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A Witches' Garden

Every true witch should have an herb garden. Though very simple, the garden contains a wealth of material from which anything from sachets to oils may be made. The witch should know simple gardening rules, tips for treating garden pests, as well as general earth magick. For those who cannot plant a garden, instructions for magickal window or indoor garden are included.

Selection of Plants

Choose the herbs for your garden carefully. Decide your main sphere of interests. Do you want to specialize your arts, or indulge in all areas of herbal magick? Are you limited strictly to small herbs and flowers, or are trees to be included? Here are some herbs suggested for various types of magick gardens. These are suggestions only.

General Purpose Garden

Rosemary, lavender, yarrow, vervain, hyssop, rue, carnation, mugwort, cinquefoil, etc.

Healing Garden

Perppermint, garlic, onion, carnation, rosemary, sage, rue, thistles, and wood sorrel.

Love Garden

Roses (old varieties are better for magick), voilets, vervain, yarrow, lavender, rosemary, basil, lemon balm, and lovage.

Divination Garden

Mugwort, yarrow, borage, cinquefoil, wormwood, anise, lavender.

Use the list as guides in drawing a suitable list of plants for your garden. Some witches choose more traditional plants such as mandrake, henbane, periwinkle, foxglove, and nightshade never intending to put these herbs to use. Whatever you decide to use, be sure you are satisfied. Visualize how each will fit into your garden.

Laying Out the Garden

Magickal gardens are rarely formal. Most are organized plots arranged in a circular shape, the circle being the ancient symbol of fertility, reincarnation, and eternity. Some are quite intricate, laid out as stars, suns, and crescent moons. The basic equipment needed is a good imagination and a large supply of flat rocks, which are used to make the borders. When you have decided on a pattern, or none at all, get a good herb gardening book. Check the average heights of the herbs you wish to grow, and also specific needs, such as shade, half-sun, or full sunlight. Try to position herbs of like heights next to each other.

There are traditional guidelines to follow here. Basil doesn't grow well next to other plants, so it is usually grown in a pot near the house. Sage and rue grow well together, as do coriander and dill. Mint and parsley dislike each other. If you are going to plant trees set the cypress to the North, the elder to the East, bay laurel to the south, and willow to the West of the garden. If you must have a yew tree, plant it in the south-west corner. A maple planted near the home is beneficial. Make sure that these trees will not shade the garden, for many herbs need direct sunlight. When the plan is firmly in mind, collect the seeds and plants. Before they can be planted the ground must be prepared.

Preparing the Land

Find a suitable plot of land, preferably on your own property, and where passersby won't disturb your plants. In Spring, or when danger of frost has passed, take a handful of mistletoe and grind in the mortar three days after the New Moon. Sprinkle over the land. Work the soil well with a spade and trowel till it's light and, moist. If the ground is too heavy add a little mulch; if too sandy add humus. Most herbs don't require perfect growing conditions but will produce more healthy growth if some care is given to the soil.

The basic shape of the garden, as stated earlier, is often circular. Lay a long string or light rope in the garden area in a circle, making its circumference as large as the space will allow. Be sure the ends of the rope are joined together with a good knot. If more than one piece of rope is required all connections should be thoroughly knotted.

Next, determine the four directions in your garden with a compass. Place stones outside the rope to mark these spots for later reference. The North stone should be clearly distinguished from others.

Upon nightfall, build a small fire or set several lanterns around the area for illumination, if necessary. Starting at the North, plant a candle in the earth near the rope but outside the circle, light it, then move clockwise following the same procedure at the East, South and West points. If the night is windy bring along four lanterns or clear glass jars. If using the jars, pour a bit of melted wax inside each jar and fasten the candles within. Place these at the points directed above.

Now, stand in the center of the circle and face North, holding your magick knife. Lift your arms skyward and say (or shout, if the wind is particularly rough):

I call upon the powers of the North to
Bless and protect this garden.

Repeat this to the East, South and West, substituting the appropriate direction in the invocation.

Finished, turn to face the North again. Bend over and trace these symbols on the ground with your magick knife.

The star should be drawn so that the upper-most point touches the North-facing candle, and the others evenly spaced around the circle, touching the rope.

Now, while kneeling in the Southern section of the pentagram, trace these symbols with the point of the your knife in the earth:

Make sure the top symbol is touching the top of the crossing line of the pentagram, so that your garden looks like this

Now sit quietly, counting ninety heartbeats. Then, if you are satisfied that the garden is magickally protected, blow the candles out, starting at the North point. If you've used glass jars, tip each one to allow the wind to quench the flames. Gently cut a branch from a birch, mountain ash, willow or any nearby tree if these are unavailable. (If there are no trees use the household broom, or one bought specifically for the purpose, which is better).

As you gently cut with your magick knife tell the tree the need you have for the branch, and afterward as payment leave something buried in the ground beneath it.

Holding the branch in your strong hand, stand North outside the circle and begin to brush away the symbols which you've drawn. Walk in a clock-wise direction and continue to brush until the ground is clear.

Gather up the rope and candles and store them away in a safe place. Quench any illumination fires or lanterns you may have lit.

The next morning, just as the Sun rises, search the ground for symbols. Sometimes specific patterns or symbols will appear on the ground, although it was swept clean the night before. Bird feathers are also often found.

If dew has covered the ground with a carpet of liquid blessings allow it to dry. Gather up any feathers and record magickal symbols, for these are links between your garden and the silent forces of nature.

Pour one quart pure, unfiltered apple cider (fermented, if possible) into an earthenware vessel and stand in the middle of the garden. With your strong hand sprinkle the cider round the garden, turning on the midpoint like an axle. When the cider is gone leave the garden and let it soak up the liquid. The cider represents blood; it awakens and renews the energies residing in the Earth and prepares it for the coming planting.

Leave the garden untouched for three days. Make sure that no person or animal walks on it. Animals are often hard to keep away, for they are naturally curious about the pleasing vibrations emanating from the blessed spot.

On the fourth day rise before the Sun. The time for planting has come.....

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