The Herbs
How to Read the Entries
Each plant is covered by an article of varying amounts of information. For convenience much of this information is summarized in the briefest possible form; thus half of each listing is basically a recitation of nomenclature, planetary and elemental rulers, and so on. Here is a look at each item:
The first listing is the common name, which is simply the most widely known. The next is the scientific name for both genus and species (if known). This is of the utmost importance, for several herbs share common names and can be easily confused with one another. With this information exact identification can be made and mistakes avoided. Thereafter, where applicable, are any health codes that explain any possible health issues that may occur with the herb’s use. This information has been newly updated for the fifteenth anniversary edition, and is based on the most current information known about the herbs. If the word “Poison” appears, a herb should never be used internally or applied to the skin. Never use any herb internally unless specifically directed to do so. (Please see page 266 for a complete list of the health codes.)
Following are folk names by which the plant has been known, if any. Since this information is cross-indexed with the common names, a person who knows acacia only as Egyptian Thorn can locate it with ease by using the Folk Name cross-reference at the back of the book. Next, the gender of the plant is listed. This somewhat confusing aspect of magical herbalism is simply an old way of categorizing herbs by their basic type of vibration. In Magical Herbalism I used the terms “hot” and “cold” (as did earlier herbalists) to avoid sexist connotations, but this is even more confusing. I still find distaste in identifying bay, for instance, as “male” and willow as “female.” Therefore, the terms “masculine” and “feminine” are used to denote each plant’s gender.
Masculine herbs are those which are possessed of strong, fiery vibrations. These are the herbs which are actually used for protection, purification, hex-breaking, exorcism, lust, to maintain sexual potency, health, strength, courage, and so on, as well as any that strengthen the mind; feminine herbs are plants which are quieter, subtler, softer in their effects. Thus they are used to attract love, increase beauty, recapture youth, aid in healing and developing psychic powers, increase fertility, draw wealth, promote happiness and peace, aid sleep and spirituality, and cause visions.
This is, again, a form of classification which has been included because of its traditional importance. It is a useful tool in determining magical uses.
The plant’s ruling planet is next, if known. While this is not the place to explain planetary magic, the heavenly bodies (including the Sun and Moon) have long been associated with various types of magical needs. Here is a quick list:
|
Sun: |
Legal Matters, Healing, Protection |
|
Moon: |
Sleep, Prophetic Dreams, Fertility, Peace, Healing |
|
Mercury: |
Mental Powers, Divination, Psychic Powers, Wisdom |
|
Venus: |
Love, Friendship, Fidelity, Beauty, Youth |
|
Mars: |
Courage, Strength, Lust, Sexual Potency, Exorcism, Hex-Breaking, Protection |
|
Jupiter: |
Money, Prosperity, Legal Matters, Luck |
|
Saturn: |
Visions, Longevity, Exorcisms, Endings |
The ruling element follows, where known. The theory of the four elements, the building blocks of the universe (another method of dividing up the power), is explained more fully in Earth Power. However, in brief, four elements (Earth, Air, Fire, and Water) are within all things in varying amounts.
This includes herbs. Each, naturally, has its own use in magic:
|
Earth: |
Money, Prosperity, Fertility, Healing, Employment |
|
Air: |
Mental Powers, Visions, Psychic Powers, Wisdom |
|
Fire: |
Lust, Courage, Strength, Exorcism, Protection, Health |
|
Water: |
Sleep, Meditation, Purification, Prophetic Dreams, Healing, Love, Friendships, Fidelity |
As you can plainly see by the above tables, the gender, planet, and element of each plant are intimately related and, to the expert, provide a wide range of magical information.
Since many plants have been associated with divinities through the centuries, deities specifically connected with the plant are listed, if any. This provides yet another clue to the plant’s use in magic, for each divinity has one or more influences attributed to them. Venus, as a Goddess of love, is a well-known example; herbs sacred to the Goddess Venus may be used in love spells.
A summation of each herb’s powers follows for easy reference. This listing may not contain all of the various uses mentioned in the text, however.
If the plant has been used in a religious capacity in any way relevant to herb magic, this is listed under ritual uses.
Finally, magical uses begins the main bulk of each discussion.
Where any of the information isn’t available or relevant, it has been omitted.