Witchy Wednesdays - Potato
Witchy Wednesdays - Potato The iconic Potato is a strarchy crop from the perennial nightshade family of plants. It is a native of America.They were introduced to Europe in the later 16th century and are now grown almost worldwide. They have distinctive flowers which grow up to 60cm in height in white, pink, red, blue or purple with bright yellow stamens. After flowering small green fruits appear resembling little tomatoes. These are full of solanine, a toxic substance. The potato itself has many varieties estimated at more than 4000. Obviousley the potato is heavily used in cooking to create many dishes including mash potato, crisps and chips, and of course the roast potato. Potatoes are used to brew alcoholic beverages such as vodka, poitín, or akvavit. Potato starch is used in the food industry as a thickener and binder for soups and sauces, in the textile industry as an adhesive, and for the manufacturing of papers and boards. Potato juice, especially from redskin potatoes is said to be good for ulcers and other issues related to stomach acidity as well as gallstones. It is also said to be a good liver tonic.Sliced raw potato can be placed on skin inflammations and burns for quick relief. Mix shredded raw potato with olive oil to relieve dry, chapped skin. Magickally Potatoes can be carved into poppets for sympathetic magick. In kitchen magick it represents stability and the basic necessities of life. Cut a potato into quarters and bury the quarters at the four corners of your property for protection. Potato can be carried in your pocket to guard against illness, carve a symbol or the name of a friend or family into a potato to draw out an illness or curse into the potato itself then bury it. The illness or curse will decay with the potato as its new host.
