Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Health, Longevity
Magical Uses and History: Tansy's scientific name Tanacetum vulgare comes from "Athanaton" meaning "immortal" or "immortality." According to Greek myth, Zeus made Ganymede, a youth he fell in love with, immortal by having him drink a juice made from tansy. However, tansy is regarded as toxic and has a history of being used as a poison for both humans and pests alike. It is likely Ganymede was made immortal through death. As such, tansy can be carried or worn to promote longevity or can be used in banishment spells to rid yourself of unwanted people, events, or spirits.
Despite being toxic, tansy is a preservative and was often used for embalming or during funeral rites because of its slow decomposition. The scent of the flowers was believed to help the spirits of the dead on their journey to the afterlife. They can be placed on an ancestral altar to honor loved ones or used to contact spirits.
Furthermore, tansy is an herb of Spring, signifying rebirth and renewal. Place it on your altar to honor Venus.
Tansy can be used in a number of spells including:
Longevity Spells
Death Magic
Spirit Work
Ancestral Veneration
Medicinal Uses: Tansy is most commonly used to treat intestinal parasites, specifically roundworms and threadworms. As a bitter, it can stimulate digestion and help ease dyspepsia or indigestion. Topically, tansy cream can be used to treat scabies. However, tansy is toxic in high dosages and should be used in moderation as it contains thujone, a psychedelic and poison. It can also stimulate menstruation and should not be taken by women who are pregnant or wishing to become pregnant.
Preparation and Dosage: Internally, tansy flowers can be taken as an infusion. Pour a cup of boiling water over 1 teaspoon of dried flower and allow it to infuse for 10 to 15 minutes. Drink up to twice a day. This infusion can also be applied to the skin to treat scabies. As a tincture, take 1-2 milliliters of the tincture three times a day.
Want to print a copy of this for your Book of Shadows? Click below for your free copy!
Wonderful and highly interesting post, dear Willow. Such a lovely look at a long-used plant.
ReplyDeleteWhile the majority of herbs in existence today have been around for centuries or millennia at this point, there are some that just inherently especially old and more sagely (sage itself included, naturally) to me and tansy is one that falls squarely under that header.
It's sunny hue also puts it in the spring/summer/early fall herb camp for me.
This is a really interesting scent, very unique. Most women have told me they're not so keen on it. It's definitely not my favorite essential oil scent.
ReplyDeleteBeware of Blue Tansy ("Moroccan Chamomile") being sold as German Chamomile.
And, yes, I mean online marketplaces. Buyer beware. Chamomile smells nothing like tansy. Tansy is sharp, pungent, and tart. German Chamomile smells sweet and sometimes a little cheesy, but it's a different scent, altogether. Like chamomile tea! Also, tansy is a deeper hue.
You don't want to be ingesting Tansy, thinking it's German Chamomile. You can have a LOT of German Chamomile and not get sick. That same amount of tansy might be a problem.