About Dandelion
The humble dandelion is a whole divination kit: blow the clock to tell the time, send a wish or learn if your love is thinking of you. Its root and leaves are also a traditional spring tonic.
The "blow the seeds and make a wish" custom is a genuine old divination gesture.
History & folklore
The name comes from the French dent de lion, 'lion's tooth', from its jagged leaves. Children everywhere blow the seed heads to tell the time or make a wish. In folklore, the seeds carried wishes and messages to loved ones far away. Dandelion was also called the 'rustic oracle' because its flowers open and close with the sun.
Correspondences
- Traditional uses
- Wishes, divination, calling spirits
- Latin name
- Taraxacum officinale
- Element
- Air
- Planet
- Jupiter
- Best day
- Thursday
- Moon phase
- Full moon — when intuition and divination are strongest
- Intentions
- Divination
Ways to work with it
- Blow a seed head and make a wish, or ask a yes-or-no question and count the remaining seeds.
- Brew roasted dandelion root as a grounding coffee substitute before divination.
- Leave dandelions in your lawn for the bees — a small offering to the land.
Growing & gathering
Dandelions grow almost everywhere, which makes them one of the most accessible magical herbs. Gather leaves in spring, flowers on a sunny day, and dig roots in autumn. Only pick from places that haven't been sprayed or near busy roads.
Only gather from lawns that haven't been sprayed. Avoid if you have a daisy-family allergy.
Spells to try
Pairs well with
YarrowCourage, love, psychic ability
MugwortDivination, dreams, protection
WormwoodPsychic power, protection, calling spirits
ElderflowerProtection, prosperity, healingCorrespondences are traditional associations gathered from folk practice and modern craft books. They vary between sources, and they are not medical advice. Read our editorial approach.