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Reference

Compendium

Ingredients for spellwork: their formal and folk names, categories, deities and forms, with the sources behind them.

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    313 ingredients

    313 ingredients

    NewCaution
    Botanical Name
    Salvia rosmarinus

    Rosemary

    Rosemary is an evergreen shrub of the mint family, Lamiaceae, with fragrant, needle-like leaves, green above and pale beneath, and small flowers that are commonly pale blue or purple, sometimes white or pink. It is native to the Mediterranean region, Portugal and north-west Spain; long known as Rosmarinus officinalis, it was moved into the sage genus, Salvia, in 2017. The leaves flavour stews, roasts and marinades, its oil goes into perfumes and household products, and Hungary water, one of Europe's first alcohol-based perfumes, was distilled mainly from it. Grieve records its old fame for strengthening the memory, which made it an emblem of fidelity between lovers: it was woven into bridal wreaths, given to wedding guests and used at funerals, and burned with juniper berries in sickrooms and French hospitals. Kynes adds that it was laid in graves and carried by mourners, and used across Europe in love magic and against witches, demons and the evil eye. Cunningham calls it one of the oldest incenses, burned to cleanse a place before magic, put under the pillow against nightmares and hung at the door against thieves; he gives it to the Sun and fire, and to protection, love, lust, purification, healing and sleep. Kynes adds Mercury and the Moon, five signs, and powers that include clarity, creativity, dream work and fidelity.

    Caution

    AHPA safety class 1 and interaction class A: no contraindications or drug interactions are known, and its concerns apply to therapeutic doses, not to rosemary as a kitchen spice. It is listed as an emmenagogue (it may bring on menstruation). Skin allergy to rosemary has been confirmed by patch testing; an extract reduced the absorption of iron from food; and because rosemary lowered blood sugar in animal studies, people with diabetes on insulin or tablets should keep monitoring their glucose. Cunningham advises against high internal doses and against internal use in pregnancy (health codes D+ and P). Kynes, in Herbal Remedies, says to avoid it in pregnancy, while breastfeeding, and with high blood pressure or epilepsy, and warns that too much may irritate the stomach.

    The Oil form carries its own caution; the ingredient's page shows it.

    Forms

    • Flower
    • Leaf
    • Oil
    • Wood

    Correspondences

    Elements
    Fire
    Celestial Bodies
    Sun, Mercury, Moon
    Zodiac Signs
    Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius, Virgo
    Deities
    Aphrodite (Greek), Venus (Roman)

    Folk Names

    • Compass Plant
    • Compass Weed
    • Dew of the Sea
    • Elf Leaf
    • Garden Rosemary
    • Guardrobe
    • Incensier
    • Libanotis
    • Polar Plant
    • Rosmarine
    • Sea Dew

    Categories

    • Clarity
    • Cleansing
    • Communication
    • Creativity
    • Dream Work
    • Fidelity
    • Healing
    • Inspiration
    • Knowledge
    • Love
    • Lust
    • Memory
    • Protection
    • Purification
    • Sleep
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