Name: RIBES spp.

Toxicity: considered toxic

R. sylvestre (Red Currant)             Continent: Europe    Habitat: IV

R. nigrum (Black Currant)             Continent: Eurasia   Habitat: V

R. spicatum (Downy Currant)       Continent: Europe    Habitat: IV

R. alpinum (Mountain Currant)    Continent: Europe    Habitat: IV

R. uva-crispa (Gooseberry)            Continent: Europe    Habitat: IV

Applicable Plant Components: root, herb, fruit, bark, cambium

Sanctificational: fruit, herb

Invitatory: root

Convocational: root

Fortificational: cambium

Psychical: root

Harmonical: root

Pacificatory: root, fruit

Reconciliatory: root, fruit

Reversional: root bark

Theurgical: root

Amoristic: sprig

Protectant: root

Sanguinary: root

Plenitudinal: herb

Plenarial: root

Ensurant: root

Ecstatic: root

Divinatory: bark

Affixal: fruit

Affirmational: cambium

Resurgent: root, fruit

Anecdotal: Ribes is Bear Medicine. It is one of the first plants to sprout leaves, a sign that it is time to prepare the soil for planting. When abundant around lakes it is a sign that fish are plentiful. Ribes can be rendered into pipe stems, arrows, containers, and distaffs for spinning. Its thorns are used for applying tattooing soot and attached to arrows for points. The roots enhance intelligence and bolster discipline. Ribes is placed in cradles to quiet babies and a wash made from its sprigs is believed to give infants strength. A similar wash of Ribes and Prunus roots is thought to bring intelligence and an obedient nature to newborns. A tea of Ribes bark has long been an agent of divination and fortune telling. Ribes is inherently feminine and tied dramatically to birth, rebirth and empowerment. Its spirit is invoked to address deep spiritual pain that has led to losses of expression or a sense of vision. Ribes can further exorcise parasitic and opportunistic spirits believed to be the culprits. It then resolves the associated endopsychic wounds.