Herb Magic for Beginners (17 page)

Honey: Real maple syrup

Hyssop: Lavender

Jasmine: Rose

John the Conqueror root: St. John’s wort (foliage and
flowers)

Laurel: Bay leaf

Lemongrass: Lemon balm (Melissa) or fresh grated lemon peel

Mace: Nutmeg

Mandrake root: Peony roots

Mineral oil: Extra virgin olive oil

Mistletoe: Mint or sage, or sphagnum moss (as it’s also a parasite that grows on trees)

Mullein: Lamb’s ears

Neroli: Tangerine, or orange peel

Nettles: The thistle from the dried cone of a coneflower (Echinacea)

Orange blossoms: Fresh grated orange peel

Orris root: The petals of the iris flower

Patchouli: Oak moss

Peppermint: Spearmint

Periwinkle: Morning glory vines and flowers

Pine needles: Rosemary

Rose hips: Rose petals or leaves

Rue: Hydrangea blossoms or bark

St. John’s wort: Witch hazel

Saffron: Orange peel or crocus

Sandalwood: Frankincense

Spikenard: Cedar

Sulfur: Tobacco or the flowering tobacco (Nicotiana)

Sunflower: Brown-eyed Susan

Sweet grass: Sage

Thyme: Rosemary

Valerian: Catnip

Vervain: Flowering verbena

Wild violet: Pansy or viola

Wine: Grape juice

Wolfsbane
(Aconite)
: Garlic

Wormwood: Yarrow

Spell for Herbal Substitutions

Here is a spell you can try when you have to substitute one botanical for another. You will need one white (our all-purpose color) tealight candle and the herb you are using as a substitute.

Before working this spell, prepare all of the other spell supplies. Then repeat this opening charm before you begin your specific spellwork. Just think of this as your opening spell. Light the tealight and then say:

There are times in a spell when an herb or two you must switch,
So I’ll use this handy charm written by the Garden Witch.
I swap one herb for another, and it will work out fine,
Now I seal the herb magic up, with the sound of this rhyme.

At this point, continue to work your original herb magic with the different botanicals you have chosen. It will work beautifully.

I could be content if the world should think
I had scarce looked upon any other book than that of nature.

—Robert Boyle

Bibliography

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Culpeper, Nicholas. Culpeper’s Color Herbal. Edited by David Potterton. New York: Sterling Publishing, 1983.

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———. Llewellyn’s 2004 Magical Almanac. “Money Magic.” St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2003.

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Raymond, Dick. Garden Way’s Joy of Gardening. Troy, NY: Garden Way, 1982.

Roth, Sally. Country Living Gardener: The Successful Herb Gardener. New York: Hearst Books, 2001.

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Webster, Richard. Candle Magic for Beginners. St. Paul, MN: Llewellyn Publications, 2004.

Whiteman, Robin. Brother Cadfael’s Herb Garden. New York: Bullfinch Press, 1997.

Websites

Culinary Cafe, “Spice & Herb Encyclopedia,” http://www.
culinarycafe.com.