As we lead up to Yule, I thought I’d extol the virtues of magical mistletoe. Some plants really have that feeling of magic, and mistletoe, for me, is one of them. When I moved into my current home, I was delighted to find a large ball of mistletoe in an old apple tree in the back garden. Mistletoe grows prolifically in the county where I live and the nearby counties. These are Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Somerset and these counties supply the rest of the UK. One town close to where I live has a mistletoe festival every December. Many trees have several balls of mistletoe attached to them and, in the winter, they become more obvious in the bare branches.
Mistletoe grows in a variety of trees. A hemi (partial) parasitic plant, it attaches itself to a host tree. It can often be seen in apple, hawthorn, sycamore, ash, poplar, and lime trees. Orchards are a more obvious place to find it. It is a poisonous plant, and the UK varieties are more so than the US varieties. The effects of the poison can be seen more in children and animals than adults.
Historical References
In his Complete Herbal, Culpeper says of mistletoe (“misselto”) that it is under the dominion of the Sun, but even though it “rarely” grows on oak, when it does it takes on the nature of Jupiter. From these two planets, I would say together they promote positivity, success, and good fortune, strength, wisdom, provide protection, represent the self, and have life-giving properties. You should also decide what they signify to you. Therefore, if you find it on oak then you can double the magical qualities.
Culpeper also says he does not know why mistletoe takes on that nature of the oak (strength), above the other trees it grows on. However, he adds that mistletoe which grows on pear trees and apple trees, also “participates in something of his nature, because he rules the tree it grows upon” (but he adds it has more virtues when growing on an oak). He says Clusius (a Flemish botanist), maintains that mistletoe when gathered should not touch the ground and that it protects against witchcraft.
Pliny (a Roman historian) also states that the a priest of the Druids dressed in white robes would cut mistletoe with a golden sickle and confirms it was caught in a cloak so as not to touch the ground as it was sent from heaven. As well as for medical uses, the Druids are said by various sources to have used mistletoe for vitality and fertility.
Additionally, there are other ancient mentions of mistletoe and in Norse mythology, the arrow that killed Baldur was carved from mistletoe. In the story, “all things” (these are plants, humans, and animals) were asked to swear an oath to protect Baldur from harm. However, the mistletoe was deigned too small and young to bother about, so the goddess Frigg failed to ask for an oath from it and it killed Baldur. (Norse Myths, Gods of the Vikings, Kevin Crossley-Holland, Penguin Books 1993 edition.)
All the information shows that mistletoe is far from insignificant. Here we have an ancient myth pointing out the power and the magic of mistletoe and, significantly, how not to underestimate its power. Accordingly, putting aside the minimal uses (bearing in mind it is a poisonous plant so be cautious with it around children and pets), you can use mistletoe for protection. For life and fertility. As a sun herb you can use it against depression (also healing, luck, and love).
Culpeper wrote:
The Vital spirit hath its residence in the heart, and is dispersed from it by the Arteries; and is governed by the influence of the Sun. And it is to the body, as the Sun is to the Creation; as the heart is in the Microcosm, so is the Sun in the Megacosm; and as the sun gives life, light, and motion the Creation, so doth the heart to the body.
Using Mistletoe in Magic
The Sun gives life to creation or the earth, as our hearts give life to us. We can use this plant in spells for self, general inner strength, vitality or life, and fertility.
The tradition of kissing under the mistletoe is thought to have begun around the 18th century, but most probably earlier, and it became more popular in Victorian times. This tradition is now well and truly established.
To sum up. Mistletoe has male qualities and is of the Sun and Jupiter (especially if growing on an oak) and the Norse equivalent is Thor (Thursday). Suggested days for casting the spell are Sundays or Thursdays.
Use the magic of mistletoe during the waxing moon for spells around fertility, love, plenty (food and necessities), vitality, and for protection. For spell work I also like to add the qualities of the tree it grows upon as mentioned by Culpeper. For instance, if it grows on apple or hawthorn the mistletoe takes on the qualities of those trees and had added protection. Mistletoe growing on apple can be used in love attraction spells, on hawthorn for fertility, and if you’re lucky to find mistletoe on oak then it is more sacred and powerful and is perfect for spells on strength and fortitude.
I keep a sprig above my altar, and it stays there all year for protection, love, and life, and I will replace it in a short ritual the New Year.
You can read more on magic in my new book Magic for Hedge Witches.
Published: 27th May, 2022
Amazon UK: Pre-order Paperback, ISBN: 978-1-78099-421-5
