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If you're a practitioner of a modern magical tradition, chances are good that you're in the habit of using herbs. Here's a list of ten herbs that everyone should have on hand for magical purposes. Think of it as a basic witch's arsenal of helpful herbs. Keep a few of these in your magical supply cabinet, just in case the need arises.
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Apple Blossoms
For the ancients, the apple was considered a symbol of immortality. Interestingly, it's also seen as a food for the dead, which is why Samhain is sometimes referred to as the Feast of Apples. In Celtic myth, an apple branch bearing grown fruit, flowers, and unopened bud was a magical key to the land of the Underworld. The apple is often found as a component in love magic, and the blossoms may be added to incenses and brews.
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Basil
Basil is known far and wide as a culinary herb, but it also contains some interesting magical properties. In Mediterranean countries, it is strewn on floors to purify a home. It also can bring luck to people moving into a new residence - a gift of a potted basil plant guarantees good fortune. Magically, basil can be used in love magic and in love divination. Basil can also be used to guarantee fidelity, or detect the lack of it.
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Chamomile
Chamomile is known as an herb of purification and protection and can be used in incenses for sleep and meditation. Sprinkle it around your home to ward against psychic or magical attack. If you're a gambler, wash your hands in chamomile tea to ensure good luck at the gaming tables. In a number of folk magic traditions, particularly those of the American south, chamomile is known as a lucky flower — make a garland to wear around your hair to attract a lover, or carry some in your pocket for general good fortune.
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Lavender
The use of lavender has been documented for thousands of years. Magically speaking, lavender is often associated with love spells, as well as for workings to bring calmness and peace. To bring love your way, carry lavender flowers in a sachet on your person, or hang stalks of it in your home. To get a good night's sleep, with calming dreams, stuff a pillow with sprigs of lavender. It can also be used in a purifying bath or smudging ritual.
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Mugwort
Mugwort is an herb that is found fairly regularly in many modern Pagan magical practices. From its use as an incense, for smudging, or in spellwork, mugwort is a highly versatile and easy to grow herb. In some magical traditions, mugwort is associated with divination and dreaming. To bring about prophecy and divinatory success, make an incense of mugwort to burn at your workspace, or use it in smudge sticks around the area in which you are performing divination rituals. Note: Mugwort can be harmful to pregnant women.
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Patchouli
Patchouli is a popular herb found in many modern Pagan rituals. Its exotic scent brings to mind far-off, magical places, and it’s often used in incense blends, potpourri, and ritual workings. Associated with love, wealth, and sexual power, patchouli can be used in a variety of magical workings. Place patchouli leaves in a sachet, and carry it in your pocket or wear around your neck. In some traditions of hoodoo and folk magic, a dollar sign is inscribed on a piece of paper using patchouli oil. The paper is then carried in your wallet, and this should draw money your way. There are some traditions of modern magic in which patchouli is valued for its repelling power.
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Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is well known as a magical herb. In some traditions it's associated with money, while in others Pennyroyal is connected to strength and protection. In Hoodoo and some forms of American folk magic, Pennyroyal is carried to ward off the 'evil eye.' For some protection magic, make a sachet stuffed with Pennyroyal and tuck it in your purse. In a few traditions, Pennyroyal is also associated with money magic. If you own a business, place a sprig over the door to draw in customers and prosperity. Try making a bar of Money Soap to wash your hands with, or use Pennyroyal to brew up some Prosperity Oil. Note: Pennyroyal can be harmful to pregnant women.
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Rosemary
Rosemary was well known to ancient practitioners. It was an herb known for strengthening the memory and helping the brain and was often cultivated in kitchen gardens. Roman priests used rosemary as incense in religious ceremonies, and many cultures considered it a herb to use as protection from evil spirits and witches. In England, it was burned in the homes of those who had died from illness and placed on coffins before the grave was filled with dirt. For magical use, burn rosemary to rid a home of negative energy, or as an incense while you meditate. Hang bundles on your front door to keep harmful people, like burglars, from entering.
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Sage
Sage has long been burned to purify and cleanse a space. The ancients burned dried sprigs of sage in temples and during religious rituals. The Greeks and Romans wrote that the smoke imparted wisdom and mental acuity. In magic, carry sage leaves in your wallet or purse to promote financial gain. Burn leaves to increase wisdom or gain guidance from your spirit guide (be warned–burning sage does smell similar to marijuana, so keep that in mind if you think the neighbors might be inquisitive). Make a wish and write it on a sage leaf, and then hide it beneath your pillow–if you dream about your wish over the next three nights, your wish will come true.
