A Lunar Garden

One excellent way to connect with a particular type of energy is to construct a shrine for it. This garden evokes the mystical power of the Moon through shape, color, lunar-ruled plants, and associated ornaments. First, the shape represents the Moon's three phases, merged to form a popular Pagan image: waxing crescent on the left, full circle in the middle, waning crescent on the right. The cool blues, whites, pale pinks, and silvery-greens of the plants capture the light even on a dark night, holding the luminous beauty of the Moon; on a well-lit night this garden gleams like a beacon. Likewise, the sweet fragrance of the night-blooming varieties makes a wonderful evening experience. These same plants all embody some aspect of lunar energy, and they offer additional applications in culinary, medicinal, and magical work. The nonliving parts of the garden serve as a background and focus for the rest. Overall, you find in this arrangement a peaceful refuge of women's mysteries and the quiet power of the night.

Things You Will Need

The Plants: Artemesia 'Silver Mound,' Honesty, Lady's Mantle, Lemon Balm, Lettuce, Lily, Loosestrife, Moonflower, Morning Glory, Mugwort, Rose, and Wintergreen.

The Objects: White river rocks for the border, four poles or two arches to support the vines, a centerpiece, and a seat if you want one.

Planting the Garden

Begin by choosing a place for your garden; these plants grow best in full sun to part shade. They all thrive in the rigorous and unpredictable Midwest climate, but if you live in an area prone to extremes of heat, cold, or precipitation you may need to make some substitutions. You can adapt the size to fit what space you have; ideally this plan makes a medium-sized garden, but it contracts and expands pretty well. Mark out the boundaries with rope, then prepare the soil by loosening it and blending in some compost. Set up the vine supports and the centerpiece before you plant anything, but wait to add the edging until after you have finished planting. If at all possible, do the planting during the waxing phase of the Moon.

For this garden you will need to buy a combination of seeds, roots, and plants. How many of each depends on the size you choose. In general, you will need one packet each of Morning Glory, Moonflower, Mugwort, Lettuce, Poppy, Hyssop, Lemon Balm, and Honesty plus two packets of Loosestrife seeds. The others usually come as plants or roots, and you will need one Rose, four Artemesia plants, four Lady's Mantle plants, and about a dozen Wintergreen plants. Lily size varies depending on whether you want Daylilies or Oriental Lilies; figure a total of four Daylilies or a dozen Oriental Lily roots.

Morning Glory and Moonflower fill the points of both crescents, climbing to about 8 feet high. Mixed together, they give you flowers day and night. Moonflower blooms exclusively in huge, white, deliciously fragrant blossoms; choose a white or blue Morning Glory to complement it. Magically, the spiral climbing habit of these vines makes them good for any kind of spell based on cycles. Also, Morning Glory seeds beneath your pillow prevent nightmares, while Moonflower seeds used in the same way bring dreams of vision and power.

Loosestrife fills in much of the waxing crescent, between the vines and Rose, growing to 3 feet. The flowers come in shades of soft pink and bluish- lavender. Herbalists use the astringent leaves to tighten skin, reduce wrinkles, and shrink blood vessels. The flowers serve as an intestinal disinfectant, useful for treating food poisoning and diarrhea. As its name suggests, this herb settles arguments and repels evil.

Rose occupies the center of the waxing crescent, between the two patches of Loosestrife, growing 3 to 5 feet high. Choose a fragrant, hardy Rose with flowers of a lunar color: white, cream, palest pink, or blue. Rose-flower water adds a delicate flavor to many East Indian desserts, and also makes a pleasant addition to bathwater. Rose hips contain a great deal of vitamin C, making them popular in tea, syrup, jelly, and even wine; gather these fruits after the first frost. Magically, this plant figures into most love spells but also works well for healing or protection. Planted in the garden, Rose attracts faeries.

