Alchemy neither composes nor mixes: it increases and activates
that which already exists in a latent state.
—Franz Hartmann
Almost Alchemy
Using herbs and oils is a kind of alchemy, for these substances come from the amalgamation of the four elements—earth, air, fire, and water. Every plant and tree needs these four things to be able to grow from a tiny seed into a beautiful creation, and it is from this we can gather the fruits of that process in the form of leaves, bark, flowers, and resins. These ingredients then have to go through another stage of transformation—leaves, flowers, and bark may be dried or placed in oil or water to allow the essential oils to be drawn out; resins are dried or powdered; and then the product can be added to other ingredients or used alone. The power and energy of the original plant is distilled or reduced to a potent compound of its own strength to be used with care and intent.
Obtaining Your Herbs and Oils
When you buy herbs or oils, try to obtain the very best quality, and never use oils that are labelled as “fragrance oils.” These are often synthetic, used for room fragrance and not suitable for application to the body, so they may cause a reaction on the skin. Aromatherapy-quality essential oils—those that are extracted from the plant that they are named after—are the best to use and should come in coloured bottles to stop them from degrading. Herbs should be from a reputable supplier and not have been sitting in a jar in the shop for years, as they become stale, dusty, and lose their potency. Store all herbs, oils, and henna in a cool place, out of sunlight and preferably in an airtight container or bottle. Both oils and herbs vary in price; some are particularly expensive, but I shall include substitutes for any that may be prohibitive for some.
Using Herbs and Oils with Power
Both herbs and plant oils have been used for thousands of years and have had various attributes associated with them. Most commonly, they were used to make lotions, unguents, and potions to heal, purify, perfume, or anoint people, animals, and objects. Cosmetics were infused with them; food and drink were flavoured and enhanced by them. Magically, they have always been a major part of the magician’s toolkit, used in innumerable ways—whether to anoint body parts, mix into food and drink, add to baths and for ritually washing items, or empower objects such as statues, amulets, and talismans.
A Guide to the Uses of
Magical Herbs and Oils
Using herbs and oils in henna magic is simple. When you add the power of herbs, spices, or oils to your henna mix, they need to be in a powdered or liquid form. For example, cinnamon, ginger, or sandalwood can all be obtained as a powder or an oil, but if you have any herbs, spices, or resins that you cannot obtain in a powder or as an essential oil, you will need to crush them into a powder using a mortar and pestle or soak/boil them in water, then strain, to obtain a liquid to mix with your henna. Use the amounts stated in the appropriate spell, and remember that if you are adding powdered herbs or spices to the henna, you may need to add a little more liquid to get the right consistency.
But for now, indulge your senses and find the perfect oil(s) or herb(s) for your recipe. The system is easy; all the herbs and oils are listed by magical goal (listed below). All you need to do is decide on your intent and then choose an oil/herb from the appropriate list to add to your henna recipe.
