Traditional Herb Series: Fig or Jaguey

Hi everyone, in studying herbs and people asking about them I decided to write a bit more about the plants that we use in more traditional preparations. As always in studying plants check with your mentor or godparent about what you are learning. When you take from a plant payment must be given, and talk with it first so that the plant is effective and that the spirit is not offended.This could be water in dry months, or 5 or 7 coins, or a crystal, incense, something of value, along with but not just a prayer for its healing, elevation for helping you and to bless the plant. Everything is exchange. There are also principles of timing and where the plant grows that will affect the energy of the plant, and therefore your usage.

All plants belong to Osayin and Gurunfinda or Gran Bwa as the owner, depending on tradition, and if domesticated or cultivated and not wild may also belong to spirits like Oko or Azaka.
However Jaguey is associated to the Mpungo Siete Rayos and Zarabanda in Palo, besides the spirits who own every plant.

The fig plant is known as a plant of betrayal or the Judas plant in Cuba, and is one of the many palos sticks used in Palo Mayombe, Monte and its various branches. It is called as such because it approaches other plants and strangles them, "strangler fig" Ficus Aurea/Hembra as the one that grows in tropical areas: Ficus crassinervia (trigonata) drags them down drowning them. It is my supposition that as Adam and Eve hid their nakedness with the leaf, it may have gained also a reputation in the diaspora.Therefore this plant got known for its uses against enemies when offended.

The fresh leaves are also used in a variety of ways in folk craft such as spiritual baths, or dried into spiritual items, around or on candles and into lamps.


The other nicknames for this plant is Vence Batalla: wins battles and Vence Guerra wins wars, as well as Yo puedo mas que tu: I can more than you, or I know better than you. You may see several listings for the same plant as people who are prescribed might not know all the names for the same thing.

                                         Photo from Vancouver island

It is a strong macho dominating and controlling herb, used to reverse black magic back to the sender, to overcome your enemies or those who abuse you, and for protection in the ATR's.

Some also use the leaf for divination, it is instructed to tell the truth, to see if it curls as a no or stays fresh as yes when something is written upon a picked leaf. This is gypsy magic or sycomancy. A live fig plant in the bedroom is said to promote peaceful sleep, in the house as good luck, outside the house to return home safely, and in the kitchen to ensure no one ever goes hungry. In Greek mythology it is a fruit of love or attraction, male potency and fertility. It is a plant which Buddha may have sat under to gain enlightenment. http://eluneblue.com/fig-magical-properties/

There is some difference between variety of fig plant, but they are all called jaguey. The male or macho one which needs to be used has large leaves than the female.

As we may live in areas other than the varieties that grow in tropical areas, a study and experimentation must be made of local or nursery plants in the native area you live. In any case fig is jaguey. There are medicinal effects of plants, but my blog focus on these plants will be more on the spiritual aspect. That being said the fig fruit is known to reduce blood pressure.

If you have any herb study requests, let me know, I'm going to focus on ones that grow in the Pacific north west for now that are readily available to me.
If you like my content please feel free to share my original posts and video links