Magical Herbs

The power of magical herbs has been know for centuries. Herbs are the basis of many medicines, and the power of aromatherapy is well documented. This page, however, is dedicated to a less-documented use of herbs: the power of herbs to carry magic.

Herb Magic is one of the simplest and least expensive ways to create magical amulets. Also, unlike most other methods, it requires little that is not already present in the average home.

Magical Herbs and Their Use

Caution should always be exercised when using magical herbs. Some herbs should not be eaten, other should not be used topically or inhaled. You could also develop an allergic reaction to any herb, even those you have used in the past. Aside from physical concerns, you should be aware of the karmic effects of any magic you perform. Be aware of the effects of your actions and be sure you truly want what you will receive.

My wife and I often use magical herbs. We use them individually; in combination with other herbs; and combined with color magic, crystals, and other types of magic. The most common individual herbs my wife and I use are:

White Sage: A powerful cleansing and purifying agent, white sage is included in all of our amulets. It helps to enhance the powers of the other herbs in the blend. It is very popular for smudging.

Salt: While technically not a herb (it's a mineral), salt is often sold with herbs and is such a useful tool I couldn't leave it off this list. Salt is used for cleansing, purifying and protection. A circle of salt around your sacred space will help block out negative influences. Negative energy can also be cleansed from your tools by allowing them to rest overnight in salt.

Sweetgrass: Like Sage, Sweetgrass is a powerful cleanser and protector. It carries a powerful female energy. We keep a sweetgrass braid over our door to keep positive energy flowing in our home. Sweetgrass is also very popular for smudging.

Basil: Basil is useful for both money drawing and healing.

Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a powerful stimulant in magic. It increases both energy and passion.

Combining the Powers of Magical Herbs

My wife and I have used herbs (along with crystals and color magic) for many years to create amulets, spell candles, and in several of our other spells. We have rarely been able to grow our own herbs, and spent most of our lives in areas that were, shall we say, less than accepting of our pagan beliefs. As a result, we spent a great deal of time learning how to use herbs that were available from mainstream suppliers. Improvising like this takes more time and effort than working with materials that are prepared specifically for magical use, but in some cases it is unavoidable.

The blends below are those that we developed using mainly those herbs we could find in grocery and/or restaurant supply stores, or that we could easily gather in public without attracting excessive attention (like pine bark - a few chips goes a long way). The herbs we bought from specialty suppliers (after driving 50 miles to the nearest one) were white sage, sweetgrass, myrrh, frankincense, patchouli and sandalwood.

As a general rule, we use the most readily available herb(s) as the bulk of a blend, adding just enough of the others to accomplish our goals. Otherwise, we use roughly equal amounts of each of the herbs in any given blend. Please note that you should never eat any of these blends, and you should use extreme caution if they will be used on the skin.

Our Blends of Magical Herbs

Money Blend - Clove, Pine Bark, Orange Peel, Bay, Basil, Oregano, Clover, Cassia Bark (Cinnamon), Comfry

Health/Healing - Ash, Willow, Camphor, Coriander, Juniper, Marjoram, Mistletoe, Nutmeg, Oak, Walnut (Shell)

Love - Cat Tail (fluff), Cinnamon, Lemongrass, Mint, Parsley, Vanilla, Violet, Rose

Lust - Cinnamon, Cyprus, Vanilla, Apple Seed, Catnip, Passion Flower

Attract a Male - (add) Jasmine, Lavender, Gardenia

Attract a Female - (add) Patchouli, Bay, Cedar

Passion - Cinnamon, Bay, Ginger, Celery, Ginseng, Mint, Nettle, Parsley, Patchouli, Saffron

Vitality - Allspice, Carnation, Rosemary, Vanilla, Eucalyptus, Myrrh, Narcissus, Sandalwood, Violet

Peace Blend - White Sage, Acacia (Gum Arabic), African Violet, Cedar, Eucalyptus, Rose, Sandalwood, Thistle

Protection Blend - White Sage, Anise, Bay, Caraway, Cypress, Mandrake, Mistletoe, Thistle

Luck - Allspice, Fern, Grains (esp. Wheat, Oat or Rice), Nutmeg, Star Anise, Violet, Rose, Clover

Spirituality - White Sage, African Violet, Frankincense, Myrrh, Sandalwood

Psychic Power - White Sage, Bay, Eye-bright, Flax, Rowan, Star Anise, Sweetgrass

Sleep - White Sage, Camomile, Elder, Hops, Lavender, Valerian, Vervain

Youth and Beauty - Anise, Cowslip, Fern, Rosemary, Catnip, Avocado (seed or skin), Flax, Ginseng

Success - Lemon Balm, Cinnamon, Clover, Ginger, Rowan, Basil, Pine, Mint, Almond

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