Ginkgo Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Gingko, Maidenhair Tree, Ginkgo biloba
An ancient survivor tree of memory, endurance and long life.
- Intentions
- Wisdom, Grounding, Protection
- Element
- Earth
- Planet
- Saturn
- Day
- Saturday
- Parts used
- Fan-shaped leaves, wood
How to use it
- Memory leaf
Press a golden ginkgo leaf in a book you are studying. Touch it before each study session as a charm for patient, steady learning.
- Ancestor altar
Place ginkgo leaves on your altar at Samhain to honor those who came before and the long line of life that led to you.
- Endurance charm
Carry a dried leaf in your wallet through a hard season as a reminder that something very old and very patient can outlast great storms.
Works well with
History and folklore
The ginkgo is often called a living fossil. Trees almost identical to it grew more than 200 million years ago, and it has no close living relatives. It survived in the wild only in a few places in China, where monks kept it in temple gardens for centuries. Several ginkgo trees near the center of the Hiroshima blast in 1945 survived and still grow today, and in Japan they are honored as trees of hope. In modern witchcraft ginkgo stands for memory, endurance and long life.
An ancient survivor tree of memory, endurance and long life.
- Intentions: Wisdom, Grounding, Protection
- Element: Earth
- Planet: Saturn
- Day: Saturday
- Parts used: Fan-shaped leaves, wood
Safety: Do not eat raw ginkgo seeds, which are toxic, and wear gloves when handling the smelly fruit, which can cause a rash like poison ivy. Ginkgo products can interact with medicines, so talk to a doctor before taking any. Keep seeds away from pets and children.
How to use it
- Memory leaf. Press a golden ginkgo leaf in a book you are studying. Touch it before each study session as a charm for patient, steady learning.
- Ancestor altar. Place ginkgo leaves on your altar at Samhain to honor those who came before and the long line of life that led to you.
- Endurance charm. Carry a dried leaf in your wallet through a hard season as a reminder that something very old and very patient can outlast great storms.
Works well with: Saturday, Gold Candle, Samhain, Petrified Wood, Earth
Folklore
The ginkgo is often called a living fossil. Trees almost identical to it grew more than 200 million years ago, and it has no close living relatives. It survived in the wild only in a few places in China, where monks kept it in temple gardens for centuries. Several ginkgo trees near the center of the Hiroshima blast in 1945 survived and still grow today, and in Japan they are honored as trees of hope. In modern witchcraft ginkgo stands for memory, endurance and long life.
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.