mojo bag how-to | Vervain & Rue for Prosperity and Protection

​Vervain and Rue are two protective and healing herbs with a rich history in #magickal lore. Not coincidentally, they are the namesake for this shop! Continue reading to find out more about these herbs, their uses in magick and for healing, and how to make your own #prosperity bag.

​If you were wondering why this shop is named for Vervain and Rue, this article may give you a clue. These two herbs are powerhouses in the world of magick and withcraft, with qualities that are said to help you manifest love, luck, prosperity, healing, and protection. Let me tell you more about each herb. [Ready to get started making your own prosperity mojo bag? Scroll down to the bottom of this article for a detailed how-to.]

vervain | dried herb

​Vervain | Verbena officinalis |

[CAN BE PURCHASED HERE]
 
Folklore and Tradition
Vervain is known as a legendary healing and magickal herb since ancient times. It has been called “holy herb” or “herb of the cross” for its reputed use in staunching the wounds of Jesus Christ after his crucifixion and use by ancient Roman priests to cleanse the altars of Jupiter. Ancient Roman author Pliny the Elder decribed vervain as a “sacred plant” with innumerable applications including the ritual sweeping and smudging of homes and its use in potions for love and good fortune. In regards to love, ancient Egyptians believed vervain first sprung from the tears of the goddess Isis as she mourned the death of the god Osiris. Very romantic!
 
Worn as a personal amulet, vervain is said to have protective and calming qualities and may offer everlasting youth. The infusion sprinkled about the premises it is said to ward off evil forces and bring about peacefulness. Set under the pillow at night or drunk in a tea before bedtime, vervain is said to ward off nightmares. May be used as a remedy for nervous and digestive disorders.
 
Energetics: feminine, Venus, earth element
 
Magickal powers: healing, love, luck, peace, prosperity, protection, purification, sleep, vivid dreams, youth
 
Parts Used: aerial
 
Preparations: tea, tincture, topical (soak/bath herb, salve/cream), house/floor wash
 
Herbal Actions: anti-spasmodic, mild analgesic, nervine (nervous system tonic - relaxes tension or stress), bitter/digestive aid (mild choleretic and hepatic stimulant), emmenagogue, antipyretic (fever reducing), diuretic, astringent, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory
 
SAFETY: Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner.

rue | dried herb

Rue | Ruta graveolens |

[CAN BE PURCHASED HERE]
 
Folklore and Tradition
Known as “herb of grace”, rue is rich with medicinal and magical folklore, especially as a magickal protective herb. It holds a special place among the Strega (pronounced stray-gah), or female witch in Italian, where it is the central element in the “cimaruta” (pronounced chee-mah- roo-tah, a Neapolitan form of cima di ruta: Italian for "sprig of rue"), a folk charm worn around the neck or hung above an infant's bed to ward off the evil eye (mal’occhio in Italian). Not so coincidentally, a vervain blossom is also featured as one of the symbols traditionally found on the cimaruta, attached to the sprig of rue.
 
Known for its strong, aromatic smell, a bitter taste, and a blistering quality in the leaves, rue was once used by French perfumers in the manufacture of “Thieves Vinegar” during the plague in Europe due to its ability to ward off pests. In the early Christian church, a sprig of rue was used for sprinkling holy water because in pre-Christian times it had been thought to have effect against the powers of evil.
 
 Rue was once accounted as an effective protection against fevers and all infectious diseases, but medicinal use has fallen out of favor today due to its potential toxicity and bitter taste.
 
Energetics: masculine, Mars, fire element
 
Magickal powers: exorcism, healing, health, love, mental powers, protection
 
Parts Used: leaves and stems
 
Preparations: tea, tincture, wash
 
Herbal Actions: spasmolytic, emmenagogue, antitussive, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and antibacterial (exercise extreme caution with use)
 
SAFETY: Take only in very small amounts and only on occasion. Not for use in pregnancy except under the supervision of a qualified healthcare practitioner. Rue contains furanocoumarin compounds; avoid prolonged exposure to sunlight after ingestion. The essential oil is poisonous and should never be ingested. There are concerns among some herbalists that the rue herb is poisonous and can cause violent gastric reactions when taken in large doses (though small amounts of rue are often used for cooking in Mediterranean countries).

vervain & rue | mojo bag kit

​MOJO BAG HOW TO 

Vervain & Rue Prosperity and Protection Mojo Bag[i]
[MOJO BAG KIT CAN BE PURCHASED HERE]

​Materials needed:
½ tsp dried vervain
½ tsp dried rue
¼ tsp coarse salt
small pouch or glass jar for salt
slightly larger pouch to contain all ingredients
pictures, charms, crystals that symbolize prosperity (optional)
 
To Make:
⸙ add salt to your container of choice
⸙ blend together the herbs while imagining as vividly as possible the feeling of being blessed with abundance and prosperity, if you’d like, cut out some pictures from magazines or collect small items or crystals (such as citrine) that symbolize prosperity to you
⸙ place the herbs into the larger pouch together with the container of salt and any symbolic pictures or items you’d like to add
⸙ tie up the pouch with a silk ribbon
⸙ carry this bag with you for prosperity and protection

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References
[i] HOW TO adapted from Llewellyn https://www.llewellyn.com/spell.php?spell_id=447