Introduction:

Witchcraft has always been a part of the healing arts. In the earliest times healers used herbs and auras, hands and minds in addition to physical surgery and manipulations to cure diseases and heal the sick. The ancient methods fell out of favor as medicine advanced and the methods to use herbs, auras, hands, and mind/body/spirit went unused. Today the ancient methods are all coming back into favor. These older and often safer methods are having a rebirth as more and more people turn to the pagan religions and many Christians are also returning to the old ways of healing. Take one look into any old magickal grimoire from any land or culture and you will find a preponderance of spells and charms.

These have survived through the years of persecution because they were spells that worked so the people refused to let go of them even under threat of death. Witches have always been healers. Some are more gifted than others, but it remains one of our most basic practices. They know how to raise and direct healing engeries, and which herbs and plants can be distilled into medicines to back up these magickal efforts. They are part of the universal power that animates all life. Knowing how to manipulate them, coupled with a commitment to the ethical use of will, makes the only difference between so-called white and black magick. Like the energy used in spellwork the energies raised for healing are drawn from either Mother Earth or the universal driver. As with any magickal operation, healing is work, and it takes effort to make it happen. Healing magick can be done from a remote place. This is called ABSENT HEALING and is a method of sending healing energy to a person at a distance. The easiest method of healing is LAYING ON OF HANDS. This custom is almost as old as humanity itself and the practice can be found in almost all spiritual systems. Having the person who needs the healing present is the most direct way to heal. The visualizations can be backed up with the hands-on effort that always make the healing energies stronger.

Herbs occupy a primary place in wiccan magic. The elder witches used herbal magic extensively. Often these long ago witches were the only recourse for those in their village who were ill, and they used herbs for much of their healing work. Herbs have been used for centuries for both healing and magic, a great deal is known about their actions in both fields. We are primarly interested in their uses for magic here, there are a number of very good sites out there on using herbs for healing.

As with other natural objects herbs are natural repositories for the power of the earth. It is important to note how the herb is to be used for the intended purpose. Are you to burn it as incense? Scatter it? Put it in an amulet bag and carry it? Some of the herbs often quoted by inexperienced writers as being used by witches are in fact poisonous, and occasionally deadly. The so-called flying ointments are often trotted out by persons with no actual experience in herbal magic. These recipes are no longer used. There will be none of these ancient curiosities given here.

Some of the herbs are used in the form of essential oils. These are produced by extracting the volatile oils from the plant or it's flowers by one of several methods. They are generally expensive if natural. If you happen upon an especially good bargain on essential oils you can be fairly sure they are artificial. Generally it is best to use the actual essential oil, naturally produced, in magic. I have however used artifical oils with good results. It is an individual decision. Natural essential oils should be diluted with apricot kernal or other vegetable based oil for application to the skin and no essential oil should be used on the skin unless you are specifically directed to do so. Even following these precautions it is possible to be allergic to the oils, so test them on a small patch of skin before you start anointing liberally. Some cause photosensitivity or are toxic when applied to the skin so don't just experiment unless you do some research first.

For those who are so inclined, it is entirely possible to gather herbs from the wild. If you choose to gather them be ABSOLUTELY SURE of your identification. I must emphasize this, be sure of what you are gathering! Also, it is important to consider the law when gathering herbs, both the mundane laws and the natural ones. In most localities it is against the law to pick or dig up plants from parks of any sort; city, state, or national. It is always against the law to trespass on private property to do so. Ask for permission from the land owner first and follow their wishes.

As for the natural laws, you must show respect for the earth from whom you are taking something of value. Conserve resources by taking only what you need, never all of a plant when some leaves will do, and never, never the only plant of its kind in a particular location. If there are many similar plants fine, but if not buy it at the store. It isn't as if you don't have a choice. You must also thank the earth for what you are taking in some way. Historically a gift is left in exchange for the gift you are receiving; this could be a coin or token of some sort, water or milk poured on the ground, or a bit of poetry or other verbal thank you. This should be observed when you gather the herbs or harvest the herbs you have grown. The earth does not mind you using her bounty, but she would like you not to be an ungrateful little wretch about it.

Those who have green thumbs and a bit of space to garden can easily grow many of the herbs they will need for their magic. If you live in an apartment, perhaps there is a community garden nearby where your could obtain a plot. Seeds for those herbs used for culinary purposes can be obtained at any nursery, but some of the more obscure herbs may take a bit of finding. Once you have your herbs you must store them properly in order to maintain their freshness and potency. Herbs can be kept in dry form for up to a year if a whole herb, up to two years if a root, and up to three years if a resin, when stored correctly. Keep your herbs in airtight bottles or jars, not in the paper or plastic bags they may come in. They should be stored in a cool, dry, dark spot. Although quite decorative, the bundles of herbs hanging from the ceiling plan doesn't work. If you store your herbs that way consider them for appearance only, not to use. Avoid attics, the cupboard over the refrigerator, garages and the like, they are generally too hot. Also avoid storing bags of herbs in the refrigerator as they tend to absorb moisture and odors from the food.