- Astrological, 114
- Gods & Goddesses, 115
- Happiness, 116
- Healing, 117
- Love, 120
- Planets, 122
- Protection, 123
- Purification, 126
- Spiritual Work, 128
- Wealth & Prosperity, 129
Astrological
Aquarius: Cypress, lavender, patchouli
Aries: Black pepper, ginger, frankincense
Cancer: Chamomile, eucalyptus, lemon, myrrh, palmarosa, yarrow
Capricorn: Benzoin, cypress, patchouli, sandalwood, vetivert
Gemini: Lavender, lemon, lemongrass, peppermint
Leo: Juniper, lime, orange, petigrain, sandalwood
Libra: Cardamom, palmarosa, rose geranium, rose absolute, sandalwood, thyme, ylang-ylang
Pisces: Eucalyptus, lemon, jasmine, sandalwood, ylang-ylang
Sagittarius: Clove, frankincense, myrrh, oakmoss, rosemary
Scorpio: Black pepper, cardamom, galangal, frankincense, pine
Taurus: Benzoin, cardamom, oakmoss, rose, sandalwood, ylang-ylang
Virgo: Cypress, oakmoss, patchouli
Gods & Goddesses
To help attune yourself to or invoke the god or goddess of your choice, use the following oils and herbs:
Aphrodite, Greek goddess of love: Benzoin, rose oil or petals
Apollo, Greek god of the sun: Cypress, frankincense, hyacinth
Buddha: Lotus, plumeria
Demeter, Greek goddess of the harvest: Myrrh, vetivert
Freya, Norse goddess of love: Benzoin, strawberry, rose
Hathor, Egyptian goddess of love: Benzoin
Hecate, Greco-Roman goddess of magic: Lavender, myrrh, vervain (verbena)
Isis, Egyptian goddess of wives, mothers, magic, and nature: Sandalwood, frankincense, myrrh, or rose
Krishna, Hindu supreme god: Basil, lotus
Thoth, Egyptian god of magic: Almond, anise, cinnamon, clove, kyphi, lotus, musk
Triple Goddess, Wiccan Great Goddess (Maiden, Mother, and Crone): Elderberry
Virgin Mary: Rosemary
Zeus, Greek king of the gods: Peppermint, sage, vervain (verbena)
Happiness
Oils
Apple: Joy
Cardamom: Warmth, happiness
Hyacinth: Uplifting
Lavender: Gentle, harmonious happiness
Lemon: Get up and go!
Lime: Uplifting
Orange: Warming, energetic happiness
Rose: Soothing, sensual happiness
Rose Geranium: Balancing
Ylang-Ylang: Sensual happiness
Healing
Oils
Cedar: Healing, purifying
Chamomile: Calming, sleep
Comfrey: Healing
Cypress: Healing, comforting
Fennel: Strength, longevity
Geranium: Healing; balancing (especially of hormones)
Jasmine: Healing and general good health; women’s ailments (note: expensive; use ylang-ylang as a substitute or obtain a dilution)
Juniper: Cleansing, good health
Lemon: Cleansing, strengthening
Lemon Balm, Melissa: All healing, protection against illness
Myrrh: Deep healing (spiritual and physical); excellent for skin problems
Peppermint: Good for digestive problems, clears the mind
Pine: Cleansing, healing (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Rose: Gently healing; good for women and children and for sleep
Rose Geranium: Healing; balances nervous system and adrenals
Rosehip: Good for skin and healing scars
Rosemary: Cleansing, clarifying, good for mental health
Sandalwood: Good for skin, urinary conditions
Spearmint: Good for digestive problems
Tea Tree: Cleansing, deeply healing, good for skin problems, antifungal
Thyme: Relieves dizziness, banishes nightmares
Flowers, Herbs & Powders
Allspice: Healing, warming, good for depression
Cedar: Healing, purifying
Chamomile: Good for sleep, calming
Comfrey: Healing
Cypress: Healing, comforting
Geranium: Healing, balancing
Ginseng: Good health, adaptogen
Goldenseal: Healing, cleansing
Hazel: Good for rheumatism
Hops: Healing, insomnia
Horse Chestnut: Good for aches and pains, circulation
Jasmine Flowers: Healing and general good health, women’s ailments
Juniper Berries: Cleansing, good health
Lady’s Mantle: Good for women’s ailments
Lavender: Balancing, excellent for stress relief
Lemon: Cleansing, strengthening
Magnolia: Hair growth (no guarantees!)
