Arbre de Sant Josep (Tree of St Joseph) Chaste berries originating in Europe is also known as Chaste Tree, Monk's Pepper, and Abraham's balm. This herb was used for centuries in medieval monasteries to curb libido and known as the "women's herb" in regards to estrogen levels with its abilities for counteracting the symptoms of PMS. This makes a great herb in spellwork that has to do with conceiving, inner strength, boosting fertility, or spells to do with a healthy pregnancy. Small whole berries should be stored in a sealed container away from direct sunlight, heat, and moisture.
Magic: Chaste berries can be used to ensure fertility for the harvest. The powdered seeds and berries may be added to incense to draw down the moon, and the whole berries may be placed in your ritual cup. It can be used to help spiritually focus and avoid temptations and also used to balance and create. In Italian witchcraft, it is used to brings in significant sums of money.
The chaste tree is spreading deciduous shrub of the vervain family, and native to the Mediterranean. Young shoots are covered in a fine, gray down. The leaves are opposite and composed of five to seven leaflets radiating from one main stalk from one to two and one-half inches long. (Vitex trifolia is known as the three-leaves Chaste Tree.) The leaflets are linear, lanceolate, and toothed. They are dark green, though a fine felt on the underside makes them appear gray underneath. Fragrant flowers appear in whorls on slender racemes from September to October. These are blue and white and three to six inches long, and sometimes branched. The berries which follow resemble peppercorns. They are dark purple and half-covered by their dark green calyces. The aromatic berries are yellowish and hard inside with a warm if bitter taste.
Effects: strong
Planet: Moon, Pluto
Element: earth
Associated Deities: Ceres, Demeter
Traditions:
For the Greek, the seeds represented chastity, and the leaves were used to invoke Ceres. Athenian matrons would make chains of the leaves and use them to decorate their couches during holy days sacred to Ceres. English use followed the belief that it would suppress the libido, as did the Catholic Church. In fact, the Church called it Chaste Lamb and suggested its neophyte monks carry it in their pockets to help in their vow of chastity.
Magic:
Chaste berries can be used to ensure fertility for the harvest. The powdered seeds and berries may be added to incense to draw down the moon, and the whole berries may be placed in your ritual cup. It can be used to help spiritually focus and avoid temptations. Also used to balance and create. In Italian witchcraft, it is used to brings in big sums of money.
Whole berries 2oz Bag
