Gentian is the bitter root of the mountain meadows, prized in folk magic as a powerhouse, and ground fine it slips into any blend. Gentiana lutea is a herb of Mars and Fire, offered here as a root powder and worked for two old purposes above all: to add raw power to a spell and to break what has been crossed. This ounce of powder is the starter size for dressing blends, hex-breaking incense, and love work. A little lends real push to a working and mixes without a trace. Reach for it when a spell needs more force behind it. Key Features of Gentian Root Powder A power booster. Gentian is the classic strengthener, added to almost any working to lend it extra force; ground, it blends in smoothly. A hex-breaker. Folk practice burns or sprinkles gentian to break curses and crossed conditions and clear the way. The starter ounce. This ground ounce suits dressings and incense; the 2 oz size keeps the jar deeper. Product Details Botanical name: Gentiana lutea (gentian, great yellow gentian) Tradition: Cunningham places gentian under Mars and the element Fire Form: dried root powder Weight: 1 oz For spiritual use only; not a food, drug, or supplement, and not for ingestion Storage: keep sealed in a cool, dark place The Spiritual Significance Gentian takes its name, the story goes, from Gentius, an ancient Illyrian king said to have found a use for its intensely bitter root, and bitterness is the key to its character. In physical herbalism that bitterness made it famous, a reputation we name only as history, since Plentiful Earth offers gentian strictly for ritual use and never as a remedy or anything taken internally. In magic, the root's strength turns two ways. Cunningham seats gentian under Mars and the element Fire and names love and power among its workings. As a power herb it is the booster of the cabinet, added to almost any spell or incense to lend it extra force, the way you would add a strong root to give a working teeth. As a hex-breaker it is burned, sprinkled, or carried to break curses and crossed conditions and turn back ill-wishing, and a little finds its way into love work as well. Ground to a powder, it folds into dressings and blends without a trace, a forceful Martial root for when a spell needs more behind it. How To Use Gentian Root Powder Boost a working. Stir a little powder into almost any spell, jar, or dressing to lend it extra power and push. Break a crossing. Add gentian to hex-breaking and uncrossing blends or incense; if you burn it, do so over charcoal in a fire-safe dish in a well-ventilated space, kept within sight and away from anything flammable. Dress a candle. Roll an anointed candle lightly in the powder for power and force, then burn it within sight on a heat-safe surface, away from anything flammable. Add to love work. Fold a little into love sachets and dressings for its Mars-and-Fire warmth. Store it sealed, in a cool, dark place between workings. Pairs Well With Gentian Root Powder, 2 oz: the same root in a larger size. Reversible Oil: turn back the crossing as gentian breaks it. Protection Oil: ward the space once the crossing is cleared. Magical Herbalism by Scott Cunningham: the source of these attributions. Gentian Root Powder, 2 oz: the larger size for frequent blending. Frequently Asked Questions What is gentian root powder used for in magic? Two things above all: boosting power, stirred into almost any spell to lend it extra force, and breaking hexes, added to uncrossing blends or incense to clear curses and crossed conditions. A little also goes into love work. Cunningham places it under Mars and Fire. Can I take gentian internally or use it as a bitter remedy? No. Plentiful Earth sells gentian strictly for ritual and spiritual use, never as a remedy or supplement, and it should not be taken internally. Its reputation as a bitter in physical herbalism is named here only as history. What are gentian's correspondences? Cunningham seats gentian under the planet Mars and the element Fire, naming love and power among its workings. Folk practice adds its strong reputation as a hex-breaker, a forceful, Martial root for clearing crossed conditions. Should I choose powder or cut? Same root and the same magic. The powder folds smoothly into dressings, incense, and candle work; the cut form suits charm bags and jars where you want visible pieces. Choose whichever fits the workings you do most. How should I store it? Keep the powder sealed in a cool, dark place, away from heat and moisture. Ground root holds its strength well when kept dry, so a sealed jar will carry you through many blends and dressings.
