Juniper Meaning and magickal uses
Also called Common juniper, Juniperus communis
A hardy, aromatic evergreen for protection, cleansing and banishing unwanted energy.
- Intentions
- Protection, Cleansing, Banishing, Healing
- Element
- Fire
- Planet
- The Sun
- Day
- Sunday
- Parts used
- Berries, needles, wood
How to use it
- Cleanse with smoke
Burn a few dried juniper sprigs in a heat-safe dish with a window open, carrying the smoke through your home as an old Scottish New Year cleansing.
- Berry protection
Thread dried juniper berries on a string and hang them by the door, or keep a few in a pouch as a charm against harm.
- Clear the slate
Add a few berries to a banishing jar with salt on a waning moon, naming what you are ready to remove from your life. Seal it and dispose of it away from home.
Works well with
History and folklore
Juniper grows from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and was among the first plants to colonize land after the last Ice Age. Across Europe its branches were burned to purify homes, stables and sickrooms, and the Scottish custom of saining the house at Hogmanay used juniper smoke. Its berries flavor gin, which takes its name from the Dutch word for juniper. Witches use juniper for protection, cleansing, banishing and blessing a new home.
A hardy, aromatic evergreen for protection, cleansing and banishing unwanted energy.
- Intentions: Protection, Cleansing, Banishing, Healing
- Element: Fire
- Planet: The Sun
- Day: Sunday
- Parts used: Berries, needles, wood
Safety: Only common juniper berries are used in cooking; berries of some species, such as savin, are toxic, so do not eat any you cannot identify. Avoid juniper during pregnancy and if you have kidney problems. Burning juniper should be ventilated, and the smoke can irritate lungs.
How to use it
- Cleanse with smoke. Burn a few dried juniper sprigs in a heat-safe dish with a window open, carrying the smoke through your home as an old Scottish New Year cleansing.
- Berry protection. Thread dried juniper berries on a string and hang them by the door, or keep a few in a pouch as a charm against harm.
- Clear the slate. Add a few berries to a banishing jar with salt on a waning moon, naming what you are ready to remove from your life. Seal it and dispose of it away from home.
Works well with: White Candle, Waning Crescent, Algiz, Black Tourmaline, Sunday
Folklore
Juniper grows from the Arctic to the Mediterranean and was among the first plants to colonize land after the last Ice Age. Across Europe its branches were burned to purify homes, stables and sickrooms, and the Scottish custom of saining the house at Hogmanay used juniper smoke. Its berries flavor gin, which takes its name from the Dutch word for juniper. Witches use juniper for protection, cleansing, banishing and blessing a new home.
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.