When you’re feeling stuck or need to rebuild burned bridges, there’s one herbal spirit that can pave the way!
This Th-HERBS-day we honor fennel (Foeniculum vulgare).
It is a member of the carrot (Apiaceae) family and has been used as far back as the early Greek civilizations.
Ever take a bite of bratwurst or sausage and chomp into a random seed with a slight licorice taste? That’s fennel!
Throughout history, it has been used as an appetite suppressant and as an aid in digestion with meat.
Even today we use fennel in most sausages and pasta sauces.
Fennel is an herb used for clearing pathways in witchcraft.
Some of the classic magick uses for fennel include protection, healing, and purification.
During the strict rule of the church in the medieval era, people used to gather bunches of fennel to hang over their doors to prevent witchcraft.
This was especially upheld on Midsummer’s Eve as an important tradition during those times.
Little did they know, this practice was actually using witchcraft to “prevent witchcraft.”
It’s funny how people naturally connect to and understand the magic of nature spirits and then deny it as a divine experience.
They demonize the practice of “witchcraft” and then dogmatically incorporate plants as tools against the very thing they’re practicing in some rituals.
Maybe working more with the spirit of fennel, can help ease the tension between opposing views and we can understand where this got so mixed up.
This is where the magic of fennel can come in handy.
It can help bring to surface issues so that we can see problems clearly, communicate effectively, and help us see eye to eye in disagreements.
Fennel, Foeniculum vulgare
The History of Fennel
Fennel was referenced in the world’s first known publication on gardening in Walafrid Strabo’s “On The Cultivation of Gardens” in the Ninth Century.
Translated from Latin, he states;
“And we mustn’t stay silent about the fine reputation of fennel, which shoots up enthusiastically and stretches out its branches like far-reaching arms. It tastes rather sweet, matching its fragrance. It’s supposed to be good if your eyes are darkened by shadows. Its seeds, when drunk with the milk of a mother goat, are supposed to alleviate flatulence, and quickly loosen constipation in a sluggish body. Fennel root mixed with wine will also get rid of rasping coughs.”
These old uses still resonate with fennel today and especially hold true to clear up “eyes darkened by shadows” with its energetic properties in witchcraft.
If you’re familiar with medicinal teas formulated to ease constipation, there’s a good chance you’ve experienced this aspect of fennel’s healing properties.
British herbalist Nicholas Culpeper mentioned in his works that fennel was an appetite suppressant for people that are “too fat.”
People in those days would carry stashes of fennel seeds in their pockets during church services that were too long.
They would nibble the seeds to keep hunger at bay and commonly used them during religious fasting.
Coincidently, the plant’s stems are very dainty and early Greeks named the plant marathron, from maraino, meaning “to grow thin.”
Fathers of medicine Hippocrates and Dioscorides recommended fennel to increase milk production in new mothers.
Old remedies recommended making poultices out of fennel to ease the sore breasts of nursing mothers.
It has been a long-time herbal remedy to treat colic, flatulence, and indigestion.
New mothers during these times were advised to ingest fennel to help treat colicky babies.
Today we commonly use it for culinary purposes but it still upholds its effects in assisting with indigestion.
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The Spirit of Fennel
Fennel is a plant spirit that helps when things around you are murky or confusing.
It is a peacemaker and charmer in the way that it can calm the energies in the space around it when there is tension.
The herb works best for removing blockages so that your path is clear and open.
It’s very effective when cleansing the home, doing path clearing work, and unblocking chakras-namely your solar plexus chakra.
The spirit of fennel is strong, straightforward, determined, comforting, and focused.
When fixing complicated issues and getting to the bottom of messy situations, fennel is an effective spirit to call upon.
It helps knock down obstacles so that the energy of the Sun can expose obstacles in complicated situations.
Fennel is great to incorporate when working through traumas, unveiling suppressed emotions, and building up confidence and stability.
If there are disagreements in relationships with family, friends, or lovers, fennel will help clear up misunderstandings.
One thing to keep in mind, if you want the fullest effects of fennel, keep Mars-ruled herbs out of the mix.
Fennel does not work well with Mars energies because this malefic planet blocks all the calming efforts of fennel’s work.
Mars will only inflame the negative energies involved in situations you’re trying to find clarity on.
This will only cause more turmoil, confusion, and instability.
However, it will work beautifully with the Sun and beneficent planetary energies-especially feminine energies.
Fennel, Sweet Essential Oil
Fennel’s Energetic Properties
This list of properties is a helpful guide to assist you in spell crafting and rituals.
The energy of the herb is heightened when planned carefully with corresponding days, seasons, zodiacs, etc.
Here are 18 energetic properties associated with fennel:
1. Planet: Mercury
2. Zodiac Sign: Gemini, Virgo
3. House: 3rd and 6th
4. Element: Air
5. Gender Energy: Masculine
6. Chakra: Vishuddha/Throat (Blue) and Manipura/Solar Plexus (Yellow)
7. Archangel: Raphael
8. Deity: Budha (Hindu), Hermes, Hades (Greek), Freya, Freyr, Sif (Norse), Turms (Etruscan)
9. Sabbat: Beltane, Litha, Lughnasadh
10. Season: Summer
11. Day: Wednesday
12. Body: Nervous System, Bowels, Hands, Arms, Shoulders, Collarbone, Tongue, Sight, Perception, Understanding, Interpretation, and Expression
13. Rune: Raidu, Kauna, Isa, Jera
14. Numerology: 5
15. Fae: Fairy
16. Major Arcana: The Lovers, The Magician, The Hermit
17. Minor Arcana: Swords
18. Cartomancy: Spades
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Growing Fennel
Fennel is an herb that you will want to plant separately away from other plants.
It’s a damaging plant around a list of other herbs and there are lots of other herbs that are likewise damaging to fennel.
Preparing separate containers, raised beds, or sections of the garden is going to be the easiest route if you want to keep everyone happy.
This perennial is native to coastal areas of Europe, most notably the Mediterranean, so it needs well-drained soil to thrive.
Every part of the plant is edible, and you can start using cuttings of the herb once it is well established.
If you are growing it for seeds, be sure to carefully watch the seeds once they have been produced.
As soon as the seeds turn from yellow-green to brown, the slightest wind can cause them to fall.
So timing is everything-especially if your fennels are outdoors.
When harvesting the seeds, use scissors or clippers to cut the seed head.
Separate the excess growth from the seeds to prepare them for drying.
Once your seeds have been harvested, put them in a paper bag to dry in a warm, dark place.
After drying, place them in glass jars with the label and date to store in a cool dark place.
Fennel is susceptible to root and stem rot, so overwatering can be a problem as well as pests like aphids and slugs.
Some gardeners plant fennel to attract swallowtail butterflies.
These butterflies are known to lay their eggs on the plant so that their larvae can feed on its leaves.
Happy Th-HERBS-day!
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