Occult Herbalism

Occult Herbalism or Esoteric Herbalism is the study of plants combined with mystical, esoteric and spiritual practices. Whilst a traditional herbalist may primarily concern themselves with the physical and medicinal properties of plants, an occult herbalist seeks to understand the ‘hidden’ mystical properties – including their spiritual and magical qualities.

At it’s core, occult herbalism generally holds the belief that plants possess not only physical attributes but also a spiritual ‘essence’, energy or soul that can be harnessed for various purposes (magical, spiritual or medical). Occult Herbal Practitioners often draw from magical traditions, ancient systems, astrology, alchemy and other esoteric disciplines to create a ‘blueprint’ for working with plants in a magical way.

These occult properties of the plants are gleaned in various ways:

• Through the teachings of spiritual teachers (Priests and Priestesses, Witches, Druids etc)

• Studied through grimoires and magical books

• Learnt in folklore, wives tales and remedies, and songs

• Or discovered through either directly working with the plants, or with plant or spirit guides.

Whether for magic, spells, rituals, energy work or healing, occult herbalists use their knowledge of plants in their spiritual practices.

My Journey into Occult Herbalism

I became interested in herbs and their uses at a very young age. I was lucky to spend my childhood in the South Oxfordshire countryside, surrounded by fauna and flora. I am also grateful that my parents were quite open and happy for me to learn as much about plants as I could – I was not one of those children that was told not to pick blackberries or sloes ‘because it’s dirty’ or ‘doesn’t come in a packet’!!

Yet a lot of plant lore came supernaturally easy to me. I remember identifying a plant as comfrey without ever having been told it, nor having read about it, at a young age. I also strangely ‘knew’ how this plant should be used. My school went for regular walks in the local nature reserve, and the guides were always surprised at how many plants and bushes I could name – teaching me more in the process. My ability to identify, forage and eat plants became solid enough that I could go camping for a couple of nights and just live off various plant teas and soups I could create over a small camp stove or fire.

When I left for University in London, I found the adjustment to the big city pretty difficult. I finally found a home in a well-known occult bookshop. It was there I was introduced to much of the literature and written tradition of plants. I read Nicolas Culpeper, Mrs CF Leyel, Gerard and the other great herbalists. I also read many of the works of the Grimoire Tradition – the Greater and Lesser Keys of Solomon, Agrippa’s Three Books, Picatrix – and of alchemy, including Paracelsus. I came to appreciate how this living tradition had been passed on, how each plant’s story was perpetuated throughout the ages.

Using some of the common threads of these practices, I started to teach Western Esoteric Herbalism (occult herbalism that flourished out of the Western Esoteric Tradition) at Treadwell’s in London. I was asked to teach at other venues, and for some pagan conferences at the time too.

At this time, I met someone who was equally passionate about herbs and plants, especially trees. I invited her to start teaching a series of ‘Advanced Herbal Lectures’ at Treadwell’s with me. Over drinks one evening, we talked about how many historical recipes were unknown and had died out. Very few magical practitioners knew that there were several different Abramelin incense and oil recipes. Many magical practitioners had never used incense recipes from the grimoires, and we’d “lost” much of this plant knowledge. So we decided to bring back these recipes for modern practitioners, with as much historical accuracy as we could. This was the birth of Wood-Moss Herbals. We spent countless hours in London libraries in the rare manuscript rooms, more hours researching plant names and various translations, copying absolutely anything we could get our hands on. Then we would source the ingredients, blend them and sell them. Egyptian love spells, European Eau de Colognes, magical floor washes and waters, French Four Thieves Vinegar… you name it!

After four or so years, we both couldn’t keep up with the demand and needed to move on to other projects. I had decided to go back to university to do a second degree, and my herbal partner invested more time into photography and art. However, that phase of our lives taught me much. It might have been more taxing and strenuous than doing a university degree in magical herbalism!

Since then, times have changed slightly. What people want to get from a workshop or course on magical herbalism is different. The style of herbalism has also changed, just as fashions and opinions do over the years. My opinions and beliefs about how occult and magical herbalism fits into witchcraft and spiritual practices have also changed. I’m now exploring this in a new series of magical herbal workshops that are held at the Atlantis Bookshop in London.

[This page is still being created… On this page you will be able to find more information about Occult Herbalism.]

If you would like to learn Occult Herbalism (occasionally called esoteric herbalism or magical herbalism), you can continue to read the articles I produce for my website or consider joining a workshop or course.

My workshops are held at the Atlantis Bookshop, in London. Currently, I only run in-person herbal workshops. For more information, visit my courses page here or visit the Atlantis Bookshop Website here.

For any other query, or if you would like to receive a geomancy reading, please contact me either through the contact page or via email at mw.witchcraft@gmail.com.

Recent Herbalism Blogs

“Wonderful tales had our fathers of old,

Wonderful tales of the herbs and the stars –

The Sun was Lord of the Marigold,

Basil and Rocket belonged to Mars.

Pat as a sum in division it goes

— (Every herb had a planet bespoke) —

Who but Venus should govern the Rose?

Who but Jupiter own the Oak?

Simply and gravely the facts are told

In the wonderful books of our fathers of old.”

(Rudyard Kipling, Our Fathers of Old)