The Magical Powers of Elder
by Seed SistA, Kaz
My love for elder trees began in my early childhood with my grandmother’s homemade elderflower cordial, a recipe she’d perfected over the years, learning from her own grandmother back in Czech. We would gather elder in her local park. It wasn’t just the drink; it was the connection to her and the stories she’d share about the tree’s deep-roots and reminisce of her home land that she had had to leave as a political refugee when she was in her 40s.
Elder, is the medicine chest of the people, woven into Herbal tradition as Crone , symbolising transformation and rebirth. The tree thrives in folklore, healing, and magic, with its leaves, bark, and berries used for everything from remedies to warding off evil spirits.
The medicinal uses of elder were a constant in my grandmother’s home. She would turn elderflowers into teas for colds and sore throats, and I later learned the tree’s bark, berries, and roots could treat everything from bruises to fevers. Every sip of her cordial was like tasting a bit of history, tied to the earth’s cycles of renewal. The elder has an ability to regrow from damaged branches, embodying resilience and the theme of regeneration.
The elder’s magic isn’t limited to medicine. It has long been considered a tree of protection, often planted to guard homes and cemeteries from evil spirits. My grandmother always treated the tree with respect, often saying a quiet prayer before gathering its blooms, much like the old belief that one must never cut an elder without permission from the Elder Mother spirit.
Then in 2010, during our very first apprenticeship course in Hertfordshire, we Sistas were blessed with a beautiful and meaningful gift from a talented woman named Michelle. She had drawn the Elder card from our oracle deck, to go away and work with the tree. Inspired by this, Michelle crafted stunning red-dyed elder bead necklaces for each of us with cherry wood hearts attached. These necklaces became more than just adornments; they are symbols of connection, both to the Elder tree’s energy and to the journey we were beginning together, signifying the magical power of elder. This gesture remains a cherished memory, weaving creativity and intention into the fabric of our herbal apprenticeship.
Elderberry Beads in Healing and Magic
Wearing or carrying elderberry beads naturally enhance physical and spiritual healing. In addition to their use in protection, the magical powers of elder beads were, and still are also practised in rituals designed to encourage healing, prosperity and growth. The berries, flowers, and wood of the elder tree are included in spells. Because the elder tree is viewed as a bridge between the physical and spiritual realms, objects made from its parts—especially elderberry beads—enable the wearer to navigate personal transformation or otherworldly journeys.
In witchcraft and pagan traditions, the elder tree’s reputation as a magical plant makes it a common element of spells. The beads can enhance psychic abilities and open up channels for communication with the spirit world. For those practising herbal magic, elderberries are associated with protection, love, purification, and banishing negative energies.
How to Make Elder Beads
Creating these beautiful, handmade pieces from the wood of the elder tree (Sambucus) with spiritual rituals links wearers to their ancestors and the wisdom of those who came before them. Elderberry beads have been used across various cultures for centuries, symbolising healing, protection, and the cyclical nature of life.
What you need:
- Elder tree branch: ideally, find a freshly cut branch that is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter. Choose a branch that’s a little older with more bark on it.
- Penknife or sharp knife
- Drill, skewer or something pokey for making holes in the beads
- Strong string or thread, scissors
- Glue or nail varnish
- A clasp to close the necklace
- Natural oil (optional): Like beeswax, linseed oil, or jojoba oil for sealing and finishing the beads.
1. Harvest the Elderwood
When harvesting elder wood, it’s important to do so with respect for the plant by asking for permission from the tree or offering a small blessing. Freshly cut a healthy, older branch that is about the thickness of the beads you want to create.
2. Cut the Branch into Beads
First off, strip away the bark of your elder branch, then mark out each bead by scoring the stick and turning the knife into the wood, about 1/4 to 1/2 inch apart. Make little cuts in the first bead (at the top of the stick) until you start to have a rounded bead shape.
Continue to nibble and whittle away at the wood with your knife until the first bead breaks away from the stick. Repeat the process for each bead, and don’t worry about any imperfections, it will only add character into your necklace!
3. Hollow Out the Centre
The elder branch has a soft pith in the centre, which makes it easier to hollow out. You can use a needle or skewer to remove the pith and create a hole through the centre of each bead. Simply, gently push through, ensuring the hole goes all the way through, enough to thread your needle later.
4. Shape the Beads
Once you have cut and hollowed out the wood pieces, you can leave them as natural slices for a rustic look or carve the beads into rounder shapes. If you want, you can sand the beads with fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out rough edges and give them a polished appearance.