When you jar up your herbs label and date the jar with when the contents were gathered or purchased and what herb the jar contains. This will avoid future problems with identification and lack of freshness. Be sure if you are drying your own home grown herbs that they are completely dry before you store them or they will mold. You may use a food dehydrator at the lowest setting if you have one, or if you have a gas oven dry your herbs in the oven with just the pilot light. Do not dry herbs at a temperature of over 100 degrees C or you will lose the volitile oils. If at all possible, simply air dry the herbs for several days to a week until they are crunchy when crushed. When drying roots allow more time and cut them into small pieces before drying as they generally are too hard to break up easily after they are dry.

For the most part you will not require any special equipment to do herbal magic. Much of what you will use can be found in your kitchen. If you find that you are performing a great deal of herbal magic and wish to have specific tools for magical use you may want to consider purchasing or collecting some of the following items for dedicated use. Do note, if you use your coffee grinder for herbs AND coffee, be sure the herbs aren't poisonous and clean it carefully even if they are ok.

• coffee grinder or mortar and pestle for pulverizing herbs
• lables and permanent marker for jars
• colored cotton cloth for sachets and amulet bags
• epsom salts and rock salt for making bath salts
• wooden or plastic spoon for mixing
• glass bowl to blend in
• cheese cloth and coffee filters for straining
• eyedroppers for blending oils
• apricot kernal, sesame or almond oil for oil base
• an assortment of large and small jars and vials

You can add to this list as you go along and determine what methods you will be using most frequently. Following below are some of the more common uses for herbs. Read them carefully, and remember what I have mentioned about the use of herbs above. :o)

Incense - Incense is the easiest thing to make, but the hardest to make really well. At the start you will no doubt blend up some noxious combinations and at least a few really delightful ones. The key is to keep track of what you are adding while you are adding it so you can recreate your best efforts and avoid the less than successful ones. Keep a pad next to you as you work and write down what you add and the amount you used. Remember that things don't necessarily smell the same when they're burning as they do when you just sniff the herb in a jar. Some things will be more pleasant than others, you will learn which herbs you like the scent of as you gain in experience. It's helpful to keep notes of your likes and dislikes to assist with future blending. You may find, as I have, that you prefer resins and oils in incense as they smell more as you expect them to smell. Experiment, you'll learn what you like as you go.

Infusions - Basically infusions, brews and washes are just tea. Herbs steeped in hot water to release their volatile oils and essences into the water so the resulting liquid may be used to transfer their energies to an object, place or person. Infusions may be used in a number of ways; to sprinkle around a space or onto an object or person, to bathe an object or person, or to drink as tea. They are generally brewed when they will be used as they do not keep well. The herbs may be mixed in advance and placed in small cheesecloth bundles, ready to use like a tea bag. If you use a particular infusion often you may want to make up these tea bags and have them on hand. Mixing the herbs should be done with ritual, visualization and the appropriate time correspondences as with any magical herb preparation. The prepared tea bags should be stored in an airtight jar, in a dry, cool place. The following table lists some herbs traditionally used in infusions for various magical intents.

Powders - Scattering herbs and powders is a common way of invoking the influence of the herbs to achieve your magical intent. They are dusted around places of business to improve sales, scattered in bedrooms to light the spark of love, and sprinkled over people to bless or protect them. Powders are particularly common in traditional American folk magic and hoodoo where there are hundreds of them in common use. They are a relatively easy product, scattering herbs are single herbs or blends that are spread around a home, store, property or other sort of place to produce a magical intent. Powders are finely ground dried herbs, mixtures of herbs, or oils added to a base of talcum powder. A coffee grinder is useful in grinding the herbs finely to make powders although you may use a mortar and pestle. You want the herbs truly powdered, a very fine mixture without large bits scattered through it.

Powders may be dusted onto your altar to enhance your magical workings, sprinkled onto ritual objects to strengthen the connection to your magical intent, or blown into the air to spread their magical influence through a room or place. You may add a protection powder to the casting of the circle ritual, sprinkling it around the sacred space. Using powders is something you will need to use your imagination for. If you plan to dust the powder on yourself it would be a good idea to test a bit of it on a small patch of skin to see if you may be allergic to any of it's ingredients first. That love powder won't work as well if you have hives!

Scattering herbs and powders is a common way of invoking the influence of the herbs to achieve your magical intent. They are dusted around places of business to improve sales, scattered in bedrooms to light the spark of love, and sprinkled over people to bless or protect them. Powders are particularly common in traditional American folk magic and hoodoo where there are hundreds of them in common use. They are a relatively easy product, scattering herbs are single herbs or blends that are spread around a home, store, property or other sort of place to produce a magical intent. Powders are finely ground dried herbs, mixtures of herbs, or oils added to a base of talcum powder. A coffee grinder is useful in grinding the herbs finely to make powders although you may use a mortar and pestle. You want the herbs truly powdered, a very fine mixture without large bits scattered through it.

Oils - Any recipe for oil may be made into a powder by adding the oil blend to a small quantity of unscented talcum powder. Most sachet blends may be made into powders by finely grinding them. I would avoid grinding those that have resins in them however since they gum up your coffee grinder. It is easier to purchase finely ground resins for use in powders than to grind them yourself. Consider also that some things will tend to stain items they are dusted on such as tumeric, saffron, dragon's blood resin, and avoid them or use them only outside or on objects which won't be damaged. Also, some resins leave a sticky residue when sprinkled such as pine. With most powders a light touch is preferred when sprinkling, if you can see a green path through your livingroom, you may have been a bit heavy handed