Witch’s Herbal
This section is an alphabetical listing of the herbs commonly used in magic. It is by no means complete, in the number of herbs included or in the uses thereof, but it should serve as a reference guide when devising your own spells and rituals.
For this reason, all extraneous wording and information has been omitted. The format provides clear and easy access to the common name, Latin name, folk and magical names, gender, ruling planet, ruling element, parts used, basic powers, and specific uses of a wide variety of herbs. Also included are deities associated with the herbs.
Some of this information may take a bit of explanation. The gender of an herb, for instance, refers to the type of energy the plant emits. If a plant’s influence is stimulating, aggressive, electric, and/or positive, it is hot. Plants that are relaxing, passive, magnetic, and/or negative are cold.
Herbs are also sometimes classified as being masculine or feminine, but I prefer the hot-cold method as it does not bring up the question of sexism.
The Latin and folk names are given to help in distinguishing one herb from another, as many have similar names but quite different properties.
Most of the rest of the information is self-explanatory. Keep in mind, though, that this list could be expanded a hundred-fold and still not begin to record all the magical powers of herbs. It should be used as a guide on the path of magical herbalism. When there is a question of when to use one herb over another, use your intuition.
You will note the absence of medicinal or medical information. I have purposely left this out, as there are a number of reliable guides in this area.
Acacia (Acacia senegal)
Folk names: Cape gum, gum arabic tree, Egyptian thorn
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Associated deities: Osiris, Astarte, Ishtar, Diana
Parts used: Twigs, wood
Basic powers: Protection, clairvoyance
Specific uses: Burn with sandalwood during meditation, to seek illumination, and to develop the psychic powers. Carry the wood as a protective amulet.
Anemone (Anemone pulsalilla)
Folk names: Wind flower, pasque flower
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Adonis, Venus
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Healing
Specific uses: Healing charms, amulets. Gather a perfect bloom when the first are seen in spring, tie up in a red cloth, and carry as a guard against disease.
Angelica (Angelica archangelica or A. officinalis)
Folk names: Masterwort, archangel, garden angelica
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deity: Venus
Parts used: Leaves, root
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Grow in garden as a protection. Carry the root with you as an amulet. Burn the dried leaves in exorcism rituals.
Anise (Pimpinella anisum)
Folk names: Anneys, aniseed
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Part used: Seeds
Basic powers: Protection, purification
Specific uses: A good, general cleansing bath is made with a handful of anise seeds and a few bay leaves. This is especially effective if you have (accidentally or intentionally) killed something. A pillow of anise keeps away all nightmares.
Apple (Pyrus malus)
Folk names: Fruit of the underworld, silver bough, tree of love, silver branch
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deities: Venus, Hercules, Diana, King Arthur, Dionysius, Olwen, Apollo, Hera, Athena
Parts used: Fruit, cider, blossoms
Basic powers: Love, healing
Speciflc uses: Add apple blossoms to love and healing incenses. Cut an apple in three pieces, rub each on a sick person’s body, and then bury them. The decaying apple will cure the illness. The same ritual is done with warts. Pour cider to give life to a newly dug field. Give an apple to a lover as a present, cut it in half, and eat one half while your lover eats his or hers. Use apple cider in place of blood or wine, if they are cal-led for in old magical spells and rites. Eat apples on Samhain. Apples are sometimes also used in place of the poppet.
Asafoetida (Ferula foetida)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Exorcism, purification
Specific uses: This acrid herb is burned or carried to drive away evil and disease. Destroys manifestations. Keeps fever and colds away if worn.
Ash (Fraxinus excelsior F. americana)
Folk name: Nion
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Associated deities: Poseidon, Woden, Thor, Mars, Gwidion, Neptune
Parts used: Leaves, branches
Basic powers: Protection
Specific uses: Carve some of the wood into an equal-armed cross as a protection against drowning. The Witch’s broom is made from an ash staff,
together with birch twigs and a willow binding. Magic healing wands are often made from ash branches. If mandrake is not available, poppets are carved of ash roots to be used in healing and other rituals. Place ash leaves beneath the pillow to induce prophetic dreaming. Use in sea rituals of all kinds.
Avens (Geum urbanum)
Folk names: Herb bennet, star of the earth, yellow avens, bennet, blessed herb, golden star
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection
Specific uses: Carry as an amulet to guard against wild animals. Burn during exorcism and cleansing rituals. Add to protective sachets, amulets, and incenses.
Balm of Gilead (Populus candicans)
Folk name: Mecca balsam
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Part used: Buds
Basic powers: Protection, intellectual, manifestations
Specific uses: Carry the buds to mend a broken heart. Burn to set up a material basis in which spirits may manifest during ceremonies of this kind. Add to love and protection sachets.
Basil (Ocimum basilicum)
Folk names: American dittany, alabahaca, St. Joseph’s wort, sweet basil, Witches’ herb, our herb
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Krishna, Vishnu
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Purification, protection, exorcism, love
Specific uses: Add to exorcism and protection incenses. It is an ingredient of the purification bath sachet. Often used in wealth and prosperity rituals. Add to love sachets and incenses.
Bay Laurel (Laurus nobilis)
Folk names: Bay, bay tree, Greecian laurel, Indian bay, Roman laurel, sweet bay, baie
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Aesculapius, Apollo, Ceres, Cerridwen
Part used: Leaves
Basic powers: Protection, clairvoyance, exorcism, purification, healing
Specific uses: Burn the leaves to induce visions. Wear as an amulet to ward off negativity and evil. Burn and scatter on the floor in exorcism and purification rituals. Put leaves under the pillow to induce inspiration and prophetic dreams. Add to purification incenses and baths. Use in healing incenses and sachets. Pick while facing east, just at sunrise. Protection against lightning.
Benzoin (Styrax benzoin)
Folk names: Benjamen, gum benzoin, Siam benzoin
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Part used: Gum
Basic powers: Intellectual, purification
Specific uses: Burn with cinnamon for business success. Use in purification incenses to clear the surrounding area. A tincture of benzoin is used to preserve magical oils.
Betony (Stachys officinalis)
Folk names: Bishopwort, lousewort, wood betony, purple betony
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, purification
Specific uses: Add to all incenses of purification and protection. Burn in outdoor fires and jump through the cleansing smoke, especially at Midsummer. Stuff a pillow with the herb and sleep on it to prevent nightmares. Carry to protect against intoxication.
