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| | From:  SunniSandiOO (Original Message) | Sent: 8/11/2006 2:51 AM |
16 Must-Have Herbs for the Kitchen Witch
by Garnet WindDancer
I was going to make a list of the Top Ten herbs but as I started going looking through my notes, I just felt I couldn’t leave any of the others off the list and so it grew to sixteen. The number isn’t significant for any other reason than I couldn’t eliminate any of the herbs I’ve mentioned! There are still many others that I want to grow for myself but I’ve limited the list to herbs that I have personal experience with growing and harvesting. I would be very interested in hearing from you on this matter. If you have experiences with any of the herbs I discuss or feel that there are herbs I haven’t mentioned that I should have, then please, e-mail me at [email protected]
Basil �?Basil is one herb that does very well indoors or out. I keep a large plant in the kitchen window all year round. It gets plenty of morning light in the warmer months and growth speeds up. In the winter months, with less light, it holds its own but doesn’t really grow very much. Plant basil outdoors in full sun and pinch off growing tips (the tiny, new leaves at the tip of each stalk) to encourage a bushy shape otherwise it will get leggy (speaking from experience here!). Harvest leaves often to encourage growth. While its culinary uses are pretty much legendary, little may be known of its magical properties. Basil is a staple in love magic. Keep a potted basil plant in your bedroom to increase intimacy or make sachets to slip under your mattress or pillows. If you want to open yourself up to receive love, then carry a sachet of basil in your pocket or purse. Basil also has a place in money spells. If you have difficult co-workers or a volatile workplace, then keep a pot of basil on your desk for its protective energies. Just rubbing the leaves to release the aroma will make you feel better and you can always harvest leaves and put them in a baggie to bring home for the dinner pot.
Bay �?This is my first season with bay. I have always used the dried leaves in Italian cooking, stews and soups but have never grown it before so this is a trial period for me. It’s a tradition in our family that whoever finds the bay leaf that I’ve forgotten to strain out will have good luck. It is an excellent plant for container gardening. It needs full sun or just partial shade in order to thrive and must be brought inside during the winter months as cold temperatures and strong winds will damage or kill the plant. The Bay Laurel is a most noble plant, as the twigs and leaves were fashioned into wreaths to crown the heads of ancient heroes. It is said that the nymph, Daphne, transformed into the first laurel to escape the passion of Apollo who then adopted it as his sacred tree. The bay also has powers of healing, psychic powers, purification and the ability to confer strength. Bruise a few bay leaves and add them to a cup of boiling water. Allow to steep for a few minutes and then drink the broth to aid in divination. Often, people keep two potted bays on either side of the entrance to their home. Most people think of it as an aesthetic choice but in fact, bay offers protective properties and will guard the entrance of your home.
Catnip �?A member of the mint family, catnip is really easy to grow. A word of warning, though! As are all mint varieties, it is incredibly invasive and will takeover a garden very easily so prune mercilessly or keep it in containers or raised beds. Expect the plants to regularly be attacked by any or all neighbourhood felines. It isn’t only cats who love it because last year, I blamed the cat for eating all the new growth when it was really the dog! I finally caught him at it one night. It didn’t seem to have the same effect on him, though. Catnip grows well anywhere in the garden or window sill but prefers full sun. The leaves makes a pleasant, light green, minty tea which can be used to aid in beauty and love spells. Considering the effect it has on cats, it’s no wonder that it also has the magical quality of promoting happiness. I’ve used the tea before to relax the symptoms of PMS and menstrual cramping.
Chamomile �?People have been singing the praises of chamomile tea as a sleep aid for years now. It’s also used in love and money spells and for purification. When herb gardening is mentioned, chamomile is nearly always included. It grows from seed very well anywhere in the garden. The dried flowers, not the leaves, are the potent part of the plant and, along with lavender, are a staple in dream pillow recipes.
Coriander (Cilantro) �?I love this herb! I grew up calling it cilantro but it is known as coriander in the U.K. Having made my own salsa from fresh ingredients, I will never again eat the stuff from a jar. And the pungent taste of the fresh chopped cilantro leaves is the main reason. It’s also delicious in a number of sauces and Chinese dishes. The seeds are a staple in most herb cabinets although I’ve never really cooked with them. To be honest, this is not an easy plant to grow. Or maybe I just have bad luck with them. All the books say keep the plants in full sun in well-drained soil. I mention it because it is one of my favourite culinary herbs. Good luck if you decide to try it and please, if you get on well, let me know! The seeds or the leaves can be used in healing spells.