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Yarrow
Yarrow was often called Woundwort or Knight's Milfoil, thanks to its use in treatment of battle injuries. Scotland's Highlanders use it to make a healing ointment, and in the Orkney Islands, yarrow is used to make a tea that 'dispels melancholia.' Yarrow can be used in magical workings related to healing, love, and courage. Wear it on your person to boost your self-esteem and courage, or carry a bunch of dried yarrow in your hand to stop fear. A sprig hanging over the marriage bed guarantees at least seven years of passion and love. Taking a ritual bath with yarrow can help increase your psychic abilities. It can also be used to exorcise negative energies from a place or person.
Herbs have been used for thousands of years, both medicinally and ritually. Every herb has its own unique characteristics, and these properties are what makes the plant special. Subsequently, many Pagans use herbs as part of their regular ritual practice. Whether it's for money and prosperity, protection, healing and wellness, love and lust, there is almost always an herb associated with your purposes.
So, now you've decided you're ready to do a magical working... but you're not sure which herbs are the best ones to use. Use this list as a reference point to determine which herbs, plants and flowers are the best choices for your magical intent.
Money, Prosperity and Jobs
There are a number of herbs associated with matters related to money. Whether you're looking to boost your financial wherewithal, land a new job, or just pad your bank account a little, try some of these magical herbs in your money-related workings.
Business: For matters related to business, include plants like:
- Hawthorn: The hawthorn tree is associated with power and masculine energy. Tuck a couple of spikes into a safe spot in your desk to give you a little magical boost at work.
- Sandalwood: If you have professional goals you hope to meet, write your intent on a chip or stick of sandalwood, and then place it in a brazier to burn. As your sandalwood burns, your goal will be carried up to the heavens on the drifting smoke.
- Basil: A freshly potted basil plant in your workplace can help to guarantee courage in facing business challenges.
- Frankincense: Carry a few bits of resin in your pocket when you go to a business meeting or interview for a successful outcome.
Employment/jobs: If you're looking for a new job, or a promotion at your existing one, try some of these ideas:
- Bay Leaf: Is there a promotion you'd like to get, or a new job you've applied for? Write your intent on a bay leaf, and carry it in your pocket.
- Bergamot: Slip a few leaves into your wallet to attract a higher-paying job, or rub it on the money you currently have to ensure that it will return and multiply.
- Pecan: Keep a pecan in your pocket when you go to a job interview to ensure success. If you have a job but are concerned about losing it, bake yourself a pecan pie to help you keep your job.
Money/prosperity: Money magic is one of the most popular uses of magical herbs. If you want to bring money your way, try a few of these herbs. Be sure to also read about simple money folk magic spells!
- Bay leaf: Use in incense blends for money spells to bring a few extra dollars your way.
- Basil: Crush up the leaves and sprinkle around your home to bring money towards you, or use them in a Money Mojo Bag.
- Chamomile: Brew a batch of chamomile tea and sprinkle it around your property to draw money towards you.
- Clover: Carry a clover in your wallet to bring money your way, or plant it around your house to bring all-around prosperity.
- Tonka bean: In many forms of folk magic, tonka beans are carried on your person to draw financial abundance your way.
- Pennyroyal: If you own a business, place a sprig over the door to draw in customers and prosperity. Try making a bar of Money Soap to wash your hands with, or use Pennyroyal to brew up some Prosperity Oil.
Luck, Gambling, and Good Fortune
Fortune/luck: Do you sometimes feel like if it weren't for bad luck, you'd have no luck at all? Try some of these ideas to help turn your fortune around:
- Hazel: Carry hazelnuts in your pocket to draw good fortune your way, or hang a bough of hazel branches above your door.
- Holly: Make wreaths and boughs of holly to hang around your house, inviting good luck into your home.
- Pomegranate: Use pomegranate seeds in dessert and drinks to bring about prosperity and abundance.
- Snakeroot: In some forms of folk magic, snakeroot - a folkloric name for black cohosh - is used to get rid of bad luck that may have been inflicted upon you magically. Use it around your home to eliminate negative fortunes.
- Sunflower: Planting sunflowers around your home and garden will bring fortune your way. It is also said that if you pick a sunflower at sunset, then wear it on your person, it will bring you good luck the following day.
- Clover: Clovers and shamrocks are a well-known symbol of good luck - carry one in your wallet!