Bistort (Polygonum bistorta)
Folk names: Patience dock, snakeweed, dragonwort, sweet dock, osterick, passions, English serpentary, red legs, Easter giant
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Clairvoyance, fertility
Specific uses: Carry it if you wish to conceive. Add to divinatory incenses, especially with frankincense.
Broom (Cytisus scoparius)
Folk names: Link, genista, banal, scotch broom, Irish broom
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Purification, protection, wind spells
Specific uses: Use the plant to sweep the surrounding area when working magic outside. Use in purification incenses and hang a little of the herb in your magic room as a protection. Use to raise and calm winds. Raise them by throwing the herb into the air, preferably off a mountain top, and calm them by burning the herb.
Bryony (Bryonia alba)
Folk names: Wood vine, briony, tetterberry, white bryony, tamus, ladies’ seal, wild hops, wild vine
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Earth
Part used: Roots
Basic powers: Prosperity, protection
Specific uses: Bryony roots are often used in place of the rather rare mandrake root. A bryony root is set on a piece of money to cause one’s riches to grow.
Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Synonyms: Beggar’s buttons, clotburr, bardana, happy major, hardock, burrseed, personata, great burdock, hurrburr, cocklebur
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Purification, protection
Specific uses: Cast in house or magic room to ward off negativity. Add to protection sachets of all kinds. Wear a necklace of dried, carved burdock roots as protection against magic.
Cactus (all species)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Parts used: Whole, living plant, spines
Basic powers: Protection
Specific uses: Grow in the garden and inside the house as a safeguard against burglary and unwanted intrusions. Grow in the bedroom to guard your chastity. The spines are used in image magic, to mark or write symbols on images of wax or roots.
Such uses are usually restricted to the more negative aspects of image magic, however. Fill a jar with cactus spines, rusty nails and old tacks, pins and needles. Add rue and rosemary leaves to fill the jar, seal tightly, and then bury under your doorstep as a powerful protective device.
Camomile (Anthemis nobilis)
Folk names: Maythen, manzanilla, chamaimelon, camamyle, ground apple, whig plant, Roman camomile
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Prosperity, meditation
Specific uses: Use in prosperity charms to draw money. Add to incenses intended to bring on restful states for meditation. Induces sleep if burned.
Camphor (Cinnamomum camphora)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Part used: Gum
Basic power: Anaphrodisiac
Specific uses: Endeavor a would-be lover to smell camphor if he or she is forcing their attentions on you and you are not interested. It will instantly turn him or her off. Used also in incenses to produce sleep. Worn in a small pouch around the neck, it wards off colds.
Caraway (Carum carvi)
Folk names: Careum carvi
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Part used: Seeds
Basic powers: Protection, passion
Specific uses: Carry and use in sachet bags for protection. Add to love sachets and charms to attract a lover in the more physical aspect of that word. Carry the seeds to strengthen the memory. Once used to cure fickleness in lovers.
Carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus)
Folk names: Nelka, gilliflower, Jove’s flower
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Protection, energy
Specific uses: Once worn by Witches to prevent untimely death on the scaffold, it is used in power incenses and placed on the altar to produce added energy. Dry nine red carnations in the Sun, crumble them, and separate from the stems. Pour one dram carnation oil over them, mix well, and smolder on charcoal for a tremendously powerful incense. Produces tons of energy!
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Folk names: Field balm, catmint, catnep, cat’s wort, nip, catrup
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deity: Bast
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Love, animal contacts
Specific uses: Dry large leaves to use as bookmarks in magical books. Give to your cat to sniff and play with and to create a psychic bond between you and your cat. Use in love sachets and incenses, especially with rose petals.
Celandine (Chelidonium majus)
Folk names: Tetterwort, garden celandine, greater celandine, chelidonium, devil’s milk, swallow herb, swallowwort, celydoyne
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, escape
Specific uses: Aids in escaping unwarranted imprisonment and entrapments of every kind. Wear next to skin and replace every three days. Imparts joy and good spirits if worn and it cures depression.
Cinnamon (Cinnamonum zeylanicum or C. lauraceae)
Folk names: Sweet wood, cassia
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Bark
Basic powers: Protection, healing, passion
Specific uses: Burn to raise very high spiritual vibrations. Use in healing incenses and burn to stimulate clairvoyance. One of the herbs used to stimulate and excite the passions of the male. Add to prosperity mixtures. Mix with myrrh for a good incense for general working.
Cinquefoil (Potentilla canadensis)
Folk names: Five-finger grass, five-finger blossom, sunfield, synkefoyle, five fingers
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love, prosperity, healing
Specific uses: Hang at door as a protecton. Use in all spells of prosperity, purification, and protection. Cinquefoil represents love, money, health, power, and wisdom, and so is an all-purpose magical herb. To make a good prosperity sachet, mix together equal parts of cinquefoil, cinnamon, cloves, lemon balm, and add a whole vanilla or tonka bean. Do this on a Thursday after sunset during the Waxing Moon. Sew up into a rich purple cloth bag and carry to increase riches.
Clove (Caryophyllus aromaticus or Syzygium aromaticum)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Flower buds
Basic powers: Worn to drive away hostile and negative forces, and to stop gossip.
Specific uses: Carry to strengthen the memory and add to sachets designed to attract the opposite sex. A necklace of cloves (string them on a red thread, using a needle) is often given to babies as a protective device. Hang where they will not be able to touch it.
Clover (Trifolium spp.)
Folk names: Trefoil, honeystalks, three-leaved grass
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: All four elements
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection
Specific uses: The three-leaved clover is often used in rituals designed to protect or to keep one looking youthful and fair. As a protection, carry one on your person. To keep looking young, gather dew on May Day morning, just before the Sun rises. Put into this water three clover stalks. Let these steep all day out of the Sun’s rays. The next morning, again before the Sun rises, rub a little of the water on your face. Do this every morning until the water is used up. Cover the bowl with a cloth to keep the water clean and store in a place where it will remain untouched until the following morning.
