Honeysuckle graces many a garden with its nectary fragrance and cheery blooms of ivory, pink, and yellow. Honeysuckle is said to attract friends, bring in luck, and sustain love in the home where it grows. Honeysuckle is especially liked by Faeries, and is essential if you wish to court their presence in your home. Like the Fae themselves, Honeysuckle thrives in liminal spaces, preferring fences and half-shade.
If you eat the blossoms from a Honeysuckle bush, always leave a few of the best ones for the Fae. Be careful leaving a garden window open at night, because dreams of love are said to travel on Honeysuckle-scented air.
Honeysuckle is poetically known as “Woodbine” in some old herbal manuals. (The name can also apply to Ivy and other non-flowering climbers.)
Magickal Uses of Honeysuckle
Magickally, Honeysuckle is used for all manner of “sweetening” spells. Its specialties are workings to enhance love and sexuality. But Honeysuckle is also cultivated for good luck and prosperity. It can be added to all spells of gain to add a touch of sweetness to their energy. Like most heady florals, Honeysuckle has folkloric associations with psychic vision and dreaming.
Witches who wish to use Honeysuckle in their magick have a few choices: The fresh flowers can be gathered from a garden. Dried blossoms are available as an herbal supplement or specialty tea. And there’s always scented oils, candles, and incense to draw upon Honeysuckle’s seductive power.
While some sources suggest adding the flowers to incense, I don’t. The fresh blossom dislikes being burnt, smolders limply, and smells atrocious anyway due to the high sugar content. Instead of burning, return the blossoms to an earthy patch of ground once they have gifted you with their fragrance and energy.
Honeysuckle blossoms are sparse and don’t easily lend their essence to enfleurage. Therefore, true essential oil of Honeysuckle is not available. (This doesn’t stop merchants from cranking out misleading labels, however.) All of the Honeysuckle oils on the market contain synthetics. Some do a better job than others of capturing the flower’s complex bouquet. Look for one that captures Honeysuckle’s musky base and fresh green top notes, as well as its sticky-sweet floral nectar.
Correspondences of Honeysuckle
The voluptuous fragrance and eye-catching color of Honeysuckle make it primarily a Venus herb. (Some writers have attributed it to Jupiter, which also makes sense because Honeysuckle grows like crazy and is supposed to bring luck. There’s a dash of Lunar energy in there, too.) Honeysuckle’s green smell and hidden nectar imply a correspondence with Water, but some also assign it to Earth. It doesn’t matter, really, as long as you remember this is one sweet and sexy herb.
Spells and Formulas with Honeysuckle
Use Honeysuckle vine to bind lovers together. A photo, poppet, or personal item can stand in for one or both parties.
Wear Honeysuckle perfume to inspire others to be generous to you.
Honeysuckle flowers can be added to a Honey Jar or Sugar Bowl, used in Hoodoo to “sweeten” someone. For the last word on Honey Jars, check out the book by Deacon Millett and the related post at Lucky Mojo.
From Scott Cunningham: “Lightly crush the fresh flowers and then rub on the forehead to heighten psychic powers.” (Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs)
A Honeysuckle plant growing outside the house will keep love alive and bring good fortune.
Honeysuckle scent that is rubbed or diffused on Faery offerings will make them too delicious for the wee folk to resist.
Precautions
Most varieties of Honeysuckle are mildly toxic. While it’s generally safe to consume the nectar and flowers, do not eat the berries or leaves. Honeysuckle is potentially poisonous to dogs and other pets. Some varieties of Honeysuckle are considered invasive and can threaten wildlife, so do your research before planting non-native varieties.
Honeysuckle is pollinated by bees and wasps. Watch out for these critters when gathering the flowers.
Scent Profile: Floral, Sweet, Musky
Correspondences: Water/Earth, Venus/Jupiter
Occult properties of herbs are provided for historical interest only, and no outcome is guaranteed. Nothing on this website should be taken as medical or legal advice. Please use herbs responsibly.
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