Some plants have a considerable part in the history of witchcraft. And rue is one of them. Let’s see what rue magical properties and uses are!
In ancient times it was counted among the enchanted herbs, a panacea, and universal remedy against snake bites, and an antidote against poisons.
Its botanical name, ruta graveolens, underlines its intense, pungent, unpleasant smell, and links it to a very particular myth, that of the women of Lemnos, which tells of the collective condemnation of an entire female population wanted by the goddess Aphrodite.
The sentence … to an unbearable stench!
Contents
The origin of the myth about rue
The island of Lemnos is sadly remembered because of a cruel event that occurred when, in one night, all the men on the island were brutally murdered by women.
They said that the Aphrodite cursed women, they stopped worshipping her, and as revenge, Aphrodite cursed them.
In fact, she cursed these women by making them smell terrible, so men started sharing their beds with slave-girls imported from Thrace.
Because of that, these women decided to take revenge, and killed every man (also children), except one!
The queen of this island felt bad for her father, so she set him out to sea to spread the news about this massacre.
This is the official version of the myth.
Some other, less-known version, claimed instead that it was the sorceress Medea that made this stench.
It is told that she was taken by uncontrollable jealousy, when she discovered that her lover Jason had once loved Issipile, one of the princesses of that island.
Because of this, Medea polluted the sea with a mixture of stinking rue. Once this smelly reached the coast, the unbearable stench overwhelmed women that were swimming in the sea.
Why is this myth even important?
The myth of the Lemniadi leads the symbolic dimension of the rue to the sphere of eroticism, justifying the alchemical role of the goddess Aphrodite in uniting or separating opposites through the powerful tool of attraction/rejection.
Connection to sorceress Medea shows that it can also be a dark and fatal herb, despite its proven reputation as a beneficial drug.
Practical uses of rue
It reduces swelling, has an anti-inflammatory action, and is a well-known remedy for the treatment of injuries caused by sports accidents.
It also calms the nervous system, soothes cramps, and eases pain.
The homeopathic remedy is indicated in the case of rheumatic pain, sprain, and eyestrain.
Except for the root, we can use all parts of the plant.
It is rich in heterosides, that is, glycosides, which increase the resistance of the blood capillaries as well as performing antispasmodic and diuretic action; flavonoids, recognized antioxidants; fucumarine with photosensitizing and vasodilating action and essential oils.
A particular flavonoid is extracted from the rue; that is rutin, which is used by the pharmaceutical industry for the prevention and treatment of capillary fragility.
Ways of using it
- Ruta is used as a flavoring and is traditionally used to flavor liqueurs.
- Fresh leaves can be used in moderation to flavor salads, meats, fish, oils, and aromatic vinegar.
- At home, it can keep mice away, by putting sprigs of fresh rue in places where you saw them running. The smell will disturb small rodents and also to mosquitoes, which is why it is grown in gardens. The presence of rue in the garden also keeps snakes away.
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Magical properties and uses of rue
Rue is mainly used for healing; its leaves found in the warm and compressed water on the temples and forehead effectively repel headaches.
Rue plays a vital role in exorcist rituals.
Its planet is Mars, and the divinity associated with it is Artemis.
Among the magical properties of the rue, we can find the following:
- Bless, purify, protect when you do energy cleansing to scare away evil spirits.
- It has the magical power to attract money.
- It can protect from spells or curses.
- When you want to keep a person, or an ex who keeps stalking you away use the rue, and you’ll see how easy it is to get rid of her/him.
- Its effective power protects us against all kinds of witchcraft, spells, and even against the evil eye.
Where should you place rue?
To keep your home clean of bad energies, I recommend planting rue close to the entrance of your house or apartment.
By doing this, it will absorb all the negative energies and help you clean every corner of your house.
You can also hang it on the door of the house. A branch of rue will protect you from any spell against you, take care of envy or curses that could affect you or your family.
A money ritual with rue
As we have seen, the rue has mighty abilities, so the rituals and spells performed with it can be very effective and powerful.
Things you need
- Seven rue leaves
- One gold or red cloth bag
- One gold ribbon
- Seven coins of any denomination
How it’s done
Perform this ritual on a Friday and any time after 9 pm. This ritual will be more powerful if it’s a crescent moon phase.
Store the rue leaves next to the coins inside the bag, and close with the ribbon.
Hold the bag with both hands against your chest while invoking the following ritual.
This ritual must be repeated fourteen times and in each repetition make a stop with five deep abdominal breathing:
“May money always be with me, may prosperity and fortune come to me.”
This bag is going to be your amulet. You must carry it with you for a full month. You can put it in your purse or wallet.
Cleansing energy ritual with rue
When you feel that things are not going well, maybe you lose your job, you feel powerless, depressed, you see how your partner is fading away from you… You should perform this ritual.
If it’s possible, do it on a waning moon phase.
Things you need
- Rue branches with flower
- Plain alcohol
- One small glass jar with lid
How it’s done
In a glass jar, you must place some rue branches (they still have to have flowers).
In this jar, pour in some alcohol.
Let it stay like that overnight.
The next day, you can start using it. You can use it every morning as if it were a perfume.
You can put a little of this preparation behind your ears and on your wrists.
You can also take it with you, so when you have a bad feeling or things are not right, you can use it immediately.
