Wicca Herbal Magic

A Wiccan Guide and Grimoire for

Working Magic with Herbs and
Plants, Simple Herb Spells and
Rituals to Learn Practicing
Witchcraft

[Amber Crystal]
 Text Copyright © [Amber Crystal]
All rights reserved. No part of this guide may be reproduced in any form
without permission in writing from the publisher except in the case of brief
quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.
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not meant to replace the need for independent medical, financial, legal or
other professional advice or services, as may be required. The content and
information in this book has been provided for educational and entertainment
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The content and information contained in this book has been compiled from
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knowledge, information and belief. However, the Author cannot guarantee its
accuracy and validity and cannot be held liable for any errors and/or
omissions. Further, changes are periodically made to this book as and when
needed. Where appropriate and/or necessary, you must consult a professional
(including but not limited to your doctor, attorney, financial advisor or such
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techniques, or information in this book.
Upon using the contents and information contained in this book, you agree to
hold harmless the Author from and against any damages, costs, and expenses,
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doctor, attorney, or financial advisor or such other advisor as needed) before
using any of the suggested remedies, techniques, or information in this book.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Part One: Herbalism
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Herbalism
Chapter 2: Magic and Medicine using Herbs
Chapter 3: Shamanism and Herbs
Chapter 4: MORE
Neo-Wicca and eclectic Wicca
Traditions
Benefits and disadvantages of a coven
Benefits and disadvantages of solitary practice

Part Two: Herbs Magic

Chapter 1: Magical Herbs
Thirteen Basic Herbs
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita -used in the USA; Chamaemilum noble -Used in Europe)
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Elecampane (Inula Helenium)
Chapter 2: Practical and Magical Tips for Working with Herbs
Potions and Medicines
Chapter 3: Creating Your Own Magical Garden
Must-Have Herbs for Every Magical Garden
Chapter 4: Magical Harvesting
Preserving Herbs
Composting
Chapter 5: MORE
Gathering Wild Herbs

Part Three: An Herbal Grimoire

Chapter 1: Getting Started with Herbal Magic
Recipes (those marked with an asterisk contain alcohol)
Rose Elixir*
Rose-Infused Oil
Lavender Water
Healing Tincture*
Good Luck Oil
Cleansing Water
Success Oil
Strength Oil

Chapter 2: Magical Teas

Purification Tea
Emotional Healing Tea
Supercharged Energy Tea
Chapter 3:Magical Evening Tea
Divination Tea
Chapter 4:Herb and Candle Spell
 Enhancing Magic Spells and Rituals with Herbs
Common Herbs for Magical Purposes
Herbal Correspondences for Spells
Candle Spells That Use Herbs
Chapter 5: Healing Love Spell
Candle Magic Spells for Healing
Candle Magic Spells for Universal Justice
Chapter 6:Money Attraction Spell
Chapter 7: More
Magickal Smudging & Incense
Magickal Incense
Loose Incense
Rolling Cones or Sticks
Meditation & Visualization Incense
House Blessing Incense
Abundance Incense

Magickal Baths
Cleansing Baths
Infusing Baths
Magickal Bath Bomb For Luck and Success
Ritual Purification Bath
Healing Waters Bath

Sachets & Pouches

Super Serenity Sachet
Protective Power Sachet
Lucky Love Sachet

Conclusion
Introduction
Humanity has always been curious, leading to the belief that current magic is
based on the oldest forms of science. This ancient scientific study
investigated nature, like the turning seasons, the ocean tides, as well as the
birth and death of all life. Many early human cultures discovered connections
that they had with specific places, energy pulls they felt in the earth, rocks,
plants, and animals.
Based on these original curiosities, magic evolved and changed, branching
out into many different disciplines of Wicca, like Green Wicca. While
modern science has never fully accepted these intuitive energetic
connections, people have felt them for thousands of years and can use them
to create change in the form of magic.
Most branches of Wicca do have a natural and spiritual aspect. Many institute
practices such as ritual, meditation, ritual bathing, divination, and spells.
Most incorporate the use of traditional magical tools like cauldrons, the
double-edged athame blade, a ritual broom or besom, and a chalice or goblet.
Yet, magic and spirituality could be found everywhere. In the growth and
cultivation of crops and herbs, ancient societies would pray to their Deities to
protect their crops and harvests. A fire or flood could decimate an entire food
supply. In the past, food was worshipped as a gift from Deities. That worship
has transformed into respect, and that respect can transform the act of
cooking and eating into magic that can create change.
Green Wicca is one of many diversions and traditions in the realm of Wicca.
Green Wicca is a nature-based Witchcraft practice that is primarily centered
on the use of herbs, flowers, trees, plants and the earth for magical, medicinal
and culinary properties. Many Green Witches grow their own plants and
herbs for those uses. The act of gardening, growing, harvesting, and using
these herbs is a way to connect to the magical and spiritual essence of the
earth.
So then, what is magic? How is it created?
Magic means using natural energies and channel them to bring about change
and whatever is needed in that moment. In Green Wicca, magic is derived
from plant-based and herbal sources. Whether it is pulled from the leaves, the
stems, the flowers, the bark or the roots, magic and spells can become
powerful with the addition of herbal energies.
Green Witches often draw on the folklore that ancient cultures used to
connect to the earth and forests. Green Wicca extends from traditional
magical practices into the home and into the kitchen. Many Green Wicca
practices include natural spells, charms and blessings that can be used at
home and in everyday life. Most are derived from tribal practices and natural
folklore that have been passed down through generations. These folk
traditions stem from using plants and herbs for protection in the house, for
warding off pests and nourishing the body.
Plants have been used throughout human history as a means of connecting
with nature, expanding consciousness and working magick. From the sacred
tinctures of Frankincense and Myrrh of the Christian Bible, to the reverence
of Basil in Hinduism, plants and herbs have always held a source of power
and fascination for spiritual seekers.
Plants have been used for medicine and healing for as long as we have
written records, and even before that. Archeologists examining human
remains at Bökeberg in Sweden, thought to be around 6500 years old, found
evidence of Birch Bark Gum in the cavity of a tooth, suggesting the healing
properties of Birch were known to the inhabitants.
The ‘Ötzi Iceman’, a 5300-year-old mummy found in a glacier in the Italian
Alps has been noted to have over 61 tattoos covering his body. These tattoos
are thought to be medicinal because of the positioning on the body, but were
also sealed by rubbing charcoal and herbs into the incisions of the tattoo.
Even further back in the archeological record, a bone carving was found from
the Gironde region of France, dating back to 15,000 B.C. It appears to depict
a blossom or other flowering plant. While the exact nature of this
representation can’t be certain, it’s clear that plants and herbs have played
important roles in the psyche of humans for millennia.
As written records commence, plants can be seen to play ritual and magickal
roles in societies such as Ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia and India, as well as
throughout many other historical cultures.
In Ancient Egypt, the Blue Lotus flower was one of the most sacred plants,
and can be seen depicted on numerous paintings, statues and temples. It has
been found on jewelry such as amulets and protective talismans, and was
thought to represent rebirth, the sun and creation.
Wearing an amulet with a Lotus flower on it was intended to protect the
wearer from the evil eye — a curse believed to be cast by a hateful glare. It
was an important symbol of Upper Egypt, and was widely featured in
Egyptian creation myths where the creator was born from the Lotus.
Because the Lotus flower closes overnight and blooms again in the morning,
it became an important symbol of the light and renewal as well. The Ancient
Egyptians also used the symbolism of the Lotus flower in funerary practices.
It is mentioned in The Book of the Dead in spells aimed at “transforming into
a Lotus” – a metaphor for resurrection and eternal afterlife.
In Ancient Mesopotamia, plants were seen as a vital component in treating
illnesses, both in terms of relieving physical symptoms as well as spiritual
pain. For example, some descriptions of the use of plants include how to use
them to make lotions or medicines, whereas others speak about planting them
in different ways to ward off psychic attacks from negative entities.
Instructions might include advising to pull up a plant before sunrise, or to put
herbs outside under starlight. This shows how in ancient times people
understood the need to combine the spiritual and physical, and that plants
have both physical and metaphysical healing properties.
In India, archeological investigations have shown evidence of the cultivation
and gathering of herbs going back 1000’s of years, which are still used today
by Ayurvedic physicians and folk healers. Ancient Vedic texts describe
illness as relating to both spiritual and physical causes, and the teachings
from these texts live on today with the practice of Ayurveda.
Investigations into ancient Cambodian temples have shown the use of plants
and herbs to illustrate mythological stories. Many plants were venerated, and
sacred groves of trees were planted for ritual purposes.
In recent times, several researchers have begun to investigate the mystical
properties of plants. During his time living with Peruvian natives,
anthropologist Jeremy Narby was told that knowledge of the biochemical and
mystical attributes of plants was transmitted to the population whilst under
the effects of so-called hallucinogens.
After studying with the natives for many years, Narby concluded that their
claims were actually true, and that they were able to communicate with plant
life, allowing deep insight into the nature of the plants and of humans.
Narby found that over 74 percent of the world’s modern plant-based
medications were first discovered by the indigenous societies of places such
as the Amazon. One example of this is the substance ‘Curare,’ developed into
a muscle-paralyzing substance to use in hunting.
Now used in laboratories all over the world, it undergoes a complicated
process to be made ready to use as a synthetic compound. Many scientists
have suggested that discoveries such as Curare were the result of luck and
experimentation on the part of indigenous populations. However, the kind
used by Western medicine requires parts of plants to be combined from over
seventy different plant species.
Each plant must be boiled in a certain way to avoid toxic fumes emitted from
the broth. In addition, the final product is ineffective if eaten — it has to be
inserted under the skin to take effect. Luck and chance seem like very
unlikely factors in such a complicated process.
It’s clear that in many regions of the world, knowledge of the powers of
plants has never left the collective consciousness of the population. In the
modern Western societies, people are rediscovering the ancient and powerful
connections that can be forged with the land, and the plants which rise from
the earth.
Sachets of dried herbs can be used to add potency to Magickal workings, and
herbs such as Sage and Cedarwood have been used for thousands of years for
cleansing and purifying energy.
The spirit of the plant, or ‘Deva,’ is the consciousness which each living
being has. Although plant consciousness is very different to our own, it will
improve all your magickal workings to develop real relationships with the
herbs you use.
This can include speaking and giving love to your herbs as you cultivate your
garden, meditating with different herbs, or simply asking for permission to
cut and use certain parts, then thanking the herb for its assistance in your
working.
Part One: Herbalism
Chapter 1: An Introduction to Herbalism
The world of plant magic dates back many thousands of years and has
evolved with us over time. Our earliest ancestors were discovering what these
plants, berries, barks, and flowers could do before there were science and
technology to test their qualities and purposes. We learned about their magic
through a deep and profound connection to them as energies of life that lived
in tandem with us.
What many Witches, healers, shamans, and others have learned steadily over
time, is that each specific plant has a very specific quality and intention and
that we all have access to this magic should we choose to adopt this ancient
knowledge. Plants won’t keep a secret from you; they want you to discover
what they offer so that you can live in harmony and balance with all the life
that surrounds you.
Our journey through time has been alongside the power of plant magic and
medicine it was the earliest tribes, farmers, healers and “doctors” that were
able to supply the people of the village or the town with their knowledge of
these powerful herbs. What our ancestors learned was that there are a lot of
ways to utilize plant medicine and magic and that there can be fatally wrong
ways to use certain plants, or parts of plants, as a remedy or healing agent.
Trial and error have been long-standing factors in evolution and when you
study herbal lore, this is certainly prominent.
Many early “herbalists” or healers (Witches as they were often called) were
able to detect and understand even more in-depth knowledge about what the
plants could offer and made use of these vibrant energies in their spells,
incantations, rituals, healing potions, broths, brews and so forth. Many
religions today still use certain herbs for their rituals, as they were borrowed
from some of the earlier Pagan, or Earth-worshipping religions, in Western
Europe. In the East, other cultural groups were also using what was natively
grown in the area to aid in health and healing, as well as, to honor their gods
and beliefs through rituals with herbs and incenses.
It was as long as 5,000 years ago that herbal uses were actually beginning to
be written down and inscribed on clay tablets by the ancient Sumerian
culture. These tablets listed over 300 different kinds of herbs and their
medicinal uses. In China, around the same time, documentation of herbal
remedies was also taking place and would become the basis for the Chinese
Medicine practices that are still prominent in today’s modern culture.
In the Americas, Native people were working and living closely with the land
and had a more strong spiritual connection to the herbs, plants, flowers, and
trees that they coexisted with. They had members of their tribes who were the
healers (what modern-day people call a “Shaman”) who were incredibly well
acquainted with all of the uses and benefits of these herbs for medicinal
purposes and were also well acquainted with the spirit of the plant. To them,
it wasn’t only about what medicine it would bring to the physical health of a
person, but also how it had a magical impact on that person’s spirit.
In Europe, Pagans were healing and working with herbs for long periods of
time before the religion was destroyed by Christianity and yet the Church had
no notions of how to heal with herbs and attempted to save lives through
exorcisms and faith in God, rather than through the use of plant medicine and
magic. Some monasteries and cloisters adopted this knowledge as a way to
benefit a broader group of souls and so there certainly were monks and nuns
who practiced the herbal arts in these times, and considered these tools a gift
from God, rather than the work of the Devil, as so many Witches were
accused of over the ages.
A lot of the real dealings with herbalism and witchcraft caused a traumatic
rift in our ability to treat ourselves with this beautiful knowledge of how
herbs can heal and bring about powerful change and great balance. Many
women, or men who practiced these sacred and powerful healing arts, were
scrutinized for their “craft” and many died because of their skills and
knowledge. It is a terrible fate for anyone to give the heling touch and then
find out that they must die for it, however, when you consider the history of
herbalism, some sacrifices were certainly made along the way.
Fortunately, the knowledge of herbs can never be lost. They have been here
for longer than we have and have always had a powerful way of
communicating with us, letting us know who they are and what they do for
us. Consider that people understood the properties and qualities of herbs and
how they benefit health and balance with all life, across the planet on separate
continents at the same time. As a civilization, human beings have all been
working with plants throughout history, bonding with their magic and power
in a variety of unique and exciting ways.
Beginning to learn about herbs with your own excitement and pursuit of
healing and magical knowledge is an essential step in your own personal
discovery as a Wiccan or a Witch, as it will connect you to the ancient power
and magic of all those who came before you and practiced the very same
wisdom. This journey through Wicca Herbal Magic is only the beginning of
what you can begin to understand and notice about our living, breathing,
growing friends. The same herbs grown in the gardens of yore can be grown
in your very own backyard.
This ancient art has always been with us and has a long-standing honesty that
will always keep us in a deeper connection to the power of the divine in all
things and to the power of nature and how she works to help us on our paths.
Moving forward into the next chapter, you can go a little bit deeper and learn
more about the connection between Shamanism and herbalism and how they
use certain drugs or medicines in spiritual rituals and practices, as well as
understanding how plants correspond to more than just healing remedies and
physical well-being.
Chapter 2: Magic and Medicine using Herbs
The art and craft of Wicca have only been around since the mid-20th century,
but the concepts and practices are as old as human interest in the powers that
be. Not all Wiccans use herbs in practices, but a majority of them do because
of the close ties and links to the divine creation of the gifts of remedy from
nature and Mother Earth.
The principles of herbalism have been around for centuries, as you read in the
previous chapter, and as Wicca made its debut in the 1950s, so too did the
connection between Wicca and herbalism and how many practitioners were
engaging in the medicinal and magical properties of herbs for a variety of
spells, rituals and incantations.
Even the founder of Wicca, Gerald Gardner, depicted many uses for specific
herbs in his notorious “Book of Shadows”, the tome that became the
blueprint for Wiccan books of magic and ritual for decades to come.
Herbalism is not confined to Wiccan craft and culture and has existed since
before Pagan religion, even in a coarser form that was less easily understood
by the concept and study of science. The Pagan cultural religions that Wicca
is based on, however, also highly prized the connection between our bodies
and the elements and frequently utilized herbs for healing purposes and
practices, as well as for divinations and ritual ceremonies.
The invention of herbalism came from the ancient practice of understanding
the offerings of plants and their medicines (see Chapter 1: The Ancient Art of
Herbalism) and how to use them effectively. As time wore on, and new
practices emerged, a more well-defined connection to their uses was more
greatly available to the public in written formats and recipes for use.
Modern Wiccans have much of their practices revolving around the use of
herbs, plants and there are a significant number of spells and beliefs
surrounding each one, when they should be utilized in conjunction with the
Wheel of the Year, and how they affect your magical practice, as well as your
health.
Wiccans will devote entire rituals, just to the harvest of certain foods and
herbs and many of the festivals that are celebrated throughout the year feature
and prize the herbs that are in abundance. The correlation between Wicca and
nature is strong and so as the year progresses through all of its stages, cycles,
and rhythms, Wiccans will spend quality time in observance of the season’s
bounty.
It is highly typical for specific herbal rituals to occur under the Solstices and
Equinoxes, frequently being a moment of collection, storage and preparation
to use those herbs for their most vital and powerful properties for the year to
come.
Wicca and herbalism relate powerfully and will continue to do so as long as
Wicca is practiced across cultures. Herbs and the gifts of Mother Nature are
the bread and butter of Wiccan art and craft and should be studied in depth by
any practitioner of Wicca to feel that closeness and devotion to herbal magic
and medicine. The next section will explore another quality of herbalism that
comes from the profound connection between the shamans of the world and
how they use plants and herbs for healing, much like a Wiccan would use
herbs for magic, ritual, and blessing of health.