Four-leaved clovers are carried to prevent madness. It is also a popular amulet to avoid military service. Gather the four-leaved clovers in the morning, then walk to the nearest hill. As the Sun rises, throw one clover to the north, and one to each of the other directions, calling upon the powers of the elements to protect you, to keep you from getting drafted, or whatever your wish is. Then, after finishing the ritual, pluck one more four-leaved clover (remember, leave something in payment to the earth for the plant taken) and keep it as a magical link with the elements. Snakes will not venture where clover grows.
Comfrey (Symphytum officinale)
Folk names: Yalluc, slippery root, boneset, assear, consolida, healing herb, guni plant, consound, bruise wort, knitbone wallwort, black wort, healing blade, salsify
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection
Specific uses: To ensure your safety while traveling, carry some comfrey. Put some in your luggage to ensure its safety!
Coriander (Coriandrum sativum)
Folk names: Cilentro, cilantro, culantro, Chinese parsley
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: Seeds
Basic power: Love
Specific use: Long used in love sachets and charms.
Cucumber (Cucumis sativus)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Part used: Fruit
Basic powers: Healing, fertility
Specific uses: Bind peel around head to cure headache. Add seeds to lunar incenses. The cucumber aids fertility if kept in the bedroom. Replace every seven days.
Cyclamen (Cyclamen europaeum)
Folk names: Sow bread, groundbread, swinebread
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deities: Hecate, Venus
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Love, fertility, protection
Specific uses: Grow in the bedroom as protection while sleeping. Carry the blossoms to remove the grief of an ended love affair. Grow outside to protect the garden and the house. Carry the flower to aid in fertility matters.
Cypress (Cupressus spp.)
Folk name: Tree of death
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Associated deities: Mithras, Aphrodite, Ashtoreth, Pluto, Persephone, Hercules, Saturn
Parts used: Branches, wood
Basic powers: Protection, consecration
Specific uses: Make a fire of cypress and consecrate ritual objects in its smoke. Hang up for protection. Add to incenses used during the Waning Moon, or during the magical season of winter. Carry with you to become illuminated concerning death in all its aspects.
Dill (Anethum graveolens)
Folk names: Dill weed, aneton, dilly, garden dill
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: Use in love sachets. Tie up dried seed heads as protection. Hang in cradle to protect children. Also use in protection sachets and incenses. Add a half-handful of dill seeds to your bath water to attract women to you.
Dragon’s Blood (Daemonorops draco or Dracaena draco)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: Gum
Basic powers: Energy, purification, protection
Specific uses: Add a pinch of the ground herb in incenses to increase their potency and effectiveness. Add to love incenses and sachets. Put a piece of dragon’s blood under the mattress to cure impotency.
Elder (Sambucus canadensis)
Folk names: Yakori bengestro, devil’s eye, lady elder, frau holle, rob elder, hollunder, ellhorn, pipe tree, boure tree, bour tree, sweet elder, tree of doom, old lady, battree, old gal
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Associated deities: Holda, Venus
Parts used: Leaves, berries, flowers
Basic powers: Purification, love
Specific uses: Scatter berries and leaves to the four winds to protect. The branches are often used for fashioning magic wands. Stand beneath the elder and you will never be struck by lightning. (It is not advisable to stand beneath any tree during a lightning storm.)
Elecmapane (Inula helenium)
Folk names: Scabwort, nurse-heal, elfwort, alycompaine, elfdock, horse-heal
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Water
Parts used: Root, leaves
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Add to love charms of all kinds, especially in conjunction with mistletoe and vervain.
Eucalyptus (Eucalyptus globulus)
Folk name: Blue gum
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Air
Part used: Leaves, pods
Basic powers: Healing
Specific uses: Stuff healing poppets and pillows with the leaves. Ring blue candles with eucalyptus leaves and burn for healing vibrations. Hang a branch of eucalyptus leaves over the sickbed or in the sickroom, or add a few leaves to flowers sent to the afflicted. String immature (green) pods and hang around the neck to cure colds and sore throats.
Eyebright (Euphrasia officinalis)
Folk names: Euphrosyne, red eyebright
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Clairvoyance
Specific uses: Brew a simple and anoint the eyelid daily to induce clairvoyant visions. Use in making magic condensers for general magic work. (Caution: can cause dim vision.)
Fern (All spp.)
Gender: Hot and cold, depending
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: All ferns give extremely powerful protection. Grow in shady areas of the garden and in the house. Always include in vases of flowers. Throw fern on hot coals to send up an aura of protection. Also burn out-of-doors to bring rain. The unexpanded fronds of the male fern are dried over a Midsummer fire and kept for protection. These lucky hands are rare nowadays.
Frankincense (Boswellia carterii)
Folk names: Olibanum, olibans, incense
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Ra, Baal
Part used: Gum
Basic powers: Protection, purification, consecration, exorcism
Specific uses: Burn to raise vibrations, purify, consecrate, protect, and exorcise. Often used in charm bags and sachets. Induces visions and aids meditation. Burn during sunrise rituals of all kinds. Mix with cumin and burn as a powerful protective incense useful for general working.
Gardenia (Gardenia spp.)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Part used: Flower
Basic powers: Love passion
Specific uses: Wear the flower to attract love and new friends. Also wear the fresh flower to attract lovers. Dry and crush its petals. Mix with ground orris root and lightly dust the body to attract the opposite sex. Use as a link with the Moon.
Garlic (Allium Sativum)
Folk Name: Poor man’s treacle, garleac, garlicke, clove garlic
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated deity: Hecate
Part used: Bulb, flower
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Take garlic with you on trips over water to prevent drowning. Sailors carry it with them on board to prevent wreckage of the ship. Peel cloves of the fresh bulb, and place one in each room when disease threatens. Italians once bit the herb when evil spirits surrounded them, or when they feel fearful. Hang up in newly built homes. The flowers are often used to decorate protective altars. Add to all protective sachets, hang up a rope of garlic in the kitchen. Also, use in exorcisms. Mountain climbers carry to keep fair weather on their expeditions.
Geranium (Geranium spp. and Pelargonium spp.)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Mars
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, healing, protection
Specific uses: Wear the flowers or add them to love sachets. The white variety is worn to promote fertility, while the red are a good protection and aid healing. Plant the flowers in the garden (especially the pink and red) to protect the house and to keep snakes away from your property.
