The Magickal Uses of Rue

Plant/herb – Rue 

(Ruta Graveolens)

Rue (Ruta Graveolens) is a hardy, perennial, evergreen shrub from the family Rutaceae

Appearance: Rue is a small, bushy shrub growing up to 60–90 cm (2–3 feet) tall.

It has:

• Bluish-green, deeply lobed leaves that are aromatic and finely divided, giving a soft, feathery look.
• Yellow, star-shaped flowers with four to five petals, blooming in late spring to
  
   summer.
• The plant has a strong, pungent smell and a slightly bitter taste.
• After flowering, small capsule-like seed pods develop, containing many small black seeds.

Where It Grows: Native to Southern Europe and the Mediterranean region, however it is now naturalised in parts of North Africa, The Middle East, Central Asia and certain areas of North and South America, Australia & New Zealand.

 Rue has the ability to grow almost anywhere. It prefers full sun, dry conditions and thrives in areas where the soil is poor, but well drained. It also tolerates drought once established.

Rue is propagated by cuttings, seeds or division of the roots.

Harvesting Rue: When harvesting Rue, there are a number of things to keep in mind. The Rue plant also contains chemical compounds known as furanocoumarins, which can cause photosensitivity and skin irritation in some individuals, so if you have not worked with this plant before, take care when handling it. It is best to wear gloves if unsure.

·   Leaves and flowering tops are typically harvested during the summer months when the plant is in bloom.

·         It's best to harvest in the morning after the dew has dried, as the essential oil content is highest then.

·         The harvested parts are usually dried in a shaded, well-ventilated area and stored in airtight containers for later use.

 

Magickal & Mundane  Uses Of Rue

Over the years, Rue has had a multitude of mundane and magickal applications. In culinary uses,  Rue has fallen out of favour except for in certain areas of the world where it is used to flavour food, such as in Ethiopia where it is added to coffee. Rue has an interesting flavour- by itself it can be a bit repulsive, however added to coffee it offers a unique flavour that I personally quite like. Now this is not to say that anyone should experiment with eating this plant- especially if you are pregnant as it is a known emmenagogue (stimulates menstrual flow), however if you already work with this plant and know that you do not have any known sensitivities to it, and are feeling adventurous, it is worth adding a sprig to your coffee and

trying this unique way of drinking coffee. 

Medicinally, Rue has been said to bestow second sight and has been used for sharpening the eyesight when the eyes have become tired, it has also been used as a compress on the chest for conditions such as bronchitis and as an ingredient in ‘four thieves’ vinegar (a decoction that was thought to protect users from the plague).

Rue has been used since the Middle Ages in magick & witchcraft, however unlike some of the herbs commonly seen in witchcraft, Rue has been used on both sides of the fence! In the middle ages and later, the Greeks used Rue as an anti-magic herb and it was considered to be a powerful defence against witches (hence one of its common names- witchbane). Ironically it is also one of the signs of witchcraft. In fact, the presence of multiple Rue plants in a home’s garden was, in years gone by, apparently a clue to the law that a witch occupied the house.

Can we just take a minute to reflect upon the fact that non-witchy people used green witchcraft to sniff out and protect against witches? ironic much?

Rue is considered to be one of the 5 most powerful witches herbs. It is well known as an herb of protection, in fact it is so synonymous with protection that in Italy people may be seen wearing a necklace with a silver charm known as the cimuruta or cimi di ruta, meaning ‘sprig of Rue’ to provide protection against the Evil Eye. The cimuruta is also sometimes hung above the bed of an infant to protect them against evil, hexes and curses.

Rue (Ruta Graveolens)

Folk Names: Bashoush (Coptic), Garden Rue, German Rue, Herb of Grace, Herbygrass, Hreow, Mother of the herbs, Rewe, Ruta. Witchbane

Gender: Masculine

Planet: Mars, Sun

Element: Fire

Deities: Aradia, Diana

Powers: Banishing, Exorcism, Healing, Health, love, Mental Powers, Purification, Repellent, Warding

Parts Used: Whole herb

 

Some Of The Magickal Uses Of Rue Include:

1. Evil Eye Protection: Pliny had said that the plant Rue is a very protective plant to ward against the Evil Eye. Rue can be carried for it's protective nature.
2. Protection against Magick: Rue is said to provide protection against dark magick, hexes and curses.
3.  Sprinkler for Holy water- at one point in history, Rue stalks were used to sprinkle holy water at the ceremony preceding the Sunday celebration of High Mass, leading to its common name “herb of grace’ & herb of repentance.
4. Evil Repellent- In years gone by, Rue was hung above doorways and rubbed on windows to repel evil intent, as well as biting insects.
5. Detachment- according to Juliet Diaz, in her book “Plant Witchery”, Rue is a herb of detachment and can be used to help one to detach from outside influences and bring them back to who they truly are.
6. Enhances creativity & psychic abilities

How To Use Rue in Magick

1. Rub Rue on your forehead to relieve headaches
2. Add Rue to your coffee for a boost of magickal energy
3. Sniff fresh Rue to aid concentration and help clear the mind in relation to matters of the heart & ego.
4. Add Rue to your bath when cleansing if you believe you have been hexed/cursed.
5. Carry Rue as a protection against the evil eye.
6. Add Rue to healing incenses and poppets.
7. Worn around the neck, Rue is said to aid recuperation from illness and prevent any future illness.
8. Add Rue to exorcism incenses
   
9. Hang Rue at your front door to provide protection from negative entities.
10. Plant Rue at the entrance to your property for protection.
11. Use an infusion of Rue to wash your floors and keep hexes and curses at bay.
12. Use a sprig of fresh Rue as a sprinkler to sprinkle salt water throughout your home to banish negatitvity.
13. It is said that if you sprinkle a mixture of Rue juice, mixed with morning dew on yourself prior to performing magic, you will be protected from negative entities/influences.
14. Use in spells of inertia to get a process moving – you may wish to add some cinnamon for the same reason.
15. Brew a tea of Rue and add it to your bath for purification against negativity.

Let us know what you think about this fantastic herb. Do you use it for mundane purposes, magickal purposes, or both? We'd love to hear your experiences.

Please note: This information is for entertainment purposes only and should not replace professional advice.  I am not a qualified herbalist/doctor and am only reporting self-researched information. If you choose to use Rue, especially internally, please consult a professional first.

Do not use Rue if you are pregnant or have skin sensitivities to the plant.

If you are looking for Rue products, check out our range here

 

References:

Cunningham, S. (2023). Cunningham's Encyclopedia Of Magical Herbs (2nd ed., p. 220-221). Llewellyn Publications. 

Diaz, J. (2020). Plant Witchery (pp. 282-283). Hay House.

Nock, J.A. (2019). The Modern Witchcraft Guide To Magickal Herbs (p.132). Adams House.

Grieve, M. (1978). A Modern Herbal (pp. 694-696). Penguin Books.

Cunningham, S. (2021). Magical Herbalism (3rd ed., pp. 195-196). Llewellyn Publications.

Demarco, S., & Mueller, M. (2021). Plants Of Power (pp. 313-315). Rockpool Publishing.

Pagliarulo, A. (2023). The Evil Eye (pp. 202-203). Weiser Books.