The magickal and medicinal flower of the cosmos

From early spring onwards, many of us will start to see our gardens and pavements begin to bloom with bright yellow flowers, but these aren’t weeds, these are probably some of the most magickal wild flowers you’ll find!

The humble dandelion's original name stems from the 14th Century French ‘dent-de-lioun’, literally meaning “lion’s tooth” due to its jagged tooth like leaves. It has many other common names including “witch heal”, “wish wand”, and “pissthebed”.

The dandelion’s Latin name of ‘Taraxacum officinale’ comes from the Greek words ‘taraxos’ meaning “disorder”, and “akos” meaning “remedy”, with the ‘offinale’ part meaning “from the oficianas”, essentially the pantry of a monastery where treatments and herbal remedies were kept. Herein lies clues to the powerful healing abilities of this little ray of sunshine captured in solid form...

Almost all parts of this amazing plant are used as food and medicine:

• The bright yellow flower head can be eaten as is, in salads, or dipped in batter and fried as a delicious vegan pakora.

• The leaves and flowers can be used to make a refreshing and healing dandelion tea, which is diuretic, so flushes the kidneys and liver, removes toxins from the system and aids in relieving water infections.

• The root can be dried and ground and used as a caffeine free substitute for coffee.

In fact the only part of the plant that isn’t used is the stem, as this contains a bitter milky substance akin to latex.

It’s not just humans who this provides substance to though - it’s the first flower that bees emerging in the early spring visit to feed on its nectar, so it’s probably one of the most important foods for bumblebees and honey bees.

As for its healing abilities, this little powerhouse contains high levels of vitamins A, C, B2, K1 and iron, which are all good for boosting the immune system, protecting the vision, aiding healthy skin and lots more.

It’s high in antioxidants which relieve oxidative stress on the body and aid in the reduction of inflammation, reduces stress on the liver, and aids in bile production, as well as increasing urinary tract health and function.

But aside from its medicinal and nutritional use, the little dandelion is also a deeply spiritual and magickal plant too.

The Ancient Celts believed that the dandelion enhanced psychic abilities.

It’s also connected to the passing of time, and the transient nature of our being. Just as the flowers bloom, turn white and blow away in the breeze, so too do all living things.

It’s the embodiment of the maiden, mother & crone, the triple goddess, and in ancient times, the number of blows it took to blow all of the “wishes” off the flower head, was used to tell what hour of the day it was.

The yellow head represents the sun, and can be used in all kinds of solar, masculine magick.

The white fluffy seed head represents the moon, and so can be utilised in moon rituals.

The individual seeds which float away from the seed head, represent the stars.

Dandelions have spell correspondences, and can be used as protections from darker, harmful magick. They have elemental correspondences of Fire and the sun (the yellow head) Earth (the root) and Air (the seed head as it floats on the breeze). They embody both the masculine energy of the sun and the feminine energy of the moon, and their planetary connection is to the planet Venus.

Dandelions are also used in money and prosperity spells, due to their abundant nature.

So adding dandelions to any spell will give it a powerful boost.

So next time you go to throw away those little yellow “weeds” in your garden, think again, as they’re just natures way of providing for you.

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