Hawthorn (Crataegus oxyacantha)
Folk names: Huath, May bush, tree of chastity, thorn, white thorn, May
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Associated Deity: Cardea
Parts used: Leaves, wood
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Make an anti-lightning charm of the wood. Tie up leaves in protection sachets. Carry to ensure good fishing. Witches often danced beneath hawthorns in England, and they still do.
Hazel (Corylus spp.)
Folk name: Coll
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Associated deities: Mercury, Thor, Artemis, Diana
Parts used: Nuts, wood
Basic powers: Fertility, protection, mental powers
Specific uses: Hazel wood makes good all-purpose wands. The forked branches are used in divining hidden objects, especially those buried in the earth. String hazel nuts and hang up in the house for luck. Present brides with a bag of the nuts to ensure luck and fertility, or carry one to make yourself fertile. The wood serves as an anti-lightning charm. The nuts are eaten to gain wisdom. Tie two hazel twigs together with red or gold thread to form a solar cross for a good-luck charm. Gather at night on Samhain. Draw a circle around yourself on the ground with a hazel twig if outside and in need of magical protection.
Heather(Calluna vulgaris)
Folk names: Common heather, ling, Scottish heather
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deity: Isis
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, rain-making
Specific uses: Carry as a guard against rape. Burn with fern to attract rain.
Heliotrope (Hellotropium europaeum or H. aborescens)
Folk names: Turnsole, cherry pie
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deity: Apollo
Parts used: Flowers, leaves
Basic powers: Clairvoyance, exorcism
Specific uses: Put under the pillow to induce prophetic dreams, especially to discover the thief when you have been robbed. Also used in exorcism, incenses, and healing sachets.
Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger)
Folk names: Hog’s bean, devil’s eye, henbells, Jupiter’s bean, poison tobacco
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Water
Part used: Leaves
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Gathered by a naked man, standing on one foot, alone, in the morning, it will help him gain the love of a woman, for it makes its bearer pleasant and delectable. Sometimes thrown into water to make rain. Do not eat!
High John the Conqueror (Impomoea purga)
Folk name: Jalap
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Part used: Root
Basic power: Prosperity
Specific uses: Anoint the root with mint oil and tie up in a green or purple bag to attract needed money. Also, add the root to candle-anointing oils.
Holly (Ilex aquifolium or I. opaca)
Folk name: Tinne
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Tie up as an anti-lightning charm. Heightens masculinity if one carries a sachet filled with the leaves and berries. Holly planted outside around the house is a good protection. An attractive protective plant to be used in decorations at Yuletide.
Honeysuckle (Lonicera caprifolium)
Folk name: Woodbine
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Earth
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Prosperity, clairvoyance
Specific uses: Ring green candles with the flowers to attract money. Add to all prosperity sachets. Lightly crush the fresh flowers and rub on the forehead to heighten clairvoyance powers.
Hops (Humulus lupulus)
Folk name: Beer flower
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Water
Part used: Fruit
Basic power: Healing
Specific uses: Healing incenses and sachets. A pillow stuffed with the dried herb helps bring on sleep.
Horehound (Marrubium vulgare)
Folk names: Eye of the star, white horehound, hoar-hound, maruil, soldier’s tea, seed of Horus, bull’s blood, marrubium, haran haran, llwyd y cwn
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Earth
Associated deity: Horus
Part used: The herb
Specific uses: Protective sachets, incenses.
Hyacinth (Hyacinthus orientalis)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, protection
Specific uses: Sachets to ease childbirth, protection, and a guard against nightmares. Sniff the fresh flower to relieve grief.
Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis)
Folk names: Ysopo, isopo
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Purification, protection
Specific uses: Add to purification bath sachets of all types, protection sachets, and incenses.
Ivy (Hedera spp.)
Folk name: Gort
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Water
Associated deities: Bacchus, Osiris, Dionysus, Cerridwen
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: A guardian when growing on the walls of a house or other building. Ivy is magically married to holly, and the two are often given to newlyweds. Used in primitive orgiastic rites of Bacchus and Dionysius.
Jasmine (Jasminum officinale or J. odoratissimum)
Folk names: Moonlight on the grove, jessamin
Gender: Cold
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Earth
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, prosperity
Specific uses: The flowers are used in love sachets and in prosperity rituals of all kinds. Jasmine attracts spiritual love.
Juniper (Juniperus communis)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: A sprig of juniper will protect the wearer from accidents. One of the earliest incenses used by Witches was made from a combination of the leaves and the dried, crushed berries. String the matured berries for an attractive charm, designed to attract lovers. Sometimes used in anti-theft sachets, as it guards against thieves. Grow juniper at your doorstep for protection.
Lavender (Lavendula officinale or L. vera)
Folk names: Spike, elf leaf
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, protection, purification
Specific uses: An ingredient in the purification bath sachet, lavender is also used in purification incenses. It is thrown onto the Midsummer fires by Witches as a sacrifice to the ancient gods. Lavender is a frequent addition to healing sachets, especially bath mixtures, and is added to incenses to cause sleep. At one time lavender was carried with rosemary to preserve chastity. Conversely, it is widely used to attract men for sexual affairs. Carry the herb to see ghosts.
Lemon Verbena (Lippia citriodora)
Folk names: Yerba louisa, cedron
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: Wear to make oneself attractive to the opposite sex. A strengthening herb often added to charms to add extra power. Hang a sprig around your neck to stop you from dreaming.
Lettuce (Lactuca sativa)
Folk names: Sleep wort, garden lettuce
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Rest, anaphrodisiac
Specific uses: Rub the juice of the herb onto the forehead to induce sleep and relaxation. Protective if grown in the garden. If you are consumed with lust, eat the leaves to cool down if you wish to.
Lovage (Levisticum officinale)
Folk names: Love root, lavose, sea parsley, Italian parsley, loving herbs, love parsley, lubestico, levisticum, Chinese lovage
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Part used: Root
Basic powers: Love, purification
Specific uses: Add the root to baths to become psychically cleansed. Also add to the bath with seven rose buds to make you more attractive to the opposite sex. Carry as a love attractor.
