Herbal charms
represent a method of using herbs
in magick, a way to employ herbs magickally, really, and carry them with oneself or hang somewhere. In such case,
these herbal charms will act as amulets and talismans. Some more elaborated
forms of such talismanic magick are well known Gris gris charms , Medicine
bags, Hexbags or the bit notorious and powerful Hoodoo mojo bags. However, each of
the mentioned have strict rules of how are they made, regarding color,
number of ingredients, material, time of
preparation and other. Furthermore, they may not contain only herbs, but other
material such as mineral or zoological curios, and pentacles and symbols of
sorts, or famous charms such
as for example horseshoe. Sometimes they are identified with herbal
hexbags , or even herbal sachets.
Unlike above mentioned, special forms of talismanic magick,
such as Hoodoo mojo bags for example , also
called Mojo hands, or Conjure hands,
simple herbal charms are less formal,
but also have a smaller “life
spawn” , which means they need to be replaced every now and then . Many authors
suggest this should be done every three months. You can use number symbolism when making them, You can make them
in specific time but You do not really have to. Which leaves so much space for
Your artistic or other kind expression,
and improvisation.
These were always very popular in European folk magick. And with good reason. They were easy to make
, and handy to carry around and use, especially
for those very pragmatic cunning folk of Europe.
In essence, herbal charms, as discussed here ( in this article ) refers to any applications of herb,
or mixture of herbs , alone or in some
sort of pouch, or container, without additional mineral or animal
curious and other kind of ingredients. That means , such charms could range
from a simple herbal loop, or ring or chaplet, herbal bundle, over pouches filled
with herbs, to jar “fixed” using herbs
only.
They require no specific consecration, nor “feeding”, like done with mojo hands for example , which
does not mean one may /should not do so, If they chose to. Smudging the finished talisman, praying over
it, breathing upon it , sprinkling with some Holy water, placing on a power
symbol , all can be done, if
practitioner opts to do so, as means of consecration and Blessing the finished charm. These charms could be used alone, as amulets
or talismans or parts of spells and rituals, and could be deployed and / or employed in various ways.
One could :
.
Carry these charms as personal amulets , in
pockets, purse, or even on a string around the neck
·
Hung in house, or rooms to protect them or draw good
luck · Bury in someone’s or own yard to either protect/bless or cross
· Place under pillow or bed for dream magick , or to cause specific effect such as marital happiness inspiring, inspiring faithfulness, healing etc
· Placed on altar to perform specific goal , or be adjunct ( in/of power ) in various spells and rituals
· Given to someone as a gift, to protect them , or even to fascinate them, for example to tell the truth ,
· Used as aspergent , or thrown into flames to produce quick, albeit not overly permanent effect
These herbal charms, can of course, vary greatly, in appearance and form , from simple herb
bundles tied up with a piece of yarn,
charm-bags or sachets filled with herb, plant-braided rings or loops, to a stylized glass vial charm necklace filled with botanicals.
And here are few examples :
Basil protective
charm
You will need
some red yarn or string, a Basil
sprig, and small container with Holy
Water or Consecrated water*. Some people
may feel inclined to light a candle as they make this charm, I know I would. A
simple tapper or even tealight white is
all great. Dip the yarn in water three times as You state Your
desire for the protection or call upon
Your Higher Power to aid You in such. Let
it air dry. Remove the leaves from the
lower part of the Basil’s stem, and stat wrapping it with the yarn. Perhaps
13 circles ( or wrapping, entwining ) is
great number, when it comes to protection and
employing that seemingly unlucky
power , in a constructive manner, to create lucky conditions while
removing the bad ones. Otherwise, wrap
the yarn around the stem as many times as You see fit.
Upon finishing, tie a knot on the yarn, to secure it, and
read over the ( newly created ) charm Psalm
91st, and Prayer to the Venerable ( Honoroble, Life
bearing or “to the Holy Cross” in Orthodox Christianity ) Cross, which You can
find in some of my previous posts, such as that on September magick
I was taught that an amulet fixed this way shall
protect one that made such, as long as it stays in 5m ( somewhere around 16 feet I think ,
or bit less than 200 inches ) perimeter of the “user” *
Herbal "loop", ring or circle charm example |
Herb bundle charm example |
Sprit repelling charm circle
Form a interlaced circle from fresh stalks of St John’s Wort, Rosemary and Vervain. If You are
crafty, form an equal armed cross in the middle ( kind of like Earth Cross , or
Celtic knotted Cross ) suspend it over a
piece of string to air dry in nice warm place. When dry hung in Your house ( over window or door
) or carry along oneself to repel evil
spirits, and prevent them from influencing
or harming You.
