Folk Names: Garden Lettuce, Lattouce, Sleep Wort
Gender/Planet/Element Associations: Feminine/
Moon/Water
Divine Associations: Min
Ritual Uses:
Lettuce was sacred to the god Min in ancient Egypt; it was commonly
placed in tombs as an offering to him.
Uses In Folk Magic:
Protection
- Lettuce when grown in the garden is protective, but some say that if too
many are raised, sterility will result in the household.
Prosperity
- Add lettuce to diets specifically and magically geared to attract wealth..
Lust & Love
- The god Min not withstanding, lettuce has also been eaten as a means to
cool sexual desire. If you wish to fortify yourself against temptations
of the flesh, eat some lettuce.
- Plant lettuce or cress seeds in the form of someone you love.
If the seeds sprout well, so too will love between you.
General
- Rub lettuce juice onto the forehead or eat the leaves to have no trouble
falling asleep.
Sources:
- Cunningham, Scott. Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs. St.
Paul: Llewellyn Publications, 1998.
- A Kitchen Witches' Guide to Vegetables. "Kitchen Witchery". www.geocities.com/Athens/Delphi/4536/WiseWomansCottage/kwveggies.html.
Accessed: 22 December 2001.