Star anise has been used for culinary and medicinal purposes in Eastern cultures for thousands of years, but the distinctive, star-shaped spice also has symbolic spiritual meaning. If you’re looking to understand more about the history and significance of star anise, you’ve come to the right place.
At its core, star anise represents the sacred feminine, the cycles of life, renewal and rebirth, intuition and inner wisdom. Its botanical name Illicium verum translates to “dance of the stars” , evoking star anise’s connection to the mysteries of the night sky and the cosmos.
We’ll explore the spice’s significance in various spiritual traditions as well as the properties that give rise to its magical symbolism.
Star Anise in Eastern Spiritual Traditions
Star Anise in Chinese Culture
Star anise has long been revered in Chinese culture for its healing properties and symbolic meaning. Its star shape and sweet licorice flavor have made it a staple in traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years.
According to ancient Chinese philosophy, star anise balances yin and yang energy, making it a popular ingredient in Taoist longevity tonics.
The five points of the star anise pod are said to represent the five basic flavors in traditional Chinese medicine – spicy, bitter, sweet, sour and salty. When blended together perfectly, these flavors promote overall wellness and vitality.
In feng shui, star anise is often used to ward off negative energy and bring good luck into a space. Practitioners will tie star anise pods together with red string to symbolize unity and hang them by entrance ways as a protective blessing.
Star Anise in Indian Culture
Star anise holds special meaning in Indian spirituality as well, particularly in the Hindu faith. Called chakra phool in Hindi, the spice is considered a sacred plant closely associated with the seventh chakra point, which connects to higher consciousness and divination.
The sweet flavor of star anise is thought to awaken the third eye chakra, opening one up to receive wisdom and insight from beyond the physical world. This is why the spice is often burned as incense during meditation or consumed as a tea before spiritual rituals in Ayurveda.
Indian culture also values star anise for its antimicrobial properties. It is traditionally infused into coconut hair oil blends meant to activate the crown chakra and stimulate hair growth. The essential oil extracted from star anise, known as chuan xiong, also holds spiritual symbolism for its balancing and protective qualities.
Symbolic Meanings of Star Anise
Feminine Principle and Life Cycle Symbol
Star anise has long been revered as a symbol of the divine feminine energy and the never-ending cycle of creation. Its star shape perfectly encapsulates the mystic duality of the sacred feminine – both life-giving yet mysterious.
Many believe that star anise’s eight points represent aspects of the Great Goddess and the phases of women’s lives. The three pointed tips convey her role as the Maiden, Mother and Crone. The five fuller, rounded points symbolize birth, initiation, ripening, reflection and death/rebirth.
This orientation recalls lunar cycles, seasonal changes and the human life span. Like the spiral goddess and tree of life, star anise reminds us of the wheel of fortune, destiny and existence. It’s a visual signpost honoring the beginning and end of all things.
In folk belief, star anise hung in homes can invoke the Goddess’s presence as protector. Tucking one into pockets or purses has offered symbolic shelter against misfortune for centuries.
Intuition, Inner Wisdom and Guidance
As a spice, star anise enhances intuition and inner sight by energizing the third eye and crown chakras. Its sweet yet spicy scent stimulates the brain and circadian rhythms, bringing greater mental clarity.
Star anise tea is often prescribed by natural healers for improved concentration, memory and truth discernment. The herbs symbolic star shape has made it popular in crystal grids designed to promote wise decision making.
Burning star anise incense while focusing questions on the smoke is an ancient technique to gain insight and divine inspirational answers from within. This ritual has been practiced by occultists, clairvoyants, shamans and temple oracles for ages.
It’s said that the rising aromatic fumes serve as a bridge between physical and spiritual realms.
In fact, in China pieces of star anise were traditionally thrown into the fires of home hearths at midnight on new moon nights – especially during Equinox or Solstice full moon phases. As the spice crackled and sparked, messages from ancestors and spirits were thought to emerge in the flames.
The practice was believed to ensure than wisdom and blessings from the other side would continue illuminating the family.
Magical and Ritual Uses of Star Anise
Burned as Incense
Since ancient times, star anise has been a popular incense ingredient for its sweet, spicy aroma and purifying smoke. When burned, the seeds and pods produce a rich, pungent fragrance reminiscent of licorice and Chinese five spice.
Star anise smoke is said to ward off evil spirits, clear negative energy from an area, and aid meditation through its uplifting yet grounding scent. In traditional Chinese medicine, star anise incense balances all three doshas and aligns the chakras when inhaled.
Many Wiccans, witches, and occultists use star anise in ritual incense blends. It combines nicely with resinous herbs like frankincense, myrrh, copal, dragonsblood, and sweetgrass. Burning star anise with cinnamon produces a stimulating, solar blend used to magnify magic and spells involving success, motivation, and energy.