Preserve and Seal the Beads (Optional)
To protect the wood and enhance its natural beauty, you can seal the beads with a natural oil or beeswax. This will also give the beads a slight shine and make them more durable. Just rub beeswax or oil into each bead and let the beads absorb the oil for several hours or overnight.
5. Thread the Beads
Once the beads are finished, lay them out to create your design. It’s a good idea to place the thicker beads in the middle, with the smaller ones on the ends. Take a long piece of thread, around three times the length of your necklace, and fold the thread in half. Set an intention or blessing as you string them together.
If you’re using a clasp, make a Larkshead knot on one of the ring jumps, and start to string your beads together using a needle. Once you’ve finished threading the beads, add the second ring jump to the end, and pass the thread through a few times to secure it, but leave some wiggle room so it’s not too tight.
If you’ve made a long necklace to fit over your head, then simply tie the both ends together. You can add glue or nail varnish to make sure any knots don’t slip.
Rituals and Spells with Elderberry Beads
Once you’ve made your amulet, the magical power of elder beads is ready to use in a variety of spells. The very act of stringing the beads can also be a form of spellcasting when you focus on a specific intention—whether it be protection, love, healing, or another goal. This is why elderberry beads, carried in pockets or placed on altars, are powerful channels of energy.
Abundance Spells and Elderberry Beads
Elderberry beads are widely used in abundance spells to attract growth and prosperity, whereby they can channel sacred energies, amplifying your intentions for success and drawing positive energy towards you. The natural connection between the elder tree and the cycles of life and death also symbolises renewal and continuous flow, aligning perfectly with abundance spells.
What makes elderberry beads particularly potent in abundance spells is their dual role in both attracting positive energy and providing spiritual protection. The elder tree is deeply associated with guarding against negativity and harmful influences, ensuring that the prosperity you draw into your life is protected and sustainable. Elderberry beads hold the power to manifest abundance while keeping your path clear of obstacles.
Creating an elderberry bead amulet or charm to wear or carry can serve as a constant reminder of your intention to enhance their abundance. The magical powers of elder beads can also be used in jar spells, where they are combined with other magical ingredients to continuously draw abundance into your life.
Love Spells with Elderberry Beads
Given the elder tree’s association with Freya, the goddess of love and fertility, elderberry beads are also popular in spells designed to attract love or increase fertility. In love spells, elderberry beads can be used to draw in new romantic partners or strengthen existing relationships. The beads help to align the wearer with energies of love, attraction, and harmony.
For a simple love spell, elderberry beads can be embodied into a charm bag along with rose petals, cinnamon, and a piece of rose quartz. This charm bag is carried or placed under a pillow to invite love into one’s life. Alternatively, wearing elderberry beads while performing a self-love ritual can help you to focus on developing a deeper connection with yourself, which in turn radiates outward and can attract positive relationships.
Banishing and Purification Spells
The magical powers of elder beads can be harnessed in banishing spells, designed to remove negative influences or energies from your life. The elder tree’s strength makes its beads ideal for rituals aimed at purifying one’s space, banishing toxic relationships, or breaking harmful habits.
In a banishing spell, elderberry beads can be strung together while focusing on the specific thing or energy that needs to be removed. Once the beads are charged with this intention, they can be placed around the home or worn as a symbol to release negativity. You might also choose to burn elderwood incense or use elderflower water to cleanse the space while working with the beads.
For more serious banishing rituals, elderberry beads can be combined with other banishing herbs, such as sage or garlic, to create a stronger spell. The beads can also be buried at the edge of a property or placed in a jar with banishing symbols to lock away harmful energies.
Elderberry beads hold a special place in the world of magic. Whether used in protection spells, healing rituals, love charms, or banishing magic, these beads are potent tools for anyone looking to harness the natural and spiritual powers of the elder tree. By crafting and using elder beads with care and intention, you tap into the ancient magic of the elder tree, and foster a deeper connection with nature and the symbols of resilience, renewal, and spiritual growth.
Elderberry beads hold a special place in the world of magic. Whether used in protection spells, healing rituals, love charms, or banishing magic, the magical powers of elder beads are potent tools for anyone looking to harness the natural and spiritual connections of the elder tree. By crafting and using elder beads with care and intention, you tap into the ancient magic of the elder tree, with nature and the symbols of resilience, renewal, and spiritual growth.
These blog articles are herbal education resources, produced by the Seed Sistas. Gain insights and join us in the evolution of healthcare, please do leave a comment or question. Wellbeing empowerment for all…
