Working With Herbs
As a witch creating spells, most of the spellwork you find is herb-based or has herbs in it. However, there's more to working with herbs than just throwing them in a jar and hoping for the best. Working with them is about creating a connection, thanking the spirit of the herb and the life it had in order to end up in your hands to be used for your will, it's about cooperation and listening and speaking to and with the herbs so your energies may align and create your desired outcome. There's much more to it than meets the eye and I think ALL beginner witches should know this when first starting their witchy journey.
Herbal work is a popular working amongst witches and other magical practitioners, but i'm going to let you know what it actually entails.
Some people are going to say you have to commune with the spirit of the herb to basically seek it's full assistance in the spell. Thank it for its journey and sacrifice and tell it what you need it to do. I'm one of those people. Howeverโฆ Others will say you don't need to do this, and that's valid too! It honestly doesn't matter one way or the other, it's just practitioners preference. Still, tell the herbs what you need them to help you with and what the spell is for.
Correspondences
Make sure that the herb correspondence is geared toward your spell. You're not gonna put lavender in a confidence spell, Mugwort into a pleasant dreams spell (as it is a mild hallucinogen), or Boneset into a love spell. Make sure it's what the spell needs and take into account its medicinal properties as well. Sometimes you may need an herb or ingredient that may not have a specific metaphysical property but has the right medicinal property for your spell (especially within healing spells).
Herb Polarity
Another thing to keep in mind is that all herbs have polarity. Each herb has Positive and Baneful properties. You can understand an herb's baneful properties by simply reversing the metaphysical properties of the herb itself. Roses can be used to cause heartbreak or to tempt someone into cheating. Calendula (confidence) can make someone fall into hubris and fuck themselves over. Eggshells (protection) can be ground up with the intention of breaking down someone's protections/wards. The only limit here is your imagination. Your craft is always your own, so do what works for you.
Give the herbs a JOB
Sometimes the herbs won't do what you want them to, that's why it's important for you to add intention and speak your intention into the herb, or if you dont want to talk to them, just tell them in your head. This channels your energetic intention into your hand where the herb is and it picks up on that. So, whatever method you choose will be fine for your practice. It's your own, so do whatever you want.
Cooperation
With herbal work, some herbs do NOT like to work together. They will simply not cooperate. This is why I use divination to ask my deities or higher self or spirit guides if I should use certain herbs in a spell together. They can tell me what I should and should not use through a pendulum. If you are unsure about what herbs don't go well together, just use a pendulum or use your intuition. It's not as hard as you think, I promise you.
In some witches' eyes, the more connected you are to your herbs, the more you commune with them, and the more respect you have for them, the more likely they are to work and assist you in your will and intention. This may not be the case for every witch, and that's perfectly valid! No one has to do it this way, but it's just what I have found to be the most successful in my craft.
If you want more tips and tricks for herbal magic, herb correspondences, and more, check out the Cobalt Athenaeum discord server. It's a massive witchy server network FULL of all the witchy information you could ever want. And it's free!
Happy Witching!
