Spells and Procedures
Enchanting Herbs
Prior to actually using herbs in magic, they can be enchanted. Enchantment (in a magical context) aligns the vibrations of the plants involved with your magical need. Thus it is a process which increases the effectiveness of the herbs.
Enchantment may be performed on a single herb or a mixture, but should not be done until moments before the herb is to be used. When several herbs are needed for a spell they may be enchanted together as a mixture or singly as each herb is introduced into the mixture.
A preliminary enchantment may be performed if the herb is collected from the wilds or a garden. While actually cutting the herb for a specific spell the need should be stressed, as should the plant’s role in fulfilling that need, i.e.,
I gather you, rosemary, herb of the Sun, to increase
my mental powers and concentration.
This begins the process of enchantment, although it is preliminary only.
The equipment is simple: a plain wooden or ceramic bowl, two candleholders, and a supply of colored candles.
Place the bowl in the center of the altar, the candleholders with correctly colored candles on either side (see Tables & Appendices for colors and their magical uses). The herbs to be enchanted should be placed around the bowl in their containers.
Light the candles and still your mind. Unplug the phone and lock the door. If you wish, darken the room of artificial illumination. Enchant herbs (and perform all magic) only when you are alone and will be free from interruption.
Attunement
Pour the needed amount of dried herb into the bowl. Sit or stand calmly and gaze into the herb. Sense its vibrations awaiting within the leaves and flowers and stems; see them emerging from the plant or lying in wait. Psychics can see the vibrations leaving the plants in various forms, such as sharp jagged lines, lazy spirals or blazing comets. Lean toward the bowl and place your power hand (see Glossary) within it, touching the herb. Leave it motionless for a few seconds. Visualize your need strongly.
Enchantment
Run your fingers through the herb. Still strongly visualizing your need, send it into the herb. Feel your fingertips charging the herb with energy. If you find trouble holding the image in your mind chant simple words that match your need, such as:
Yarrow, yarrow, make love grow.
Chant this endlessly under your breath. As you run your fingers through the herb feel them infusing the plant with your need.
When the herb is tingling with power (or when you sense that the enchantment is complete) remove your hand. The plant has been enchanted.
If there are other plants to be used in a mixture, add them one at a time, re-enchanting the mixture with each addition.
If you wish to enchant herbs to be used separately, remove the enchanted herb from the bowl and wipe it clean with a dry towel. Replace the candles with colors appropriate to the new herb and repeat the procedure.
When making incense, infusions, sachets, poppets and the like powder or grind herbs (if needed) before enchanting.
If roots or branches are to be enchanted, simply hold in your power hand, visualizing and/or chanting, or lay it on top of the bowl between the candles.
In earlier days to “enchant” meant to sing or chant to. Once you have sung your song of need to the herbs, they are ready for use.
Of course enchantment isn’t absolutely necessary, but it is a method of obtaining better results. The wise herbalist will never omit enchantments.
Magical Procedures
This section details the actual methods of wording with herbs that are mentioned in Part II of this book. Where the text directs you to “carry rosemary,” for instance, it should be made into a sachet. These procedures are not necessary in every instance.
Sachets
Herbs to be carried or placed in the house (over doors, windows, etc.) should be made into sachets. A sachet is a small bag or piece of cloth in which herbs are contained. In voodoo magic this is often called a “charm bag” or “root bag.” They are exceedingly easy to make.
Take a small amount of material (square, round, or triangular shaped) of the appropriate color. Felt works well and is relatively inexpensive.
Place the enchanted herbs (usually no more than a tablespoon or so) on the center of the material. Gather the ends together and tie with a piece of cord or yarn of a matching color. As you knot the cord, firmly visualize your need. (In actual fact, do this during the entire procedure). Make two more knots and the sachet is finished. The smaller sachets are, the easier they are to carry in the pocket. Household sachets may be made larger since they aren’t carried.
Poppets
This is also known as the “voodoo doll,” although it has been in magical use at least 4,000 years and was only lately associated with voodoo. Though they have been made out of roots, potatoes, lead, bark, paper, and other materials, in magical herbalism poppets are usually fashioned of cloth and herbs. The poppet is a doll made to represent the person to be aided through magic.
Poppets are most often made to speed healing, and are also fashioned to draw money, love, and all the various magical needs. For best results do not construct a poppet representing another person; only yourself.
Poppets are easy to make: draw a rough outline of a human figure (about eight inches long). Transfer this outline to a doubled-over piece of cloth of the appropriate color. Cut it out so that you have two identical pieces of cloth. Pin these together and begin to sew them around the edges. When three-quarters of the doll is stitched, fill it with the appropriate enchanted herbs. For instance, if I need help in overcoming a cold, I’d stuff the poppet with crushed eucalyptus leaves.
Once the poppet is completed, hold it in your power hand and visualize your need. State in plain words that you have fashioned the poppet to aid you in becoming healthy, to draw money, etc. The herbs within the poppet will go to work in manifesting your need. The poppet filled with healing herbs (for example) represents you “filled” with health.
Place the poppet on the altar. Burn candles of the proper colors and stare at the poppet, visualizing your need. Store the doll in a safe place when not in use.
After it has done its job, pick it apart and bury the herbs and cloth.
Infusion
The infusion is the origin of the “potion” so identified with Witches. It is simply a process of soaking herbs in hot water.
