The Power of Plants: Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

The Power of Plants: Sage (Salvia Officinalis)

If you follow me on Instagram or know me in the “real world” you’ve likely seen me posting loads of pictures from the various herbs and other plants that are growing in my garden. 

Some of these things were planted with great intention, others on a whim; and some either came with the house, or were just surprising little gifts from Nature and the Fairies. 

Over the past year I’ve been compiling information on any magical and/or medicinal uses of my entire plant population. This is an ongoing task that will likely take me a while to organize, but the process has come along far enough that I thought I’d start sharing some of what I’ve learned.

I do not claim to be an expert on any of this - nor am I a medical professional -  and I will just say now, that any medicinal remedies that I may post should be used with great caution that involves doing your own additional research (and perhaps a chat with your physician) to find out if said remedy is safe for you to try.

What I will be sharing is: What I grow, Why I grow it, Magical Correspondences/Uses, Medicinal Uses, How I’ve used it - or plan to, as well as the occasional recipe and/or spell. Each plant post will have an accompanying information card that can easily be saved to Pinterest.

So let’s get started with our first Powerful Plant: Sage!

What Types of Sage Do I Grow?

I actually have two different types of Sage growing in my yard at present: Common Sage - Salvia officinalis (aka: Culinary Sage, Garden Sage, Kitchen Sage), and Ornamental Sage - Salvia Nemorosa (aka: Meadow Sage, Woodland Sage, Caradonna). They have many similar and overlapping qualities, but this post will be about Common Sage, the Ornamental Sage will have its own post at a later date.

The Common Sage that I grow is just your regular garden variety, but there are others in the Salvia Officinalis category such as Tri-Color, Golden, and Berggarten that are also classified for culinary use.

Why Do I Grow Sage?

I grow Sage for a few reasons. As a fan of Cooking, Kitchen Witchery, and…well, Witchcraft in general, it’s a very handy herb to have on hand! 

I also wanted to start making my own sage bundles to use to spiritually cleanse any people, places, and things that might need it.

Additionally, I’m always on the lookout for easy and natural ways to remedy things that may be ailing me physically, so the more plants I have on hand to learn about and experiment with the better!

I planted my Sage two years ago. It is growing like MAD now, and on top of all the magical, medicinal, and culinary uses: It’s just beautiful! It’s also a wonderful plant to grow if you’re looking to attract beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.

Medicinal Properties for Sage:

The plant’s genus Salvia is derived from the Latin Salvus meaning safe, well, healthy, and other variations thereof; so, it shouldn’t be surprising that it has healing properties.

Sage tea has been used as a tonic to treat coughs, detoxify the liver & kidneys, as well as to strengthen the immune system in general.

Sage tea can also be used as a gargle and/or mouthwash to treat inflammation in the mouth/throat, and to fight bad breath. 

Making Sage Tea:

What You Need…

• 1 Cup of near-boiling water
• 2 Tablespoons fresh Sage leaves (1 Tablespoon if dried)
• Optional Additives: Honey and/or Lemon

Pour the hot water over the sage leaves, then cover and steep for 10 - 15 minutes until it reaches your desired strength (If you don’t want to have to strain your tea after its finished, simply put the leaves in a tea ball).  Add honey and/or lemon to your liking - if at all - and let the hot steamy goodness soothe what ails you. 

To use as a gargle, simply prepare the tea, then let it cool just a bit before use.

Magical Properties of Sage: 

Sage is a masculine herb associated with the element of Air, the planet Jupiter, and the astrological signs of Sagittarius & Pisces.

Most people think of Sage as simply an herb of cleansing, yet one of its most obvious magical properties is suggested by the name of the herb itself: Wisdom. This can seem a bit obvious if we think about how one of the definitions of the word sage is “having, showing, or indicating profound wisdom”. It is also good for use in Protection, Prosperity, Spirituality, and Healing. 

Herbal Sachet & Spell to Promote Wisdom:

What You Need...

• Sage (Wisdom)
• Lavender (Wisdom & Calm)
• Orange Peel (Clarity of Mind)
• Amethyst or Quartz (optional for a little added ‘Oomph’)
• Small Drawstring Bag (or a piece of cloth & string)

Place a pinch or two of the herbs, a small bit of orange peel, and crystals (if using) in the bag or cloth.

Hold sachet in your power (dominant) hand and say three times:

Peel of fruit, Herb, & Flower

Imbue this charm with your power

Help my mind and heart to see

With Wisdom, Calm, & Clarity

By Divine Power without, and mine within

Let this magic now begin

So Mote it Be!

Keep the sachet with you (or sleep with it under your pillow) whenever you are in need of it. 

How I Use Common Sage:

Just having Sage planted in the yard adds to the protection of our home (and who can have too much of that?), but I believe it also adds to the beauty and magic that make up our lives. 

As a perennial, it serves as a reminder of the cycle of Life-Death-Rebirth that has a prominent place in my (and many witches) personal practice. 

In the kitchen I use fresh leaves when cooking a turkey (Just tuck a handful of leaves beneath the skin with some fresh Rosemary, Thyme, and BUTTER for some nomtastic, herbified turkey goodness!). This same method will work for any poultry, really.

As I mentioned earlier, I wanted to start creating my own sage bundles for cleansing purposes. I’m still in the process of learning how to do this, partly because the plant wasn’t producing enough foliage yet to do so. But, this year is looking to have a very promising harvest, and I’m looking forward to bundling away!

Herbal Healing is a large part of my path, so sage tea is part of my natural healing arsenal. 

This is by no means an all-inclusive reference for the many uses of this magnificent herb, but I hope it will at least inspire you to continue learning about it. 

Do you have a favorite use for Sage? Whether it’s Magical, Medicinal, or Culinary in nature, I’d love to hear it! So feel free to drop a comment below.

That’s all I have for you today, but be sure to stay tuned for similar posts concerning other plants in my garden. It’s taking me a while to compile all the information I’ve gathered so please be patient, but I assure you more are on the way.

Until Next Time, Pixilators

Wishing You Peace, Love, & Pixie Dust

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