Herbs in Witchcraft: Oranges

Citrus season is going strong, so we're talking about oranges in this month's Herbs in Witchcraft. A fruit of happiness and cleansing, oranges have a huge variety of uses in healing and witchcraft.

As a picky eater, I don't enjoy eating oranges, but I drink a lot of orange juice, and I absolutely love the scent of an orange being peeled. It instantly makes me feel calm and happy. This is a powerful fruit. Beyond the breakfast table or the lunchbox, oranges can be used in aromatherapy, household cleaning, and of course, magic and folk traditions.

Healing Properties of Oranges

Most famously, oranges were used to prevent scurvy, "the scourge of the seas." Apparently, people were initally skeptical that the solution could be so simple, but of course, they didn't realize that scurvy was caused from a lack of vitamin C. Orange juice is a common household remedy that we don't even realize we're doing. I know so many people who will drink more orange juice the moment they start to feel a sniffle. We know it heals us, even if we don't know why. Beyond vitaminc C, oranges are also high in antioxidants.

Oranges have been used in Chinese medicine for centuries. Bitter orange was used to treat nausea and heartburn, while Mandarin oranges were used for chest pains and malaria.

The leaves of the orange tree can help with anxiety, insomnia, headaches, and asthma. Make a calming tea with dried orange leaves.

The peel from the orange is useful in aiding digestion. You can create your own bitters from orange peels and have a few drops before meals to improve digestive functioning. Vinegar infused with orange peels can also be used as an effective, non-toxic household cleaner. So save your orange peels next time you're having an afternoon snack.

Orange blossoms also having a calming and anti-inflammatory effect. Use dried blossoms in your bath or apply a cooled infusion to your face to brighten and relax the skin.

Different parts of the orange tree can also be used in aromatherapy. Of course, orange oil comes to mind immediately. Pettigrain oil is made from orange leaves, and neroli oil (one of my favorite scents) is made from orange flowers.

Magical Properties for Oranges

Oranges are associated with Gaia, the goddess of fertility, as well as god of earth and air, Enlil, possibly because of their globe-like shape. I have yet to confirm this, but I would also associate them with the sacral chakra simply because of their color. It's gender is masculine or projective and it corresponds to the Sun and the element of fire.

Oranges are heavily associated with love, fertility, success, prosperity, and friendship. They're also used as a divination tool. As I said before, I associate oranges with a sense of calm and happiness. Whatever energy you associate with oranges will be most powerful in any spells or rituals.

Orange peel is also associated with abundance and money drawing.

And just as we can use orange to clean our homes, it also has spiritual cleansing and purification properties.

Witchcraft Uses for Oranges

There are various spells that use oranges, particularly orange peel, to help find your true love. From teas to incense to charm bags, oranges appear in spells to attract the person who's meant just for you. And once you've found this person, orange can help keep them faithful.

Drink a glass of orange juice before making a big decision to help engage your intuition.

Orange seeds can be used in divination. Think of a question as you eat your orange, then count the seeds. An even number means no, and odd means yes.

Give oranges as gifts, either the fruit or as a flavoring in a dish or baked good, to strengthen the bonds of friendship and give blessings and joy to the receiver.

You can also make a pomander from an orange studded with cloves. Beyond smelling beautiful, these are a symbol of good luck, health, and protection. Traditionally, they were thought to fight off infection and the scent covered the smell of the poverty and disease that were so common historically. Magically, they can be used to attract good fortune and abundance.

Orange Recipes for the Kitchen Witch

I love the flavor of orange, especially paired with chocolate. If you want to give the gift of orange energy to a friend or simply bring it's joyful scent into your kitchen, here are 13 recipes to get you started.

• Citrus Bundt Cake
• Dark Chocolate & Satsuma Brioche
• Brazillian Sunrise Cocktail
• Chocolate Orange Mousse
• Orange & Amaretto Cider
• Citrus Cocktail Cupcakes
• Spanish Chicken & Chorizo Bake
• Carrot Ginger Orange Mimosa
• Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Orange Frosting
• Chocolate Orange Cake
• Winter-Spiced Flourless Chocolate Cake
• Chocolate Orange Scones
• Orange Cheesecake Brownies

Oranges are the perfect magic to bring the sun's energy into the cold winter months. How will you use oranges in your practice? Leave me a comment and let me know. And share your photos of orange recipes or spells with me on Instagram. May it be awesome.

Sources

• Practical Herbalist
• Natural Life
• Well and Good
• Medium
• John Hunt Publishing
• Elune Blue