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Below are some beliefs about some very common herbs. I’m not sure where these ideas originated but it’s fun to read about the importance our ancestors placed on herbs.

Aloe: Also called the "Burn Plant" because of its healing effect on burns. It is said that if you grow an Aloe plant in your kitchen, preferably on a window sill, it will protect you from burns while cooking and fires.

Anise: According to and ‘Old Wife’s Tale’, drinking a cup of anise tea every day will keep you young and beautiful and if you burn it as incense before bed time or place it under your pillow, it will promote prophetic dreams.

Balm: Adding this to a bath or sachet to keep with you will promote love to come to you.

Barley: Said to ward off evil, people would sprinkle barley in a clock-wise circle around their homes and place some across their door step or under the door mat to form a protective barrier.

Basil: Basil is supposed to protect from evil and negative energy when added to your pail before mopping your floors. If you burn it as an incense, it’s supposed to bring you wealth.

Blackberry: If you dare, walking through a blackberry patch is said to protect you from disease, but you’ll get some pretty nasty scratches while doing it.

Caraway: Used in a wedding, handfasting or commitment cake then throwing the seeds after the ceremony is supposed to create feelings of lust but will ensure fidelity throughout the relationship.

Catnip: It’s said that if you ingest the tea while you give some to your fur child, you will become psychically linked.

Cayenne: Supposed to attract love and, if ingested before a party, will keep you from becoming drunk and hung over.

Chamomile: Said to attract wealth when added to a sachet.

Cinnamon: When burned as incense, it’s supposed to purify the area, promote health and increase lust.

Clove: Can be burned as incense or ingested to promote visions of the future.

Dandelion: If the fluffy seeds of the dandelion just magickally come off in a ‘poof’ with no wind, it’s sure to rain.

Fennel: Believed to protect from evil, it’s also used to create lust and love. Not necessarily in that order!

Garlic: Used to ward off evil, (think of Dracula) but also believed to increase lust and health.

Lavender: Popular for attracting love, it also attracts happiness and a feeling of well being in the home. Very versatile and can be burned as incense, used in sachets or place in a bowl.

Marigold: Attracts love and promotes visions of the future.

Marjoram: Added to your pail when mopping, it will protect from evil and negative energy.

Onion: More lusty food! It also promotes visions of the future.

Parsley: Said to be an aphrodisiac, it also promotes maternal instinct.

Peppermint: Promotes visions of the future.

Rosemary: Another protector herb. This can be grown in the kitchen or by the garden gate to ward off evil. It’s also said to promote visions of the future.

Sage: A broom made from sage will sweep negative energy out of your house and will protect from evil

Thyme: Growing thyme in your garden will invite Faeries to live there and protect your home. It’s also used to help communicate with those who have passed over

Valerian: Used to purify your space and clear it of negative energy.

Vervain: Another of the ‘lusty herbs’, this one is supposed to help with the fulfillment of said lust. Also said to be useful to artists because it inspires them.

Willow: Said to promote health and contacting spirits.

Wintergreen: Protects families from jinxes, children from nightmares and promotes health.

Yarrow: Flowers used in Handfastings, Weddings & Commitment Ceremonies are said to promote love, lust and fidelity.


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