Lily of the Valley
Lily of the Valley's (Convallaria Magalis, also known as Jacob's Ladder, Convallaria, Male Lily, Our Lady's Tears, Convall-lily, Lily Constancy, Ladder-to-Heaven, and May Lily) name, "Majalis" signifies "that which belongs to May", and the old astrological books place the plant under the dominion of Mercury, since Maia, the daughter of Atlas, was the mother of Mercury or Hermes. These chaste white flowers were once known as "Our Lady's Tears", and the fragrance was purported to attract Nightingales. There is an old Sussex legend that St. Leonard fought against a great dragon in the woods near Horsham, only vanquishing it after a mortal combat lasting many hours, during which he received grievous wounds, but wherever his blood fell, Lilies-of-the-Valley sprang up to commemorate the desperate fight. The sweet scent of these tiny flowers is so strong it literally floats on the breeze.
Magickal Uses:
Lily of the Valley is a favored herb among the Devas. The flowers may be gathered, dried, and powdered to add to any incense or mixture as a Magickal additive. Some prefer to use the rhizome (root) or berries in their workings. Lily of the Valley has an association with Apollo as it's Invocatory. From ancient times it has been considered a patron herb of Alchemists. It has an astrological association with Mercury, that deity who moves between the light and the dark. Use this herb to assist in empowering your mental powers and happiness.
Medicinal and Other Uses:
Lily of the Valley is used much like Foxglove in the treatment of congestive heart failure. **WC** These plants should be considered potentially poisonous. (Because of the cardiac glycosides and saponins found in this plant), however, the toxic principle is very poorly absorbed when taken orally so poisoning is unlikely to occur. Animals that have access to the plant material may be poisoned. **GT** This plant won't survive well in high-traffic areas. It grows well in heavy clay soils, and loves to be mulched heavily. The Plants live for decades in cool climates but die out quickly where summers are hot