Within the constructs of our various cultures and civilizations, the use of
herbs in both medicine and magic has always been present. The sacred
wisdom inherent in these little plants has been taught to us through the ages
by the plants themselves. They teach us to bring understanding to healing our
whole system: body, mind, and spirit.
All cultures have had some way of working with the native plant and flower
species of their landscapes, which has caused a wider and broader view of
how the whole planet is full of medicines that not every culture has had
access to, or learned the wisdom of, through healing practice.
Ancient cultures were less likely to travel long distances and across seas, and
so the knowledge of various exotic plants was not known to everyone until a
lot later in our human history. In today’s world, we are much more capable of
finding these resources through online research and books, as well as by
taking a trip to some of the far-off places where Shamans and Medicine Men
and Women still practice the ancient cultural healing arts of their tribes and
communities.
For what it’s worth, medicine has always been considered a magical
performance: combining certain ingredients and applications to a sickness, or
emotional state, to bring about and manifest a change. If you think about it,
that is precisely what casting a spell does. When you apply specific focus,
intention, herbs, and other ingredients, and the right timing to a situation, you
empower the energy of things all around you to follow suit. Medicine and
magic are basically part of the same family of wisdom and this book will treat
them as such.
As you go deeper in your own studies of herbal magic and medicine, consider
how they work hand-in-hand and that the medicinal quality of an herb or
plant, may give you the perspective you need to understand how to use it in
Wiccan spells and rituals. It is entirely possible also that your intuition will
guide you in exactly the right way you need to go to establish a magical
connection to these plants. Several people have even reported being able to
fully hear and receive the energetic message of what the plant wants to
express to you. If you are a wide-open channel for spirit, the plants might
very well start talking to you, so be open to anything when you are working
with plant magic.
Some of the people who have been known to speak with plants are Shamans.
In the next section, you will get a more significant understanding of how
different kinds of Shamans work with plant medicine and magic to connect to
spirit and heal through the divine, followed by a section on plant
correspondences.
Chapter 3: Shamanism and Herbs
Shamanism is a broad term to describe a lot of different names for this one
thing. In every culture, the language of the tribe has its own name for what a
Shaman is and what they do, however, Shamanism is considered the oldest
spiritual practice known to humans, dating back archeologically as far as
70,000 years.
A Shaman will create transpersonal connections with all of the sacred realms
and will facilitate this experience for others so that people can have their own
holy quest to deepen their inner knowing and personal truth. It has no
connection to religion and has a much greater opening and opportunity for
one to be closely connected to nature in all things. In a way, we are
experiencing spiritual healthcare when we work with Shamans or shamanic
practices.
Essentially, within the concept of what Shamanism teaches or supports, is
that at any given point on your journey through life, you will experience
disharmony within yourself. This disharmony is what can cause serious
illness, disease, emotional disturbances, and so on. If left unresolved, these
energetic imbalances will create or manifest all of these issues that cannot
always be cured by Western medicine or technology.
A Shaman is not a preacher or a guru; they are here to guide on the path of
spiritual awakening and healing to help you resolve the discord within you,
on all levels, not just the physical. When they are healing someone, they will
make a journey to the astral plane in order to commune with the benevolent
spirits who are here to aid and guide us forward. The astral plane is a parallel
reality to our own that consists of all of the animal, nature, plant, and other
spirit forms that will respond to the Shaman who is a conduit of this
communication.
There was a time when more people were awakened, or at least aware of the
natural world and considered the natural world to be a conscious force, just as
alive and aware as we are. Shamans gained higher ground with these
elements and were therefore treated with more respect and honored as a wiser
channel of spiritual knowing, leading to their work as the village, or tribe’s,
“healer”.
Shamanism is undoubtedly a potent example of the connection between
medicine and magic. These realities are exposed and expressed through the
Shamanic journey and open the earth plane to the senses and relationship to
the plant and natural world. One term for it might be called “Plant Spirit
Shamanism”, but you could also refer to it as Shamanic Herbalism. To treat a
plant or natural essence as though it had thoughts and feelings is a part of the
magic of medicine.
There have been many “folk healers” throughout history, crossing continents,
from the Amazonian Curanderos, the to the Pagan Witch folk of Europe, and
into today’s modern herbalists and flower essence healers. Throughout
history and into the present, the traditional rituals and healing methods that
have come with the plant medicine and magic understand the following: the
origins of disease come from disharmony, discord, and imbalance in our
emotional/ spiritual bodies that manifest in the physical and that herbs and
plants are powerful and effective in healing these disturbances.
This is, in essence, what Shamanism practices: the healing of the spirit body
to heal the Earth body through the use of various medicinal herbs, flowers,
roots, leaves, and barks. There are so many ways to learn Wicca Herbal
Magic from these concepts, drawn from the beautiful power of the Shaman’s
approach to healing and the combination of medicine and magic. Here are
some great ways to bring more of these ideas into your own modern practice.
Work with plants and herbs as a Shaman might with these critical practices:
1. Spend Time in Nature to Meet the Plant Allies:
Take a trip into the woods or the wilderness and don’t try to look for what it
is you need to find. Let it call to you. Be guided by the plant and allow
yourself to spend quality time with it. Listen to what it tells you and why it is
calling to you now. Any time you go out in nature, let your intuition guide
you to what the plant spirits want to show you. They listen to you and your
spirit, too, and can show you the magic and healing powers that they carry if
you are open to it.

2. Make an Offering in Return for the Knowledge of the Plant

Spirit:
Communicating with the plant that calls to you is crucial. When you show the
plant your intention, then it can understand how to communicate with you the
best. Energy and purpose are what guide your journey. Making an offering to
your plant allies shows them that you are willing to give something in return
for what they can offer you on the mind, body, and spirit planes. Some will
leave tobacco buried in the Earth around the plant, while others might
sprinkle new seeds to grow new life. Either way, an offering states that you
honor the gift given from the plant spirit to help you learn and understand
who it is and what it can do.