This one shall come handy for anyone practicing occult,
while having to stugle with the nuisance of preying and judgmental eyes. Simply combine the herbs suggested in a purple charm bag ( or a sachet ), to be
safe of persecution :
·
Carnation flowers
· Angel’s tears plant ( Soleirolia Soleirolii ) also conveniently called “mind-your-own- business”(UK)
·
Fern seeds ( substitute with Heliotrope plant If
You happen to lack it )· Angel’s tears plant ( Soleirolia Soleirolii ) also conveniently called “mind-your-own- business”(UK)
This charm is carried to attract wealth, and
money. I imagined it as a vial-charm, in one of them glass-with-cork-lid
vial pendants, but it could be made into a sachet and/or charm- bag.
In the latter case, simply place all herbs on a square piece of green
fabric , then tie it all up together, into a small pouch.
If You are making a
charm vial, it is fairly simple as well,
just place the roots at the bottom of the vial ( can be a small bottle
as well ) add the leaves and top it all
with Cinnamon.
·
Bayberry root piece
·
Piece of dry Ginger rhizome ( “root” )Charm vial with herbs and roots example |
· Basil leaves
· Top it with some powdered Cinnamon
Asperger or
sprinkler
These vary from a single branch or stem of a plant to a
elaborate combination of plants, tied up
together, sometimes affixed to a handle out of solid wood
or other material to which symbols and
writings are written, or engraved , as done occasionally in Higher
magick.
This brings up a question are these to be treated as a tool or a charm ? Why not both J The fact that the choice of sprinkler’s building material is neither random nor based on pure technical possibilities of the material ( like in a case of standard, purchased, metal aspergers ) , and that the material contributes with it’s “ashe” to the goal, makes it partially a charm. Hence why is discussed here and here is an illustration :
This brings up a question are these to be treated as a tool or a charm ? Why not both J The fact that the choice of sprinkler’s building material is neither random nor based on pure technical possibilities of the material ( like in a case of standard, purchased, metal aspergers ) , and that the material contributes with it’s “ashe” to the goal, makes it partially a charm. Hence why is discussed here and here is an illustration :
“Thou shalt then make unto thyself a Sprinkler of vervain,
fennel, lavender, sage, valerian, mint, garden-basil, rosemary, and hyssop,
gathered in the day and hour of Mercury, the moon being in her increase. Bind
together these herbs with a thread spun by a young maiden, and engrave upon the
handle on the one side the characters…” [1]
The example given, is from a classic occult text “Cavicula
Solomonis” ( or the Greater key of the King Solomon ) ,
but for everyday needs a simple Rosemary branch, bundle of Sage and Basil or
all three combined together, would make a great sprinkler, to be used in
purification, banishment, uncrossing and exorcism ritual sprinkling.
Witch finder talisman
by Cunningham, Scott
If You feel alone , and You’d like to attract and draw other
practitioners ( witches ) You should make and carry with You this curious herbal charm, according to Sir Scott, Cunningham :
·
Rue
·
Agrimony · Maidenhair Fern
· Broomstraw
· Ground Ivy
Tie up in purple cloth and carry. [2]
I have never personally made or use d this talisman, but seems to me like a finely composed one,
containing things such as Broomstraw and Ground Ivy that, simply eradiate with
“witchy” energy.
Hope You find this interesting and helpful, many Blessings, from Shadow ;)
NOTES: This article was composed and written by myself, therefore, should You wish to use any part of
it elsewhere online, feel free but add
credits: Shadow of the Shadows
magick place, Shadow-333@hotmail.com
, or a direct link to this post
CREDITS AND REFERENCES :
*The method presented here
is my own, tad tweaked version of
the traditional method ( which does not include soaking the yarn in Holy water,
nor does it suggest any specific prayer to be read over it, it’s
simply suggested that “some” prayer/s be read over it ) as popular among
Russian Orthodox Christians.
[2] “Complete book of Incenses, Oils and Brews” page 191st , by Sir Cunningham Scott, used here for explanatory and reviewing purposes, without any ill will
IMAGE CREDITS:
All ( drawings , pics ) used are my own scribbles J
2 comments:
Just thought I'd share a fantastic "Herbal Amulet" that was taught to me MANY Moons ago:
Gather together 15 Oak twigs or smaller sticks, bind them into 5 bundles of 3 twigs in each by tying each end with a length of red string/leather/ribbon.
Now you have your 5 bundles, use each to make a pentagram...Tied at each joint with more red string & attach another string from the uppermost point of the pentagram with which to hang it from.
..and there you have it, a very powerful, ancient & hand-made amulet for protection, blessing of the home or hearth & even great protection in the car!
**NOTE: One needs to perform whatever incantations, consecrations, rituals etc to imbue this item with Magickal Intent otherwise it's merely a bundle of sticks!
What a crafty charm , I love it, thank You so much for reading and sharing :)
Blessings
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