Herbalism and Pagans

[Isabella Lecour]

While posting in another fourm:
I got to thinking.

Do you work with herbs as a part of your religious practice? Why or Why not?
If yes; what do you do with the herbs in your practice?

 

[Gentoo]

I usually don't. I generally don't feel comfortable using plants (that's if I don't kill them!) The most I use is dried sage, and even then I haven't had the opportunity to use it yet.

 

[MaddLlama]

I don't very often, since I have a notoriously black thumb, and lack the means of getting certain dried flowers.

Sometimes if I feel it's necessary I use dry herbs in spells, but normally I use them, or would like to use them, more for crafting items, such as a door wreath/swag for home protection, and I like to keep flowers in my house to help me feel more connected to nature. Sadly the lack of natural light kills my plants, and I have this amusing notion of myself as "murderer of houseplants". I'm trying though.

I'm trying to learn more about herbalism in general, both magical and mundane, including a hefty dose of kitchen and hedge witchery, even though it's not exactly "traditional" (well, not traditional for a recon, anyway).

I got this cool program called "HerbMasters", which is a (non-pagan) program about herbs, how to grow them, which are edible, and which have what medical/healing properties. It's incredibly comprehensive.

 

[Isabella Lecour]

To answer my own questions...I do use herbs as a part of my religious practice. I firmly believe in the healing arts and in the spiritual connection of the earth. I often incorporate herbs in my rituals and in my magic.


Most often I charge the herbs I use according to their "nature." I use herbs in just about anything I can cram them into. It's a side effect of studing herbalism.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

I use them frequently. I've studied herbalism in my spare time, and I feel close to plants.

I'll use plants for general health purposes, and I'll use them with spells. For example, a favorite home protection spell of mine is to spread White Ash seeds in the four corners of my home.

 

[BFD_Zayl]

i use herbs as well. Yarrow is a general, all around herb for health and healing. but i burn wormwood as incense during ritual.

 

[†Lilithâ€]

I use dry herbs in some of my practices, too.
I am also currently learning herbalism, as I'm the fourth (or 5th) generation of female
healers in my family, and all my mother's clients tell me, "Your grandmother (excellent in her field) is gone now. You have to be around doing this after your mother is gone. We need you."

 

[MoonWater]

I don't but I want to. I'm currently working out the practice and ritual aspects of my self-made faith and as such still have a ways to go before I can fully incorporate herbology. When I have the time and the yard for it I hope to grow my own garden of essential herbs and learn all I can about herbology so I can brew my own concoctions for healing purposes and for rituals to use it in culmination with meditation to draw on the infinite forces(my own idea of the divine) and using kanji as my sigils for the chaos magic aspect of my faith.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

I am not associated with any religion as of yet, as I am thinking on changing it. But I do use herbs a lot in my day to day life.

I am only 15 years old, but I am asked a lot for healing. I believe in the healing power of the spirit realm, and that plants can induce healing upon other people.

I also believe in using gemstones for healing purposes as well.

:candle:

 

[Mjolnir]

Yes, I work with herbs a lot in my religious practice. I try to grow my own little garden of herbs, and I often go out into the woods looking for plants to use. I believe that in nature there is a cure for everything, and that in growing closer with nature we can learn more and more about herbs and there uses. There is so much information on herbs I 'm trying to take it slow.

 

[SpiritualBeing]

Yes, I work with herbs a lot in my religious practice. I try to grow my own little garden of herbs, and I often go out into the woods looking for plants to use. I believe that in nature there is a cure for everything, and that in growing closer with nature we can learn more and more about herbs and there uses. There is so much information on herbs I 'm trying to take it slow.

Yes, I agree with this, but I'd also like to draw to peoples attention that it's not just plants that can be used.

I am a Spiritual Healer, and believe in the use of gemstones and minerals as a healing method as well. I have a lot of different gemstones, and I like to collect them.

Gemstones are living things as well, as I believe they have an independent consciousness of their own.

:rainbow:

 

[Mjolnir]

Yes, I agree with this, but I'd also like to draw to peoples attention that it's not just plants that can be used.

I am a Spiritual Healer, and believe in the use of gemstones and minerals as a healing method as well. I have a lot of different gemstones, and I like to collect them.

Gemstones are living things as well, as I believe they have an independent consciousness of their own.

:rainbow:

What sort of gemstones do you use? I have heard of gemstones having spiritual qualities, what do you think they have?

 

[TheBotanicalDolly]

I use herbs in basically everything I do. Incense, remedies, teas, dream pillows, poppet dolls etc. I recently started my own little garden, currently growing rosemary, lavender, parsley, sage and mint.