Celery

Origin: Mediterranean, western Asia, Europe

Family: Apiaceae
Subfamily: Apioideae
Tribe: Apieae
Scientific Name: Apium graveolens

Folk Names: Ach(e), Alexander’s scurvy grass, celeri, marsh parsley, salery, sellery, smallage, smallage parsley, water parsley, wild celery

Magical

Element: Air
Day: Wednesday
Planet: Mercury
Zodiac: Gemini
Deities: Hades, Pluto

Parts used: Stalks, leaves, seeds

Magical Properties: Lust, intellect, peace, health, psychic awareness, creativity, focus, sleep

Lore

Celery and parsley are not always distinguishable in older texts, with the same names often being applied to both, from Ancient Greece through to at least the 17th century.

• Ancient Greece and Rome:
  • Celery (selinon or apium) played an important role in several death cults, possibly due to how long it remains green once picked. It was dedicated to Hades & Pluto, being strewn on gravestones to placate Hades.
  • It was consumed as part of funerary meals, and the dead were also wreathed with it.
• Witches were rumoured to eat celery seeds before flying to help prevent dizziness.

Magical Uses

• Add celery to lust-promoting foods.
• Chew celery seeds to aid with concentration.
• Use celery seeds in spell pillows to promote sleep.
• Burn celery seed with orris root to help increase psychic awareness.