Garden Altars and Fairy Blessings
“There’s magic in everything, only if we have sense enough to get hold of it and make it do things for us.” – Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden
No matter the location, or how small the space, green witches can manifest a garden with a little faery help. Whether you have acres of land, or occupy an apartment with nothing but a flower box, the fae can make your garden grow.
Imbolc, the midpoint of winter, is the spiritual time of new beginnings. It’s also time to begin germinating and starting little peat pots of wonder indoors, waiting for the ground to thaw. Ostara takes us into spring, when the earth awakens and comes to life.
This season reveals observable evidence of faery presence as leaves bloom on trees and little critters come out of hiding. Signs the fae are at work, the best time to grab their attention.
Encourage engagements in your garden, by creating an outdoor altar and ask for plant blessings by holding rituals and leaving offerings.
Disclaimer: Calling upon the fae requires commitment from practitioners. Faeries are willing to work with those who care for nature. They’re mischievous and wild, you can expect misplaced gardening tools. Most of their antics are completely harmless, but they’re spiteful to those who do not hold up their end. Neglecting gardens can result in a rash of bad luck and unfortunate events. Beware not to enter into the partnership lightly.
Garden altars require items that tolerate wind, weather, and wildlife, for where the fae goes the elements and critters follow. Find suitable space. Ask permission to place your altar there. Get creative, refurbish a table, decorate it with symbols, sigils, pictures and manifestations.
Shells, stones and crystals can hold up to weather, but be advised not to leave anything you wouldn’t want stolen from your yard. My fae love kyanite, blue celestite, rainbow and rose quartz, moss agate, aventurine, citrine, and amethyst. Meditate on what’s best for your fae.
Select items that represent the elements. Windchimes or an incense burner for air. An oil lamp or candle holder for fire.
The most critical of all is water. A bird bath, or fountain, or simply leave a bowl of water, it doesn’t matter. What’s most important is the offering remains clean. Water left outside will attract wildlife. Rinse it out and refresh water regularly.
Place your altar under a tree, or plant one nearby. Faeries love all sorts of trees and plants. Select things you’re drawn to. I’ve noticed they’re attracted to fruit and nut trees that flower in the spring. Apple, cherry, oak, hazelnut, but they also enjoy dogwood, maple, ash, and various pine.
Select flowers that call faeries like foxglove, bluebell, and primrose. I keep morning glories and sun flowers, but they also enjoy ferns and clover. Consider herbs like lavender, St. John’s wort, Chamomile and echinacea which attract pollinators.
Use bird feeders, plant butterfly bushes, keep hive boxes for honey bees. Tend to their faery needs, provide shelter, like bird houses or awnings. Leave food offerings annually. Seeds, nuts, fruits, and berries. Don’t leave foods that poison wildlife. No salts, sugars, chocolate, or artificial chemicals. You may still leave baked goods, but consider baking low-gluten, dairy-free, sugar-free sweet breads and cakes.
Faeries enjoy acorns, walnuts, feathers, and mushrooms, shiny things like pyrite, coins, gemstones and jewelry.
Avoid leaving iron tools around, it may restrict movement and magick of the fae. This is sacred space, refrain from clutter near the altar. Dedicate your altar for your specific purpose, calling entities which you wish to attract. State your intention to work alongside them, for healing, protection, or cultivation.
This ritual asks the fae to bestow the garden with their blessings, to guard the space and help it flourish. If it pleases the fae, they will encourage big blooms and protection from pests and draught.
Pick the correct time, sabbath, moon cycle, day of the week that corresponds with your intentions.
Consider the following for your garden altar:
Incense (I recommend lavender, jasmine, honeysuckle, or apple.) Candles (Green, pink, or white) and matches. Dress candle with herbs to call the fae (Lavender, rose, jasmine). Anointing oil (Vanilla, orange blossom, primrose). 4 Quartz crystals. Representations of the four elements (i.e. Earth – antlers. Water – seashells. Air – feathers. Fire – lava rock.) Offerings of food/beverage.
Light incense and circle the border of your space three times clockwise. Visualize a healthy garden, full of blooms and vegetation. Speak your desires out loud.
Return to your altar and light your candles. Speak out loud:
“Faery queen, full of grace,
Give your blessing,
protect this space.
With as much guardianship as you can grant
To support the soul of every plant.
Watch over this land whether sun, rain or snow,
Assist wind and water to help this garden grow.
Throughout winter, spring, summer and fall,
Bless each petal, leaf and seedling, one and all.
I welcome your kind in any race,
To dwell amongst the flowers in this place.
Creatures of the North, South, East and West,
Carve out your home, build your nest.
With all my thanks I pledge this oath,
To best encourage every growth.”
Incantation by Priestess Sari Gagnon,
for the Cabot Kent Temple Newsletter, Imbolc 2022.
Meditate with each crystal on what you desire. When you are done, bury one in the ground at the border of your garden to the North, West, South, and East. Return to your altar, close out your circle and extinguish candle.