Dill �?Yummy! Another favourite. Dill is a pretty, delicate plant. It needs to be planted in full sun but should be protected from heavy rain or strong winds. It’s an annual so when you are harvesting, allow some plants to remain and self-seed and you should always have new growth the following Spring. The feathery leaves are delicious sprinkled on top of cucumber sandwiches, potato salads, tuna salad and egg dishes. Two magical uses of dill are in love sachets and protection spells.
Lavender �?Who hasn’t experienced this beautiful little plant? The scent of lavender has long been associated with feelings of tranquillity and peacefulness. It is the staple ingredient, along with chamomile, in dream pillows. I have an eye mask with lavender sewn into it which I wear when I have migraines or just need a good night’s sleep. The leaves and flowers dry beautifully and retain their odour well so they make attractive wreaths and dried flower arrangements. Lavender grows best in full sun and can be grown from seeds. However, cuttings are the best way to propagate the plant. In the Autumn, clip the plant lightly with garden shears to promote new growth in the Spring. Lavender is used often in love spells. Carry a snippet with you or toss a sachet of lavender into your clothing drawer or hang in your closet to attract love into your life. You can also scent your stationary with a sprig of lavender.
Lemon Balm �?I make no secret that lemon balm is my absolute favourite herb (well, it’s tied with rosemary as number one). I fell in love with this plant several years ago and since then, have always grown it. I love to walk by it and rub the leaves because of the delicious, lemony scent. It’s an instant mood enhancer when you’re feeling a bit out of sorts. It grows fast and well from seed, sprouting within a week, and does well in containers. It is an incredibly hardy perennial and almost impossible to kill so it would be a great starter plant for beginners. Last year, I planted a lemon balm seedling in a container but didn’t do much gardening due to the birth of my daughter. I thought it had died off from lack of regular watering but lo and behold, this Spring, after I had trimmed away all the dead branches, there was new growth, all bright green and fragrant, popping up from the roots. It’s been about a month since I’ve rescued it and it has already quadrupled in size. It’s a good idea to divide the root ball into two plants when it comes time to re-pot it. Lemon balm tea is great for soothing indigestion and stomach upsets and can also be used as a rinse for laundry. Infuse your bath water with it to help relieve a headache or just as a general pick-me-up (just toss a handful of fresh leaves into a luke-warm bath or make it into a tea and pour it into the water). You can also rub the leaves on an insect bite for relief of itching and stinging. Magically, lemon balm is used in love spells and aphrodisiacs.
Marjoram (Oregano) �?This can get confusing as there are several varieties of marjoram and one of them is, in fact, oregano. Sweet marjoram is a tender perennial that needs to be wintered out of frost. Wild marjoram is more commonly known as oregano and is a hardy perennial that is a staple of Italian cooking. Marjoram is carried or placed about the home in sachets for its protective abilities and is also used in money spells.
Mint �?The joy and the bane of every gardener, mint grows fast, well and can always be counted on to flourish where you plant it. The problem is, it will also flourish where you don’t want it! It is incredibly invasive and will take over any garden, given a free reign. Basic garden mint is not an overly attractive plant but it smells so nice that it’s hard to leave it out. My very favourite of the many mint varieties is chocolate peppermint. Not only does it smell like a slice of heaven, it’s also a pretty little plant. Spearmint is also really nice. In the kitchen, mint can be used for any number of sauces and jellies. It can also be chopped, fresh, and added to soups and salads. I love to pick a handful of leaves, gently bruise them and then freeze them in water in ice cube containers. Just pop one of the cubes into your iced tea or better yet, lemon aid, and you have a wonderful summer treat. You can also use this method to preserve mint by emptying the cubes into a freezer bag instead of the traditional drying method. Mint is commonly used in money spells. According to Scott Cunningham, you can keep a few leaves in your wallet to attract money and prosperity. It’s also used in healing magic.
Mugwort �?This is the one herb on this list that I haven’t grown yet. I’m waiting for my seeds in the mail. It just seems right to include it. It’s a variety of Artemisia and so related to wormwood and southernwood. Wormwood is an ingredient in absinthe so I’m assuming mugwort, as a close relative, has similar properties. I would not suggest ingesting mugwort at all but you can use a sprig of it under your pillow to induce prophetic dreams. And because of its highly protective properties, keeping some of it in a sachet on your person or in your vehicle will help keep you safe. Just make sure it is not left anywhere that a child or animal could get hold of it. And never handle mugwort in any way if you are pregnant.
