Caraway

Origin: Western Aisa, Europe, Northern Africa

Family: Apiaceae
Subfamily: Apioideae
Tribe: Careae
Scientific Name: Carum carvi

Folk Names: Faux anis, meridian fennel, Persian cumin, Roman cumin, wild cumin

Magical

Element: Air
Day: Wednesday
Planet: Mercury, Uranus
Zodiac: Gemini

Parts used: Seed

Magical Properties: Love, fidelity, cleansing, cycles, consecration, protection, lust, mental skills, protection from theft

Lore

• Nicholas Culpeper associates caraway with Mercury. He assigns it multiple medical uses, and attributes the seeds to improving eyesight.

Magical Uses

• Carry caraway seeds to strengthen memory.
• Add caraway to sweet baked goods to encourage lust.
• Chew or drink a tea from the seeds to bring eloquence and presuasive skills.
• Place a small bag of caraway seeds in a child’s bed to protect them from illness.
• An object that contains some caraway seeds is believed to be impossible to steal.
• Carry caraway seeds as protection against negativity, evil spirits, and other entities.
• Throw the seeds at a newly-married couple (like rice) to bring fidelity, good communication, and luck to the relationship.