3. Shamanic Plant Gazing:

The idea behind “gazing” is that you look beyond the physical attributes of
the plane to merge your consciousness with the energies, qualities, and
healing intentions of the plant. This is a way to cross over into a higher
dimension and collaborate with the spiritual plane of the plant to create an
attitude of mindfulness, meditation, and recognition of how the plant operates
beyond the physical aspect. This is where the magic of plants comes from
and how they impact the soul, not just the body. When you “gaze” you let go
of your mental assumptions about what the plant is and how it works so that
you can manifest the open energy to truly hear what it has to offer.
These are just a few of the ways you can begin to have a more magical
connection and approach to practicing with herbs, through the concepts of
Shamanism. Other ways that Shamans will use herbs and plants is to cause an
intense experience of total mind awakening through the power of certain
psychedelic medicines that cause visions, sounds, and other energetic
experiences, to help you find more profound truth and knowing. Peyote and
Ayahuasca ceremonies are some of the more notorious experiences that
people are locating in today’s world to help them discover more on their truth
path through the sacred healing power of plant medicine and magic.
These kinds of ceremonies and rituals require a lot more preparation and
experience and so if you are interested in working with a Shaman specifically
for this kind of healing, you will need to decide on the right path for you.
Within this truth and reality described by the Shaman’s journey, there are a
variety of other ways that plants are connected to our lives and the energies
of all things. In the next section, you will look more deeply into the
properties of plant correspondence and how it relates to herbal magic and
medicine.
Chapter 4: MORE
The power and principles of plant correspondences are exactly what they
might seem like: a correspondence to another part of nature to establish a
link, bond, or natural identity or signature that describes or illustrates the
character and qualities of a given plant.
A correspondence in plant magic and medicine has everything to do with
how we can attribute certain qualities from one thing in nature to another.
Take the sun, for example: the sun is warming, hot, powerful, light, brings
joy, helps things grow, and is associated with creative power and masculine
energies. When you are practicing Wicca or other Pagan religions, you can
easily make these correlations based on your worship and devotion to nature
and her rhythms and cycles, as well as other divine forces associated with
solar energies.
A plant can have a strong correspondence with this solar energy and will
reveal some of its own unique characteristics through its association with the
sun. Since the sun has everything to do with energy, vitality, health,
manifestation and creative power, it is then considered in correspondence
with herbs that produce a similar result, or have a similar energetic quality or
“spiritual expression”.
It is shown that plants that resemble the sun tend to have the same effects or
qualities, whether it is through the color and shape, or an act of opening and
closing its petals or leaves based on the hour of the day. You can then go on
to consider the physical impacts of herbs and what correlation, or
correspondence, they may have with a sun-like energy. Herbs that make one
feel warm and relaxed, or bring heartier blood flow, could be considered in
correspondence with the sun. Herbs like St. John’s Wort, Clove, Citrus,
Centaury, Chamomile, and Calendula are all in correspondence with the sun.
So, what does this all even mean? The principles of plant correspondence
have to do with the elemental, planetary, and natural connections between all
of the shared qualities and properties that they all simultaneously contain.
Throughout history, herbalists and shamans have correlated the balance
between all forces of nature and how we and they all share a common bond
or thread of commonality. This is correspondence. Let’s consider the next 6
celestial orbs in our solar system and determine some of the inherent qualities
that can be found between the planets and plants.
The Moon is representative of emotions, dreams, divination, illusions, astral
travel, the subconscious, and psychic enhancement. In the plant kingdom,
correspondence with the moon will include plants that are high in water
content, or happen to thrive and grow near water, medicinally sedative,
moisturizing, sleep inducing, cooling, painkilling and hormone balancing, as
well as being associated with the female reproductive system. Examples of
these herbs are not limited to the following: poppy, lavender, lily, morning
glory, jasmine, mugwort, and sandalwood.
Mercury is associated with memory, intellect, messengers, travelling between
worlds, communication, spiritual guidance, trickery, invisibility, and
deception. Much of what Mercury represents has to do with the mind, or
rather the brain, and the central nervous system. Anything effecting speech,
thoughts, lungs and the nervous system will be in correspondence with
Mercury. Plants that are stimulating to the mind, or are fast growing, winding
and creeping, and with a subtle or quickly fading scent are considered to be a
mercurial plant. Corresponding plants with mercury are said to act as a
catalyst with other plant energies and forces and some examples of plants in
correspondence with this planet are eucalyptus, licorice, cardamom, mint,
skullcap, lemongrass, and juniper.
The planet Venus is our celestial lady of love and is associated with all of the
following concepts: beauty, nature, harmony, sexuality, fertility, abundance,
power of attraction, talent and ability, and the power of aphrodisiacs. It is
noted that because of her opposition to Mars, she works against his influence.
Plants in correspondence with the planet Venus are luscious flowering plants
that tend to have big, soft, furry leaves and are often used in tonics and
astringents to help with the beautification of the body. Venus rules the
kidneys and liver in the body and so any herbs that are in correspondence
with Venus energy will likely have an impact on these organ systems.
Examples of plant correspondences with Venus are rose, passion flower,
violet, lemon verbena, vervain, apple, burdock, and thyme.
Mars, the planet of war and the mythological husband to the Goddess Venus,
is all about the masculine forces of power, aggression, fire, active energy,
protection and quickness. It has an overall energy of vitality, will, and
physical strength. These plant correspondences are prickly, spicy and/or
thorny. They tend to be very energizing, heating and stimulating and
correspond with purifying the blood as well as sexual potency, and are also
thought to be helpful in repairing injuries and healing disorders of the
immune system. Examples of these plant correspondences are chili peppers,
nettles, red sandalwood, ginger, and galangal root, to name a few.
Jupiter, the planet luck, is about expansion, fortune, personal power, and
super-consciousness. It tends to be in opposition to the planet Saturn and
works in the realms of laws, religion, and faith, but is not limited to these
energies and is more of a force of luck and prosperity. Plants that are in a
correspondence with Jupiter are relaxing, calm and expanding. They are
warming and calming without sedating the body. Jupiter corresponds with the
digestive system, arteries, and metabolism. Some of the corresponding plants
are pine, oak, fennel, cedar, sage, agrimony, as well as some foods like
olives, figs, nuts, and fruits.
The planet Saturn has a heavier energy. It has to do with karma, protection,
binding, banishing and restricting negative energy. Saturn works strongly
with the energies of authority, discipline and restrictions that are imposed by
others and it is also the planet associated with the energy of witchcraft. Saturn
corresponds with the bones of the body, including the teeth and the energies
of constricting, drying and cooling are often related to the plant
correspondences of this planet. Plants that are invasive, poisonous, slow-
growing, or shade loving are likely in communication with Saturn. Some
examples of these plant correspondences are comfrey, horsetail, belladonna,
cannabis, henbane, cypress, henbane, and myrrh.
Looking at all of the planets, what did you notice? 1) All of the planets
correspond with a human, anatomical system or quality 2) Plants and herbs
correspond to certain planetary conditions or energies 3) plants and herbs
correspond with specific energies of the human body to perform healing or
balancing of an individual system.
Breaking it down, it is really all about the fact that everything is connected
and that anything in nature has a correspondence with anything else in
explanation through the energetic imprint, appearance, quality, and
characteristic of that matter. Let’s consider the elements as another type of
correspondence with plants so you can understand the power and
fundamental principles.
As you may already know from your own Wiccan or other practice, the
element of Earth is all about the following qualities: material energies and
wealth, grounding, structure, growth, manifestation, building, prosperity,
birth and death. Earth energy is very strong and deep and has hidden depths.
Correspondences in the plant world with this element are those that can slow
the body down, moist and fertile, and even sedating, as this is very
grounding. Examples of these plant correspondences are mosses, lichens, ivy,
oak, patchouli, sage, and nuts.
Air is the element of movement, communication, language, ideas, thoughts,
wisdom, expansion, beliefs, spiritual knowledge as well as other forms of
knowledge, and learning. In magical practices and divination magic, airy
essences like smoke, feathers, fragrances, and hanging charms and amulets
are associated with air. Dream catchers, wind chimes, and hanging charms
are all air-like energies. In plant correspondence, this would relate to those
herbs and elements that blow their seeds on the wind, tall grasses that sway in
the breeze, feathery leaves, and plants and herbs that have a crisp and clean
fragrance. Some of these plants are dill, dandelion, yarrow, sweetgrass,
lavender, and peppermint.
The element of Fire is passion, transformation, purification, vitality,
destruction, willpower, spiritual force, protection, courage, vitality, and hope.
In magical work, it has a connection with burning and smoldering, candle
magic, and evocation. Any plant that has a spicy or stimulating power will be
of fire. Sometimes stinging and thorny, fire plant correspondences are used
when the body feels chilled, stagnant, heavy and lacking in motivation.
Examples of these plants are pepper, ginger, chilies, nettle, angelica, and
cinnamon.
Water is the element of emotion, dreams, the subconscious mind, purification
and cleansing, psychic awareness, and alchemical transformation. Magically,
this element is connected to mirror magic, potion and brew making, love
spells, sacred baths and rituals, and crystal scrying. The plant
correspondences of water are soothing, receptive, and water-loving, offering
a balance and calmness to the emotions as well as the cycles of sleep. Some
examples are willow, lotus, coltsfoot, lady’s mantle, lobelia, and spearmint.
With the planets and the elements as examples, you can begin to understand
that there are always these connections in nature and that as you discover
how to form a bond and relationship to plant and herb magic and medicine,
you will be in frequent connection to these types of correspondences. They
are always speaking of their link to all that is around them and when you are
getting to know the magical properties and qualities of each unique herb or
medicine, you are going to notice these very human and interplanetary
qualities popping up with the way they appear to you and how they affect
your body, mind, and spirit.
Combined with the way of the Shaman in working with plant medicine and
magic, these correspondences will help you walk the path of truly
understanding the gift of each unique plant and herb.
Neo-Wicca and eclectic Wicca
One of the separate paths is known as Neo-Wicca, Neo referring to new or
modern practice. Wicca is a new religion in its own right although it does
borrow elements from ancient pagan beliefs. So new that many wonder how a
“neo” version can exist. This is because the majority of Wiccans consider the
Gardnerian and Alexandrian paths to be the true traditional Wicca religion,
and everything else is considered Neo-Wicca. Non-Wiccans accepted the
term for all Wicca paths, and they use it wrong. Because it’s a new religion
with roots in the old pagan tradition, many call it Neo to separate it between
today’s practice and the history books.
The term Neo-Wicca is problematic for other reasons too. For example, the
practitioners of this path are often called out for not being traditional. Some
followers of the Gardnerian or Alexandrian way often consider Neo-Wiccans
lesser than themselves. They see them as imitators and do not recognize them
as part of the religion. On the other hand, some New Wiccans do not accept
the term “neo.” They consider their practice to be the same as the traditional
way, just more adapted to their individual needs.
This and many other reasons are why people choose to refer to Neo-Wicca as
eclectic. Eclectic Wicca allows diversity in interpretation of religion and
practice, as long as the core beliefs and main philosophy of Wicca are
followed. It acknowledges traditional covens and solitary practitioners. It is
open to the world and does not keep secrets. Eclectic Wicca takes the best of
all the branches and paths of the religion. It can adapt to traditions and
ceremonies that suit individual needs and beliefs.
Eclectic Wicca will allow one to focus on personal spirituality and follow the
path of his own making. No matter the root of the practice, one path or
another, even if it’s borrowed from other religions, if it resonates with you,
eclectic Wicca allows it. You may call the God and Goddess by
nontraditional names, and you can adopt names from other cultures and
religions. All that matters is that they are the same deities with the
appropriate Wiccan values and symbolism attached to them. Many traditional
covens keep the names of the God and Goddess a secret. They reveal them to
initiate in rites and ceremonies, but never to non-members. Eclectic Wiccans
aren’t as strict. You may choose the name you want to give to the deities, and
if you want to share it with others, you can. The fluidity of practice is what
determines if one Wiccan path is eclectic or traditional.
Eclectic Wicca will also incorporate some spiritual disciplines that traditional
Wicca does not recognize. For example, eclectic Wiccans may choose to
practice yoga, holistic medicine, or even Reiki, and they will include them in
their religion, their belief system. Traditional Wicca has a set, non-fluid belief
system, and it asks their members to follow them more strictly. Some covens
consider themselves traditional but are becoming more and more open to new
practices and beliefs. It is a process of religions growth and progress. You
may often hear members referring to their coven as “traditional but eclectic.”
Traditions
As mentioned earlier, some Wiccan witches follow the traditional practices,
while others follow several newer traditions. Here are some of the most
common methods:
1. Gardnerian Wicca: The founder of this movement, Gerald Gardner, was
the one who refined and popularized Wiccan tradition in the 1950s. He
studied the old religion and its rituals and then rewrote everything in detail
because his previous coven wasn’t accurately enacting the craft. The
followers organize themselves in a coven, and the only way to join is by
being initiated into it. Solitary practitioners cannot enter on their own based
on the solitary study of Wicca. Gardnerian covens seek to maintain a balance
between their male and female members, and they practice all of their magic
and rituals “skyclad” (naked).
2. Alexandrian Wicca: Founded by Alex Sanders during the 60s, this
tradition involves the skyclad practice of magic and rituals, just like
Gardnerian Wicca. While the rituals and the structure of the coven remain
nearly the same, Alexandrian followers differ themselves from Gardnerian
ones by focusing mostly on ceremonial magic.
3. Seax Wicca: Gerald Gardner’s apprentice Raymond Buckland founded
this practice. When he moved to England to the U.S., he continued practicing
Gardnerian Wicca for several years. However, he encountered many
problems in the process. This is what led him to found the Seax tradition. It is
based on Old Saxon traditions and beliefs, and the witches can perform either
nude or clothed. Another major difference is the fact that witches can be
initiated both by the coven or through self-study of the craft.
4. Georgian Wicca: The Georgian tradition was founded based on the
traditionalist views of Gardnerian and Alexandrian Wicca. However, the
witches can add unique aspects to the rituals, or create entirely new ones if
they consider it necessary. It’s common for Georgians to write their spells,
and they can choose whether to perform the rituals clothed or naked.
5. Dianic Wicca: As the name may suggest, the followers of this practice
dedicate themselves almost entirely to the Goddess, and they rarely perform
rituals in the name of the Lord. The Goddess is worshiped in all of her forms,
Maiden, Mother, and Crone. It’s worth noting that this tradition sometimes
accepts only women into their covens. For this reason, they are sometimes
seen as a Wiccan feminist movement.
6. Celtic Wicca: While Gardnerian Wicca still influences this tradition
when it comes to various rituals and practices, Celtic Wicca relies on ancient
druidic knowledge. The followers seek to honor the old druidic gods, and
they focus their efforts in performing healing rituals that involve herbs,
crystals, and elemental magic.
7. Strega: The followers of this tradition dedicate themselves to the Old
Religion. This is an Italian witchcraft movement that is spreading and
becoming more and more popular in the United States.
8. Traditional British Wicca: There are a number of covens that practice
slightly different versions of Wiccan magic that is based on old English
traditions. These pre-Christian practices combine the Gardnerian traditions
with Celtic tradition, and they are performed within a traditionally structured
coven. Members need to progress through the ranks of the coven as they
study under the senior members.
Keep in mind that there are many other traditions and practices. Many of
them depend on the regional origin of the coven. For instance, a Strega
Wiccan is very likely to come from a family with ties to Italy. However, this
doesn’t mean that you have to be of Italian descent to join them. Most
practices are open to anyone who wishes to learn the craft. It all depends on
which tradition resonates with you the most.
Covens and solitary practitioner
There are many paths a Wiccan can choose to follow. Witchcraft comes in
many forms, and it supports different traditions and practices. There are
numerous covens out there, each having a diverse path and belief system.
There are benefits and downsides of joining a coven, as well as practicing
solitary witchcraft.
What is a coven exactly? It’s a group of witches who share similar beliefs
and practice the same traditions. They have a hierarchical structure, with one
or two leaders called the High Priestess or High Priest. The rest of the
coven’s members have various titles, depending on the coven’s size and
organization. Many choose smaller amounts up to 13 because it provides a
closer family bond, and smaller groups are easier to travel with and
accommodate. Covens perform ceremonies magic together following a
tradition of their choosing. The autonomy of covens is essential. They do not
answer to some higher church-like institution. The coven makes its own
decisions regarding the Wiccan tradition they chose to follow. It is believed
that covens are as old as any religion. When people have similar beliefs, they
tend to gather together to worship the same gods, practice the same religious
ceremonies, or practice magic together for the common good. Some covens
imitate the structure of old religious groups while others choose to escape
traditions and organize new covens in their own ways.
On the other hand, a solitary practitioner of Wicca chooses not to belong to a
coven. He is alone on his own spiritual path. A solitary witch can follow
different traditions or no particular tradition at all. Solitary witches are free to
design their belief system in ways that suit their spirituality. They do have to
follow the same philosophy and respect the God and Goddess in order to call
themselves Wiccans. More traditional groups may not recognize solitary
witches; they believe that one can be Wiccan only through work in a coven.
Others believe that solitary witches have always existed, especially during
times when witchcraft was persecuted. Throughout history, there were times
when it was dangerous trusting a group of people and many witches turned to
solitude, so they could practice their religion safely. Some might find a
solitary practice to be lonely, and others might see freedom. It all depends on
your personal beliefs, and what adapts to your character and needs.
There are many witches out there who started as a member of a coven but
found it easier to continue on their solitary path. It may be because of
disagreement they might’ve had with their coven, or due to a wish for
freedom, or feeling of empowerment that only solitary practice can bring.
Some started as solitary practitioners and later found a coven and a tradition
that suits their needs. Nowadays, information is everywhere, and it is much
easier to begin as a solitary practitioner of the craft. The trick is to choose the
right one and not to succumb to modern, commercial products advertised as
Wiccan.
There is power in tradition. It makes us feel part of something greater than us.
Having a teacher pass his knowledge down on a student is still observed as
something awe-inspiring. Sometimes, witchcraft is in the family for
generations and is passed down to offspring. This is known as hereditary
witchcraft, but it is not necessarily bound to blood. One witch might adopt
someone from outside the family and teach him their tradition, thus making
him part of the family.
Many factors will influence your decision if you want to be a part of a coven,
or practice the craft as a solitary witch. There might not be a coven near you,
but with the modern age and the internet, they are closer than you think. You
initially have to decide if covens and the traditions they hold are right for
you. Can you commit to a coven and the specific activity it will bring? Do
you have the time to devote? Examine each question, and ask yourself many
more that might influence your decision. Don’t be afraid to reach out to
covens and ask for more information. They will be happy to help on your
path. The Wiccan way is a long road, and who knows? By the end of it, you
might have your own coven and call yourself a High Priest or Priestess.
Benefits and disadvantages of a coven
Many people find comfort in belonging to a group. Deeply religious people
are no different. Sharing beliefs and traditions are fundamental to some
people. They feel they serve a purpose that is greater than themselves, and
they enjoy all obligations a coven might impose on them. A Coven will offer
support, partnership, and companionship. It is easier to learn from other
people than by yourself. The structure and pursuit of higher degrees give a
sense of progress to some people. Discipline and tradition are values in a
coven, and if you are the one who feels the same, you might just fit in.
It is imperative to join a coven that follows the same truths as you do.
Otherwise, there will be disagreements, and it could lead to the group casting
you out, or you decide to leave on your own. This may result in broken hearts
and self-doubt.
Covens have specific sets of laws and rules you will be obligated to follow.
They run on very strict schedules, and discipline is not for everyone.
Consider how much time you can devote to your coven. You will have to
prove yourself, learn, and work hard to advance. Your rank in the coven
might not allow you to make some decisions. If you leave and decide to join
another one, be prepared to start from the bottom, learn new traditions and
ceremonies, prove yourself all over again to progress. Ranks of one coven do
not transfer with you. Remember, each coven has complete autonomy and is
making their own decisions.
People tend to be smitten with the magic of Wicca, especially when they are
new to it. Resist the temptation of joining the first coven you find. It might
feel empowering to find people with the same beliefs as you, or like you
finally belong somewhere but always make an educated decision. It is crucial
to inform yourself, examine your values, and that of a coven. If you feel you
fit in the group and the group is the right fit for your spirituality, then why not
join?
Benefits and disadvantages of solitary practice
Being a solitary practitioner means you will be alone. You may take students
later, and start your own coven, but the learning path, practice, and religious
philosophy you will experience on your own. For those that enjoy a solitary
life or feel uncomfortable as a part of a group, this may be a good thing.
Many agree that it is a lonely path, and you can lose yourself in the mass
amount of information available without the right discipline. You will lack
guidance, extra help, and the knowledge available from other more
experienced witches. Your rank, degree, and initiation won’t matter to other
covens. If you decide to join one eventually, they will see you as a neophyte
no matter the amount of experience you might have. Also, more traditional
covens won’t recognize you as a witch, as for them, the craft can only be
practiced by those initiated into a coven.
There are benefits of being solitary witch, however. You can learn at your
own pace, without the pressure of degrees and progress. You can decide on
your tempo, belief system, and traditions. Everything is for you to choose.
You will not be bound by covens’ secrets, laws, or rules. Solitary
practitioners will often design their own spells, rituals, and ceremonies. This
doesn’t mean they are less true to the God and Goddess; in fact, they
experience deities on a more personal level.
If you choose to be a solitary practitioner, remember if you need the company
of another witch, you will have to reach out, and allow yourself to be found.
You may get to choose your own company, but sometimes it can be hard to
find.
Choosing to join a coven or go the solo route is a difficult choice, but try not
to overthink it. This should be a thought you allow to come naturally. If it
feels right, then it probably is. If one path is not for you and you decide to
take it, there is no shame in changing your mind. Trust the God and Goddess
because ultimately they have a plan for you. Even if you don’t see the plan at
first, in time, it will all come clear, and you will find your place in Wicca.
Part Two: Herbs Magic
Chapter 1: Magical Herbs
When it comes to the tools Wicca uses to perform magic, herbs are probably
the most powerful ones. They are always in direct contact with nature,
bathing in its power. The sun touches them during the day, the moon during
the night. Water and earth are nourishment for plants. Through the process of
photosynthesis, plants are in direct correlation with air. Gathering the power
of all four natural elements, plants are very magical tools, and we can use
them.
Practicing herbal magic is a wonderful experience for a witch. It keeps us in
touch with nature’s elemental powers. It’s not enough to pick just any herbs
for a potion and perform magic rituals with them. The knowledge a true
herbalist requires is immense. Using the right herb in the right way can
transform lives. Herbs can heal us physically and emotionally. But they can
also bring harm. Some herbs are poisonous, but if used in proper amounts, or
the right mixture with other herbs, they can bring forth healing properties.
Wiccan herbal magic is a complex science. It requires constant learning from
multiple sources. If you want to get deeper into the power of herbs, heal,
bring comfort and emotional peace, learn how to make proper teas, herbal
tinctures, and essential oils. Books describing spells and potions that use
herbs and are labeled as Wiccan are a good start.
Medicine is a part of the magic the whole world already understands. Witches
of old used their powers to heal as they were considered the doctors of their
times. It is a noble calling and one that is still available to all Wiccans. Use
the knowledge of herbal magic to bring balance through healing. Besides
healing humans, you may want to learn how to use herbs in treating animals
or even other plants.
Because herbal magic is so powerful, many witches find it most rewarding. It
is very popular among Wiccans. Herbs are used in potions, incenses, teas,
and essential oils. We use herbs spanning from common weeds to great trees
such as oaks. The magic is performed with seeds, leaves, stems, flowers,
fruits, etc. Herbs are very versatile magical tools. We can dry them, boil
them, chop, press, crumble, burn them. They are edible, but they are also
used in rituals and ceremonies. They can be used to invoke the God and
Goddess or to decorate your altar and magic circle showing your devotion
through herbal symbolism.
The complexity of herbal magic may be intimidating to novices, but it is not
something you master quickly. Approach it as a scholar and understand that it
is a science you will have to learn, perform, and perfect throughout your
whole life. Many enjoy it, and gladly devote their lives to it. If it’s not your
calling, or you don’t connect with it on a spiritual level, don’t push yourself
into herbalism just because it’s popular. You can still use herbs in rituals,
ceremonies, and spells. You can also easily learn about teas and essential oils
that are beneficially used in everyday life.
There are plenty of metaphysical shops selling already prepared herbs, herbal
oils, and tinctures, you can even use grocery shops to find spices and teas.
But if you want, you can grow them yourself, prepare them for magic
yourself. This is especially recommended if you are using herbal magic for
healing. You will always be sure of the quality of your herbs, and you will
know their source is pure. Tending your own herbal garden will bring you an
understanding of the earth and herbal magic, it will keep the connection to
nature open for you. The satisfaction you will feel from using the herb you
cared for when it was just a seed is tremendous.
Thirteen Basic Herbs
The herbs on this list you can find in any store, and some of them are also
easy to grow. They have both culinary and medicinal properties; they are
known to everyone and some of them you most likely already have in your
kitchen. They are a great start in understanding herbal magic. The familiarity
of these herbs will bring comfort, and will lessen the intimidation you might
feel by the scope of herbal science. They are used in various shapes: dried,
boiled, and burned. In Wicca, we make a magical connection between certain
herbs and deities, zodiac signs, and elements. The symbolism of these herbs
is very powerful when used in rituals and ceremonies.
You will find a description of each herb, both scientific and common names,
the origin and its magical properties. If you are a novice in herbal magic, it is
advisable to check with your doctor before ingesting any unknown substance.
In some cases, like pregnancy or chronic conditions, they should be avoided.
If you are a crafty witch, you might want to try making your own soap using
herbal essential oils. This will give you the satisfaction of creating
environmentally safe skincare products. You will also have the ability to
infuse them with the elemental powers of herbs that are very useful in
cleansing rituals. You can also decorate your soaps using specific dried herbs
and flowers, giving it even more magical properties.
Chamomile (Matricaria recutita -used in the USA;
Chamaemilum noble -Used in Europe)
Chamomile is a common name for several plants from the family Asteraceae.
Two species from this family are used in herbal magic. One is commonly
found in the USA, the other in Europe, and they have the same magical and
medicinal properties. It resembles a daisy, has small feathery leaves, and
smells wonderful.
Chamomile is commonly known for its beneficial effects when prepared as a
tea. It can calm nerves, soothe indigestion, and menstrual cramps. It is great
for the common cold when used warm, and it will help bring down a fever.
Chamomile should be avoided in pregnancy because it can cause uterine
cramps or induce a miscarriage.
Chamomile essential oils are fantastic for soothing anxiety and stress. Oil is
also used in skincare products for its soothing powers, as it can help with skin
irritations, mild inflammation, and sunburns.
As incense, it is used in magical rituals, especially among followers of the
Anglo-Saxon witchcraft tradition. In magic, chamomile is used in
purification, love, and money related spells. Washing in water infused with
chamomile will bring luck in love and gambling.
Chamomile-infused water is also used in washing entrances to keep harmful
energies at bay. Baths are prepared with chamomile for pre-ritual cleaning of
witch’s body. In love magic, it will clear one’s mind and emotions from
traces of past relationships, and it will clean your soul in preparation to
embrace new love.
Wicca relates chamomile with zodiac signs of Scorpio and Leo. It is an herb
we devote to God, but its element is water.
Cinnamon (Cinnamomum cassia)
Cinnamon is a spice with a rich history. Its origins are in Asian evergreen
tree, and the spice is produced from the papery-like bark. The cinnamon tree
also produces flowers and berries that are used in Chinese traditional
medicine and are known for their healing properties. In ancient Egypt,
cinnamon was used as an agent that helped the mummification process.
Medicinally, cinnamon is added to various mixtures, usually with honey, and
it helps digestive problems and sickness. It also has antibiotic properties and
is used as a mouthwash to ease gum, mouth, and throat infections. Cinnamon
can be irritating to the skin, and it is advised to use it with care, especially
when working with it as an essential oil.
In spells and rituals, cinnamon is commonly used for love, luck, lust, money,
protection, spirituality, and success. When burned as incense, it will deepen
the connection a witch has with spiritual energy. Used in satchels and hex
bags, it will either draw love or repel negative energies.
Cinnamon is dedicated to both the God and Goddess. Zodiac signs assigned
to it are Aries and Gemini, and it is known as an herb of fire elemental
power.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Basil is a well-known spice we all love using in dishes with tomatoes. The
combination is unbelievably perfect. It is a Mediterranean herb, with broad
leaves and tiny white flowers. It is easily grown in home gardens and flower
pots. As a spice, it is used in both dried and fresh form. In magic, we use it
mainly in its dried form. This is due to the basils tendency to wither soon
after it was picked.
In medicine, basil is known as a mild sedative when used as a tea. Essential
oil made out of this herb has antibiotic and anti-fungal properties. Combined
with other herbs, basil is good at repelling pests, such as lice, or fleas and it
will keep other plants protected from various bugs.
In magic, basil is widely used in protective spells, and it is a guardian herb
that will keep you safe from harmful magic. Basil is also a good medium for
interacting with the spiritual world, and in this case, it can be ingested or
burned.
Basil will also bring forth courage in dangerous situations and will cleanse
negative energy. It is used in spells involving business and success.
It is devoted both to the Goddess and God as the element of fire. It belongs to
zodiac signs Scorpio and Aries.

