Book of Shadows






Table of Herbs


A

Alder	A Druid sacred tree. The pith is easily pushed out of the fresh green alder shoots to make whistles. Several shoots bound together side by side, one end stopped with plugs of wood, clay or sealing compound, can be used to entice Air Elementals to your area. Trim the end of each shoot to produce notes you want. The old superstition of whistling up the wind comes from this.
Apple, domestic	A Druid sacred tree. Cut an apple into three pieces. Rub the cut side on warts, saying: "Out warts, into apple." Bury the pieces; as the apple decays, the warts will disappear.
Ash	A Druid sacred tree. Druid wands were often made of ash and carved with decorations. Ash wands are good for healing, general and solar magic. Put fresh ash leaves under your pillow to stimulate psychic dreams. Spell

B

Basil	Burn basil to exorcise negativity from the home. To do a really thorough cleansing and protection fo yourself and your home, sprinkle a little basil in each corner of each room and add to you bath water.
Betony	Also known as Bishopwort, Wood Betony and Purple Betony. A Druid sacred herb. This was a very magical herb to the Druids as it has the power to expel evil spirits, nightmares and despair. It was burned at Midsummer Solstice for purification and protection. Sprinkle near all doors and windows to form a protective barrier. If troubled by nightmares, fill a small cloth pillow and place it under your regular pillow.
Birch	Also known as Lady fo the Woods, Paper Birch, White Birch. A Druid sacred tree. Spell
Bistort	Also called Snakeweed, Dragonwort, Sweet Dock. Carry a piece of the dried root to conceive.
Blackthorn	Also called Sloe. A Druid sacred tree. The thorns are used for sticking into black figure candles or poppets of enemies who will not leave you alone. Spell
Briar	Also known as Wild Rose, Briar Rose, Sweet Briar, Hip Fruit. Regular scented roses may be substituted. For clairvoyant dreams, steep two teaspoons fresh or dries rose petals in one cup of boiling water. Cover and let stand for five minutes. Drink at bedtime. Burn the peatals with love incenses to strengthen love spells.
Broom	Also known as Scotch Broom, Irish Broom. A Druid sacred tree; it can be substituted for furze(gorse) at the Spring Equinox. The Irish called it the "physician's power" because of its diuretic shoots. Sweep your outside ritual areas with it to purify and protect. Burning the blooms and shoots calms the wind.
White Bryony	POISONOUS! Also known as English Mandrake, Briony, Ladies Heal. The roots can be substituted for the rare true mandrake root. Seat a peice of the root on your money to increase prosperity.
Burdock	Also known as Cocklebur, Beggar's Buttons. Steep a handful of the herb in a bucket of water washing floors. This wards off negativity, purifies and protects.

C

Catnip	Also known as Catnip, Catmint. A Druid sacred herb, chewed by warriors for fierceness in battle. Large dried leaves are powerful markers in magical books. Give to your cat to create a psychic bond with it.
Cedar	Also known as Tree of Life, Arbor Vitae, Yellow Cedar. A Druid sacred tree. Ancient Celts on the main land used cedar oil to preserve the heads of enemies taken in battle. To draw Earth energy and ground youself, place the palms of your hands against the ends of the leaves.
Celandine	Also known as Tetterwort, Swallow Herb, Figwort, Pilewort. To prevent unlawful imprisonment, wear a red flannel bag filled with the herb next to the skin. Replace the herb every three days.
Chamomile	Also known as Wild Chamomile, Roman Chamomile, Ground Apple. Roman Chamonile smells like fresh apples and is the most enjoyable to use. A tea made of two teaspoons of the herb steeped for fine minutes in a cup of boiling water is a gentle sleep-inducer. It can be burned or added to prosperity bags to increase money.
Wild Cherry	Also known as Black Cherry, Chokecherry. A Druid sacred tree. Chips of the wood or bark were burned at Celtic festivals.
Club Moss	Also known as Wolf Claw, Staghorn. A Druid sacred herb. Amont the Celts, only a priest or priestess could gather club moss; it had to be cut with a silver dagger. The plants and the spores (collected in July and August) were used for blessings and protection.
Comfrey	Also known as Slippery Root, Knitbone, Blackwort. Teas, tinctures and compresses of comfrey leaves or roots speed the healing of cuts, rashes and broken bones. To ensure the sagety of your luggage while traveling, tuck a piece of root into each bag.

E

Elder	Also known as Ellhorn, Elderberry, Lady Elder and the Midsummer Solstice. The Druids used it to both bless and curse. Standing under an Elder tree at Midsummer, like standing in a Fairy Ring of mushrooms, will help you see the "little people." Elder wands can be used to drive out evil spirits or thoughtforms. Music on panpipes or flutes of elder have the same power as the wand.
Eyebright	A Druid sacred tree. In a tightly covered pot, gently brew a handful of the herb in a pint of boiling water. Allow to stand overnight. Strain out the herb, squeezing as dry as possible. Store the liquid in a sealed container away from sunlight and heat, but not in the refrigerator. Drink a half-teaspoon in a half-cup of spring water or psychic herb tea to promote clairvoyance.

