W Herbs
Herbs also available in Bulk
Widdershin's Apothecary offers hundreds (around 400, check the Curio Page also) of herbs, woods, minerals and resins of high quality, for any magickal need for your own preparations, rites, or workings. All our botanicals are 100% natural and contain no chemicals. Herbs are either certified organic, organic, wild-crafted or grown locally. All items are sold by weight. Internet orders are packaged in convenient 1-ounce quantities in reusable zip lock Baggies.
We are always adding new items to our stock!
This list was updated April 2009
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|  | White Oak bark 1oz.
Duir, Jove’s Nuts, Juglans (Latin)
The oak is almost always associated with the Druids, who held it sacred. Of course, many other threes were sacred to the ancient Celts. Among them were birch, alder, elder, willow, holly, yew, hazel, hawthorn, ash, apple, and rowan.
Magickal Uses: Oak is a tree of the sun, sacred to Brighid and the Dagda. Druids do not celebrate unless in the presence of an oak. All parts of the tree are used for magickal working as incense, wands, and staves; in ritual baths; and so on. Oak is a tree of healing, abundance, fertility, and strength.
The oak produces a wood for building that is incredibly strong yet pliable. It also makes the hottest blaze for heating the home. It has the ability to withstand lightning strikes, and it puts down roots that grow as deep as the tree is tall. All in all it symbolizes a powerful, balanced personality that is well prepared to stand the shock of sudden illumination or enlightenment. We have plenty of archaeological evidence to support the tradition of the sanctity of the oak. Ancient Celtic oaken figures have been found at the source of the Seine. Oak wood was used for crypts in the Hallstatt and LaTene cultures, Celtic cultures distinguished by their unique styles of art. Sprays of oak, along with mistletoe, have been found in an ancient oak coffin.
The oak is portrayed as a supernatural tree in the story of Lleu, whose mother forbade him to marry an ordinary female. The magus Gwydion created the maiden Blodeuwedd of oak blossoms, broom, and meadowsweet for Llue; but she betrayed her intended by taking a lover, who stabbed Llue with a spear. Llue then transformed himself into an eagle and flew to a magickal oak tree to escape.
On Gaulish monuments, the Celtic thunder city, Taranis, is often pictured in conjunction with oak trees. An oak, covered with mistletoe, is depicted on a silver cup discovered at Lyons. The pig, sacred to the Celts and a symbol of sexual and agricultural fertility and prowess in battle, relishes acorns. The Goddess Brighid is associated with the oak tree. Saint Bridget of Kildare named her early monastic center “The Church of the Oak.” It is well to remember that St. Bridget was born and raised as a Druid before she took on the new Catholic faith. A cross, made of oak twigs (symbolic of the four sacred directions) and bound with a red thread, is placed wherever one needs to wards off evil.
The wood of oak can be carried for protection. Acorns are used to increase fertility (of projects or ideas or in matters of human reproduction) and to ward off pain. They are panted in the dark of the moon to bring financial prosperity.
Symbolic of immortality, they are especially sacred to the Samhain season. Use them to decorate the altar in the fall. Oak branches are made into wands and staves, after one asks the tree’s permission (and gets an answer!). Do this in the waxing or full moon. A gift is left for the tree in exchange. Oak is burned in the Midsummer fire. A tree of the sun, its flames honor the Sun God at his height of power. Oaks should be cut down in the waning moon. Be certain to give the tree spirit three day’s warning so it can vacate and find a new home. Plant an acorn nearby to facilitate this process. Beware of oaks during thunderstorms, as they tend to “draw the flash.” The oak is also a tree of Jupiter. | 2.15
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 | Wild Cherry bark 1oz.
Sweet Cherry, Chokecherry, Virginian Prune, Black Cherry
Magickal Uses: Traditionally used to attract love. A simple Japanese spell for finding love it to tie a single strand of your hair to a blossoming cherry tree. A more complex spell (but it may be simplified): collect as many cherry stones as years you are old. Drill a hole through no more than one stone each night, beginning on the New Moon. Do not drill any holes during the waning Moon. (The most holes that may be drilled in one month is fourteen, just wait for the next New Moon.) Thread them on a red or pink thread and tie around the left knee each night for fourteen nights. Sleep with it on and then remove it in the morning. This will bring you your intended spouse. To find out how many more years are left in your life, run around a cherry tree and then shake it hard. The numbers of cherries that fall represent the number of years left. Cherry juice is also used as a substitute for blood in old recipes. | 3.25
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 | Wild Lettuce 1oz.
Titan's Blood, Bitter lettuce, Opium Lettuce, Compass Plant, Horse Thistle, Prickly Lettuce, Wild Opium
Magickal Uses: Use wild lettuce as an incense aid for divination, especially when working with darker deities.
