© Vicuschka/shutterstock.com

 “They mixed henna with limes, roses, tea, and eucalyptus and let it simmer overnight, for henna’s hue reflects the strength of love of a woman for a man, the thicker and deeper the color, the more genuine the love. Amulets that carried apple seeds were made in the evenings as they sat out in the yard, meant to bring the wearer love, for apples signify the heart. For those who wished to gain willpower, and say no to a lover who would bring only heartbreak, there was a cure of rosemary and lavender oil. Bathe in it, and when you next saw the one you had once cherished, you would send him packing. They now had the recipe for Fever Tea, composed of cinnamon, bayberry, ginger, thyme, and marjoram, and for Frustration Tea, a combination of chamomile, hyssop, raspberry leaf, and rosemary, which Jet brewed for her sister in the mornings so that the day would go smoothly. Aunt Isabelle refused to hand over the formula for Courage Tea. That, she said, was one recipe you had to discover for yourself.”

—Alice Hoffman, The Rules of Magic

Previous articleThe Divine Mystery of Pamela Colman Smith
Next articleAn excerpt from The Wind in His Heart
identicon
Alice Hoffman is the New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books for adults, children, and young adults, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Nightbird, and The Museum of Extraordinary Things. Her latest novel The Marriage of Opposites was published in August by Simon & Schuster. Find out more at Alicehoffman.com

1 COMMENT

  1. Thank you, I have just been searching for info approximately this subject for a long time
    and yours is the best I have found out so far.

    But, what concerning the conclusion? Are you sure about the supply?

Comments are closed.