Mandrake, European (Mandragor officinarum)
Folk names: Brain thief, mandragor, alraun, gallows, mannikin, wild lemon, racoon berry, herb of Circe, baaras, womandrake
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Earth
Associated deities: Hecate, Hathor
Part used: Root
Basic powers: Protection, fertility
Specific uses: Place in the home as a powerful protective charm. Women carry the root to help them conceive. The root is used in image magic, but as the true mandrake is exceedingly rare the roots of the bryony or ash are good substitutes. In America, the May apple (Podo phyllum peltatum) is considered a fair replacement for the mandrake, and is often called American mandrake. Small bits of the genuine root, which are occassionally available in herb stores, are added to sachets for protection. The root is carried by men who wish to cure their impotency. Both types of mandrake, when available whole, are placed on the altar and the hearth as protective devices.
Marigold (Calendula officinalis)
Folk names: Calendula, summer’s bride, husband-man’s dial, holigold, marybud, marygold, bride of the Sun, pot marigold, spousa solis, golds, gold
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, clairvoyance
Specific uses: Place the flower beneath the head at night to induce clairvoyant dreams. A vase of these flowers in any room immediately brings
a renewed surge of life to everyone in it. Sometimes added to love sachets. It should be gathered at noon.
Marjoram (Origanum majorana)
Folk names: Joy of the mountains, marjorlaine, wintersweet, sweet marjoram, knotted marjoram, majorane, pot marjoram, mountain mint
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Associated deities: Venus, Aphrodite
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: Add to all love charms. Place a bit of the herb in every room of the house for protection. This should be changed every month. Give to a grieving person to draw happiness into their life. Infuse marjoram, rosemary, and mint, and use this liquid to sprinkle protective vibrations around the house, and also to cleanse physical objects.
Mastic (Pistachia lentiscus)
Folk names: Masticke, gum mastic
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Part used: Gum
Basic powers: Clairvoyance, manifestations
Specific uses: Add to incenses where a manifestation is desired. Burn also to gain the sight.
Meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria)
Folk names: Little queen, queen of the meadow, bridewort, gravel root, trumpet weed, lady of the meadow, steeplebush, bride of the meadow, meadsweet, dollor, meadowwort
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Water
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Love
Specific uses: Arrange fresh meadowsweet on the altar when mixing up love charms and sachets. Also add to love and peace incenses and strew around the house. It possesses very gentle vibrations.
Mistletoe (Viscum album)
Folk names: Birdlime, donnerbesen, all heal, devil’s fuge, thunderbesom, golden bough, European mistletoe
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, love
Specific uses: Pick on Midsummer’s Eve, or when the Moon is six days old (i.e., six days after the New Moon). Wear as a protective amulet, or to help conceive. The wood is often carved into rings and other magical objects. A good anti-lightning charm. The herb hung anywhere is an excellent all-purpose protective device. Extinguishes fire. Wear as an amulet to preserve against wounds.
Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris)
Folk names: Naughty man, old man, old uncle Harry, artemisia, artemis herb, Witch herb, muggons, sailor’s tobacco, felon herb
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Associated deities: Artemis, Diana
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, clairvoyance
Specific uses: Put into the shoe to prevent fatigue on long journeys. Carry to ward against wild beasts, poison, and stroke. Make a simple and drink it to induce clairvoyance. Rub the fresh young leaves on magic mirrors and crystal balls to strengthen their powers. Add to scrying, clairvoyance, and divination incenses. Pick before sunrise during the Waxing Moon, preferably from a plant that leans north. The plant’s powers are strongest when picked on the Full Moon. (Mugwort can cause dermatitis.)
Mullein (Verbascum thapsus)
Folk names: Hag’s tapers, torches, clot, feitwort, doffle, candlewick plant, Aaron’s rod, Peter’s staff, lady’s foxglove, velvet plant, Jupiter’s staff, shepherd’s herb, old man’s fennel, velvetback, flannel plant, hedge taper, blanket leaf, shepherd’s club
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Carry to keep wild animals away from you while walking in the wilderness, camping, or backpacking. Wear to instill courage. Use as a substitute for candles (do not light them) when performing magic outside where no flames can be lit. The powdered leaves are known as graveyard dust and are acceptable to use when such is called for in old recipes.
Myrrh (Commiphoria myrrha)
Folk names: Karan, mirra balsom odendron, gum myrrh tree
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Associated deities: Isis, Adonis, Ra, Marian
Part used: Resin
Basic powers: Protection, purification
Specific uses: Burn to purify and protect. The smoke is used to consecrate, purify, and bless objects such as rings, amulets, talismans, and ritual tools. The resin is burned during healing rituals and purifications. Often used in charm bags, especially with frankincenses. It is one of the standard magical herbs.
Myrtle (Myrica cerifera or Myrtus communis)
Folk names: Candleberry, waxberry, bayberry tree, wax myrtle
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deities: Artemis, Aphrodite, Hathor, Astarte, Ashtoreth, Venus, Marian
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Love, fertility
Specific uses: This is one of the strictly love herbs. Wear a chaplet of fresh leaves while making love charms. Add to all love sachets. Myrtle wood is an excellent substance to make magic charms from. Carry the wood to preserve youthfulness.
Nettle (Urtica dioica)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Stuff a small cloth doll or poppet with nettles to remove a curse and send it back to the sender. Write on the doll the name of the sender (if you know it; if not, never mind) and then bury or burn it. Sprinkle the herb around the room to protect or to add to protection
sachets. Burn during exorcism ceremonies.
Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Air
Part used: Seed
Basic power: Clairvoyance
Specific uses: Carry the nut to strengthen your own clairvoyant powers. Add sparingly to divinatory incenses. Carry to ward off rheumatism.
Nuts and Cones
Basic powers: Fertility, healing
Specific uses: All nuts are steeped in magic. While the acorn, hazel, and walnut are described in detail elsewhere in this chapter, a few general words on nuts and cones are appropriate.
Most nuts are used to increase fertility, to help conceive. While underpopulation is hardly a problem today, herbal magic is sometimes called upon to provide help where the medical profession can supply none.
Nuts have a wide variety of magical uses: buckeyes are carried to prevent rheumatism, almonds are eaten to prevent intoxication and to gain wisdom, and the brazil nut is carried to find love.
Cones of the evergreen trees are also useful in fertility magic. The hemlock cones are collected and dried in the autumn, then dipped in green wax, and strung into necklaces. The circular shape of the necklace itself is a fertility symbol. These necklaces are worn by women who wish to become pregnant. This ritual is performed in secret.