Motherwort: Eases childbirth, strength for women
Mulberry: Eases headaches
Mullein: Eases asthma
Myrrh: Deep healing (spiritual and physical), good for cracked skin
Nettle: Gentle healing, cleansing
Nutmeg: Healing, stimulating, anti-inflammatory
Oak: Longevity
Onion: Use for flu, colds, and lung problems
Peppermint: Good for digestive problems, clears the mind
Pine: Cleansing, healing (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Rose Geranium: Healing, balances adrenals
Rosehip: Good for skin, heals scars
Rosemary: Cleansing, clarifying, good for mental health
Rose Petals: Gently healing, good for women and children and for sleep
Sage: Longevity
Sandalwood: Good for skin, urinary conditions
Spearmint: Good for digestive problems
Thyme: Relieves dizziness, banishes nightmares
Love
Oils
Cardamom: Intense love, sexuality
Cinnamon: Love, lust (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Geranium: Love
Jasmine: Promotes attraction
Lavender: Love, chastity
Lemon: Love, friendship
Lemon Balm (known as Melissa): Love
Lemon Verbena (also known as Vervain): Protective love
Orange: Love, harmony, joy
Palmarosa: Sweet love
Patchouli: Lust
Peppermint: Love, lust
Rose: Pure love (note: pure rose oil, known as an absolute, is very expensive, but you can obtain it in a diluted form within a base oil, which is much cheaper while still retaining the scent and energy)
Rosehip: Gentle love
Rosemary: Love, lust, remembrance of love
Vetivert: Love, can also be used to break a love spell put upon you
Ylang-Ylang: Love, lust
Flowers, Herbs & Powders
Balm of Gilead: Mends a broken heart
Cardamom Pods: Intense love and sexuality
Cinnamon: Love, lust (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Damiana: Love, lust, visions
Dill: Love, lust
Geranium: Love
Ginger: Love, passion
Ginseng: Attracts love
Hibiscus: Love, lust
Lavender: Love, chastity
Lemon Verbena: Love, protection
Mandrake: Powerful love (note: use with extreme caution—very powerful!)
Orange: Love, harmony, joy
Orris Root: Love, attraction, harmonious friendships
Peppermint: Love, lust
Poppy: Love, lust
Raspberry: Protection in love
Rosehip: Gentle love
Rosemary: Love, lust, remembrance of love
Rose petals: Pure love
Strawberry: Love, luck, beauty
Vetivert: Love, can also be used to break a love spell put upon you
Planets
Sun: Acacia, angelica, bay, benzoin, cedar, chamomile, cinnamon, clove, frankincense, juniper, marigold, orange, rosemary, saffron, sandalwood
Moon: Anise, camphor, eucalyptus, honeysuckle, jasmine, lemon, lemon balm, lemongrass, lotus, myrrh, poppy, sandalwood
Mars: Allspice, basil, benzoin, black pepper, galangal, garlic, ginger, peppermint, pine, tobacco
Mercury: Almond, anise, bergamot, cedar, chamomile, dill, lavender, lemongrass, mandrake (note: use with extreme caution—very powerful!), nutmeg, valerian
Jupiter: Anise, balm of gilead, bay, clove, hyssop, sage
Venus: Allspice, almond, balm of gilead, elder (flowers and berries), feverfew, geranium, hibiscus, hyacinth, lavender, orris root, patchouli, rose, rosehips, spearmint, spikenard, vervain, thyme, tonka bean, vervain, vetivert
Saturn: Buckthorn, comfrey, cypress, kava kava, mandrake, patchouli, sage, yarrow, yerba santa
Protection
Oils
Angelica: Protects against evil
Basil: Powerful protection/banishing
Bergamot: Breaks spells
Black Pepper: Potent protection, gives strength (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Cinnamon: Protection (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Clove: Protection, exorcising (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Eucalyptus: Universal oil for protection
Fennel: Wards off evil spirits
Frankincense: Spiritual protection
Juniper: Powerful banishing/purifying
Marigold: Protection in legal or money matters
Myrrh: Protection, transformation, exorcism
Rose Geranium: Protection in love and health
Rosemary: Excellent universal protection
Sandalwood: Powerful spiritual protection
Verbena/Vervain: Protection, purifying
Vetivert: Hex breaking, general protection
Flowers, Herbs & Powders
Acacia: General protection
Angelica: Protects against evil
Anise: Protection
Basil: Powerful protection/banishing
Bay: Protection
Black Pepper: Potent protection, gives strength (note: may irritate
sensitive skin)
Blessed Thistle: Protection/spell breaker
Buckthorn: Protection, especially in legal matters
Cedar: Protection, purifying, spell breaker
Cinnamon: Protection (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Clove: Protection, exorcising (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Dill: Protects children
Dragon’s Blood Resin: Powerful protection and banishing
Elder: Protection, releases spells
Feverfew: Protection from accidents
Frankincense: Spiritual protection
Galangal Root: Protection in legal matters, adds power to spells, spell breaker
Garlic: Powerful banishing, protection, exorcising (note: may have a lingering smell!)
