Herbal Magic

Herbal Magic is a form of magic using plants to cause positive effects on people and the world. The use of various plants and herbs have been around since the oldest cultures and were predominately used by the Druids who spent a majority of their time in nature.

Herbal Magecraft is a term often used interchangeably (albeit incorrectly) with the descriptor Hedge Witch. There are certain similarities between the paths but the fundamental core of each path is very different. Where the Hedge Witch is focused on journeying to the Otherworld and receiving wisdom from the spirits she encounters, the Green Mage’s focus is much more concerned with the physical realm and the Earth on which they lives.

The path of the Green Magus is a path of Nature and of growing things. The Green Magus will likely have a good understanding of plant life and herbalism and they will have acquired knowledge and experience in relation to both growing individual plants and herbs and using them to best effect once harvested. Many Green Mages dislike the idea of buying plants and herbs ready harvested as they believe the relationship between the grower and the plant is integral to the results that can be achieved with the plant or herb. To this end, a Green Magus is likely to be a magus who enjoys gardening.

A Green Magus’ relationship with the Earth goes deeper than just the work they does with plant life. The Green Magus will utilize other natural objects from the world in their workings. They will use rocks, crystals, animal parts and even fossils to cast their magic. They are also likely to make use of the weather in the form of snow, bottled rain, hailstones, morning dew and parched earth. The Green Magus is likely to work with the four elements and this may take the form of using representations of Earth, Air, Fire and Water in their workings or invoking the spirits of the elements in their rituals. A Green Magus may/may not invoke deity depending on their personal conviction. A Green Wiccan will undoubtedly worship deity as this is a key element of what it is to identify as Wiccan. Some Green Mages choose to honour Pan (The Greek God of hunting) or Gaia (The Greek Goddess who according to mythology gave birth to the Earth and who is the source of the ancient inspiration for what we would now term as Mother Nature).

It would be incorrect to say that every Green Magus works with the fey but many of them do choose to. Fairies are often viewed as land spirits and offerings are made to them in return for their help in looking after plots of earth or woodland. A Green Magus may choose to develop a relationship with the land spirits on the area where they lives or works and may make gifts of honey or brightly coloured ribbon to keep the good will of the faery folk.

The environment is an important concern for most Green Mages. This is true in both the respect of their own immediate personal environment and the state of the Earth at large. The Green Magus is likely to live in a dwelling with plants (ideally with a garden but if this is not possible you can usually recognise a Green Magus by the pots of herbs and plants growing on every window sill…) If they can, a Green Magus will favour natural materials over man made and use Earth friendly sources of building materials. A Green Magus is very likely to be environmentally aware and will limit their footprint on the Earth as much as possible. There is an echo of living in simpler times with Green Magic – a link back to the traditional mages of old who grew their own produce and who tended their own lands and livestock.

The energy of the earth is utilised in the workings of a Green Magus and they may work with key sources of that energy such as ley lines or stone circles. They are unlikely to be inclined to work indoors as they sees the primary source of their power as the link between themself and the Earth. As such any ritual they takes part in is likely to be undertaken outdoors.