Herbs and Information

Herbs

 

Herbs, spices and resins used in Pagan Wiccan Rituals

Herbs used in Wiccan have many uses and are needed for Wiccan rituals and ceremonies; it depends on the occasion and the outcome of the spell you are using which herb you will use.

Majority of the herbs used in Wiccan can be found at supermarkets and your local health store and of course you can grow many of these herbs in your own garden. Some herbs are only available in certain shops and of course the Internet is a really good source especially for dried herbs. The majority of herbs are used in their dried form for Wiccan rituals

The following information for herbs is given for Wiccan purposes only and provided for information only. Some plants are highly toxic and can easily be confused with other plants, which may be poisonous. You must follow safety at all times and use herbs wisely always seek professional advice if in doubt. Under no circumstances can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of your country. The information here is purely for Wiccan rituals and none of the herbs listed here should be ingested or used in herbal teas. I do not know enough information to be able to advise using herbs in this way.

For the following herbs listed you can use them in dream pillows, place in a small bag and wear it around your neck, or carry them on your person. Hang herbs in rooms in your home, use them in the bath, anoint candles or place them on your alter, they can also be used in incense but a word of caution here some herbs can be poisonous when burned so please always check the herb you are planning on using.

I hope you find this section useful and informative. I have tried to list as many herbs as possible that may cause problems (see separate section) but you do need to check and ask questions from your local herb store or garden supplier if you’re unsure.

Acacia

This herb is an excellent one to use for protection against negative energy. It can also be used in healing and exorcism incenses. It can be used in purification and uncrossing spells. It can be used in herbal baths for the purpose of removing curses, hexes, or spells. Sprinkle around the outside of your home for protection of the home. Flowers can be used in potpourri. To ward off evil, place a sprig of acacia above your bed. Burn some acacia and sandalwood to stimulate your psychic powers. Many people burn these leaves as incense or dip them in holy water and sprinkle an altar to communicate with or to memorialize the Dead.

 Agarwood/Aloeswood

Agarwood, aloeswood, eaglewood, jinkoh, oudh and gaharu are just some of the many names for this most legendary and valuable incense.
Agarwood is the resinous wood from the Aquilaria tree, an evergreen native to northern India, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. The fungus and decomposition process continue to generate a very rich and dark resin forming within the heartwood. The resin created as a natural immune response makes the most sacred oil on the planet. The wood is extremely rare and often very difficult to obtain, as well as being quite expensive. The best quality is Kyara, which comes in four types: Green, Iron, Purple, and Black.
Mixes Well With: benzoin, borneol camphor, cassia, cinnamon, clove, lavender, musk seed, rhubarb, rose, saffron, sandalwood, spikenard, star anise, vetiver, turmeric, tobacco.

Acorn

Can be used in charms or spells for good luck, protection, wisdom, and personal
power. Sacred to Druids and can be used at the tip of wands.

Adders tongue

This herb can be used in spells and charms to stop gossip and slander or to
promote healing. It has also been referred to as Serpent’s Tongue and is often
considered sacred to those gods associated with snakes.

Alfalfa

This herb can be used by burning the seeds and scattering them outside around your property to protect your home from poverty and hunger. Also used in money spells and to ward off evil spirits. To keep away poverty and prevent financial troubles sprinkle ALFALFA under the carpets in place of business to attract and hold Steady Paying Customers or Gain the Boss's Favour. Or carry a pinch of ALFALFA LEAVES in a green flannel bag or in your pocket when going to place a bet believed it will Bring in the Winnings.

Allspice

Communication, compassion, determination, energy, healing, money, and luck. You can burn Allspice to attract luck and money. Place ALLSPICE in a green flannel money drawing bag with other Lucky Money Herbs such as Nutmeg, Chamomile, Bayberry, Cinnamon, Irish Moss and John the Conqueror.
Burn the crushed dried berries for attracting money and luck. Add to mixtures for healing. Can use in a healing herbal bath.

Allspice Berries

Used in magical spells prosperity, success, luck, and money gained through business ventures.

Almond

Associated with wisdom, money, fruitfulness, and prosperity. It can be used in spells and charms or burned as incense to attract abundance. Be careful to specify what type of abundance you are seeking.