Bay Leaf (Laurus nobilis)

Another herb that is commonly used as a spice in culinary recipes. It is added
to dishes to give aroma, and after cooking it is removed. It can be found in
any store that sells spices.
Bay leaf is growing as a shrub with shiny leaves that are bright green on top,
and pale green on the bottom. When dried, the color changes from dark green
to brown.
In medicine, a bay leaf is used for relieving symptoms of the common cold. It
is also good in treating headaches. The essential oil of bay leaf is used in
massages as it has positive effects on arthritis and sore muscles.
When it comes to magic and spells, the bay leaf is commonly used for
protection, purification, healing, and strength. It is good in promoting one’s
psychic powers such as divination or clairvoyance.
Burning a bay leaf in the room of someone who is sick will purify the
enclosure from illness. In some cultures, it is an herb devoted to death and
dying. Placed on graveyards, it keeps the connection with our ancestors alive.
It is also used in repealing poltergeists or other disturbing spirits.
The bay leaf is an herb devoted to the God, its zodiac signs are Leo and
Aries, and Fire is its element.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)
Dandelion is a well-known herb many people adore as it reminds them of
innocence and childhood, even though it is considered a weed. It was popular
in preparing spring salads with its leaves, but this fact that the dandelion is
edible is not well known anymore.
This herb can be found all over the globe and is one of the early spring herbs
loved by many animals for its nutritious properties. Aside from salads, people
use it to make jams and spring wines.
In medicine, dandelion is used when it comes to protecting the liver and
kidneys. Due to its high antioxidant content, it is efficient in repairing
damaged tissue. It can also help regulate blood pressure, cholesterol, and
blood sugar levels. As a wash, dandelion can be soaked in water which is
later used to fight acne and eczema.
In magic, dandelion is mainly focused on the divine and psychic powers of
witches. It also protects against nightmares when used in pillows and sleep
satchels. It will bring clairvoyance and prepare witches mind for possible
visions.
Child’s play of blowing on a dandelion and making a wish has a root in old
ritualistic magic. It is still believed that dandelion can help fulfill wishes.
Blowing on the seed head is just one way to use it. It can be prepared in a
bath, or as a decoration of the altar when we are invoking God and Goddess
to help our wishes come true.
The dandelion is devoted to both God and Goddess, zodiac signs assigned to
it are Pisces and Sagittarius. The element of this herb is air.
Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis)
Hibiscus is a beautiful flowering plant that is delightful to use in magic due to
its color that attracts love and lust. It is a plant that is easily grown if you live
in a warmer climate. It can also be grown indoors as a decorative plant. It
comes in various colors, but it is the red hibiscus that is used for its magical
and medicinal properties.
The tea made of hibiscus is high in antioxidants. It protects the liver and
kidney tissue, and it controls the appetite. It is also amazing in its healing
powers when it comes to the common cold and flu. Warm tea will regulate
body temperature and break the fever. As an essential oil, it will help skin
irritations and can be used as a massage oil for relaxation. It is advised not to
use hibiscus while pregnant or lactating. If this is the case, best is to consult
your doctor.
In magic, tea is used to induce lust and passion. Carried in a satchel or burned
as incense it will attract new love. Hot baths infused with fresh or dried
flower hibiscus petals will bring forth positive energies and relaxation.
The hibiscus flower can also be used as a scrying tool when left to float on
water. It is used in divination rituals devoted to the Goddess.
We relate the hibiscus flower to Goddess and zodiac sign of Scorpio. Its
element is water.
Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
Lavender is a member of the mint family and grows with narrow leaves
resembling needles, and with purple, white or blue flowers. It is known for its
strong but pleasant fragrance. In cooking, it is used for teas and desserts.
Because of its strong fragrance, lavender is an excellent pest and insect
repellent. Lavender essential oils have calming effects and soothe nerves. It is
used in skincare, hair care or during a massage or baths.
Since ancient times, lavender is used in magic to bring forth love, especially
to attract men. Aside from love magic, lavender is also used in spells to
secure peaceful dreams, happiness, healing, protection, purification,
longevity, meditation, and wedding blessings. Lavender is a very versatile
herb, and it can be consumed as a tea, burned as incense, used dried or fresh
in decorating altars and magic circles.
It is beneficial if you need to center energy and bring forth concentration for
performing a ritual or a spell. Meditating while lavender incense is burning is
a good way to prepare your body and mind for the performing of magic.
Lavender is an herb devoted both to God and Goddess and zodiac signs of
Gemini and Virgo. Its element is air.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Mugwort is a potent and versatile plant that is favored among witches. It
grows as tall as six feet and has a light purple stem and yellow or green
flowers. It was used during beer making in ancient times, but with the
cultivation of hops, its popularity decreased.
In medicine, mugwort is commonly used as a topical anesthetic. It can also
soothe burns and skin irritations. Chewing fresh mugwort leaves will clear
your head and repel fatigue. Dried leaves, mixed with honey, are used as a
salve to heal bruises.
Ingesting mugwort can be harmful to the body, however, and it is
recommended for novices to stick to its external use. If you are of perfect
health, and are aware of its effects on your body, you may start ingesting it in
small doses but do so sparingly. It is forbidden for pregnant women to use
mugwort in any form.
Mugwort is used in magic to enhance prophetic dreams, and when placed
near scrying tools, it will increase their power.
Burning mugwort can bring clarity to the messages we are receiving from the
other side, as well as the ones from God and Goddess. Hanging dried
mugwort above doors will prevent restless spirits from entering.
Mugwort is usually devoted to the Goddess, zodiac signs Gemini, Taurus,
and Libra. Its element is earth.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
Nutmeg is a favorite winter spice for baking and hot drinks. But its origin is
pretty exotic. It comes from the seeds of the Indonesian evergreen tree that
also produces a fruit that can be used in making jams.
Medicinally, nutmeg helps with digestion and appetite. It is also good for
restful sleep. Large amounts of nutmeg can be toxic and will induce
hallucinations, and it is not recommended to consume more than one
teaspoon in a recipe.
Magical uses of nutmeg vary. The whole seed can be worn as a charm or an
amulet for protection. In combination with silver or iron, it will bring forth
strength and courage.
Today, nutmeg and its essential oil are often used in spells related to money.
Gamblers carry nutmeg for good luck. It will also enhance meditation and
divination rituals when consumed before a session. Essential oil can also be
rubbed on the temples to enhance psychic powers.
Nutmeg is related to the Goddess. Zodiac signs assigned to it are Sagittarius
and Pisces. Its element is air.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus Officinalis)
Rosemary is another popular herb in the kitchen but very popular in
witchcraft too.
It resembles lavender, and even though it is strongly fragrant, the difference
between the two is pretty obvious when it comes to smell. Rosemary is easy
to grow in a garden or indoors as a potted spice herb.
Throughout cultures, rosemary had different uses. In some countries, it's used
in performing marriage rites, as it blessed the newlyweds and others use it for
preparing the dead for final rest.
In medicine, rosemary is used to improve circulation, and to improve the
quality of skin and hair.
Magical use of rosemary is widely spread. It is a potent herb with cleansing
powers, clearing the mind as well as space where the magic is performed.
Burning rosemary is highly recommended before implementing any sacred
ritual or spell. As an alternative, you can prepare a rosemary bath to clean
yourself before practicing magic.
Other magical uses of rosemary are healing, protection, love, and passion,
strengthening mental powers. This last use of rosemary is what makes it
perfect herbs for students and those who need to pass important exams.
Rosemary is an herb devoted to the Goddess, and it is assigned to the zodiac
signs Leo and Scorpio. Its element is fire.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Sage is an herb used for thousands of years for its healing properties. Even its
name “salvia” comes from a roman word for “healing.” This is where we get
the word “salve” for the wounds.
This herb is also used as a culinary spice. It has silvery-green leaves that have
a strong taste. The herb is used both fresh and dried in cooking, as a
medicine, and in witchcraft.
Sage has been used for a long time to treat throat infections and symptoms of
lung diseases. It is an excellent mouthwash, cleans the teeth and fights off
gum infections. It is also used to fight fever caused by flu.
In magic, sage is widely used to purify the space, objects, or people from
negative energy. It helps one overcome grief and loss. Sage also brings forth
the clarity of mind and wisdom. Some witches also use it for wish-fulfillment
spells.
Sage is an herb devoted to the God. It belongs to zodiac signs Taurus,
Sagittarius, and Cancer. Its element is air.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Thyme is an herb that blooms during spring and summer. It has small oval,
dark green leaves and it is a very popular kitchen herb. It grows in the wild
and is cultivated from nature, but it can also be easily grown in your garden.
It has a very strong scent that many people love.
In medicine, thyme is used as a cough remedy; it also fights skin
inflammation and helps with digestive problems. As a tea, thyme can help
with peaceful sleep. Its essential oil is used to help with rheumatism.
In magic, thyme is mostly used for healing spells, purification, love, and
psychic powers. Sometimes thyme is worn for courage and strength, and it is
said that it can fight off nightmares.
Hanging dried thyme around the house will bring good health to all who live
there, and it will purify the energies of your home. The very presence of
thyme in a house will bring happiness, joy, and positivity to the whole
household.
Thyme is devoted to Goddess. Its zodiac signs are Taurus, Libra, and
Capricorn. Water is its element.

Elecampane (Inula Helenium)

Similar to sunflower, but with small flowers, this herb is not well known or
used in the kitchen. But it is a potent herb with many magical powers, and
any novice in witchcraft should be acquainted with elecampane.
This herb isn’t likely to be found in common stores, but it is popular among
herbalists, and it is possible to find it in specialized stores. In medicine, it is
used for treating lung ailments. It is a common ingredient in cough syrups
and teas.
Magically, elecampane is used for protection against negative energies,
diseases, and toxins. It brings good luck, and it can attract love. It will help
reconnect your body and mind and bring awareness of your health. It is said
that elecampane has a strong connection with the faery world, and it attracts
them in one’s garden. It is also used in spells that bring communication with
spirits, for invoking deities and for increasing witch’s intuition.
Elecampane is an herb devoted to the Goddess. It belongs to zodiac signs of
Gemini and Virgo. Its element is air.
Chapter 2: Practical and Magical Tips for Working
with Herbs
Think about magic. What do you imagine it to look like? Do you see magic
wands, flying broomsticks, and funny robes? What about bubbling cauldrons
and pointy hats? The images of magic are old and prolific, but really, magic
is not and has not been these fantastical displays of human superpowers. In
the 13th century, a priest from France, William of Auvergne, declared that
“natural magic” is really a form of science and should be treated as such.
Now, research medicine practiced in medieval times and describe that many
of the medical recommendations appear to be like. Would you not say that
they appear to be more like witchcraft than medicine? Admittedly, hanging a
tooth of a dead man around your neck because your own tooth is hurting has
no scientific basis, and seems more like a charm and spell than anything else.
And the more you look into the foundation of Western medicine, the more
you will notice that the superstitions and natural remedies that we hear of still
have more to do with medieval science, magic, and witches than “old wives.”
In the 13th century and earlier, witchcraft was actually a more common
practice. Even up until the 15th century, spells and magic were accepted and
considered natural. Christians, such as William of Auvergne, rationally
accepted the reality of magic. But it 1487 Heinrich Kramer published his
book, “Malleus Maleficarum,” and it changed the course of public opinion
ever since. “Hammer of Witches,” as the title is translated into, is the reason
women are more closely associated with witchcraft, and the image is not
flattering. It is an old woman, alone and haggard, with deformities on her
face, cursing people as easy as snapping her fingers. Kramer’s publication
turned all witches into satanic deviants that are the outcasts of society and
should be feared.
And then there was the restriction on publishing the works of witches and
witchcraft. Maybe it was in part due to the new opinion of witches, or maybe
it was in part to do with the spells that allowed the practitioner commune
with spirits beyond the physical realm. But there are many spells and rituals
that are harmless and have more to do with superstitions that we still believe
today than with Satanic worship. For example, one spell explains a love
potion, encouraging the witch to put the herb, valerian, into two glasses of
beer or wine. One glass is drunk by the one wanting love, and the other by
the one they want to return the love to them. But despite the negative view of
witches and witchcraft, and the restrictions placed on the publication of their
writings, the practice remains strong today, and whether a spell is natural or
supernatural, it runs fairly close to what most people still believe in today,
despite their spiritual beliefs.
In Chicago at the Newberry Library, Jill Gage is busy translating and
interpreting medieval texts, focusing on the inclusion of magic and science,
especially medicine. And according to Gage, how people think about things
today is not very far from how they were approached so many centuries ago.
From 1400 to 1700, when the popular opinion of magic changed, so did how
people labeled medical treatments. Many spells were no longer listed as
“magic,” but rather “science” and “medicine.” Some books in the Newberry
Library do exist that help shed more light on the understanding and use of
magic in medieval times.
Manuscripts like “Cases of Conscience Concerning Witchcraft,” “The
Commonplace Book,” and “The Book of Magical Charms,” all provide clues
into what people were asked to do to help balance and harmonize their lives.
And the power of these manuscripts that are available lies in the handwritten
words that were shared and passed down, despite the restrictions on
publication. These manuscripts tell Gage and other researchers what it was
really like, as the person had to painstakingly write out each page with no or
little mistakes. Paper and ink were expensive, and the processing time
consuming, so great care was placed in what was shared. And during
Medieval times, when religious influence was changing and evolving,
printing and publications were used frequently. This is obvious in the
writings of these different manuscripts and books.
One of the most interesting intersections of magic and science came with
“The Book of Magical Charms.” This was gifted to the Newberry Library by
a man who collected medical and scientific writings and instruments. He
gifted other writings, such as one on how to treat women’s health problems
and one of the first written books on plastic surgery. When this book was
included with the rest, it was clear that it was intended as a scientific
reference for medical interventions rather than potions and bubbling
cauldrons. It is also clear that this book was included as a scientific reference,
and not as a religious doctrine. And the more Gage and her colleagues read
about magic from this time, the more it became clear that the spells were not
stereotypical Satanic and negative superhuman actions. Rather, spells
recorded in these books were more like attempts to balance and harmonize
nature. It is not about looking different or having unique powers that
someone else does not, but more about understanding how the world works
and using that knowledge to the benefit of all things. And when you look at it
this way, should not everyone know and use magic in their lives? At those
times, many did, but it was becoming less and less favored by the church, and
so was its popularity in publications and everyday life.
What makes these manuscripts so interesting to medical researchers is the
overlap between “actual” science and magical practice. Like the overlap of
the supernatural and physical worlds, magic and medicine overlapped greatly.
Unlike science today, the supernatural realm was a viable place to look for
simple answers to human problems. Like wearing a dead man’s tooth to cure
a toothache. Not necessarily “hard science,” as we know it today, but more
like a superstition or spell to connect with the supernatural and healing
properties of nature. The people who wrote the manuscripts being referenced
here were clearly not outcasts or outliers. They had access to various
religious books and “hard science,” including texts from Martin Luther.
Someone who did not have power, influence, and money could not access
this information at that time. So the people who sat down to record this
information saw magic, not as a separate or divergent practice, but something
that fit into daily life.
Today, you would be hard pressed to find a medical or scientific researcher
that believes or admits they believe in magic. Their books are filled with
science and information well-researched in the physical realm. But if you ask
them why one person heals from surgery and not another, or why our body
responds in certain ways to some medicine and not others, they would have
trouble explaining it beyond, “That is just how it works.” There are still many
things in this world that we cannot explain on a physical plane. There are still
times we do not understand why we are running late, and then later realize
that if not, you would have been in that fatal crash on your normal route to
work. Or, you decide on a whim to stop into a little shop and there meet the
person you marry five years later. There are things like “Deja vu,” and
“coincidences” occurring all the time that overlap between the supernatural
and physical world you live in. The same goes for science. While Western
science has uncovered many physical methods for healing our bodies, not all
of them truly find harmony in your body, and they still cannot answer all the
ailments that plague our life force. There has always been a connection
between medicine and magic, and there is still room for this connection
today.
Potions and Medicines
What is a medicine from a pharmacy but a blend of various elements
intended to cure an ailment? What is a potion from a witch but a blend of
various elements intended to cure an ailment? So, other than how the
elements are combined and where those elements come from, what makes
one folklore and one undisputed? Public opinion and controlled publications.
We still have this view of what witches and magic are, and our media is
overrun with medical propaganda, which when you look at history, is not
always telling the truth. Methamphetamine for medicine? Thankfully we
figured that one out. Pharmaceutical companies spend countless amounts of
money convincing the public that their healing combinations are the ones that
are necessary. They create chemicals in labs, deriving new combinations of
elements that are based on the various properties of natural elements. Instead,
witches and magic use natural remedies to heal without manipulation and
propaganda. And, thankfully, as more people become aware of the medical
history and promotion, they are looking back for healing methods that have
been used for centuries.
Did you know that only about one percent of the population can discern smell
in their dreams? It is very uncommon to have a dream “smell.” But those that
do, like aromatherapists and apothecaries, have such a heightened sense of
smell that they often find their combinations and answers in their dreams.
This is what Amye Clark and her daughter, Chelsea Matuskey, share in their
aromatherapy store, Anam Cara Apothecary. Clark recognizes that all things
have their own order, but one is not meant to dominate another realm. For
example, humans are not meant to dominate the animals or the crystals, but
simply live beside and with them. All things embrace their own energy and
universe within them. And when things work with one another, and not
against them, the unique properties of each “kingdom,” as Clark calls it,
highlight the best in all worlds. She seeks to understand and work with all
things to provide healing and support to humankind. In essence, she is a
witch stirring potions to heal others.
People come to Clark, and others like her, to feel a certain way. They want to
be happy, loved, safe, etc. Combining influences like herbal tinctures, plant-
based oils, and gemstones are just some of the modern medicinal properties
of these remedies. And the sense of smell is a powerful one. Combining
ingredients to impact a person’s sense of smell is one of the quickest ways to
penetrate the blood-brain barrier and influence mental ability. While it may
smell “good,” more importantly a potion needs to function. The natural world
provides so many remedies once you learn how it works. Simply walking into
the woods or a field of flowers can lift your mood, sticking your feet in the
water of a river can heal skin conditions. Learning how to combine
ingredients to address other things like a headache or repel bugs can come
with time and attention. Learning the order of the natural world and how it
lives in harmony with the human world, can lead to a great understanding of
balance. And from here, great healing.
Chapter 3: Creating Your Own Magical Garden
Wiccans are attuned to nature, and working with nature comes naturally to
us. Growing our own garden is a satisfaction we find pleasure and relaxation.
While tending for the herbs we are healing our bodies and minds. The
magical power of herbs doesn’t begin with the teas, potions and salves. It
starts from the very pot, or hole in the ground where a seed will lie and bring
forth life.
Sometimes, it is impossible to have a garden, modern life makes it necessary
to live in big cities and small apartments. This is especially why it is required
for Wiccans to keep the connection with nature alive. Having small herbal
garden on balcony or even just a kitchen window is enough for us to feel as
one with nature. It is impossible for a witch to grow literally every herb she
or he will use in his magic practice, and we are not shying away from buying
herbs. But growing and harvesting your own small garden will put you closer
to the divine, and it will deepen your spirituality.
Growing your own plants will also help you learn herbalism and herbal
magic more quickly. Practice of working the soil and tending to the herbs
will make you understand them, learn from them directly, and it will grow
your respect for natural magic. Many witches feel the urge to connect with
the plants as well as with animals. This is how our bond with nature presents
itself. The love we share for nature is embodied in our ability to care for
herbs and animals.
If you never thought of yourself as herb loving person, or if you could never
imagine yourself growing a plant, reconsider it. You might surprise yourself.
You might discover you are a natural, you have skills you didn’t even know
you possess. Start small and simple, start with succulents. They are easy to
take care of and they can have amazing magical and healing powers. Some of
them are great at fighting infections, others are amazing in invoking deities.
Next step can be simple decorative flowers that every mother used to have on
a window sim. Even if their magical properties are not known to you yet, use
them to decorate your magical circle or altar. It will please the powers you
are trying to invoke. After all, living plants are a great way to lift the positive
energies of the space, no matter if it’s a small city apartment, or a house in
the countryside.
Take in consideration the climate where you live when you are choosing your
first herbs. Also, decide if it’s going to be an indoor garden or outdoor.
Different plants have different tolerance to weather conditions. Some like
sun, others dislike too much water. Study the ground, its PH value and what
is it made of before deciding what to plant in it. When buying compost or dirt
for pots, read labels. There you will find information about its PH values and
nutritious properties for a plant. Consult sellers, buy seeds and young plants
from people who love herbalism themselves. It might even be your next-door
neighbor who will give you your first plant and it will come with a myriad of
advice on how to take care of it. Cherish other peoples experience and
knowledge, it is another way to learn. Books are helpful, but it takes
experience to recognize certain problems your plant might face, diseases,
herbal lice and parasites. There are numerous online communities of
herbalists and plant lovers who are ready to help you when you face
difficulties in your magic garden.
It is very common for neophytes to start their garden with edible herbs. This
is an excellent way of infusing your meals with magic, experiencing magic in
other areas of your life that till now, you found ordinary and common. Make
a ritual out of it, and thank every herb for its magic as well as nourishment.
Herbs react to our own energy and they draw from it. If you feel depressed
and insecure, the herb can feel it and shy away from you. It may grow slower,
or wither faster. Be sure to tend to herbs as you would tend to any other
living being. They love positive energy, sometimes even touch. Practice
releasing some of your own power into soil each time you water a plant and
observe how it will influence it. Don’t be shy to greet your plants every day.
They are used to your vibrations, and will respond to it.
Nurturing your garden is synonym for nurturing yourself. You will benefit
not just from using the plants to perform magic, but from the work they
require you to do. They will brighten your day and bring positivity in your
soul. Growing herbs is very old practice and in continuing it you are showing
respect to nature, our ancestors and every spiritual being there is.
Botanists and herbalists define an ‟herb” as any plant proven to be of helpful
use to humankind. There is an immense satisfaction and feeling of
achievement that comes from the simple pleasure of growing your own
plants. We often take for granted the miracles involved in daily acts of life:
our food is always readily available, usually just a short drive or walk from
our home. In addition, when we’re out running errands or going to work, it
seems that every sign we pass is bombarding us with messages to buy. Such
sensory overload can be exhausting for anyone, and especially witches.
Fast-forward to a bright, sunny morning, when as you go to start the coffee
pot, you notice the seeds you’d planted weeks before have broken through the
surface of the soil, and have sprouted. It seems utterly miraculous, there in
the sunny window ledge. Fast-forward a few weeks more, and as you gently
pick some leaves off of your basil or your rosemary, you find it simply
amazing you’re harvesting your herbs, here in your kitchen, for free (aside
from the cost of the seeds, pot, and dirt of course).
These small moments of joy are examples of what it’s like to live a life that
honors nature. Not that any witch should feel poorly for buying their herbs
from someone else! Merely that cultivating one’s own plants is a humbling,
happy practice, and everyone should try it, at least once.
Incorporating plants into magic was first practiced by the ancient Egyptians,
as well as across the world in the American continent, China, Japan, and the
Scandinavian countries. Plants merge together in their life cycle each of the
four elements: they begin as seeds in the Earth, grow to a seedling when
given Water, rise to their fullest potential beneath the Fire of the sun, and
spread their seeds across the planet on the winds of Air. When we work with
plants to cast our spells, we’re adding the fifth magical element, ourselves,
which is Spirit.
You might feel as if you don’t have the time or space to grow your own
plants. Even a few small pots of herbs in a kitchen or bedroom window or a
series of containers on a porch or balcony will yield countless benefits and be
a boost to your magic. A small outlay of money for supplies is an investment
that will keep giving returns. Store-bought herbal plants are often grown in
extreme conditions such as industrial hothouses and may have been sprayed
with pesticides. This is another benefit to growing your own plants—you
know exactly what’s gone into them, and how they’ve been cared for.
As far as supplies go, many communities have seed-swaps, and some amateur
gardeners offer free cuttings and seedlings as they thin out their overcrowded
gardens. You can make your own compost easily at home, and topsoil sells
for pennies for the pound. Pots and other containers can be found at thrift
stores and yard sales, and nearly anything can become a plant container as
long as you drill or tap holes in the bottom of it for drainage.
Must-Have Herbs for Every Magical Garden
There are hundreds upon hundreds of herbs for every magical purpose under
the sun, but these are the most popular and versatile herbs that Wiccans turn
to for herbal magic and spellcraft.
Lavender, for instance, absolutely insists on thriving in only the most well-
drained soil. The soil also needs to be a bit alkaline—try for a pH in the
neighborhood of 6.7 and 7.2. Lavender fields in France are typically hot,
baking beneath a relentless sun, and are rather dry. Grow your lavender in the
driest, brightest spot in your house or yard, and before you add the soil to
your container or garden bed, add a little compost mixed with sand.
Basil loves some of the opposite things that lavender does (yet in mixed
containers you often see them together, which is a mistake of course),
although it does need to be warm and get enough sun. Basil in all of its
varieties is a very tender plant, and will not tolerate the cold. If you live in a
region that has warm days but cool nights, opt to grow your basil in a
container that can be brought inside once the sun is setting. Basil needs about
six hours of sun per day, but a mix of sun and shade can give it a break from
the overbearing noon sun.
Basil (like many other plants) needs well-drained soil. You can test an area
for drainage by pouring water, and watching how long it takes for the soil to
absorb the water. If it’s more than a minute, it drains slowly.
When growing basil, it’s a necessity to prune it regularly. Gently pull off the
larger leaves as they appear to use for your spells. Basil will flower if you
don’t prune it often enough, and once it flowers, the taste of the leaves
change, sometimes turning bitter. A cutting of basil will grow roots if you
place it in water and in a week’s time, you’ll be able to plant the cutting in
soil.