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 | Wild Rose Thorns
Magickal Uses: Roses are ancient symbols of love and beauty. The rose was sacred to a number of goddesses (including Isis, Aphrodite and Venus), and is often used as a symbol of the Virgin Mary. The rose has always been valued for its beauty and has a long history of symbolism. In Rome a wild rose would be placed on the door of a room where secret or confidential matters were discussed.
Wild Rose Thorns are used to inscribe candles and clay tablets for spellworking. They are also affective in poppet workings. | 1.95
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 | Willow, white 1oz.
Osier, Pussy Willow, Saille, Salicyn Willow, Saugh Tree, Tree of Enchantment, White Willow, Witches’ Aspirin, With, Withy
Willows are commonly found near ancient Celtic burial sites which where often lined with willow. The willow is a guardian tree, said to protect from evil influences. The willow tree has a healing aura that blesses all it touches.
Magickal Uses: One of the Seven Sacred Trees of the Irish. A Druid sacred tree, the willow is a Moon tree sacred to the White Lady. It's groves were considered so magical that priests, priestesses and all types of artisans sat among these trees to gain eloquence, inspiration, skills, and prophecies.
Willows are commonly found near ancient British burial sites. The willow is a guardian tree, said to protect from evil influences. The willow tree has a healing aura that blesses all it touches. All parts of the willow guard against evil and can be carried or placed in the home for this purpose. Burn bark with sandalwood for divination and love. Magical brooms, especially Witch's brooms, are traditionally bound with a willow branch.
Knocking on wood referred specifically to the Willow to avert evil.
Willow can be added to love sachets and charms to increase their potency and are especially appropriate in spells to attract new love into your life. Aligned with the Moon and the element of Water, this herb is strong in healing energy and can be added to all baths and other preparations to heal both the body and soul. Women know that there are times when you feel you need a really good cry, and having a bath with some willow is a positive way to release this energy. Scott Cunningham suggests mixing willow with sandalwood and burn at the waning moon to conjure spirits. | 2.15
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 | Wintergreen 1oz.
Checkerberry, Mountain Tea, and Teaberry
Magickal Uses: Wintergreen is a healing and protective herb. Mixed with mint and sprinkled around the home it breaks hexes and curses. To protect children, place some in their pillows. It will also bring them good fortune all their lives. Add to healing spells and use on the altar to bring forth good spirits to aid in your operations. | 1.64
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 | Wisteria 1oz.
Magickal Uses: Used for psychic ability and visions. Wisteria also draws people to a business. | 4.94
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 | Witch Hazel bark 1oz.
Snapping Hazelnut, Spotted Alder, and Winterbloom
Magickal Uses: Witch hazel is added to any spell where one is trying to find their way in the world.
Witch hazel has long been used to fashion divining rods, hence the common name. The bark and twigs & leaves are also used to protect against evil influences. If carried, witch hazel helps to mend a broken heart and cool the passions. | 3.84
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 | Witches Grass 1oz.
Couch Grass, Quick Grass, Witches Grass, Witch's Grass, Old Witchgrass, Tumble Grass, Tickle Grass, Panic Grass, Hair Grass, Witches Hair
Magickal Uses: Hex breaking, Happiness, Love, Lust, Exorcism. To attract new lovers carry upon you or sprinkle beneath the bed for this purpose. Used for unhexing and uncrossing. Worn to help when suffering from depression. Sprinkle around the premises to disburse petty spirits and dispel depression. | 4.94
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 | Witches Herb 1oz.
Magickal Uses: In Eastern Europe it was believed that a man would fall in love with a woman that he accepted a sprig of witches herb from her. For this reason it is used to mend lover’s quarrel and in love spells. Add to incense and sachets or rub the fresh leaves against your skin as a natural love perfume. To divine the future of your romantic relationship, place two fresh leaves on a live coal. If they remain where you put them and turn to ash quickly, the marriage (or relationship) will be harmonious. If there is crackling, there will be quarrels. If the leaves fly apart and fierce crackling, then it is most undesirable relationship. To know if your mate is faithful place a sprig on their hand. If it immediately withers there is infidelity. To attract money carry it in your pocket or place in you cash register drawer to bring customers. Where witches herb is, evil is not. Use in exorcism incenses and in purification baths. Give as a gift to bring luck to the new home. | 2.15
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 | Woad Root 1oz.
Dyer's Woad, Asp of Jerusalem
From southern and western Europe to Sweden and west Asia, woad (from the Anglo-Saxon Wad) was once commonly used as a dye. Julius Caesar records that the Celts used it to paint their bodies blue when they went naked to their rituals.
