🍯 Honey in Magic & Folklore 🍯 (Patreon)

Let’s talk about the magic of honey and its uses in folklore! Here are resources from Patti Wigington of Learn Religions, Magical Recipes Online and Vayas Witchcraft. During the late summer and early fall, honey is a staple crop in many parts of the world. This deliciously sweet and sticky gift from the bee population is considered a health food - it will protect you against allergies if you eat just a teaspoon of locally sourced honey each day - and also has a number of magical properties.

Hoodoo Honey

In some forms of Hoodoo and folk magic, honey is used to sweeten someone’s feelings towards you. In one traditional spell, honey is poured into a jar or saucer on top of a slip of paper containing the person’s name. A candle is placed in the saucer and burned until it goes out on its own. In another variation, the candle itself is dressed with honey.

Cat Yronwoode of Luckymojo recommends using honey to sweeten the people in your life. She does point out that the sweetening element doesn't have to be honey, but it certainly does come in handy.

Ancient Honey Magic

Some ancient cultures used honey in embalming procedures. It’s always appropriate to leave offerings of honey at a gravesite. In addition, the folklore of a number of societies indicates that a blend of honey and milk is an acceptable offering to a deity. In particular, honey is sacred to Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty.

In Hindu texts, honey is described as one of the five sacred elixirs of immortality. The Buddhist faith celebrates Madhu Purnima, which honors the day that Buddha made peace among his disciples - and honey is given as a gift to monks in his honor.

Honey in Ritual and Spellwork

Honey, because of its sticky properties, can be used in magic to hold two things together. Some magical traditions use honey to bind a couple that has a shaky relationship. If you want to do a honey binding on a couple - or even on two friends who are struggling with their friendship - you can use poppets with a layer of honey between them, and then wrapped with a cord. Because honey does not solidify, you can always separate the two poppets later with minimal disruption.

Cory at New World Witchery suggests honey jars as a good way to get started with folk magic.

These jars are also known as “sweetening jars,” and can actually contain almost any kind of pure sweetener, such as brown or white sugar, molasses, or syrup...You can make jars for each person you want to sweeten if you’re working more elaborate spells on them, or keep one jar with lots of names in it for general sweetening. You can also make vinegar or “souring” jars, which is a form of hexing. I’d generally wait to do a souring jar until after you’ve tried a few sweetening ones, though.

If you do any kitchen magic, honey can come in very handy. Use it in dishes to bring about sweetness, fertility, or prosperity. You can even use honey in rituals as an offering to deity–many goddesses and gods seem to appreciate it. You can also use a blend of milk and honey to asperge a sacred space if you're holding ritual outdoors. Add some into a bath scrub for a ritual bath prior to working for love or romance, or anoint a candle with it when you're doing candle magic. Finally, include it in spellwork for bringing and keeping two things together.

Magical Properties

- Honey can be symbolically used to stick things together. It can be used in binding spells, adding stability to relationships, and put on poppets. It’s good for binding spells because it can be undone fairly easily too.

- It’s used similarly to sugar; to sweeten a person or situation to work in your favour.

- Honey is an excellent offering to gods and spirits.

- A dab of it can be used in attraction, love, lust, and sex magic.

Medicinal Properties

- Honey is great for cold and flu treatment. Raw and organic honey is preferable as it is an antibacterial and is high in antioxidants.

- It can be used in an ointment for treating wounds, burns and cold sores.

- Honey will help in muscle building; a teaspoon of raw organic honey after a workout can induce an insulin spike, allowing your muscles to get the most out of the workout.

- It can be used as a weight loss aid. Honey can cause changes to the metabolism that will help curb sugar cravings.

- Honey is also an excellent hangover remedy.

Honey Magic

Honey is so potent that has been revered by Witches as it assisted them greatly to achieve anything they want. Honey is a diverse magical ingredient which can be used in many spells and will enhance the results. An interesting lore suggests that certain types of honey possess magnified abilities when incorporated in related spells. So a Mage/Witch can use a certain type of Magic to empower his/her power, another type to call for love and another one to banish and protect. Let’s have a look at the list below:

Thyme Honey: the Honey of Courage

Popular in the Mediterranean countries, it is considered to give courage and build self-confidence. Eating Honey from Thyme help us cleanse ourselves from jinxes and strengthens our aura against malevolent attacks. Thyme Honey is also believed to be adored by Fairies.

Lavender Honey: the Honey of Magic

This type of Honey is believed to be extra potent when used in Magic and spells. It is considered a powerful instrument of the Witches and it is also believed to grant Magical Powers to the one who ingests it regularly.

Acacia Honey: the honey of Vital Energy

It”s one of the most favourite types of Honey worldwide. Acacia”s powers are passing into this Honey and allegedly helps banish insomnia and nightmares as it stops all evil influences. Ingesting Acacia’s honey is believed to restore your Vital Energy which was drained by the Evil Eye or Malevolent attacks.

Manuka Honey: the honey of Healing

It is produced in New Zealand by bees that pollinate the Manuka bush and is considered one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey in the world. Manuka Honey is used in healing spells of the Maori tribe. You can try dedicate some Manuka honey to the spirits and angels of Healing.

Pine Honey: the honey of Protection

Pine Honey is a very popular honey all over the World. Pine honey should be used by anyone who feels his or her energy at low levels. Pine’s magic is intense and used for rejuvenation. Moreover Pine will help you not only recharge your “batteries” but also protect you from anyone who wants to vampirize on your powers. Pine Honey should be used when we feel we are under demonic or other psychic attack.

Flower Honey: the honey of Happiness

Flower honey is honey produced by bees that pollinate the wild fields. In facts it uses any flower available thus Flower Honey is drenched with the power of Spring. Flower honey is perfect when Spring is what need to “happen” in your life. Flower honey helps us get in touch with beauty, love and the child in us! Use Flower Honey in spells for Love, Friendship and Happiness.

Eucalyptus Honey: the honey of Uncrossing

Eucalyptus honey is not that common. However, if found it would be an excellent tool for Healing and Uncrossing spells. It is more powerful than Thyme honey in uncrossing rituals & Pine honey in healing rituals. However, use Pine honey when you are under attack and Thyme honey for general protection. In healing spells start with Pine Honey (if your “energy” hits critical levels) and continue with Eucalyptus as it”s milder but more effective in long-term use.

Sources:

https://www.magicalrecipesonline.com/2016/06/honey-magic-properties-spells-rituals.html

https://vayas-witchcraft-and-spiritual.tumblr.com/post/111658090940/ingredient-honey/amp

Wigington, Patti. "Honey in Magic and Folklore." Learn Religions, Aug. 28, 2020, learnreligions.com/honey-magic-and-folklore-2561474.