by Elena Pugh

Rose of Jericho

What is that thing that looks like a mini tumbleweed?

It's a Rose of Jericho, also known as a Resurrection Plant! It comes to life and turns green when placed in water. Put it in a glass bowl, and add enough water to come half way up the plant or at least enough to cover the roots (they sort of look like coarse hairs on the bottom of the plant). Within two hours, the plant will start to unfurl its leaves and will start to turn green.

The virtues of this good luck plant are to erase bad influences and bring peace, power, and abundance to the home.

It can also be used for materializing your wishes. Write your petition on a piece of parchment paper and place the parchment in the center indentation on the top of the plant when you put the plant in the water. As the plant opens, your wish materializes. Traditionally, a silver coin would be thrown in the water every Friday, and left in it. It has been my experience that the new clad coins kill the plant, so place an offering dish next to the plant and put your coins in the offering dish instead. Also, every Friday pour some of the water in a half moon outside the front door and back door of your home, and refill the bowl with water. When your wish is granted, donate the coins in the offering dish to charity, and remove the plant from the water. As it dries out, it will curl up and turn brown again.

The plant is mentioned in the book Let Us Pray, 49 Prayers. The instructions in the book are to place the rose in the water either at 9:00 or 3:00 on Tuesday or Friday. Leave it in the water for three consecutive days, remove it at the same hour as it was put in and pray the prayer in the book with all your religious faith. Sprinkle the water that remains in the bowl on your front door of your home and in the corners of the rooms to remove evil and bring peace, power, and abundance. A variation of this spell is to put four silver coins in your offering dish and follow all of the other instructions. When you remove the plant, place one coin in each corner of the room to bring money and abundance.