The Love and Happiness of Daffodils

“For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.”

Though the entirety of it speaks to the delight and beauty of daffodils, the closing stanza of William Wordsworth’s poem I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud (above) really speaks to the way magick can work in all of us. Sitting alone, pensive and looking inward, he remembers the sight of a massive field of blooming daffodils and is brought joy. All magick can have that effect on us, but as Ostara nears, looking at the magick of daffodils is especially timely.

Native to Southern Europe and North Africa and found in meadows and woods there, daffodils were introduced to Asia and other areas of the world before the 10th century. Daffodil is the common name of the narcissus genus of plants. They have six petals that surround a corona shaped like a cup or trumpet. Often in cartoon depictions of daffodils, they use their corona as a trumpet.

Bright, sunny, happy flowers, daffodils generally begin to bloom near Ostara, which is one of the reasons they are a correspondence of the sabbat. Though most people likely envision yellow when thinking of the flower, daffodils can be found in shades of white and pale orange as well.

The official name of the plant, narcissus, likely rings some bells. The myth of the young man who so loved to look at his reflection in the river that he drowned is likely only indirectly related to the naming of this flower. Some say that the bend in the stem resembles Narcissus bending to look in the river. But it is actually more likely that the flower was given the name narcissus because its scent was so intoxicating.

Though the bulbs and plant can be poisonous, daffodils have been used for medicinal purposes for thousands of years. There are even recipes for treating severe illness (which is believed to be cancer) in the Bible—so they’ve been around a long time.

Energies and Uses

Like all things in the universe, narcissi have their own innate energies and magick. And as all things are connected, daffodils also have a few correspondences and associations:

Element: Water

Planet: Venus

Gender: feminine, associated with the goddess

Powers: love, fertility, luck, happiness, abundance

When looking at correspondences, notice how things connect. It shouldn’t be a surprise that a flower associated with Venus is also associated with love.

Some quick lore about and uses for daffodils:

A grouping of wild daffodils in nature is believed to mark the site of great spirituality and power.

A vase of fresh daffodils in your home invites abundance.

The national flower of Wales, if you spot one there before your neighbors, you’ll bring in more gold than silver in the coming year.

In some cultures, daffodils are viewed as an aphrodisiac.

Place fresh daffodils in the bedroom to encourage fertility.

Referred to as a bisexual or intersex flower, it can be protective for LGBTQ practitioners or amplify queer magick.

Let’s look at some of the most common ways daffodils are used in magick.

Luck

Daffodils are considered lucky and can share that energy both with you as the practitioner or have the luck passed to a recipient of a bouquet. When encountering wild daffodils, be intentional in not stepping on or damaging them, and they will favor you with good fortune. To pass luck to someone else, gift them a bouquet of daffodils. Make sure it isn’t a lone flower, as that will have the opposite effect. Wearing a daffodil close to your heart will bring good luck to you.

Love

Daffodils are very closely associated with love and can be used in a number of ways. Daffodils should adorn your altar when performing love magick. They are especially helpful when the love is new, and the relationship is still finding its footing. Wearing a daffodil close to your heart doesn’t just draw luck. It draws love. But be wary—if your love is one-sided, like Echo’s for Narcissus, it becomes harmful.

Love isn’t just romantic. Self-love can be enhanced with daffodils as well. After all, Narcissus was in love with himself! Don’t take it as far as he did, but siphon a bit of that attitude and power to help your self-love when feeling down. You might use daffodil in a cleansing bath to help banish negative thoughts about yourself and amplify self-love.

You can also use daffodils to help strengthen friendships, as love is at play there too. Or to draw new friends to yourself. Look at how happy and friendly daffodils are! Wordsworth mentions in his poem how happy and inviting they are. Use daffodils in spells focused on friendship for added power.

Resilience and Regeneration

Daffodils are perennials, so if their bulbs are undisturbed, the flowers will bloom each year. Because of this, as with other bulb plants, daffodils are powerful symbols of regeneration. If you are doing any work related to the life circle at Ostara, daffodils should be a component.

Daffodils are also resilient. They bloom early in the year when temperate weather doesn’t have a permanent footing. They bloom even with another frost looming and don’t whither in spring snows. That’s quite the feat for a flower that looks so dainty and fragile! Draw on their power of resilience when doing your own workings.

Ostara Offerings and Rituals

A symbol of spring in their own right, daffodils are a perfect choice for Ostara decorations for your table, altar, and home. Potted bulbs, even if they aren’t blooming, add the power of the sabbat to your workings. They can also be used in offering to springtime deities.

Happiness

Joyful, jocund, happy flowers are daffodils. Most are yellow, a color associated with happiness (look at smiley faces!) When doing spells or rituals focused on happiness, the addition of daffodils will heighten the energy.