Maples can be found throughout North America and Europe, and its wood is said to make good divining rods. In England, it was once believed that passing a child through a maple's branches insured long life. One of the maple's names in Anglo-Saxon was Hlin, and the Old Norse cognate for this word was used as another name for Freo (Freya) indicating the tree may be hallowed to her. The sugar maple is known for its syrup and is said to be good for an upset stomach or as a cough syrup.
Mistletoe Viscum album
Mistletoe seems to have played an important role in most European culture and a special one in the Germanic and Celtic cultures. Amongst the Germanic Heathens, it was harvested on Midsummer's Eve, and was not allowed to touch the ground. In many areas, it was shot down with a spear or arrow, as it was bad luck to cut it with a knife or other blade. Mistletoe taken from the oak was thought to be the most powerful, and was believed to ward against evil witches, have powers over life and death bestow fertility, extinguish fire, have the healing powers of an allheal, and work as an aphrodisiac. Divining rods made of mistletoe were even thought capable of finding gold. Scandinavians once believed mistletoe came to a tree in a flash of lightning, suggesting a link to Thunor (Thor), though its name means "little mists" suggesting it may have condensed from fog in the night air. While not as important to Asatru as it is to Celtic religion, Mistletoe still plays an important role. Note: Mistletoe berries are extremely poisonous, and should not be eaten.
Mugwort Artemisia vulgaris
Mugwort is one of the nine herbs mentioned in "The Nine Wort's Galdor," and was seen as a general cure all. Simply placing a sprig of it in one's pouch was supposed to prevent T¡ring. Mugwort gathered on Midsummer Eve and placed in a grain bin was thought to keep mice away from the grain, while wreathes of mugwort defended against thunder and thieves. If made into a girdle, mugwort was thought to protect one from witches, ghosts, and general misfortune. Mugwort in modern Asatru and Heathen practice is used as a journey herb to fare forth and as an aid in trancing for spae and seidhr work. Good runes to use with mugwort would be Ur, Os, andGéar.
Nettle GENUS: Urtica
Nettle is hallowed to Thunor (Thor), and wearing it in the face of danger was thought to inspire bravery. Like many plants hallowed to Thunor (Thor) it was said to keep lightning at bay. Strangely enough though, its name is related to the word needle, both having derived from an Indo-European root meaning "to sew." This is not surprising as nettle fibers were once used to make household linens before cotton was brought to Europe. Many believe nettle to be the herb "Stithe" mentioned in "The Nine Worts Galdor," although this is not certain. Nettle can be used in tea and was thought symbolic of new life. Good runes to use with Nettle may be Thorn and Daeg.
Oak GENUS:Quercus
The Oak was an important tree to nearly all the Indo-European cultures, and thought hallowed to their thunder gods. The Germanic Heathens were no different as they held the oak to be hallowed to Thunor (Thor). The oak was also linked to the souls of the dead. It along with the yew could be found in graveyards, and coffins were often made of oak wood. Oak served in the creation of need fire, as the Yule log, and in the Midsummer bonfires. It was probably also one of the nine woods used in funeral pyres. The oak was seen as having great healing powers, in England and Germany, one merely had to walk around one to get rid of an ailment. The oak then gave the ailment to a passing bird. It was also thought of as a tree of strength and justice, and both Elves and Man gathered under its branches. In Scandinavia, m‘thels were held beneath oaks, a tradition carried over to America, where the grass beneath an oak served as a courtroom in pioneer days. Rods made of oak were used to collect herbs, and according to Kveldulfr Gundarsson in Teutonic Magic the hlaut-teinn was used to sprinkle the blood of sacrifices were usually oak. The oak itself was often worshiped, and gifts were sometimes left at its base for its guardians. To cut down an oak meant to bring on great misfortune. The oak may have been one of the "nut bearing" trees Tacitus spoke of in "Germania" as lots having been made from. We do know acorns were used in various forms of divination in the Middle Ages. Good runes to use with oak are Thorn, Géar, ans Sigel.
Orpine/Midsummer Men Sedum telephium
The Midsummer men were used in a form of love divination. A pair of the plants would be planted side by side. If both grew and leaned towards each other, the couple planting them would marry. If one slip dies, one of the couple will die before marriage. Orpine also found its uses in the decorations of Midsummer and was one of the herbs gathered on Midsummer's Eve. Good runes to use with orpine may be Giefu, Géar, Sigel, and Daeg.