When combined with cedar or sandalwood, star anise fumigates an area before ritual to sanctify the space.
According to Scott Cunningham’s Incense, Oils and Brews, star anise vibrates Mars and the Sun. Magical intentions well-suited to star anise incense are: Protection, Purification, Psychic Powers, Sexual Potency, and Solar Magic.
Herbal Infusions
Star anise makes a delicious tea on its own when gently simmered in water or milk. In hoodoo folk magic, anise seed was traditionally brewed into a lust-inducing drink to make one more attractive. Star anise tea sweetened with honey and spices like cinnamon or ginger is an aphrodisiac love potion when shared between lovers.
Simmering the pods in water activates beneficial compounds like shikimic acid, vitamins, and volatile oils for magical potions. The anti-microbial tea makes an excellent magical cleaner for ritual tools, amulets, or crystal balls when strained.
Witches might add other herbs like rue, hyssop, or rosemary while chanting a cleansing mantra over the infusion. A lunar-charged star anise potion brings prophetic dreams if drunk before bed.
In astrology, star anise imbalance relates to constipation, digestion issues, and vitamin deficiencies. Herbalists prescribe star anise tea to treat these Vata and Kapha imbalances. The antiseptic brew also relieves cough, bronchitis, and sore throat when made with peppercorns, ginger root, lemon, and honey.
Spells and Charms
Whole star anise pods lend themselves nicely to amulets for hangings or sachets stored in vehicles, handbags, bedrooms, or offices for magical protection. When combined with agrimony, bay leaves, or dragonsblood resin, the fruits ward off hexes according to European folklore.
Inside red flannel charm bags, star anise attracts money and resists poverty. Pair it with calamus root, cinnamon sticks, vetiver, pine needles, gold glitter, coins, or Benjamins.
Early American root workers carried whole star anise pods in mojo hands for personal power – often with High John the Conqueror and galangal. Spell-casters wrote wishes on paper then inserted them inside the pods before performing candle rites.
The star shape made them a solar symbol manifested to draw success, fame, motivation, libido enhancement, or new beginnings. Feng shui practitioners placed eight pods around prosperity areas to manifest abundant Chi energy.
Burning star anise during money spells links one’s intention to solar riches and good fortune. Casters inscribed gold coins or pyrite with runes then fumigated them over the smoke. Sprinkling the powder around yellow candles or burning it on charcoal discs boosts prosperity magic.
Anise seeds mixed with brass dust and coins makes power-packed conjure oil for anointing money candles.
Healing Properties of Star Anise
Aromatic Therapy
The sweet, spicy aroma of star anise has made it a popular ingredient in incense sticks, potpourri, perfumes, soaps, and candles. When inhaled, the essential oils in star anise provide numerous therapeutic effects for the mind and body.
According to a 2006 study, star anise essential oil exhibits potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties. The potent phytochemicals like linalool and terpineol have been shown to help treat respiratory infections and relieve coughs and congestion when inhaled.
Research also suggests that smelling star anise essential oil can reduce anxiety and stress. A 2015 study found that star anise aroma decreased participants’ levels of the stress hormone cortisol. The sedative effect helped increase sleep quality as well.
Here are some simple ways to harness the therapeutic aroma of star anise:
- Add a few whole star anise pods to a diffuser or vaporizer
- Place star anise essential oil on cotton balls inside your car or office
- Drink star anise tea
- Simmer a potpourri mixture containing star anise pods, cinnamon sticks, and cloves
Digestive Aid
With its sharp, licorice-like flavor, star anise has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to remedy digestive issues. Modern research has confirmed star anise’s gut-healing effects.
According to a 2021 review in BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, star anise exhibits prokinetic effects that help stimulate gastrointestinal motility. Components like shikimic acid, linalool, and terpene may facilitate digestion by enhancing enzyme secretions and speeding up nutrient absorption and waste elimination.
A randomized controlled trial on 120 colicky infants found that star anise herbal tea safely relieved abdominal pain, bloating, and flatulence. Scientists think star anise facilitates the release of gut spasms to provide a soothing effect.
| Symptoms Relieved | Proposed Mechanisms |
| Nausea | Reduces vestibular sensitivity |
| Abdominal cramps | Antispasmodic action |
| Bloating | Carminative effect |
Thanks to these gut-soothing benefits, enjoying star anise tea after heavy meals is an excellent home remedy for indigestion. Simmering star anise with fennel, ginger, and cardamom can enhance the digestive effects as well. 😊
Conclusion
With its beautifully symmetrical shape echoing cosmic patterns, heady aroma and warming energetic properties, star anise has woven itself into the spiritual fabric of many Eastern traditions over the ages.
Understanding the symbolism and healing attributes of this captivating spice brings deeper meaning and purpose to sipping star anise tea or adding it to your favorite dishes.
