Valerian

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is one of the more assertively aromatic herbs in the practitioner’s cabinet, carrying a deep, earthy, musky scent that polarizes people strongly. Its root is the part most commonly worked with magically, and that root communicates the plant’s character directly: grounding, potent, and unsentimental. Valerian is not a gentle herb. It acts with authority in whatever domain it is directed toward, whether that is pulling someone into deep sleep, drawing love with a direct and earthy magnetism, or warding a space against unwanted intrusion.

The herb’s connection to Venus speaks to its uses in love and reconciliation, while its heavy, grounding quality places it in root-chakra and deep-earth magical work. It is an herb of the underworld’s upper layer: not so dark as belladonna or henbane, but not a garden tea either.

History and origins

Valerian has been in use in European medicine since at least the first century CE, when Dioscorides described it as a diuretic and wound herb. By the medieval period it was valued across Europe for its sedative and calming properties, and it appears in herbals from the Continent and Britain as a sleep and anxiety remedy. The name valerian may derive from the Latin valere (to be strong or well) or from the Roman province of Valeria.

In folk magic, valerian was used in love philters in medieval Europe, added to potions intended to make a reluctant party more amenable to love. This use is documented in records from Germany and Britain and has been carried into contemporary love-magic practice through the herbal tradition. The plant was also hung in the home for protection and was used in exorcism rituals in some European folk traditions.

Culpeper attributed valerian to Mercury in his herbal, though most contemporary practitioners and sources follow a Venus attribution based on its love-drawing applications. The discrepancy reflects the ongoing variation in herbal correspondence systems across different traditions.

In practice

Dried valerian root is the most practical form for magical work. It should be stored in a tightly sealed glass or metal container, as the smell is pervasive and will permeate any nearby materials if left unsealed. The root can be ground or left whole depending on the application.

Some practitioners find the scent of valerian intensely unpleasant; others find it grounding and earthy in a reassuring way. If you are sensitive to strong smells, work with valerian in a well-ventilated space or use it in sealed sachets rather than as open incense.

Magickal uses

Valerian’s most traditional and documented magical use is in love and sleep magic. For sleep, a sachet of dried valerian root placed under the pillow is said to bring deep, heavy sleep and to ward off nightmares. It is often combined with hops and lavender for this purpose, as its single note can be overpowering alone.

In love magic, valerian is added to sachets intended to draw love or to smooth tensions in a strained relationship. Its earth-Venus combination creates a magnetism that is physical and grounding rather than ethereal. A valerian root carried in the pocket or worn in a sachet is a traditional love-drawing charm in the European folk tradition.

For protection, valerian is added to warding sachets alongside protective herbs like rue, angelica, and black salt. It is worked with in exorcism and purification incense, though its scent requires confident ventilation of the space after burning.

How to work with it

For a sleep sachet, combine one tablespoon of dried valerian root with two tablespoons of dried lavender and one tablespoon of dried hops in a muslin bag. Tie it closed and place it under your pillow. The valerian should deepen and stabilize sleep; if you find it produces dreams that are too heavy or intense, reduce the amount of valerian and increase the lavender.

For a love-drawing sachet, place dried valerian root, rose petals, and a small piece of lodestone in a red cloth. Tie it with red cord while stating your intention for love and attraction, and carry it close to your body. The lodestone amplifies the drawing energy of the valerian.