Tansy: A poisonous herb for magic

Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) grows wild and bold, golden buttons atop fern-like leaves, often overlooked by passersby — but never by those who know. I am always humbled and alert at the same time, when I come across Tansy on my path. Finding Tansy in unexpected places always gives a message that something is cooking, and one has to be aware of what is happening in the surroundings.

The Tansy I found today, drying in the sun (and I have a plan)

In the old days, when women bore shame for what was never theirs to carry, tansy was a whispered ally. An infusion made in secret, by those who knew the timing, the blend, the cost. This knowledge was never written down. It is passed hand to hand, breath to breath. Only the Wise Women would know how to use it, and many unfortunate girls and women would come to them for help.

Tansy has other uses too. It sharpens the mind, wards off insects, and adds a bitter spark to teas and spirits. Some kitchens of old used it as spice in Lent dishes—to “cleanse the body.” But let me be clear: tansy is no gentle herb. In the wrong hands, it can harm the liver, damage the womb, and bring pain instead of peace. It is not for the untrained, and never for the pregnant.

For those who work with spellcraft, tansy is used to protect against unwanted entanglements — yes, even those of the womb. A pinch here, a sachet there, and the air around you shifts.

But the rest... well, some things are still meant to be kept quiet, as they always have been.

Ritual suggestions

If you seek a gentle working with Tansy: Tie a small bundle of dried tansy with red thread, whisper into it the name of what you do not want to carry, and hang it over your door or place it under your bed. Let it guard your space, body, and boundaries — Tansy works firmly, with kindness.