Caraway Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Persian Cumin, Meridian Fennel, Kummel
A sharp kitchen seed for protection, memory and keeping what you love close.
- Intentions
- Protection, Wisdom, Love
- Element
- Air
- Planet
- Mercury
- Day
- Wednesday
- Moon phase
- First Quarter
- Parts used
- Seeds
How to use it
- Keep it safe
Place a few caraway seeds in a tiny pouch inside a wallet, bag or keepsake box. Folklore says caraway guards against theft, so hold the pouch and ask that your things stay with you.
- Study charm
Chew a pinch of caraway seeds, or simply smell them, before you study. Let the warm, sharp scent mark the moment your mind settles and focuses on learning.
- Faithful bread
Bake caraway into rye bread or biscuits to share with a partner or family. As you knead, ask that the people at your table stay close and loyal to one another.
Works well with
History and folklore
Caraway is one of the oldest cultivated spices in Europe, and seeds have been found at prehistoric sites. Folklore credits it with the power to hold on to things: an object containing caraway could not be stolen, and a few seeds given to a lover or tucked in a pigeon's feed were said to keep them from straying. It also had a name for sharpening the memory. Seed cakes with caraway were a traditional treat at the end of harvest in England.
A sharp kitchen seed for protection, memory and keeping what you love close.
- Intentions: Protection, Wisdom, Love
- Element: Air
- Planet: Mercury
- Zodiac: Gemini, Virgo
- Day: Wednesday
- Moon phase: First Quarter
- Parts used: Seeds
Safety: Fine in normal cooking amounts. Ask a healthcare provider before using caraway in more than food amounts during pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Caraway essential oil can irritate skin, so never swallow it, always dilute it and keep it away from pets, cats especially. Keep pets from eating seed mixes.
How to use it
- Keep it safe. Place a few caraway seeds in a tiny pouch inside a wallet, bag or keepsake box. Folklore says caraway guards against theft, so hold the pouch and ask that your things stay with you.
- Study charm. Chew a pinch of caraway seeds, or simply smell them, before you study. Let the warm, sharp scent mark the moment your mind settles and focuses on learning.
- Faithful bread. Bake caraway into rye bread or biscuits to share with a partner or family. As you knead, ask that the people at your table stay close and loyal to one another.
Works well with: Yellow Candle, Fluorite, Wednesday, Mercury, First Quarter
Folklore
Caraway is one of the oldest cultivated spices in Europe, and seeds have been found at prehistoric sites. Folklore credits it with the power to hold on to things: an object containing caraway could not be stolen, and a few seeds given to a lover or tucked in a pigeon's feed were said to keep them from straying. It also had a name for sharpening the memory. Seed cakes with caraway were a traditional treat at the end of harvest in England.
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.