The Herbal Kitchen

Below are a list of herbs commonly found in most homes, and their magickal uses. (Information was taken from Gerina Dunwich and Scott Cunningham's books.) African Violet-Used as a protection amulet and to promote spirituality in the home. It is burned as a traditional herbal incense of the Spring Equinox Sabbat. Allspice-Burned as an incense to attract money or luck. It is also used to promote healing. Aloe-A popular houseplant. Used for protection against evil influences and prevents household accidents. Angelica-One of the traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas and Beltane Sabbats. Angelica is both a culinary and medicinal herb. Sprinkle around the house to ward off evil. Added to the bath, it removes curses or spells that may have been cast against you. Anise-The leaves are used for protection. The seeds are burned as a meditation incense. Filling a small pillowcase with anise seeds and sleeping on it will ensure that you have no nightmares. Basil-Brings wealth to those who carry it in their pockets. Basil given as a gift brings good luck to a new home. It is one of the traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas Sabbat. Bay-Wishes are written on bay leaves which are then burned to make them come true, and a bay leaf held in the mouth wards off bad luck. Bay is one of the traditional ritual herbs of the Candlemas and Winter Solstice Sabbats. Buckwheat-Sprinkle the flour to form magic circles on the floor around you while performing magic. Catnip-Grown near the home, it attracts good spirits and great luck. Catnip is used in spells designed to enhance beauty and happiness. Large Catnip leaves are pressed and used as bookmarks in magickal texts. Cinnamon-Used in healing rituals and spells to attract money. It stimulates clairvoyant abilities and raises both protective and spiritual vibrations. The oil of the cinnamon plant is used to anoint candles for love goddess invocations, love magick, and spells of passion. It is also used in sachets and infusions. Clove-Burned as an incense, cloves attract riches, drive away negative forces, and purify the area. Burn them to stop others from gossiping about you. Wear them or carry them to attract the opposite sex. Corn-Place an ear of corn in a baby's crib to protect it against negative forces. A necklace made of dried red corn kernels prevents nosebleed. Cumin-Used in love spells. When carried, it gives peace of mind. Dill-This is an herb of protection. When hung over the front door, it will keep your home safe from enemies. Dill has a magickal ability to attract money and good fortune. Garlic-Extremely protective in new homes. Worn, it guards against foul weather. Grape-Eating grapes or raisins increases fertility, as well as strengthens mental powers. Place grapes on the altar during money spells. Hazel-String the nuts and hang in the house for luck. The nuts are often eaten prior to divination and give wisdom and increase fertility. Twigs of hazel are placed in window frames to guard the house against lightning. Hazel wood can be used to make all-purpose magickal wands. Lemon-Lemon juice is mixed with water and is used to wash amulets, jewelry and other magickal objects which have been obtained second-hand. This wash ensures that all negative vibrations are cleansed from the object. Keep one of the seeds from a lemon that you have consumed. Plant it in early spring, and nurture it in a warm place. When it grows, give it to a loved one, to keep your love fresh and true.Also, Take a slice of fresh lemon and put it under the chair of a visiting friend, to ensure your friendship will last. Lettuce-Rub lettuce juice onto the forehead or eat the leaves to have no trouble falling asleep. Mint-The leaves of the mint plants have been used magickally for healing, attracting money, increasing sexual desire, and protection. Mint oil is often used for anointing candles, ritual tools, and healing poppets. Mustard-Carry mustard seeds in a red cloth to guard against colds and to increase mental powers. When eaten, mustard seed increases fertility in women. Nuts-All nuts are potent fertility-inducers, and are carried for such uses. Nuts are also used in many prosperity and money mixtures. Oats-Used in prosperity and money spells. Olive-Olive oil has long been used as an anointing oil to aid in healing. Olive leaves, worn, bring luck. Onion-An onion placed beneath the pillow can produce prophetic dreams. Magickal knives and swords are purified by rubbing their blades with fresh onions. Orange-The dried peel and seeds are added to love sachets. The peel is also added to prosperity powders, incenses and mixtures. Orange juice is drunk in rituals in place of wine. Pea-Shelling peas brings fortune and profits in business, and the dried peas are used in monetary mixtures. Pear-The fruit is used in love spells, and the wood makes fine magickal wands. Pepper-Pepper is added to amulets as a protectant against the evil eye, and when worn, it frees the mind of envious thoughts. Mixed with salt and scattered about the property it dispels evil. Pineapple-Dried pineapple is placed in bags and added to baths to draw good luck to the bather. Pineapple juice is drunk to hinder lust, and the dried peel or flesh is added to money mixtures. Poppy-The flowers and seeds of the poppy are highly magickal and have been used in spells, potions, and sachets to promote female fertility, attract money, and induce divinatory dreams. The poppy is regarded as good luck, and it is potent in all forms of love enchantment. Potato-A potato carried in the pocket curse toothaches and guards against rheumatism, warts and gout. To protect against contracting a cold, a potato should be carried in the pocket or purse all winter-the same potato. Rice-When placed on the roof, rice guards against all misfortunes. Throwing rice in the air can cause rain. Rice is also added in money spells. *NOTE: This isn't really recommended due to the fact that if eaten by birds, it can swell up and kill them. Rosemary-Is burned as an incense to purify, heal, prevent nightmares, dispel depression, attract fairy-folk, and induce sleep. Healing poppets are often stuffed with rosemary for its powerful curative vibrations. Saffron-Has many magickal powers. It is an herb of love enchantment, healing, weather working, and spells and rituals to strengthen the psychic abilities. Drinking a potion made from saffron is said to give a woman or man the gift of second sight. Sage-An herb of immortality, protection, and wish magick. When eaten, worn in a horn amulet, or carried in a mojo bag, sage leaves guard against the evil eye. This herb of magick is also reputed to promote wisdom, heal the body, mind, and soul, and attract money. The sage is one of the traditional ritual herbs of the Samhain Sabbat. Spearmint-Is used in all healing applications, especially in aiding lung diseases. Smelled, spearmint increases and sharpens mental powers. Tea-Burn the leaves of the tea plant to ensure future riches, and add to all money mixtures and sachets. Tea is also included in talismans designed to give their bearer courage and strength. Thyme-This magickal herb is used in love spells and divinations, dream magick, spells to increase strength and courage and charms against nightmares. Thyme is also used in healing spells, purifications, and rituals to develop extra-sensory perception. Tomato-Placed on the windowsill or any other household entrance it repels evil from entering. The plants in the garden are protective, and the tomato when eaten, has the power of inspiring love. Vanilla-The vanilla plant is used in love magick. Its beans are used as amulets to improve mental powers, and its purple flowers are used in aphrodisiacs and passion sachets. Wintergreen-Is utilized in healing spells, and when fresh sprigs are placed on the altar they call good spirits to witness and aid you magic.

Reference: 33witches.blogspot.com