Cinnamon is the bark from a lauraceous tree. While the tree is said to be of the moon, the spice is of the sun and has long been hailed as a preserver of life.
Cinnamon was not only used as a medicine and ritual incense but it may have been used for mummification, to make the body smell sweet.[3]
Practitioners of natural medicine describe cinnamon as boosting immunity and tripling “insulin’s ability to metabolize blood sugar.”[4] Taoist practitioners used it to purify the body. It is also used as an astringent and antiseptic which is why many mouthwashes are cinnamon flavored.
Element: fire
Deity: Apollo
Animal: lion
Body part: heart
Tarot: The Sun
(written 2003 / revised 2007, 2010 / additions and revisions 2023)
Ancient Egypt
Cinnamon was a prized commodity in ancient Egypt and was used for various purposes. The ancient Egyptians imported cinnamon from the Arabian Peninsula, and it was considered a luxury item due to its exotic and rare nature.
Here are some of the ways in which cinnamon was used in ancient Egypt:
Medicinal purposes: Used for medicinal purposes in ancient Egypt. It was believed to have healing properties and was used to treat a range of ailments, including digestive issues, colds, and sore throats.
Perfumes and cosmetics: Used in the creation of perfumes and cosmetics. It was combined with other aromatic substances to create fragrances that were used in religious ceremonies and everyday life.
Embalming: Cinnamon was used in the embalming process in ancient Egypt. It was mixed with other spices and resins and applied to the body during the mummification process to help preserve the body.
Cooking: Was used in cooking to add flavor to food. It was particularly popular in desserts and was often used in the creation of sweet treats.
Witchcraft
Cinnamon has been used in witchcraft and spells for centuries and is believed to possess various magical properties.
Protection: Believed to possess protective properties and is often used in protection spells. It can be sprinkled around a space or worn as a talisman to ward off negative energy and evil spirits.
Love spells: Associated with love and passion and is often used in love spells. It can be added to a love charm or sachet, burned as incense, or used to anoint candles or other objects.
Wealth and prosperity: Said to attract wealth and prosperity. It can be used in spells and rituals to attract money and success, and can be combined with other herbs and spices to enhance its power.
Healing: Cinnamon is known for its healing properties, and it can be used in spells and rituals to promote physical and emotional healing. It is believed to help soothe pain and promote relaxation.
Divination: Used in divination rituals to enhance psychic abilities and promote spiritual insight. It can be used to anoint candles, burn as incense, or added to teas or other potions.
Summoning spirits: Mixed with myrrh, it is used as incense for rituals involving the summoning of spirits.
Love Drawing Pouch
This pouch is used to draw love towards you. While this spell could easily be adapted to draw a specific person to you, it is written so as to draw an unnamed person possessing the traits you desire.
Items needed:
- Red pouch
- Copper Penny
- Cinnamon sticks, broken into bits (you will need approx. a spoonful)
- Red votive candle
- Dish to burn candle on
- Pin or bent paperclip for writing on candle
When to perform: To draw the love of a man, perform on a sunny day when the sun is still rising in the sky (before noon). To draw the love of a woman, perform at night during the waxing moon.
First, set up your working space. You can use flowers associated with love, anything heart-shaped, copper trinkets, etc. For small spells such as this, use thin red tape (red is the color of love as well as energy) and tape the shape of the five-pointed star upon the white counter-top. In the center of the star, the belly, put the candle and whatever else is directly involved in the spell.
When your space is set up, take the red votive and, using a pin or bent paperclip, begin writing on the candle what you are seeking. Be as precise as possible and list attributes of your potential mate (honesty, good sense of humor, etc.). By doing this you are focusing on what you intend to draw towards you and instilling this into the candle.
Set the candle down in the center of your workspace and on top of the copper (metal of Venus) penny. Use a dish to burn the candle on, if necessary.
Light the candle while, at the same time, feeling a burst of love and need in your chest and gut.
While the candle is burning, it is sending out your intentions. During this time, break off about a spoonful of cinnamon. Use a small handsaw if necessary, but be very careful. If you are unable to get a hold of a cinnamon stick, you can use ground cinnamon and sew a spoonful of it into a small pouch. This is messy and not recommended but sometimes you need to make do with what you have at hand.
Place the cinnamon bits into the small red pouch.
As the candle burns and melt, take some of the run-off wax and form it into a small heart. Place this inside the pouch.
When the candle has finished burning, remove the penny from under the candle and place it inside the pouch.
Clean up your workspace.
Either place your love drawing pouch inside your undies drawer (no socks allowed unless you want your love to stink) or wear it/keep it on your person.
Cinnamon Protection Spell
Ingredients:
- A small bag or sachet
- Chopped cinnamon sticks or cinnamon powder
- Bay leaves
- Rosemary
- Black tourmaline crystal (or any other protective crystal you prefer)
- Red thread or ribbon
Instructions:
Begin by gathering all of the ingredients and finding a quiet space to work.
Hold the black tourmaline in your hand and visualize a white light surrounding you, protecting you from any negative energy or harm. Set the crystal aside.
Take the small bag or sachet and fill it with a handful of chopped cinnamon sticks or a tablespoon of cinnamon powder.
Add a few bay leaves and a small sprig of rosemary to the bag.
Hold the bag in your hands and recite the following words:
“Cinnamon and herbs, hear my plea,
Protect me now and forever be.
Negative energy, stay away,
Only positivity can come my way.”
Once you have finished reciting the words, place the black tourmaline inside the bag with the herbs and cinnamon. Close the bag tightly.
Take the red thread or ribbon and tie it around the bag, making a knot and visualizing the knot sealing the protective energy inside.
Keep the bag with you, either in your pocket or a safe place in your home, as a reminder of the protection spell and the positive energy it brings.
Remember, this is just one example of a protection spell using cinnamon. You can always modify it to fit your own personal beliefs and needs. As with any spell, it’s important to set your intention and believe in the power of the magic you’re creating.
Cinnamon Money Spell
For a quick cash fix, you’ll need:
- tape-green (money), red (energy), or masking tape with crayon
- green votive candle
- ground cinnamon
First, tape down a five-pointed star on a clean, flat working surface. If you don’t have red or green tape you can use white for all-purpose or color masking tape with a crayon.
On the green votive candle, write the amount of money that you need and what you need it for. Use a pin or bent paperclip.
Set the candle in the centre, belly, of the five-pointed star.
Next, place a small pinch of cinnamon on each of the five corners of the star.
Light the candle while visualizing yourself with the item you need the money for. If you need the money for a bill, visualize yourself holding a piece of paper saying “Bill Paid.”
Allow the candle to burn down completely.
Bibliography:
[1]Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen. By Scott Cunningham. Llewellyn Publications. 2003.
[2]Man, Myth & Magic, Volume 4. Edited by Richard Cavendish. Marshall Cavendish Corporation. 1970.
[3]The Mummy in Ancient Egypt. By Salima Ikram and Aidan Dodson. Thames and Hudson. 1998.
[4]The Complete Guide to Natural Healing. By Tom Monte. A Perigee Book. 1997.
[5]The Black Arts. By Richard Cavendish. G.P. Putnam’s Sons. 1967.
[6]Dictionary of Symbols. By Jean Chevalier and Alain Gheerbrant. Translated by John Buchanan-Brown. Penguin. 1996.
