The Magick of Oranges

When it comes to plant magick, oranges are an underrated fruit. It may not have the pentagram of apples or the spicy scent of cinnamon, but it is a powerful fruit all in itself that has been used for ages in folk traditions.

Magickal Properties for Oranges

Planet: Sun

Element: Fire

Gender: Masculine

Powers: Happiness, Love, Divination, Prosperity, Luck

Folk Traditions:

If I had to sum up the magickal power of orange in one simple word, it would be happiness. It has a strong affinity for promoting general happiness, but many other capabilities help with spellwork on other areas that (we at least believe) could increase our joy.

For example, love and orange’s folk name, love fruit, sums up many of its old folk usages. Dried orange peels and seeds were often added to love sachets to help someone find true love and promote wedded bliss. Some would also bathe in oranges to increase their attraction to the desired sex.

Orange has also been used in folk tradition for divination (yep, you guessed it, especially around finding your true love). They were also known to provide answers to yes/no questions. The user ate the orange with the intention of their inquiry and counted the seeds. Odd means yes, while even means no.

And, of course, what else would we link to the idea of happiness than prosperity? Oranges have long been considered a symbol of luck and good fortune, making their peel frequently used in powders and incense to attract abundance and prosperity.

Oranges association with the sun and the element of fire is readily displayed with its uplifting and energizing energy making it the perfect plant to bring joy and inspiration into your life.

How To Use Oranges for Plant Magick

Plant magick's beauty is there are a million different ways to utilize the spirit’s power for your intention. As always, I recommend following your intuition, but here are some of my favorite magickal uses of oranges.

1. Create a simmer pot to promote love and happiness in your home.

2. Add the dried peels to money bowls and sachets.

3. Use orange juice as a replacement for sacred wine in rituals.

4. Create a tea by adding orange peels or dehydrated slices. Drink before performing divination.

5. Add orange blossoms or dehydrated orange slices to your bath to increase attraction.

6. Create orange pomanders or yule decorations from dehydrated slices to bring in the energy of the sun for the winter solstice

How To Dehydrate Oranges

Dehydrating oranges is a perfect way to preserve them for future uses in plant magick and is super simple.

The key is setting your oven to the right temperature. Unfortunately, not all ranges are created equal, so it might take a few times for you to determine the best temperature for you, but typically, somewhere between 170F - 225F is the range I find to produce the best results. If starting this process, go as low as your oven can to 170F.

We want to ensure we are “cooking” the oranges at a very low temperature for a long time to draw out all the moisture resulting in a dehydrated orange.

Another critical step is to slice your oranges as thin as possible. A bread knife cuts through the skin much easier than a chef’s knife. However, if you have a mandoline, you guarantee a thin, even slice.

And finally, the last crucial note is to utilize parchment paper. Citrus is famously juicy, which can cause the oranges to stick to the pan during dehydration. If you do not have parchment paper, substitute it with a baking rack or lightly coat the pan with oil.

Ingredients

• 2 Oranges (Navel, Cara Cara, Blood, etc.)

Instructions

Spellwork is all about performance with intention. If you have a specific intention for these oranges, make sure to go through the process of activating and consecrating that intention. Focus on how its properties will manifest. For example, if you use them to promote happiness, focus on the pleasure you want. If you are dehydrating to use for later unknown purposes, that’s fine! You can activate at a later date.

• Preheat oven (somewhere between 170F - 225F).

• Slice the oranges into thin slices (about ¼”).

• Place the sliced oranges onto the parchment-lined cooking sheet and bake for 2 - 2.5 hours.

• Flip the citrus over so the side previously facing the sheet is now on top, and continue to cook another 1 - 2 hours.

• Once the orange is completely dehydrated, remove it from the oven and let it cool. (Orange will feel brittle to the touch and contain no more moisture).

• Use dried slices per your purpose.