There are some refinements, however. Use no metal pots when boiling water or during the steeping process, for they interfere with the herb’s powers. Keep the liquid covered during infusion so that little steam is lost. Finally, enchant all herbs prior to infusion.
Use one teaspoon of dried herb to every cup of water. Heat water until just boiling. Pour over the herb and cover. Let steep nine to thirteen minutes. Strain and cool before using.
Infusions are drunk as teas, of course, but they are also added to baths, rubbed onto furniture and floors, and used to anoint the body. Needless to say, never make an infusion of a poisonous plant.
Baths
Baths are often used in herb magic, for they are an easy way to spread an herb’s power over the entire body.
There are two methods; one, make a sachet (use about one-half to one cup of the appropriate enchanted herb) of cheesecloth. Drop this into the warm bath water.
A better method entails the preparation of an infusion (see above). Add the strained liquid to the tub.
Essential oils are also sometimes added to baths. Just a few drops are all that is necessary for most oils; too much may irritate the skin. (See Tables & Appendices for oils and their magical powers.)
Ointments
An old form of herb magic as well as medicine, an ointment is simply any fatty substance to which powdered herbs and/or oils have been added. A good example of this is found in the text under MALLOW. In the past, lard was generally used as the base, but today vegetable shortening is usually substituted. It certainly smells better.
To a cup of shortening or lard, add three tablespoons of the enchanted, powdered herb(s). Pound or mash them together while visualizing until well-mixed, then place in an airtight container to store.
An alternative method is to melt the base over low heat. Add the herbs and steep for about nine minutes or until the herb is “fried.” Strain and allow the ointment to cool before use.
A third method is even easier; melt the lard or shortening, add drops of the appropriate oils, and cool.
Using the ointment is easy: simply apply to the body at the pulse points (wrists, neck, etc.). Such ointments are best stored in airtight containers in a cool place.
Oils
Though extracting oils by steam distillation and other methods is almost prohibitively expensive, we are spared this cost by the wide availability of essential oils and synthetics on the market today. Many so-called “essential oils” are actually synthetic; this does not negate their use in magic, however. If they smell good, use them.
Though oils aren’t covered in this book, a list of them by their uses, and commercial suppliers of oils, can be found in the Tables & Appendices.
Essential oils are used in numerous ways. They are worn on the body, rubbed onto candles, dabbed onto sachets and poppets, added to baths, burned on charcoal blocks, and smeared onto roots.
Incense
Incense composition and use is an art form in itself. Basically, an incense is any combination of plant materials, perhaps combined with essential oils and a base, which are mixed together and burned or smouldered on charcoal. (This type of incense is known as “raw” or “granular.” It is usually used in magic, rather than the stick or cone forms.)
In magical use, incense is burned for its vibrations alone as a kind of spell, while visualizing. But it can also be used as a background while performing other types of magic.
In composing your own incense formulae remember that “more” is not always better. Any recipe requiring over nine substances is probably too complicated. Simply choose a few plants appropriate to your need. For a love incense, for instance, I might choose lemon balm, cardamom, cinnamon, ginger, and vanilla. The herbs are reduced to powder form with the mortar and pestle and then enchanted. The resultant mixture is ready for use.
To use incense, ignite a charcoal block (see Tables & Appendices) and place in a heat-proof container. An incense burner is fine, as is a dish half-filled with salt or sand. Sprinkle a small amount of incense on the glowing charcoal every few minutes during your spell.
Remember, however, that many sweetly-scented plants smell quite differently when burning, so don’t be surprised if your incense isn’t pleasant. The important factors here are the vibrations and not the scents.
Four All-Purpose Spells
These spells are designed to be used when no other is available or desired. As with any part of magic they can be altered to suit your tastes and imagination. Most of them should be done outside, but with a little thought they can be performed inside as well.
Though they are related to the four elements, each spell can be used for any magical need, alone or in conjunction with other spells. (See Earth Power by Scott Cunningham, Llewellyn Publications, 1983.) For example, if I wished to attract a love, I might wear a sachet and then throw herbs onto a roaring ocean, as in the Water Spell.
Feel free to make up your own spells when working with herbs; it’s perfectly alright and the spell can be tailor-made.
The Earth Spell
Place the appropriate enchanted herbs in a bag and take to a wild place. With your hands, dig a small hole in the Earth and pour the herbs into it. Visualize your need strongly. Cover the herbs over and leave the area. It is done.
The Air Spell
Stand in an open place atop a hill or mountain, far from tall trees, buildings, and other hills. Hold the appropriate enchanted herbs in your power hand and, facing North, blow a little of them to that direction. Turn East and repeat the spell, then do so to the South. At the West blow all the herbs far from your hand. Visualize your need strongly all the while, stating it in words if you wish.
The Fire Spell
Write or make a symbol of your need on a piece of paper cut into a triangle. While visualizing your need, place the appropriate enchanted herbs in the center of the paper and crumble it tightly so that the herbs are trapped inside the paper.
Anoint with oils if you wish.
Build a roaring fire in an outside pit or indoor fireplace. Throw the herb packet into the fire. As it touches the flames firmly visualize your need. Continue to do so until the packet has been consumed by the flames.
The Water Spell
Take the appropriate enchanted herbs to a river, spring, lake, or seashore. Hold them tightly in your power hand and visualize your need. With a sweeping motion, scatter the herbs onto the water. The power has been sent.