By Tess Whitehurst

Burning sage is commonly understood to be an effective way of clearing energy, but it’s more than that. Every time we light a sage wand and let its fragrant smoke swirl around our homes, we’re not only creating good vibes, we’re also powerfully connecting with the native traditions of the land we inhabit.

White sage flourishes in the hills around Los Angeles, and while it’s neither appropriate nor legal to remove any part of a plant that’s in a state or national park, plants growing wild in nature afford us the opportunity to cultivate a personal relationship with them. We can examine a plant, touch it gently, smell it, and even have a conversation (silent or otherwise) with it. Many studies have been done on the benefits of communing with household plants, and those in the wild are equally responsive. Connecting with plants in this way is a sacred act; it reminds us that we are, on a very deep level, one with the earth and with all of life.

There’s much more than sage in our hills and canyons, and pretty much any plant you see growing in the wild has its own set of magical traditions and practices. What’s more, the plants that live in the L.A. area are as diverse in their origins as the people who inhabit our city, so one jaunt through the hills allows us to rub elbows with beautiful botanical traditions from all over the world.

Oak

Oaks were sacred to the Druids, and California oaks were an essential part of Native American life. Interestingly, in both cultures the oak was a symbol of prosperity, strength, justice, healing, protection, and the divine oneness of all things.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• To protect your home from negativity and danger, create a charm by binding two oak twigs together with red thread to form an equal-armed cross. Hang the charm above the front door.

• Wear an acorn in a pouch around your neck to preserve youthfulness and increase luck.

Eucalyptus

You may know that eucalyptus is originally from Australia. It has numerous medicinal uses, and its chemical constituents are included in many commercial cough drops and cough syrups. It’s also an effective insect repellent.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• To speed healing from an illness, place a white or green candle on top of three eucalyptus leaves, set it near the patient, and allow it to (safely) burn all the way down.

• To protect those in the household from colds and flu, hang a small eucalyptus branch above the front door.

Castor

The beans of this gorgeous plant are deadly, but the oil is safe for both internal and external use, and has been used as a folk remedy in Europe, Africa, India, China, the Middle East and America. The beans and oil were found in the Egyptian pyramids, and the plant is mentioned in an Egyptian medical text from 1550 BCE. Edgar Cayce recommended the oil for a number of things, including digestive complaints, sleep disorders and allergies.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• Although the beans are deadly when consumed, they’re said to protect against the evil eye and to repel negativity.

• Before entering a potentially stressful or negative situation, you might visualize a sphere of white light around yourself, and then anoint the center of your forehead, your throat, your heart and your inner wrists with a tiny touch of castor oil. This will help preserve your positive outlook and prevent you from getting pulled into drama or discord.

Yucca

Yucca was (and sometimes still is) used by some Native Americans to make soap and shampoo, and the fibers were woven into such useful items as sandals and bags. It’s native to our region, and because of its appearance, is often confused with agave.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• It’s been said that under the right conditions, a human may transform himself into an animal if he jumps through a loop constructed of yucca fibers.

• A wreath of yucca fibers worn on the head was believed to allow the wearer to shapeshift into any desired form.

California Poppy

The California poppy is a mild sedative with slight euphoric properties.  Traditionally it was used to soothe anxiety, relieve pain and treat insomnia, and some modern herbalists still recommend it for these purposes.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• To attract love and enhance your physical beauty, sleep with California poppy seeds under your pillow in a small red flannel sack or sachet.

• To promote sleep, plant California poppies in a window box or flowerbed right outside your bedroom window.

There are many different varieties of buckwheat in our area.  For Native Americans, it was both a food source and a soothing digestive tea.

Some magical and/or traditional uses:

• Keep a small corked jar full of buckwheat seeds in your freezer to ensure that you’ll always have enough money for everything you need.

• Sprinkle buckwheat flour around the perimeter of your property or across your doorstep to protect your assets and enhance your wealth.

Getting to know the unique magical qualities and traditional uses of plants is a habit that will enhance your spiritual practice, your delight in nature, and your awareness of the oneness of all things. These plants are just a few of the thousands that thrive in our climate, so put on some sturdy shoes and head for the hills. To begin to develop a personal relationship with the spirit of a plant, all you need to do is stand in front of it, relax, and silently tune in.

Tess Whitehurst is an L.A.-based feng shui consultant. Her first book, Magical Housekeeping:  Simple Charms and Practical Tips for Creating a Harmonious Home, will be released by Llewellyn Worldwide next year.

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