Althaea Leaves  

Attracts benevolent spirits to the home, increases psychic ability, heals and soothes. ALTHAEA LEAVES and Althaea Roots are burned with Resin incenses like Frankincense, Myrrh, Copal or Benzoin to bring forth protective and benevolent spirits. Keep ALTHAEA in a jar next to a small bowl of water where you burn your candles or perform your spells, and helpful spirits will be drawn to you. Carry Althaea Roots or Althaea Leaf in a white flannel bag with Angelica Root and unseen helping hands will protect you from evil, illness, and sorrow.

Amber

Used for protection from harm and success. Helps to clear the mind and bring
prosperity. Burn as an incense to transform the ambient negative energy to positive energy. Mixes Well With: cedar, frankincense, guggul, labdanum, myrrh, opoponax, pine

Angelica

This herb is an excellent one to use for protection against negative energy. It can also be used in healing and exorcism incenses. It can be used in purification and uncrossing spells. It can be used in herbal baths for the purpose of removing curses, hexes, or spells. Sprinkle around the outside of your home for protection of the home. The root is used in protective amulets carrying a root in a small pouch as an effective talisman.
Grow it in your garden as a protection for garden and home. The root is often used as a protective amulet, and has been used to banish evil by burning the leaves. It is also used to lengthen life, and is used in protectionagainst diseases. Adding it to a ritual bath will break 
                          spells and hexes.

Anise

Use in a sleep pillow to prevent disturbing dreams. A good herb to add to purification baths. Can be used in protection and meditation incenses. It can be used as incense during the invocation of Mercury or Apollo. Also called Aniseed, it is used for protection especially against nightmares'
Anise mixed with bay leaves provides an excellent bath additive prior
to ritual. Using anise in potpourri around the house wards off evil, and anise
in your sleeping pillow at night will chase away the nightmares. The essential
oil is used in ritual baths prior to any divination attempts. It is believed that hanging an anise 
                          seed head on your bedpost will restore lost youth.

Aloe Vera

Protective against evil influences and can bring good luck. It's also used to soothe burns and prevents household mishaps.
Hang at the front door, in the kitchen, in doorways and hallways to attract luck and protection to the inhabitants.

Apple

Also called Fruit of the Gods or Fruit of the Underworld, it is considered a 'food of the dead' and is present on many Wiccan Samhain altars. Apple blossoms are used for love spells, as is the fruit itself, and it is said that unicorns live under apple trees.
Apple blossoms are used in love and healing incenses. An apple should be given to a lover as a present – you should eat one half, the over the other. It is given as an offering on Samhain to the dead, since it is a symbolof immortality. Apple wood is used to make magickal wands. Pouring apple cideron the ground in your garden before you plant gives the earth life.

Arrow Root Powder

An old-time hand-dusting powder for gambling luck; combine with lucky Sachet Powders

Basil

Used for exorcism, protection and love potions. Sprinkled around the house to
ward off evil/negative spirits. There is an old saying, ‘Where Basil grows, no evil goes!’ and ‘Where Basil is, no evil lives.’ A gift of Basil given to someone moving into a new home as it will bring them good luck. Grow by your front door to keep money coming in. Mixes Well With: coriander, frankincense, galangal, white copal, lemon balm, oakmoss, opoponax, rosemary, clary sage, lime peel.
Basil protects from evil and negativity, and aids in attracting and keeping love. It is used for purification baths, and in wealth and prosperity rituals. Carrying a basil leaf in your pocket brings wealth, and if powdered basil is sprinkled over your mate while they sleep, it is supposed to eliminate
infidelity from your marriage.

Barberry

Sprinkle in the paths of your enemies to bar their way and stop them following you.

Bay leaf

Sacred to the god Apollo. This herb is used for protection, good fortune, success,
purification, strength, healing and divination. It is traditional to write wishes on the leaves and then burn them to make them come true. Can be used in charms that when placed under the pillow will induce prophetic dreams. Place a leaf in the corner of each room in the house to protect all that dwell there. Carry bay leaf or use in a protection charm to protect yourself from evil. Scatter on the floor, and then sweep out for protection

Bayberry

Brings good fortune, luck, healing, and relief from stress. Also called Bay Laurel, it is used for healing. It also has strong protection and purification properties, as well as producing prophetic dreams or visions.

