For green witches, herbalism provides the perfect pathway into nature’s healing and magical realms. Learning to cultivate and craft herbal preparations infuses your practice with energy from the good green Earth. Approaching plants as living allies deepens intuition and magic. However, with hundreds of herbs and methods for use, herbalism can initially feel overwhelming.
In this beginner green witch guide, we’ll explore simple ways to start incorporating herbal wisdom into your craft. You’ll learn how to study individual herb properties, start an herbal garden no matter your living situation, properly harvest and store herbs, make preparations like teas and tinctures, use herbs in rituals, and deepen your personal connections through intuition.
While herbalism takes dedication and care, begin with just a few herbs aligned to your purposes. Over time, integrate more plants into your practice through steady steps. This guide offers tips to get growing on your herb-fueled green witch journey. Let’s unlock nature’s apothecary.
Before we start, I want to highly recommend you read Aron Murphy-Hiscock’s The Green Witch before you start on your path. The book will help set a foundation of knowledge that’ll make your journey easier.
Study Herb Profiles
When first exploring herbs, study their individual energetic properties, correspondences, and uses. Research herbs you feel intuitively drawn to and those easily available in your region.
Helpful sources for studying herbs:
• Herb books - Look for beginner herb books at your local library. Try to read multiple books so you can cross-reference. Here are some books I recommend:
1. "Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide: 33 Healing Herbs to Know, Grow, and Use" by Rosemary Gladstar: This book is a wonderful introduction to herbalism, providing information on 33 common herbs, their properties, and how to use them for various health conditions. It also includes recipes for herbal preparations and remedies.
2. "The Herbal Medicine-Maker's Handbook: A Home Manual" by James Green: This comprehensive guidebook covers the basics of herbal medicine making, including step-by-step instructions for creating tinctures, salves, herbal oils, and more. It also includes information on harvesting, drying, and storing herbs.
3. "The Modern Herbal Dispensatory: A Medicine-Making Guide" by Thomas Easley and Steven Horne: This book offers practical guidance on creating a comprehensive herbal dispensary and making a wide range of herbal preparations, such as teas, tinctures, capsules, and syrups. It also provides detailed monographs on over 200 herbs.
4. "The Herbal Apothecary: 100 Medicinal Herbs and How to Use Them" by JJ Pursell: This beautifully illustrated book explores 100 medicinal herbs, discussing their properties, traditional uses, and modern applications. It offers guidance on making herbal preparations, including teas, tinctures, and poultices.
5. "The Earthwise Herbal: A Complete Guide to Old World Medicinal Plants" by Matthew Wood: This comprehensive herbal guide focuses on traditional European herbalism. It provides in-depth information on over 200 herbs, including their energetics, actions, and therapeutic uses. The book also explores the historical and cultural aspects of herbal medicine.
6. "Herbal Healing for Women" by Rosemary Gladstar: Specifically geared towards women's health, this book delves into herbal remedies and practices to support women's well-being throughout various stages of life. It covers topics such as menstrual health, pregnancy, menopause, and more.
Remember always to exercise caution and consult with a qualified healthcare professional or herbalist before using herbs for medicinal purposes. These books can serve as valuable references, but it is important to continue learning and expanding your knowledge through reputable sources and practical experience.
• Online guides - Websites like Mountain Rose Herbs have detailed herb profiles.
• Buy herbs - Purchase small amounts of herbs to handle and directly experience their properties. I started with a small hydroponics herb garden in my kitchen. It was great because it boosted my confidence in growing herbs because it was so easy, and it also allowed me to watch the growing process from beginning to end.
• Nature journals - Keep notes observing herbs in their natural environment when hiking.
• Reference charts - Print tables of herbs and their magical associations for quick reminders.
• Llewellyn's Herbal Almanac - An annual guide covering herb lore and profiles.
The more you interact with herbs directly, the more your innate knowledge grows. The study supports intuition.
Harvest Herbs
Once your herbs are robust, learning proper harvesting methods preserves their magical energies:
• Gather early in the day after the dew dries but before the heat peaks. Late morning is optimal.
• Use a pruner or gardening shears for clean cuts rather than pulling or bruising plants.
• For leaves/flowers, cut the topmost portions to promote further growth. For roots, dig up only what you need.
• Gently handle herbs to prevent crushing. Use baskets to collect.
• Wildcraft respectfully. Never over-forage from natural areas. Ensure you properly identify plants.
• Chant, leave an offering, or give thanks when harvesting. I like to thank the plant I’m harvesting from, and if it’s in the wild, I’ll give it a drink of water.
Drying:
• Natural air drying works best for robust herbs like mints, oregano, and lavender. Hang bundles upside down in a dry, dark area with good ventilation.
• Low-temperature ovens or dehydrators quickly dry more delicate herbs like lemon balm. Watch closely to prevent burning.
Remember that proper methods preserve magical vibrancy. Be sure to handle herbs as the precious allies they are.
Make Herbal Preparations
Once you harvest herbs, try your hand at some starter preparations:
• Teas - Infuse dried or fresh leaves in hot water. Start with gentle, drinkable teas until you master identification.
• Tinctures - Chop herbs, add to a mason jar, and cover with vodka for 4-6 weeks to extract properties. You can learn more about tinctures here.
• Salves - Infuse herbs in oil heated for 2 hours, covered. Strain oil, then add beeswax to thicken into a topical salve.
• Smudging blend - Make your own incense by mixing dried herbs on a piece of charcoal to burn for ritual cleansing.
Follow trusted recipes and take precautions like wearing gloves and avoiding skin contact where needed for safety with certain herbs. Start simply until skilled.
Use Herbs in Rituals
Once you grow familiar with preparing and harnessing herbs, integrate them into your craft:
• Research correspondences - Determine which herbs align with your ritual goal based on magical properties.
• Infuse oils - Make ritual anointing oils by infusing olive oil with herbs suited to your intention.
• Brew potions - Create symbolic herbal brews to drink as part of rituals. Research safe dosages.
• Craft incense - Blend herbs with magickal aromas for your altar to burn during rituals.
• Leave offerings - Leave herbs suited to specific deities or energies as offerings on your altar.
• Poppets and sachets - Sew herbs into mini poppet dolls or sachets carried for their magical benefits.
Enhance your rituals by consciously incorporating herbs. Their unique energies will amplify and guide your magical practice.
Listen Intuitively
While study provides the foundation, let your intuition guide you to build a personal relationship with herbs over time:
• Observe effects - Pay attention to how different herbal preparations uniquely affect you.
• Make detailed notes - Record uses, doses, outcomes, moon phases, and other variables.
• Follow signs - Synchronicities with certain plants provide clues to their personal meanings.
• Energetic resonance - Notice which herbs you energetically align with most strongly.
• Dreams - Make note if herbs frequently appear in your dreams.
• Go slowly - Allow relationships with herbs to unfold gradually through inner listening.
Your direct experiences with herbs provide deeper wisdom than any reference book. Value them as integral allies on your path.
Exploring the powerful world of herbalism will profoundly deepen your craft as an emerging green witch. Start by studying herb profiles, growing culinary herbs, and making simple preparations. Incorporate herbs into your rituals once you understand their properties. Most importantly, let intuition guide you to the plants most connected to your practice.
Make herbalism a lifelong journey of inner wisdom and connection to earth's green apothecary. The magic lies not in any formula, but your relationship. This guide offers steps to get you started, but your path unfolds daily through patience, attunement, and care for the verdant beings that sustain us all. Let nature nourish your craft and spirit. The plants await your partnership.
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