, Most of our listeners like probably use bay in some capacity in their practice. And it's honestly like such a great herb to include for those that are not open about their practice.
00:35:05
Speaker
Since it is a culinary staple pretty much everywhere, meaning that no one will question a container of bay leaves in your cabinet. The magical properties of bay leaves include victory and success, love, wealth and abundance, protection, creativity, psychic abilities, wishing and manifestations, good health and healing.
00:35:28
Speaker
Bay laurel is governed by the sun and it falls under the dominion of Leo and the element of fire. Its energy is that of male energy, and its ties to the sun boost self-confidence, success, vitality, courage, authority, dignity, fame, and self-knowledge.
00:35:48
Speaker
Deities tied to Bay Laurel are Apollo, Daphne, Gaia, and Peneus, though Ra, Helios, Lou, Isis, Diana, and Bridget are also tied to the sun and therefore connected to Bay.
00:36:03
Speaker
Some simple uses for bay leaves include like one of the easiest is going to be in kitchen witchery, obviously. so you can just add it to your culinary dishes. Make sure you're adding it with intention.
00:36:16
Speaker
For cleansing, if you're boiling something like pasta or vegetables, you can add a bay leaf and a pinch of salt to your water. Stir it counterclockwise to vanish negative energies or clockwise to bring positive energies toward yourself.
00:36:33
Speaker
If you're making something like sauces, stocks, or even gravies, add intent for each bay leaf that you add to the pot while visualizing what you're working towards in your spell or your manifestation.
00:36:45
Speaker
Burning bay leaves help to purify and cleanse the air while the scent provides comfort. So if you're cleansing your space, add bay leaf to your mix of loose incense. A suggested mix from the digital coven was bay leaf, lavender, and rosemary, which sounds delightful.
00:37:03
Speaker
Putting that in a fireproof bowl or a cauldron as a magical potpourri that both smells amazing and then cleanses and banishes negative and stagnant energies in your space But always, like, please practice fire safety because bay leaves fucking burn.
00:37:20
Speaker
They burn high, hot, and fucking quick. So keep your eyes on those bitches. So. um Next, you could write wishes or manifestations on the leaves and then burning them to bring them to fruition.
00:37:35
Speaker
Like a simple money manifestation, you could hold a bay leaf, envision the money that you wish to attract and how soon you need it by, but always remember to do so as if this has already happened.
00:37:48
Speaker
So how you feel when you receive the money, how you'll be using the money, and then write your intent and the financial amount on the bay leaf and burn it. When writing, you can use any color, but using silver or gold is recommended for this.
00:38:04
Speaker
Then you go about your day while your manifestations work themselves into existence. It's said that if you place a bay leaf under your pillow or use it in a dream pillow, that it'll help induce prophetic dreams.
00:38:17
Speaker
You should place a bay leaf in the corner of each room of your house for protection. um and if you grind bay leaves with eggshells, you can use it as a protection dust. Sprinkle it by your windows and your door frames.
00:38:30
Speaker
It can also be used if you're casting a circle. um Adding salt to the dust can add like an additional protective layer to that. But if salt's added, remember not to put that on the ground because you don't want to damage your soil.
00:38:45
Speaker
Carrying a bay leaf with you in your pocket is said to protect you against negative or like quote unquote black magic. And then there's this simple like connection cutting spell that I came across.
00:38:58
Speaker
So bay leaves can also be used if you want to like cut the cord with someone. And depending on how strong the connection is, this is a practice that can be done every day and until that cord is cut, like as long as necessary.
00:39:12
Speaker
so what you would do for this is hold the bay leaf and visualize the person that you wish to cut the cord with, put that intention into the leaf, and then break the leaf up to symbolize breaking up the connection with that person, and then burn the crumbled leaf to release the energy. um This can also be done for just general feelings of anxiety, which I kind of love.
00:39:33
Speaker
So you would put those feelings of anxiety into the leaf, crumble it, and then burn it to release your anxious feelings. Oh, I love that. Right? That is beautiful.
Conclusion and Next Topics
00:39:52
Speaker
That's a wrap on this episode of Get In Loser We're Doing Witchcraft. We hope you had as much fun as we did.
00:40:04
Speaker
It helps more witches, seekers, and magical misfits find our show. Want even more Get In Loser content? Join our Supercast cabin.
00:40:23
Speaker
Just check the show notes for the link or search for Get In User and We're Doing Witchcraft on Supercast.
00:40:36
Speaker
Join us next week as we dive into a two-part series all about planetary retrogrades. Until then, stay magical, stay curious, and as always, blessed be witches.