Dandelion Leaf (Taraxacum officinale)

Price range: $3.25 through $21.95

Dandelion leaf is the jagged green of the common weed, used for divination, calling spirits and making wishes. A humble, hard-working herb for psychic work.

The French named this plant dent de lion, lion’s tooth, for the deep, saw-edged notches along its leaves.

Origin & Traditional Use

Taraxacum officinale grows almost everywhere people do. Its young leaves have been eaten as bitter spring greens for centuries, cooked or raw in salads across Europe, and traditional herbal practice used the leaf as a gentle tonic.

Uses by Tradition

Witchcraft & Folk Magick

Psychic tea: brew the leaf and drink it before divination or reading the cards.
Calling spirits: set a steaming cup of dandelion tea beside the bed or altar to invite spirits or ancestors to visit.
Wish work: write a wish on paper, fold a pinch of dried leaf inside and release it to the wind.

A Simple Working

Steep a teaspoon of dandelion leaf in a cup of just-boiled water.
Light a white candle on your altar or bedside table.
Set the steaming cup beside the candle with a photo or name of an ancestor.
Speak the ancestor’s name and invite them to come close.
Sit quietly while the tea cools, noticing any thoughts, images or impressions.
Pour the cooled tea outside as an offering when you are done.

Pairs Well With

Mugwort, for divination and dreams.
A white candle, for ancestor and spirit work.
Dandelion root, for a stronger, earthier brew.
A tarot deck, to use after the tea.

Lore & History

Blowing the seeds from a dandelion clock is an old European folk divination: the number of breaths it takes to clear the head was said to tell the hour, or the years until marriage. Children still make wishes on them today.