Read Herb Magic for Beginners Online
Authors: Ellen Dugan
Tags: #herbalism, #magic, #wicca, #witchcraft, #magic, #cottage witchery, #earthday40
Herb Magic for Beginners (16 page)
Herbal Correspondences and Substitutions
Here are a few more herb magic correspondence lists for you to refer to. You will notice that there are many herbs here that were not listed in the previous theme chapters.
Please note that these lists are not all-inclusive. There are many other herbs associated with the planets and elements as well. However, all of the following magical herbs are easy to find and practical to use in your own herbal spells and charms.
These herbs are not intended to be taken internally or to treat medical issues. Some are toxic. This listing is for charms and spells only.
Practical Elemental Herbs
Earth
Barley
Buckwheat
Corn
Cypress tree
Ferns
Honesty
Honeysuckle
Magnolia
Mugwort (avoid during pregnancy)
Oats
Primrose
Tulip
Vervain
Wheat
Air
Almond
Anise
Aspen tree
Borage
Chicory
Clover
Dandelion
Lavender
Lemon grass
Lemon verbena
Mace
Maple tree
Marjoram
Mint
Orange bergamot
Parsley
Pine tree (common allergen)
Sage
Witch hazel
Fire
Allspice
Angelica
Ash tree
Basil
Bay
Carnation
Cedar tree
Chili pepper (keep away from eyes)
Cinnamon
Clove
Coneflower
Coriander
Dill
Fennel
Garlic
Ginger
Hawthorn tree
Heliotrope (may cause contact dermatitis)
Holly
Hyssop
Marigold
Mullein
Mustard
Oak
Orange
Pepper
Rosemary
Rowan tree (Mountain ash)
Rue (toxic; avoid handling during pregnancy)
St. John’s wort
Snapdragon
Sunflower
Sweet woodruff
Thistle
Walnut (common allergen)
Water
African violet
Aloe
Apple
Birch tree
Catnip
Chamomile
Comfrey
Elder tree and berries
Elm tree
Eucalyptus (common allergen)
Feverfew
Gardenia
Heather
Iris
Jasmine
Lady’s mantle
Lemon balm
Mallow
Pansy
Periwinkle (toxic)
Poplar tree
Raspberry
Rose
Spearmint
Strawberry (common allergen)
Sweet pea
Tansy
Vanilla
Violet
Wintergreen
Yarrow (may cause contact dermatitis; avoid during
pregnancy)
Practical Planetary/Astrological Herbs
These herbs are not intended to be taken internally or to treat medical issues. Some are toxic. This listing is for charms and spells only.
Sun (Sunday)
Angelica
Ash tree
Bay
Carnation
Cedar
Chamomile
Chrysanthemum
Cinnamon
Heliotrope (may cause contact dermatitis)
Juniper
Marigold
Oak
Orange
Peony
Rosemary
Rowan tree
Rue (toxic; avoid handling during pregnancy)
St. John’s wort
Sunflower
Witch hazel
Moon (Monday)
Aloe
Eucalyptus (common allergen)
Gardenia
Grape
Honesty
Jasmine
Lemon
Loosestrife
Mallow
Moonflower (mildly toxic)
Poppy
Pumpkin
Sandalwood
Willow
Wintergreen
Mars (Tuesday)
Allspice
Basil
Chili pepper (keep away from eyes)
Coriander
Dragon’s blood resin
Garlic
Ginger
Hawthorn tree
Holly
Mustard
Nettle
Onion
Pepper
Peppermint
Pine tree (common allergen)
Snapdragon
Sweet woodruff
Thistle
Yucca
Mercury (Wednesday)
Almond
Aspen tree
Celery seed
Clover
Dill
Fennel
Fern
Horehound
Lavender
Lemon grass
Mace
Marjoram
Mint
Parsley
Pomegranate
Jupiter (Thursday)
Anise
Betony
Borage
Cinquefoil
Clove
Dandelion
Honeysuckle
Hyssop
Linden tree
Maple tree
Meadowsweet
Nutmeg
Oak tree
Sage
Venus (Friday)
Apple
Aster
Banana
Barley
Birch tree
Blackberry
Catnip
Cherry
Columbine
Elder tree
Feverfew
Foxglove (toxic)
Geranium
Heather
Iris
Lady’s mantle
Lilac
Magnolia
Oats
Orchid
Periwinkle (toxic)
Primrose
Raspberry
Rose
Spearmint
Strawberry (common allergen)
Tansy
Thyme
Valerian
Vanilla
Vervain
Violet
Wheat
Willow
Saturn (Saturday)
Amaranth (Love-lies-bleeding)
Beech tree
Belladonna (toxic)
Comfrey
Cypress tree
Elm
Hellebore (toxic)