Lettuce makes up the first quadrant of the outer circle, between Wintergreen and Artemesia, with Rose in the waxing crescent to the left. Select a "mesclun mix" for a variety of leaf colors and shapes, with a mature height of about 6 inches. Pick the leaves for kitchen use; eating Lettuce before bedtime prevents insomnia. Growing Lettuce also conveys protection. The wild form, called Bitter Lettuce, grows over 6 feet high and possesses a number of medicinal properties which have been bred out of the sweet garden cultivars along with the bitterness.

Artemesia 'Silver Mound' forms the second quadrant of the outer circle, between Lettuce and Lady's Mantle, with Rose in the waxing crescent to the left. This fluffy, silver-green plant grows in pillowy cushions reaching 8 inches in the center. The foliage emits a sweet, strong odor when stroked; insects hate it. Magically, this plant combines the energy of Maiden and Mother aspects through its traditional association with Artemis and its lush, round shape; use it in spells for abundance or growth.

Lady's Mantle fills the third quadrant of the outer circle, between Artemesia and Wintergreen, with Mugwort in the waning crescent to the right. In size it ranges from 9 to 18 inches. This plant produces round, ruffled leaves covered with fine silver hairs; water pools in the leaves like quicksilver. They also yield a splendid green dye. An infusion of the leaves and stems soothes a variety of female problems, making it useful for post-childbirth care, menstrual regulation, and menopause relief. Although popular for love spells, it generalizes well to any type of nurturing magic.

Wintergreen forms the fourth quadrant of the outer circle, between Lady's Mantle and Lettuce, with Mugwort in the waning crescent to the right. It only grows about 6 inches high but, as the name suggests, it remains green all year long. In summer this herb produces tiny bell-shaped flowers of white or ghostly pink, followed by pinkish-red berries which persist throughout the winter. Oil from the leaves and berries possesses astringent, diuretic, and stimulant properties; it is also a popular flavoring. Tea made from the leaves reduces muscle aches and soothes a sore throat. Its magical powers include healing, hex-breaking, and protection.

Hyssop occupies the first quadrant of the inner circle, between Poppy and Lemon Balm, inside Lettuce. It grows to 2 feet and has narrow, glossy leaves of dark green. Bees and butterflies love the flowers; choose a blue or white variety for this garden. This herb adds a sharp note to both sweet and savory dishes, and it also facilitates the digestion of fatty meat. Its magical properties center around purification and protection. In particular, burn it to cleanse sacred spaces, or make a brush from the leaves and stems to sweep the place clean.

Lemon Balm forms the second quadrant of the inner circle, between Hyssop and Honesty, inside Artemesia. It grows vigorously to 2 feet, bringing forth a profusion of crinkled, citrus-scented leaves; and like Hyssop it flowers in shades of white and blue. Use the leaves fresh in salads, vinegars, oils, and liqueurs; or make a tea for soothing headaches, nausea, and insomnia. Its magical applications include love, healing, and success. Perhaps its most interesting use is attracting bees; rub the leaves on a new hive to settle a freshly-acquired swarm.

Honesty fills the third quadrant of the inner circle, between Lemon Balm and Poppy, inside Lady's Mantle. Growing up to 2 feet, it produces an abundance of seedpods which dry to thin, white disks that rustle attractively in the breeze. These look just like full moons, which gives this plant its other name: Lunaria. Use these to represent the Moon or the Mother Goddess in your rituals, or carry them in your pocket to attract wealth. They also convey protection.

Poppy occupies the fourth quadrant of the inner circle, between Honesty and Hyssop, inside Wintergreen. It grows up to 2 feet; choose a variety with white or pale pink flowers. Some kinds of Poppy produce masses of tiny black seeds which make a very popular pastry filling. Its diverse magical powers include money, luck, invisibility, sleep, love, and fertility. Carry the seeds in a sachet to attract wealth and good fortune.