Gambling/games: Are you a fan of gaming and gambling? Use some of these magical herbs to bring you success with cards and dice!
- Chamomile: Wash your hands in chamomile tea to ensure good luck at the gaming tables.
- Buckeye: Carry a buckeye in your pocket to bring you success in games of chance - or bake a batch of buckeye candies to eat beforehand!
Legal issues/justice: If you have a court case coming up - whether it's civil or criminal - be sure to look into some of these magical herbs:
- Chamomile: Bathe in a chamomile wash before going to court to ensure a favorable outcome.
- Ginger: Chew a bit of ginger as you walk into the courtroom, and discreetly spit a bit of the juice on the floor, to bring about a fair and just decision.
- High John Root: Carry a bit of High John in your pocket to sway a court decision your way.
Health and Wellness
Many Pagans - and others - use herbs as a tool in the magical arsenal. While not every herb is safe to ingest - and be sure to read about Dangerous Herbs before you get started - many of them are used in a magical or folkloric context to bring about healing. If you're interested in healing magic, here are some of the most popular healing herbs to keep on hand, and how you can use them.
Please do keep in mind that if you're going to use herbs internally - such as a tea or tincture - it's always a good idea to check with your physician first. There are some medical conditions that contraindicate the use of various herbs, so do your homework before you begin.
In addition to those listed below, be sure to read about 9 Healing Herbs for Your Magical Medicine Cabinet.
- Valerian: Valerian can be brewed into a tea to help alleviate anxiety.
- Lavender: Place sprigs of lavender under your pillow to help relieve stress.
- Rosemary: Make an astringent out of it and use it as a skin wash to clear up your complexion, a soother for eczema, or one of these other healing methods.
- Witch Hazel: Use as a topical astringent for your skin, and in workings that will help others see your true beauty.
- Catnip: Rub catnip leaves on your skin to freshen it (although you may want to avoid this if you're allergic to cats), or burn it incense for workings related to beauty.
- Ginseng: This root is typically associated with male potency - if you want a man to see how beautiful you are and bring him to you, use ginseng in your magic.
- Dandelion: Use dandelion heads and leaves in incense for healing rituals focusing on depression.
- Honeysuckle: Associated with willpower, honeysuckle can help give you the extra inner strength to fight depression.
- Lavender: Lavender is popular in aromatherapy - inhaling its fresh scent, or a few drops of oil, can help calm an anxious or nervous mind, as well as providing headache relief. You can also try one of these healing methods.
- Apple Blossom: Make a vinegar infusion with the blossoms, and use it to treat itchy, painful insect bites or stings. Here are some more healing ideas for apple blossoms.
- Comfrey: Brew a comfrey tea to help with general healing, or use a juice from the pressed leaves for a poultice for minor cuts and abrasions.
- Eucalyptus:Warm the leaves or oil, and inhale the vapors to clear clogged sinuses, stuffy noses, and other upper respiratory issues. Read more about the healing properties of eucalyptus.
- Chamomile: Brew into a tea to aid in problems such as morning sickness, digestive disorders, gastritis, and difficult bowel movements. Read more about the healing properties of chamomile.
- Goldenseal: Keep goldenseal handy in your medicine cabinet to clean out minor wounds and abrasions. Here are some additional uses for goldenseal in healing.
- Feverfew: A decoction sweetened with honey or sugar is sometimes used to relieve light coughing or wheezing. It's a great herb to use externally as well - make a tincture or ointment to apply onto insect bites to relieve itching or swelling. For more healing ideas, read about Feverfew.
- Sandalwood:The wood can be ground down into a fine powder, and used for beauty treatments - add a bit of rose oil or camphor, and apply it to your skin for cleansing. Read more about the healing properties of sandalwood.
- Peppermint: Peppermint is good for the skin - rub the leaves on yourself to freshen up. You can also chew them for a quick tooth-cleaning. Use the dried leaves in incense for workings related to healing magic.
- Mugwort: If someone has overactive dreams, they can be balanced out with a ritual bath made from mugwort and indulged in prior to bedtime.
- Lavender: Keep a lavender sachet under your pillow to help with restless sleep.
- Rosemary: Pot some rosemary and keep it by your bed, or use a bit of the essential oils in workings related to better sleep.
- Thyme: Thyme can be used in healing rituals, or to bring about restful sleep.
Love, Lust and Friendship
There are a number of herbs and plants associated with magic relating to love, lust and friendship. Try some of these in your magical workings. As always, if your tradition forbids the use of love magic, then don't use it.