Basil can be grown with other plants, but it’s important to choose plants that
enjoy being neighbors with basil, such as tomatoes and lettuces, herbs such as
chamomile and oregano, and pepper plants.
Like many other plants, it’s best to only water basil when the soil it’s planted
in feels dry to the touch. Overwatering is the number one mistake new
gardeners make with their plants.
Sage is truly one of the most important herbs in a witch’s collection. It is a
go-to for spiritual cleansing and healing. Unlike many other herbs, sage’s
leaves will not turn their flavor if the plant flowers and the leaves actually
become more potent the larger they grow. Sage loves well-drained soil, but
beyond that is really not picky—it’s the perfect plant for the beginner
gardener. Most pests avoid sage due to its pungent aroma. Sage is actually an
evergreen and loves many hours of sun. It’s much easier to grow sage from
cuttings or seedlings, so if you know someone with some sage, ask them for
help to get you started. Make sure the ground is warm before you plant, or
grow your sage in containers.
Keep the pH of the soil similar to lavender’s, and mix a little sand in with the
soil as well. Over-fertilization can actually reduce the potency of the leaves,
so resist the urge to over-feed. Wait until the soil is dry, or the leaves have
wilted a bit, before watering.
Alfalfa might seem like a strange plant to be included in a witch’s garden,
but its magical properties include adding tremendously to a spell’s power.
Alfalfa used in money magic puts that spell into high gear! Alfalfa is most
often used to feed livestock or small animals such as rabbits or guinea pigs,
so choose wisely where you want to plant it in your garden. It roots quickly
and does not need to be planted too deep, sprinkling seeds upon topsoil and
mixing it a bit will do the trick. A dedicated raised bed is a perfect place to
plant alfalfa.
Unless you’re planning on feeding animals with alfalfa, you can permit it to
reach its beautiful flowering phase if you like. Try to avoid harvesting any
plants right before it rains, as this can cause some damage to the crop.
Bay Laurel is technically a tree, but it also does well when grown in
containers. Bay leaves are powerful symbols of luck and good fortune, and
add wonderful energies to any spell. Bay was also sacred to the ancient
Greeks and Romans.
Plant bay from a young seedling by digging a hole that’s approximately twice
as large as the plant’s root ball. Only water regularly while the seedling is
immature; once the plant is established, water occasionally when soil is dry.
Bay is hardy and can tolerate poor soil easily, but avoid soils that are heavy
with clay and drain slowly. Keep the soil’s pH between 6 and 8, and fertilize
only once every fifteen days. Never fertilize bay in autumn or winter.
Bee Balm (also known as Lemon Balm) Bee balm was grown by the Native
American tribes to treat everything from dental issues and mouthwash to
poultices for skin infections and insect bites and stings. This herb is a natural
antiseptic and is a member of the mint family, with a wide variety of types.
Bee balm is also known as Oswego Tea, and its sweet-smelling blooms
attract bees and butterflies.
Bee Balm grows fairly tall and needs full sun, so take care when planting it
that it doesn’t eventually shade out other neighboring plants in your garden. It
should be planted where it can receive the benefits of moving air and wind, as
it can be prone to powdery mildew.
When planting Bee Balm, make sure the soil is moist, rich, and has added
compost. Generously water the garden bed before introducing seedlings. If
growing from seeds, begin indoors and use growth-promoting lights, and in
eight to ten weeks, they should sprout.
When growing Bee Balm for magical use in your garden, you will have to be
patient enough to allow it to establish itself in the first year. After one year,
the plant will be strong enough to tolerate the harvest of its blossoms.
Rue has an additional benefit besides being a terrific plant to use in candle
magic and herbal spells—it attracts scores of butterflies. Rue is mentioned in
the Bible and was highly prized by the ancient Greeks. Today it’s used in
Ethiopia to brew their uniquely-flavored coffee. Modern rue plants are
virtually unchanged from their ancient ancestors.
Rue is an easy to grow plant that can be grown from seed or seedlings. It’s
only requirement is that you don’t overwater it, and you must provide it with
lots of sun. When handling rue, some people may experience a brief allergic
reaction similar to contact dermatitis, so wear gloves when cutting it.
Harvesting it when it’s cool outside helps to decrease the chance of any
reaction. Adding dried rue to a glass container candle imbues the candle with
potent energy for success: to add herbs to a glass container candle, use a
chopstick to gently bore holes into the wax, then drop the herbs into the hole.
Yarrow is another easy to care for plant that can be grown from seed or
seedlings. If growing from seed, plant 6 – 8 weeks before the last expected
frost date. Plant in moist potting soil, approximately a quarter inch below the
surface of the soil. Leave the pot in a warm, sunny location. If you want your
yarrow to germinate in less than the average fourteen to twenty-one days,
cover the soil with plastic wrap.
Yarrow is absolutely hardy and needs little attention. Water only during
periods of drought, and never fertilize. Deadhead (cut spent blooms off of the
plant) to promote new growth. Cutting these blossoms that have gone to seed
will also prevent the plant from invading the other areas of your garden or
yard. Prune the yarrow to half its size when it gets too large, to keep it from
toppling over. Yarrow is a wonderful plant to attract bees and butterflies.
Yarrow can be used as a tea to clear the sinuses, and when made into a salve
reduces swelling, bruises, and is an excellent herb for clear skin. It also
reduces symptoms of the cold and flu and acts as an aid for digestion. In
magic, yarrow is sacred to Venus and should be harvested on Midsummer’s
Day (Litha). It is used in love and divination spells, as well as in sachets to
promote good dreams.
Mint is an aggressive grower, and few gardeners ask the question, how to
grow mint? The more common question is how to slow mint down! It can
quickly take over a garden, but its benefits are numerous. Growing mint in
containers prevents this.
Unlike most other plants, mint wants all of the water you can give it. Never
skip a day watering this thirsty herb, and it will pay you back triple-fold.
Mint prefers partial sun, but if you drown it regularly, it can tolerate full sun,
too.
Mint grown around the house dissuades mice, cockroaches, and other pests
from entering. Mint oil sprayed around the perimeter of a room will keep
insects and spiders from invading your space, as these creatures don’t like the
taste of mint, and they taste with their feet. Well-diluted mint water sprayed
around your neck, face (avoid the eyes!) and body will deter gnats and
mosquitos from pestering you out of doors.
Mint has an enormously high amount of antioxidants, making it a great
addition to tea, salad, and many other foods. There so many varieties of mint,
feel free to grow several—a favorite is chocolate mint, which tastes as good
as it sounds.
In magic, mint is an herb representing the element of Air. It has been used as
a funeral herb and thus is connected with gods such as Hades. Mint grants us
personal power and is well-used in self-empowerment rituals and spells.
Mugwort, also known as cronewort, St. John’s plant, and wild wormwood,
can be grown from seeds in two different ways. One method is to sow the
seeds in late Autumn, and they will sprout in the Spring. Another method is
to mix the seeds with moistened peat moss and leave in the refrigerator for
two to four weeks. Mugwort spreads quickly unless it’s kept in containers
(which should be fairly wide), as it produces underground rhizomes and also
re-seeds itself. Deadheading the flowers will cut down on this tendency.
A poultice made from mugwort will greatly reduce the irritation of many
insect bites and poison ivy rashes. Mugwort is used magically for dream
pillows and magical spells to reduce anxiety.
Chapter 4: Magical Harvesting
Wiccan traditions and practice can be very specific when it comes to
harvesting magical herbs. This is due to knowledge witches gathered over the
eons. Some herbs lose their magical potential when cut in certain times of
day, others need to be cut in specific ways and with specific tools to maintain
their connection with the earth's power. Harvesting in Wicca is a ritual on its
own, and if you are interested in gaining herbalism skills, this will be one of
many new things to learn.
There are two parts of the day that are beneficial for harvesting herbs. One is
in the morning, when the dew on herbs dried off, but the sun didn’t warm up
the plant completely just yet. This will preserve plants flavor, fragrance and
energetic potency. Commonly, in the morning we harvest plants that are used
for cooking, decoration, spells, to make essential oils, plants we are preparing
to dry and burn. These are usually plants connected to the God.
The time that brings benefit to harvesting is at night, but only on nights when
the moon is in the sky. This is because the moon has tidal influence on juices
of herbs and brings them up in the leaves and flowers. This is the time when
we do not harvest roots, as the power leaves them and is stored in the parts of
the herb growing above earth. At night with a visible moon is when we
harvest herbs used for their medicinal purposes, when we require great
magical potency from an herb. We also harvest herbs devoted to the Goddess,
flowers that will decorate her side of the altar, plants we will use for invoking
her.
The process of cutting an herb is a ritual on its own. It is believed that plants,
as any other living creature can feel violence. How does this violence of
cutting, picking and pulling out influence’s magical properties of an herb?
There are special tools we use in these cases to ensure balance in energy
when cutting an herb. We use either a specially designed ritualistic knife
called boline, or silver, or golden sickle, specially made with the purpose of
magical harvesting. Boline is usually straight knife with white handle. The
white color will ensure the plants magical energy is not wasted, but rather
stored in the plant, right where we want it to remain.
It is also very important to honor the herb you are cutting or picking. Pour
your own energy into the work, the plant will feel it and be grateful. It is your
own sacrifice you are offering to the herb in exchange for its magical powers.
Don’t forget to thank each herb you pick, it is sharing itself with you after all.
You can even thank it with a small offering. Plant a small crystal, pearl or
any object you previously charged with energy into the earth right next to the
plant. You can also spill some milk or honey in the ground as a way of
thanking the herb for its gifts. Today, you can even substitute these offerings
with a specific fertilizer an herb likes.
Harvesting your magical plants can be accomplished in several ways. Some
Wiccans prefer to harvest as needed, or when the plant needs pruning,
trimming, or deadheading. Other Wiccans prefer to do one massive harvest at
Midsummer, then preserve their herbs for use throughout the rest of the
Wheel of the Year. If you have a boline, or ritual knife, you will use this to
harvest your herbs, if not then a pair of scissors or small pair of gardening
sheers will do just fine. Some herbs, such as basil, only need to be gently
pulled off with your fingers.
Harvest your herbs mid-morning, or just after the dew has dried from their
leaves. This is the time of day when your plants are most potent and possess
the most of their natural, beneficial oils. Harvest blossoms only when they’ve
fully opened. For seed collecting, wait until the seed pods have browned and
dried and the seeds are readily visible. The best way to collect seeds from a
plant is to tie a bag in place over the area that’s producing seeds. As the plant
releases its seeds, they’ll fall into the bag.
If you choose to have your own magic garden, you will certainly want to
learn how to dry and preserve your own herbs. This way you will ensure
quality spices for your cooking as well as potent herbs for your magic and
spells.
The most common way to dry herbs is to hang them upside down in bundles,
in a well ventilated and dry room. Witches usually find these bundles of
drying herbs to be sheer joy and they do enhance energies of the household.
Keep them from direct sunlight, and do not allow any moisture in the room
where you are during herbs. Moisture can make them grow mold and ruin
them as food, tea or simply destroy their natural magical power. If hanging
herbs on a wall, be sure to rotate them regularly so that the side touching the
wall gets enough air too. This way of drying herbs will take up to three
weeks, sometimes even more. It depends on your climate and the type of
herbs you are drying.
A faster way of drying herbs is placing them on a tray layered with baking
paper, and slowly baking herbs in the oven on minimal heath. This is a bit
tricky way of drying herbs as they tend to burn if not checked regularly. It
will also take few hours of baking, don’t expect fast results. Still, it is shorter
than weeks and weeks of waiting.
You can use these methods of drying herbs for leftovers of freshly bought
bundles of plants and flowers. Some flowers look amazing as decoration if
dried.
When it comes to storing herbs, if they are fresh, they are best preserved in
refrigerators. Basil is a bit tricky because it withers quickly after it is
harvested, even if you keep it in the fridge. In order to preserve its longevity,
best to keep it in a glass of fresh water dipping the stem. Leaves need to be
above water, covered or in open air. This will keep basil fresh up to a week or
two. It will produce new roots in water and you can replant it like this, or
after using all the leaves, you can discard the root.
Dry herbs are best preserved in glass jars, tightly sealed to ensure no moisture
will touch the plant. Dry herbs are still prone to molding if they come in
contact with moisture. To preserve them completely, color, fragrance and
magical power, keep them away from direct sunlight and in cooled area.
Label your herbs. They will most often lose their original color or shape. You
want to know which jar contains what. Be safe and do not risk using the
wrong herb in a spell. Not just that spell will be ineffective, it will also
contaminate your work area with negative energies you will later have to deal
with.
Preserving Herbs
There are many options when it comes to preserving your magical herbs.
If you intend to dry your herbs, you can hang them in attractive bunches
throughout your house. Make sure that it’s relatively warm where you’re
hanging them, and that the bunches are out of the way of direct sunlight. This
method takes 2 – 3 weeks. Alternatively, you can spread herbs, blossoms, and
petals on a cookie sheet and slowly bake them on low heat in your oven. In
summer, if a room in the house is warm and dry enough, simply place the
cookie sheet on a side table for a couple of days will be doing the job. Herbs
that are fully dried will crack if you squeeze their leaves. Finally, some
witches use a dehydrator to preserve their herbs. Make sure you check
periodically to ensure they’re not getting too crisp in there.
When storing herbs, you can use a variety of containers: mason jars, Ziploc
bags, plastic containers, and ceramic jars. Make sure that 1) your containers
are air-tight and 2) you label your container with the name of the herb, the
date it was harvested, and an important last step—if that herb is toxic to
humans or pets. Store herbs in a cool, dry spot in the house, and never store
them near appliances that produce heat, such as an oven or wood-burning
stove.
Composting
The average person generates a ton and a half of solid waste a year (results
vary depending on what country the person is living in). In addition, roughly
sixty percent of the waste found in landfills is organic, and can be used for
compost!
By using compost, you can reduce the chemicals you use in your garden and
for your plants. When you’re ready to begin composting, start by getting an
air-tight kitchen bucket for food scraps. These are the things that can go in
the bucket (you can write this list on the bucket with a magic marker, so no
one in your household makes a mistake):
Fruit and vegetable scraps
Coffee grounds
Tea bags (remove the tag if it’s printed with colored ink)
Grains (bread is fine)
Pasta
Eggshells
Rice
Paper, such as coffee filters, paper towels, napkins if they’re
free of colored ink, cardboard (also free of colored ink), a white
paper from your document shredder
You can also add grass clippings and branches and leaves from
your pruned trees to the compost outside, as well as anything
clipped from your potted or garden plants.
Compost bins can be hand-built from chicken wire or purchased
from a store.

