Herbs For Incense and Candle Magick

[Litha]

balance
basil, chaomile, comfrey, mullien, woodruff

blessing/consecration
chamomile, dianthus, elder flowers, fennel, mint, oats, rosemary,
rue, vervain

cleansing/purification

avens, betony, benzoin, burdock, clove, hyssop, lavender, mullein,
parsley, rosemary, thyme, vervain, wormwood, yarrow

creativity
vervain

courage
mullein, rosemary

divination
bay, cinquefoil, marigold, moonwort, mugwort,
mullein, orange peel, thyme, woodruff, wormwood, yarrow

encourage changes
linden, purple heather, woodruff

energy/power/strength
cinquefoil, elder flowers, fennel, St. John's Wort, vervain

fortune/justice
bay, bergamot, cinquefoil, lemon balm, oragne peel, star anise,
vervain, violet, woodruff

happiness/peace
jasmine, lavender, rosemary, vervain

healing
cinquefoil, comfery, coriander, hops, lavender, lemon balm, mullein,
mustard, rosemary, rue, sage, St. John's Wort, tansy, thyme

love
avens, cardamon, dill flowers, ginger, lavender, linden leaves,
marigold, marjoram, moonwort, mustard seed, orange peel, vervain,
veetivert, wormwood, yarrow

meditation
acacia, chamomile

money
basil, bergamot, chamomile, clove, dill seeds, mint, moonwort,
nutmeg, oats, vetivert

protection/defense
betony, birch, burdock, cumin, dianthus, dill leaves, fennel, fern,
marjoram, mint, mugwort, mullein, mustard, parsley, rosemary, fue,
sage, vervain, white heather, woodruff, wormwood, yarrow

psychic awareness
bay, betony, burdock, cinnamon, elder flower, lavender, mace,
marigold, star anise, woodruff

releasing negativity
betony, clove, hyssop, mugwort, rosemary, St. John's Wort, thyme,
vervain, vetivert, yarrow

sealing/sending positive energy
wormwood

spirit contact/blessings
lilac, purple heather, mint, Solomon's Seal

strength/willpower
rosemary, St. John's Wort

wisdom
sage

[Myst]

I think it's important to note here for the beginners that the herbs mentioned by the author probably worked for those instances for them. There are so many because you can choose whichever you think would work best. If you come up with different ideas on what to use don't think you're wrong either- it's all up to your own intent to make things work!

[Jazzy Cat]

It you want to move to an open fire try throwing on wormwood for second sight and prophetic dreams. It works wonders, much better than burning it in incense as it smells dreadful!

Frankincense is really good for meditation. Many Buddhists I know although they are supposed to meditate to sandalwood don't they love frankincense.

Do forgive me, that puts a sidetracked thought in my mind not really to do with the subject. Does anyone out there use mandrake for anything? Or is it one of these things you find in your first pagan/witchcraft book as a woodcut illustration just across the page from Pendle and Salem but no one actually uses?

Jazzy

[Lavender]

Wormwood is definitely something that if you have to burn, burn outside! I find I get a headache just working outside with the wormwood.

In old, old times, Mandrake used to be used as an anesthetic during surgery. Also used as a sleeping aid for pain and melancholy. Now, its uses are in the homeopathic preparations for such things as hayfever, asthma, & coughs. Please don't use it on your own. I thought I'd post this as a point of interest. Both the European & American mandrake are very poisonous!

[Jazzy Cat]

I agree...

I know what you mean about Mandrake, where as I have not used it, I have seen a medical experiment conducted by European Shamans under the watchful eye of scientists where they used varying degrees of henbane. Again a classic "witchcraft" plant, but boy can that send you loopy!!! I agree with you Wildchild, not something to be taken lightly, or indeed at all unless with expert guidance.\

Incidentally, in my last post I mentioned wormwood as good for vision when thrown into a fire. It is very strong smelling, so I have found out if you give it a few drops of an essentail oil, I use orange or geranium, you get the thick smoke and the visions, but avoid the scent of old socks....isn't that a new aftershave? l'eau de olde socks. What's Faberge's number?

Jazzy