Origin: Believed to be native to Persia and the Orient. Found in temperate regions throughout both hemispheres. Introduced to S. Africa and S. America.
Other: In Greece, Rose oil with the supreme offering to Aphrodite. Used as an all-purpose annointing oil. To invoke Isis. To increase personal magnetism. Associated with Rose Quartz. The petals smell like burnt leaves in incense, so use sparingly.
Other: Truly an all-purpose magickal herb of great power. Has very powerful purifying vibrations. Used in rituals for the dead and as a symbol of remembrance at funerals. Used to attract good spirits and repel evil ones. Is an ingredient of many Celtic recipes. Use to attract the Faery Folk.
Sabbat: Yule, Imbolc.
ROSEWOOD: Aniba roseadora.
Origin: Native to the Amazon area.
Part Used: Wood, essential oil.
Uses: Powdered wood is an excellent incense base. This is one of the trees that is being felled in the clearing of the rainforest.
ROWAN: Sorus aucaparia, S. americana.
Masculine, Sun, Fire.
AKA: Mountain Ash.
Origin: Northern Europe, Mt. Ash is native to N. America.
Other: A Druid sacred tree and sacred to goddess Brigit. Magickal tree used for wands and amulets. A very magickal tree used in almost all forms of magick.
Sabbat: Beltane.
RUE: Ruta graveolens.
Masculine, Mars/Saturn, Fire/Earth.
Origin: Native of southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Introduced to Britain by the Romans.
Other: Ancient Celts considered Rue an antimagical herb - a defense against spells and dark magick.
SAGE: Salvia officinalis.
Masculine, Jupiter/Mercury, Air/Earth.
Origin: Mostly a native of the Mediterranean region (common garden Sage). Over 500 species, some common to N. America and Mexico. White Sage (Salvia apiana) is a native to hot dry areas of North and Central America.
Other: Used to increase power of spells. A Druid sacred herb; the Celts passed it through the smoke of the Summer Solstice fire, then wore it in battle for invincibility. Used in Needfires (along with Ivy, Mugwort, Milfoil, Vervain, Elder, Fennel, Melilot, Chamomile, Plantain, Hawthorn, Lavender and Fern).
Other: One of the oldest known aromatic herbs, at least 4000 yr. of use. Mysore Sandalwood is considered the best. Use to annoint divination tools to bring fast, accurate answers. Dab oil on 3rd eye for past life recall. A fixative.
Sabbat: Lughnassadh, Yule.
SANDALWOOD, RED: Pterocarpus santalinus.
Venus, Earth.
AKA: Santel.
Origin: Sandwich Island and western Australia.
Part Used: Wood.
Uses: Fidelity, honesty, love, protection.
Other: This is not truly Sandalwood, but often used as such.
SASSAFRAS: Sassafras albidum.
Masculine, Jupiter/Saturn, Fire/Earth.
Origin: Three species native to eastern U.S.A. and from Canada to Mexico, also eastern Asia and Brazil.
Part Used: Root bark, essential oil.
Uses: Compassion, healing, love, prosperity.
Other: Use to increase medicine power. An Amerind tree. Adds sweet odor to incense.
SPEARMINT: Mentha spicata.
Feminine, Venus, Water/Air.
Origin: Thought to be a native of the Mediterranean region.
Other: Faeries like offering of the oil. To get a strawberry scent, use the essence - the leaves smell like leaves. The leaves are a symbol of foresight.
Sabbat: Ostara.
SWEETGRASS: Hierochloe odorata.
Part Used: Leaves.
Origin: North America.
Uses: Amerindian herb for calling the spirits.
THYME: Thymus vulgaris.
Feminine, Venus, Water/Air.
Origin: Mediterranean countries and Spain. Another species is native to Britain. Also found in the Middle East.
Other: A Druid sacred herb. Used in rituals for the dead and to ease grief at funerals. An ingredient of holy water. Represented chivalry during the middle ages. A Faery herb, used to see Faeries.
TOBACCO: Nicotiana genus.
Masculine, Mars, Fire.
Origin: Native to N. America, later cultivated in most sub-tropical countries.
Part Used: Leaves.
Uses: Healing, offerings, purification.
Other: Amerindian herb. To call upon gods and make them appear. Used in shaman, Voodoun and Macumba incenses. Conducive to trancework. It is best to use pure, organically-grown tobacco if possible. What you find in cigarettes has been adulterated with many chemicals. CAUTION: Poison!
TONKA: Coumarouma odorata.
Feminine, Venus, Water.
Origin: Large tree native to S. America. Later cultivated in W. Africa.
Other: Voodoun love oil. Substitutes - Vanilla leaf (achyls triphylla) is a coastal plant, and Vanilla ordhis (Nigritella angustifolia) of Europe. Vanillin is a synthetic version, said to be made from coal tar.
Other: Cerridwyn. Sacred to Druids - used with Mistletoe and Mandrake to return curses to enemies. It was common in their many rites and incantations. It was so highly esteemed that offerings of this herb were made to the gods. The Greeks burned it for a favorable prophecy. Sacred to Romans, Persians, and ancient Egyptians.
Other: It is a grass related to Lemongrass and Citronella. Used as a fixative in mixes. Used to increase power of spells. And this contributed by Arieanna....Said to be useful in increasing the power of manipulative magick.
VIOLET: Viola odorata.
Feminine, Venus, Water/Air.
Origin: Over 200 species mostly native to Europe and Asia.
Other: To break down barriers of indifference. Use with Lavender for an aphrodisiac. Fragrance comforting to those whose children have died.
Sabbat: Imbolc, Ostara.
WILLOW: Salix genus.
Feminine, Moon, Water.
Origin: Over 100 species native to central and southern Europe and eastern U.S.A.
Part Used: Wood, bark.
Uses: Anti-theft, clairvoyance, compassion, consecration, divination, exorcism, fertility, healing, hex-breaking, love, to prevent nightmares, protection, release, to conjur spirits.
Other: To conjur spirits, burn with Sandalwood at the waning Moon. One of the seven sacred trees of the Irish and a Druid sacred tree. Connected to Hecate. An Amerindian tree. Symbolizes death and the Underworld. A tree of enchantment, sacred to the Moon Goddess.