- Orange & Lemon: Make a sachet of dried orange or lemon peels, or use them in a potpourri, to strengthen the bonds of friendship.
- Sweet Annie: Burn sweet Annie in incense to help repair a damaged relationship with a friend.
- Vanilla: Use vanilla bean in rituals and workings having to do with forming new friendships.
- Apple Blossom: Add apple blossoms to teas, incense or potpourri when working on love magic.
- Bleeding Heart: Plant bleeding hearts around your front door to invite love into your home.
- Lavender: To bring love your way, carry lavender flowers in a sachet on your person, or hang stalks of it in your home.
- Periwinkle: Include periwinkle flowers when making love magic poppets.
- Tulip: Wear a tulip close to your body if you know you'll be around the person you're in love with, and they'll be more aware of you.
- Violet, Daisy & Daffodil: Make a garland to wear in your hair, or carry a bit of violet, daisy or daffodil in your pocket to attract a new lover.
- Yarrow: Yarrow is associated with Venus and Aphrodite - use it in rituals in which you call upon deities of love for assistance.
- Allspice, Cinnamon and Clove: Blend allspice, cinnamon, and/or cloves into a cake for someone you're attracted to, and it will help draw them closer.
- Ginseng: Carry ginseng with you to help improve sexual potency.
- Dill: Add dill seed to a bath before you get together with someone you're lusting for, for a little magical push - don't use too much, or you'll smell like pickles!
- Vanilla: A bit of vanilla dabbed behind your ears makes you irresistable to those you want to want you.
- Yohimbe: Use to cure impotency, or to attract new sexual partners.
Protection, Strength and Courage
In many magical traditions, workings can be done to ensure protection of home, property, and people. There are a number of simple ways you can do protection magic involving herbs and plants.
- Aloe Vera: Keep potted aloe plants in your home to protect the inhabitants - it's said that aloe will keep you safe from common household accidents.
- Violet, Thistle, Honeysuckle, and Fennel: Plant these herbs around your home. When they bloom, harvest them and hang them up to dry. Use the dried herbs in protective sachets or incense.
- Hyssop: Carry some hyssop in your pocket, or spread it around the perimeter of your property to add a layer of magical protection.
- Asoefetida: Use asofetida in incense during protection rituals.
- Mandrake: Plant mandrake around the perimeter of your property as a barrier, or place some under your doorstep for protection. Use as a magical poppet for self defense.
- Heather: Use heather in a dream pillow if you feel you might be under magical attack.
- Holly & Mistletoe: Plant holly around the perimeter of your property for magical protection, or hang mistletoe over your doors and windows.
- Mugwort: Place mugwort under your pillow to prevent astral attacks, or to ward off psychic attacks from those who would do you harm. You can also use it to make protection oil.
- Onion: Make an Onion Braid protection charm to hang in your home to protect those who live there.
- Cedar: Carry a bit of cedar in your pocket when you're facing new challenges, to help boost your courage.
- Mullein: Use mullein in a sachet or incense blend for workings that you'll need extra courage for.
- Tonka Bean: A Tonka Bean carried on your person will help improve confidence, especially if you're facing a legal issue.
- Cinnamon: Tie a pair of cinnamon sticks together, and place them under your bed or carry them with you.
- Oak & Acorns: Carry an acorn in your pocket for strength and power, or plant an oak tree in your yard to help give you extra strength.
- Bay Leaf: Place a bay leaf in your shoe to help you walk with confidence and show your inner strength.
- Thistle: Carry a bit of dried thistle in an amulet or talisman, or burn it in rituals that relate to developing your emotional and mental strength.
Intuition, Prophecy and Wisdom
Intuition, Prophecy & Wisdom:
- Sage: Although typically associated with cleansing and purification, sage can also be burned during divination sessions for an added magical boost.
- Tobacco leaf: In some magical traditions, tobacco leaf is burned in rituals related to divination.
- Jasmine: Burn some dried jasmine in your bedroom as you sleep to help with divinatory dreams, or if you're stuck at a crossroads in decisionmaking and need your intuition to guide you.
- Mugwort: Place a few sprigs of fresh mugwort under your pillow to bring on prophetic dreams.
- Heliotrope: Associated with the sun, heliotrope can come in handy in rituals focusing on prophecy, in divination rituals, or even to call upon solar deities for guidance.
- Rowan: Use the wood of the rowan tree to make a divining rod or wand, or carry the leaves and berries in an amulet to help develop your own psychic skills.