Garlic 大蒜
The garlic is a bulb made up of a cluster of bulblets or cloves that bear a thin papery covering. The garlic plant has a single stem of long, thin leaves and an umbel of edible flowers at the very top. Many have considered garlic to be a lucky plant to grow or to possess-probably due to all the health benefits of eating it.
平時我們在市場看到球體的大蒜，其實是由許多瓣小大蒜集合而成的；大蒜屬於鱗莖類植物，每瓣小大蒜外面都有一層薄膜覆蓋。以前人認為大蒜是個「會帶來好運」的神奇植物—這可能緣由於大蒜對身體健康帶來許多好處。
On a more ethereal level, carrying a bulb of garlic, whether on land or at sea, was supposed to help you avoid accidents and stay out of harm’s way. Classically this herb is thought to ward off evil spirits, angry ghosts, and, of course, vampires. Garlic may also be worked into charms and spells to bless a brand-new home, and it also repels malevolent entities as well as the occasional annoying or just plain clinging psychic vampire. Interestingly enough, it is an herb of Hecate and was left at her sacred crossroads as an offering.
從魔法層面來說，大蒜也常被當作是「趨吉避凶」的聖品—驅魔、辟邪、淨化；當然還有最經典的「吸血鬼」。據說，在房子裡掛大蒜不但可以幫你去除晦氣、改善厄運，還可以驅除靈魔與吸血鬼。有趣的是，在赫卡特女神（註）的三岔路傳說中，大蒜也是她的聖物之一；也是在祭祀典禮中絕對重要的草藥。
The elemental correspondence for garlic is fire. The planetary association is interesting – some folks say Mars, and some attribute this herb to the planet Mercury. In the language of glowers, this herb signifies all of the following traits: protection, strength, and courage.
在四大元素中大蒜屬於「火」元素，而在行星屬性方面則有點分歧，有人認為是火星，但也有人認為是水星。至於他的植物語言，是保護、力量和勇氣。
註：
赫卡特，幽靈和魔法的女神；代表了世界的黑暗面。在希臘神話中象徵著暗月之夜的「月陰女神」或「黑月女神」。赫卡特總是和下弦月、夜晚、鬼魂、陰間、精靈、魔法、巫術和招魂術聯繫在一起。她是著名的不可抗拒的死神，無法戰勝或無人能及的女皇，同樣也是妖術、魔咒和女巫的守護女神。赫卡特是一位具有強大法力的女神，即使是眾神之王宙斯也都敬畏赫卡特女神。在每個月夜，她總會在妖魔鬼怪和三頭狗的伴隨下，在子夜時分出現在鬼魂前往陰間必經的三岔路口，高舉著火炬指引鬼魂通往陰間；因此赫卡特的形象常是三頭三身六臂，分別向著三個不同的方向。在古代，每個月的最後一天，人們總要在三岔路口用蛋和魚向她獻祭。
採自：
- 《witches’ datebook》, Llewellyn worldwide, 2011.
- https://wenwen.sogou.com/z/q108391376.htm
潤飾：小嵐塔羅
