Tap into the magical properties of plants with this guide to spells and rituals from around the world
Herbal Magic For Dummies introduces you to the use of green magic to connect with the powers and energies of plants. Many books on plant magic focus only on European or Wiccan traditions—but this one takes you a step further, so you can upgrade your grimoire with occult knowledge from all times and places. With this book as your guide, you can bring herbs, essential oils, flowers, and other plants into your spell work with ease. Select the most powerful supplies from spell shops and other sources and engage responsibly with plants directly from the earth. You'll also get a useful primer on intention setting and imbuing herbs and plants with magic energy. This resource is perfect for the burgeoning green magic user.
Inside:
- Learn the history of plant magic and discover traditions from around the world
- Tap into the spiritual energies and powers of different herbs, flowers, and beyond
- Practice rituals and spells that have been passed through the ages, and develop your own
- Select the right plants for each green magic spell you cast
Connect with the earth while practicing your craft with Herbal Magic For Dummies.
Table of Contents:
Introduction 1
About This Book 1
Foolish Assumptions 3
Icons Used in This Book 3
Beyond the Book 4
Where to Go from Here 4
Part 1: Planting the Seed 5
Chapter 1: Meeting Your Herbal Allies 7
Aligning Intention through Magic 7
Discovering that Not All Plants Are Herbs 9
Treating Herbs as Magical Allies 10
Discovering the Magic of Herbs 11
Looking at Herbal Traditions 13
African Traditional Herbalism 13
Ayurvedic medicine 14
Indigenous plant medicine practices 15
Traditional Chinese Medicine 16
Folk practices 17
Wortcunning 18
Rootwork 18
Green witchcraft 19
Western herbalism 20
The Foundations of Medicinal Herbalism in the West 21
Hippocrates 22
Pedanius Dioscorides 22
Avicenna 22
Hildegard von Bingen 23
Paracelsus 23
John Gerard 24
Nicholas Culpeper 24
Carl Linnaeus 25
Maud Grieve 25
Connecting with Plant Intelligence 26
Looking at Magical Plant Anatomy 27
Parts of a plant 27
The language of flowers 28
Flower petal numerology 29
Working with Herbal Energetics 30
Chapter 2: Working with Herbal Magic Formulas 33
Blending Herbal Tea 34
Infusing Herbs into Oil 36
Carrier oils 36
Cold-infusion method 37
Hot-infusion method 39
Making Your Own Herbal Tinctures 40
Weight-to-volume ratios 41
Lemon Balm Tincture 43
Making and Burning Incense 44
Incense ingredients 44
Incense Blend 45
Burning incense 46
Crafting Stick and Cone Incense 47
Assembling Herbal Charms 48
Charm bags 49
Spell Bottle for Keeping Away Unwanted Visitors 50
Incorporating Essential Oils and Aromatherapy 53
Essential oil blends 54
Autumnal Simmer Pot for Prosperity 56
Dressing and Fixing Candles 57
Taking Herbal Baths 59
Creating Flower Essences 60
Making Herbal Powders 63
Chapter 3: Understanding Herbal Correspondences 65
The Doctrine of Signatures 66
Practicing with Elemental Correspondences 67
Fire 67
Air 68
Water 69
Earth 70
Herbal Magic and Planetary Correspondences 71
Moon 71
Mercury 72
Venus 73
Mars 74
Jupiter 75
Saturn 76
Sun 77
Astrological Correspondences 78
Aries, the Ram 79
Leo, the Lion 80
Sagittarius, the Centaur 80
Gemini, the Twins 81
Libra, the Scales 82
Aquarius, the Water-bearer 83
Cancer, the Crab 83
Scorpio, the Scorpion 84
Pisces, the Fish 85
Taurus, the Bull 86
Virgo, the Maiden 87
Capricorn, the Sea-goat 88
Herbal Magic Correspondences 89
Part 2: Crafting Spells and Rituals 93
Chapter 4: Preparing Herbs for Magic 95
Sourcing Herbal Ingredients 95
Ethical and sustainable sourcing 96
Reputable sources 96
Bioregionalism 97
Your own herb garden 97
Practicing Magical Harvesting 97
Harvesting herbs ritually 98
Harvesting times: Days of the week 98
Factoring in lunar phases 99
Offerings to the plants 100
Harvesting your herbs 100
Drying and Preserving Harvested Herbs 100
Choosing a drying method 101
Monitoring daily 102
Freezing, curing, and storing 102
Awakening Herbs for Ritual Use 103
Infusing Herbs with Your Intention 104
Working with Roots 105
Preparing roots for magical use 107
Offerings to roots 108
Chapter 5: Protecting Yourself and Setting Boundaries 109
Enforcing Safe Spaces 110
Defining defensive operations 110
Launching offensive operations 112
Exploring Herbs of Protection 113
Herbs of the Sun 114
Herbs of Mars 116
Yarrow 117
Herbs of Saturn 118
Creating Formulas for Defense 119
