Working with plants is the oldest magick there is. Long before anyone wrote down a spell, people hung herbs over doors, burned them for their smoke, and carried them for luck. You can begin today with what is already in your kitchen cupboard.
Ten herbs to begin with
All of these are common, inexpensive, and safe to handle, and most are easy to grow. The full table is in our herb correspondences.
| Herb | Traditional associations | A simple use |
|---|---|---|
| Rosemary | Protection, cleansing, memory | Hang a sprig by the door, or burn a dried sprig to cleanse a room |
| Lavender | Calm, sleep, peace | Tuck a sachet under your pillow |
| Garden sage | Wisdom, cleansing, long life | Burn a dried leaf, or add it to a protection charm |
| Basil | Prosperity, harmony in the home | Keep a pot on the kitchen windowsill |
| Bay | Wishes, success, protection | Write a wish on a dried leaf and burn it in a fireproof dish |
| Thyme | Courage, good health | Add it to a bath before a difficult day |
| Mint | Clarity, energy, prosperity | Drink it as tea while you plan |
| Chamomile | Rest, gentleness, luck | Drink it as tea before bed |
| Cinnamon | Success, warmth, speed | Stir a stick through your morning drink |
| Rose | Love, friendship, self-kindness | Scatter dried petals in a bath or on the altar |
Ways to work with herbs
- Sachets and charm bags. Fill a small cloth bag with herbs chosen for a purpose, and carry it or keep it where it is needed.
- Teas. Use only herbs that are sold as food. Stir clockwise to draw something in, and drink with attention.
- Simmer pots. Simmer herbs, spices, and citrus peel in a pan of water to scent and bless the house. Stay with the pan.
- Baths. Tie herbs in a cloth and hang it under the faucet, or add a strained infusion to the water.
- Smoke. Burn dried herbs in a heatproof dish to cleanse a space. Open a window first.
- Growing. Tending a living plant is a practice in itself. See a windowsill witch garden.
Harvesting and drying
Cut herbs in the morning once the dew has dried. Take no more than a third of any plant, and say thank you. It costs nothing, and it changes how you see the plant.
Tie small bunches with string and hang them upside down somewhere dry, airy, and out of direct sunlight. They are ready when the leaves crumble, usually in one to two weeks. Store them in labeled jars away from light, and replace them after a year.
A simple working
A sachet for restful sleep
You will need
- A small cloth bag, or a square of cotton and a piece of string
- Two spoonfuls of dried lavender and one of dried chamomile
What to do
- In the evening, hold the herbs in your hands and breathe in their scent.
- Say: "Lavender for peace, chamomile for rest. May my sleep be deep and my mind be quiet."
- Fill the bag and tie it with three knots.
- Keep it beside your pillow. Squeeze it gently to release the scent, and refresh the herbs every few months.
Gathering from the wild
Wild plants are a gift, and gathering them carries responsibilities. Be completely certain of your identification, using a reliable local field guide. Never take rare or protected plants. Avoid roadsides and sprayed ground. Ask permission on private land, take only a little, and leave the roots.
Smoke cleansing and white sage
Burning herbs to cleanse a space is found all over the world. Two plants that are popular for it deserve thought. White sage and palo santo are sacred to particular Indigenous peoples of the Americas, and commercial demand has put wild populations under pressure. The word smudging refers to specific Indigenous ceremonies.
We recommend using plants from your own tradition and garden instead. Rosemary, garden sage, lavender, juniper, and bay all burn well and have long histories of use in European folk practice. We call the practice smoke cleansing.
Plant safety
- Nothing on this page is medical advice. Herbs can be powerful, and natural does not mean harmless.
- Only eat or drink herbs that are sold as food, in ordinary food amounts. If you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or taking medication, check with a doctor or pharmacist first. Some herbs, including St. John's wort, interfere with common medicines.
- Never take essential oils by mouth. Dilute them before they touch the skin, and keep them away from pets.
- Many plants are toxic to cats and dogs. Check before you bring a new plant home or burn anything near an animal.
- The famous plants of old witch lore, including belladonna, henbane, hemlock, foxglove, and monkshood, are deadly poisons. Do not grow them for magical use, and do not handle or burn them.