HERBAL MAGIC PROCEDURES Attunement: Pour the needed amount of dried herb into a bowl. Sit or stand calmly and gaze into the herb. Sense its vibrations awaiting within the leaves and flowers and stems; see them emerging from the plant or lying in wait. Psychics can see the vibrations leaving the plants in various forms, such as sharp jagged lines, lazy spirals or blazing comets. Lean toward the bowl and place your power hand within it, touching the herb. Leave it motionless for a few seconds. Visualize your need strongly. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Enchantment: Run your fingers through the herb. Still strongly visualizing your need, send it into the herb. Feel your fingertips charging the herb with energy. If you find trouble holding the image in your mind chant simple words that match your need, such as: Yarrow, yarrow, make love grow. Chant this endlessly under your breath. As you run your fingers through the herb feel them infusing the plant with your need. When the herb is tingling with power (or when you sense that the enchantment is complete) remove your hand. The plant has been enchanted. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Sachets: Herbs to be carried or placed in the house (over doors, windows, etc.) should be made into sachets. A sachet is a small bag or piece of cloth in which herbs are contained. In voodoo magic this is often called a 'charm bag' or 'root bag'. They are exceedingly easy to make. Take a small amount of material (square, round, or triangular shaped) of the appropriate color. Felt works well and its relatively inexpensive. Place the enchanted herbs (usually no more than a tablespoon or so) on the center of the material. Gather the ends together and tie with a piece of cord or yarn of a matching color. As you knot the cord firmly visualize your need. (In actual fact, do this during the entire procedure). Make two more knots and the sachet is finished. The smaller the sachets are, the easier they are to carry in the pocket. Household sachets may be made larger since they aren't carried. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Poppets: This is also known as the 'voodoo doll', although it has been in magical use at least 4,000 years and was only lately associated with voodoo. Though they have been made out of roots, potatoes, lead, bark, paper and other materials, in magical herbalism poppets are usually fashioned of cloth and herbs. The poppet is a doll made to represent the person to be aided through magic. Poppets are most often made to speed healing, and are also fashioned to draw money, love, and all the various magical needs. For best results do not construct a poppet representing another person; only yourself. Poppets are easy to make: draw a rough outline of a human figure (about eight inches long). Transfer this outline to a piece of cloth doubled-over of the appropriate color. Cut it out so that you have two identical pieces of cloth. Pin these together and begin to sew them around the edges. When three-quarters of the doll is stitched, fill it with the appropriate enchanted herbs. Once the poppet is completed hold it in your power hand and visualize your need. State in plain words that you have fashioned the poppet to aid you in becoming healthy, to draw money, etc. The herbs within the poppet will go to work in manifesting your need. The poppet filled with healing herbs (for example) represents you 'filled' with health. Place the poppet on the altar. Burn candles of the proper colors and stare at the poppet, visualizing your need. Store the doll in a safe place when not in use. After the poppet has done its job, pick it apart and bury the herbs and cloth. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Infusion: The infusion is the origin of the 'potion' so identified with Witches. It is simply a process of soaking herbs in hot water. There are some refinements, however. Use no metal pots when boiling water or during the steeping process, for they interfere with the herb's powers. Keep the liquid covered during infusion so that little steam is lost. Finally, enchant all herbs prior to infusion. Use one teaspoon dried herb to every cup of water. Heat water until just boiling. Pour over herb and cover. Let steep 9 to 13 minutes. Strain and cool before using. Infusions are drunk as teas, of course, but they are also added to baths, rubbed onto furniture and floors, and used to anoint the body. Needless to say never make an infusion of a poisonous plant. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Baths: Baths are often used in herbal magic, for they are an easy way to spread an herb's power over the entire body. There are two methods; one, make a sachet (use about one-half to one cup of the appropriate enchanted herb) of cheesecloth. Drop this into the warm bath water. A better method entails the preparation of an infusion. Add the strained liquid to the tub. Essential oils are also sometimes added to baths. Just a few drops are all that is needed for most oils; too much may irritate the skin. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Ointments: An old form of herb magic as well as medicine, an ointment is simply any fatty substance to which powdered herbs and/or oils have been added. In the past, lard was generally used as the base, but today vegetable shortening is usually substituted. It certainly smell better. To a cup of shortening, add three tablespoons of the enchanted, powdered herb(s). Pound or mash them together while visualizing until well-mixed, then place in an air-tight container to store. An alternative method is to melt the base over low heat. Add the herbs and steep for about 9 minutes or until the herb is 'fried'. Strain and allow the ointment to cool before use. A third method is even easier; melt the shortening, add drops of the appropriate oils, and cool. Using the ointment is easy: simply apply to the body at the pulse points (wrist, neck, etc.). Such ointments are best stored in air-tight containers in cool place. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Oils: Though extracting oils by steam distillation and other methods is almost prohibitively expensive, we are spared this cost by wide availability of essential oils and synthetics on the market today. Many so-called 'essential oils' are actually synthetic; this does not negate their use in magic, however. If they smell good, use them. Essential oils are used in numerous ways. They are worn on the body, rubbed onto candles, dabbed onto sachets and poppets, added to baths, burned on charcoal blocks and smeared onto roots. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Incense: Incense composition and use is an art form in itself. Basically, an incense is any combination of plant materials, perhaps combined with essential oils and a base, which are mixed together and burned or smoldered on charcoal. (This type of incense is know as 'raw' or 'granular'. It is usually used in magic, rather than the stick or cone forms). In magical use, incense is burned for its vibrations alone as a kind of spell, while visualizing. But it can also be used as a background while performing other types of magic. In composing your own incense formula remember that 'more' is not always better. Any recipe requiring over 9 substances is probably too complicated. Simply chose a few plants appropriate to your need. The herbs are reduced to powder form with a mortar and pestle and then enchanted. The resultant mixture is ready for use. To use incense, ignite a charcoal block and place in a heat-proof container. An incense burner is fine, as is a dish half- filled with salt or sand. Sprinkle a small amount of incense on the glowing charcoal every few minutes during your spell. Remember, however, that many sweetly-scented plants smell quite different when burning, so don't be surprised if your incense isn't pleasant. The important factors here are the vibrations and not the scents.