Mandrake Root

· M AN D R A K E   R O O T ·  

Love / Prosperity / Protection

·HERBAL LORE·

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⛤ WARNINGS ⛤

Firstly, Mandrake Root is an extremely toxic hallucinogen and should not be consumed, misused or applied to the body. Handle with caution, it is highly potent. The safest way to use Mandrake Root is in dried form, as a talisman or charm, in spells jars and pouches. It is rarely used in modern herbalism, but it still used in witchcraft spells and offerings. A bath made with an infusion is considered safe but the methods described here are for information purposes only. Research Mandrake Root thoroughly before using. 

Secondly, it is actually very rare to find true Mandrake Root, and even rarer to find a whole true Mandrake Root. A lot of stores won’t sell it in case someone decides to be silly and poison themselves. Also, a lot of stores will be selling other plants(e.g. May Apple or White Bryony) mislabeled as mandrake, so you may not have bought true Mandrake Root. 

⛤ FOLKLORE ⛤

I find the poison path fascinating, and I know many of you do too! Mandrake Root, along with Black Henbane, Deadly Nightshade, Thornapple, Wolfsbane, Hemlock, and Henbane Bell were ingredients in the notorious Witches salve known as Flying Ointment. 

There was a superstition that a Mandrake would scream as it was pulled up from the ground, and whoever heard the scream would die or receive very bad luck. So, in the past, people would tie the roots to animals and use the animals to pull up a Mandrake, or plug their ears with wax

⛤ LOVE ⛤

Mandrake Root is traditionally associated with love, attracting love and fertility as the root bears a strong resemblance to male and female anatomy (doctrine of signatures). It is typically carried as a charm for both love and fertility spells, or placed under a bed/mattress or pillow.

Fertility: add powdered or chips of Mandrake root to enhance fertility charms

⛤ PROSPERITY ⛤

Home: Mandrake Root placed on the mantel of the home will bring prosperity.

Prosperity Charms: add powdered or chips of Mandrake root to enhance prosperity charms.

Prosperity Spell: traditionally, it was said that money (especially coins) placed next to mandrake root will double. These days it is not taken so literally and is understood as more of a boost in general prosperity. Place the mandrake root and coins together and leave out overnight in the moonlight (see here for the spell).

 ⛤ PROTECTION ⛤

Mandrake Root has been used in protection spells, breaking curses/hexes and heavy-duty spiritual cleansing.

For rituals involved soaking: Mandrake Root can be used again – it is preserved if it is dried out completely (it is quite expensive, don’t throw it out!).

For a heavy-duty cleanse: Mandrake Root is soaked in warm water overnight (or for 3 days). The liquid is added to a bathtub full of water for a ritual bath.

For use in breaking hexes: boiling water is poured over papaya leaves and seeds to create an infusion (being careful not to burn yourself). A piece of Mandrake Root is added to the water. When it has completely cooled, the water is strained and the infusion is added to a ritual bath.

To protect the home: sprinkle blessed water and salt over a piece of Mandrake Root and bury it near the front door.

To protect the home: place Mandrake Root on the mantel of the home.

Banishing: Mandrake Root is used in banishing spells, rituals and exorcisms as it is said that malevolent spirits cannot tolerate Mandrake Root. In ancient exorcisms, the priest would place a tiny piece of Mandrake Root under the person’s tongue to help drive out the demon.

⛤ SPELLS ⛤

Great for any spells involving protection, fertility, love, breaking hexes, cleansing, home protection, banishing, prosperity

⛤ HEXENLORE ⛤

Mandrake Root extract is made by steeping whole or sliced roots in a jar with alcohol for three moon cycles. Mandrake Root extract is used to empower and enhance other spells and rituals or to bathe ritual tools.

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