Hyssop: Purifying, protection, banishing
Juniper: Powerful banishing/purifying
Lotus: Protection in love and spirituality
Marigold: Protection in legal or money matters
Myrrh: Protection, transformation, exorcism
Nettle: Spell breaker, protection
Rose Geranium: Protection in love and health
Rosemary: Excellent universal protection
Rowan Wood, Leaves, or Berries: Psychic, magical protection
Rue: Protects against the evil eye, breaks hexes
St. John’s Wort: Powerful herb for protection/banishing in general (note: may cause skin sensitivity to sunlight)
Sandalwood: Powerful spiritual protection
Tobacco: Banishing (may be substituted for any herb when used in banishing spells)
Verbena/Vervain: Protection, purifying
Vetivert: Hex breaking, general protection
Walnut: Paralyses evil spirits
Purification
Oils
Bay: Mental cleansing
Benzoin: Soothing purification
Cedar: Calmly purifying
Eucalyptus: Universal cleanser and purifier
Frankincense: Spiritual purification
Lavender: Gentle but potent cleansing
Lemon: Physical purification
Lime: Uplifting/reviving purification
Myrrh: Mental, physical, and spiritual purification
Peppermint: Physically purifying, a breath of fresh air
Pine: Deeply cleansing (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Rosemary: For cleansing negative forces
Sage: Purifying
Sandalwood: Spiritual and mental purification
Flowers, Herbs & Powders
Bay: Mental cleansing
Benzoin: Soothing purification
Camphor: Good for removing negative energies
Chamomile: Gentle cleanser
Eucalyptus: Universal cleanser and purifier
Frankincense: Spiritual purification
Lavender: Gentle but potent cleansing
Lemon: A fresh purifier for mind, body, and spirit
Lime: Uplifting/reviving purification
Myrrh: Mental, physical, and spiritual purification
Peppermint: Physically purifying, a breath of fresh air
Pine: Deeply cleansing (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Rosemary: Cleansing negative forces
Sandalwood: Spiritual and mental purification
Spiritual Work
Bay: Psychic powers; use in temple ritual
Cinnamon: Astral travel/dream work (note: may irritate sensitive skin)
Frankincense: Use in ritual and for all spiritual/meditation work, initiations
Lemongrass: Visions
Myrhh: For initiations, Wiccan sabbats (festivals)
Nutmeg: Visions
Sandalwood: For sacred spiritual work, initiations, astral travel
Star Anise: Psychic powers
Wealth & Prosperity
Oils
Basil: Wealth
Benzoin Gum: Prosperity
Chamomile: Money, luck
Dill: Money
Ginger: Success, money, power, inspiration
Nutmeg: Luck, money
Oak Moss: Money
Orange: Luck, money
Patchouli: Money
Spearmint: Money, mental powers
Spikenard: Good luck
Tonka Bean: Luck, money, wishes
Vervain: Money
Vetivert: Good luck
Flowers, Herbs & Powders
Allspice: Money, luck
Almond: Prosperity, money
Basil: Wealth
Bayberry: Money, good luck
Benzoin Gum: Prosperity
Buckeye: Money and luck
Cascara: Money, legal matters
Cat’s Claw: Money, prosperity
Cedar: Money
Chamomile: Money, luck
Cinquefoil: Wealth, money
Clove: Money
Clover: Money, success, fame
Comfrey: Money
Dill: Money
Ginger: Success, money, power, inspiration
Ginseng: Love and wishes
Goldenseal Root: Money
Honeysuckle: Money
Narcissus: Luck, money
Nutmeg: Luck, money
Oak Moss: Money
Orange: Luck, money
Patchouli: Money
Sassafras: Luck, money
Spearmint: Money, mental powers
Spikenard: Good luck
Tonka Bean: Luck, money, wishes
Vervain: Money
Vetivert: Good luck
Walnut: Tree of Jupiter, good luck, and fortune