About Parsley
Parsley is a surprisingly deep kitchen herb. The Greeks linked it with death and rebirth and made funeral wreaths from it. In folk magic it purifies, protects and stirs desire.
An underrated kitchen-garden herb with a genuine folk-magic pedigree.
History & folklore
The Greeks linked parsley with death — they said 'to be in need of parsley' of someone gravely ill — and made funeral wreaths from it. It was also crowned on winners of the Isthmian games. Folklore says parsley seed travels to the Devil and back nine times before it sprouts, which is why it's slow to germinate.
Correspondences
- Traditional uses
- Purification, protection, lust
- Latin name
- Petroselinum crispum
- Element
- Air
- Planet
- Mercury
- Best day
- Wednesday
- Moon phase
- Waning moon — for protection, clearing and letting go
- Intentions
- Cleansing, Protection
Ways to work with it
- Wear or carry a sprig for protection.
- Add parsley to a cleansing bath.
- Serve it with a meal to purify and bless the food.
Growing & gathering
Parsley is easy in pots or garden beds and tolerates some shade. Soak seeds overnight before sowing to speed them up. Pick leaves from the outside of the plant.
Safe as a food. Avoid large medicinal amounts during pregnancy. Wild lookalikes (such as fool's parsley) are poisonous.
Spells to try
Pairs well with
LilacProtection, banishing negativity
CedarPurification, protection, healing
VervainProtection, purification, love
Sage (Garden)Cleansing, wisdom, protectionCorrespondences 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.