Magical and Medicinal Uses of Cherry

Gender: Feminine
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Powers: Death, Fertility, Life, Love, Rebirth

Magical Uses and History: Throughout history, the cherry tree has been admired for its beautiful blossoms and sweet fruits, especially among the Japanese whose sakura blossoms are world-renowned. Cherries are one of the first trees to bloom in the spring, associating them with rebirth, fertility, and life. However, the blooms are fragile and short-lasting, thus representing death and the fragility of life as well. According to Japanese mythology, Sakuya-hime (Princess Blossoms of the Trees) met Ninigi, the grandson of the sun kami (goddess) Amaterasu, while walking along the beach and fell in love. Wishing to marry Saku, Ninigi approached her father, Oho-Yama, for her hand in marriage. Oho-Yama instead proposed Ninigi marry his eldest daughter, Iwa-Naga-hime the rock princess, but Ninigi claimed that Saku had his heart and that Iwa was ugly. Oho-Yama was angered by this but reluctantly agreed to the marriage, which came at a cost. Oho-yama blessed (or cursed?) the marriage by proclaiming that all descendants of Saku would be as short-lived as a spring blossom while Iwa's descendants would be enduring and eternal like stones. Thus human lives are short and fleeting, like the sakura blossoms. When Saku later died, a cherry tree grew on her grave which became known as 'sakura.' This correspondence is further perpetuated in Celtic mythology. During the Battle of Godeu, many trees rose up to fight, including the cherry. Unfortunately, the cherry tree was broken in battle, thus showing its fragility. Despite the contradictory meanings, cherry blossoms can be used in a number of spells for fertility, life, rebirth, and even death. Place upon graves or ancestral altars in the spring to represent both life and death and the rebirth of spirits as they pass into the Otherworld. Add to ancestral incense to honor the dead and aid in spirit communication. Place blossoms under your bed or hang them in your bedroom to encourage fertility. If you wish for a spell to be quick, yet short-lived, add cherry blossoms.

The cherry is also deeply associated with love, being used in love spells across the globe. According to another Japanese myth, the gods decided to remove a tree that had never bloomed. Before removing it, however, they gave it the chance to experience life as a human for 20 years. During this time, the tree lamented that there was nothing good in the world until it met a beautiful young woman. They fell in love and the tree confided that it was not human but a tree instead. The young woman was so in love with the tree that she asked to become a tree as well. They became one, transforming into a sakura that immediately bloomed. In the Americas, cherry has long been used to attract love and romance into one's life, likely due to its beautiful blooms and sweet, red fruit. Eat cherries to boost attraction, serve cherry pie or preserves to a potential lover to win their affection, tie a lock of hair around a blossoming branch to attract love, or dress candles with cherry-infused oil for love. Add cherry pits, blossoms, or dried fruit to love spells and sachets for the same purpose. The uses of cherry are pretty endless in this regard so you can get creative.

As mentioned before, cherry is also associated with death. The leaves and bark contain hydrocyanic acid, which turns to cyanide as the leaves begin to wilt. This makes most of the tree highly toxic, and an excellent component to spells for death, destruction, and endings. Use the leaves to bring about the end of something, especially if you want to break spells, curses, or relationships. Cherry leaves can be added to sour jars, foot powders, or other spells to turn people way.

Cherry can be used in a number of spells including:

    Love Spells

    Fertility Magic

    Curses

    Death Magic

Medicinal Uses: Cherries, especially wild cherries, are high in prussic acid making them useful in treating coughs and upper respiratory infections such as bronchitis. Cherries are also anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce inflammation caused by arthritis and gout but inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing inflammatory proteins. Cherry juice has also been shown to increase melatonin, therefore increasing sleep duration and sleep quality.

Preparation and Dosage: To create an infusion, combine 1 teaspoon of dried cherry bark (from a reputable deal) with one cup of boiling water. Allow the mixture to infuse for 10 minutes. Drink up to three times a day. To improve sleep, drink 1 cup of cherry juice before bed. To create a cough syrup, combine 3/4 cup cherry bark with one cup of water. Simmer on low heat for 30 minutes before straining the liquid. Pour the strained liquid back into the pot and add 1 cup of honey. Simmer on low for 10 minutes until thick. Store in the refrigerator for up to 6 months. Adults take 1 teaspoon every 4-6 hours as needed up to 4 times a day for no more than a week.

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