American elder is a plant and an herb.

• botanical information
• part used
• magick correspondences and uses
• ritual uses
• ancient myths and beliefs

botanical information:

    Botanical name: Sambucus canadensis

    Common name: American elder, elder

    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.

part used:

Part Used (elder berry and elder leaf): Most commonly the flowers or berries. Dried fruits are less bitter than fresh. The stems and leaves are poisonous. Information courtesy of Mountain Rose Herbs

magickal correspondences and uses:

    Gender: feminine (traditional western European magickal gender)

    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 Flowers: Sacred to the “White Lady” and midsummer solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse, Burn at “Beltane” to comfort the Fae. These small tiny yellowish flowers carry a strong pungent smell. Exorcism, Protection, Healing, Prosperity, Sleep information courtesy of

ritual uses:

    Nine Woods: Elder is one of the nine woods traditionally placed in the traditional Celtic Druid balefire.
    Nine Woods: In Wiccan Witchcraft elder (especially European elder) is never burned. A hollow tube of elder is used to blow on the embers to start the balefire. From one version of the Wiccan Rede: “Elder is the Lady’s tree; Burn it not or cursed you’ll be.”

ancient myths and beliefs:

    The Elder Moon or Ruis (R) Moon is the thirteenth month of the Beth-Luis-Nion Celtic (Druidic) calendar, running from November 25 to December 23.

Some herbs may be poisonious under some conditions. Exercise appropriate care.

    Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Some plants can be toxic just by touch. Even experts can make deadly misidentifications of wild plants. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden (or window boxes).

See also: herbs and trees.

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