As a practicing Witch and small-scale herbalist, I often find that when I’m out and about I’m also absentmindedly on the lookout for any new, interesting or useful herb species that might help me in my practice. I even carry a small clean jam jar and a sharp penknife in my handbag at all times for if I spot a herb I just can’t resist and need to take a cutting of it for my collection back home. However, while I’m avidly seeking out roadside feverfew or happily snipping cuttings of a rare cultivar of lavender or sage, I’m always acutely aware of why I call the etiquette of herb-gathering.
These are a few simple rules by which I suggest all foraging Witches, alchemists and herbalists should abide that dictate the correct course of action for those who seek to collect herbs from places other than their own gardens. They are mostly fairly common-sense, but a few are ones that might be overlooked, but which can actually be of profound importance!
I will list the rules below, but bear in mind that it’s not like this is some onerous obligation that must be fulfilled, and nor is it some sort of “Witchcraft commandment” or infallible and unchanging list of sacred laws. These are a few things that I created for my own usage, and nobody else is under any obligation to use them. If you choose to do so, I’ll be thrilled; if you find a way to improve them, please do reblog this post with your corrections!
The Etiquette of Herb-Gathering
Remember that all plants are living things, and if you harvest them too severely, they will die. This seems obvious, but you’d be shocked how many people forget! This is especially important when what you’re harvesting is the plant’s leaves – always remember that leaves are how plants make their food, so leave enough of them to enable the plant to keep growing strongly.
Never forget that you may not be the only one foraging. Make sure that, when you harvest a wild growth of a herb, there may be others in the area who would also like to harvest that plant. Take only a little from a lot of patches, rather than using only two or three patches, but taking almost all of what is available at each one. This will not only ensure that other foragers can use that patch too, but will mean that when the patch regrows, you’ll know where to go back to in order to find it again instead of needing to hunt down a new patch each time.
When foraging on another’s land, ask their permission first! This seems so straightforward, but sadly people forget that plants growing in other people’s gardens (yes, even their front lawn) are that person’s private property! Taking cuttings or fruits from plants on that property without the owner’s permission is legally theft, and can be punished just like shoplifting or stealing a bike from a railing. It also means that the owner will know that their plant is looking smaller because it’s been harvested, rather than them thinking it’s died or been eaten by some wild herbivore.
Always cut stems at a diagonal angle. Never snip a stem so that it forms a circular, blunted end, because this can allow rainwater to build up on the surface of the cut. This rainwater can trap fungal spores, and cause the plant to get a serious fungal infection that may damage or even kill that whole patch. Instead, cut the stems at a roughly 45° angle, so that water beads up and rolls off more easily.
When collecting flowers, remember that other people like to look at wildflowers. Never take ALL the flowers from any wild plant, both because it prevents that plant from reproducing as it naturally wants to do, and because it means others who walk past the plant don’t get to see it’s beautiful blooms! If you own the plant, that’s another matter – you may WANT to snip off all flowers to prevent it from bolting, like with parsley. However, with wildflowers, always leave at least half the flowers on the plant so that it can continue to reproduce as nature intended.
Never pick a plant you can’t identify with total certainty. Yet another seemingly-obvious one that is nevertheless often ignored. This is often quoted for fungi, because some fungi can be quite poisonous, but if anything it’s even worse for plants. The medicinally fabulous plant known as yarrow, Achillea millefolia, is a very useful plant and a common component of herbal medicines. However, it looks almost identical to spotted water-hemlock, a species of plant so deadly that one bite can kill you in 20 minutes. Make completely certain that all plants you collect are positively identified, and that you flag all plants with commonly-confused poisonous cousins for further identification later if you’re not 100% sure.
Never harvest flowers from plants around beehives. Bees are one of the most important families in the natural world, being responsible for the pollination of tens of thousands of species of flowering plants all over the world and on every forested continent. Whilst most species of bees are solitary, and don’t form the large hives we assume are common to all bees, those that DO form vast colonies need similarly vast numbers of flowers to support themselves. When you come across a beehive, especially a boxed hive that’s clearly domesticated by humans, try to avoid harvesting any flowers from within 500 metres (about a third of a mile) around the hive(s). The hive needs all the nectar and pollen it can get, and due to the rising threat of colony collapse disorder the life of every single hive is a precious thing that must be preserved at all costs. It might be inconvenient for you, but it’s worth it.
***************
These are just a few of the major rules that I personally suggest all foragers and herb-gatherers take to heart. Remember that you’re not the only Witch who needs their supplies! Thank you for reading 🙂
Anise – Used to help ward off the evil eye, find happiness, and stimulate psychic ability. Fill a sleep pillow with anise seed to prevent disturbing dreams.
Bay Leaf – Protection, good fortune, success, purification, strength, healing and psychic powers. Place under the pillow (or use in dream pillow) to induce prophetic dreams.
Bergamot – Money, prosperity, protection from evil and illness, improving memory, stopping interference, and promoting restful sleep.
