The Kitchen Witch -Part 1

This article, which I hope to be the start of a series, will be about some of the plants and herbs that are either easily available, or just lying around in most people's homes. I've always been interested in 'spur-of-the-moment-magic', and from experience, have found that my own kitchen or garden provided a wealth of inspiration for ritual. With this in mind I've chosen to research the magical properties of plants that I knew I could lay my hands on, either in my home, or within a half an hour's walk. They are in no real particular order, other than alphabetical.

WARNING: I do not advise actually making infusions, eating or using potions from any of the following plants or herbs unless you are 100% positive that the substance is either good for you or harmless to your body. Some will be obvious (in the case of blackberries or rosemary), but others can be poisonous, if taken incorrectly. This article is a starting-point only, and if you are not sure about consuming or using any plant, seek further information or advice.

NAMES (C0MMON) :Apple

NAME (LATIN) :pyrus (species name)

LOCATION FOUND :fruit bowl

MAGICAL PROPERTIES :Where do I start? The humble apple is the subject of a huge range of both Celtic, central and eastern European beliefs and practices. Apples feature heavily in both story and folklore. Faeries offer them to unwary travellers, gods and goddesses use them to tempt mortals. After doing just a small amount of research, I could have spent the whole article just going on and on about them (and have already started to!).

In ritual:

Apple blossoms are used in attracting a lover, by infusing them in melted wax and then straining. Burning the resulting candles will attract a mate.
Due, to it's close associations with immortality in the Norse tradition, apple juice, or cider may be used in place of blood, where it is called for in older magical methods.
Sharing an apple cut in half with a loved one is said to bring harmony to the relationship.
Apple wood makes a great wand. Said to be powerful in magic concerning the emotions, especially love.
Finally, Unicorns are said to frequent apple trees, apples being their favourite food (couldn't resist that one!).

NAMES (C0MMON) :Basil, the Witches Herb, and Sweet Basil

NAME (LATIN) :Ocimum basilicum

LOCATION FOUND: :Windowsill (potted) and spice rack (dried)

MAGICAL PROPERTIES: Loads. It's one of my favourite herbs or cooking with and seems to have a number of magical uses I wasn't aware of prior to looking into it more deeply.

Basil leaves, if carried in one's pockets, or wallet are said to bring wealth ('gonna try that one right away!).
It is supposed to bring god luck when given s a gift in a new home.
It's scent is supposed to bring harmony to quarrelling lovers. And can be used in love incense. Basil leaves rubbed against the body is supposed to attract true love.
If the leaves strewn onto floors is claimed to banish evil from a home.

NAMES (C0MMON) :Blackberry, Bramble, Dewberry, and Thimbleberry

NAME (LATIN) :Rubus villosus

LOCATION FOUND :By railway tracks, near house

MAGICAL PROPERTIES :Considered sacred to some pagan deities, said to represent harvest and the seasonal death of the horned god. Blackberry pies traditionally baked by Wiccans on Lughnasadh (August 2nd).

Leaves and berries can be used in spells of wealth.
Crawling forwards and backwards three times through a bramble that has grown into a natural arch is said to be a cure for anything from rheumatism to boils.
Brambles are supposed to be protective of person and home if grown, or cultivated near your house.

NAMES (C0MMON) :Catnip, Catmint, Cat's Wort, and Field Balm

NAME (LATIN) :Nepeta Cataria

LOCATION FOUND :Inside discarded/new cat toy (honest!)

MAGICAL PROPERTIES :As well as pleasing your cat in toys (and less liked by them as you remove it from said toy for 'research' - believe me they don't seem to find that interesting at all!), catnip, too, has a number of uses.

Can be used to bond magically with your cat (not if you've just ripped up a favourite catnip mouse it doesn't!)
Can be used in sachets, along with rose petals for love spells.
Hold catnip in your hand, and the next person's hand you hold will be a friend for as long as you keep the catnip.
Hung over the door, it attracts good spirits and luck to your home.
Used on it's own will add personal beauty and happiness to your spells.
Large catnip leaves are supposed to make protective book marks for books of shadows (also not a good idea if relationship with cat is now less than cordial)

NAMES (C0MMON) :Dill, Garden Dill and Dill Weed

NAME (LATIN) :Anethum graveolens

LOCATION FOUND :Spice rack

MAGICAL PROPERTIES :Bit of a generalist, this one:

Protective when hung at the door and carried in sachets.
Placed in a cradle, it will protect children.
Placed over a door, will prevent unwelcome visitors.
Due to the huge number of seeds produced by each plant, is often used for spells attracting wealth.
Added to a bath, in a sachet, the infusion of dill is said to make the bather irresistible to an intended lover.
It also incites lust if eaten or smelled (!).
Finally grind dill seeds, and sniff the powder to prevent hiccups (as a regular sufferer - I'm going to give that one a try!).

NAMES (C0MMON) :Garlic, Poor Man's Treacle(!) and Stinkweed

NAME (LATIN) :Allium Sativum

LOCATION FOUND :Spice rack (I tell you, that spice rack's been a gold-mine this week!)

MAGICAL PROPERTIES :It's a bit of a biggie, the old garlic, it seems to have been used for just about everything but transmuting lead into gold! Here are a few of the more common mystical uses:

· Used in whole bulbs to ward off the plague.

· Rub peeled cloves on affected part of the body, and throw the used clove into running water, to cure disease.

· Protection from just about everything; Vampires, shipwreck, thieves, foul weather, wounds from one's enemies, envious people and all kinds of demons and evil spirits.

· Brides traditionally carried a clove of garlic to prevent accidents and mishaps on the big day.

· Induces lust.

· When rubbed against a lodestone, the garlic will removes the stone's mystical powers.

Well those are just a few of the plants and herbs most people will find in their kitchens and gardens. True, most of the abilities of each plant change a lot depending on culture and location, but I think the proliferation in uses for protection, wealth and love incantations is interesting, and may suggest that, although we, in the twenty-first century, enjoy access to a wide variety of plants and herbs, our pagan forbears might have had to do with a far more restricted selection.

A final reminder: Again, although there have been many uses mentioned in this article, make sure you are not allergic to any of the aforementioned substances before trying to use them in your rituals. If you don't know for certain - get more information!