Oak (Quercus alba)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Dagda, Dianus, Jupiter, Zeus, Thor, Hercules, Herne, Cerridwen, Cernunnos, Janus, Rhea, Cybele
Parts used: Leaves, wood, fruit (acorn)
Basic powers: Fertility, protection, longevity
Specific uses: The most sacred and royal of all the trees. Magical rites are often performed in groves of oaks, and the most powerful mistletoe grows on these trees. Burn oak leaves to purify the atmosphere. The wood makes excellent all-purpose wands. The acorn is a fertility nut of the highest powers, carried to help conceive and to promote sexual relations. It is also worn or carried to preserve youthfulness, and to ward off illnesses. Hung in windows, it protects the house.
Several hundred years ago, Witches wore necklaces of acorns to symbolize the fertile powers of nature. This was especially popular during the winter months, when such a reassurance was comforting among the deep snows. Men carry the acorn to increase their own sexual attractiveness and prowess, or to cure impotency. When you gather leaves, acorns, or branches, pour a libation of wine on the roots of the oak. Gather the acorns during the day, leaves and wood at night. Fell oaks only in the wane of the Moon.
Onion (Allium cepa)
Folk names: Yn-leac, oingnum, unyoun, onyoun
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Parts used: Bulb, flowers
Basic powers: Protection, purification, exorcism, healing
Specific uses: Place halved onions in rooms to absorb illnesses and diseases. Throw the onions away in the morning without touching them. Rub onion halves on afflicted parts of the body to remove the problem. Arrange the flowers in a vase for a protective, decorative bouquet. Rub the magic knife’s blade with the onion to cleanse it. The onion is sacred to the Moon, and so is used in lunar rites. Often used in protective spells with garlic. Grow onions in the garden to protect it.
Orange, Sweet (Citrus sinesis)
Folk name: Love fruit
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Water
Parts used: Fruit, flowers
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Add dried peel to love sachets and charm bags. The fruit, eaten, hinders lust. Add the fresh or dried blossoms to a bath to make one attractive. Orange juice is often drunk in libations during magical rituals in place of the more commonly used wine.
Orris (Iris florentina or I. germanica)
Folk names: Queen Elizabeth root, florentine iris
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: Root
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Carry the root to find a loved one. Add powdered orris to love sachets and baths. Add to lavender and rosebuds to make a sachet to lie among clothes, infusing them with the scent of love. Use in small quanties in love incenses to fumigate the house before dates.
Pansy (Viola tricolor)
Folk names: Garden violet, heart’s ease, Johnny jumper, stepmother, love-in-idleness
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic power: Love
Specific use: Carry to attract love.
Patchouli (Pogostemon cablin or P. patchouli)
Folk name: Pucha-pot
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Passion, love
Specific uses: Attracts women and men. Wear alone, or with other love herbs. Usually used in oil form. Also burned in clairvoyance and divination incenses.
Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)
Folk names: Squaw mint, run-by-the-ground, lurk-in-the-ditch, pudding grass, piliolerian, tickweed, mosquito plant
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Put in the shoe to prevent weariness. Add to summer incenses and to protection and exorcism blends.
Peony (Paenoia officinalis)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Paeon, Apollo
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Dry the root, or several roots, and make into a necklace or bracelet. The roots may be carved into attractive shapes. This is very protective. Use the root in breaking any enchantment by hanging it around the neck of the ench-anted one. Burn the seeds during exorcism rituals. Hang up the root or burn it to stop storms.
Pepper (Capsicum spp.)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: Berries
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Use in charm bags and amulets for protection. Burn mixed with other herbs (such as rosemary, dill, etc.) to fumigate and exorcise a place. The smoke can sting the eyes, so light it and then vacate the premises. Carry the herb to protect the mind from envious thoughts.
Peppermint (Mentha piperita)
Folk names: Lammint, brandy mint
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Healing, purification
Specific uses: Add to healing incenses and charms. Rub onto the patient, and, if possible, especially over the afflicted area. Also burn to cleanse the house in winter, and inhale the fragrance of the crushed leaves if you have trouble falling asleep.
Periwinkle (Vinca major)
Folk names: Devil’s eye, joy on the ground, sorcerer’s violet, great periwinkle
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Hang up on the door to protect all within the building. Gazing upon it can help in restoring lost memory.
Pimpernel (Pimpinella magna)
Folk names: Greater pimpernell, pimpinella
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mercury
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Wear to keep people from deceiving you. Good to protect the home and to guard against illness. Rub your magic knife’s blade with its juice.
Pine (Pinus spp.)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Earth
Associated deities: Cybele, Venus, Attis, Pan, Dionysius
Parts used: Cone, nuts, needles
Basic powers: Fertility, purification
Specific uses: Burn the crushed and dried needles in the winter to purify the home. This is good when mixed with equal parts juniper and cedar. The cones are carried as fertility charms, and the nuts eaten for this same reason. Pine bran-ches are sometimes used to sweep the forest floor before performing magic outside. Add the crushed needles to the bath sachet for a good winter magical cleansing bath. (Research your pine varieties. White pine has no precautions. Other varieties can cause dermatitis and/or have oils that can be irritating when touched.)
Poppy (Papaver spp.)
Folk names: Head waak, blind buff
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Associated deities: Hypnos, Somnos, Ceres
Parts used: Seeds, dried seed pods
Basic powers: Fertility, prosperity
Specific uses: Add the seeds to your food if you wish to become pregnant. Get a dried seed pod, cut a small hole in it to remove the seeds, and write a question on a small piece of yellow paper. Stuff the paper inside the pod and lay it beside your bed. Prophetic dreams may answer the question before morning. Carry the dried seed pod as a prosperity amulet, or use the seeds in prosperity amulets.
Primrose (Primula vulgaris)
Folk names: Butter rose, English cowslip, password
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Fire
Associated deity: Freya
Part used: Flower
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Plant in garden to protect, especially the blue and red primroses. Especially powerful planted in pots sitting on the front and back porches.