Parsley �?I think parsley is the most underrated herb in the garden. I’d gotten so used to seeing it as a garnish on a dinner plate that I forgot just how delicious it really is, in the kitchen. According to lore, parsley became known as a garnish for meals because of its protective properties and the belief that it would ward off contamination! Parsley can be tough to grow from seed because it needs to be very moist and very warm as it germinates. Try soaking the seeds in lukewarm water for a few hours before sewing into well-watered soil. I’ve never tried it but the roots of Hamburg Parsley are supposed to be parsnip-like and edible.
Pennyroyal �?Pennyroyal is another member of the mint family. It has a really strong, peppermint-y smell that may not be agreeable to everyone. It certainly isn’t agreeable to insects and is often planted near entrances to homes to keep out ants and other pests that will try to invade your home. Try planting it around your rosebushes to keep pests away. You can also cut some of the stalks and bind them together with twine and leave them in your cupboards to discourage bugs of all sort. I’ve known people who have made pet collars treated with pennyroyal to discourage fleas but do not use on or around your pets if any of them (or you!) are pregnant. Like lemon balm, it can also be used on insect bites and stings. Magically, pennyroyal is used in peace and harmony spells.
Rosemary �?Along with lemon balm, rosemary is my favourite herb. They are firmly tied for first place in my affections. I’ve always started with seedlings so I’m not sure how easy it is to germinate the seeds. It’s supposed to be fairly easy to propagate by cuttings of the plant, as well. I have two plants at the moment, and they both wintered well out of doors, in their containers. It’s fair to say that I harvest off of them much more often any other of my herbs. In a climate where they may not winter well, try bringing them indoors. I’m always snipping bits off to use in recipes. Wrap the branches in cheesecloth before adding to pork or beef dishes so that the meal is flavoured by but not overwhelmed with the herb. For potato dishes, strip the leaves from the branch and chop very finely. Keep in mind, when cooking with rosemary that a little goes a long way! This herb is especially relevant at Samhain because it is the traditional herb of remembrance; cook with it, place it on your ancestor altar or wear a sprig of it pinned to your lapel to celebrate the Sabbat. As for its magical properties, rosemary is used as a purification incense. You can dry a bunch of the stalks, bound together with twine (much like a sage smudge) and burn it to purify your space or a sick room. Wash your hands in a rosemary infusion before doing any healing or spellwork. Keep a bunch of dried rosemary hanging about the house for its protective properties.
Sage �?I love sage. Along with rosemary, it’s one of the first herbs that I grew. I wanted to make my own smudge sticks but quickly learned that sage has many other wonderful uses, as well. Obviously, it’s a well known kitchen herb, working well with poultry, pork and stuffings but did you know that an infusion of sage tea is an effective cough expectorant? Doesn’t necessarily taste that great but it does work! Sage is a hardy perennial but doesn’t always winter well. It will survive as long as the winter isn’t too long or harsh but will look really raggedy throughout the Spring. It will start perking up again in early Summer, though. Prune it well, leaving as much stem as you can and then bind the bunch together with twine and allow to dry to create smudge sticks. Light it and use the smoke to purify your home of negative energies. Sage also promotes wisdom and clear thoughts. Either burn some sage or eat some of it in a meal or a tea when you have a difficult decision to make, exams to take or are wondering which step to take next.
Thyme �?Thyme grows well indoors or out. It’s a pretty, low-growing plant that looks really nice on the kitchen window sill or in containers in the garden. It’s delicious when used with meats or potatoes. As with rosemary, I usually bunch the fresh thyme in cheesecloth to toss in a stew or a roast and will finely chop it for use with roasted potatoes. There are many different varieties of thyme but the one most commonly used in the kitchen is called English or garden thyme. I also really love orange-scented thyme, as well. Because it’s bushy and low-growing, you could try a variety of thymes in a strawberry pot for an attractive arrangement. If you have the space, consider growing a patch of thyme in lieu of grass on a less travelled path of your garden. The smell is heavenly when it’s mowed over or stepped on. Magically, thyme is used to promote good health and is, consequently, a main ingredient in healing spells. According to Scott Cunningham, a cleansing bath of marjoram and thyme in the Springtime will “ensure that all sorrows and ills of the past are removed from the person�? It can also be used to purify sacred space before magical workings.
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I am going to add Arnica on there it is really good for burises, of bone and mussles. can get it in a gel is the best and fastest way for healing. Check local healthfood store it is a fairly common item. |
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