🪴 Weekly Witchy CHALLENGE - Enchanting Herbs

[BryWisteria]

Merry meet!

Thank you once again to all those who joined in for last week’s Weekly Witchy Challenge - Spell Bags & Pouches

With everything wrapped up nicely, it’s time to turn to another theme - now we’re looking out into the garden or peering into the pantry

The theme for this week’s challenge is…

Enchanting Herbs

The world of herbal magick is budding with possibilities!

From lovely lavender to calming chamomile, spiritual sage to romantic rose and so many more - plants have a lot of power and potential for magickal use! The word “herb” serves as an umbrella term, often used to refer to entire plants or parts of plants that contain medicinally and/or spiritually beneficial properties.

Herbs have a variety of uses including culinary, medicinal, aromatic and in some cases, spiritual. General usage of the term “herb” differs between culinary herbs and medicinal herbs; in medicinal or spiritual use, any parts of the plant might be considered as “herbs”, including leaves, roots, flowers, seeds, root bark, inner bark (and cambium), resin and pericarp.

From Wikipedia: Herbs

This challenge is a sibling to the previous Green Magick challenge and encourages a focus on herbs - be they fresh, dried, or theoretical. Feel free to work with a favorite herb, cast herbal spells, or learn about a new plant that has been calling to you

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This week’s challenge is all about herbs in magick - but as always, how you do so is up to you!

So are you ready? Because it’s…

CHALLENGE TIME!

Disclaimer: Plants can be very potent! Not everything natural is safe for use, and not every herb is a good match for every body. Before handling or consuming a new plant, it is always a good idea to consult with your trusted medical professional and/or herbalist.

@daniel4 Making Your Own Herbal Incense

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STEP 1 : An Herbal Exploration

This challenge is all about herbs in magick - but how you choose to take on this theme is up to you!

Still not sure where to begin? To help you get started, here are a few ways in which a witch might approach this challenge…

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Learn about a new herb

New to the world of plant magick? No fear! A great place to get started is at the beginning. For a gentle guide to some introductory herbs and the basics of herbal magick, visit The Green Witch: Herbal Witchcraft Course (free with your Spells8 membership)

The course contains a handy collection of herbs, plants, and spices with magickal properties. Feel free to grab the general green magick pages and/or the pages for each specific herb for your Book of Shadows or Grimoire

Magickal Herbs Printable Pages

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Herbs in Kitchen Magick

You don’t have to have a garden or a green thumb to be a master of herbal magick - in fact, you likely already have some great herbs and spices in your kitchen pantry! Kitchen Witchery is a fun and tasty type of magick that anyone can do.

Consider checking out the coven’s entries to the previous Culinary Magick and Wickedly Delicious challenges for additional ideas and inspiration

Kitchen Witchcraft: Casting Spells in the Kitchen

Magickal Blends for Kitchen Magick

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Herbs for every spell & intention

Although delicious in kitchen magick, herbs don’t have to be cooked or baked to enjoy their magickal properties. From spellwork to crafting, there are many ways to draw on the properties of each herb - consider exploring different methods for your entry this week!

Herbs & Recipes Every Witch Should Know

Herbs for Good Luck and How to Use Them

Moon Herbs and When to Use Them

Herbs and Spices for Protection

Herbs for Every Purpose

Creative Ways to Use Old Herbs and Spices

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… And More!

The suggestions above are just a few ideas to help kickstart your creativity- if you feel called to explore herbal magick in another way, you are welcome to do so!

As always, all witches are encouraged to embrace their own unique practice with how they explore the challenge theme

From Spells8: Calming Herbal Bath Blend

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STEP 2 : Share Your Experience

Click here for a note about challenge inclusivity

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge by practicing magick in line with the current theme. For lurkers and those who don’t feel comfortable sharing, it is absolutely okay to follow along with the challenge but keep your entry personal. Feel free to join in spirit and do what feels most comfortable for you!

