Part of a series of posts inspired by the South Wales Occult Conference in Cardiff on 2nd November 2024 – find the first post and index here.

The South Wales Occult Conference is organised and hosted by Sian Sibley and her coven, DragonOak, and when a speaker had to drop out the day before the conference Siany stepped in and gave a really interesting talk on Plants of the Underworld…

As a witch I often think I should be better at herbalism. When I left college I went to study holistic therapies – massage, reflexology, aromatherapy – because it seemed important to me that I should know a healing skill.

(I then spent a year trying to set up a therapy business – named Flutterby Therapies – as I figured it was the best way to offer magical healing services in a way that fit with the culture I lived in. Unfortunately I didn’t have any real business skills and it didn’t take off, but I certainly learned in the process!)

My understanding of herbalism, however, has remained rudimentary, so I was curious to hear what Siany would share about plants

In her talk, Plants of the Underworld, Siany told us about plants that are connected to death, plants for remembering the ancestors, and plants for safe passage to (and from) the Underworld.

One thing that I really enjoyed was the reminder of how much of this I already knew, because, actually, herbalism is only one way of working with plant spirits. Some part of my spirit relaxed, finally letting go of the “should” that I’ve felt around this piece of magic which is so deeply associated with my chosen Path.

You do not need to be a herbalist to work with plants. You don’t need to get a certificate, or take a long course, or learn all the Latin names (though that can definitely be fun!). Rather, you can take a basic identification guide out and talk to the plants themselves. You can pay attention to the stories, as always, and learn from the wisdom within.

But please, if you want to practice the kind of healing involved in herbalism – consuming or applying plant material to the body – then the study is important. Our powerful plant allies can be deadly!

Identification and a basic knowledge of toxicity is particularly important for those plants associated with death and the underworld – as the easiest way to reach the Underworld is through that final gateway, from which we do not return.

Siany shared with us about the Yew tree, ancient and immortal, whose song sounds, to me, like an eternal chorus of angels, and whose presence is patient peace.

Hemlock and Belladonna, as poisonous teachers of the underworld. Blackthorn, whose scratches are so often toxic, as both guardian and guide to the liminal.

And those plants who connect us to our ancestors – Rosemary, a European plant of memory, whose chemistry stimulates remembering, and whose presence protects and reminds us of who came before.

Lavender, to enhance dreams of our ancestors and make space for grieving. So often used as an essential oil in many households it is a sedative and lowers blood pressure – which is why many people find it helps with sleep. Taking us closer to the Underworld in a gentle way.

Though be careful, still, for if you already have low blood pressure lavender can make that worse, just as rosemary raises blood pressure! Our plant allies are powerful, even the gentle ones, so a little research and a lot of getting to know them is always key.

And this makes sense, because as witches our magic is rooted in relationship, and those relationships are going to be different for each person, so it is up to you to build the relationships that work for you rather than just picking something someone has told you in a book.

Even when a plant, or deity, or other spirit, normally behaves in a particular way with most people, it doesn’t mean it will work with you that way, and vice versa of course. Relationships take time and paying attention.

One lovely piece of lore that I didn’t know was that in (some) South American cultures the Marigold is a flower for honouring the ancestors, specifically as our pathway into this world. I loved hearing about this bright, beautiful, joyful flower as part of ancestor magic. Our Underworld allies need not always be gloomy, there is beauty and joy here too.

Finally Siany shared some plants for safe passage to the underworld – Poppy, the flower of sleep and remembrance, Hawthorn, the liminal tree of edges and boundaries that feeds the travellers with berry and leaf, Pomegranates, the fruit of Persephone, of life, fertility, and death, Mandrake, with its talismanic roots shaped like our human dead, and Mugwort, the plant of opening psychic senses and brewing dreamer’s tea.

This talk wasn’t just about who to approach for what task, though, but also about the practitioner’s encounters with those plants – and for that, well, you’ll have to ask Sian Sibley herself, for those are not my stories to tell.

I love that Siany combines both a magical experience with a scientist’s background, proving that these are not only compatible approaches, but enhance each other.

You can find Sian Sibley’s books on working with plant spirits here!

Your Turn:

Perhaps you have stories you’d like to share of when you’ve met these plants, or of things you’ve felt you “should” learn in order to be a witch, or druid, or pagan, or occultist, or whatever path you are on, and you realised that actually you don’t have to do it that way. Like me realising that I don’t need to learn herbalism, as I already have a relationship with plant spirits and there are many ways to work with them that suits me better…

Whatever they are, I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below.

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