How to incorporate Victorian floriography into witchcraft.

Victorian floriography, the art of communicating through flowers, allowed people to express complex emotions and messages in a society bound by strict social etiquette. Every flower and its colour held a special meaning.

floriography: love and rejection

Roses, not surprisingly, played a central role in romantic communications. Red roses symbolised passionate love, while pink roses conveyed gentleness and admiration. However, not all floral messages were positive. Yellow carnations, for instance, signified rejection, allowing for polite refusals of unwanted suitors.

Expressing Complex Emotions

Difficult emotions were also expressed using flowers. Poppies stood as poignant symbols of remembrance, their vibrant red petals echoing the bloodshed of war and loss. A flower that is still used for remembrance today. Other flowers that represented loss or grief were:

Dark crimson roses: Mourning.

Pink carnations: “I’ll Never Forget You.”

Rosemary: Remembrance

Fortune and Prosperity

For those wishing to convey good fortune, Apple Blossom symbolised the promise of good fortune and prosperity, hinting at a future filled with abundance. I have a whole blog post on Apple Blossom. See here. Peonies symbolised good future and wealth; heather, particularly white, was believed to bring luck.

Witchcraft and floriography.

There are many ways you can incorporate floriography into your craft. Keep flowers on your altar; change them with the seasons. Or if you are working on a particular spell or goal, add flowers to represent it. For example, place a sunflower on your altar during abundance rituals to attract wealth and success, or orchids to enhance psychic abilities.

Seasonal Rituals

Align your magical practices with the natural cycle of flowers.

Spring

Primroses played a significant role in Victorian floriography. Their name, derived from the Latin “prima rosa,” meaning “first rose,” highlighted their early blooming nature. These flowers symbolised youth, new beginnings, and innocent love. In the language of flowers, primroses often conveyed the message “I can’t live without you,” expressing deep affection. In some magical traditions, they are connected to fairies and used in spells for love and beauty.

Snowdrops in for hope and new beginnings. They are associated with the element of air and the direction of the east, aligning them with sunrise and the dawn of new cycles. They’re often used in rituals for purification, renewal, and overcoming challenges. It is also said that if you place some under your pillow, you may dream and communicate with loved ones who have passed on.

Daffodils were often given to express admiration, friendship, or chivalry and were said to bring good luck. Their bright, cheerful appearance also associated them with new beginnings and the renewal of spring. In witchcraft, they are associated with the planet Venus and the water element. They are great for love and fertility spells. Placing a vase of daffodils in the bedroom is said to increase fertility. Having a vase of this in the house also attracts abundance. Daffodils are great for rituals for self-love and can help boost self-esteem and confidence.

Summer

Summer brings a riot of colours, with roses taking centre stage. Roses have long been associated with love, as we saw above. White roses were associated with innocence and purity.

In witchcraft, they have a variety of uses: place some petals in a muslin bag under your pillow for dreamwork, or make a dream pillow by sewing petals into a pillow. Grind down dried rose petals, mix them with other herbs, and burn on a charcoal disc. I have a whole blog post on Roses; see here

Autumn

Chrysanthemums, popular in Victorian gardens, represented honesty. Dahlias generally symbolise elegance and dignity

Winter

Even in the depths of winter, floriography continued to flourish. Evergreen plants like holly and ivy took on special significance.

Holly: Defence and domestic happiness

Ivy: Fidelity and marriage

Mistletoe: Kiss me and affection

Charm Bags

Create charm bags or sachets filled with dried flowers that correspond to your magical intent, based on their Victorian meanings.

Garden Magic

If you have the space, create your own witch’s garden of flowers you can use on your altar, in your spell work, or even to send a special message to someone. Choose flowers that resonate with you; grow them from seed if you can.