Twenty Must-Have Magickal Herbs

© 2000 by Mareth SummerWind

After considering my essential oils, I opened my herb cabinet (pictured above) and started to take inventory. Believe it or not, I have 125 different herbs in my stock. Yes, I truly love herbal magick in all its forms. I make mojo bags, dream pillows, teas, incense, floor washes, powders. I use herbs as offerings, simmer them in potpourri pots and I often roll my anointed candles in charged herbal mixtures when I do spell work.

I understand that most people don't have such an intense interest in herbs or the storage space to allow them to collect so many different types of herbs. That started me thinking. My original intent was to find the ten herbs I wouldn't want to live without. WOW! That was harder than I had imagined.

I quickly discovered that I just couldn't narrow it down that far. After an evening curled up in a rocking chair with Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs and The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Bereyl, I finally came up with a list of twenty herbs that cover a wide variety of magickal intents.

These herbs are readily available and economical; most cost less than $1.00 per ounce at Sunflower Herbs in Columbus. If you are not lucky enough to have a source like Sunflower near you, buying by catalogue or over the Internet are viable options. Some of them may be found at the grocery, but check for other sources first, since the price at the grocery may be triple (or even quadruple) the cost asked by an herbal supplier and the quality may be lower. The best source for herbs is, of course, your own organic garden, since most herbs are perennials and grow like weeds.

Without further ado, here they are, my top twenty magickal herbs…

Angelica, associated with the Sun and the element of Fire, is used for exorcism, protection, healing, and to encourage visions.

Broom is a versatile herb. It may be used for purification and protection as well as in wind spells and for divination. It is linked with the planet Mercury and the element of Air.

Catnip may be one of the most underrated of magickal herbs, since it is frequently associated with cats' toys. While it excites felines--and, in the case of Merlyn, makes him paranoid--it is calming to humans. Associated with the planet Venus and the element of Water, catnip may be used when love, beauty, and happiness are your goals. It is also, of course, good to use in cat magick. Catnip grows wild in my neighborhood, so I tried to plant it outdoors last spring. The attempt was completely unsuccessful; the neighborhood felines didn't touch the wild plants, but devoured mine…

Chamomile is a popular herb, well-known for its sleep-inducing quality. This year will be my second attempt at growing my own chamomile. Last year's crop was very sparse, so I was quite disappointed; I use the chamomile flowers quite frequently. Linked with the Sun and the element of Water, chamomile also draws money, brings love, and can act as a purifier and protectant.

Cinnamon is one of the two herbs I add to everything I make. It is wonderful when your intent is spirituality, healing, lust, protection, love, and psychic powers. I use it because, with its connection to the Sun and the element of Fire, it adds power to my spells and brings success with it.

Dragon's Blood is my eldest nephew's favorite of all my herbs. He loves to watch it bubble on a charcoal block. Although my reasons for liking it are a little more complicated, I have to agree that it is very cool to see. This resin, associated with the planet Mars and the element of Fire, is used for love, protection, exorcism, and to add potency to mixtures.

Frankincense is a standard supply for every Witch I know, even those not as "herbally inclined" as I. Associated with the Sun and the element of Fire, it is often smoldered on charcoal blocks during rituals for it's correspondence to the God and also for its protective and purifying power. Frankincense also promotes spirituality.

Jasmine is associated with the Moon and the element of Water. It is used to bring love, money, and prophetic dreams.

Lavender, a plant of Mercury and Air, is one herb that I always have in stock. It is one of the true "all purpose" herbs, useful for love, purification, sleep, chastity, longevity, protection, happiness, and peace. This was one of the first herbs I chose for my Witch's garden last year and it grew quite well; although the blossoms were sparse, the grey-green foliage is beautiful and also highly scented.

Mugwort also has many uses. Corresponding to the planet Venus and the element of Earth, it brings healing and strength, heightens the psychic powers, gives protection, induces prophetic dreams, and helps in astral projection. I'm planning to add a mugwort plant to my garden this year, since I use so much of it.

Mullein grows wild alongside roads and railroad tracks here in Ohio every summer. I go myself and harvest it on Midsummer Day, when the plant is at its peak potency. Mullein is associated with the planet Saturn and the element of Earth. Its uses include courage, protection, health, love divination, and exorcism. The easiest cure I have found for night terrors is to slip a whole mullein leave under the pillow.

Myrrh is a resin that I use with great frequency when mixing incense. Also known as the "Tears of the Goddess," myrrh is associated with the Moon and the element of Water. It may be used for protection, exorcism, healing and spirituality. Mixed with frankincense, it is often burned during rituals to represent a balance between the male and the female.

Patchouli is associated with the planet Saturn and the element of Earth. I go through a lot of it, mostly for incense. It draws money, encourages lust, and brings fertility.

Roses are associated with the planet Venus and the element of Water. Since both my and my sister's gardens have rose bushes, the petals are never in short supply. Roses bring healing, luck, and protection and are famed for their love-drawing ability.

Rosemary is my absolute favorite herb. With its connection to the Sun and the element of fire, it is used in spells for protection, love, lust, mental powers, exorcism, purification, healing, sleep, and youthfulness.

Rue is known both as the Witches' Herb and the Herb of Grace. Associated with the planet Mars and the element of Fire, it is used to increase mental powers, for healing, for exorcism, and to draw love.

Sage is linked with the planet Jupiter and the element of Air. Its energies bring immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection, and the granting of wishes.

Sandalwood, which corresponds to the Moon and the element of water, smells fabulous as it smolders on a charcoal block. It is used for protection, healing, exorcism, spirituality, and for the granting of wishes.

Vervain is an ingredient that I add to EVERY herbal charm and mixture because, as Silver RavenWolf says, it makes the spell go. Corresponding to the planet Venus and the element of Earth, it brings love, protection, purification, peace, money, youth, chastity, sleep, and healing.

Yarrow, associated with the planet Venus and the element of Water, is perfect for spellwork to bring courage, love, and psychic powers.