THE STUDY OF HERBS


ANDELICA: (Sun, fire) The root, carried in a blue cloth bag, is a protective 
talisman. Was considered to be under the guard of angels and a preventive 
against plague. The whole root in a blue or white cloth bag protects against 
evil.

ANISE: (Jupiter, air) Protection. A pillow stuffed with anise seeds keeps evil 
away.

APPLE: (Venus, water) Love spells. The wood is fashioned into wands and used for 
love spells and rituals. A large apple eaten at All Hallows brings god luck.

ASAFETIDA: (Saturn, fire) Called Devil's Dung for it's disguising odor. Used in 
exorcism. A small piece worn around the neck guarded against plague.
 
ASH TREE: (Sun, water) Protective, used to make brooms and healing wands. Leaves 
placed beneath pillow induce psychic dreams. The winged seeds are carried to 
prevent overlooking or ill-wishing. Leave are lucky, especially even ones. 
Leaves should be gathered saying: 
"Even ash, I do thee pluck, 
hoping thus to bring good luck. 
If no good luck should come from thee
I shall wish thee on the tree."

BALM OF GILEAD: (Saturn) The buds can be carried to mend a broken heart. Can be 
added to love and protection charms.

BASIL: (Mars, fire) Wealth and prosperity. Carrying basil in pockets attracts 
money to them. A wife can dust her upper body with powdered basil to keep her 
husband faithful.

BAY LAUREL: (Sun, fire) The leaves can be burned or chewed to induce visions. 
Worn as an amulet to ward off evil. Leaves under the pillow induce prophetic 
dreams. Can be used for protection and purification. Growing near a house, it 
protects occupants from infection and storms.

BENZOIN: (Sun, air) Used in purification. A few drops of tincture preserves oils 
and preparations.

BETONY: (Jupiter, fire) Protection, purification. Stuff a pillow to prevent 
nightmares.

CHAMOMILE: (Sun, water) Used in prosperity charms and rituals. The tea brings 
peace and tranquility. Wash face and hair with it to attract a lover.

CARAWAY: (Sun, fire) Worn by witches to prevent capture and hanging. Produces 
added energy in ritual when used as an incense.

CATNIP: (Venus, water) Creates psychic bond between cat and owner. Used in love 
spells and incenses.

CELANDINE: (Sun, fire) Helps wearer escape unfair imprisonment or entrapment. 
Cures depression.

CINNAMON: (Sun, fire) Used in incenses for healing, clairvoyance, high spiritual 
vibration. Used as a male aphrodisiac.

CINQUEFOIL: (Jupiter, earth) Hang on house entrances for protection. Use in 
spells and charms for prosperity, purification and protection.
 
CLOVE: (Sun, fire) Worn to drive away negativity and stop gossip. Cloves strung 
on red thread can be worn as a protection charm.

CLOVER: (Mercury) Associated with the Triple Goddess. Used in rituals for beauty 
and youth. Four leafs are carried to see faeries, heal illness, avoid military 
service, avoid madness and for good luck.

COMFREY: (Saturn, earth) An herb of Hecate, used in rituals to honor the Crone.

CORIANDER: (Mars, fire) Used in love spells and charms. An old spell is to take 
7 grains of coriander and grind them in a mortar, saying three times:
"Warm seed, warm heart.
Let them never be apart."
Drop seeds into wine and share with lover.

COWSLIP: (Venus) Brings luck. Posies of cowslips placed under the pillow allows 
contact with the dead in dreams.

CYPRESS: (Saturn, earth) Connected with death in all aspects. The smoke can be 
used to consecrate ritual objects.

DAISY: Used to decorate the house on Midsummer's Eve to bring happiness and win 
the favor of faeries. Worn on the person on Midsummer's Eve for luck and 
blessings.

DANDELION: (Jupiter) An herb of Hecate, used in Samhain rituals. If you rub 
yourself all over with it, you will be welcomed everywhere you go and all your 
wishes will be granted.

DILL: (Mercury, fire) Used in love charms. Hand in children's rooms to protect 
them.

DRAGON'S BLOOD: (Mars, fire) Love and protection spells. A piece under the bed 
cures impotency. Place in drawers or cupboards you don't want people looking in 
with the incantation:
"Dragon's blood, watch and ward
and the dragon guards his hoard."
Carry a piece for good luck. Dissolve in water for a strong purification bath.
 
ELECAMPANE: (Mercury, earth) Said to have sprung from the tears of Helen when 
Paris abducted her. Used to raise and sustain the spirits. Can be burned as an 
incense to aid meditation.