These are the items one should never put in their compost:
Protein
Any diseased portion of a plant
Fecal matter of a carnivore (no dog or cat droppings please)

Regularly mix and turn your compost with a rake or shovel. You can get your
compost ready for the garden in as little as a couple of months with proper
care and turning. Otherwise, it could take you up to a year or longer!
Chapter 5: MORE
The easiest way you can go about getting herbs for your magic endeavors is
buying them. There are plenty of stores that sell herbs in one form or another.
Teas and spices are a good start for novices to get acquainted with herbal
magic. Those can be bought in neighborhood shops, supermarkets as well as
specialized stores. The problem arises if you want to delve deeper into herbal
lore, and start using plants that are not sold as culinary products. To get your
hands on some of the wild herbs, or more exotic ones, you will have to do
some research of your own. Depending on where you live, certain herbs can
be easily obtained, others you might find online. Another great alternative
can be a store specializing in alternative or traditional medicine.
Getting to know your seller is also important. Check their license, where do
their herbs come from, are they treated with pesticides, how are they stored
before selling. Reputable sellers can also be useful in gathering information.
If they don’t know about the magical properties of herbs they sell, they might
be able to connect you with their other buyers who are more experienced in
these matters. They can also connect you with retailers so you will be able to
buy herbs in bulk in the future.
In the USA, it is more and more common to see stores specialized in Wicca
merchandise, or in general in “new age” products. They can also be of
tremendous help for beginners, with products and advise.
Essential oils and incenses may be easy to find too. Some essential oils can
be pretty expensive, depending on the herb they are extracted from. But don’t
try to replace them with synthetic imitations of essential oils. Those are just
fragrances, and as they were not derived from actual herb, they do not
possess the same natural powers as true essential oils. As an alternative to
buying essential oils you might want to learn how to make them yourself.
The process doesn’t have to be complicated. It is enough to infuse sunflower,
olive or canola oil with desired herbs. Bring it to boil, set aside to cool off
and let it infuse for a week or two, your oil will be ready to use.
There are potential hazards when buying herbs. An uneducated seller can
ship you the wrong herb, and you may not recognize the mistake due to an
identification error. These mistakes can be honest, and you can’t really blame
anyone. Sometimes they can be unethical and seller just won’t bother to get
the right herb for you, instead they will try to trick you. The other problem
that might arise is that you don’t know the source of the herbs you are
buying. You don’t know how they were treated and if they are of satisfying
quality. This is especially important for medicinal herbs. For example,
dandelion grows as a weed everywhere. But we don’t want to use the one
growing next to the roads where dirt and car exhausts are polluting the air.
Gathering Wild Herbs
Before humans started cultivating plants, they used to gather them in the
wild. This practice is as old as time, since plants were humans first source of
nourishment. Many people are still using their skills and do collect wild
herbs. But the knowledge is rare in modern times.
Wild herbs still have their use in cooking, but not many. One of these herbs is
wild thyme. The taste it gives is much richer then cultivated domestic species,
and many prefer it. In Europe, there are still places with live tradition of
gathering wild thyme. Other herbs are mostly gathered from the wild for their
medicinal properties. Especially because some herbs have lost some of their
traits during the domestication process.
There are plants in the wild that are in danger of extinction due to over-
harvesting. They are becoming more and more popular for their medicinal
and commercial use. Human greed is bringing them to the edges of existence.
We have to be careful and find alternatives, or ways to cultivate them. We
cannot mindlessly take from nature, destroying the balance. When we take
something from the wild, we have to make sure we give back too. Especially
Wiccans that are so in tune with nature. For each herb taken from wild be
sure to plant another one. It doesn’t have to be the same, if it’s not a rare
kind. If it is, either take only what you will use and plant a new, young herb,
or restrain yourself from picking it. Ask yourself if there is alternative plant
that can be used in its place. To name the few species we are losing to over-
harvesting, it is Ginseng, Solomon’s seal and White Sage.
Learn everything about wild plants you want to gather. Choose foraging
classes in your areas as a good start that will teach you how to recognize and
pick herbs with keeping ecology in mind. Do not trust online guides for
foraging, it is not easy to make distinction between beneficial plants and their
deadly relatives. Plants can be toxic and very dangerous. Learn from experts
and don’t save money on foraging classes. They are useful and they will pay
off in the long term.
Part Three: An Herbal Grimoire
Chapter 1: Getting Started with Herbal Magic
There are many different ways to incorporate herbs into your magic. Plants
are the Earth’s original magical tool; through the use of plants, we are able to
focus magic on a specific intent. The more specific our witchcraft is, the
better the results.
Tinctures are made from herbs and high-proof alcohol, such as brandy,
vodka, gin, or moonshine. Because of their strength, they should be taken a
drop or two at a time. Always consult your physician before you take an
herbal tincture. If alcohol is something you wish to avoid, you can also make
a tea mixture instead.
Elixirs are similar to tinctures, but made more palatable, usually through
honey, agave nectar, or simple syrup.
Potions are brewed with herbs and water and need to be refrigerated.
Teas can be made from dried herbs, then used with a tea infuser in hot water.
A sachet is a collected mixture of herbs, tied into a small bag or sewn into a
pouch. They are useful when you need to carry the magically-charged herbs
with you, for luck, attraction, protection, or simply a joyful day. Placed
beneath the pillow, an herbal sachet can help reduce nightmares and increase
divination dreams.
 Recipes (those marked with an asterisk contain alcohol)
Rose Elixir*
For this recipe, use fresh rose petals if you’re able, but dried will work in a
pinch.

Fill a mason jar with rose petals. (The size of the jar is up to
you.)
Add organic honey, just enough to drizzle the topmost layer.
(The honey will become fully mixed in with the rose petals in
time).
Add brandy, a little bit at a time, until the jar is full. Tightly cap
it.
Give the jar a good shake, then slowly turn it upside-down and
right-side-up a few times to fully mix the ingredients.
Jars can be left out at room temperature, or refrigerated for a
smoother taste.
Let the jar sit for two weeks. After that, strain with a
cheesecloth into a small, stoppered bottle.
This recipe can be used in spells for easing depression or
anxiety, inviting new love into one’s life, a peaceful heart, and
for inspiration.

Rose-Infused Oil
For this recipe, dried rose petals work best.

Fill a mason jar with rose petals.

Add a light carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or rosehip oil. If
you like the slight aroma of coconut oil, you can use that also.
With a long-handled spoon, mash and stir the rose petals
thoroughly.
Allow the jar to sit undisturbed for 4 weeks, occasionally
shaking it and turning it upside-down to further mix the oil.
After 4 weeks, thoroughly strain and add to a bottle of your
 choice.
This oil can be used to consecrate magical tools, as well as
added to love and beauty spells, and spells to attract abundance.

Lavender Water
Making your lavender water from both freshly harvest lavender and lavender
oil will result in stronger-smelling lavender water. To make the oil, follow the
same steps as the above recipe for rose oil, but use fresh or dried lavender
flowers instead.

Place a saucepan with half a cup of water on the stove.

Add approximately two tablespoons of blossoms stripped from
the stems to a heat-safe bowl.
Heat the water until it comes to a boil.
Carefully pour the boiling water into the bowl.
Cover the bowl with a lid, plate, or towel, then allow the
lavender to steep until the water has cooled.
Using a fine strainer or cheesecloth, carefully strain the lavender
water into a jar, bottle, or decanter.
Add three drops of lavender oil to the lavender water.

You can use lavender water to bless a sacred space or freshen a home after a
spiritual cleansing or smudging. You can also use it on yourself to reduce
anxiety, promote good sleep, and before meditation or casting a circle.
Healing Tincture*
This tincture can alternatively be made into a tea. Collect three tablespoons of
basil, rosemary, lavender, chamomile and feverfew, and one teaspoon of mint
and place in a small mason jar. (For people with mint allergies, omit the
mint). Add one tablespoon of organic honey. Add brandy until the top of the
mixture is covered. Stir well, and refrigerate. After four weeks, strain with a
cheesecloth and pour into small bottles with dropper-caps. Take two to four
drops when needed for digestion issues, anxiety, and when feeling general
fatigue. Consult your physician before taking this.
 If preferred as a tea, dry these herbs on a cookie sheet for a week or until the
leaves are crisp enough to snap, then keep in an air-tight container and use
with a diffuser for a fresh cup of tea.

Good Luck Oil

Gather together a small mason jar, two tablespoons of dried basil, two
tablespoons of dried lavender, two tablespoons of powdered allspice, 7
juniper berries, and 7 dried bay leaves. You will also need a piece of tumbled
amethyst, citrine or white quartz.
Fill a mason jar with the herbal ingredients.
Add the gemstone of your choice.
Add a light carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or rosehip oil.
With a long-handled spoon, mash and stir the mixture
thoroughly.
Allow the jar to sit undisturbed for 4 weeks, occasionally
shaking it and turning it upside-down to further mix the oil.
After 4 weeks, thoroughly strain with cheesecloth 2 – 3 times,
and add to a bottle of your choice.
 During the next full moon, set the finished bottle beneath the
moon’s light to consecrate it.
This oil can be used in spells involving money, luck, prosperity, abundance,
and attracting good fortune. Dab a couple of drops onto your keys, wallet,
purse, or wear a drop or two mixed with a carrier oil after doing an allergy
test for extra luck throughout your day.
Cleansing Water
To make this water more potent-smelling, you’ll be adding organic lemon oil
and sage oil to the water. You can prepare your own sage oil by following the
steps in making herbal oils from the above recipes and make your own lemon
oil by doing the same with the peels of lemons.

Gather together a cup of lemongrass, sage, a teaspoon of pink or kosher salt,

and a small piece of clear quartz. Have a bowl on hand as well as something
to cover the bowl, such as a towel, lid, or plate.
Place a saucepan with half a cup of water on the stove.
Add the lemongrass, sage, and salt to the saucepan.
Heat the water until it comes to a boil.
Carefully pour the entire contents of the saucepan into the
bowl.
Cover the bowl with a lid, plate, or towel, then allow the
mixture to steep until the water has cooled.
Using a fine strainer or cheesecloth, carefully strain the
resulting water into a jar, bottle, or decanter.
Add three drops of sage oil and three drops of lemon oil.
Finally, add the piece of clear quartz stone.
You can use a cleansing water to spiritually cleanse a home, room, an altar,
magical tools, as well as yourself (after you’ve bathed normally). Avoid
spraying near the eyes.
Success Oil
Gather together a small mason jar, as well as a bowl of bee balm blossoms, a
bowl of yarrow flowers, a vanilla bean, a bowl of rose petals, three whole
nutmegs, and a piece of rose quartz.
 Fill a mason jar with the herbal ingredients.
Add the rose quartz.
Add a light carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or rosehip oil.
Seal the jar tightly and slowly shake and turn upside-down and
right-side-up a few times to mix the ingredients.
Allow the jar to sit undisturbed for 4 weeks, occasionally
shaking it and turning it upside-down to further mix the oil.
After 4 weeks, thoroughly strain with cheesecloth, and add to a
bottle of your choice.
During the next full moon, set the finished bottle beneath the
moon’s light to consecrate it.
This oil can be used in any spell that is bringing something to you (as
opposed to banishing or driving away). It is used to consecrate tools, and
used with a carrier oil on your skin, but a warning—yarrow creates a blue
pigment in the oil, which may stain temporarily.
A few drops in bathwater can be used before casting a circle and doing spell
work.
Mixed with paint or ink, success oil adds a powerful boost to sigil magic. To
make a sigil, write a statement that you want to be true, in the present tense,
on a scrap piece of paper. Remove or cross out all of the vowels. Next,
remove any consonants that are repeated. Finally, on a fresh piece of unlined
paper, write one letter of the edited statement at a time. However your
imagination deems fit, usually by placing one letter artfully over or beside the
next until you’ve completed a finished symbol. Fold the paper towards you,
then burn in a ritual fire to send the intention out to the universe. Remember
never to write a sigil that will directly affect another person.
Strength Oil
Gather together a mortar and pestle, a small mason jar, as well as an onyx
stone, a tiger’s eye stone, and small bowl of cloves, cardamom, basil,
oregano, thyme, one oak leaf, and cinnamon.
In the mortar and pestle, mash together the cloves, cardamom,
basil, oregano, thyme, and the oak leaf.
Add the mixture from the mortar into the mason jar. Add a
small sprinkle of cinnamon.
 Add the onyx and tiger’s eye.
Add a light carrier oil such as jojoba, almond, or rosehip oil.
Seal the jar tightly and slowly shake and turn upside-down and
right-side-up a few times to mix the ingredients.
Allow the jar to sit undisturbed for 4 weeks, occasionally
shaking it and turning it upside-down to further mix the oil.
After 4 weeks, thoroughly strain with cheesecloth, and add to a
bottle of your choice.
Return the onyx and tiger’s eye to your altar.
During the next full moon, set the finished bottle beneath the
moon’s light to consecrate it.
This oil can be used in any spell requiring the caster to exert great personal
strength. It will add courage, fortitude, patience, and steadfastness to the
wearer—if wearing on your skin, use a few drops in a carrier oil. Do not wear
the undiluted oil as the cloves and cinnamon may irritate the skin.
Chapter 2: Magical Teas
Magickal teas are teas which are made with focused intention. You can make
them very simply by mixing herbal teas you have bought at the store.
However, a more powerful way of working is to make your own tea blend.
The best way to do this is to steep dried herbs. You can use fresh herbs, but
they don’t steep as easily as dried herbs. Do not attempt to use essential oils
or herbs that you don’t know the provenance of.
You can make magickal tea easily at home by following this general method:
1. Take your dried herbs and mix them into the blend you want.
Use about a teaspoon of each one.