F

Ferns	Especially Male Fern, Maidenhair, Bracken, Lady Fern and Polypody: The Druids classes ferns as sacred trees. Uncurled fronds of Male Fern were gathered at Midsummer, dried and carried for good luck. All ferns are powerful protective plants. Burned indoors, they produce a very stron wall of protection. Burned outdoors, they produce rain.
Feverfew	Also known as Fatherfoil, Flirtwort. Travelers carried it as ward against sickness or accident during their journeys.
Silver Fir	Also known as Birth Tree. A Druid sacred tree. The needles are burned at childbirth to bless and protect the mother and baby.
Foxglove	POISONOUS! Also known as Fairy Gloves, Fairy Fingers, Dead Man's Bells. A Druid sacred herb associated with fairies and the "little people."
Furze	Also known as Gorse, Whin. A Druid sacred tree. Its golden flowers are associated with the Spring Equinox. Wood and blooms are burned for protection and preparation for conflict of any sort.

H

Hawthorne	Also known as May Tree, White Thorn. A Druid sacred tree. Wands of this wood are a great power. The blossoms are hightly erotic to men.
Hazel	A Druid sacred tree. Wands of this wood symbolize white magic and healing. Forked sticks are used to find water or buried treasure. If outside and in need of magical protection quickly, draw a circle around yourself with a hazel branch. To enlist the aid of plant fairies, string hazelnuts on a cord and hang up in your house or ritual room.
Heather	A Druid sacred herb. Used at Midsummer to promote love and protection. Red heather is for passion, white heather for cooling passions of unwanted suitors.
Holly	A Druid sacred tree. Sacred to the Winter Solstice, when it was used for decorating. Planted near a house, holly repels negative spells sent against you. A bag of leaves and berries carried by a man increase his ability to attract women.
Hops	Also known as Beer Flavors. A Druid sacred herb. A pillow stuffed with dried hops aids sleep and healing.

I

Ivy, English

POISONOUS! A Druid sacred herb. Connected with the Winter Solstice when it was used for decorating. Ivy provides protection when growing on or near a house.

J

Juniper

A Druid sacred tree. Its berries were used with thyme in Druid and Grove incenses for visions. Juniper grown by the door discourages thieves. The mature berries can be strung and hung in the house to attract love.

L

Laurel	Also known as Bay Laurel, Sweet Bay. Its leaves were burned by priestesses of the Triple Goddesses to induce psychic visions. Placing the leaves under your pillow will also give inspirations and visions. Laurel counteracts negativity and restrictions.
Lily of the Valley	POISONOUS! Also known as May Bells. A liquid made by saoking the flowers in spring water can be sprinkled around the ritual area to draw peace and knowledge.
Purple Loosestrife	Placed int he corners of each room, this herb restores harmony and brings peace.

M

Marigold	Also known as Calendula, Holigold, Pot Marigold, Bride of the Sun. A Druid sacred herb. Marigold water is made from the blossoms. Rubbed on the eyelids, this liquid helps you see fairies. Flowers added to pillows give clairvoyant dreams.
Marjoram, Wild Marjoram	Also known as Wintersweet, Sweet Marjoram, Pot Marjoram. An infusion of marjoram, mint and rosemary can be sprinkled around the house for protection. This also works for protecting specific objects.
Meadowsweet	Also known as Queen of the Meadow, Gravel Root, Meadowwort. One of the three most sacred Druid herbs; the other two were mint and vervain(verbena). Meadowsweet can be used to decorate the alter during love spells.
Wild Mint	A Druid sacred herb. Poppets for healing and love can be stuffed with dried mint leaves. Added to incenses, it cleanses the house or ritual area.
Mistletoe	Also known as Birdlime, All Heal, Golden Bough. It was the most sacred "tree" of the Druids, and ruled the Winter Solstice. The berries are POISONOUS! Bunches of mistletoe can be hung as an all-purpose protective herb. The berries are used in love incenses.
Moonwort	The crescent-shaped leaves and fronds are used in love bags. Put a piece of moonwort inside a locket with your lover's picture to promote lasting love.
Irish Moss	Also known as Pearl Moss. This herb is for gaining and keeping a steady income of money. If you make poppets for luck or money, stuff this moss inside the doll. Burn it with incense during spellworkings for luck or money. Sprinkle a little inside your purse or billfold.
Mugwort	Also known as Sailor's Tobacco, Witch's Herb, Old Man. A Druid sacred herb. Rub the fresh herb on crystal balls and magic mirrors to increase their strength. The herb's powers are strongest when picked on the Full Moon. Soak one-quarter ounce mugwort in a bottle of wine for seven days, beginning on a New Moon. Strain out and drink a small ammount to aid clairvoyance, divination and crystal reading. Gather at Summer Solstice for good luck.

N

Nuts and Cones

Sacred to the Druids; highly steeped in magic. Small cones or acorns are often used to tip the wands used by Celtic priests. All nuts can be used in fertility magic.

Herbs Index
Herb Magic Index