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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 medicine as an antiseptic and a cough reliever. Its medicinal properties have been written about since ancient times. The Romans drank Hyssop-infused wine as a digestive aid. French country cooking makes occasional use of Hyssop as a roasting herb or salad topping. The aromatic leaves...

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, in case you wish to learn more. Here are the suggested meanings and uses of some popular ritual herbs: Agrimony – ancient herb of healing, restoration, and benevolent protection (full article) Alfalfa – good fortune, money magick, healing and cleansing infusions (full article) Angelica –...

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 article will help you sidestep the hazards of Mandrake and get in touch with this amazing plant. There are (at least) two distinct plants that produce roots called Mandrake, so we’ll consider them each separately.  (The ritual uses and correspondences will be similar for both.)...

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 variety. As you may have guessed from the name, the berries are a favorite food of foraging bears. Bearberry’s Latin name (Uva-ursi) literally means, “bear’s grape.” Bearberry is available in dried form (usually wildcrafted) for ritual use. For medicinal purposes, people buy it in various...

What’s sweet and golden and comes from bees? Nope, not honey! Today, we’re taking a closer look at a versatile magickal ingredient: Beeswax. Beeswax may serve the Witch in a number of ways. Beeswax is crafted into candles, poppets, talismans and seals. It is an ingredient in ointments and natural body products. It has the marvelous property of anchoring and blending other spell ingredients together into a harmonious whole. When ancient tablets and medieval grimoires speak of “wax,” they are almost always referring to beeswax. Petroleum-based wax hadn’t been manufactured yet, and vegetable waxes were inferior to work with. Beeswax...