Star Anise

Other names: Illicium verum

Element: Water or Air

Planet: Jupiter or Mercury

Zodiac: Gemini

Ritual uses include: Psychic; Vision; Spirit; Divination; Nightmares; Purification

Star Anise is noted for its strong licorice fragrance, which is sweeter than actual licorice. They are not closely related plants despite the similar smell, and Star Anise is actually in the same family as Magnolia. It isn't related to Anise either, but shares a compound called anethole which is responsible for their olfactory and gustatory similarities. Anethole is the substance that causes absinthe and ouzo to cloud when water is added, as anethole undergoes microemulsion when ethanol concentration decreases.

In China, an Anise Star with more than eight points is a ward against the evil eye. It's not clear where and when its associations with psychism originated, but the associations have been supported by practitioner experience and clearly match other correspondences.