The Herbal Alchemist’s Handbook: A Complete Guide to Magickal Herbs and How to Use Them - Karen Harrison 2020

Herbal Amulets and Magickal Potpourri
Practicum: The Creation, Composition, and Blending of alchemical Herbal Formulas

Herbal Amulets are combinations of herbs, resins, and essential oils along with special stones, written wishes, and any other natural power object you like (such as a shell, acorn, or feather) gathered into an appropriately colored pouch for a ritual purpose. Herbal Amulets are also called medicine bags, power bags, mojo bags, and sachet bags in different folk cultures.

If you choose to include a written wish, try to consolidate that wish into a short phrase or word that encompasses the goal. It should not be a paragraph or article. Let's say that your goal is a better job with more pay, more creativity, and lots of perks. You don't need to write all that—just write “perfect job” and you can meditate on and infuse the paper with all the things that you believe would go into a perfect job as you are writing your wish, I have found that if you state your goals concisely but leave a bit of the goal unstated, the Universe has an uncanny way of bringing you exactly what you need and usually in a much better way than what you would have originally imagined.

It is important that as you place each herb in the pouch you focus on the Magickal properties of that herb. As you anoint your stone, concentrate on the Magickal powers of the stone and the energies of the oils with which you are anointing it. If you are using a natural power object, concentrate on what the object represents in relationship to the spell you are working. This charges each item with the specific intention that you have for it. While the “tools of Magick”—like the herbs, oils, and stones you have chosen—have energies that are sympathetic to your Magickal goal, it is your energy, your focus that ignites them to draw to you that which you desire.

Gather together your materials: herbs, resins, oils, stones, natural power object, and pouch. If you know how to crochet or sew, you may wish to make your pouch by hand out of the appropriately colored material. This way you can also incorporate Magickal intention as you stitch, which is a very traditional and effective practice. If you don't sew, you can make a type of Herbal Amulet in what is called a “sachet” with a six-inch-square flat piece of natural material such as cotton or silk in an appropriate color. You can also purchase a premade pouch in the correct color for your working. Pouches in various colors are available at your local occult store.

If you are using a bag or pouch, place a healthy pinch of each herb and resin that you have chosen in the bottom of the bag, being mindful of the Magickal energies of each herb as you place it there. Anoint your stone(s) with the oil(s) you have chosen, again focusing on the Magickal properties of each. Place the anointed stone(s) in the pouch with intention, visualizing your goal. Last, place your natural power object or written wish. Tighten the strings of your bag and leave it overnight to soak up the energies and blend them.

If you are making a sachet-style Herbal Amulet, place your six-inch-square material flat in the center of your altar. Concentrating on the Magickal properties of each herb, place a healthy pinch of each herb, one by one, in the center of the material. Focusing on the powers of the stone(s) and oil(s) you are using, anoint your stone(s) and place on top of the herbs. You can also drop a little oil onto the herbs, but you need to have a steady hand here or you will add more than you intend to and end up with an oil-stained Amulet. Hold the natural power object or written wish in your hands and concentrate on its meaning for your ritual, then place it on top of the herbs. Gently draw up and together two opposite corners of the material, then do the same with the other two corners. Twist gently but tightly and then tie the bag with a natural ribbon or string of the proper color.

You can wear your Herbal Amulet or keep it in an area where it is meant to influence. For example, keep a Prosperity Herbal Amulet in your purse or wallet. You could wear a Love Herbal Amulet round your neck, near your heart, or keep it in the drawer with your lingerie. You might wear a Protection Herbal Amulet or keep it in your pocket or purse. You could also keep it in your car's glove box or bury or hang it near your front door. Put a Dream Herbal Amulet in your pillow or on your nightstand—you get the idea!

Stones for Your Herbal Amulet

Every crystal and gemstone has its own Magickal and energy property that corresponds to its color and aligns it with the energies of a Planet. Here are some basic, low-cost gemstones that will help you in your workings:

Sunstone is ruled by the Sun and the Element of Fire and is good for abundance, personal success, and personal power. You can make a power bag with Sun herbs and a sunstone to draw success to your endeavors.

Moonstone is ruled by the Moon and the Element of Water. It helps develop psychic awareness, dreamwork, and fertility. Wear it when reading Tarot cards or using a crystal ball. Moonstones are also useful as you lie down to sleep to help you remember and understand your dreams. You can charge a moonstone with the task of helping you to be fertile if you are trying to get pregnant. Then wear it or keep it in your pocket each day and particularly while making love.

