BAY LAUREL

Tree of the Oracle
Help me to manifest
Through healing and wisdom
That which is true success

Bay leaf or bay laurel is an herb that most cooks are familiar with.  This Mediterranean herb has been widely used since the times of ancient Greece, Rome and Egypt.  This is a plant of warm climates and moderate moisture.  In areas that drop below 15*F, it is best to grow it in pots and have a place indoors where it can over winter.  The photograph above is my bay tree which is about 2 years old.  I intentionally keep it small.  It is right now in the beginning stages of bonsai training.

Bay is best known for the use f its leaves for flavoring meats and stews.  Just a few leaves gives a beautiful flavor to a fatty stew.  The berries have been used to flavor alcohol.  If your bay is big enough, the wood can be used to smoke foods.

Herbalists love bay for its health benefits.  It seems to aid in digestion, especially for fatty meats.  It has also been used to relieve aches and pains and promote scalp health.  Some find that these mildly narcotic leaves soothe stress and may help relieve migraines.  There may be some overall beneficial effect for the body, mind, and heart.  I keep a few leaves scattered around my food storage areas as a pest deterrent.  Before using any herb for its health benefits, be sure to thoroughly research the herb or consult an herbalist.

While I love cooking with bay leaf, and like having its other benefits, I really grow it for the energy of the plant.  In ancient Greece, bay was used as a symbol of victory and success.  It was used by the Oracle at Delphi to see into the past, present, and future.  In ancient Rome, bay was worn by the victors, the nobles, and the sages.  In ancient Egypt, it was seen as the cure for hang overs.  In the middle ages, it was believed to protect against lightning, negativity, and problems.

Bay is believed to be an herb of healing and protection, victory, and strength.  It was chewed and burned for its mildly narcotic effects by the Oracle at Delphi.  Many believe that writing your wish on bay and burning the leaf makes the wish come true.  It is burned to cleanse stagnant and negative energy from a space.  Or it can be used to sprinkle blessed water as a cleanser.  It carries a calming energy that helps reduce stress and promotes focus and concentration.  It is seen as an herb of wisdom, poetry, and learning.

Bay laurel is a plant that I connect deeply with.  The one in the picture is my second bay bonsai.  It is one of my top five plants that I keep in my life.  I keep it and nurture it because it nurtures my focus, concentration, and vision for the future.  She helps me stay in that vision no matter how challenging life's lessons get.

Additional sources for this article:
wiccanow.com
plentifulearth.com
flythehedge.com
outofstress.com