Baneful Herbs in Magical Practice | Coby Michael Ward

Using Baneful Herbs in Magic

With their infamous reputations and prominent place in myth and folklore, the Baneful herbs begin to seem more like mischievous magical creatures appearing throughout history in folktales and first-hand accounts. They are powerful in their chemistry and in their occult power, but they are still plants. The deadly nightshade grows in the same soil as the mint and the lavender. They get light and water from the same sky. It is important to remember this when incorporating baneful plant spirits into your magical practice. People often ask how these herbs can benefit one magically, and how to use them. The answer is, that they all have their own unique powers and applications, and other than ingesting, they can be used magically like any other herb.

In magic, herbs, woods and/or resins are used in pretty much everything. They can be incorporated into spells in so…

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A Simple Ritual for the Autumn Equinox

Hedgerow Diary

The Autumn Equinox is the gateway to the Autumn and Winter. It is the time in the year when we give thanks to the beautiful sun, and the rich earth that have provided endless harvests over the summer months. I feel blessed to live in a Country that has such vivid seasons, they keep us moving forward and remind us gently that nothing lasts forever.

I like to keep my seasonal rituals simple, so here are a few ideas of how to say your own thank you to the wonderful sun and our beautiful earth…

Gather any of the below items to make a small ‘altar’, you can also make an incense to burn from the ideas listed, or pick some herbs to dry to make a smudge stick. I like to try to be outside for the sunset on the equinox. Have a small fire, somewhere safe, the back…

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Apple Hex Breaker

This Crooked Crown

There are thousands of ways to break a curse. But the other day I was thinking about curse breaking with ordinary items. The humble egg is the most common hex breaking tool in your average kitchen. But what about an apple?

Apples are great for love and healing spells. They’re used in binding spells too. And no one can forget the apple curse that trapped Snow White. But breaking a curse with an apple? Absolutely.

I can think of several ways to make this work, the most obvious being simply using the apple as a poppet – which is actually something of a traditional substitute. But we’re going to go a different way with a hex breaking spell today.

This spell is intended to break a hex or curse that you think has been placed on you. With an ingredient as common as an apple, you can easily do this…

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Witchcraft: Timing

Magic Wand

Full Moon Ritual – Blog Post Round Up

Protection Against Witch Work

Sacred Tree Profile: Juniper’s Medicine, Magic, Mythology and Meanings

The Druid's Garden

Here on the East Coast of the USA, we are still in deep winter. Soon, the maples will be flowing. Soon, the winter snows will melt. Soon, spring will return. But until that time, the conifers, particularly offer strength and wisdom. One of my favorite conifers is Juniper, also known as Eastern Red Cedar. It is delightful to come across a wild juniper in the winter months, with her sweet and pine-scented berries and her delightful sprigs that offer friendship and hope through the darkest times. So come with me today as we explore the sacred Juniper tree.

Juniper here on the land

This post is part of my Sacred Trees in the Americas series, where I explore sacred trees within a specifically American context, drawing upon folklore, herbalism, magic, and more! I think it’s particularly important that US druids and those following other nature-based paths in North America understand…

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Autumn Equinox Ritual Doll

Say NO to Witch School

There were many times in my youth I thought about ‘witch school’ with people who were supposedly reputable, but something always stopped me. Sometime later it would come out that they weren’t so reputable after all. Maferefun to my ancestors for their protection.