Parsley
Parsley was thought hallowed to Woden (Odhin), especially in his role as leader of the Wild Hunt. If one meets the Hunt, it was once thought, they could avert death or injury by asking the Huntsmen for Parsley. It was also believed that Parsley could treat the side effects (blindness, head injuries, knife and claw wounds) of having seen the Hunt. Many superstitions surround parsley. It should not be cut by those in love, nor should it ever be given away, for with it one was thought to give away their luck (maegen or main). Neither should it be accepted as a gift. It could, however, be stolen without harm. It was thought bad luck to transplant parsley, unless, of course, it was stolen, for it could cause a family death. Most of these beliefs were linked to parsley as a plant hallowed to Woden (Odin), and therefore it was also said the souls of babies came from parsley patches, although this may show a link to the German goddess Holda, sometimes leader of the Hunt, and warder of the souls of the unborn. Parsley said to improve one's memory. Good runes to use with parsley may be Os and N¡ed.
Rose GENUS:Rosa
The rose, flower of love and life, hallowed to dwarves and elves was considered the German goddess Holda's flower, and was called Frau Rose or Mother Rose. To pick a rose, one was thought to have to ask permission of Holda or the King of the Dwarves, failure to do so could result in great misfortune. The rose has long been a symbol of love, joy, and sweetness in both life and death. In England it was a custom to plant a rose bush as the head of a lover that died before marriage. The rose and its thorns were thought to possess many powers useful in love divination, charms, and potions. The "sleep thorn" that puts Sleeping Beauty to sleep in some German versions is a Rose thorn. As early as 477 BCE the Romans used a red rose above a council table to indicate a meeting was confidential, and this usage has carried over somewhat in Teutonic culture. According to modern florist lore, each color of rose has its own meaning. Red roses are a symbol of true, undying love, while yellow roses symbolize only friendship, and white roses, purity. roses hips (the fruit of the European red rose) have some medical uses, and contain more than twenty times the amount of Vitamin C than an orange. G‚ar and Beorc may be good runes to use with roses.
Rosemary
While Rosemary is not native to Northern Europe, the Romans carried it north with them, and it earned a place in Germanic culture. It was used in bridal wreathes to guard against early pregnancy, and it was also used in funeral wreathes. Its odour was supposed to keep away all kinds of evil wights, although in the Netherlands, it was once called Elf Leaf, and said to be a favorite of the Elvenkind. Rosemary was also thought to promote remembrance, fidelity, and friendship. A sprig of Rosemary under one's pillow was thought to prevent nightmares in many parts of Europe.
Rue
Rue was used for warding against evil wights according to early English Common Law, but was also found in the "witch's brews" or "flying ointments" of the medieval witch. This would make it a likely herb to use in faring forth or second sight. Some herbals state it was useful against wolvesbane and other poisons but this is very doubtful.
Sow Thistle Carlina vulgaris
This thistle like the others of its family is hallowed to Thunor (Thor), and was thought to have many special powers. It was thought one could use it to steal the thoughts and m`gen of another to the point they would waste away and die, and that if one tied it around a cat's neck, the cat would become a better mouser. Sow Thistle was also said to be able to cure the Black Plague, although this is doubtful, it could be the thistle was used to lance the boils and ulcerations caused by the plague, and improve one's chances of survival. See Thistle.
Strawberry
Strawberries were thought hallowed to Frige (Frigg), and folklore says she (in Germany it was Holda) concealed children that died as infants in strawberry fields in order to smuggle them into the afterlife. These were probably the souls of exposed infants that were thought to haunt this world, having no means to reach the great beyond. Perhaps they were members of the Perchtenjagd, which was made up of the souls of unbaptized children that made up Frau Holde's ground based variant of Woden's Wild Hunt. The Elvenkind are said to be fond of srawberries, and like many of the plants they are fond of, they can be bribed with them. Good runes to use with strawberries may be Géar and Beorc.
Herb & Wort Lore A-B
Herb & Wort Lore C-D
Herb & Wort Lore E-L
Herb & Wort Lore T-Z