Five Valentine's Day Charms

Author: Chalisea t'Venatrix

Valentine's Day.

For certain people, these words conjure up the images of hearts, roses, chocolate, and spending time with that special someone. For others, it's another day of abject loneliness and sadness. For that group of individuals who view February 14th the same as any other day, more power to you!

I remember that for the longest time I called Valentine's Day by its infamous pseudonym of Singles Awareness Day. But thanks to the magickal genius of Scott Cunningham, celebrated author of herbological and gemological guides and encyclopedias, I found a few charms that helped me "up the ante", so to speak. These super-simple charms can be done with items easily found in the kitchen or garden.

Note: Unlike movies, love charms do not force the object of your affections to love you. Love charms attract love, and that can come from anywhere.

Charm Number One: Bringing Happiness with Saffron

This charm is for happiness in a relationship, or happiness in general. The spice saffron, while mostly being renowned in the culinary world for its pungent aroma and exotic taste, can be used in anything. Simply ingesting the spice in a tea or as an ingredient is said to dispel melancholy; but be careful - one early author on herbology warned not to eat too much of this "happy herb" because he suggests that you could very well keel over from excessive joy! This could work especially well when added to a mulled wine (for those of you that drink alcohol), or in a hot chocolate with nutmeg and clove to supplement. Infusions (an herbal tea) of the plant also works quite well. Happiness can taste good!

Charm Number Two: The Eternal Rose

This charm is used to attract love. Since the beginning of time, everyone has associated the rose with love, and the fact that these are given on Valentineís Day quite frequently only strengthens this belief! Rose water, which is distilled from the petals of the flower, is often added to bath water, or the petals of the flower sewn into a satchel that steeps like a little magickal tea bag is placed in the bath. Roses can be mixed with other flowers that are linked with love - such as lavender and/or violets - which will strengthen the potency of the satchel (not to mention that you will smell really good!). You can also carry the satchel with you, and the scent of the flower is often used like a magnet to attract love, whether it is a man or a woman using it. Rosehips, which are the little fruits of the rose, can be strung on string (I suggest red or pink; this is keeping with the theme and those colors are often associated with love) and worn as beads to attract love. Elaida might have been on to something by keeping her study full of roses when she was the Amyrlin Seat! If only she were interested in men.

I'll move into the gems now; they are a bit easier to use and itís easier to carry than plants.

Charm Number Three: Amythyst

Amethyst is a fairly common stone absolutely steeped in magickal ability. Out of the many powers it can be used for, I will tell you how to use it for love. Amethyst is the stone characterized with pure, emotional love; the best kind, in my opinion. It is often given between lovers (married or not, it does not make a difference) to strengthen their relationship. The amethyst is linked to the heart, so wearing it on a chain near the heart will help the magickal flow. Not only will the amethyst stregthen love, but the link to the heart also helps with forgiveness. This little purple crystal can be a wonderful thing.

Charm number four: Diamonds are OUT, Emeralds are IN!

Many people often characterize the diamond with love, but I have some bad news: I will not be using it for any love spells. You might be saying "But Chalisea, diamonds have been representing love forever! Why canít I have one love spell with a diamond?" Simply put, while the diamond has been affiliated with love (due to aggressive marketing from gemsmiths and gem stores), it has no magickal root in love. The emerald is a much better choice as a stone of love. It is used as a stone of peace and for the reconciliation between lovers. Simply wearing the stone is said to bring mental peace, and BANG, you can use this peace to reconcile with your lover.

Charm number five: Lucky Turquoise

Turquoise is a fairly common stone as well, as works incredibly well for drawing luck. If you're going to pretend to be Mat Cauthon and have the "Dark Oneís own luck" when it comes to asking someone out, best of luck to you. For the rest of us who arenít as Skippy McForward as you are, wearing turquoise next to the heart or on your hands is supposed to attract luck. I have been rejected when asking a boy to a girlís choice dance (High School dances, donít even get me started...), and when I wore turquoise the next day to class with said boy, he cornered me after class and said that he would go with me. Most blue stones like turquoise can be worn to boost luck.

If any of these charms sound interesting to you, I suggest going to your local library or bookstore and finding a copy of Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Gem, Crystal, and Metal Magic. I own them both, and look into them quite frequently. They are incredibly helpful, and can help you delve even deeper into the world of charms.