1/2 oz

 Folk Names: Osier, Pussy Pine, Pussy Willow, Saille, Salicyn Willow, Saugh Tree, Tree of Enchantment, Wand Wood, Witches' Aspirin, Witches' Wood, Withe, Withy

Gender: Feminine Planet: Moon  Element: Water
Astrological Primary: Cancer
Astrological Secondary: Pisces, Scorpio
Goddesses: Artemis, Athena, Belit-Ili, Callisto, Ceres, Cerridwen, Diana, Hecate, Hera, Luna, Persephone, Psyche, Selene
Gods: Jehovah, Mercury, Oko, Osiris, Olocun, Tegid
Powers: Love, Love Divination, Protection, Healing

Magical: Willow leaves are carried or used in mixtures to attract love, and the wood is used to fashion magical wands dedicated to Moon Magic. If you wish to know if you will be married in the new year, on New Year's Eve throw your shoe or boot into a willow tree. If it doesn't catch and stay in the branches the first time, you have eight more tries. If you succeed in trapping your shoe in the tree you will be wed within twelve months-but you'll also have to shake or climb the tree to retrieve your shoe. All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Knock on a willow tree to avert evil. The leaves, bark and wood of the willow are also utilized in healing spells. If you wish to conjure spirits, mix crushed willow bark into sandalwood and burn at the waning Moon out doors. Magical brooms, especially Witch's brooms, are traditionally bound with a willow branch. Willow is one of the nine woods, listed in the Wiccan Rede as being best for ritual fires, It is also one of the woods often cited as best for making wands. Some traditions insist that the wand be created of no other wood. Others state that Willow is the best wood for making wands that are used to work with the moon. 

Medicinal:  The Chinese use S. purpurea which they call Shui-yang. Used for chronic dysentery, cancerous sores, and dressing wounds, and smallpox ulcers. Used in treating feverish diseases, chills, ague, pain, inflammations, neuralgia, headaches, gout, and rheumatic ailments, arthritic joints. Native Americans used for diarrhea, to staunch bleeding, and for dandruff. Taken for worms, gonorrhea, dyspepsia, dysentery, chronic diarrhea and edema. It may also be taken as a bitter tonic in small doses before meals, to hasten convalescence from acute diseases. The tea made from the leaves or buds is good in gangrene, cancer, and eczema. Wash is used for corns, cuts, ulcers, poison-ivy rash. Experimentally, delays cataract formation and risk of heart disease in males.

Parts Used: Bark, leaves, wood