Carnelian is ruled by Mars and the Element of Fire. It helps to dispel depression and anger and brings courage and energy. You can use it in protection spells, or carry it with you for protection as well as vitality and health.

Quartz crystal is ruled by Mercury and the Element of Air. Wear it to focus and sharpen the mind as well as to help you communicate more clearly. Set a quartz cluster on your desk as you work to aid your creative thinking and writing. You can also rub a quartz crystal on an afflicted part of the body to remove energy blockages and promote healing.

Amethyst is ruled by Jupiter and the Element of Water. If you have insomnia, place one under your pillow to help you relax and sleep. Hold one in your hand or wear one during meditation to go deeper. You can also harness the prosperity energies of Jupiter by placing an amethyst in the center of your altar and burning green candles around it.

Jade is ruled by Venus and the Element of Earth. It draws luck, health, long life, love, and prosperity. Surround jade on your altar with pink candles to bring love or orange candles for health. Wear jade while gardening to help your garden grow.

Onyx is ruled by Saturn and the Element of Earth. It stabilizes and protects. Bury one by your front door to repel negativity or wear onyx to protect your aura. If you tend to be flighty or indecisive, wear one to help you to ground your energies.

Fluorite is ruled by Neptune and the Element of Water. Inspiring creativity and calm, this stone of Neptune can bring dreams, enhance trancework, and help you to connect with the deep mysteries.

Herkimer diamond is ruled by Uranus and the Element of Air. Innovation, originality, and unexpected events are attracted by this stone. Carry a Herkimer in a pouch or add it to the energy of a Philtre to change the ways that energy is flowing and break up stagnation.

Lava stone is ruled by Pluto and the Element Fire. For intense inner transformation, the ending of karmic patterns, lava stone draws forth the vibrations of death and rebirth of the soul.

Stone Combinations

To combine the energies of gemstones and crystals for special projects, first charge them with the focus of your intention, then place them in a bag of the proper color and carry or wear them to draw the results to yourself. What follows are some possible desired results and the combinations to achieve them.

Protection: garnet, onyx, obsidian, and quartz crystal in a white bag

Prosperity: jade, peridot, tiger's-eye, and sunstone in a green bag

Love: rose quartz, jade, malachite, and red jasper in a pink bag

Intuition: spectrolite, lapis lazuli, moonstone, and tanzanite in a purple bag

Serenity: amethyst, blue lace agate, quartz crystal, and jade in a blue bag

Colors for Your Herbal Amulet

Red is vital and active. It is the color of life energy and sexuality. It is sensual and of the material plane. Red is energizing, heating, and exciting when it is used in a positive manner. Red is used to bring vitality and movement to projects, in spells of love, and seduction.

Pink is used in love and friendship rituals. It helps to create and sustain emotional connections. It is really better to use pink than red in love spells because red can bring more lust than love into a relationship. A healthy love relationship is composed of both sexuality and friendship.

Blue is spiritual and intuitive. It is the color of the subconscious mind and creative artistry. Blue is soothing and can be used for meditation, peace, and astral projection. Light or bright blue are the tones best used for positive results.

Yellow is the color of the workings of the conscious, intellectual mind. It aids in logical, linear, analytical thinking processes such as enhancing memory, writing, speaking eloquently, and studying.

Purple is a combination of the energies of blue and red. It helps to integrate the subconscious and conscious minds and can be used to enhance your psychic powers and spirituality here on the physical plane. It is also the color of royalty and gives dignity and authority.

Green is a combination of blue and yellow. It is the balancing of the subjective with the objective, our dreams with reality. Green denotes growth and creativity and is an excellent color for healings.

Orange is a combination of red and yellow. It is the vital life force of red with the mental activity of yellow. It is the most creative, energizing color and is good in healings when regeneration is needed. It is also helpful when there is a mental block that is leading to inaction or confusion.

White is the combination of all colors and denotes purity, perfection, and completeness. It is a good color to use for protection, meditation, and exorcism.

Black is the absence of color and light and has been used many times for negative purposes. However, it can also be used to protect in case of psychic attack by burning a candle of this color to represent the power and intentions of your enemy. It can also be used to represent a disease such as cancer or a bad habit. In this case, the burning of the black candle burns away the power of the disease or of the bad habit. Black can transform and absorb negative energy.

Brown in warm tones such as russet is used to stabilize and unify the home. Darker browns can help ground (bring down to Earth) intentions and actions but can also stagnate and slow.