By Isabella @TheWandCarver
Instagram: @iseabail_witchwriter
Never did I think as I began writing this blog that there were so many varieties of Moss! For my own purposes and practise I use Oak Moss exclusively. I am not a Moss for Dummies kind of girl, still, there is one hell of a lot of Moss in the world! Over 12,000 species to be in close range!
As my favourite physician, Nicholas Culpeper said in his book, The Complete Herbal, “I shall not trouble the reader with a description of these, since my intent is to speak only of two kinds, as the most principal, viz. Ground Moss and Tree Moss, both of which are very well known”.
Although I plan on giving the magickal properties of Oak Moss, I feel I should mention most mosses will align magickally with Oak Moss and can be interchangeably, in case you are unable to procure Oak Moss.
Magickal
I have used Oak Moss extensively in spell work. One other thing Nicholas Culpeper stated in his book is that with Tree Mosses, the Moss takes on the nature of the tree itself and his belief was that Oak was most binding. Therefore, I have always felt most compelled to use Oak Moss in my practise. He also stated that “most Mosses are under the dominion of Saturn”. In that case, no matter which kind you prefer to use in your practise, the Correspondences below should be closely related. As far as powers are concerned if you use a Moss from a different tree than Oak you should likely find the powers for that particular tree to align it properly with your spell work.
One of my favourite ways to use Oak Moss is in a spell jar. As Oak Moss is intricately linked to the acquisition of money, here is my Extra Money / Business Spell Jar formula:
One medium sized jar with lid [I save curry sauce jars for this purpose!]
Green or gold cloth
Green or gold ribbon, two of each whichever colour you use]
Green or gold candle [a small spell candle will do]
A small piece of paper, parchment or other
Oak Moss, as much as you wish
A stick of Cedar or if unavailable, a Cinnamon stick
Patchouli herb
A pound coin or any denomination of money in your currency
A piece of Whitby Jet or a piece of Jet that is easily attainable where you live
On a Saturday for wealth, on a Sunday for business growth. Saturday being the day for Saturn is wonderful for gaining extra money and you would use the green cloth, green ribbon, and green candle for that spell. If you are wanting more money for your business, you would use the gold and do your spell on a Sunday as it is the day for Business spell work. Keep those aside for the end. Light your candle and say a prayer in your own words to your God, Goddess, the Divine Parents, the Universe [whomever you pray to] or just visualise money coming to you. Enchant your Moss, Cedar or Cinnamon, Patchouli, money, and Jet, placing each into the jar in that order. It will not matter if they get jostled about and rearranged later, it is only important that you put them in this order. Once all items are in, write on your parchment paper the amount of money you need [don’t go too over the top… the Universe doesn’t do greedy] and tie it with one of your ribbons then put it inside your jar. Holding your jar in both hands then take a nice deep breath in thinking “poverty be gone” and slowly release your breath into the jar thinking “prosperity come home”, Do this three times then put the lid onto the jar and tighten. Next, cut a square of the colour of cloth you are using that will fit over the lid of the jar, hanging over the top by a bit – enough where you can tie the ribbon round the jar neck tightly and as you tie the ribbon into a bow say “so mote it be”.
Leave your spell jar on your desk if for business or any safe place for extra money. It is important not to unseal it ever because your spell will not work and this is a lasting spell so you can charge in the light of the waxing moon to give it more power each month. It is perfectly acceptable to keep it in a sunny place as well as the masculine power of the sun works well with the spell jar. Only do be sure not to leave it where a child or a pet or roommate would potentially knock it over or open it.
I have also used Oak Moss in sachets for money that I can carry with me in my handbag and for luck. For my Yule loose incense blend I add Oak Moss – did you know that Oak Moss is used in many perfumes? Any one of them with a woodsy scent likely have Oak Moss. It is no wonder that kind of perfume is my favourite.
There are plenty of other ways to use it in magick. Perhaps some of you know of ways you may want to share? Just leave a comment below!
Correspondences
Planetary: Saturn
Gender: Masculine
Zodiac: Capricorn, Aquarius [pre-discovery of Uranus]
Element: Earth
Chakra: Base/Root
Powers: Luck, Money, Prosperity
Deity: Shiva, Kali [Hindu], Brahma, Yama [Vedic]
Health
Nicholas Cunningham had much to say about Moss as a curative… I am not certain if anybody these days would care to try them. However, whether you would or not, I think you will at least find some amusement from these. As afore mentioned, he speaks only of Ground Moss and Tree Moss in late medieval England.
“The Ground Moss is held to be singularly good to break the stone, and to expel and drive it forth by urine, being boiled in wine and drank The herb being bruised and boiled in water, and applied, eases all inflammations and pains coming from an hot cause; and it therefore used to ease the pains of the gout.
The Tree Mosses are cooling and binding, and partake of a digesting and mollifying quality withal, as Galen[1] saith, But each Moss partakes of the nature of the tree from whence it is taken; therefore that of the oak is more binding, and is of good effect to stay fluxes[2] in man or woman; as also to vomiting or bleeding, the powder thereof being taken in wine The decoction thereof in wine is very good for women to be bathed in that are troubled with the overflowing of their courses[3]. The same being drank, stays the stomach that is trouble with casting, or hiccough; and, as Avicena [sic][4] saith, it comforts the heart. The powder thereof taken in drink for some time together, is thought available for the dropsy. The oil that has had fresh Moss steeped therein for a time, and afterwards boiled and applied to the temples and forehead, marvellously eases the head-ache coming of a hot cause; as also the distillations of hot rheums[5] or humours[6] in the eyes, or other parts. The ancients much used it in their ointments and other medicines against the lassitude, and to strengthen and comfort the sinews; for which, if it was good then, I know no reason but it may be found so still.”
Many thanks for reading and warmest blessings upon all whom this way wander. Please stay safe x
Sources
The Complete Herbal and English Physician, by Nicholas Culpeper
The Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs, by Scott Cunningham
Wikipedia.com
Experience
[1] Galen, Greek Galenos, Latin Galenus, (born 129 ce, Pergamum, Mysia, Anatolia [now Bergama, Turkey]
[2] A pathological flowing of blood (or humours, excretions, discharges) from any part of the body; ~ blod, ~ of blod, profuse bleeding; ~ of the womb, dysentery, diarrhoea, or lientery.
[3] A Tudor England term for a woman’s menses – “A woman’s monthly bleeding, otherwise known as “courses”, was believed to be the womb ridding itself of excess blood. If this did not happen the womb could become overrun with blood and could possibly drown the woman.” [hahaha, how silly!]
[4] Avicenna, an Iranian philosopher and physician of the tenth and eleventh centuries [4th and 5th century AH] His scientific fame and influence was not only spread in Iran and the Islamic world, but also extended to the whole world. According to some researches, the views of Avicenna in diagnosis and treatment of some diseases, such as asthma is more precise and effective than the findings of modern medicine, or in jaundice, biliary obstruction and liver indigestion, his prescribed medicines are in conformity with the findings of new researches
[5] Pronunciation /ruːm/ – A watery fluid that collects in or drips from the nose or eyes.
[6] Greek physician Hippocrates [ca. 460 BCE–370 BCE] is often credited with developing the theory of the four humours—blood, yellow bile, black bile, and phlegm—and their influence on the body and its emotions.
WytchenCrafts 
Perfect timing! newbie about to create her first money bowl!!!
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Best of luck and may you be amply rewarded! x
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