Infusion: This is made like a tea. Cover 30 g of dried herb, or 60 g fresh, with 500 ml of boiling water. Cover and leave to steep.
Decoction: Instead of leaving the herb to steep, simmer it gently in the water.
Poultice: Bruise the plant matter and pour just enough boiling water over to wet it. Apply the botanical to the affected part and cover with a cloth or piece of gauze which has been wrung out in hot water. When the cloth cools, replace it with a hot one.
Please see your health care practitioner before making any changes to your method of health care.
Jasmine / Juniper / Lavender / Lemon Balm / Lemon Verbena / Linden / Lovage / Mandrake / Marigold / Majoram / Meadowsweet / Mistletoe / Mugwort / Mullein / Myrrh / Myrtle / Nettle / Nutmeg / Oak / Olive / Onion / Orange / Orris Root / Parsley / Patchouli / Pennyroyal / Pepper / Peppermint / Periwinkle / Pimpernel / Pine / Poppy / Rose / Rosemary / Rowan / Rue / Saffron / Sage / St John's Wort / Sandalwood / Sunflower / Thyme / Valerian / Vanilla / Vervain / Violet / Walnut / Willow / Wormwood / Yarrow
Jasmine
(Jasminum officinaleor Jasminum
odoratissimum): Elements of Jupiter and Earth. Used in love spells and charms.Back to the herb list
Juniper
(Juniperus communis): Elements of Sun and Fire. If a sprig of juniper is worn it will protect the wearer from accidents.
The berries can be dried and strung as a charm to attract lovers. Can be
used in anti-theft spells, and grown at the doorstep as protection from
thieves.Back to the herb list
Lavender
(Lavendula vera or Lavendula officinale): Elements of Mercury and Air. Used in purification baths and incenses. Thrown
onto fires and Midsummer as tribute to the Gods and to bring visions and
inspiration. Add to healing baths and sachets, carry to attract men. The
scent will induce sleep. Excellent for bringing clarity and coherence to
magickal workings and for focusing visualization.Back to the herb list
Lemon Balm
(Melissa officinalis):
Drink as an infusion to soothe away the emotional pains after a relationship
break-up; considered useful in recovery from trauma and sexual assault.
Has long been considered to drive away melancholy and low spirits. Is said
to increase fertility, and has been used in love potions and aphrodisiacs.Back to the herb list
Lemon Verbena
(Lippia citriodora): Elements of Venus and
Air. Wear as a love charm, and to increase one's attractiveness.
Add to charms to increase their power. Hang a sprig around your neck to
stop you from dreaming.Back to the herb list
Linden
(Tilia europaea): Element of Jupiter. Associated with conjugal love and longevity.Back to the herb list
Lovage
(Levisticum officinale): Elements of Sun and Water. Add the root to cleansing baths. Carry to attract love.Back to the herb list
Mandrake
(Mandragora officinarum): Elements of Mercury and Earth. A powerful protective charm for the home. The root can
be carried by women who want to conceive, and men who want to cure impotency.
In the Middle Ages it was thought to give off a shriek when it was pulled
up that was so unearthly all who heard it went mad or died. To charge a
mandrake root with your personal power, sleep with it in the bed for three
nights during the full moon. Carry it for courage.Back to the herb list
Marigold
(Calendula officinalis): Elements of Sun and Fire. In a vase, renews energy of everyone in the room where the vase
is placed. Symbolizes constancy and endurance in love. To dream of marigold
flowers is supposed to presage coming wealth. It was said that if you wore
marigold flowers, you would be able to tell who had stolen from you.Back to the herb list
Marjoram
(Origanum majorana): Elements of Mercury and Air. Add to love charms. Place a bit of the herb in every room in the house
for protection.Back to the herb list
Meadowsweet
(Filipendula ulmaria): Elements of Jupiter
and Water. A sacred herb of the Druids. Arrange fresh meadowsweet
on the altar when mixing love charms or performing love spells. Strew around
the house for love and peace; a garland of meadowsweet will protect the
house from evil influences. Wear garlands of meadowsweet at Lammas to join
with the essence of the Goddess.Back to the herb list
Mistletoe
(Viscum album): Worn as
a protective amulet, or to help conceive. An anti-lightning charm.Back to the herb list
Mugwort
(Artemisia vulgaris): Elements of Venus and Air. Put into the shoe for protection and to prevent fatigue on long journeys.
Mugwort tea will induce clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on magick mirrors
and crystal balls to strengthen divinitory powers. Add to scrying, clairvoyance
and divination incenses. In the Middle Ages it was considered one of the
strongest protective plants. Hanging it in the house is reputed to protect
against lightning, while putting it under the doorstep is supposed to ensure
that no unwelcome person will enter. A pillow filled with mugwort will
induce vivid dreams. The name, Artemisia, refers to the goddess Artemis,
who was a protector of herbal practitioners.Back to the herb list
Mullein
(Verbascum thapsus): Elements of Saturn and Fire. Has been called hag's tapers, Jupiter's staff, our lady's candle.
