J is for Jostaberries – Pagan Blog Project 2014

So I’m deep into Catch-UP Mode when it comes to the PBP. Bear with me for a little while, folks.
 
Jostaberries are a relative (direct descendant, actually) of both black currants and gooseberries. They are a dark purple fruit with relatively thornless cains, and they can grow in scrubby, damp soil and partial (not full!) shade just fine. They make excellent jams, syrups, and country wines, and are delicious dried (use as a substitute for raisins in pretty-much anything) or fresh (their sweet-tart taste makes for an amazing trifle).
 
Magically, it can be associated with both the planets Venus (gooseberries) and Jupiter (currants), the archangel Anael, Thursday (and Thor, aparently?), the element of fire (for reasons I can’t fathom), as well as with various gods of wine and fruit.
 
Use jostaberries (and any members of the ribes family) to protect from evil – make it part of a hedge around your yard, or grow it next to your doors – and to invite wealth and abundance into your home.
Make jostaberry (or black currant, or gooseberry) jam, fruit curd, trifle, or pie spiked with allspice, cardemom, and clove, to heal a broken heart after a messy break-up.
 
 
That’s all I’ve got for today.
TTFN,
Meliad the Birch Maiden.