Bay (or bay laurel) is an herb and a tree.
- botanical information
- history
- part used
- essential oil
- astrological correspondences
- magick correspondences and uses
- Goddesses and deities
- cautions and contraindications
botanical information:
Botanical name: Laurus nobilis
Common name: bay, bay laurel, bay leaf
Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.
history:
History: Bay laurel was commonly grown in ancient Egyptian temple gardens.
part used:
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Part Used: Dried leaf whole or broken. Information courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs |
astrological correspondences:
Astrological planet: Sun 
magickal correspondences and uses:
Gender: masculine (traditional western European magickal gender)
Western element: fire
Magickal uses: power, protection, success, vitality. Whole bay leave added to food as a garnish impart these magickal properties to the meal, especially if properly energized.
Solar spells: Bay (as herb or essential oil) may be used in as an ingredient or substitute for magick spells and formulas related to solar matters (healing, illumination, magickal power, physical energy, protection, success, and putting an end to legal matters). Be careful about substitutions for preparations that will be ingested or come in contact with the skin. These substitutions do not apply to medical uses. See the article on the Sun for a list of herbal substitutes for bay.
Using essential oils: Essential oils are just too concentrated and too expensve to use without dilution. If you purchase pure essential oil from a source such as Mountain Rose, you will want to place just a drop or two into a neutral carrier vegetable oil or jojoba. This conservation is typical of the use of essential oils in spells and other magick. It is wise to test a bit of any essential oil on your inner wrist before use. If any irritation occurs, do not use the essential oil. Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets and away from heat and light. See the article on essential oils for detailed information on how to mix and use essential oils.
Magickal substitutions: Rosemary usually may be safely substituted for any herb in magick spells and rituals. Roses may safely be substituted for any flower.
Magical Uses  Bay Leaf: protection against evil and illness, stops interference. wisdom, protection, psychic powers, purification, healing. Burn the leaves to induce visions. Wear as an amulet to ward off negativity. Burn and scatter on the floor to purify area. Make a dream pillow of Bay, and put under your bed pillow to induce inspiration and prophetic dreams. For the best power do this with the full moon in “Scorpio”. Write a wish on a “bay leaf” with “dragons blood ink” for a powerful outcome. Healing, Purification, Strength
information courtesy of 
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deities associated with bay:
- Adonis (Greek God)
- Apollo (Greek God)
- Buddha (Buddhist)
- Eros (Greek God)
- Fides (Roman God)
essential oil:
Essential Oil: Bay laurel essential oil can be used for both aromatherapy and magick.
Method of Extraction: steam distilled (true essential oil)
Color: clear
Consistency: thin
Perfumery Note: top
Strength of Initial Aroma: medium to strong
Aromatic Description: camporous, fresh, fruity, herbacous
Constituents: a-pinene, B-pinene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, methyl chavicol, neral, a-terpineol, geranyl acetate, eugenol, cavicol
Aromatherapy Uses: confidence
Aromatherapy Medical Uses: amenorrhea, colds, flu, loss of appetite, tonsillitis
Safety Information: can cause dermatitis, not to be used during pregnancy, possibly narcotic
Using essential oils: Essential oils are just too concentrated and too expensve to use without dilution. If you purchase pure essential oil from a source such as Mountain Rose, you will want to place just a drop or two into a neutral carrier vegetable oil or jojoba. This conservation is typical of the use of essential oils in spells and other magick. It is wise to test a bit of any essential oil on your inner wrist before use. If any irritation occurs, do not use the essential oil. Keep essential oils out of reach of children and pets and away from heat and light. See the article on essential oils for detailed information on how to mix and use essential oils.
cautions and contraindications:
Cautions and contraindications: Bay is believed to be safe.
Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden (or window boxes).
Organic Labels: The Bush administration’s USDA has announced that they will help large American food corporations increase their profits by purposely deceiving the American public by putting non-organic foods into foods labelled as being organic. Under U.S. law, for foods to labelled as organic, crops must be grown without chemical fertilizers, sewage sludge, bioengineering, or pesticides and animals must be raised without antibiotics and growth hormones and given access to the outdoors. The USDA has decided that 43 non-organic ingredeients can be added to foods labelled as organic. To protest this decision, go to Organic Consumers Association. One of the non-organic ingredients is Turkish bat leaves.
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