2. Put them into saucepan or another vessel which you can warm.

3. Pour boiling water over the herbs, and add in enough for the tea
you want, plus a little extra to account for evaporation.

4. Keep the tea warm for 10-15 minutes whilst the herbs steep. Do
not boil but don’t leave it to go cold. A gentle heat will work
best.

5. As your tea steeps, speak your intention to it.

6. Strain the tea using a tea strainer, or coffee filter. Remember to

thank the herbs for their assistance.
Purification Tea

You’ll need:
½ Teaspoon basil
1 Teaspoon mint
1 Teaspoon sage
1 Teaspoon nettle

Method:
1. Steep the herbs using the method described earlier.

2. As you steep them, remember to speak your intention to them.

You may use a purification chant such as:

“Pure of heart and soul and mind. My will be clear and peace I’ll
find.”
Emotional Healing Tea

You’ll need:
½ Teaspoon basil
1 Teaspoon thyme
1 Teaspoon rosemary

Method:
1. Combine the herbs and allow them to steep.

2. As you inhale their scent, allow their soothing and strength-

giving properties to wash through you.

3. Slowly drink the tea while visualizing comforting energy

flowing into you and forming a protective cushion around you.
Supercharged Energy Tea

You’ll need:
1 Teaspoon mint
1 Teaspoon nettle
1 Pinch of powdered ginger
1 Pinch of ginseng root extract

Method:
1. Combine the ingredients and allow them to steep.

2. Let the vibrancy of the ingredients warm you, providing an

instant ‘pick me up.’

3. If you would like an extra dose of power, allow the ingredients

to sit under the light of a full noonday sun for one hour before
using them.
Chapter 3:Magical Evening Tea
There are several teas out there that we drink every day. Wouldn't it be great
if they had a purpose? Well, now they can have just that. With this little
section here, you will learn that tea can be of great use to you in your life, and
can even have magical properties if it is brewed with the right herbs.
But first, let us ask ourselves, what is tea. Is it a bunch of specified leaves, or
can any type of herb be made into a tea? The answer is the latter. As long as
it is edible, it can be used in a tea. Cinnamon is a little harder to make into a
tea, but not impossible. You just have to grind it up really fine.
You can make a tea out of rosemary and thyme. It would taste a little bit odd
as a drink, but it is very possible, and actually a lot of Wiccans use those two
in their teas due to their ability to open the mind and help you find inner
peace.
Such as the magical evening tea. This tea helps you relax and sleep. It has
several herbs in it, so you have to make your own tea bags.
What you need
Nutmeg
Valerian root
Rosemary
Chamomile
Dandelion
Tea Bag of Coffee Filter
Hot Water

Put all of the ingredients in a tea bag or wrap them in a coffee filter and bind
with twine. Fill your cup up with hot water and allow your tea to steep for
five minutes before drinking.
Divination Tea
This tea will help unlock your third eye to help you with your divination
skills.
What you need

Chamomile
Dandelion
Hibiscus
Tea Bag or Coffee Filter
Hot water
As before, put all of the ingredients into a tea bag and steep for five minutes
before drinking. Before taking the first sip say this chant:
Goddess give me the visions
Open my eye to see
Produce the answers of the world
and show them to me

Then you can go about drinking your tea.

Chapter 4:Herb and Candle Spell
Herb magic is one of the old traditions of Ancient Egyptians used for various
purposes include healing, protection, self-empowerment, and love spells.
Each herb encompasses its own strengths and magical properties. More often
than not, herbs are added to any kind of spell for more efficiency and power.
Herb magic works irrespective of your strength as a caster given that the
herbs contain high magical properties within them. Nowadays, apart from
witches and Wiccans, many advocates of alternative medicine use herbs for
healing as well as dietary purposes.
Enhancing Magic Spells and Rituals with Herbs
One of the simplest methods to enhance magic spells is sprinkling a specific
herb into a candle's flame during a ritual. This will provide more power to
your spells. You can also leave small amounts of herbs in different parts of
your home to attract peaceful energy, promote good health, provide
protection, bring happiness, and eliminate negative energies.
Another common practice is to carry a charm bag that contains various herbs
for attracting love and/or protection. Based on traditional witchcraft
knowledge, the best time to collect herbs and perform herb magic is at night
in which herbs are most potent of their magical properties, especially under
the full moon.
Common Herbs for Magical Purposes
For most modern-day witches and Wiccans, using herbs is a common habit.
Helpful herbs are considered as a basic arsenal of a witch or Wiccan for
various purposes. Thus, it is best to keep some of the most common and
prominent herbs used in case the need arises.
Apple Blossoms During the ancient times, the apple was conceived as a
symbol of immortality. On the other hand, the Samhain, which pertains to
the Gaelic festival that marks the end of the harvest season, makes use of
apples as food for the dead. For the Celts or the people in Medieval Europe,
a branch of an apple tree that produces flowers and unopened buds and bears
grown fruit was a secret key to the Underworld. For witches and Wiccans,
the apple is considered as a love magic component, while the blossoms
enhance magic spells and rituals when added to brews and incense.
Basil Now, more than ever, basil is a popular culinary herb used in many
food recipes. However, basil also encompasses magical properties. In most
Mediterranean countries, people scatter small amounts of basil in order to
purify their homes. It is also believed to bring good luck to people who are
moving into a new home. As such, it has become a tradition in these
countries to give a potted basil plant as a gift for good fortune. Basil can also
be used in love divination or love magic. It is believed to have magical
properties that guarantee fidelity in a relationship.
Chamomile Most witches and Wiccans consider chamomile as an herb for
protection and purification. It is also helpful for enhancing sleep and
meditation. Chamomile is believed to have magical properties for warding
off magical or psychic attack. In South America, several folk magic
traditions consider chamomile as a lucky flower, which can attract love when
made into a garland and worn around the head. Some carry chamomile in
their pockets for good fortune.
Lavender For thousands of years, lavender is used for many purposes;
however, witches and Wiccans use it for magic spells associated with love,
peace, and calmness. Placing lavender flowers in a sachet and carrying it in
your bag is said to bring love. You can also hang lavender stalks in parts of
your home to enhance equanimity.
Mugwort Most modern magical practices make use of mugwort in their
spell work, incense, and smudging rituals. Mugwort is easy to grow and
highly versatile. A few magical traditions associate mugwort to dreaming
and divination. For instance, some magical traditions make an incense of
mugwort and burns it at their desired places to bring about divinatory
success. Mugwort is also used it smudge sticks while performing divination
rituals.
Patchouli Like mugwort, Patchouli is also used by numerous modern
rituals. Its scent alone induces a feeling of being in a magical place. This
herb is often used in ritual works, potpourri, and incense blends. Witches and
Wiccans associated patchouli with wealth, sexual power, and love. More
often than not, its leaves are placed in a sachet and carried in a pocket or
worn as an ornament to attract love and wealth. Some folk magic traditions
inscribe a dollar sign on a piece of paper using the oil of patchouli.
Consequently, the paper is placed inside the wallet to draw money. On the
other hand, modern magic traditions provide great value to patchouli due to
its repelling power.
Pennyroyal One of the most popular magical herb among witches and
Wiccans is pennyroyal. It often entails money, although some magic
traditions associate it with protection and strength. In some forms of
American folk magic, this herb is carried in order to avoid the “evil eye.”
Some use it for protection by making a sachet filled with the herb and
keeping it in a purse. Other traditions associate pennyroyal with money
magic. For instance, they put a sprig over the door of their businesses to
attract customers and wealth. Some make a money bar soap out of
pennyroyal to wash their hands while others make use of the herb's oil for
prosperity.
Rosemary Most ancient witches make use of rosemary for various magical
practices. It is often associated with helping the brain function well and
strengthening of the memory. It is also said to cast off evil witches and
spirits. In England, homes of people who died from illness were burned
along with generous amounts of rosemary for purification. Some place
rosemary on coffins prior to filling the grave with dirt. Witches and Wiccans
use rosemary to ward off negative energies at home by simply burning it.
Others hang rosemary bundles on their front doors to drive back harmful
individuals such as burglars from entering their houses.
Sage This herb is well-known for purifying and cleansing a place,
specifically when it is burned. In ancient times, dried sprigs of sage were
burned in temples during religious practices and rituals. The Romans and
Greeks believe that the smoke of sage when burned imparts mental sharpness
and wisdom. Witches and Wiccans carry sage leaves in their purses to attract
money or prosperity. In magic, the leaves are burned in order to enhance
wisdom as well as obtain guidance from one's spirit guide. Some individuals
write their wishes on the sage leaves and tuck them under their pillows. It is
believed that by doing so, their wishes will come true after three nights.
Yarrow This herb is also known as Knight's Milfoil or Woundwort. It is
popular for its healing properties. Witches and Wiccans make use of yarrow
to draw love, provide cure and healing, and enhance courage. In old magic
traditions, people carry dried yarrow in their hands to discard their fears.
Some couples also hang a sprig of yarrow over their matrimonial bed to bring
at least seven years of love and passion. It is believed that using yarrow in a
ritual bath can enhance one's psychic abilities. Some witches also make use
of this herb to ward off negative energies from a person or place.
Herbal Correspondences for Spells
In this section, you will be provided with a list of herbal correspondences for
various spells with different purposes.
Astral Projection Mugwort and Poplar
Courage Sweet Peas, Thyme, Ragweed, Wahoo, and Tonka Bean
Employment Pecan and Lucky Hand
Fertility Cucumber, Banana, Carrot, Daffodil, Grapes, Fig, Mandrake,
Hawthorne, Oak, Pine, Olive, Patchouli, Pomegranate, Wheat, Rice, and
Sunflower
Happiness Hyacinth, Catnip, Saffron, Lavender, and Marjoram
Healing Nettles, Allspice, Oak, Olive, Apple, Barley, Pine, Bay, Cedar,
Cinnamon, Cucumber, Peppermint, Rosemary, Rose, Carnation, Citron,
Rosehips, Violet, Carnation, Spearmint, Willow, Fennel, Gardenia, Tobacco,
Hops, Mint, Ginseng, Lime, Onion, Wintergreen, and Potato
Legal Matters Marigold, Hickory, and Skunk Cabbage
Love Apple, Wood Aloes, Barley, Apricot, Catnip, Cherry, Basil, Chili
Pepper, Bleeding Heart, Chamomile, Cinnamon, Chestnut, Dill, Clove, Elm,
Jasmine, Ginger, Lemon, Orchid, Pansy, Plum, Rosemary, Sugar Cane,
Thyme, Valerian, Vervain, and Willow
Money Almond, Basil, Cashew, Clover, Dill, Mint, Oak, Grape, Maple, and
Oats
Protection and Purification Aloe, Ash, Beans, Barley, Bloodroot, Caraway,
Cedar, Cotton, Dill, Fennel, Fern, Elder, Foxglove, Ginseng, Garlic, Grain,
Honeysuckle, Ivy, Mandrake, Mugwort, Nettles, Onion, Parsley, Rosemary,
Pine, Sage, Tomato, Thistle, and Rose
Sleep Cinquefoil, Elder, Lettuce, Rosemary, Chamomile, Datura, Hops,
Peppermint, Thyme, Vervain, and Valerian
Candle Spells That Use Herbs
Spell for Cleansing the Body from Negative Energy In this spell, you will
need 3 candles (1 white for positive energy; 1 black for negative energy; and
1 green for healing), matches, and your choice of herbs.
The first thing you need to do is find a place where you can sit comfortably.
Place the three candles in front of you. Make sure you clear your mind. Get
the white candle, put the herbs around it, light it, and say the following:
“Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit, I ask that you cleanse my body of
all negative energies.”
Then, get the black candle, light it, and repeat the incantation. Do the same
with the green candle and say the following:
“Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit, I ask that you heal and free my
body from all negative energies. Blessed Be!”
You must remain seated without being interrupted and keep your mind clear
for 15 minutes. Soon after, you will feel fresh, cleansed, and renewed.
This spell is said to be most effective when you are in a positive mood and
during the moon's waxing. The herbs, on the other hand, are said to add more
positive energies. For this spell, it is advisable to use 5 bay leaves, placing
them, wherein one leaf is on one side of each candle. Put the fifth leaf in
front and at the center of the candle.
Spell for Healing with Candle and Herbs This spells requires making
healing herb candles by placing equal portions of beeswax and paraffin on
top of a large metal can, which is placed in a pan that is partially filled with
boiling water. Melt the beeswax and paraffin over low heat.
Then, once the wax is melted, add a pinch of a type of healing herb
(powdered) that you prefer and say the following:
“Oh, magic herbs of root and flower, bestow this candle the power of
healing. Let all sickness and evil flee as it burns.”
If you plan to use healing herb candles, make sure to make them during the
moon's waxing so that the candles will be charged with their healing power.
Burn the candles during the wane of the moon in order to heal from pain,
fever, and other illnesses.
Chapter 5: Healing Love Spell
Candle Spell for Healing In this spell, you will need 3 blue candles, 3
purple candles, and your photograph. Arrange the candles into a circle with
your photograph at the center. Then, you need to charge each candle by
saying the following:
“I charge you by the powers of the Earth, Fire, Water, and Air. I charge
you by the powers of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars. I charge you by
the powers of the fire, North, South, East, West. To heal me of this
ailment (disease), its causes and manifestations. So must it be!”
Then, light each candle and say the following:
“Burn this ailment in your flame. Burn this ailment that would injure.
Heal me of this ailment and pain. Heal me of all that is afflicting. Heal
and set me free. With my will, so must it be!”
Repeat this spell several times during the night.
Healing Candle Magic In this spell, you will need 7 candles. You need a
yellow candle for the Lord, a white candle for the Lady, an orange candle for
attraction and encouragement, 3 red candles for health and strength, 1 candle
for yourself based on your astral color, a photograph of yourself, and
incense.
First, light the yellow and white candle. Light the incense and concentrate
for a few minutes. Then, visualize good health coming your way. Light your
candle along with your photograph. Say the following:
“Blessing from the Lord and the Lady, be upon me.”
Then, light the orange candle and say the following:
“This flame imbibes all that is good to me. It draws strength and health
and all my desire.”
Then, light the red candles and say the following:
“Here are strength and health three fold. Take into me to build and
serve Him as the Lord and the Lady would wish.”
Meditate on your good health and put out the candle's flame. Do this spell
every Friday for 7 days. Move the red candles closer to your candle each
time you do the spell. On the 7 Friday, the red candles should already touch
th

your candle.
Candle Magic Spells for Healing
Passionate Love Candle Magic In this spell, you will need 1 red candle, 1
pink candle, jasmine oil, and some red thread. Dress or oil the candles using
jasmine oil and light them. Imagine the flames exuding passion and growing
between yourself and a new, unknown love. Using the red thread, arrange
the candles together by making a figure “8” between them. Say the
following:
“Grow seeds of romance and the flames of passion. I open my heart to
love. The one who seeks me shall now come.”
Repeat this spell for three consecutive nights to obtain optimal results.
Simple Love Candle Magic In this spell, you will need 1 pink candle and a
bottle of 100% virgin olive oil. Place the candle on a table. Dress or oil it
using the virgin olive oil. Start rubbing the oil in the middle, going upwards.
Then, rub some oil in the middle of the candle, going downwards. By doing
this, you are recharging the candle with desire and love. Visualize love and
transmit all your emotions into the candle.
Once the oil is finished, carve your intent into the candle using a sharp object
such as a pin or needle.
Candle Magic Spells for Universal Justice
Spells for universal justice can be used anytime if you are in need of fairness
or cosmic balance. These spells are not meant to get revenge, but to provide
justice where it is due.
On the other hand, true universal justice may not provide the outcome that
you are expecting, specifically if you want a guilty individual to escape
his/her consequences. Thus, it is best to contemplate on your intentions first
prior to casting spells associated with justice.
Legal Justice Candle Spell In this spell, you will need 1 orange candle, 1
black candle, a set of old-fashioned weighing scale, about 1/4 dried marigold
or calendula, and rosemary oil.
Using a sharp object, carve your intent into the candles. You can carve
words as simple as “guilty” or “innocent.” With your fingertips, dress or oil
each candle using the rosemary oil. Roll them in the dried herb lightly until
they are coated.
Then, position the scales between the candles and light each one. Remember,
a modern scale would not work. If you do not have an old-fashioned
weighing scale, you can draw one or cut a picture of it.
Once the candles are lit, focus on bringing the correct verdict to your legal
matter. Visualize the situation. Using a finger, lower one side of the scale,
focusing on your energy, then release it. Allow the candles to burn down
completely.
Justice Candle Spell In this spell, you will need 1 orange candle, 1 gray
candle, 1 purple candle, 1 indigo candle, 1 black candle, 1 gold candle, and
tarot cards with Justice, nine of cups, and The World.
Say the following:
“To work my spell, I am moving outside the limitation of time. The dragons
weave the universal energy. What I desire are the things that exist now. The
tides of magic, answer me.”
Then, arrange the tarot cards in this order: Justice, The World, and the nine of
cups. Arrange the candles in this order: gray, orange, indigo, purple, black,
and gold and light each of them. Clear your mind and say the following:
“Gray mists I call on you to hide what I must do. Orange light I call on you
to give me power and change my luck. Indigo strength I call on you to stop
lies and gossip. Purple power I call on you to drive evil away and break bad
luck. Great black walls I call on you to protect me from my foes. Sun-gold
beams I call on you to give me success and fortune. I stand by these
powerful lights. I ask the help of the dragon to succeed in my case.”
Then, concentrate for a few minutes on the tarot cards and your intent. Then
say the closing incantation:
“My gratitude to the dragons who came to my call. We wove the magic and
thus, I will, so shall it be.”
Finally, position the candles in a safe place and allow them to burn down by
themselves.
Chapter 6:Money Attraction Spell
In general, magic spells for money and wealth are used in order to obtain
financial success. However, prior to performing a wealth spell, the term
“wealth” should first be understood well. For instance, wealth does not only
entail money, as you can also be wealthy in health, friendship, and other
things.
Although there is little risk with money spells and their rewards can be
outstanding, care should still be considered when selecting and casting the
correct spell.
You can have extra money with different prosperity spells as long as they are
not used for greed. Otherwise, if your intention involves greed, the money
spells will not work as expected and may tend to backfire. Money, wealth,
and prosperity spells are all associated with the earth element.
Money/Abundance Candle Spell In this spell, you will need a green candle,
cinnamon oil, a large denomination coin, and vanilla oil/extract. The flame's
energy will help attract new financial opportunities.
First, carve the word “abundance” on one of the candle's sides using a sharp
object such as a pin or needle. Then, dress or oil the word using cinnamon
oil and vanilla extract. At the bottom of the candle, place the coin and light
the candle. Allow the candle to burn down completely.
Once the candle is burned down, you will notice that the coin is already
covered in wax. Keep the coin in a safe place in order to bring money into
your life.
Green Candle Magic Spell In this spell, you will need a green candle, dried
basil, a pin, and vegetable oil. This is best performed on a Thursday with a
full moon or waxing of the moon.
Carve your name along with the amount that you need down the candle's
length using the pin. Dress or oil the candle with the vegetable oil, making
sure not to touch the wick. Then, roll the candle in the dried basil. Position
the candle in any type of holder and say the following:
“Money come and grow. Money be mine. Money flow.”
Do not blow the candle's flame. Allow the candle to burn down completely.
Chapter 7: More
Magickal Smudging & Incense
Another great way to use herbs in magick is by burning them in order to
create cleansing and purifying smoke. They can also be added to essential
oils and other items, like resins, to create powerful incense.
Incense can attract energies you wish to work with, focus your will and
intention, and help connect you to innate psychic and intuitive powers. One
reason for this is because scent is a very well-developed sense — it can evoke
powerful emotions and energy. This has a knock-on effect on other, subtler
senses.
Smudging
Smudging has its roots in Native American and other shamanic traditions.
More recently, it has been used by Wiccans as a way of clearing energy,
preparing for ritual and cleansing magickal objects or other items.
Smudging is a powerful way to dispel negativity and restore balance to a
space which has had upsets in energy. It is also an effective way to cleanse
when undertaking ritual work.
It’s advisable to regularly smudge your ritual working areas if they are
indoors, as well as your altar and magickal items you accumulate. This can
include your magickal tools such as the boline or wand, and personal crystals.
Smudging is most traditionally associated with sage — white sage in
particular. All types of sage are effective, so you don’t need to use white
sage. Other items which can be used for smudging are lavender, cedarwood
and sweetgrass. You can also use juniper and resins such as frankincense to
smudge.