Catnip – Provides protection while sleeping. Grow near the home or hang over the door to attract good spirits and luck.
Celery Seed – Mental and psychic powers, concentration. Use in sleep pillow to induce sleep. Chew celery seed to aid in concentration.
Chamomile – Love, healing, and reducing stress. Burn as incense for de-stressing, meditation, and restful sleep.
Hops – Believed to increase the restfulness & serenity of sleep. Also used for healing rituals, sachets, and incense.
Jasmine – Use in dream pillows to induce sleep or burn in the bedroom to bring prophetic dreams. Helps to promote new, innovative ideas. Also good for charging quartz crystals.
Lavender – Magickal uses include love, protection, healing, sleep, purification, and peace. Promotes healing from depression. Great in sleep pillows and bath spells. Burn the flowers to induce sleep and rest, then scatter the ashes around the home to bring peace and harmony.
Marigold – Place above the bed or in dream pillows for prophetic dreams. Scatter under the bed for protection while sleeping.
Peppermint – Use to increase the vibrations of a space or in spells and incense for healing & purification. Place in sleep pillow to ensure peaceful sleep and bring about prophetic dreams. Use to anoint furnishings and household objects. Burn in a new home to clear out sickness and negative energy. Use in magickal workings to provide the push needed to bring change to one’s life. Carry with other herbs to boost love & abundance wishes.
Poppy Seeds – Pleasure, heightened awareness, love, luck, invisibility. A popular ingredient in food magick. Sleep on a pillow stuffed with poppy seeds to bring relief from insomnia.
Thyme – Attracts loyalty, affection, and the good opinion of others. Wear a sprig to ward off unbearable grief or provide strength and courage when needed. Burn or hang in the home for banishing, purification, and to attract good health for all occupants. Use in cleansing baths prior to working candle magick. Use in dream pillows to ward off nightmares and ensure restful sleep. Add a thyme infusion to the bath regularly to ensure a constant flow of money. Place in a jar and keep in the home or at work for good luck.
Violet – Calms the nerves, draws prophetic dreams and visions, stimulates creativity, and promotes peace & tranquility. Violet leaf provides protection from all evil. Violet crowns are said to cure headaches and bring sleep. Keep a spray of violets on the altar to enhance night magick. Wear the leaves in a green sachet to help heal wounds and prevent evil spirits from making the wounds worse.
Sugar is used primarily as an attracting agent in magic, “sweetening” people to your wishes, whether they be potential lovers or business customers. – In Practice: Use to sweeten a business and draw in more customers. Sprinkle a little sugar in front of the entrance to work in order to draw people in. Add cinnamon for a boost, as cinnamon is considered extremely lucky.
Mint can be used in your magical practice to make charms work faster, or to better prepare your mind and intentions to be aligned with the intentions of a charm. It can be used in a spray or sprinkle to increase the mental vibrations of a place, so putting it in a school or office is ideal. – In Practice: Mix a teaspoon of dried mint leaf in a cup of boiling water and let it come to room temperature. Add the cup of water to your hair as a rinse after you wash your hair and rinse it. When you rinse the mint tea out, make sure to scrub your scalp thoroughly. This will stimulate mental activity and remove dullness.
Rosemary got its name from the Latin Rosmarinus meaning “dew of the sea” and is considered to have powerful properties across a wide range of magical traditions, though it’s typically used for protection and cleansing rituals. It can be placed under pillows, in pockets, or secured in infant bedrooms to protect children from negative forces and energy. – In Practice: Keep a sprig of rosemary by your heart and it will always remain open.
Rosewater is a mild protective agent that can be used as a floor wash to eliminate heavy vibrations, making a home or ritual space more comfortable to live in. It is also known for its use in beauty tonics. – In Practice: Put six cups of rose petals in a saucepan and add four cups of water then bring to a boil. Let the mixture boil for 10–15 minutes. When it has cooled, pour the mixture through a strainer and into a sealable bottle for use in magic. Though fresh-picked roses and rainwater are ideal, using store-bought roses and clean tap water will also work. You can splash on a little rosewater whenever you are feeling down. It also acts as a magnet for loving vibes.
Garlic – The same healing properties that it has in medicine are useful in magic to remove negativity, and to purify thoughts and places. – In Practice: A quick and easy use for garlic is to burn the skins on a fire or on charcoal in order to keep money in your home. For a spell to eliminate negativity, add cloves of garlic to a bowl of vinegar. Leave overnight. If the garlic has turned dark purple or black, that means there was a lot of negative energy and you should do again with fresh garlic and vinegar for one more night. If it looks fine, then you do not have to redo it. Flush the vinegar an garlic cloves down toilet to dispose of them.
