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This European native plant was first cultivated in 1420 and is beloved by the Fae and humans alike. It is sometimes called Fairy Cups, because the flowers look like cups the fairies have hung up while dancing. The flowers are said to ring when fairies sing and to form ladders fairies use to reach reeds from which they weave their cradles. Obviously, this is a good plant for attracting the Folk to your magickal garden. According to folklore, this plant blooms on the grave of someone who was executed for a crime they did not commit. It is thought that planting them in the garden will protect the home from ghosts and evil spirits. Although some people consider it bad luck to bring the flowers into the house, in France, people still trade gifts of this plant on May Day in order to have good luck through the year. The scent of this flower is said to attract nightingales and to give people the power to see a better world. In the language of flowers, liles-of-the-valley represent the return of happiness. They are generally a symbol of humility, purity, and sweetness. In Mythology
In Magick
In Herbalism
In the Garden
How to Grow Lily of the Valley These seeds must be cold stratified. Check out the Making Winter page. Wet a paper towel, wring out, sow seeds in towel, fold, and put in baggie in fridge for 4-8 weeks. Some people freeze the seeds (I have never tried this, but recently I have come across much info that says freezing seeds increases the length of viability). Take seeds out and sow, barely covering. Cold-stratified seeds germinate better when they get light. Or just plant outside in fall. This seed is a good candidate for the soaking method - soak seeds in cold water in the fridge for two weeks, changing for fresh water daily. Take out and plant. These seeds don't have any Mercury speediness in their growth - they can take 2 months or more to germinate. Grow them in a pot and give them winter protection the first year, then put them in the ground in rich, moist soil and shade or dappled shade. They won't bloom if they get too much sun or are too dry, but they can grow in heavy clay and full shade. They are hardy to zone 6 (-10F/-20C) and are rabbit-proof. They spread by creeping rhizomes and sometimes can be invasive. Once they are established, divide them in September. General growing info Top
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Convallaria majalis 
Uses in Magic & Witchcraft: Fairy Magic |
Convallaria
majalis
This plant is connected with Maia, the oldest of the Seven Sisters and
the goddess of growth, increase, fields, and spring. She and Zeus are
the parents of Hermes (Mercury), and so she is the grandmother of
magick, which was invented by her son Hermes (pic shows family snapshot
of Maia, Zeus, and Hermes at home). The month of May is named for her,
and the 1st and 15th of May are her sacred days. Her worship survives
as the celebration of the Queen of May in the Catholic church. In the
past, only women were allowed to worship Maia. In ancient Rome, May was
a time of purification and religious rituals, so it was a very
unlucky month to get married (pretty interesting considering that
nowadays lilies-of-the-valley are a standard in the bridal bouquet and
represent marital longevity). 
Lily of the valley is associated with Gemini because of the Mercury
connection. Gemini rules divination and summoning, and since Mercury
rules magick, this is a good plant to use for ceremonial magick or
divination (even though it is not Moon, the usual choice for
divination). You could make a great oil for aiding divination by
macerating (soaking) the flowers in almond or olive oil. Make a number of
macerations in the same oil to get a good buildup of scent. The lily of
the valley perfumes
commonly available are made from synthetics. Growing the plant is the
only way to acquire a natural perfume of the flowers. 
Considered a 
The sweet, bee-attracting flowers appear in May; folk belief says plant
tomatoes when you see them appear. It makes a great groundcover around
shrubs, especially under lilacs (blooms at the same time). This is a
good plant for the corners of your house, where nothing else will grow.
It produces berries but reproduces mainly through creeping rhizomes.
This plant is also known as Little Maybells, Mary's Tears, Our
Lady's Tears, Ladder to Heaven, Jacob's Tear, May Lily, and Male Lily. Recently
I got in an particularly large amount of seeds of this plant and while packaging
them kept noticing a delightful fragrance. It was the seeds, which had preserved
some of the scent of the flowers. This made me wonder if the berries have
a scent. If you know,