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.