Shea Butter Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Shea, Karite, Shea nut butter, Vitellaria paradoxa
A rich, creamy base for magickal balms, anointing salves and self-care rituals.
- Element
- Earth
- Planet
- Venus
- Day
- Friday
- Moon phase
- Full Moon
- Parts used
- Butter pressed from the nut
- Scent
- Soft, nutty and mild
How to use it
- Anointing balm
Melt shea butter gently in a double boiler, stir in a few drops of a diluted essential oil that suits your intention, and let it set. Use a dab to anoint your wrists or a candle.
- Self-care ritual
Warm a little shea butter between your palms and massage it into your hands while you speak kind words to yourself, as a small act of self-love.
- Blessing for tools
Rub a tiny amount into a wooden wand or besom handle to feed the wood and bless it for its work.
Works well with
History and folklore
Shea butter is pressed from the nuts of the shea tree of West Africa, where women have made it by hand for centuries and it is sometimes called women's gold. It has long been used in West African traditions to bless and protect newborns and to care for skin and hair. Witches use it as a gentle, nourishing base for balms, salves and self-care rituals.
A rich, creamy base for magickal balms, anointing salves and self-care rituals.
- Intentions: Healing, Peace, Love
- Element: Earth
- Planet: Venus
- Day: Friday
- Moon phase: Full Moon
- Parts used: Butter pressed from the nut
- Scent: Soft, nutty and mild
Safety: Patch test before using on skin, and avoid it if you have a tree nut allergy. Melt it gently in a double boiler, never directly over a flame, and keep hot butter away from children and pets.
How to use it
- Anointing balm. Melt shea butter gently in a double boiler, stir in a few drops of a diluted essential oil that suits your intention, and let it set. Use a dab to anoint your wrists or a candle.
- Self-care ritual. Warm a little shea butter between your palms and massage it into your hands while you speak kind words to yourself, as a small act of self-love.
- Blessing for tools. Rub a tiny amount into a wooden wand or besom handle to feed the wood and bless it for its work.
Works well with: Pink Candle, Rose Quartz, Lavender, Beeswax, Friday
Folklore
Shea butter is pressed from the nuts of the shea tree of West Africa, where women have made it by hand for centuries and it is sometimes called women's gold. It has long been used in West African traditions to bless and protect newborns and to care for skin and hair. Witches use it as a gentle, nourishing base for balms, salves and self-care rituals.
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.