That being said, please know that if you would like to receive a prize and a public shout-out, it is required that you share your experience.

Getting Your Credit

In order for your entry to be counted, all you have to do is write/share about your experience and label it as your challenge entry. There is a lot of chatting here (which is awesome- chatting and discussion are very welcome!) so please clearly write that it is your entry so I know to count it!

Where Should I Share My Entry?

Click here to learn where to share your challenge entry

You are welcome to post it right here- just click “reply” to this post and write your experience in the text box that pops up!

Alternatively, you could create a new post in the forum (this is good for when you have a lot to share and/or would like to discuss aspects of your entry not related to the current theme)

Note : If you do choose to create a new thread, please add the “challenge-entry” tag and/or add a hyperlink back to this post so that it can be easily found- thank you!

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Deadline

This challenge will close in 6 DAYS

To join in, please share your experience by:

Tuesday, May 7 at 7:00 AM EDT (Eastern US Time)
2024-05-07T11:00:00Z

(Note that the time zone is ET- if you don’t see your time displayed above, you can use this time zone calculator to check for your time zone!)

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Prizes

For their efforts, all participants will receive a special shout-out and a small prize!

Acknowledgments will be given in a Props and Presents Post that will appear in the forums on Tuesday.

After the challenge closes, you are still very welcome to post but please be aware that no additional prizes will be given. This discussion will remain open for about a week after the challenge finishes.

@Mistella’s Herbal Candle Anointing Oil

A warm reminder that the challenges are designed to be very open- everyone is encouraged to participate in a way that honors and reflects their unique practice

If you have any doubts about if something is acceptable to post or say, please double-check with the Forum FAQ and/or reach out to your friendly Moderator Team.

And for those new to challenges- welcome! Know that the goal of these activities is to help you further diversify and strengthen your abilities and to bring together the Spells8 forum family to inspire and support one another in creative ways

From Spells8: Herbal Tea Spells

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Glorious and green or carefully dried
Herbs are a witch’s friend and guide
Happy to help with every spell
They’ll make sure your magick
Goes bloomingly well!

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Blessed Be!

[Mystique]

I’m going to have think about how I want to do this challenge. So many ideas in my head!

[Artemisia]

Yaaaaaaay, so excited about this one. It’s right up my alley.

[AIRAM]

I am preparing incense for the Goddess Hekati with flowers and herbs this invitation came at the right time

[Kasandra]

So many wonderful herbs to choose from!

[Diamond]

Here we go!!! Herb Magic Powers Activate

alcatsloved

[Phoenix_Rose]

Challenge entry

We got chickens today

Tonight I did a spell for protection for the chickens.

I made black salt.
Harvested rosemary.
Grabbed a bell.
Placed symbols I have of Archangel Ariel-protector of animals
Green candle, colour associated with Archangel Ariel

I cast a circle

I placed the bell on the stick of rosemary.
I lit the green candle

I pulled the rosemary off the stems and placed the leaves in a container while concentrating on the protective energy of rosemary.

I followed most of a spell of protection I found on Llewellyn- that being- I passed the rosemary stem with the bell over the fire five times then chanted over the stem and bell.

(A Spell to Shield Your Pet from Harm)

Then I went outside and affixed the bell and rosemary to the coop. Then I walked clockwise around the coop three times chanting may the chickens be protected from harm. The first time I sprinkled the black salt around the coop and the next too times I sprinkled the rosemary around the coop. And said so mote it be.

Bonus-rosemary also helps protect against bugs-want to keep away the ones that would wreak havoc on our chickens.

[john1]

This is my entry:

I use this blend in all my candle dressing these herbs

Cinnamon
Whole Anise
Sage
Bayleaf
Lavender
Tea (depends on what spell I’m doing I use different kinds of tea ) ( I crack open the tea bag to add it to my blend)
Coffee (speeds up any spell I cast)

The aroma smells so good

[celineelise]

So excited. Literally just bought new book on Beltane and herbs🌿!!!