Wear to develop courage and as protection from wild animals. Was believed
to have power to drive away evil spirits. Mullein can be used to clear
a psychic space after work, by washing tools, floor and altar with mullein
infusion. Used on crystal balls for scrying.Back to the herb list
Myrrh
(Commiphoria myrrha): Elements of Sun and Water. Purifying and protective incense. Can be used to consecrate tools.
Back to the herb list
Myrtle
(Myrica cerifera): Elements of Venus and Water. Sacred to Venus and used in love charms and spells of all kinds.
If grown indoors it brings good luck. Carry myrtle leaves to attract love,
or the wood to preserve youth. Make magic charms from the wood. Wear fresh
leaves whilst making love charms.Back to the herb list
Nettle
(Urtica dioica): Elements of Mars and Fire.
Stuff a poppet with nettles to send bad vibrations and curses back to the
sender. Sprinkle around the room as protection, or add to protection charms.
Considered to instill courage if carried. Was once considered an antidote
to many poisons. Builds up the fire element in an individual, used to thaw
frozen emotions and connect with the fiery warrior aspect.Back to the herb list
Nutmeg
(Myristica fragrans): Elements of Jupiter and Air. Carry a nutmeg to strengthen clairvoyant powers and to prevent rheumatism.
To dream of nutmegs foretells changes in the dreamer's life.Back to the herb list
Oak
(Quercus alba): Elements of Sun and Fire. Sacred
tree in many, many cultures, long associated with royalty; rites were often
performed in groves of oak trees, and mistletoe that grew on oak was considered
the most powerful. It has long been considered unlucky to fell an oak.
Burn oak leaves as purification. The wood is used for all-purpose wands.
Acorns are carried as fertility charms, to preserve youthfulness, and to
ward off illness. Hang in windows to protect the house. Men can carry acorns
to increase their sexual attractiveness and prowess.Back to the herb list
Olive
(Olea europaea): Sacred to
Athena. Regarded as a symbol of peace and wealth, and a sign of safe travel.Back to the herb list
Onion
(Allium cepa): Elements of Mars and Fire.
Used in protection and healing. Place cut onions in a room to absorb illness,
leave overnight and throw away in the morning.Back to the herb list
Orange
(Citrus sinesis): Elements of Sun and Water.
The dried peel is added to love and fertility charms and used in Solar
incenses. A traditional Chinese symbol of good luck and prosperity.Back to the herb list
Orris Root
(Iris florentina or Iris
germanica): Elements of Venus and Water. Add to love charms, baths and incenses.Back to the herb list
Parsley
In ancient Greek and Roman
times, parsley was considered symbolic of death.Back to the herb list
Patchouli
(Pogostemon cablin or Pogostemon patchouli): Elements of Sun and Earth. Both sexes can carry as an aphrodisiac
and to attract lovers.Back to the herb list
Pennyroyal
(Mentha pulegium): Elements of Venus and Earth. Put in shoe to prevent weariness; once it was carried by seafarers
to prevent sea-sickness. Used in protection rituals. Under no circumstances
use Pennyroyal while pregnant.Back to the herb list
Pepper
(Capsicum spp.): Elements of Mars and Fire.
Use in protective charms. Back to the herb list
Peppermint
(Mentha piperata): Elements of Venus and Air. Use in healing incenses and charms; good in a healing bath. Burn as
a winter incense. Any mint infusion can be sprinkled around the house as
a cooling-off influence after arguments.Back to the herb list
Periwinkle
(Vinca major): Elements of Venus and Water. Hang on house entrances as protection.Back to the herb list
Pimpernel
(Pimpinella magna): Elements of Mercury and Air. Wear to detect falsehood and prevent others lying to you.
Back to the herb list
Pine
(Pinus spp.): Elements of Mars and Earth.
Burn as a purifying winter incense. Pine nuts are eaten and carried as
fertility charms. Pine needles can be added to healing or cleansing baths.Back to the herb list
Poppy
(Papaver spp.): Elements of Moon and Water.
Eat poppy seeds as a fertility charm. Carry the seeds or dried seed-pod
as a prosperity charm.Back to the herb list
Rose
(Rosa spp.): Elements of Venus and Water.
Carry roses to attract true love. Drink a tea of rose petals for divinatory
dreams. Add to charms and incenses for sleep, love and healing. To dream
of roses is fortunate, foretelling success in love, unless the roses are
white. Drink the tea to promote beauty without and within, and mix the
petals with regular tea to attract love.Back to the herb list
Rosemary
(Rosmarinus officinalis): Elements of Sun and Fire. Use in protection charms, incenses and baths. Used to be thought
of as preventative against the plague. Wear to aid memory and learning.
