Sexy hexes

Nurturing the Seeds of Love, from Nicola de Pulford's The Book of Spells, p.54

A spell from Eastern Europe to ensure your partner's fidelity.

You will need: some soil, a small terracotta pot, a handful of marigold seeds.

The marigold (calendula officinalis) has long been a symbol of endurance. The word 'calendula' comes from the Latin 'calends', which means the first day of the month. In the Mediterranean, the marigold's native climate, this cheerful flower blooms on the first day of every month of the year, giving it an affinity to women and their cycle. In Britain, the marigold used to be called 'husband's dial', or 'summer's bride', and was often used in wedding garlands and strewn before the bride's cottage door. The marigold has been described as the 'comforter of the heart and spirits'.

Method

First you must secretly dig some earth from your lover's or partner's footprints. It need not be enough to fill the pot completely, but a portion of the soil must come from this source. On a full or waxing moon, when the lunar power is at its height, in late spring or summer, sow your seeds in the pot. As you sow them, hum or sing gently, thinking loving thoughts about your partner. Place your pot by a sunny window, and water and nurture with care. These are special plants and should not be picked, or the strength of the spell will be sapped. In the fall, gather the seeds together and save them to plant the following year in the same way. If you have a garden, choose a special patch for these seeds of love. Marigolds will self-seed for many years to come, symbolizing constancy and endurance as well as beautifying your garden.