Magickal Uses: Woad belongs to Mars and Jupiter. The ancient Celts and Picts cut (tattoo) magickal designs into their bodies and rubbed in the blue coloring. You may simply prefer to paint it on for ceremonial purposes. Magickally accredited to Shape-shifting. | 5.45
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 | Wolfberry 1oz.
Goji
Magickal Uses: Native to the foothills of the Himalayas in central Asia. The berries are one of the most nutritious foods known to man (the highest carotenoid content of any known edible!). A traditional Chinese longevity enhancer and sexual tonic. Easy to grow, drought tolerant and cold hardy. | 1.64
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 | Wolf's Bane (Diluted) 1oz.
Aconite, Cupid’s Car, Dumbledore’s Delight, Leopard’s Bane, Monkshood, Storm Hat, Thor’s Hat, Wolf’s Hat
Magickal Uses: This herb brings protection from werewolves and vampires. A classic component of flying ointments, which generally also contained henbane, belladonna, hemlock, and soot. Wrapping the seed in lizard skin and carrying it with you obtained invisibility. Without the blessings of the angel of death, no new life would be possible, and so we honor death and the dead by burning wolf’s bane as funeral incense and by planting it on a loved one’s grave. Do not eat or rub any part of this plant on the skin; it is violently poisonous. | 28.94
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 | Wood Betony 1oz.
Bishopwort, Lousewort, Purple Betony
Magickal Uses: This was a very powerful herb to the Druids as it has the power to expel evil spirits, nightmares and despair. It was burned at Midsummer Solstice for purification and protection. Sprinkle around or near all doors and windows to form a protective barrier. If troubled by nightmares fill a small cloth pillow and place it under your pillow. Betony is added to purification and protection mixtures and incenses.
Aside from the healing properties of Betony, this herb is believed to be high in protective energy, and it has been said that wearing this herb protects not only the wearer's body, but their soul also.
Unlike many of the other herbs available that induce psychic visions and prophetic dreaming, Betony is thought to have the reverse affect and if placed beneath the pillow will shield the sleeper from visions and dreams, as it protects one from the demons and fears that arise out of one's own psyche. An old writer, Apelius, says:
"It is good whether for the man's soul or for his body; it shields him against visions and dreams...."
This can be good if you are suffering from night time visitations or disturbing dreams.
It is traditional to throw Betony on the midsummer fire and jump through the smoke to purify your body. Scatter Betony around the doors and windows of your house to create a protective seal and keep out all harmful energies. | 2.15
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 | Woodruff 1oz.
Herb Walter, Master of the Woods, Sweet Woodruff, Wood Rove, and Wuderove
Magickal Uses: Woodruff attracts wealth and brings victory to athletes and warriors. When carried in a leather pouch it protects from all harm. In ancient times, rose petals, lavender, box, and woodruff were strewn on the floors and made into decoration on holy days. | 4.94
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 | Wormwood 1oz.
Absinthe, Old Woman, Crown for a King.
Magickal Uses: A Druid sacred herb, Wormwood is very magical and sacred to Moon deities. Wormwood is a bitter herb used to flavor vermouth and the liqueur absinthe.
The scent of wormwood is said to increase psychic powers. Burned with incenses on Samhain to aid evocation, divination, scrying and prophecy. Especially good when combined with Mugwort. Strengthens incenses for exorcism and protection. Hung from a rearview mirror, wormwood protects vehicles from accidents on treacherous roads.
Use in spells for: Binding; Psychic Awareness; Evocation; Love; Clairvoyance.
Burned as incense to Conjure, Divine, Scrying, Exorcism and Protection. Burn in incenses to raise you to a higher level for divination and clairvoyance, mix with sandalwood for a particularly potent incense. Cunningham claims that when wormwood is burned with sandalwood in a graveyard the spirits will rise and talk. Wormwood is an extremely potent herb full of power, and it has a strong connection with the spirit world. It can be used in rituals performed with or for those that are dying to ease their transition and enable them to let go.
Wormwood is the primary active ingredient in the making of Absinthe. This is commonly achieved by steeping wormwood in vodka. The drink Absinthe, has a very long and controversial history. It enjoyed its greatest popularity in late 19th century Europe, when Aleister Crowley, Vincent Van Gogh, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Ernest Hemmingway and Oscar Wilde were among its most ardent fans. It was an inseparable part of artistic life during that period of time. It is said to have inspired fine literature and great paintings.
On a lighter note "An Egyptian Herbal" gives the following use for Wormwood.... A pain in the anus of demonic origin was treated with: wormwood 1/8; juniper berries 1/16, honey 1/32; sweet beer 10 ro; is strained and drunk for four days. | 2.74
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