Bay laurel
Bay laurel is associated with victory, completion and good wishes. In a personal ritual, a leaf can hold a written goal without promising its fulfillment.
Updated
Which plant is it?
Culinary bay comes from Laurus nobilis. Do not use unfamiliar hedge leaves merely because they look similar.
The illustration is a study aid. Use a botanical identification reference or a qualified specialist before collecting plants for consumption.
Symbolism and ritual meaning
Completion: a leaf can mark a finished project or an examination you have passed.
Intention: writing a wish on a leaf is a way of stating a goal. It is not a prediction or a substitute for preparation.
Esoteric correspondences
These are symbolic associations used in this reference, rather than measured properties of the material.
- Planet
- Sun
- Element
- Fire
- Themes
- Victory, Wishes, Protection, Strength
A personal ritual with bay laurel
Write a brief wish on a dry leaf and keep it in a dated envelope. Return to it on that date and record what actually happened.
Burning is unnecessary. Keep leaves used for decoration separate from cooking ingredients.
Precautions
Do not swallow leaves you have written on or use treated decorative materials in food or tea.
Sources and further reading
The sources cover botanical names and herbal-product precautions. The ritual exercises are suggestions for symbolic practice.
