Angelica
The Archangel
The falcon soars
The town’s gates are even higher
Angelica’s their doorkeeper
He’s wound the sun round his head
He’s tied the moon round his waist
He’s draped in stars.
Angelica is a biennial fellow who happily lives in woodland gardens, thriving in dappled sun. The first year, he grows a clump of of leaves fairly close to the ground. His second year, he shoots to an impressive height of up to 8 feet tall. At the foot of his body, his leaves can be up to 3 feet long. This gives him a look of being well rooted, despite his gangling height. Emerging from these leaves, a slightly purple stalk grows thick and smooth and hollow. In fact, some cultures use his stalks to make a flute-like musical instrument. This youthful gent is adorned in sweetly scented flowers which arrive in July. Large and round, his flower clusters are composed of tiny greenish-white blossoms. Late in the summer his blossoms will turn to seed. He is a kind and courtly knight, eternally young and protective. Be very careful when harvesting him however, as his gentle looks are remarkably similar to his poisonous cousins, the hemlocks.
The Magic of Angelica
Correspondences
Element: Fire
Gender: Masculine
Sabbat: Imbolc, Beltane
Planet: Sun, Venus
Chakra: Root, Heart, Crown
Spellwork
Protect
Ward
Banish
Courage
Strength
Proverb
Lebanese: When the angel arrives, the demon leaves.
The Medicine of Angelica
Ayurvedic
Not Applicable
Herbology
Anti-inflammatory
Antimicrobial
Antispasmodic
Astringent
Carminative
Cholagogue
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Emmenagogue
Expectorant
Stimulant
Tonic
TCM
TCM Name: Dang Gui
Botanical Name: Angelica sinensis radix
Common Name: Chinese Angelica Root
Energy: Warm
Flavor: Sweet, Acrid, Bitter
Organs: Heart, Liver, Spleen
Movement: Tonifies blood, Moistens intestines
Science of Angelica
Botany
Botanical Name: Angelica archangelica
Family: Apiaceae (Carrot Family)
Type of Plant: Herbaceous Biennial
Habitat: Rich moist soil, Partial shade
Zone: 5-7
Bloom Time: June
Height: 3-6 feet
Spread: 2-4 feet
Propagation: Self-seed, Divide
Harvest: Stems in April or May (2nd year); Leaves before flowering (2nd year); Roots after first frost (1st year)
Part Used: Root, Leaf, Stem, Seed
Constituents: Terpenes, Coumarins,
Native Region: Syria, Europe and Scandinavia
Sustainability: No known issues
Leaf
Structure: Compound pinnate
Arrangement: Opposite
Shape: Ovate
Length: 2 inches
Margins: Finely toothed
Surface: Smooth
Flower
Inflorescence: Compound umbels
Sexuality: Imperfect Monoecious
Stamen: 5 Stamens
Pistil: 2 fused carpels
Color: White
Size: 6 inch
Sacred Story
The Saga of the Sworn Brothers is an Icelandic collection of tales recalling the adventures of Þorgeirr (Thorgeir) and Þormóðr (Thormod) in early 11th century. One story describes the brothers collecting angelica from a cliff-top. Unexpectedly the ground gave way, and Thorgier grabs an angelica plant still rooted to keep him from the 100 meter drop to his death. Fearless and proud, he refuses to call to Thormod for aid. Thormod yells to his brother, “Haven’t you collected enough angelica, yet?” Thorgier replies, “I reckon I’ll have enough once I’ve uprooted this piece I’m holding.”
