The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More - Arin Murphy-Hiscock 2017
Preparing Herbs
Create and Craft Green Witch Magic
Walking the Green Path
MAGICAL LORE BASED IN THE green world is the central body of knowledge in the practice of green witchcraft. This chapter examines practical and magical applications, crafts, and spells combining the various elements of the natural world, plus tips on preparation and storage.
When selecting the herbs and other natural elements that you intend to use in your crafts, it is essential to always fully research the herb, magically and medicinally. Carefully read the recommended methods of preparation in your reference books and pay close attention to cautions and notes. Certain herbs, for example, are safe to use externally, but are toxic if taken internally. If you intend to burn the plant matter, verify that the smoke is safe to inhale. In your green witch journal, describe any herb you intend to use, and if there is something to remember, add a note to the label of your preparation. If you are crafting an herbal preparation for someone else, inform yourself of their sensitivities and allergies beforehand and write out a full list of ingredients for their reference.
Preparing Herbs
Check your stock of preserved herbs and plants every year to see what you’re low on and what has gone bad. When you harvest plant matter, always make sure that you know what part of the plant to harvest, whether you use leaves, stems, flowers, or the root. Never collect an entire plant. Never pull it up by the roots and take the whole thing home. Take only what you need, and make sure that it’s less than a quarter of what’s available. In harvesting, less is more. Never assume that you should lay in a huge stock of something. You are unlikely to use it all and you’ll end up throwing most of it out. Most green witch projects and charms take only a pinch or spoonful of an herb. It is essential to note in your green witch notebook what plant you are harvesting, where it is being harvested, the date, and how much you are taking.
If you’re not using the plant matter fresh, then it must be dried before you store it. Before drying, shake, brush, or wash off any dirt. To air dry it, lay the leaves or flowers out on an old screen or on cheesecloth and allow it to dry in a well-ventilated area. You can also bundle the stems together with an elastic band or string and hang the bunch indoors in a dry place with good air circulation, out of direct sunlight. Tuck a small card with the name of the herb in the bundle to help you identify the plant once it’s dry. Don’t leave a bundle of herbs hanging for too long, or it will become dusty. To protect it from dust, or if the stem plant has seeds or fragile bits that may fall off as it dries, slip it in a paper bag and secure the bag around the stems with string before hanging it to dry. To prepare a plant for storage, strip the leaves off the stems over a sheet of newspaper or a clean cloth.
You can also dry plant matter in the oven. Chop up the stems roughly, then scatter pieces of stem, plus leaves and flowers, in a single layer on a baking sheet covered with parchment and place it in a barely warm oven (100°F) with the door cracked open for an hour or two, depending on the thickness of the herb you’re drying. Check frequently and remove dried matter, leaving the rest to continue drying.
Opaque containers are best for storing herbs. Ceramic canisters with tight seals and dark glass jars are ideal. Keep an assortment of containers of various sizes on hand. Kitchen shops are a great source for jars, bowls, tins, mortars and pestles, and other useful green witch paraphernalia. You may also want to invest in a cutting board and chopping knives to be used specifically for your green witch work.
If you wish to use the herbs like rosemary or peppermint fresh at a later date, you can pick them and store them in the freezer. For short-term storage, you can simply tumble sturdy leaves into a small paper bag, fold it over, and store it in the freezer door. Be sure to write the herb, the date, and where it was harvested on the bag. To keep herbs longer, rinse them under cold water, blot them dry with a paper towel, chop them roughly, and spread them on a baking sheet. Put the baking sheet in the freezer until the herbs have frozen, then store them in zip-top freezer bags. This method keeps the leaves separate. Mark the bag clearly with the name of the herb, the date, and where you harvested it. To use, simply open the bag and take out what you need. If leaves or flowers have frozen together, take the mass out and chop off what you need with a knife. To freeze individual portions for cooking magic, chop the plant finely and pack a teaspoon or tablespoon of the herb into each compartment of an ice cube tray. Run a bit of water into each compartment over the herb, and freeze. When the herb cubes are frozen, pop them out and place them in zip-top bags. Again, mark the bags with the necessary information.
Remember that when you harvest plant matter an exchange of energy is required. This means that you must give something back in exchange for what you are taking. Bring along a bottle of water and offer the plant a few drops when you harvest some of it. Thank the plant for its kindness in sharing.