BALM OF GILEAD: Commiphora opobalsamum.
Femine, Venus/Jupiter, Water/Fire.
Origin: Native to countries around the Red Sea.
Part Used: Buds.
Uses: Healing, inspiration, knowledge, love, manifestations, protection, strength, virility, wisdom.
Other: The true Balm of Gilead is a rare desert shrub; other plants share the name: 1. Cedronella canariensis, C. triphylla. A shrub with leaves that smell like lemon and coriander. 2. Abies balsamea. AKA Balsam Fir, which grows in eastern North America. Its leaves smell like spicy strawberries. 3. Populus balsamifera. A specia of Poplar. Its sticky buds have a heady aroma and are used in healing incenses, for protection and to mend a broken heart. Sabbat: Mabon.
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BASIL: Ocium basilicum.
Masculine, Mars/Jupiter, Fire.
Origin: Native to India. Other varieties found in W. Africa, India, Japan, Persia, Egypt, Greece, Rome.
Part Used: Leaves, essential oil.
Uses: Anti-theft, business success, confidence, exorcism, fidelity, happiness, hex- breaking, love, luck to new home (if a gift), mental, peace, prosperity, protection, purification.
Other: Associated with dragons, salamanders and other fire beings. A Druid sacred herb. Use during meditation and ritual to regenerate yourself. Sacred to Vishnu and Krishna. Used to protect the dead from evil and to offer them entrance into the Summerland. Sacred to Haitian goddess of love, Erzulie.
Sabbat: Midsummer, Imbolc.
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BAY: Laurus nobilis.
Masculine, Sun, Fire.
AKA: Laurel, Bay Laurel.
Origin: Native to Mediterranean. Grows in Britain, but is a small tree; much larger in warmer climates.
Part Used: Leaves, wood, essential oil.
Uses: Clairvoyance, concentration, consecration, divination, endings, exorcism, healing, hex-breaking (with Sandalwood), inspiration, justice, knowledge, love, luck, lust, meditation, memory, peace, physical strength, power, prophetic dreams, prosperity, protection, psychic, purification (excellent), release, transformation, victory, wisdom, wishes.
Other: Symbol of glory and reward, leaves were woven into victory wreaths. The death of a Bay tree was considered a bad omen.
Sabbat: Yule, Imbolc.
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BEEBALM: Monarda didyma.
Sun, Fire.
AKA: Bergamot (not to be confused with Orange Bergamot), Oswego Tea.
Origin: Indigenous to N. America.
Part Used: Leaves, flower.
Uses: Love, lust, protection, success.
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BENZOIN: Styrax benzoin.
Masculine, Sun/Venus, Air.
Origin: Tree native to E. Indies, China, Sumatra, and Sri Lanka.
Part Used: Resin, tincture, essential oil.
Uses: Astral projection, banishment, to attract customers (with Cinnamon and Basil), exorcism, inspiration, knowledge, love (with Sandalwood and Rose), memory, peace, power (mental and personal), protection, purification, spell- breaking, visions, wisdom.
Other: Used as a base for incense, and as a fixative for oils, incense, and potpourris.
Sabbat: Imbolc, Mabon.
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BERGAMOT, ORANGE: Mentha citrata.
Masculine, Mercury, Air.
Origin: Citrus tree native to Italy.
Part Used: Essential oil from fruit peel.
Uses: Prosperity, Protection (physical as well as psychic), success.
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BETONY, WOOD: Betonica officinalis, Stachys officinalis.
Masculine, Jupiter, Fire.
Origin: Found throughout Britain, rarely in Scotland. Grows in woods and copses, sometimes on heaths and moors.
Part Used: Leaves and flowers.
Uses: Banishment, consecration, love, to banish nightmares, healing (wounded animals), protection, purification, release.
Other: Has a long history as a protective herb. Balefires.
Sabbat: Midsummer.
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BIRCH: Betula species.
Feminine, Venus, Water.
Origin: Ancient tree found all over Europe, N. America and northern Asia.
Part Used: Leaves, bark, essential oil, wood.
Uses: Exorcism, love, new beginnings, protection, purification.
Other: Symbol of the return of spring. Sacred to the Druids. Also known as Lady of the Woods. Dedicated to Thor. Is used as a substitute for Pine in incenses.
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BLACKBERRY: Rubus villosus.
Feminine, Venus, Water.
AKA: Bramble.
Origin: Common everywhere.
Part Used: Leaves, possibly dried fruit and wood from the cane.
Uses: Animal healing, healing, prosperity, protection.
Other: Used in invocations to Brigid.
Sabbat: Lughnassadh, Imbolc.
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BROOM: Cutisus scoparius.
Masculine, Mars, Air.
Origin: Shrub indigenous to England, grows wild in temperate Europe, northern Asia and North America on sandy fields and heath.
Part Used: Leaves and stem.
Uses: Clairvoyant, exorcism, love, protection, purification.
Other: A Druid sacred tree. It can be substituted for furze (gorse) at Spring Equinox. Weather magick. CAUTION: POISONOUS!
Sabbat: Ostara, Samhain.
The above information©1999 Emer Setante. All Rights Reserved. You may copy this text for your own personal use or for your personal web pages; however, you may not sell or otherwise use any or all for commercial or monetary gain without written consent from the author. Please visit Ambrosia.
BUCKEYE:
Attracts money and wealth, and can be used to help alleviate pain. Also useful to have near when performing any act of divination.
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BACHELOR'S BUTTONS:
Love
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BANANA:
Fertility, Potency, Prosperity. Used to get rid of a situation that is holding you down.
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BANYAN:
Luck
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BARLEY:
Love, Healing, Protection
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BEAN:
Protection, Exorcism, Wart Charming, Reconciliations, Potency, Love
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BEDSTRAW:
Fragrant Love
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BEECH:
Wishes
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BEET:
Love
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BELLADONNA:
Astral Projection
*DEADLY POISON!!
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BISTORT:
Psychic Powers and Fertility
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BITTERSWEET:
Protection and Healing
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BLADDERWRACK:
Protection, Sea Spells, Wind Spells, Money and Psychic Powers
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BLEEDING HEART:
Love
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BLOODROOT:
Love, Protection, Purification
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BLUBELL:
Luck, Truth
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BLUEBERRY:
Protection
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BLUE FLAG:
Money
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BODHI:
Fertility, Protection, WIsdom, Meditation
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BONESET:
Protection, Exorcism
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BRACKEN:
Healing, Rune Magic, Prophetic Dreams
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BRAZIL NUT:
Love
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BRIONY:
Image Magic, Money, Protection
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BROMELIAD:
Protection, Money
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BUCHU:
Psychic Powers, Prophetic Dreams
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BUCKTHORN:
Protection, Exorcism, Wishes, Legal Matters
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BUCKWHEAT:
Money, Protection
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BORAGE:
Use it in spells concerning courage. A tea of borage can be used to heighten psychic powers. Worn it will protect one when walking outdoors. Jupiter, Air
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BALM, Lemon:
Healing herb useful in infusions and sachets. Use for attracting success.
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BAMBOO:
Use bamboo to make flutes to call good spirits.
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BURDOCK:
Exorcism. Has protective properties. Gather the roots in the waning Moon, dry and then cut them into small pieces. String these on red thread like beads and wear for protection against evil and negativity.