Is used in sea rituals and sea magick. Wash hands with rosemary infusion
before performing magick, as a substitute for a ritual bath. Drink the
tea before exams or interviews to make the mind alert. Can be made into
a protection wreath. In medieval times was worn at weddings, as it was
linked with fidelity, love and happy memories. Brides often wore a chaplet
of rosemary. sometimes gilded. Placed under the pillow, was supposed to
ward off bad dreams. Smelling rosemary is supposed to keep a person merry,
young and in good spirits.Back to the herb list
Rowan
(Sorbus aucuparia): Elements of Sun and Fire.
Tie two twigs together with red thread as a general protection and luck
charm. Use as divining stick. The berries are used as a good luck amulet.
A necklace of the berries can be used as a healing charm.Back to the herb list
Rue
(Ruta graveolens): Elements of Sun and Fire.
Was once worn to guard against plague. Added to charms designed to keep
illness away. The smell of the fresh herb clears the mind of emotional
clutter. In mediaeval times rue was considered an antidote against all
kinds of poisons; judges carried it as a precaution against jail fever.
A sprig of rue can be dipped into water and used to sprinkle an area for
magickal purification. Back to the herb list
Saffron
(Crocus sativus): Elements of Sun and Fire.
Used in prosperity and healing rituals, charms and incenses.Back to the herb list
Sage
(Salvia officinalis): Elements of Jupiter and Earth. Used in healing and prosperity charms. Regarded as a great safeguard
of health, and has a reputation for promoting longevity. Is supposed to
grow best in the gardens of the wise.Back to the herb list
St John's Wort
(Hypericum perforatum): Elements of Sun and Fire. Used in protective charms of all kinds. Wear to ward off fever
and illness. Burn as a banishing or exorcism incense. Gather on Midsummer's
Eve, pass through the smoke of bonfires to purify, and hang in the house
as protection. Wear to instill courage and strengthen the will, and drink
a tea of the herb to cure melancholy. Hang bunches of the herb over the
bed or by the bedroom door to drive away nightmares.Back to the herb list
Sandalwood
(Santalum album): Elements of Moon and Air. Used in purifying, protective and healing incenses.
Back to the herb list
Sunflower
(Helianthus annus): Elements of Sun and Fire. Brings the blessings of the Sun into any garden in which it is grown.
The seeds can be eaten by women who wish to conceive.Back to the herb list
Thyme
(Thymus vulgaris): Elements of Venus and Air. Burn as a purifying incense. Use in magickal cleansing baths. Inhale
the scent for refreshment and renewed energy. Wear to protect oneself from
negativity and grief at funerals. Is thought to inspire courage when worn.Back to the herb list
Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis): Elements of Mercury and Water. Use the herb in love charms and spells, and in purification
baths.Back to the herb list
Vanilla
(Vanilla aromatica or Vanilla
planifolia): Elements of Jupiter and Fire. The bean can be carried in a love charm, and
the oil worn as an aphrodisiac.Back to the herb list
Vervain
(Verbena officinalis): Elements of Venus and Water. A herb sacred to the Druids and used by the Romans as a ritual cleansing
plant. Used in magical cleansing baths, purification incenses, safety amulets.
Hang above the bed to keep away nightmares. Used in love and protection
charms. Burn for a good purification incense. Use in prosperity charms. In incenses it brings good luck and inspiration.Back to the herb list
Violet
(Viola tricolour): Elements of Venus and Water. Mix with lavender for a powerful love charm. A violet compress can
aid headaches. Carry the flowers as a good-luck charm. To dream of violets
foretells a change for the better in the dreamer's circumstances. Violets
are supposed to absorb ill-will and evil spells. The scent is said to soothe
and clear the mind.Back to the herb list
Walnut
(Juglans regia): Elements of Sun and Fire.
Carry the nut as a charm to promote fertility and strengthen the heart.Back to the herb list
Willow
(Salis alba): Elements of Moon and Water.
Willow wands can be used for healing. The Willow will bring the blessings of the Moon upon those who plant it or have it on their property. Willows
can be used to bind together witch's brooms.Back to the herb list
Wormwood
(Artemisia absinthum): Elements of Mars and Air. Was once burned to raise spirits. Used in divinatory and clairvoyance
incenses. Burn on fires at Samhain to gain protection from roaming spirits. Used in initiation rites and for tests of courage and endurance. Should not be used by those suffering from grief or shock, as it has affinity
with the world of the dead; give to the dying to enable them to let go and find peace.Back to the herb list
Yarrow
(Achillea millefolium): Elements of Venus and Water. Used in love and marriage charms, and reputed to keep a couple together
for seven years. Was once given to newlyweds as a charm. Wards off negativity
when worn. Drink yarrow tea prior to divination to enhance the powers of perception. In ancient China yarrow had a reputation as a very spiritual
plant, hence its use in casting the I Ching.Back to the herb list