Fiery Wall of Protection Powder 119
Hot Foot Powder 119
Protection Incense 119
Black Salt 120
Protection Oil 120
Casting Spells of Protection 121
Candle spell for protection 121
Home protection with herbal salt bowls 122
Home protection ritual 123
Charm bag for protection 124
Witch bottles 125
Chapter 6: Cleansing, Purifying, and Banishing with Herbs 127
Practicing Energetic Hygiene 127
Cleansing 128
Purification 129
Banishing 129
Exploring Herbs of Energetic Hygiene 130
Angelica root 130
Asafoetida 131
Eucalyptus 132
Hyssop 133
Juniper 133
Lemongrass 134
Mugwort 135
Rosemary 136
Rue 136
Sage 137
Valerian root 138
Wormwood 139
Creating Herbal Formulas for Energetic Hygiene 140
Cleansing Incense 140
Removal Bath Blend 140
Banishing Incense 141
Flying Devil Oil 141
Uncrossing Oil 141
Florida Water 142
Casting Cleansing Spells 143
Performing a Banishment Ritual 145
Chapter 7: Attracting Abundance and Prosperity 149
Cultivating an Abundance and Prosperity Mindset 149
Exploring Herbs of Abundance and Prosperity 151
Allspice 151
Basil 152
Bay leaf 153
Chamomile 154
Cinnamon 155
Cinquefoil 155
Mint 156
Oakmoss 157
Patchouli 157
Thyme 158
Vetiver 159
Creating Herbal Formulas for Prosperity and Abundance 159
Prosperity Oil 160
Money-Drawing Powder 160
Success Incense 161
Good Luck Oil 161
Blockbuster Ritual Bath 161
Fancy Business Oil 162
Customer-Attraction Incense 162
Casting Spells for Prosperity and Abundance 163
Money bowl 163
Prosperity Spell Candle 164
A charm for good fortune 165
Chapter 8: Supporting the Healing of Body and Spirit 167
Approaching Spiritual Healing Practices 167
Exploring Herbs of Healing and Support 168
All-heal 169
Blessed thistle 169
Lady’s mantle 170
Lavender 171
Life everlasting 171
Purple coneflower 172
Plantain 173
Poplar 174
Skullcap 174
St John’s wort 175
Vervain 176
Yarrow 177
Creating Herbal Formulas for Wellness 178
Healing Oil 178
Healing Incense 179
Renewing Floor Wash 179
Golden Healing Salve 180
Purify and Revitalize Bath Blend 182
Casting Spells of Healing and Wellness 182
Smoke Bundle for Healing 183
Healing Energy Ritual 184
A charm for health 185
Chapter 9: Cultivating Love and Sensuality 187
Understanding the Ethics of “Love” Magic 187
Exploring Herbs of Love and Sensuality 189
Herbs for All Matters of the Heart 190
Cardamom 190
Cinnamon 191
Damiana 191
Ginger 192
Lemon balm 192
Orchid 193
Patchouli 193
Rose 194
Creating Formulas for Attraction 195
Bend Over Oil 195
Come to Me Oil 196
Love-Drawing Oil 196
Venetian Bath Salt 197
Love-Drawing Incense 197
Love Spell Candle Dressing 198
Casting Spells for Self-Love and Romance 199
Ritual bath for heart healing 199
Spell for attracting a romantic partner 200
Honey jar to bring the sweetness of love 201
Chapter 10: Creating Your Own Herbal Magic 203
Defining Your Own Ritual 203
Setting Your Intention 204
Timing Your Magic 205
Selecting Your Herbs 207
Listening to Your Intuition 208
Choosing the Right Formula 209
Gathering Ritual Objects 210
Animal bones 210
Wood 211
Stones and crystals 211
Ritual tools 212
Writing Petitions and Incantations 212
Petitions 212
Incantations 213
Part 3: Partnering with Nature 215
Chapter 11: Growing a Magical Herb Garden 217
Choosing Which Herbs to Grow 217
Planting with the Moon 218
New moon 219
Waxing moon 219
Full moon 219
Waning moon 220
Dark moon 220
Working with the Seasons 220
Spring 221
Summer 221
Fall 221
Winter 221
Indoor/City Gardening 222
Chapter 12: Protecting the Environment 223
Believing Everything Has a Spirit: Animism 223
Earth as a Living System: Spiritual Ecology 225
Avoiding Cultural Appropriation 226
Using Sustainable Practices 227
Part 4: the Part of Tens 229
Chapter 13: Ten Herbs to Enhance Your Magic 231
Basil 231
Bay Laurel 232
Cinquefoil 234
Dandelion 235
Juniper 236
Lavender 238
Mint 239
Mugwort 241
Rosemary 242
Yarrow 243
Chapter 14: Ten Tips for Building Your Magical Apothecary 247
Choosing Your Shelving 247
Dedicating Your Magical Herb Cabinet 248
Storing in Bottles, Jars, and Vials 248
Drying Your Herbs 249
Storing Your Herbs 249
Labeling Your Containers 250
Checking Your Herbs 250
Mitigating Mold and Insects 251
Using the Cabinet as an Altar 251
Working with the Magical Apothecary 251
Index 253
About the Author :
Coby Michael is an occult herbalist and magical practitioner specializing in the use of plants in ritual and ceremony. He is author of The Poison Path Herbal and runs The Poisoner’s Apothecary, an online store and educational resource.
