Herbal Magic: A Handbook of Natural Spells, Charms, and Potions
Hardcover
The plant kingdom is one of the oldest magical tools in existence. Known for millennia to have beneficial properties for both physical and spiritual well-being, many species of plants have been incorporated into the spiritual and healing practices of cultures around the world. These magical herbs are considered incredible gifts by shamans, green witches, hedge witches, and every wild woman and wild man.
This guide introduces the magical properties of plants, how to use them, and how to source them, including detailed step-by-step instructions on how to blend them seamlessly into magical recipes to harness their intrinsic powers. Tips for the budding witch cover:
- Uses for both common and rare magical plants
- Connecting with nature through the process of growing your own plants
- Herbal magic lore and herbal magic spell tools
- Tea recipes that can enhance your psychic abilities
- Spells for attractions, trust, fortune, and friendship
The Mystical Handbook series from Wellfleet takes you on a magical journey through the wonderful world of spellcraft and spellcasting. Explore a new practice with each volume and learn how to incorporate spells, rituals, blessings, and cleansings into your daily routine. These portable companions feature beautiful foil-detail covers and color-saturated interiors on a premium paper blend.
Other titles in the series include: Witchcraft, Moon Magic, Love Spells, Knot Magic, Superstitions, and House Magic.
Cultivating Herbal Magic in Your Life
To attune yourself with Mother Earth’s innate and powerful energies, grow your own herbs, plants, and flowers. Even one special herb on a sunny windowsill can be enchanting and uplifting. Selecting, nurturing, and harvesting your own herbs, plants, and flowers blends your energies with the energies of Earth, Nature, and the elements—not to mention the Sun and Moon—to create your herbal stores.
Gardening physically connects you to the energies of Earth and plants in spontaneous harmony, whose form and melody intertwine and support each other. Sometimes it is not practical or possible to grow your own herbs. Your innate magic is what amplifies the magic of the herbs—releasing their energies and messages into the Universe. If your source of herbs is more practical—say, from your local grocer or farmers’ market—they will be no less powerful in your spells.
Storing Dried Herbs
Storing herbs properly preserves their culinary and magical properties longer, and honors the work you’ve done in harmony with Nature to tend and nurture your herbs to maturity. Protecting them from moisture, sunlight, and air is key.
Remove the dried leaves from the stems, discarding the stems. You can store the leaves whole or crumble them, as you wish, but whole herbs last longer. Remove the seeds from the seed heads or pods. You may want to work over a sheet pan or parchment paper to catch the leaves and seeds as they fall. Remove husks from seeds, as needed, by gently rubbing the seeds between your hands.
Store the leaves, seeds, or flowers, separately, in airtight containers in a cool, dark place to preserve their aroma and color. They will keep for 6 to 12 months.
Magic and Fairies in the Herb Garden
Fairies can be mystical, magical, and charming, or impish, troublesome, and a real bother.
An herb garden is a magical place, with its visual beauty and tantalizing aromas and tastes, but attracting sweet-tempered fairies into your garden can be tricky. Creating a homey atmosphere is the best place to start.
Fairies are minimalists when it comes to living needs—shelter and water are their most basic ones. The base of a tree, or a simple toadstool, can suffice for shelter, and the morning dew sleeping on your plants’ leaves refreshes like nectar from the gods, especially lady’s mantle (see page 123). The hawthorn is said to be among their favorite trees, with its white flowers signaling a return of the fairies in late spring. Oak and ash trees are able substitutes. No trees? Think herbs and flowers that grow tall and sturdy. Leaves of the zucchini plant in your garden are a natural, as is rosemary or sage.
To make certain the invitation to take up residence in your garden is well received, keep these tips in mind as you try to tempt the fairies in.
BE KIND. Fairies favor those who care for and nurture the Earth and keep its creatures happy . . . feed the birds; be kind to all wildlife.
BE INVITING. Invite fairies into your garden with kind thoughts and deeds.
BE PROTECTIVE. Provide shelter . . . a fairy is at home in Nature, so include plants in your herb garden with large leaves or other features to provide shelter from the Sun and rain.
BE NURTURING. As for all of Nature, water is a must . . . a birdbath or butterfly pond will enchant and delight as a spot for bathing and drinking.
BE FUN. Fairies love bling. If you can, place some crystals in your garden or a reflective gazing ball. Music helps, too.
BE GRATEFUL. Offerings of fresh-cut herbs, especially milk and honey, are believed to be especially welcoming.
Create a Fairy Garden Playland
- Bluebells encourage laughter and merriment
- Foxglove though poisonous, a beloved fairy planting
- Chives afford protection
- Irish moss lays a magical carpet
- Lavender helps relax and renew
- Strawberries provide sweet sustenance
- Marigold shines with sunny optimism
- Thyme is perfect for fairy crowns, said to bring good luck
THE MAGIC WITHIN | Directory of Herbs, Plants, and Flowers
Aloe Vera | Aloe barbadensis | Aloe vera
In the language of flowers, aloe represents grief, but also affection. This ancient herbal healer may well be one of the earliest recorded plants in written history and Cleopatra is said to have considered aloe vital to her beauty routine. Aloe is an easy-to-grow houseplant.
MAGICAL PROPERTIES
Aloe heals, enhances beauty, offers protection, and brings luck.
SUGGESTED USE
With its association with water, aloe can be used in Moon spells. Grown on a windowsill, aloe guards the home against evil and accidents and attracts luck. Use the gel of the leaves to soothe burns and bug bites and help heal just about any minor cut or scratch. Some people find the gel irritating, so do a patch test before using on larger areas. If you are sensitive to it, rub a bit of the plant’s gel on a white candle and burn it safely for a healing spell.
Candle white, burn so bright, reveal your healing message now. Aloe gel, join this spell, reach deep within your curing well of healing balm and soothing calm that everything will soon be well.