Lily fills most of the waning crescent, between the vines and Mugwort, growing to 3 feet. Select a fragrant cultivar with white, cream, or pale pink flowers. The luminous trumpets attract a diversity of moths and butterflies. Daylilies, which come in cream and pink, are also edible. Oriental Lilies are not edible but usually smell sweeter. Lily grants strength and breaks love spells; it also keeps unwanted visitors away from your home, a useful trait indeed.

Mugwort stands in the center of the waning crescent, between the two Lily patches, growing up to 5 feet tall. This towering herb produces plumes of dainty white flowers with a heady fragrance. Asian cooks use the leaves for stuffing and rice cakes; dried and stuffed into pillows, the leaves bring vivid dreams and repel moths. In an herbal bath, Mugwort relaxes and relieves aches in muscles and joints; and it treats premenstrual distress either as a tea or in a bath. Its extensive magical applications include astral projection, healing, prophetic dreams, strength, protection, and the enhancement of psychic powers. Use an infusion of Mugwort to wash crystal balls, magic mirrors, and other scrying equipment.

Decorating the Garden

Place climbing supports for the Moonflower and Morning Glory vines at the points of both crescents. You may use individual poles for this, or connect them into arches. If your soil is too loose to hold the poles firmly, create footings for them by filling buckets with concrete. Once dry, the concrete will anchor the base of each pole securely, and you can then bury the anchors at the points of your garden.

Outline the edges of the garden with smooth white rocks. This creates a crisp, attractive boundary to contain and offset your plants. If you want to include a seat, place it about six feet back from the Lettuce and Wintergreen so as to provide the best view. A large rock or a hammock chair would make a fine seat for this type of garden. You can also find stone or cast concrete benches with appropriate words carved into them -- choose from possibilities like "Dream" and "Mystery."

The centerpiece forms the heart of your garden. Pick something that, to you, represents the Moon in all Her glory. You might set up a birdbath so that the water reflects the Moon in the sky. Or, go all out and create a miniature water garden. For this, use a half-barrel tub and plant it with Blue Flags and night-blooming water lilies with white or blue flowers; add a pair of white goldfish and you're all set. Most pet shops and garden centers carry books that explain the basics of water gardening, and the tub garden is a popular version. For a representational centerpiece, set up a "moon globe" light on a spiral pedestal or use a silver gazing ball. If you want to emphasize the Goddess aspect, find a statue of any lunar Goddess such as Artemis or Selene. Animals associated with the Moon or Moon Goddesses also work well: hounds, fish, snakes, cows, bats, bears, or cats. Use your imagination here.

Enjoying the Garden

This garden offers a wide range of virtues for you to appreciate. First, it provides a place for you to come and relax, to connect with the peaceful lunar energy. If you have worked with lunar mysteries for a long time, this garden makes an ideal devotional shrine; and it also serves as a fine introduction to lunar magic for less-experienced practitioners. Many people find that working in a garden soothes the mind and comforts the soul. In my experience, cooking with herbs, arranging dried flowers, and other herb-related activities convey many of the same benefits.

Once established, your Lunar Garden becomes a natural focus for any magical working which involves the Moon: women's mysteries, divination, Esbat rituals, and so forth. You may wish to keep this shrine private or share it with your covenmates. Leaves and flowers gathered here will bring with them the energy of their growing-place. Although at its best during evening, night, and early morning hours this garden looks and smells lovely in the daytime too. Whenever you see it, the beautiful arrangement of plants and ornaments will remind you of Luna's special power.

References

Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham. Llewellyn Publications, 1991.

A Druid's Herbal for the Sacred Earth Year by Ellen Evert Hopman. Destiny Books, 1995.

Herbs: The Visual Guide to More Than 700 Herb Species from Around the World by Lesley Bremness. DK Publishing, 1994.

Rodale's Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs edited by Claire Kowalchik and William H. Hylton. Rodale Press, 1987.

"A Lunar Garden" copyright 1999 Elizabeth Barrette, first published in PagaNet News "Witch Wars" Volume VI, Issue I Imbolc 1999.