Benzoin

With it’s soft, forceful, sweet, exotic, vanilla, almost deep lemony scent, this resin is used for creating sacred space, purification, or as an antiseptic. Being very beneficial during meditation, it is known to dispel negative energy, balance the crown and base chakras, and balance emotions as well as promoting prosperity.
Mixes Well With: aloeswood, burgundy pitch, cassia, cinnamon, clove, calamus, copal-black, frankincense, guggul, hibiscus, juniper, lavender, mastic, musk seeds, myrrh, opoponax, palo santo wood, patchouli, rhubarb, rose, saffron, sandalwood, spikenard, star anise, storax, sweetgrass, tolu balsam, vanilla, vetiver,

Blackberry Leaf (Bramble)

Used to remove evil spirits from a home and to return evil to a person doing you harm.
Powerful herb for protection, used in invocations to the goddess Brigit. Also used to attract wealth. If twined into a wreath with rowan and ivy, will keep away evil spirits. A bramble patch is a favorite hiding place for faerie folk, use to invoke and attract faerie spirits.

Borneol Camphor
Natural straw-coloured, semi-translucent crystals are collected from fissures in the trunk of the magnificent evergreen camphor trees which grow to over 130 feet (40-50m). These trees are considered holy by the Chinese and provide us with the gift of its crystalline resin. Some crystals are later refined to the white found in the picture

There is also a synthetic Borneol Camphor, Borneolum syntheticum, that is widely distributed. It's the result of the synthetic processing of turpentine oil and camphor. This type we do not use for incense, it has an off, turpentine aromatic note. Borneol has been used as a medicine by many Asian cultures. It is a very important ingredient in many Japanese incense formulas. It may be particularly helpful in helping to carry the other aromas and produce the needed alertness required in meditative practice.
Mixes Well With: aloeswood, calamus, cassia, catnip, cinnamon, clove, dammar, elemi, frankincense, galangal, iris root, juniper, lemongrass, patchouli, rhubarb, rosemary, sandalwood, star anise, thyme, turmeric

Burgandy Pitch/ Spruce Resin
From the Spruce pine tree comes a beautiful burgundy resin. This resin is collected and put through a cleaning and melting process to produce a higher quality end product. It has a long history of use in many cultures. In the Middle Ages Spruce resin was used for incense burning and medicinal purposes.

All pine and many conifer species were believed to have strengthening and healing properties when used as an incense.Burgundy Pitch is a hard resin which has had the turpentine extracted and there fore is less aromatic than the pinon resin but it is easier to pulverise for use in incense.
Mixes Well With: benzoin, cedar, galbanum, juniper, lavender, oakmoss, pine, pine needles, rosemary, white sage, desert sage, sandarac

Burdock

Use in protection incenses and for healing. Carry as a protection sachet or burn for purification of a room. Rinse with a root decoction for ridding oneself of a gloomy feeling about yourself or others.
Used to ward off all sorts of negativity, making it invaluable for protective amulets and sachets. Add to potpourri in the house.

Camilia

Brings riches and luxury, expresses gratitude. Place fresh blossoms in water on altar during ritual to attract money and prosperity. Used in Chinese medicine for treating skin conditions.

Caraway

Believed to provide protection and to keep young children safe from illness and harm.

Carry for protection against spirits who mean harm. The seeds can be used to ensure faithfulness, and can be used in spells to attract a lover. 
Carry Caraway in an amulet for protection. Carrying caraway seeds promotes the memory. It can also guard against theft. It is said to promote lust when baked into breads, cookies, or cakes.

Camomile

German Camomile and Roman Camomile.
Use on spells and charms to bring love, healing, and reduction of stress. Sprinkle
around the house for protection and to dispel curses. Burn as incense for
de-stressing and meditation. Make into a tea and drink for a restful sleep. Used for luck in gambling and to attract wealth. Is also used for money and love attraction, as well as to break curses or spells against you.
Drink as a tea, place small amount in the bath to prepare for magick, use as an
amulet for prosperity, Burn for restful sleep, visualize your desire.

