About Willow
Willow grows beside water and belongs to the Moon. It stands for love, healing, grief and flexibility. Its bark contains salicin, the natural relative of aspirin.
Strongly associated with the moon and water; willow bark has real documented analgesic chemistry.
History & folklore
Willow was linked to the moon goddesses Hecate and Selene. In Christian Britain, willow branches replaced palms on Palm Sunday. 'Knock on wood' may come from knocking on willow to call on its protection. Willow bark was chewed for pain for thousands of years before aspirin was made from a similar chemical.
Correspondences
- Traditional uses
- Love, healing, moon magic
- Latin name
- Salix alba
- Element
- Water
- Planet
- Moon
- Best day
- Monday
- Moon phase
- Full moon — when intuition and divination are strongest
- Intentions
- Love, Healing, Intuition
Ways to work with it
- Tie a loose knot in a willow wand while you make a wish.
- Sit beneath a willow to release grief.
- Use a willow branch as a simple wand for moon magic.
Growing & gathering
Willows grow near rivers and ponds. Long, flexible willow branches (called withies) are easy to cut in winter and bend into wreaths and circles. Ask before cutting.
Don't take willow bark if you are allergic to aspirin, and never give it to children.
Spells to try
Pairs well with
AppleLove, healing, immortality
Lemon BalmHealing, love, success
JuniperProtection, love, exorcism
AngelicaProtection, exorcism, 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.