You can buy smudging sticks online, which sometimes have combinations of
different herbs and plants as part of them. You can also make your own
smudging sticks by drying herbs and bundling them with twine.
How to smudge:
 1. Ground yourself into the energies of earth. Spend a few
moments setting your intention to cleanse and purify your
space.

2. Light your smudge stick, taking care that you have a non-
flammable surface underneath it to catch any stray embers.

Smudge sticks tend to create a lot of smoke once they get going. However,
you may need to light them several times and blow on the embers before they
produce copious amounts of smoke.

3. Walk around the space you are smudging in a clockwise

direction. Hold the smudge stick out and allow the smoke to
rise from the ground up to the ceiling.

4. As you smudge, you can say out loud: “I cleanse and clear this
space from all negativity.” Meanwhile, visualize all negativity
being cleansed by the smoke.

5. Make sure you take your smudge stick into each corner of the
room, and allow the smoke into each corner.

6. When you have completed your circle around the room, return
to the center of the room.

7. Repeat your intention to cleanse and clear. If it is safe to do so,

place the stick onto the floor and allow the smoke to envelop
you. Some practitioners use a feather in order the push the
smoke onto the body of the person they wish to cleanse.

8. Thank the energies and mindfully extinguish the smudge stick.

It’s not necessary to keep windows shut once you have completed your
smudging ritual. In fact, letting in fresh air can be extremely beneficial once
you have cleared the space.
Magickal Incense
Magickal incense is a powerful way of adding potency and atmosphere to
your ritual working. You can buy incense already premade in the form of
cones, sticks or loose incense.
Varieties and purity vary from supplier to supplier. You can find a vast array
of types of incense in online stores and in some health stores or alternative
health outlets.
Cones and sticks can be lit and placed in an incense holder. Always
remember to extinguish any incense if you are going to leave the room or go
to sleep.
Loose incense needs to be heated on a surface that will allow it to burn. The
most common way of doing this is to use charcoal discs which can be placed
on a holder. The discs are lit, and then the incense is placed on top.
Loose incense tends to be stronger, and produces more smoke than cones or
rolled incense. However, it also burns quicker, and tends to be more
expensive. In addition, many of the charcoal discs on the market are
advertised as ‘self-lighting.’
What this means is that the entire disc has a chemical substance on it which,
when lit, will continue to spark and heat very quickly. This is useful for ease
of lighting the incense, but many brands can produce a chemical smell, and
interfere with the natural scent of the incense. Some people also report that it
induces headaches over time.
Other alternatives for burning loose incense are by using Ash in a bowl and
lighting the Ash, or by placing the incense in a metal foil above a candle. The
latter method can be dangerous so take extra caution and never leave it
burning unattended.
Making your own magickal incense can be a wonderful way of working with
herbs and other oils and resins.
Loose Incense
Making your own loose incense requires blending of herbs, resins and woods.
You’ll need a mortar and pestle, and in some cases a way of grinding
difficult-to-powder materials. Some people use coffee grinders for this
purpose.
Electric coffee grinders aren’t recommended, as most hard resins may break
the blades. Grinding and powdering by hand is the best way, unless you plan
to buy all your ingredients already powdered.
Grinding your incense can be challenging work, but it’s very rewarding in the
end. You can take this opportunity to imbibe your intention into the
ingredients, and really connect with the energies and scent of the items you
are using.
Learning which types of herbs and resins work well together in terms of
energy and scent can be a complex task. It’s advisable to begin with only 3-4
ingredients and then work your way into adding more as time goes on.
You may also wish to invest in a separate mortar and pestle for resins as they
can be sticky and difficult to remove. It will be difficult to grind other items if
your mortar and pestle has sticky residue on it. To solve this, you can freeze
resin in order to make it easier to grind.
Grind your herbs first, and then add in any resins or wood of your choice.
You may wish to add a small amount of essential oil, but if you do, remember
to let the mixture dry thoroughly before use.
You can also use dried fruits and oils to form your loose incense into pellets
if you desire. Once you have finished mixing, you can seal your incense in
glass screw-top jars to store it until you are ready to use it.
Rolling Cones or Sticks
To make your own cones or sticks, you must pulverize your ingredients into a
fine powder. This can be time-consuming but, again, this is a wonderful
opportunity for you to connect with the scent and the energy of the herbs and
resins you are working with.
When you have ground your ingredients into a powder, you need to roll them
with a substance to hold the form. There are different methods for doing this,
but two of the most popular are Arabic gum and makko. Makko is made from
the bark of the tabu-no-ki tree. Both of these substances can be found in
online stores and in some grocery stores.
It’s best to leave your powdered incense overnight, to allow the ingredients
time to blend with each other. The next stage is to slowly add your gelling
agent into your mixture with a little water, in order to form a paste. Because
each batch can vary, it’s best to begin with a small amount of water and
gelling agent.
Try to get the mixture to feel pliable, but not too dry. Only add in small
amounts of water so that you don’t ‘flood’ the incense. When you are able to
knead and shape the incense without it either falling apart of being too sticky
to form, you have the correct balance.
Roll the shapes you want, and then leave the incense to dry for at least 48
hours.
Meditation & Visualization Incense
You’ll need:
2 teaspoon frankincense resin
1 teaspoon sandalwood powder
1 teaspoon sage
A few drops of elemi oil

Method:
1. Grind all ingredients as described above, depending on which
type of incense you are making.

2. As you start grinding the incense, imagine the ingredients

blending to promote a clear space with an empty horizon in all
directions.

3. Whilst grinding, practice mindfulness by paying attention to the

rich smells, texture and sounds of grinding. Notice how your
hands and arms feel as you work. Allow the scent to infuse
 your senses, and notice how your mind and body are affected.

4. When it comes to burning your incense, allow the empty

horizon to form in all directions.

5. As you inhale the scent, imagine the incense is coming into

your empty horizon — and with it, clarity of mind and psychic
vision.

House Blessing Incense

Use this spell when moving into a new house, or for clearing and banishing
energies from a living space.
You’ll need:
2 Teaspoons sage
1 Teaspoon cedarwood
1 Teaspoon powdered frankincense resin
5 Drops juniper oil

Method:
1. Mix the ingredients using the methods described above.

2. As you mix, visualize the blend coming together to create good

fortune, prosperity and blessings in your home.

3. Light the incense and smudge your house with it.

Abundance Incense
You’ll need:
2 Teaspoons basil
1 Teaspoon chamomile
½ Teaspoon peppermint
5 Drops patchouli oil
This is a simple but effective blend which you can use with herbs from your
own magickal garden.
If you have been devoted to your herbs during their growth, your connection
should be strong. All you need to do, then, is to gently ask them for help in
attracting more abundance into your life.
Light your incense, and allow the smoke to warm your body while
visualizing wealth and abundance flowing through you.
Magickal Baths
Magickal baths can be used for two main reasons; as a ritual preparation for
further work, or as a full-blown ritual itself.
You can use magickal baths to dispel unwanted energy and traits, via
cleansing and purifying, or you can use them to infuse you with certain traits
and energy, and draw favorable circumstances to you.
Cleansing Baths
Good staple items to use in cleansing baths are sage and sea salt. These items
help to purify your mind and body. You can also add in other cleansing items
such as nettle and basil.

When you are using a bath to cleanse or to ready yourself for ritual, always
state your intent as you add ingredients. If you are intending to clear yourself
of negative traits, you can light white candles around the cleansing bath.
As you bathe, imagine the water running throughout your body and energetic
field. Visualize the element of water flowing through you — washing and
cleansing you from the inside out.
When you leave the bath, watch the water drain and visualize any negative
habits or traits you wish to rid yourself of draining away with the water. You
may have leftover herbs or resins which collect in the plughole of the bath.
For extra clearing, you can take these outside and bury them in the ground.
Infusing Baths
You may wish to work with invoking energy and drawing positive traits to
you. For this, choose herbs and resins which attract abundance and
prosperity. Light some orange, yellow or green candles for more energy and
wealth. If you want to attract love and passion, use pink and red candles
instead.
State your intention as you add the ingredients and light your candles. This
will help to focus your mind on acceptance and attracting positivity to you.
As you lay in the bath, envision the infusion entering your body and flooding
you with the trait or energy you want to nurture. Let the warmth of the water
soothe you from the inside, and allow the magickal ingredients to draw your
desires to you.
Try to cultivate an attitude of acceptance and trust in the abundance of the
universe, and always remember to thank the energies after your workings.
Magickal Bath Bomb For Luck and Success

You’ll need:
10 Drops patchouli oil
½ Teaspoon ground sage
½ Cup powdered citric acid
1 Cup baking soda
¾ Cup corn starch
A few drops of olive oil

Method:
1. Mix together the ground sage, citric acid, baking soda and corn
starch.

2. Add in the patchouli oil and a few drops of olive oil

3. Mix well and then form into a ball shape, using a mold (you can
use small candy molds or silicone molds for baking which can
easily be found online).

4. As you form the ball, visualize luck and success forming a

swirling ball of energy.

5. Allow the ball to dry for 24 hours.

Ritual Purification Bath
You can use this bath to cleanse yourself on all levels before you do your
rituals.
You’ll need:
2 Teaspoons of sea salt and sage mix
1 teaspoon crushed lavender and rosemary mix

Method:
1. As you run your bath, alternate between adding your two
mixes.
2. As you add each one, say:
“Bless these waters with healing light. Pure of heart and clear of
sight.”

3. Take your ritual bath, allowing the herbs to clear and purify
your energy, ready for ritual practice.
Healing Waters Bath
You’ll need:
1 Teaspoon lavender
5 Drops sandalwood oil
2 Teaspoons thyme and rosemary mix
Large pinch of sea salt

Method:
1. Run your healing bath and sprinkle the mixture in.

2. As you relax in your bath, allow the combination of scent and

energy to infuse your being with healing and light.
Sachets & Pouches
Magickal sachets and pouches are excellent ways of bringing your Wiccan
working into your daily life. Because they are unobtrusive and portable, you
can carry them around with you, or place them in locations where you might
need a mystical ‘pick me up.’
Using a protective sachet on your desk at work to protect from electrical
emissions (as well as difficulties posed by excessive screen time, if you work
in an office environment) can be useful. It can also help to soothe tensions if
you have high-stress colleagues.
You can make pouches to place in different rooms in your house, or place
one under your pillow or near your bed to promote healthy sleep. They also
make lovely gifts for magickally-inclined friends.

Making sachets and pouches is simple. You can buy organza bags online or
from craft stores. Combining different dried herbs and resins can help add
richness and potency to your magickal working.
Simply use your mortar and pestle to grind any resins or a coffee grinder to
crush woods. As with making your own incense, you may need to experiment
a little with different combinations of herbs and other ingredients to find the
ones which complement each other the best.
Super Serenity Sachet
You’ll need:
2 teaspoons of dried lavender
2 teaspoons of dried sage
2 teaspoons of myrrh resin
A handful of sea salt
A few drops of sandalwood oil

Method:
1. Crush your lavender, sage and sea salt.
 2. Place them to one side, and then crush your myrrh resin. You
may want to freeze it first, to make it easier to crush.

3. Mix in a few drops of sandalwood oil, and mix thoroughly. As

you mix, project your intention of serenity and harmony
wherever you and the sachet go.

4. Allow the mixture to dry if needed, and then add it into the
organza bag.

5. Hang the bag in areas where you need an extra dose of serenity.
Carry it with you if you are facing tough situations and need to
keep your cool.

Protective Power Sachet

You’ll need:
1 teaspoon rose petals
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon mint
½ teaspoon fennel
Pinch sea salt

Method:
For this sachet, you can buy dried rose petals, or dry your own. Use dried
herbs for the rest of the mixture.

1. Mix the ingredients together and add in the sea salt.

 2. To make this sachet even more powerful, you can make a small
clay poppet with some of the mixture added, and place it inside
the sachet.

3. Carry it with you for extra protection outside the house, or hang
it by your bed to protect against negative energy.

Lucky Love Sachet

You’ll need:
1 teaspoon sage and sea salt mix
1 teaspoon rosemary
5 drops Ylang Ylang essential oil
1 Clear quartz, crushed
1 Rose quartz, crushed
1 pinch of glitter dust – gold or silver

Method:
1. Use your mortar and pestle to break up small pieces of raw,
clear quartz and rose quartz. Don’t use polished tumble stones,
as they will be too difficult to crush.

2. Make sure you wear protection, such as goggles or glasses, to

stop any small flecks from flying up and going into your eye.
Alternatively, you can use the crystals whole if you don’t want
to break them up.

3. Add in the sage, rosemary and sea salt.

4. Add in the Ylang Ylang and allow the mixture to settle. For
extra effect, add in the glitter dust.

5. You can place the mixture under the light of a new moon, or
mix it on a new moon to add extra potency.

6. Hang the sachet by your bed or place on your altar, to attract

more love into your life.
Conclusion
As you have probably realized by now, herbal magick is a vast and versatile
way of working as a Wiccan. By getting to know a range of commonly-used
and easy to obtain herbs, as well as some common resins, I hope you see how
interesting and complex even ‘everyday’ herbs can be.
This is a key component of Wicca – that magick can happen naturally, and
with natural methods and substances which are all around us every day.
Magick is a subtle energy which is always surrounding us, and what better
way to connect with that than with learning the magick which is present even
within the most familiar of plants?
As you have learned, there are many ways of using herbs and combining
items to create your own individual spells. Getting to know which herbs work
for you and which you are drawn to via taste, smell and tactile sensations, as
well as more subtle explorations, will be an experience unique to you.
There is a high component of experimentation and learning your own recipes
— many of which you can record in your own Book of Shadows. Although
this can be time consuming, there is nothing quite like discovering the special
blend of fragrances and energies which works for you and your intentions,
and developing that personal energetic relationship with your own magickal
garden.
Combining other aspects of your workings, such as knowledge on crystals
and color magick, can add vibrancy and potency to your herbal workings.
Above all, it is important to continue to connect deeply with the source of all
magick in the form of the natural world and all its beauty and bounty.
For further research, it’s advisable to take each section as an individual area
to build your expertise in. Learning how to mix essential oils, and which
items and herbs work best for you in magickal infusions, for example, can be
a rewarding way to deepen your knowledge. So, too, can learning the art of
blending herbs and oils for magickal incense and sachets.
Once you have tried out the basics for each section, you should have a better
idea of what kind of workings are best suited to you. You might be more
attracted to creating your own herbal infusions, or you might feel using herbs
as part of creating other magickal items, such as poppets, resonates more
strongly with you.
When deciding which area to specialize in, consider your home environment,
how the method fits into your life, and how much time and resources you
want to invest in deeper study.
Above all, remember your connection to the herbs and plants you use as
living energy, even after the plant has been cut, cured or dried.