Ivy (berries are toxic)
Lobelia
Mimosa
Morning glory (mildly toxic)
Mullein
Pansy
Patchouli
Poplar tree
Quince
Slippery elm
Yew (toxic)
Featured Herbs for Love and Happiness
Basil
Chili pepper (keep away from eyes)
Columbine
Maple tree
Marjoram
Rose
Rosemary
Strawberry (common allergen)
Thyme
Vanilla bean
Violet
Willow tree
Yarrow (may cause contact dermatitis; avoid during
pregnancy)
Featured Herbs for Well-Being and Comfort
Ash tree
Chamomile
Coriander
Dianthus
Feverfew
Lady’s mantle
Mace
Nutmeg
Parsley
Purple coneflower
Sage
Witch hazel
Featured Herbs for Protection
Anise
Bay leaf
Birch tree
Calendula (Pot marigold)
Dill
Elder tree
Garlic
Holly
Lamb’s ears
Lavender
Rue (toxic; avoid handling during pregnancy)
Featured Herbs for Prosperity
Allspice
Cinnamon
Cinquefoil
Clover
Ginger
Heliotrope (may cause contact dermatitis)
Honeysuckle
Mint
Oak tree
Oats
Periwinkle (toxic)
Pine tree (common allergen)
Emergency Herb Magic Substitutions
If an herb is not available,
substitute it with another of like properties,
that also shares the same planetary and elemental rulers.
—Scott Cunningham,
Magical Herbalism
Sometimes you just can’t get your hands on an herb that is called for in a spell, ritual, or charm. While I have focused on easy-to-find botanicals and herbs in this book, I do realize that you probably have other books on herb magic. So, I figured an herbal substitution list may come in handy. Common sense applies here. If you are working with toxic plants, please be very careful and keep them well away from children and foodstuffs. Yes, I know I’ve said that before, but it certainly bears repeating.
As for myself, I tend to roll my eyes at magical books that list dramatic and mysterious ingredients. While the spellwork in some tomes may be solid, the ingredients list may be incredibly challenging, expensive, unsafe, or ridiculous. In the following inventory, the spell ingredient substitutions are all natural or botanical materials. While researching this topic, I wasn’t too surprised to notice that tobacco is considered an acceptable alternative to the most toxic of plants, such as belladonna and aconite. There is a certain logic to this, since tobacco products cause so many health problems.
If using tobacco makes you uncomfortable, try working with nicotiana (Nicotiana). This beautiful, annual flowering tobacco is found in most garden centers and nurseries. If you can find the pale-green variety, it is a bonus for your magical gardens, as the flowers are very fragrant at night. Also, it is worth mentioning again that yarrow (Achillea) is an all-purpose magical herb as well. (I have always considered the flowering yarrow to be the herbal equivalent of the multipurpose white spell candle.) Following this list of herbal substitutions, you’ll also find an accompanying spell. Happy casting!
Spell Ingredient Herbal Substitution List
Aconite: Tobacco or the flowering tobacco (Nicotiana)
Ambergris: Vanilla beans
Angelica: Marigold or calendula
Bergamot: Bee balm flowers, or try loose-leaf Earl Grey tea
Belladonna: Tobacco or the flowering tobacco (Nicotiana)
Betony: Lamb’s ears
Blood: Apple cider or apple juice
Camphor: Eucalyptus
Cassia: Cinnamon
Chamomile: White daisies
Cinquefoil: Clover
Citron: An equal part of lemon peel and orange peel
Citronella: Scented geraniums
Cypress: Juniper or pine needles
Deer’s tongue: Sweet woodruff (Asperula odorata)
Drawing powder: Powdered sugar
Frankincense: Copal, pine resin
Galangal: Fresh ginger root
Graveyard dirt: Mullein
Heliotrope: Chicory
Holly foliage or berries: Snapdragons
