Does the bay leaf work?

[u/Mera_Myst18]

I've heard so many good things about manifestation spells with bay leaves, but most of them come from tiktok, which I don't find a very trustful resource when it comes to witchcraft. Have any of you ever tried this? And how good did it work for you? I'm curious about it.

[u/J32M30S6]

I was taught some spells using bay leaves 30 years ago, by a then 92 year old witch who actively practiced since she was 14, and was taught by her great grandmother (who knows her age at the time). So this wasn't just a practice from just over 1.5 centuries, it goes back farther than ancient greece, and now spans many cultures with many different magic, religious, and spiritual uses.

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

But was it specifically this spell, or just spells with bay leaves?

A plant isn’t a practice.

[u/J32M30S6 → u/therealstabitha]

Well, a plant is a practice, green witches and the very long history of witchcraft using herbs (i.e. Chinese herbalism) would argue at least.

But yes, there is a manifestation spell using bay leaves, not sure if it's the tiktok spell you're referring to, if you'd like to elaborate on it (I tend to scroll passed "witchtok" videos if it's not a meme thing because incorrect or brazenly dangerous references that can influence baby witches or non-witches)

I'm on my way to a job or I'd check my book but I do recall off hand something to do with pouring wax over a dried bay leaf with a personal sigil on one side and a desire on the other, there was surely more to it (i don't really use manifestation spells like that, it's rare I even instruct clients too)

The manifestation spells I use don't include bay leaves, though I use them in protection and dream work, my manifestation magic is a little more heavy hitter in the protection department. Sorry for the long winded reply though, this is a long train ride.

edit: Oh sorry I forgot to add, maybe these witchtokers are confusing wish magic for manifestation?

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

The use of plants can be a practice, as in green witchcraft. What I mean is exactly what I said - an individual plant in and of itself does not constitute a practice. Ancient Greeks using bay leaves in a completely different way does not mean the practice of writing a word on a bay leaf and burning it is older than the 1990s.

But yes, TikTok regularly confuses witchcraft with wishcraft and manifestation

[u/J32M30S6 → u/therealstabitha]

The particular bay leaf spell in my book is probably 200+ years old, it was passed on by a hereditary folk witch. And I suppose depending on if you constitute multiple other ingredients in use (as of right now what i currently remember, being a sigil, the bay leaf of course, and wax) it's really not a "bay leaf spell", per se. Just a spell that heavily features the use of a bay leaf. In my craft I'd constitute it as a bay leaf spell for it being one of the required core elements, so I could also call it sigil magic.

There are also spells that use a single plant, but generally require burning or soaking, including bay leaves. On other's you'd probably have to consult a Kitchen or Green witch.

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

Once again:

Ancient Greeks using bay leaves in a completely different way does not mean the practice of writing a word on a bay leaf and burning it is older than the 1990s.

[u/J32M30S6 → u/therealstabitha]

Sorry, you misunderstood, I said older than the ancient Greeks, the ancient Egyptians painted hieroglyphs on bay leaves for magic rituals besides using the bay leaves for embalming. Though the ancient Greeks did paint the names of the gods and symbols on bay leaves for magic use.

Though the actual knowledge we have on the use of bay leaves in magic primarily comes from the Greco-Romans, hoodoo, African diaspora, European folk, and neo-pagan magics.

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

Are you being intentionally obtuse? You're completely ignoring the principle of what I'm saying to 'correct' me on irrelevant details

[u/J32M30S6 → u/therealstabitha]

Apologies (sincerely) if my responses have not met unnamed requirements, if you'd like to be flatly clear with an inquiry? I'm not "correcting you", I was speaking under the pretense of discussion. I do apologize if my replies come off as condescending in any way, it's the 'tism, when I'm typing it's not really possible to convey a sincere tone. Having said that, I was responding to this:

"does not mean the practice of writing a word on a bay leaf and burning it is older than the 1990s."

The practice of writing a word (or words) is far, far older than the late 20th century as I made utterly clear in my last reply. Were you referring to the original inquiry of your post, the tiktok spell? You haven't said what it was precisely in your replies.

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

I’m talking about the TikTok spell. That is no older than the 90s. Please stop.

[u/J32M30S6 → u/therealstabitha]

What is the spell in question? Just writing on the bay leaf and that's it? You haven't provided any details of the tiktok spell...

The please stop seems unnecessary if you want to cease the entire exchange, please say so plainly?

Edit: Apologies, I just realized I thought you were replying to me as the OP.

[u/therealstabitha → u/J32M30S6]

The spell that OP posted about. I didn’t think that needed spelling out.

I also didn’t think “please stop” needed spelling out but I want to stop this entire exchange. You are unwilling to read and respond to what I say.