Sage is an herb of wisdom and healing and can be used in a variety of forms for magical practice. A simple tea made with a teaspoon of sage and a cup of boiling water can be added to a bath in order to destroy illusions and to resolve problems. It can also be added to a charm bag to make your expectations about a charm or spell to be more realistic. – In Practice: Cleanse the house with bundled sage and it will feel lighter, this gets rid of negative energy that has accumulated. You can also do this to yourself to give you a little clear out from a hectic day. sage is available at some magic retailers and craft supply stories. But if you cannot find it bundled, you can dry the sage sprigs yourself. They should be about six inches in length and completely dried when you bundled them with twine. For more complete instructions, you can visit this page for making small basic bundles.
Sandalwood is a very popular incense scent that is often sold as incense sticks; it can be found at places like a Michael’s craft store just as easily as at a magic shop. Sandalwood is believed to have protective properties and is used most often in spells and charms meant to banish negative forces in your life. – In Practice: When you are feeling blocked, braid three ribbons together, representing three things you feel blocked about. You can write them on the ribbon before you braid. Put the braid in your pocket and carry it with you for a full day to get your energy on it. Light some sandalwood incense and as you take in the scent, take out the braid and start undoing it. Really focus on the intention of these obstacles becoming uncrossed. When finished, take the ribbons to a crossroads or intersection and dispose of them. Leave three pennies for the spirits that open the roads as well.
Basil is a multipurpose herb with many potential uses in magic, and for bringing good fortune in money and in love. It is also known for its cleansing and lightening properties. – In Practice: Basil can be used for money, prosperity, and love workings. Steep like you would tea and then mop the floors with it or sprinkle a little on the floor and sweep it up.
Ginger is used to make spells come into fruition faster, as well as enhancing the spell. It is also used to enhance passion in relationships. – In Practice: Adding ginger to food can bring more passion to a relationship.
As people know, herbs have certain properties and correspondences They are traditionally used either fresh or dried for spells.
Here are where my questions comes in:
What if herbs were used when they are rotted and decaying…Would the herb’s correspondence change or be opposite to the original correspondence? Would the correspondence stay the same but not as prominent?
I think rather than reversing the correspondence, rotting and decaying herbs would twist the original correspondence. If you rot love you’re left with bitterness or obsession; if you decay wealth you’re left feeling unfulfilled or consumed by greed.
Here are some of my favorite and most easy to grow plants! 🙂
1. Snake Plant (Sansevieria trifasciata) – I picked mine up at a local flea market, and man oh man has it been thriving. The funny part is, this is the plant that I neglect the most (when I say neglect, don’t worry it still gets lots of loving). It needs light, but it has grown well for me even in spots that don’t get a ton of light. This is one of my number ones that I suggest to beginners, because its just so easy! If you have a brown thumb, this is the plant for you! And the best part is, if you forget to water, don’t fret! This plant only needs to be watered about 1 -2 times a month. Just make sure to really soak it when you water it.
2. Spider Plant (Chlorophytum comosum) – I know what you’re thinking, well duh! but I have to add this plant on my list! This is another awesome plant for beginners. It produces the prettiest little flowers and gets quite large, so if you’re looking for a statement piece, this is it! It needs to be watered about 1-2 times a week, I verge on the one side, just because I have such a fear of over watering my babies. One thing to note those is that the ends of the leaves brown really easy if straight tap water is given to them, so make sure to set out the water you intend to use overnight so the chlorine can evaporate (or whatever it does, I’m no scientist). This plant can live in low light conditions, but I keep mine in high light and its doing great!
3. Ferns (I can’t give you a scientific name for this one because there are so many) – I love love love my little fern! He is my baby! I have loved him ever since I got him, and he is beautiful. So far, he has required little care. Although ferns are typically thought of as sitting on moist, forest floors with little light, ferns actually need quite a bit of light to thrive. They don’t like direct light too much though, so try sticking a translucent curtain in front of the window. Although ferns like their soil to be moist, they hate hate hate when the soil stays wet. So absolutely make sure to only water them with the soil feels dry. The soil does need to stay moist (MOIST, not wet! There is a difference!) though.
4. Orchids (Same as the fern, there is a ton of them) – SAY WHAT? ORCHID? EASY TO CARE FOR? HOW DARE YOU! BUT I am here to tell you that this plant has given me the least issues out of all of my plants. Keep orchids in a bright window where they will get a lot of light. The flowers they produce are GORGEOUS and last for a long time after they bloom. Want to know my secret? Its called the ice cube method. Once a week, stick two ice cubes in their pots. Orchids are notorious for being overwatered easily, and this method allows them to be watered slowly, and the amount of water is controlled. My orchids have been THRIVING since I began using this method, and I have the proof.
5. Ivy (Same thing, many different varieties) – Now, I would say this one is the one I struggle with the most. Although its easy to care for and grow, it can be temperamental and mine likes to be a jerk. Ivy needs lots of light, but their leaves burn and get overexposure EXTREMELY, extremely easily. The best method I have found is to put a translucent curtain in front of the window and put the ivy behind it so it has some protection against the sun. When I first got him, he was getting overexposure and I knew this because his leaves began to have a white powdery look to them. So make sure to move the plant if this occurs.
teakepp 