Narcissus is a plant and an herb.
- botanical information
- history
- magick correspondences and uses
- ancient myths and beliefs
- cautions and contraindications
botanical information:
Botanical name: Narrcissus fazetta
Common name: narcissus
Use the botanical name when ordering seeds (bulbs, etc.) or when looking up information in the library. Common names vary by nation, culture, and region, and sometimes the same common name is applied to different plants.
history:
History: Narcissus was commonly grown in ancient Egyptian temple gardens.
magickal correspondences and uses:
Magickal substitutions: Rosemary usually may be safely substituted for any herb in magick spells and rituals. Roses may safely be substituted for any flower.
ancient myths and beliefs:
Narcissus was the son of Cephissus (a river god) and Liriope (a nymph). The prophet Tiresias told Cephissus and Liriope that Narcissus would live to old age if he didn’t look at himself. His mother hid all mirrors. Ameinias, a young man, fell in love with Narcissus. When narcissus grew tired of Ameinias, he sent a sword, which Ameinias killed himself in front of Narcissus’ door. As Ameinias died, he cursed Narcissus. Narcissus, like Adonis and Hippolytus, rejected the affections of nymphs and girls who fell in love with him. One of the nymphs was Echo, who was so distraught that she withdrew to a lonely spot in the hills and faded away until all that was left of her was a whisper. The goddess Nemesis listened to the prayers from the rejected women and caused Narcissus to fall in love with his own reflection in the water. narcissus gazed at his own reflection in a spring until he died. The narcissus flower grew where Narcissus had died.
cautions and contraindications:
Toxic to animals: The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) Animal Poison Control Center has determined that narcissus “has been reported as having systemic effects on animals and/or intense effects on the gastrointestinal tract.” —ASPCA
Some herbs may be poisonious under some conditions. Exercise appropriate care.
Wild gathering: Avoid wild gathering. Some plants are endangered species. Some plants can be toxic just by touch. Even experts can make deadly misidentifications of wild plants. Please grow your own herbs in your own goddess garden (or window boxes).
See also: herbs.
using 
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