Witch's Herbal N-Z


Witch's Herbal N-Z





*Nutmeg*

Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire/Air
Main magickal uses:
clairvoyance, divination, money
Other magickal uses:
dreams, fertility, gain, love, meditation, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, rest, sleep

*Onion*

Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
exorcism, protection
Other magickal uses:
Clairvoyance, cleansing, contacting other planes, divination, healing, lunar rites, magic, purification, spell- breaking
Lore:
The link to the moon seems to be mostly due to color and shape. In protective magick, just as in cooking, onion is often combined with garlic.

*Oregano*

Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Main magickal uses:
happiness, tranquility
Other magickal uses:
Animals, grieving, harmony, love, peace, protection, psychic development, weddings

*Parsley*

Planet: Saturn
Element: Earth
Main magickal uses:
divination, happiness, passion, protection, psychic development, purification
Other magickal uses:
clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, contacting other planes, fertility, good luck, invokation, meditation, rituals for the dead, speed
Lore:
Sacred to Persephone, parsley was used in the victory wreaths of the Isthmian games by the Greeks. Some also attribute it to Aphrodite and Venus, and with Mother goddesses. Parsley was thought to come from from the blood of Archemorus, a servant of Death.

*Pepper*

Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
cursing, exorcism, passion, protection
Other magickal uses:
commanding, sensuality, spell-breaking, stops envy

*Peppermint*

Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Main magickal uses:
cleansing, consecration,dreams, happiness, healing, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development, purification, release, renewal, rest, sleep
Other magickal uses:
Animals, divination, endings, energy, exorcism, good luck, grieving, spirit offering, success, transformation
Lore:
Mints are sacred to the god Hades, because (as happened with Daphne and Apollo--see *bay*) a young lovely named Minthe was transformed into a mint to keep her from Hades' embrace. Peppermint is also sometimes attributed to Zeus. Paul Beyerl suggests pairing peppermint with topaz or chalcedony for best effect.

*Poppyseed*

Planet: Moon
Element: Water
Main magickal uses:
dreams
Other magickal uses:
Binding, clairvoyance, consecration, cursing, fertility, prosperity
Lore:
In Greece, poppies belonged to Hypnos and Somnos, sleep gods. (Remember "The Wizard of Oz?" "Poppies will make them sleeeeep!") They are also associated with Ceres. If you eat poppyseeds shortly before taking a drug test, you may test positive for heroin, which comes from opium, a kind of poppy. This kinship may also explain some of its magickal functions.

*Rosemary*

Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
cleansing, confidence, consecration, courage, exorcism, good luck, grieving, happiness, healing, knowledge, love, memory, passion, peace of mind, prevents theft, protection, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, release, ritual, rituals for the dead, water rites/sea rituals, weddings
Other magickal uses:
blessings, dreams, endings, energy, elves, fidelity, honesty, inspiration, invokation, longevity, meditation, new moon, prevents nightmares, sleep, strength, transformation, wisdom, Yule
Lore:
Rosemary is associated in Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" with remembrance, so its link to memory is old. Even older are its associations with general magic and healing, with feminine power--folklore had it that a healthy rosemary plant grew where a woman was head of the family--and with goddesses, especially of the sea. Catholic healers associated it with Mary. Aoumiel calls it attractive to elves. Its reputation is that of an all-purpose herb that will help with practically anything.

*Saffron*

Planet: Sun
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
Clairvoyance, divination
Other magickal uses:
cleansing, commanding, consecration, exorcism, healing, magic, psychic development, purification, spell-breaking, weather (raises wind)

*Sage*

Planet: Mercury/Jupiter
Element: Earth
Main magickal uses:
cleansing, healing, longevity, money, passion, prosperity, psychic development, psychic protection, purification, wisdom
Other magickal uses:
business, clairvoyance, consecration, divination, domestic harmony, energy, happiness, inspiration, keeping secrets, knowledge, love, Mabon, meditation, peace, retention, Samhain, tranquility, weddings, Yule
Lore:
The kind of sage found in the kitchen was brought to the New World by colonists, and was especially popular among Germans. It should not be confused with sagebrush.

*Savory*

Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Main magickal uses:
passion
Other magickal uses:
Animals, attracts males, happiness, love, satyrs, sensuality, virility
Lore:
Savory is ruled by and named after the satyrs, thus its many ties to sexual affairs. It was a favorite of the Romans for parties.

*Spearmint*

Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Main magickal uses:
consecration, happiness, love, money, passion, prosperity, protection, psychic development
Other magickal uses:
Animals, dreams, endings, exorcism, healing, good luck, release, renewal, rest, sleep, spirit offering, success, transformation
Lore: see *peppermint.*

*Star Anise*

Planet: Mercury/Jupiter
Element: Air/Water
Main magickal uses:
clairvoyance, good luck, protection, psychic development
Other magickal uses:
consecration, contacting other planes, divination, exorcism, fertility, gain, invokation, justice, love, money, passion, preventing nightmares, psychic protection, spiritual places
Lore:
Primarily used in Japan, around temples and burial sites. It is also called Chinese Anise.

*Tarragon*

Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
commanding, confidence, courage, passion, protection, strength
Other magickal uses:
Animals, calming, keeping secrets, love, peace, prevents theft, retention, sensuality, virility
Lore:
The Latin name,"Artemesia dracunculus," means "little dragon of Artemis." It seems to carry many of Artemis's qualities, in both her Olympian (courage and strength) and pre-Olympian (passion and sensuality) forms.

*Thyme*

Planet: Venus
Element: Air
Main magickal uses:
clairvoyance, cleansing, consecration, courage, divination, dreams, exorcism, faeries, happiness, healing, love, money, prevents nightmares, protection, psychic development, purification
Other magickal uses:
compassion, confidence, contacting other planes, grieving, magic, meditation, Midsummer, passion, release, renewal, rituals for the dead, Summer rituals, wishing
Lore:
Thyme has strong ties to faery lore. Paul Beyerl pairs it with pearls.

*Turmeric*

Planet: Mars
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
passion
Other magickal uses:
commanding, confidence, courage, exorcism, magic, sensuality, spell-breaking, strength

*Vanilla*

Planet: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Main magickal uses:
love, passion
Other magickal uses:
Energy, new moon

*Wintergreen*

Planet: Mercury
Element: Earth
Magickal uses:
Animals, contacting other planes, good luck, money



FORMULARY