                          Chamomile is used in prosperity charms to attract money. Added to incense, it will produce a  
                          relaxed state for better meditation. Burned alone it will induce sleep. Added to a ritual bath, it 
                          will attract love. Sprinkle it around your property to remove curses and bad spells.

Cherry bark

Used in lust spells. Can also be burned as an incense to aid in divination.

Chrysanthemum

Protection. Grow in the garden for protection of the home. White is the best colour of flower for this, but any colour will do.

Cinnamon

Use in spells and charms to draw money and prosperity. Also used to raise spirituality and promote healing, success, protection and luck. Can be burned and an incense to promote protection, wealth and raise spirituality. Burn cinnamon as an incense or use in sachets and spells for healing, money-drawing, psychic powers, and protection. Mix with frankincense, myrrh and sandalwood for a strong protection incense to be burned every day.

Citronella or lemongrass

Burn or use in charm to protect and cleanses the aura. Use in charms and spells to
encourage creativity and clear the mind. Also used to repel insects.

Clove

Used in spells and charms for protection, love, money, and exorcism. Used to cleanse the aura. Use in spells/charms/incense for protection, banishing negative spirits/energy and to stop gossip. Burn as an incense to purify an area. Also used in exorcisms. Attracts good luck to your home.

Wear or carry to repel negative energies around you

Clover

Use in spells and charms to promote fidelity, money, love, and success. Also used
for protection. Used in the consecration of ritual tools. Place around the home to
drive away negative spirits. Burn cloves in incense to clear negative energies, attract wealth and to purify.

Coltsfoot

Use in spells and charms for wealth, prosperity, visions and love. Used in Love sachets and for spells concerning peace and tranquillity. Coltsfoot has an unknown safety so always check.

Comfrey

Use in charms for safety and protection while travelling. Use the root of the herb for money spells and incenses. Comfrey offers protection during travel. Place a sachet of comfrey in your suitcase to ensure it arrives at your destination with you. The root is used for money spells.

Copal Resin

Burn for protection, cleansing, purification, to promote spirituality, and to purify quartz crystals and other stones before use in magic. May be substituted for Frankincense. A piece of copal may be used as the heart in poppets.

Daffodil

Love, fertility and luck. Keep in the home or altar to keep negative energy away. Also called Narcissus, it is used for love spells and to increase fertility. It is also worn for luck.

Daisy

Use in spells and charms for lust, love and luck. This flower is associated with babies and newborns. Use in baby blessing. Place in baby’s room for protection. Wear or carry to draw romance.

Dandelion

Not just a weed. Used in summoning spirits, healing, purification and defeating
curses or negativity. Protection against bad dreams, weather magic, a wishing herb. Also called Cankerwort, it is used in divination and in calling spirits.

Dragon’s blood

Used for protection, increasing potency in magical works and purification. Burn as
an incense to increase the potency of spellwork. It is excellent in banishing and
exorcism. It is used in love spells, and can cure impotency. It can drive away evil and negativity, and can increase an incenses potency and power. By the way, it isn't blood; it's dried resin from a palm tree, usually in little powdery rock forms.

Echinacea

Used to add power to charms, spells and incenses. Can be used as an offering to spirits. Strengthens spells. Which is appropriate since medicinally this herb strengthens the immune system.

Eucalyptus

Great for protection and healing. Can also be used to purify any space. Can be
used to fill healing poppets or charms. Should not be worn by pregnant or breast-feeding mothers.

Fennel

Use in spells and charms for protection, healing, and purification. Hang over doors with St. John's Wort at Litha to repel evil spirits. Carry fennel to influence others to trust your words.

Foxglove

Plant near house or in the garden for home protection. Used in spellwork/ritual to
contact the underworld.

Frankincense

A resin. Can be used to represent the Divine Masculine. Often combined with myrrh
to make a temple incense. Used for protection, cleansing and purification. Burn as
an incense for protective work, consecration, and meditation.

Garlic

Uses include healing, protection, exorcism and purification.
Can be used to guard against negative energy, harmful magic, spirits and jealousy
of others.

Ginger

Adds to the strength and speed of any mixture of which it is a part. Use in charms to promote protection and good health.

Honeysuckle

Used in spells and charms to draw money, success and wealth of material objects. Used to attract money. When placed on the forehead, it can improve psychic powers.

