Bay Laurel Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Bay Leaf, Sweet Bay, Laurel
The wishing leaf, for clear sight, protection and success.
- Intentions
- Protection, Divination, Luck, Prosperity
- Element
- Fire
- Planet
- The Sun
- Zodiac
- Leo
- Day
- Sunday
- Moon phase
- Waxing Gibbous
- Parts used
- Leaves
How to use it
- Wish on a leaf
Write a short wish on a dried bay leaf with a marker or pen. Hold it, picture the result clearly, then burn it safely in a fireproof dish or keep it under your pillow.
- Guard a doorway
Tuck a bay leaf above a door frame or inside a small pouch by the entry. Each time you pass it, remember that your home is a protected, steady place.
- Dream support
Place a bay leaf under your pillow before sleep when you want clearer dreams or insight. Keep a notebook nearby and jot down whatever you recall when you wake.
Works well with
Substitutes
History and folklore
In ancient Greece the laurel was sacred to Apollo, god of light, poetry and prophecy. The priestess at Delphi was said to chew or burn laurel before speaking her visions, and victors in the Pythian Games wore laurel crowns. That is why we still speak of resting on our laurels. In later European folklore a bay tree near the house was thought to keep away harm, and writing wishes on bay leaves remains one of the simplest spells a beginner can try.
The wishing leaf, for clear sight, protection and success.
- Intentions: Protection, Divination, Luck, Prosperity
- Element: Fire
- Planet: The Sun
- Zodiac: Leo
- Day: Sunday
- Moon phase: Waxing Gibbous
- Parts used: Leaves
Safety: Toxic to cats, dogs and horses (ASPCA list), so keep leaves where pets cannot chew them. Remove whole leaves from food before eating, since the stiff leaves are a choking hazard. Burning bay makes a sharp smoke, so ventilate the room and keep pets and anyone with breathing problems out of it.
How to use it
- Wish on a leaf. Write a short wish on a dried bay leaf with a marker or pen. Hold it, picture the result clearly, then burn it safely in a fireproof dish or keep it under your pillow.
- Guard a doorway. Tuck a bay leaf above a door frame or inside a small pouch by the entry. Each time you pass it, remember that your home is a protected, steady place.
- Dream support. Place a bay leaf under your pillow before sleep when you want clearer dreams or insight. Keep a notebook nearby and jot down whatever you recall when you wake.
Works well with: Gold Candle, Citrine, Sunday, Frankincense, Litha
Folklore
In ancient Greece the laurel was sacred to Apollo, god of light, poetry and prophecy. The priestess at Delphi was said to chew or burn laurel before speaking her visions, and victors in the Pythian Games wore laurel crowns. That is why we still speak of resting on our laurels. In later European folklore a bay tree near the house was thought to keep away harm, and writing wishes on bay leaves remains one of the simplest spells a beginner can try.
The Witch's Cabinet is a free reference for your practice. Correspondences are traditional associations, not medical advice. Always follow the safety notes, especially with herbs and essential oils around children, pets and during pregnancy.