[Ostara]

I got this one!!! Yesterday I was feeling really groggy at around noon, so I laid down to take a little nap. My little nap turned into a 12 hour nap. I just woke up. Drying and grinding herbs is really tiring. I think I might wear gloves as a precaution the next time I do it. When hubby came home from work on Tuesday and walked into the kitchen, he said the kitchen looked like there could be felony charges filed against me for all the green hanging to dry every wear.

Weekly Challenge Entry

For the past two days, I have been drying herbs because my herb garden has become a monster that I can’t control. I have wormwood and rosemary hanging all over the house, so I decided to dry it in a faster way. Rosemary dries great in the microwave. Take it off the stem, put it on a paper plate and put it in the microwave for 1 minute. It’s best to dry it in small batches. Wormwood is a different story, it caught fire after about 20 to 30 seconds in the microwave. So, I pulled out the dehydrator. I spent hours grinding wormwood in small batches in a coffee grinder. Why didn’t I pull out the old trusty food processor that I use once every 5 years? Because it’s huge and bulky and I didn’t have the counter space. Next week when I’m off, I’m going to the food processor. I’m not doing anymore wormwood today. I just about filled a 32 ounce jar with powdered wormwood.

Today is rosemary day!

[john1]

That jar reminds me of my special “rose Mary” I grew

[Ostara]

Ha! That’s why hubby said it looks like I have a felony in a jar. He said SWAT should be breaking down the door at anytime.

[john1]

Hahahahaha that’s funny

[Mystique]

This sounds like a beautiful aroma! I may use this dressing if you don’t mind.

[celineelise]

That sounds yummy! I didn’t realize coffee speeds things up… but makes sense!!

[celineelise]

I love that meme

[Diamond]

@Ostara @john1 I had too SORRY

That's not weed shaggy - Funny

[Artemisia]

Challenge Entry - Enchanting Herbs

I chose to bless and protect my two raised Vegetable and Herb gardens.

I used:
Rosemary - from my garden (for protection)
Thyme (for strength)
Sage - from my garden (for purification)
Lavender (for harmony)
2 Quartz crystal - from my garden (for energy amplification)
White Candle

I grounded and centered myself first. Then I arranged the herbs in a circle around the crystals and placed the candle in the soil. I lit the candle and invited the blessings and protection of Artemis, Hekate, and Selene.

Artemis, guardian of the wilderness,
Hekate, mistress of the crossroads,
Selene, radiant queen of the night,
I call upon your divine presence this day.
Bless this garden with your grace and sway,
Protect its bounty from dusk 'til light, light 'til dusk.
With herbs and crystals, I weave this spell,
By your powers, may it be well."

I took the crystals in my hands and charged then with the protection and blessing. Then I placed one crystal in the center of each bed.

I thanked the goddesses and sat on the edge of the garden until the flame was gone. (It was interesting that once the candle wick was gone, it still burned the rest of the wax that had melted into the soil.)

Being safety conscious I made sure to cover the fire remains with a large pile of wet dirt.

I will leave the herbs crystals in place.

[Isabella13]

🪻WEEKLY WITCHY CHALLENGE: Enchanting Herbs. 🪻:seedling: .
I LOVE this Challenge!!! I am so much like my Father when it comes to being a Witch. He was a Druidic Green Witch although I think he was more Green Eclectic myself!! LOL. My love of growing plants and keeping dried plants both for Magical purposes and for healing and cooking has truly grown more so since he has passed. I utilize my backyard for growing many useful things and it also is a great place when it’s time for Sabbat and Esbat celebrations….although since I am a solitary, I also do those inside. I think my Daddy would be proud of carrying on our Family’s heritage the way I have. There are only 4 of us that actually walk this path now.

[Phoenix_Rose]

Love this! I gave book marked it for when my garden is up and running.