Jasmine

Use in charms or burn the flowers to draw wealth and money. Use in dream pillows
for restful sleep or burn as an incense in the bedroom to bring prophetic dreams.
Helps to bring inspiration and create new ideas.

Juniper

Burn as an incense for protection from harmful magic. Can be used to banish all
things detrimental to good health. Attracts positive energy. Can be carried as a
charm to promote potency in men and/or attract love.

Lavender

Burn at Litha as an offering. Love, Psychic Awareness, Happiness, Creative Work, Money and Business, Anointing, Exorcism, Harmony, Peace, Healing. The odour of lavender is conducive to long life so should be smelled as often as possible. Lavender is strewn into bonfires at Midsummer as an offering to the Gods and Goddesses. Use it in sachets and spell work

Mint

This herb promotes energy, communication and vitality. It draws in positive spirits when placed on your altar. Place in the home for protection. Do not plant directly into ground. It will overtake your garden/yard. Keep in a pot.

Mistletoe

This herb is used as a protective charm to ward off negative curses or energy; you can place it over your door for protection, also for fertility and exorcism. Uses with extreme caution as it is poisonous so never eat this plant. Place near your bedroom door mistletoe will give you restful sleep and beautiful dreams.

Mugwort

This herb enhances dreams so you can place inside a dream pillow. Can also be used in the same way for astral travel. It is often used to anoint items for divination and aids in astral travel. Can be burned with sandalwood for scrying rituals. Protection of homes, friends & possessions. Strong connection with the crystal ball.

Mullein

Hung over doors, in windows and carried in sachets it is used to banish demons and negativity. In India, mullein is regarded as the most potent safeguard against evil spirits and magic, Use in dream pillows to prevent nightmares and use in charms to help attract love.

Nettle

Placed in an amulet and sent back to the sender of a curse or bad spell to end the negativity wards off ghosts, keeps negativity far away. Sprinkle around a room to protect it. Also burned when performing exorcisms.

Myrrh

Feminine herb used to represent the Goddess. Promotes spirituality, meditation,
and healing. Will enhance any magical working. Increases the effectiveness of any
incense blend it is added to. Often burned with frankincense as a temple incense.

Patchouli

Used in spells, sachets, baths and mixtures to bring money or love. Can be used in
charms or incense to promote fertility. Burn as an incense at your place of business to promote growth of the business.

Peppermint

Used in spells and incense for healing and purification. Place in a sleep pillow to ensure restful sleep. Burn as an incense when moving into a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy from previous owners.

Rosemary

Associated with the Faye. Can be used in healing poppets for good health. Used in
love/lust spells. Can be used in herbal baths for purification. Burn as an incense to remove negative energy and purification. A powerful cleanser and purifier. Burn before rituals of any kind to clear negative energies.

Rose Petals

Rose Petals are used in Healing and Love Spells. Scatter around the house to calm stress and improve relationships. Used for divination, luck, protection and love rituals.

Sage

Sage absorbs negativity and misfortune. It drives away disturbances and tensions, and lifts the spirits above the mundane cars of life. Burn it to consecrate a ritual space. Carry it as an herb of protection. Sage is used in wish manifestations and to attract money. Smoulder to promote healing and spirituality. Carry to promote wisdom. Use in spells for: Protection; Wisdom; Health; Money and Riches; Spirituality.

Sandalwood

Used to clear negativity from a home by sprinkling it around the property. Use as an incense during protection, healing, and exorcism spells. The wood can be used to make healing wands. Used to help align the chakras for better energy flow. It is a good incense to burn during meditation.

St Johns wort

Gather at Litha or on a Friday and worn it will keep mental illness at bay and also cure melancholy. Burn at Litha to send away negativity, wear for invincibility, health and willpower. When placed in a jar and hung by a window, St. John's Wort protects against thunderbolts, fire and evil spirits. Both flowers and leaves are used for this purpose. At one time St. John's Wort was held to the mouth of accused Witches to attempt to force them to confess.

Thyme

Used in spells and charms to attract loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of
others. Burn as an incense or use in charms and hang in the home for banishing
and purification of the home. Bring into the home to attract good health for all
occupants. Use in dream pillows to prevent nightmares and facilitate a night of
restful sleep.