Salvia
sclareaClary Sage
This is the quintessential European dream herb and is much easier to grow and acquire than exotic New World herbs used for that purpose. Because of its association with dreamwork, this magick herb is usually thought to be ruled by Moon, but its effect on the mind makes some consider it a Mercury herb. Whichever the correspondence, clary sage finds great use in creating very vivid dreams and aiding in dream recall, especially in terms of divinatory dreams. It is generally helpful in building skills of clairvoyance. Although historians say that this magick herb was introduced to Great Britain during the Renaissance, some believe that the invading Romans brought it with them, so it's useful for rites honoring deities like
Luna, Diana, or Juno or
consecrating tools to be used in works dedicated to them.
Some write
wishes on the leaves, which can be up to a foot long,
and then put them under their pillow before going to bed. Subsequent
dreams reveal whether
the wish will come true or not. If not, the leaf should be buried. This
magick herb
is also a candidate for incense, since it is one of the few dried mints
that
does not smell disgusting when burned. Many perceive
muskiness in the scent of clary sage and it is also
a fixative of scent, so it is associated with Elemental Earth. For that reason,
it
can be incorporated into love/sex magick - steep a muslin bag of leaves
in bath water before a romantic evening, for instance. According to
Culpeper, this herb "provoketh to venery."
Mundane Uses
Clary sage is
a euphoric herb but can be sedating, so don't use it
when you have to drive. Together with elder flowers, it was a flavoring
of Rhine wine and so
gave its name to muscatel (because some believe it smells musky). It
was also added to beer to increase
its intoxicating qualities. Unlike hops, it tended to provoke an active
rather than a stupefying drunkenness, but it is best not to combine it
with alcohol, as it can cause extreme drunkenness and a very bad
headache later. By itself, it helps elevate mood and restore
confidence, aids in releasing emotions, and encourages us to focus
on the moment. Although it is no longer used medicinally, in Culpeper's
day, the leaves were battered and fried in butter as a medicinal food
for a weak back. It was once added to smoking tobacco for
flavoring. Some consider the scent of clary sage to be similar to that
of
ambergris, and it is indeed an ingredient in many recipes for vegetable
ambergris. More practically, this plant also concentrates heavy metals
from the soil and can be planted
to clear contaminated areas. It should then be disposed of rather than
composted. Clary sage is also known as muscatel sage, clear eye, see
bright, horminium, and gallitricum.
How to Grow Clary Sage
Barely cover
seeds to germinate in two weeks in room temperature. Plant
out in full sun after all danger of frost is over. It forms a rosette
the first year and the second shoots up stalks of mint-like flowers
that can be pink, lavender, or blue and that are 24-36"/ 61-91cm tall.
This plant is biennial but usually lives longer than two years. It's
hardy down to -20F/-28C (zones 5-9). Harvest the flowering tops in the
early morning for highest essential oil content. Some believe it is
best to harvest clary sage during the Balsamic phase of the Moon. Like
all mints, it can be aggressive. It is a good idea to plant members of
the mint family in areas where their lively reproductive capabilities
will not be a problem, such as areas bordered by pavement or grass,
where unwanted plants can just be mowed down. General
growing info
Salvia
sclarea
Clary sage
25 seeds $4.00
Use
in Witchcraft & Magic:
Dreamwork
Clairvoyance
Honoring Luna, Juno, Diana
Love/Sex Magick
Moon Herb
Go to clary sage essential oil
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