The most important tool you need is your intention! 

You don’t need a fancy altar, or a long list of herbs, every color candle, and a patch of goat’s hair.  You literally just need yourself. YOU are the magic. 

Herbs and spices are parts from plants that have culinary, medicinal, and spiritual usages. In rituals, the term herb is used to mean all herbs, spices, and trees. Each herb has its own abilities and strengths. There are also things to be aware of with each herb. 

This is a list of the more common herbs and their uses that can help guide you on your journey. Any of these can be used in culinary, spiritual, and personal practices; you may find that some of the spices hanging out in your cabinet are more powerful than you realize!

Agrimony: A plant of the rose family with flower spikes and spiny fruits. Repel a jinx or curse, healing, restoration, and benevolent protection. Can be used to attract business.

Apple Blossom: The white flowers with a pink tinge from an apple tree. Used for love magic.

Basil: An aromatic annual herb of the mint family. Used in love, blessings, money, and divination. Can be used to detect whether fidelity is present or not. Basil oil can be anointed with any positive intention.

Bay: An aromatic glossy green leaf of the bay tree. Aid in divination, wisdom, strength, and to produce prophetic dreams. Leaves can be burned to help with yes or no questions or to make a wish with. 

Catnip: Downy leaves and purples spotted white flowers of the mint family. Catnip has a pungent smell. The herb helps to create inner peace and release tension in humans. It will help in dream work as well as love drawing and trance work.

Chamomile: Daisy-like plant of the Asteraceae family. Purification and protection as well as sleep and mediation. Also known to bring luck.

Cinnamon: Spice from a Southeast Asian tree. Enhances spirituality, success, luck, and prosperity and can also be used in healing, shielding, and protection.

Clove: Dried flower bud of a tropical tree with a pungent smell. Bring protection and mental clarity when use in spells. Can be burned to cleanse objects, people, or rooms.

Comfrey: Large hairy leaves and clusters of purple or white bell-shaped flowers of a plant of the borage family. Used in letting go and healing spells.

Dandelion: A weed of the daisy family. Used during divination, healing, purification, and spirit calling.

Dragon’s Blood: Powder or gum from the fruit of certain palm trees and the stems of the dragon tree. A substitute for human or animal blood in antiquated spells. The resin is said to bring power to any work. Alone it is for cleansing and empowering.

Elderberry: Bluish-black or red berry of the elder plant. Used in fairy magic, hidden wisdom, protection, connection, and healing.

Frankincense: Resin from Boswellia trees. Smells like a bright refreshing pine with a strong citrus scent. It is an ancient sacred incense. Banishes negative thoughts and spirits while attracting positive ones. Good for money and success spells.

Garlic: A plant closely related to the onion that produces a strong-smelling pungent tasting bulb. Invoking courage and strength. Also, very potent in supercharging protection spells.

Lavender: A flowering plant of the mint family. It promotes calm, serene, de-stresses, and helps to sleep. Helps to banish nightmares, sadness, and woe. Also used to bring love. Can be used in a purifying bath or smudging ritual. Also is used for creative or clairvoyant meditation.

Mint: Aromatic herb from the Mentha plant. Spearmint is used when a spell calls for oil. When called for powder or incense, peppermint is used. Mint is used for healing and cleansing. Also used to increase psychic abilities.

Mugwort: A plant of the daisy family, with the aromatic divided dark green top leaves that are white below. Mugwort’s various purposes include love, healing, protection, prophecy, and dreams. Can be used to clean tools to increase its power. *Please note it can be harmful to pregnant women.*

Nettle: A herbaceous plant with jagged leaves with stinging hairs. Used in uncrossing and protection spells. Good for courage, consecration, and deterring evil.

Patchouli: A strongly scented shrub of the mint family. Its smells like rich earth. It is used for attracting love, lust, or success. Also used for sexual power and fertility. Can be used for love and money attractions.

Pennyroyal: Two small leaves of the mint family. Known to be used for money, strength, and protection. Wards off the evil eye and dispels anger. *Please note it can be harmful to pregnant women.*

Pepper: Powder from dried and ground peppercorns. Protection, warding, and banishing spell uses.

Red Hibiscus: Flowers from a plant of the mallow family. Lust and love-inducing properties.

Rose: A wood perennial flowering plant. Red rose is linked to lust and passion. Pink rose is used for love and yellow rose for friendship.

Rosemary: A woody perennial herb with evergreen-like leaves and white, pink, purple, or bluish flowers. Part of the mint family. It is known for helping and strengthening the brain and memory. Other uses include protection and warding off negative energy or people.

Rue: A shrub-like evergreen plant. Most powerful herb for protection, uncrossing work, to ward off evil spirits and illness.

Salt: A mineral containing Sodium Chloride. Strong psychic protection and can break hexes. Also, be used to make a barrier.

Sandalwood: An Indian tree that yields timber and oil. Can be used for cleansing, blessings, sanctity, and healing.

Thyme: Small leaves of a low-growing aromatic plant of the mint family. Attracts loyalty, affection, and good feelings from others.

Yarrow: Plant with feathery leaves and small white, yellow, or pink aromatic flowers of the daisy family. Used in healing ointment and as well as healing, love, and courage spells. Increases psychic abilities.

Most of these herbs can be found in your household pantry or be bought at a local grocery store. There are a few that are a little less common, but you can find them at whole food or specialty shops. When in doubt, look online!

What’s your favorite herb listed? Is there any I should add? Let me know below!