Mandragora officinalis | Mandrake

Mandragora officinalis, also known as mandrake, is a plant with a long history of use in magic and folklore, that has been almost mythologized over the centuries.

This article will provide some information on its properties, correspondences, and associations:

Botanical information:

Mandrake is a perennial herbaceous plant of the Solanaceae family that is native to the Mediterranean region. It has a large, fleshy, brown root that is often forked, and produces a rosette of dark green leaves. The plant also produces a purple or white flower and a yellow or orange fruit that is berry-like in appearance.

• Root: The most distinctive part of the plant is its large, often forked root, which can resemble a human figure and has been associated with various myths and legends.

• Leaves: Mandrake has ovate to elliptical leaves that are arranged in a rosette at ground level.

• Flowers: The plant produces small, bell-shaped flowers that are usually purple, and it develops yellow to orange fruits.

Magickal Properties

• Love: Mandrake is associated with love, passion, and fertility. It is said to attract love, enhance intimacy, and promote fertility.

• Dreamwork: Mandrake is also associated with dreamwork and the subconscious. It is often used in rituals and spellwork to induce lucid dreaming, enhance intuition, and access the collective unconscious.

• Protection: Mandrake is said to protect against evil spirits and curses. It is often used in amulets and charms to ward off harm.

Elemental Correspondences

• Element: Earth

• Planet: Venus, Saturn

• Color: Purple, Blue

• Deities: Venus, Freya

• Chakras: Root, Sacral, Crown

• Tarot Card: The Empress

Associated Deitites and Traditions

• Venus: The Roman goddess of love and beauty, Venus is associated with the love- and passion-inducing properties of Mandrake.

• Freya: The Norse goddess of love, beauty, and witchcraft, Freya is also associated with the fertility-enhancing properties of Mandrake.

• Witchcraft: Mandrake has been used in witchcraft for centuries to attract love, enhance dreamwork, and protect against evil.

Using Mandragora Officinalis in Magick

Mandrake is a potent and versatile herb that can be used in a variety of magical practices.

Here are some specific ways to use Mandragora Officinalis in magick:

• Use Mandragora Officinalis in rituals and spellwork to attract love, induce lucid dreaming, and protect against harm.

• Flying Ointments: In medieval and Renaissance Europe, Mandrake was used in the creation of flying ointments, a hallucinogenic concoction that was believed to induce out-of-body experiences and visions of flight. These ointments were typically made with the leaves and roots of Mandrake, as well as other psychoactive herbs such as Belladonna and Henbane. The use of flying ointments was often associated with witchcraft and pagan rituals. However, they were also used by some Christians, who believed that they could induce visions of heaven or help them to communicate with angels.

Tropane Alkaloids

Mandrake contains a number of tropane alkaloids, which are also found in other Solanaceae plants such as Belladonna and Henbane. These alkaloids are responsible for the psychoactive effects of Mandrake and other Solanaceae plants.

Some of the tropane alkaloids in Mandrake include atropine, scopolamine, and hyoscyamine. These alkaloids can cause a variety of effects, including hallucinations, delirium, and paralysis. They can also be dangerous, and in high doses, they can lead to death.