Saffron

Gender: Masculine
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Deities: Eros, Ashtoreth
Powers: Love, Healing, Happiness, Wind

Raising, Lust, Strength, Psychic Powers
Ritual Uses: The Phoenecians baked saffron
into crescent-shaped cakes, which
they ate in honor of the Moon and fertility
Goddess, Ashtoreth
Magical Uses: Saffron is added to love
sachets as well as those aimed at raising
lustful feelings. It is used in healing spells,
and the infusion is used as wash water for
the hands prior to healing rituals.
At one time in Persia (Iran) pregnant
women wore a ball of saffron at the pit of
the stomach to ensure a speedy delivery.
The infusion, drunk, enables you to
foresee the future, and simply ingesting
saffron dispels melancholy. In fact, one
early author warns against eating too much
saffron lest one should "die of excessive
joy"!
Saffron in the home keeps lizards from
venturing in, and wearing a chaplet of saffron
will protect you from inebriation (and
will probably be the subject of a few comments
from your friends).
Sheets were rinsed with a saffron infusion
in Ireland so that the arms and legs
would be strengthened during sleep, and
the ancient Persians utilized saffron to raise
the wind.