Everyone knows that witches throw the best parties…but what do you pour when witches gather? No dry-ice Halloween cocktails or gummy snakes or blood-red punch on this list. We’re interested in the real top-shelf mojo: Bottles with a witchy heritage, the patronage of a Pagan deity, or mind-bending botanicals. Whether you’re stocking your bar for […]
Haste makes waste. Garbage in, garbage out. In witchcraft, as in life, taking too many shortcuts often leads to underwhelming results. However, fast magick doesn’t necessarily have to be sloppy magick. Few of us have time for hours-long rituals, but we can still find ways to fit spiritual practice into our busy lives. Here are […]
Welcome to the world of woods! As a wand-maker (or wand purchaser), you may wish to know more about the different woods that lend their character to your magickal tools. This list is alphabetical and includes many of the most common wand woods. The woods on this list are drawn from three broad categories: The […]
Burdock has a magickal reputation that belies its humble, earthy appearance. Native to Europe and parts of Asia, Burdock has been an ingredient in medicinal and brewing recipes since at least medieval times. (It was used as a bittering agent in beer before the widespread adoption of hops.) Eventually, this persistent Old World herb spread […]
Freshen up your life with the cleansing power of herbal incense! Smudging questions are some of the most common ones we get around the shop, so I’ve put them together in little bundle (heh). We cover why and when to smudge, some popular smudging herbs, and other questions people ask about smudging and space cleansing […]
In the hidden land of Faery, travelers say, there are marvelous herbs and flowers completely unknown in the human world. Brilliant colors, intoxicating scents, and magickal plants that bring joy, visions, or sleep. And yet, over the years, fairies seem to have taken a liking to some of the more common plants right here on […]
Called the “White Lady of the Woods,” Birch is a tree of great strength and beauty. As one of the first plants to sprout new leaves in the spring, Birch has long been associated with renewal. Birch is extremely important in Celtic, European, and Native American folklore. Birch is linked to the Norse rune Berkana […]
If you’re a city Witch (like me), you first encountered Alfalfa as a treat for a pet hamster, or perhaps by eating Alfalfa sprouts at the corner deli. But as it turns out, Alfalfa is an ancient herb with a long history of use in prosperity magick. Alfalfa is also known as Lucerne, particularly in […]
As lovely a garden plant as you’re ever likely to find, Hyssop is a small shrub related to Mint. It is sweet-smelling and easy to grow, with beautiful flowering tops. The flowers may be blue, purple, pink or white. Gardeners plant it in flowerbeds to attract hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees. Hyssop is used in herbal […]
A handy key to the herbs of witchcraft. Each of the herbs listed has its own character and magickal properties. They are revealed to the Witch through study, meditation, and practice. For this glossary, we’ve limited the description of each herb to a few words. Many herbs have their own articles with more in-depth information, […]
Mandrake is an unassuming little root with a formidable reputation. It is considered one of the most mysterious and potent of all magickal herbs. Mandrake was probably first adopted by magicians because of its psychoactive properties and its occasional resemblance to the human body. It is still used in countless magickal spells and charms. This […]
Bearberry is a small shrub, a member of the Heather family. It is a low-growing plant with leathery, evergreen leaves. Sometimes called “Yukon Holly,” Bearberry grows across much of the Northern hemisphere. It prefers cold, mountainous climates and rocky soil. Bearberry produces small, edible berries that may be red, purple, or black depending on the […]
A member of the Parsley family, Angelica is known in magickal herbalism as a powerful guardian. It is said to banish negativity and attract positive energy. Angelica grows in tall, blossoming stalks—but typically only the root portion is used in spellwork. Angelica is a staple of American folk magick or rootwork, but it probably acquired […]
Agrimony is a tall, perennial herb with yellow flowers. It grows abundantly in England, Europe, and parts of North America. Agrimony is the common name for several different species of Agrimonia. The folkloric name is Cocklebur. All are distantly related to the Rose. Agrimony was known to the ancients as a heal-all tonic, easing everything […]
Mugwort is one of the most popular herbs for the Witch’s pantry. It’s known as a psychic/Lunar herb that’s also strongly protective. This article describes Artemisia vulgaris, common Mugwort. Mugwort’s magickal virtues (combined with its low cost) make it our best-selling loose herb. But how did this unassuming ditch-weed become the Witch Queen of the […]
Properly speaking, amber is a solid incense with its roots in the Middle East. Amber is a compound fragrance, meaning it is made up of a mix of ingredients. It is not the same as the semi-precious gem amber (fossilized tree resin) or ambergris (a perfume ingredient from sperm whale intestines). Throughout history, the fragrant […]
Dittany of Crete is a Mediterranean herb closely related to Marjoram and Oregano. But Dittany is not the kind of green stuff you put on roast chicken. Oh no. Its reputation as a magickal ingredient has far outgrown the stature of this unassuming little pot herb. Dittany (the name probably comes from Dicte, the mountain […]
Sage is a popular garden herb with a sweet and savory aroma. Sage grows well in most temperate climates. Its velvety leaves release their fragrance when rubbed. Sage was used medicinally in Egyptian, Roman, and Greek medicine. It is now best-known as a culinary herb for the dishes of Autumn, from roast turkey to sausage […]
Myrrh is the sticky, dry resin of a certain forlorn desert tree, Commiphora myrrha. Myrrh is extracted by piercing the bark of the tree and returning later to collect the nuggets of dried sap. True to Myrrh’s reputation as a funerary herb, these pieces are sometimes called “tears.” Ancient Egyptians used Myrrh, along with linen […]
Honeysuckle graces many a garden with its nectary fragrance and cheery blooms of ivory, pink, and yellow. Honeysuckle is said to attract friends, bring in luck, and sustain love in the home where it grows. Honeysuckle is especially liked by Faeries, and is essential if you wish to court their presence in your home. Like […]
Eucalyptus is a shrubby, flowering plant with a fresh and herbaceous fragrance. Most varieties are native to Australia. Koalas love to munch on the leaves, and the essential oil is popular in aromatherapy and herbal remedies. Lots of people are familiar with Eucalyptus as an ingredient in cold remedies like Vicks VapoRub. The fibrous leaves […]
Jasmine has been cultivated for centuries for its delicate white flowers and heady floral scent. It is regarded as one of the most mystical of all flowers. Jasmine hails from the Middle and Far East, where it once graced palace gardens and inspired poets. The name comes from the Persian “Yasmin,” meaning fragrance. In the […]
Bayberry is a shrub in the Myrtle family, also known as Wax Myrtle. It is native to North America and was harvested by Choctaws, Mohegans, and also by white settlers as early as the 1600s. Every part of the Bayberry plant serves some medicinal, magickal, or household purpose. Wax extracted from the berries was used […]
Native to the Mediterranean, Rosemary is an aromatic evergreen shrub with needle-like leaves. Its vertical branches proliferate in sunny climates, growing larger and woodier with age. Rosemary’s piney, medicinal fragrance brightens the flavor of roasted meat, soups, and breads. Rosemary is one of the most important Old World magickal herbs. There is an enormous amount […]
Michelle Gruben 