Rose (Rosa spp.)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deities: Venus, Hulda, Demeter, Isis, Eros, Cupid, Adonis
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, fertility, clairvoyance
Specific uses: Wash your hands with rose water before mixing up love mixtures. (Rose water may be purchased commercially in gourmet food shops and herb stores.) Bear the buds if you would find a love. Drink of tisane of rose petals to produce clairvoyant dreams. Burn the petals in the bedroom prior to sleep and have a completely refreshing, wondrous night. The petals are often added to healing incenses and sachets. Scatter fresh rose petals in the bed chamber on your honeymoon. To really prove you love another, send him or her red roses, the flowers of love.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
Folk names: Dew of the sea, incensier, sea dew, rosmaris, rosmarine, rosemarie, guardrobe
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Purification, love, intellectual, protection
Specific uses: Add to all purification bath sachets, love incenses, exorcism mixtures, and protection incenses. Wear a chaplet of rosemary to aid the memory. Hung up it wards off thieves. It has connections with the sea and so is used in all sea rituals, as well as in sachets designed to ensure a safe, easy passage on the water. A good protective sachet for boat or ship passengers can be made up of rosemary, garlic (to stop storms), and mistletoe (to guard against lightning storms). Make a simple of rosemary and use it to cleanse the hands before working magic, if you have no time for the regular ritual bath. Drink rosemary tea just before a test or exam to ensure that the mind is fully awake and functioning. Include a sprig in protection sachets of all kinds. It is often used to form a protection wreath. Burn rosemary and juniper as a healing and recuperation incense.
Rowan (Sorbus aucuparia)
Folk names: Mountain ash, witchwood, quickbane, wild ash, witchen, witchbane, wicken tree, wiky, wiggy, roynetree, whitty, wiggin ran tree, roden-quicken-royan, sorb apple, roden-quicken, delight of the eye
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deity: Thor
Parts used: Wood, twigs
Basic powers: Protection, healing
Specific uses: Tie two twigs of rowan together with red thread for a good all-purpose charm. Use the rowan branches in divining water, as is often done with hazel wood. It is an excellent protection against lightning. It is sometimes used to make magic wands. Carry the wood with you as a good luck god (amulet). A necklace of the berries is very healing.
Rue (Ruta graveolens)
Folk names: Ruta, bashoush, German rue, garden rue, rewe, hreow, herbygrass, herb of grace, mother of the herbs
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Associated deities: Diana, Aradia
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, intellectual, exorcism, purification
Specific uses: A fresh sprig of rue dipped in spring water is an excellent sprinkler, perfect for consecrations, blessings, and healings. The herb was worn to guard against the plague, and is now added to health sachets and those designed to keep illness away. Smell the crushed, fresh herb to instantly clear the mind of envious thoughts, unrequited love, and egotism. The herb is used to still a painful love. Add to exorcism incenses and purification sachets. Used in spells of inertia, to get something moving.
Saffron (Crocus sativus)
Folk names: Autumn crocus, Spanish saffron
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Purification, clairvoyance, healing
Specific uses: Make a tea and use to cleanse the hands before healing rituals. Burn the herb as a healing incense and add to healing mixtures. Drink the tea to induce clairvoyance. Sometimes used to raise the winds, by throwing it into the air from high places, or by burning it and watching the smoke rise into the air.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Earth
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Healing, prosperity
Specific uses: Add to healing and prosperity sachets, incenses, and amulets.
St. John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)
Folk names: Herba jon, John’s wort, fuga daemonum, goat weed, tipton weed, amber, klamath weed
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Protection, exorcism
Specific uses: Hang around the neck to ward off fevers. Burn to banish and exorcise spirits. Pass the herb through the smoke of the Midsummer Eve’s fire and then hang up in the house as a protection. At one time this herb was held to the mouths of accused Witches to make them confess. Wear the herb to make you invincible in war and battles of all kinds. Bear St. John’s wort to strengthen your own will.
Sandalwood (Santalum album)
Folk names: Santal, sandal, white saunders, yellow sandalwood
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Air
Part used: Wood
Basic powers: Protection, purification, healing
Specific uses: Add to healing incenses and burn as a good purifying agent in any room. Also used in making healing oils and incenses.
Slippery Elm (Ulmas fulva)
Folk names: Red elm, moose elm, Indian elm
Gender: Cold
Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Parts used: Leaves, bark
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Burn and use in charm bags to stop others from gossiping about you or your friends.
Snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus)
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Fire
Part used: Flowers
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: If one is spelled or feels threatened outside, step on a snapdragon to avert the evil magic. Wear as a protective amulet, or put vases of snapdragons in the house if you feel the need. Carry with you to see through other people’s deceit. Can also be used to counteract charms and spells laid by others by adding to incenses and oil mixtures.
Solomon’s Seal (Polygonatum multiflorum or P.odoratum)
Folk names: Dropberry, sealwort, sealroot
Gender: Hot
Planet: Saturn
Element: Fire
Parts used: Leaves, roots
Basic powers: Purification protection
Specific uses: Add to incenses and sachets to protect. Scatter to the four winds. Add to incenses of exorcism or to cleansing mixtures.
Spearmint (Menta spicata)
Folk names: Garden mint, lamb mint, green spine, spire mint, our lady’s mint, mackerel mint, brown mint
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Healing love
Specific uses: Add to healing incenses and poppets. Especially for curing lung diseases. A good addition to love mixtures and sachets.
Star Anise (lllicium verum or I. anisatum)
Folk name: Chinese anise
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Water
Part used: Seed
Basic power: Clairvoyance
Specific uses: Burn the seeds as incense to bring clairvoyance, or rise in making herbal pendulums. They are sometimes strung on a string along with nutmegs, tonka beans, etc., to make a magically charged (and very fragrant) necklace.
Sunflower (Helianthus annuus)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: Seed
Basic powers: Protection, fertility
Specific uses: The flowers growing in the garden bring the blessings of the Sun. The seeds are often eaten by women who wish to conceive. This is done during the Waxing Moon.
Thistle (Sonchus spp.)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Protection
Specific uses: Throw onto a fire if you fear being struck by lightning during a storm. Grow in the garden to ward off thieves. A bowl of thistles in a room strengthens and energizes those within it, so they are often used in sickrooms or in places where people are recuperating.
Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Folk names: Garden thyme, common thyme
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Clairvoyance, purification
Specific uses: Burn as incense to purge and fumigate magical rooms. Take a magical cleansing bath in the spring of thyme and marjoram. A pillow stuffed with thyme cures nightmares. Crush a handful of the fresh herb and inhale. You will at once be refreshed and renewed. Wear a sprig of the herb to funerals to protect yourself from the negativity of the mourners.
Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: Leaves
Basic power: Exorcism
Specific uses: Used by modern-day magicians as a replacement for sulphur, it is burned on charcoal to remove negativity. Throw tobacco into a river at the start of a journey on a boat. Tobacco smoke is sometimes used to cure illnesses by blowing the smoke on the diseased part of the body.
Tonka Beans (Coumarouna odorata or Dipteryx odorata)
Folk names: Tonqua, tonqua bean, tonquin bean, coumara nut
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: The bean
Basic power: Love
Specific use: Carry the bean in love sachets to attract love.
Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Folk names: Phu, all heal, amatilla, set well, capon’s tailor, garden heliotrope, vandal root, fragrant valerian, St. George’s herb, setuale, setwell, cat’s valerian, English valerian
Gender: Cold
Planet: Mercury
Element: Water
Part used: The herb, root
Basic powers: Love, harmony
Specific uses: Use the fresh herb in spells of love, also to get fighting couples together. Used in the purification bath sachet.
Vanilla (Vanilla aromatica or V. planifolia)
Gender: Hot
Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Part used: The bean
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Though this herb is most often used in oil form, the whole bean is sometimes added to love charms or carried on the body to make one attractive and ready for an evening of loving. A vitalizing herb, used by some for get up and go!
Vervain (Verbana officinalis)
Folk names: Juno’s tears, herb of grace, pigeon’s grass, enchanter’s plant, simpler’s joy, holy herb, pigeonwood, herb of the cross, verbena, herb of enchantment, vervan, van-van, van van
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deities: Mars, Venus, Aradia, Cerridwen, Isis, Jupiter, Thor
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Love, purification, protection
Specific uses: Magical cleansing baths, purification incenses, and personal safety amulets. Best gathered at Midsummer. Hang up on the bed to keep you free of nightmares. Helps soldiers escape their enemies. Bury in your fields to make the crops bountiful and profitable. Amulets are sometimes given to babies, for it is said to make its bearer a quick learner. Used in many love and protection sachets. Burn pure verain (or mix with equal parts of frankincense) for a fantastic purification in-cense. Use to attract wealth.
Violet (Viola tricolor)
Folk names: Blue violet, sweet violet
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Associated deity: Venus
Part used: Flowers
Basic power: Love
Specific uses: Mix with lavender to make a powerful love sachet. A violet chaplet cures head-aches. Carrying the flowers will bring a change of luck and fortune. Associated with sunset and twilight, so have on the altar if doing magic at these times.
Walnut (Juglans regia)
Folk names: Tree of evil, English walnut, Persian walnut, Caucasian walnut
Gender: Hot
Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Part used: The nut
Basic powers: Fertility, healing
Specific uses: Carry the nut in its shell to promote fertility, to strengthen the heart, or to ward off rheumatism. Witches used to dance beneath walnut trees in their rites, although this has fallen into disuse. Because of the Witches’ activities under the walnut trees, folk people began viewing them with suspicion, hence its old folk name, Tree of Evil. To find out if a person is a Witch, drop a walnut on the lap of the suspected party. If he or she is a Witch, they will be unable to rise from the chair.This was one of the methods of testiing Witch-es during the Persecution. Eat walnuts to cure madness.
Willow (Salix alba)
Folk names: Tree of enchantment, Witches’ aspirin, white willow, withe, withy, salicyn willow, osier, sough tree, saille
Gender: Cold
Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Associated deities: Artemis, Ceres, Hecate, Persephone, Circe, Hera, Mercury, Belili, Belinus
Part used: Branches
Basic powers: Healing, wishes
Specific uses: A wand made of willow is used in healing rituals. The willow is used as the binding on the Witch’s broom. Called Tree of Enchantment in the language of the Witches, it is most often used to bring the blessings of the Moon into one’s life. Plant a willow in the garden, preferably by a natural spring or river. It will guard your home admirably. The binding of the Witches’ broom is often made of soft, pliant willow branches. Bear a sprig of this plant and you will be free from the fear of death. Tie a knot in a willow branch to serve as a physical representation of your intent for a spell. When the wish has been granted, untie the knot and then use again for a new spell.
Woodruff (Asperula odorata)
Folk names: Sweet woodruff, master of the woods, woodrove, wuderove, woodruffe, wuderofe, herb walter
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Part used: The herb
Basic power: Purification
Specific uses: An herb of the spring, used to clear away the closeness and drab atmosphere of the winter months. Carry when wishing to turn over a new leaf, or to change your outlook in life, especially in the spring. Added to the May wine, the traditional Witches’ drink of their religious festival of Beltane. Brings victory to those who carry it.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
Folk names: Old woman, absinthe, absinth, crown for a king
Gender: Hot
Planet: Mars
Element: Air
Associated deities: Diana, Iris
Part used: The herb
Basic powers: Clairvoyance. protection
Specific uses: Once burned in all incenses designed to raise spirits, now used in clairvoyance and divinatory incenses (especially in combination with mugwort) as well as in exorcism and protection blends. Throw onto fires on Samhain (Halloween) to gain protection from the spirits roaming the night. Burn while using a pendulum. Fumigate to raise spirits, if you must.
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
Folk names: Seven years’ love, sanguinary, old man’s mustard, military herb, old man’s pepper, soldier’s woundwort, knight’s milfoil, nosebleed, thousand seal, hundred-leaved grass, millefolium, milfoil, arrow root, eerie, ladies’ mantle, knyghten, wound wort, stanch weed, field hops, tansy, gearwe, noble yarrow, yarroway, devil’s bit, devil’s plaything, achillea, snake’s grass, death flower, stanch griss
Gender: Cold
Planet: Venus
Element: Water
Part used: Flowers
Basic powers: Love, clairvoyance, exorcism
Specific uses: Yarrow is used in love sachets and marriage charms, as it has the power to keep a couple together happily for seven years. Worn as an amulet, it wards off negativity. The tea drunk prior to divination will enhance one’s powers of perception. Held in the hand, it stops all fear. It is sometimes added to exorcism incenses. The beautiful flowers are a welcome addition to any magical altar, as the yarrow is one of the Witch’s favorite herbs.