One of the best parts of being a witch is getting to know all the magical allies we can work with! Elements, planetary energies, deities, guides, crystals, and one of my PERSONAL favorites...plants! There are tons of ways to incorporate plants into your magic: keeping them on your altar, magically tending to your houseplants, plant-based kitchen witchery, bath magic, magical brews/teas, and more! Growing your own plants is just ONE way to connect with these allies, so you don't need to have a green thumb to work with plant energy in your magic! We've even put together collections of products that contain each herb to help you out, or you can shop the whole bunch here!
The plant world is vast and varied...and so is the kind of magic you can work with plants depending on which you choose! When creating the Counter Magick cleaning line, we knew we wanted to work with plant allies who had protective + clearing energies...after all, that's what countermagick is all about! We chose to work with plant essences in order to make our plant magic more sustainable. (You can read more about the difference between an essence, an essential oil, and a tincture here!) Below, you'll find 5 of the plants we turned to when crafting Counter Magick--all of which are generally readily available/affordable if you'd like to work some protective plant magic of your own! (Eclipse season is on the way...just sayin'.) Of course, you can also help yourself to our whole range of plant + gem-powered ritual cleaning products by visiting the Counter Magick website!
Bay Leaf
You're probably already familiar with Bay...you know that leaf you throw into your soup pot (but you're NOT supposed to eat)? That's Bay Leaf, and it's an absolute magical powerhouse--and super easy to find at your grocery store! The Latin name for this tree, "Laurus Nobilis" translates to "noble green" and it's been revered across time for its culinary + magical applications! Bay is associated first + foremost with protection and purification. Think of Bay like a loving, energetic bodyguard The strong + fiery nature of this herb has a vibration of strength and success, which is perhaps why winning athletes have been crowned with wreaths of bay laurel for centuries!
Beyond courage, clearing, and protection, Bay is a very popular ingredient for wishing spells! In fact, one of the first spells I ever performed myself was writing a wish on a bay leaf and burning it...and wouldn't you know it, my wish came true! Our Winter Simmer spell features a big ol Bay Leaf for setting intentions, and Counter Magick's "Sanctuary" All-Purpose Cleaner can bring this plant friend into every cleaning ritual!
Chamomile
If you've ever curled up with a sweet cup of Chamomile tea, then you've already experienced the soothing, comforting, and uplifting energy of this tiny white + yellow flower friend! In fact, Chamomile has such a nurturing presence it will even help heal struggling plants when planted next to them! How precious is that!? Chamomile can help you do the same in your spellwork, soothing and supporting you while it wards off anything sapping your ease.
On a physical level, Chamomile can help soothe the skin and provide relief during menstrual cramps--you'll find it in Chamo-millionaires tea! Chamomile has a DELICIOUS mild/sweet flavor. You can also find Chamomile essence in Counter Magick's "Ember" Room Spray, or shop our other Chamomile treasures here!
Mugwort
We're BIG fans of Mugwort here at Hauswitch, largely in part to our dear friend Brenda who is basically besties with this magical plant--you can read all about her journey with Mugwort + dreaming here! Mugwort is a silvery-green, velvety looking plant primarily used for enhancing intuition and dreamwork. Mugwort contains a chemical called thujone (also present in Wormwood) that gives the feeling of a mild "high"--so it makes sense that it's thought to help us open up to messages from spirit and the dream world. This plant is SO witchy, it even made its way into our "Witch City Moondrops" essence! It can be brewed into tea, taken as a tincture, the dry leaves can be smoked, and it's used for cooking throughout the world! Note: you should not consume Mugwort if you're nursing or pregnant--stick to working with the energetic essence or simply meditating with the plant rather than ingesting!
This plant's "scientific" name, Artemisia Vulgaris, hints at this plant's association with Artemis, the Greek goddess of the hunt + the wilderness. Mugwort can help keep you protected as you to navigate the wilderness of your subconscious by the lunar light of your own intuition. You can find Mugwort essence in Counter Magick's "Astral" Room Spray, or shop our other Mugwort treasures here!
Rosemary
Another seemingly mundane seasoning that packs a powerful metaphysical punch, Rosemary is a must-have in any beginner plant-witch's kit! Rosemary is very purifying + protective, and burning a bundle of dried Rosemary to smoke cleanse your space is an EXCELLENT alternative to plants that are part of closed traditions! This one was a no-brainer for the "Banish" Room Spray! Not only is it good for banishing--it's great for warding as well! That means it can help get nasty energy out and KEEP it out!
Rosemary is also stimulating and clarifying for the mind, helping to enhance our memory, support dream recall, and call in focus. Small rosemary plants are readily available at most greenhouses and even some grocery stores, so consider getting a pot of your own for a sunny windowsill so you can cultivate your own relationship with this powerful protector! You can also shop all the Rosemary-filled treasures in the shop here!
Yarrow
Yarrow, or Achillea millefolium, is thought by many to be the plant used by Achilles to treat the wounds of his men in Greek mythology--and for good reason! This plant grows tiny clusters of flowers in a variety of hues (though white, yellow, and pink seem to be the most common) and does indeed carry the ability to tend to our wounds: both emotional and physical!
Yarrow can help to slow bleeding, relieve toothaches, and bring down fevers--but on the spiritual plane it can also help us to both clearly see and heal our own inner wounds, protecting us from whatever may want to keep us from shining our light fully. By helping to enhance intuition, Yarrow helps us to catch any energy leaks or old wounds that may have slipped through the cracks. In Plant Witchery, Juliet Diaz writes that "putting Yarrow in your braided hair creates an energy web around you that helps you tap into your inner wisdom". Fashionable AND effective plant magic! You can find Yarrow essence in Counter Magick's "Gaze" Glass + Mirror Cleaner or shop our other Yarrow treasures here!
Resources: Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs by Scott Cunningham, Plant Witchery by Juliet Diaz
