Herbal Magic 101: Spiritual Use of Plants for Ritual, Intention & Everyday Energy Work

Herbs, not just for Tea.

If you’ve ever stood in front of your herb shelf wondering what to reach for, or how to turn a handful of dried plants into real magic, this post is for you.

Working with herbs spiritually goes way beyond brewing tea or adding lavender to a bath. When you bring intention into the mix, herbs become allies in spellwork, energy work, and ritual. They help you focus your energy, anchor your intention, and support the unseen forces you’re calling in.

This guide walks you through how to use herbs spiritually and magically, even if you’re just starting out. We’ll cover how to choose the right herbs, ways to work with them in spellcraft, and how to build your own intuitive practice.

You don’t need to memorize every correspondence or perform the perfect ritual. You just need to begin.

Download our FREE top 12 herbs that we work with regularly HERE.

There’s no one “right” way to pick herbs for spiritual use and that’s a good thing. You can lean into tradition, trust your intuition, or do a little of both. What matters most is that the herb you choose makes sense for your intention whether that’s energetic, emotional, or symbolic.

Here are a few ways to approach it:

1. Use Traditional Correspondences

Many herbs have long-established spiritual associations based on folklore, planetary alignments, or magical systems. For example:

• Rosemary  is tied to memory, protection, and purification.
• Lavender  is linked with peace, clarity, and sleep.
• Bay leaf  is used for wishes, vision work, and release.

Using traditional correspondences is helpful when you want structure or when you’re working within a specific ritual framework, like the Wheel of the Year or planetary magic.

2. Let Your Senses Guide You

Sometimes your body knows what you need before your brain catches up. Open a few jars. Smell. Hold. Look. See which herb pulls you in.

• Do you feel energized?
• Calmer?
• More focused?

That reaction is a form of spiritual guidance. The plant is already doing its work.

3. Tune into the Plant’s Personality

Herbs have personalities just like people. Some are gentle. Some are intense. Some like to take the lead in spellwork; others are better as support. Over time, you’ll start forming relationships with specific herbs noticing how they make you feel or what tends to shift when you use them.

4. Match to Chakras, Planets, or Emotions

If you’re doing energy work, you can select herbs that align with the chakra or area you’re focusing on.

• Working on your heart? Try rose, passionflower, or lemon balm.

• Want to ground your energy? Go with mugwort, hyssop, or rosemary.

• Calling in joy? Think orange peel, calendula, or peppermint. 

At the end of it all, you'll want to weave your intuition into choosing your herbs. You can always lean on the element, spiritual meanings, or even the mood they give you. It's all valid, it just depends on on your practice and how personal you want to make it.

Cooking is one of the oldest forms of spellwork, and one of the most overlooked. Every time you prepare a meal, you’re handling elements, stirring energy, and infusing your space (and your body) with intention. Kitchen witchery is about recognizing that power and using it consciously.

You don’t have to create a whole feast for it to be magical. A cup of soup, a piece of toast, or a handful of herbs in your eggs can all carry energy. The key is to know what each ingredient brings. Basil invites abundance. Rosemary protects. Cinnamon stokes passion and drive. Salt clears. The combinations are endless but your focus is what seals the spell.

Here’s a simple start: Abundance-Infused Honey
In a small jar, mix raw honey with a pinch each of basil , orange peel, and cinnamon. As you stir, speak your intention for sweetness, prosperity, or opportunity. Let it sit overnight. Use it in tea, on toast, or in ritual offerings to attract bright, expansive energy.

Kitchen magic doesn’t need to be performative. It just needs to be intentional. Bless your ingredients, taste your spell, and let the everyday become sacred.

Herbal oils are slow magic, the kind that simmers over time and gets stronger the longer you work with it. Use them to anoint candles, tools, or your own body, infused oils hold the energy of the herbs and carry your intention wherever they’re placed.

Making them is simple. Choose a carrier oil (like olive, almond, or sunflower) and herbs that match your focus. Fill a clean jar about halfway with herbs, pour oil over them until fully covered, and let it infuse for at least two weeks. Store it somewhere dark, and shake it gently when you remember.

Here’s a favorite way we use them:
Before any spell or ritual, we anoint the back of the neck and the insides of the wrists with a custom oil blend. It’s like turning the switch on, grounding the body and signaling to the spirit that it’s time to begin. You can also rub it into candles, blend it with salt for a scrub, or add a few drops to bath water for layered effect.

Herbal oils are a quiet kind of power. They don’t rush, they soak, they steep, they stay.

Some of the most effective magic doesn’t look like much. A small cloth bundle in your bag. A jar tucked on a shelf. A few herbs in your pocket or pillow. Spell bags and jars are simple, contained, and endlessly personal, perfect for working with herbs in a way that’s both magical and accessible.

Start with your intention. Protection, clarity, attraction, healing, whatever you need. Choose 2–3 herbs that align with that energy, maybe a crystal or personal item, and something written (a word, symbol, or short message). For bags, tie them shut and carry them with you or sleep near them. For jars, seal them and place them somewhere meaningful: your altar, your workspace, your front door.

One of our go-to blends?
The “Clear the Noise” Bag : Combine lemon balm, peppermint, and rose with a small clear quartz and a handwritten word like “focus” or “ease.” Carry it when life feels loud and you need your own energy to stay steady.

The best part about this kind of magic is that it meets you where you are. You don’t need the perfect moon phase or elaborate setup. Just a handful of herbs, a little trust, and a willingness to work with what’s already in your hands.

5 Fun Historical Facts About Herbs

1. Wormwood was a key ingredient in absinthe.The infamous “green fairy” drink of 19th-century artists and poets. It was believed to inspire visions and unlock creative madness (whether that was the wormwood or the wine is still up for debate).

2. Mugwort was sewn into travelers' shoes in medieval Europe to protect them from fatigue, evil spirits, and getting lost, kind of like magical GPS for your feet.

3. Calendula petals were once used to dye cheese and butter yellow before synthetic coloring existed. They called it “poor man’s saffron” and it was thought to bring warmth and cheer to winter kitchens.

4. Blue Lotus was used in ancient Egyptian ceremonies as a symbol of rebirth and divine connection. It was often depicted in tomb art and floated in sacred water bowls during rituals to the sun god Ra.

5. Holy Basil (Tulsi) is so sacred in India that many homes still have a dedicated altar to the plant. It’s considered a living goddess and protector of the household, not just an herb, but a divine presence.