ELDER: (Venus, air) Branches can be used for wands and staffs. Stand beneath it 
to be protected from lightning. Sleeping beneath it will bring drugged and 
dangerous dreams of faerieland where one might awaken mad or not at all. Unlucky 
to bring into house. Leaves attached to door on Beltane eve keeps away evil.

EUCALYPTUS: (Moon, air) For healing charms of all kinds. Surround blue candles 
with leaves and burn for strong healing vibrations. Hang green pods around neck 
to cure colds and sore throats.

EYEBRIGHT: (Sun, air) Anoint eyelids with the infusion daily to induce 
clairvoyant visions.

FENNEL: (Mercury, earth) Connected with mother's milk and breastfeeding.

FERN: (Saturn, earth) Powerful protectant. Grow in house and in flower vases. 
Protects house from storm damage.

FRANKINCENSE: (Sun, fire) Aids meditation, induces spiritual frame of mind. 
General protection.

GARDENIA: (Moon, water) Wear flower to attract love.

GARLIC: (Mars, fire) Extremely protective, carry the bulb with you on trips over 
water to prevent drowning. Hand in home to protect. Used in exorcisms.

HAWTHORNE: (Mars, fire) Used in protection sachets. Associated with happy 
marriage. Put into cradles to protect babies. Sitting under the tree on Beltane, 
Midsummer's Day, or Samhain puts one in danger of being abducted by fairies. 
Never cut the tree. Burn Hawthorne berries for energy and mediation on change.

HAZEL: (Sun, air) Makes good all purpose wands. Can be used as divining rods. 
Tie two hazel twigs together with red or gold thread to make the Solar Cross, a 
good luck charm.

HENBANE: (Saturn, water) **POISON** Carried to attract the love of a woman.

HIGH JOHN THE CONQUEROR ROOT: (Saturn, earth) Add to candle anointing oils, 
charms and sachets to increase their potency.

HOLLY: (Mars, fire) Plant around house for protection. Leaves and berries can be 
carried to heighten masculinity.
 
HONEYSUCKLE: (Jupiter, earth) Use in prosperity spells and charms.

HOPS: (Mars, water) Healing incenses and charms. Placed in a pillow will induce 
sleep. Unwise to use if depressed.

HYSSOP: (Jupiter, fire) For purification baths and protection spells. Associated 
with serpents and dragons, it can be burned to tap into dragon energy.

IVY: (Saturn, water) Protects the house it grown over. Often given (with holly) 
to newlyweds.

JASMINE: (Jupiter, earth) Used in love spells and charms.

JUNIPER: (Sun, fire) Protects wearer from accidents. Berries can be dried and 
strung to attract a lover. Can be used in anti-theft spells and grown at 
doorstep to protect from thieves.

LAVENDER: (Mercury, air) Purification baths and incenses. Thrown onto fires at 
Midsummer in tribute to the Gods and to bring visions and inspiration. Carry to 
attract men. Scent induces sleep. Brings clarity and focus to workings.

LEMON BALM: Brink as an infusion to soothe away emotional pains after a breakup. 
Useful in recovering from trauma and sexual assault. Drives away low spirits, 
increases fertility.

LEMON VERBENA: (Venus, air) Wear as a love charm and to increase attractiveness. 
Add to charms to increase their power. Hand sprig around neck to stop dreaming.

LINDEN: (Jupiter) Conjugal love and longevity.

LOVAGE: (Sun, water) For cleansing baths. Carry to attract love.

MANDRAKE: (Mercury, earth) Strong protection for home. Carried by women who want 
to conceive and men to cure impotency. Sleep with it in the bed for three nights 
under a full moon. Carry for courage.

MARIGOLD: (Sun, fire) Renews energy wherever vase is placed. Wear flowers to see 
who has stolen from you.

MARJORAM: (Mercury, air) Add to love charms. Put a bit in every room.

MEADOWSWEET: (Jupiter, water) Arrange fresh flowers on altar when mixing love 
charms or performing love spells. Wear garland at Lammas to join the essence of 
the Goddess.

MISTLETOE: Protective, anti-lightning.

MUGWORT: (Venus, air) Put into shoe for protection and to prevent fatigue. 
Mugwort tea induces clairvoyance. Rub fresh leaves on scrying mirrors or crystal 
balls to strengthen divination. Add to scrying, clairvoyance and divination 
incenses. One of the strongest protectants. Hang in house to guard against 
lightning. Place under doorstep to keep unwanted people out. Fill pillow to 
induce vivid dreams.

MULLEIN: (Saturn, fire) Wear to develop courage and protect from wild animals. 
Drives away evil.

MYRRH: (Sun, water) Purification, protection. Used to consecrate tools.

