#herb school

[luminescentwitch]

Common Herbs

These are the herbs that I keep in bulk and always have on hand at my altar. A lot of these are also used in my kitchen, so I would recommend starting with those in order to make sure you get enough use out of them.

Basil: protection, courage, fertility, and good fortune

Chamomile: relaxation, centering, and healing

Fennel: protection and purification

Lavender: peace, sleep, and relaxation

Ginger: power, success, and wealth

Mint: money, luck, and empowerment

Nutmeg: visions and psychic communication

Rosemary: love, memory, protection, and purification

Sandalwood: grounding, purification, and protection

Thyme: increasing energy and promoting sleep

Vervain: cleansing and protection

Yarrow: courage and divination

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[brightstarsystem]

Funny story: we were doing a Flower Essence class in school today and we did a blind taste test of one Flower Essence. And BOY OH BOY did it make me fucking angry, giddy and courageous all at once.

It was crazy, it started as a pulse in my kidneys and then I had a flashback to a bunch of different instances with Ari (who I hadn’t thought about in 2 days and I was in a really good mood actually). But instead of freezing or getting scared I got mad as fuck; I wanted revenge and I wanted to confront him. I felt like I could fight and win, mobilize my anger and put him in his place.

Apparently it was an essence called Mimulus, and it is a plant specifically geared towards helping people find courage when they are afraid, pinpointing specific fears and allowing you to face them. Definitely an essence that I will be using in the near future, especially before therapy sessions.

[seawillowherbs]

Adventures in herb school - plant walk- part one

[luminescentwitch]

Bay Leaves

A common find in grocery stores, bay leaves come from the laurel plant that grows in warm climates. You are probably most familiar with it as being dried as this is the form most commonly used in cooking. Dried bay leaves have a slightly stronger scent than fresh leaves. Bay leaves and the laurel plant have long been used to symbolically represent honor in ancient Roman and Greek societies. As you can likely guess, the plant is native to the Mediterranean. They are also known to have been used medicinally. 

When I cook with bay leaves, I am usually adding them to a stew or soup that will be cooking for a long time. Crock pot style meals are the best example of this in my house. I don’t prefer to eat the leaf itself, so I usually fish it out of my dish before eating, but it adds a subtle and pleasant flavor.

In magic, the most common use I have found for bay leaves is using them as a sort of natural notepad to write manifestations, runes, or sigils. They can be burned easily and quickly, so if you are working with fire that is something to be aware of. Personally, I use them the most to add runes or sigils to spell jars that match the intention I am trying to set. For example, I recently refreshed the protection jar that I keep in my car, so I added bay leaves with sigils for travel and protection. They can also be easily composted, so when you recycle your spell components they are safe to be buried outside. 

Happy herbing~ 

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[luminescentwitch]

Thyme

Thyme is an herb originating in the Mediterranean that is thought to have antibacterial properties. It has been used for embalming and to protect from various plagues throughout history. Thyme has also been used to treat various skin conditions, including acne. One study suggested that thyme is more effective at killing the bacteria that cause acne than benzoyl peroxide, but research is still ongoing. 

In cooking, thyme is pretty universal. Personally, I use it the most with dishes involving chicken and/or cheese as I find it compliments nicely. Thyme can be difficult to grow from seeds, so most gardeners recommend starting with a cutting or propagation. It needs full sun and proper drainage, and can be grown in a pot indoors if you have a nice sunny window. 

For spellwork, thyme is most often used for additional protection and courage. Ancient warriors would carry thyme with them to keep their bravery in battle. While you might not be going to a battlefield, we could all use a little more bravery and confidence in our daily life. I consistently add thyme to my spell jars focused on protection that I carry with me daily. 

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[luminescentwitch]

Lavender

Lavender is perhaps the most widely known herb for peace and relaxation. Even those who don’t consider themselves herbologists or witches will use lavender scents for aromatherapy. However, the oils you can find in the grocery store are usually (at least partially) artificially scented. True dried lavender’s scent is not quite so strong and it takes an extremely potent oil to obtain a strong enough smell to fill a room.

Most commonly used in aromatherapy for relaxation, stress relief, and sleep, many people don’t know that lavender’s calming properties are not exclusive to the mind. In diluted forms, it can be applied to relieve burns on the skin and even headaches. Be wary of applying any essential oil to the skin, but it can be done safely. If your oil is true and potent, be sure to dilute it with a carrier before applying!

For those of us who are more witch-y inclined, dried lavender is very useful for candle or jar spells that could benefit from an added element of relaxation. For example, I recently added lavender to a self-confidence candle spell. Adding it provided the release of anxiety related to any inadequacies I believe I have, increasing the overall potency of the other ingredients. I have also known witches to add it to candles (see my note on fire safety) to burn while they meditate to increase their psychic awareness. Generally speaking, any spell or working can benefit from adding at least a little lavender.

If you wish to grow some lavender to use for yourself, I recommend planting it in a high sun area that has sufficient water drainage. Lavender plants tend to be easily over-watered. It doesn’t tend to need any kind of fertilizer, making it a relatively beginner friendly herb to grow.

Happy herb-ing!

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[luminescentwitch]

Cat Tails

Possibly one of the most visually recognizable plants, cattails grow wherever there is a consistent source of water. Naturalists love them because they stabilize soil and can help prevent erosion. They also serve as perfect habitats for many small pond fish and animals. 

Just about all parts of the plant are edible for humans and you can find recipes online that include the entire plant. If you’re going to harvest cattails, I encourage you to research to make sure you use as much of the plant as possible. 

Historically, cattail roots have been used to heal skin wounds and burns. It can also be used as an antiseptic in a pinch. Magically it has been said to promote peace, especially between two people who are fighting. I haven’t seen many people use it for peace within oneself, as there are many herbs that do the same and are easier to obtain, but I would imagine it could be used for this as well. 

A note: in the right environment, cattails grow very quickly and easily, to the point where they can be considered an invasive species. As always, harvest it locally or grow some yourself and be very careful and thorough if you must transfer a plant to a new area. 

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[k12academics]

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