Must-Have Herbs?

Welcome to the first Open Circle! This is where I'll answer fan-submitted questions, or discuss topics/issues you guys present! So send 'em my way via the Submission Box on my Home Page.

Our first Open Circle topic comes to us from Marianne R. Thanks Marianne, this is an AWESOME question! She asks:

"I'm looking to build my collection of herbs for spells and I was wondering what are the herbs you always have on hand. Which herbs are staples for a witch? I'm just starting out on the path and still trying to figure it out. Thank you so much Briar! Love and light."

Herbs are fun. For me, herb collecting is as addictive as crystal collecting, and we all know how dangerous that can be. Wolfsbane, eye-bright, scullcap... the list of herbs with super cool witchy names goes on and on. But these herbs can be hard to find and rather expensive, and why spend tons of money on more "exotic" herbs, when chances are, you have what you need in your kitchen cupboards?

So here are my HERB ESSENTIALS:

BASIL

Also known as the Witches Herb

Masculine, Mars, Fire

Powers: Love, Exorcism, Wealth, Flying, Protection

It is said that wherever basil is, no evil can live. This makes it a perfect herb for banishing harmful spirits, purifying baths, protection incenses, etc. You can even use it to banish any "evil" from your love life, like resentment after an argument. Because of its soothing energies in the romantic department, basil is often added to love sachets and incenses to ensure fidelity and harmony. Oh, and it was said that witches used to drink basil juice before flying off into the air. If that works for anybody, let me know...

ROSEMARY

Also known as Dew of the Sea, Elf Leaf

Masculine, Sun, Fire

Powers: Protection, Love, Lust, Mental Powers, Exorcism, Purification, Healing, Sleep, Youth

Rosemary is a powerhouse of an herb, and one of my all-time favorites. It's one of the oldest recorded incenses, for obvious reasons. Burning this herb immediately clears a space of negativity, which is a must before performing magic or rituals of any kind. (Makes a great substitute for frankincense too) Sleep with a sprig of rosemary beneath your pillow to keep nightmares away, or beneath the bed to protect you from any harm while you sleep. Hang it outside your front door to keep thieves away, or you can do what I do: I have two rosemary plants outside my home, one on either side of the steps leading up to our door.

Throw some rosemary in a bath and soak up the healing goodness, and if you're preparing to do some healing work, rinse your hands with a rosemary infusion. Have a question? Inhaling the smoke from a smoldering sprig of rosemary will bring visions of the answers you seek. And finally, rosemary is said to attract elves, so if you're not a fan of the little people, take that into consideration.

THYME

Feminine, Venus, Water

Powers: Health, Healing, Sleep, Psychic Powers, Love, Purification, Courage

Thyme is great for all sorts of healing spells as it attracts good health when burned. Bathing with the herbs will remove all past sorrows and ills from your body and soul. Carry it with you to give you courage and energy!

Now ladies, wearing a sprig of thyme in your hair will make you irresistible and will help you develop your psychic powers. Two for the price of one, I like it. Make that three for the price of one, as wearing this herb will also allow you to see fairies...

WHITE SAGE

Also known as Sagebrush

Feminine, Venus, Earth

Powers: Purification, Exorcism

Sage is commonly used for smudging purposes to drive off evil spirits or cleanse a room of negativity. This is a longstanding Native American tradition that has become very popular with spiritual paths of all kinds. This is another herb you can bathe with to purify yourself, as it will purify you of all past evils and negative deeds, both those done by you and to you.

LAVENDER

Also known as Elf Leaf

Masculine, Mercury, Air

Powers: Love, Protection, Sleep, Chastity, Longevity, Purification, Happiness, Peace

This herb is amazing for all romantic purposes, from love spell to sachets. Scent your love letters with the flowers, or place it in your dresser drawers to perfume your clothes and attract love. We all know that lavender is a very relaxing scent, so it makes sense that it's great for relaxation and sleep spells. What a lot of people don't know though is that carrying lavender will allow you to see ghosts, and protects against the evil eye.

So there you have it: what I consider "staples" for any herb collection. With just these herbs, you can tackle any spell or ritual; your bases are covered. Now, there are a few herbs that I just LOVE working with, and if you can get your hands on these, you really should.

MUGWORT: a must-have for anyone who practices psychic work: divination, astral projection, dream walking, visions, etc.

NETTLES: for when you need to hex a bitch.

BAY: a simple wish spell: write your desire upon a leaf and burn it. Easy peasy!

ELDERBERRY: For ancient, powerful magic, such as exorcisms or hex-breaking. It was once thought that when a Witch passed away, her spirit would inhabit an Elder tree. Because of this, it was tradition to kneel before the tree and ask the spirit to vacate before you began chopping it down.

MYRRH: This is my favorite incense to use when I'm doing heavy meditation or trance working. It purifies the space and raises the vibrations, making any spiritual work much more potent.

When it comes to buying herbs, my preferred method is buying in bulk from a local organic market about 30 minutes from my house. For "specialty" herbs, I go to an herb & tea shop in the same town. But buying online works great too; I recently went through "BulkApothecary" and was very impressed.

Thanks again for submitting this great question, Marianne! If any of you lovely people have a question or topic you're curious about, send it to me!

#opencircle