MYRTLE: (Venus, water) Sacred to Venus, used in love charms and spells. Grown 
indoors, it brings good luck. Carry leaves to attract love or the wood to 
preserve youth. Make magick charms from wood. Wear fresh leaves during love 
spells.

NETTLE: (Mars, fire) Stuff a poppet with mettles to send bad vibrations or 
curses back to the sender. Carry for courage, add to protection charms. An anti-
toxin.

NUTMEG: (Jupiter, air) Carry one to strengthen clairvoyant powers and prevent 
rheumatism.

OAK: (Sun, fire) Sacred tree. Burn leaves for purification. Make wands from 
wood. Carry acorns for fertility, youth and wellness. Hang in windows to protect 
house. Men can carry acorns to increase sexual attractiveness and prowess.

OLIVE: Sacred to Athens. Symbol of peace and wealth, sign of safe travel.

ONION: (Mars, fire) Protection, healing. Place cut onions in a room to absorb 
illness. Leave overnight, discard in the morning.

ORANGE: (Sun, water) Dried peel is added to love and fertility charms and used 
in solar incense. Good luck.

ORRIS ROOT: (Venus, water) Add to love charms, baths and incenses.

PARSLEY: Symbolic of death.

PATCHOULI: (Sun, earth) Carry as an aphrodisiac and to attract lovers.

PENNYROYAL: (Venus, earth) Put in shoe to prevent weariness. Carry to prevent 
sea-sickness. Highly abortive.

PEPPER: (Mars, fire) Protection.

PEPPERMINT: (Venus, air) Healing, good in bath. Used to cool off arguments.

PERIWINKLE: (Venus, water) Hang in house for protection.

PIMPERNEL: (Mercury, air) Wear to detect falsehoods and to prevent others from 
lying to you.

PINE: (Mars, earth) Burn as a winter incense. Nuts are eaten and carried for 
fertility. Needles can be added to healing and cleansing baths.

POPPY: (Moon, water) Eat seeds for fertility. Carry for prosperity.

ROSE: (Venus, water) Carry to attract true love. Drink tea of petals for 
divinatory dreams. Add to charms for sleep, love and healing. Drink tea to 
propmote beauty. Mix petals with regular tea to attract love.

ROSEMARY: (Sun, fire) Protection. Wear to aid memory and learining. Used in sea 
rituals and sea magick. Wash hands with infusion before magick as a substitute 
for a ritual bath. Drink tea to make mind alert. Linked to fidelity, love and 
happy memories. Place under pillow to ward off nightmares.

ROWAN: (Sun, fire) Tie 2 twigs together with red thread for good luck and 
protection charm. Use for divining. Berries can be used in a good luck amulet.

RUE: (Sun, fire) Add to charms to keep illness away. A sprig can be dipped in 
water and used to sprinkle an area for purification.

SAFFRON: (Sun, fire) Prosperity and healing.

SAGE: (Jupiter, earth) Prosperity and healing. Safeguards health, promotes 
longevity. Grows best in the gardens of the wise.

ST. JOHN'S WORT: (Sun, fire) Protective. Wards off fever and illness. Burn as a 
banishing or exorcism incense. Wear to instill courage and strengthen the will. 
Drink tea to cure melancholy. Hang branches over bed to prevent nightmares.

SANDALWOOD: (Moon, air) Use in purifying, protection and healing incenses.

SUNFLOWER: (Sun, fire) Brings blessings of the Sun into the garden. Seeds can be 
eaten by a woman who wants to conceive.

THYME: (Venus, air) Purifying incense. Use in magickal cleansing baths. Sniff 
for refreshment and renewed energy. Wear to protect self from grief during 
funerals.

VALERIAN: (Mercury, water) Use in love charms and spells and in purification 
baths.

VANILLA: (Jupiter, fire) The bean can be used in a love charm. The oil can be 
worn as an aphrodisiac.

VERVAIN: (Venus, water) Sacred to the Druids, used for cleansing. Hang above bed 
to keep away nightmares. Used in love and protection charms. Incense brings good 
luck and inspiration.

VIOLET: (Venus, water) Mix with lavender for a powerful love charm. Violet cures 
headaches and absorbs ill-will and evil spells.

WALNUT: (Sun, fire) Carry to promote fertility and strengthen heart.

WILLOW: (Moon, water) Make wand for healing. Brings moon blessings when on your 
property.

WORMWOOD: (Mars, air) Burn to raise spirits. Used in divinatory and clairvoyant 
incenses. Burn in fire on Samhain to protect against roaming spirits. Give to 
the dying to enable them to go in peace.

YARROW: (Venus, water) Love and marriage charms. Keeps a couple together for at 
least 7 years. Wards off negativity when worn. Drink tea to enhance the powers 
of perception.