Cats dislike the smell of 

rue, lavender and pennyroyal, Coleus canina and lemon thyme.

Plant a few of these throughout the garden. (Interplanting can attract pollinators and other
beneficial insects too.) Cats steer clear of strong citrus scents.

uniper Berries
Juniperus communis
Juniper makes a fine purifying and sanctifying incense allied with various planets.
Juniper berries contain the planetary metal for Jupiter (tin), and their color and
warming action suits that planet as well. The spicy warmth of Juniper berries purifies
the aura, clarifies thought, and protects from negativity. In aromatherapy, juniper
berry is used against anxiety, to improve memory and mental clarity, and for sedation.
This herb also has Moon aspects--as a diuretic, for instance--and it would make a
good herb for the Dark of Moon, because among its many fragrances (pine
predominating), it contains camphor, a Moon scent, and it is a beautifully dark color.
It's also in Fire of Azrael incense, which is made of equal parts of juniper berries, red
sandalwood, and cedarwood. Boiling destroys the essential oils. The berries make an
olive brown dye using alum, copper, or cream of tartar as mordants.

Yarrow Flowers
Achillea millefolium
In Greek mythology, yarrow grew from the rust that Achilles (thus, Achillea) scraped
from his spear to help heal a man he had wounded (there's an interesting connection
between iron/rust/blood/war/Mars here, kind of a neat obverse of the Venus/love
aspect of this herb). Perhaps this myth is why in the language of flowers, yarrow can
mean war or healing. Because it is aromatic, yarrow is often associated with the
Element of Air, and it contains the planetary metal for Jupiter (tin), but it is
traditionally connected to Venus because of the usefulness of the fresh herb as a
poultice in skin problems. Yarrow also has the ability to potentiate other herbs when
added to incense or when incorporated into love magick. It is put into love sachets,
because it is believed capable of keeping a couple together for 7 years.

In Divination

Magickally, this herb is good for divination--the I Ching was originally thrown not
with coins but with dried yarrow stalks--it makes a nice ingredient for dream pillows
and for divinatory incense and tea (great to combine with mugwort for this purpose).
Burning yarrow is said to produce visions of snakes. On a lighter note, yarrow has
often been a device for divining the identity of one's future lover or determining
whether one is truly loved.
As a Protector

In the past, yarrow was used as a protectant. It was strewn across the threshold to keep
out evil and worn to protect against hexes. It was tied to an infant's cradle to protect it
from those who might try to steal its soul. The Saxons wore yarrow amulets to protect
against blindness, robbers, and dogs, among other things.

In Herbalism

Yarrow was commonly used to flavor beer before the introduction of hops, and it still
flavors vermouth and bitters. A tea of the flowers raises the body temperature (good
for the start of colds), works as a bitter tonic to help digestion, helps promote healthy
coughing, eases spasms, and promotes menstruation (don't use during pregnancy). In
India, yarrow was put into medicated steam baths for fever; the Chippewa used it very
similarly for headache. Even now, the tea is sometimes taken as a remedy for the
blues and for restlessness, especially during menopause.  It is helpful in shedding fear
and negativity.

Its Many Names

The many other common names for yarrow reflect how widely this herb has been
used: allheal, angel flower, bad man's plaything, bloodwort, cammock, carpenter's
weed, devil's nettle, devil's plaything, dog daisy, gordoloba, green arrow, herbe
militaris, hierba de las cortadura, knight's milfoil, milfoil, nosebleed, old man's (the
devil's) mustard, old man's pepper, plumajillo, sanguinary, soldier's woundwort,
squirrel's taile, stanchgrass, stanchweed, thousand-leaf, thousand weed, woundwort,
and yarroway.

Wormwood Herb
Artemisia absinthum

This herb is ruled by Mars because of its warming properties, and so Culpeper, the
seventeenth-century herbalist, considered it a good treatment for injuries done by
"martial creatures" such as wasps, hornets, or scorpions. It is especially connected to
snakes: mythology tells that it grew in the tracks of the snake expelled from Eden, for
instance, and it was considered a protectant against snake bites. In its association with
Mars, wormwood is generally good in protection spells and also a tool for getting
vengence through sorcery. In Russia, wormwood was effective against the green-
haired Rusalki, female water spirits who in spring would leave their watery bodies and
walk in the woods. In the region of Saratov, Rusalki were frightening creatures ill-
disposed towards humans and eager to use their sharp claws. If you had to go into the
woods when the Rusalki were about, you were advised to carry a handful a
wormwood, which they could not stand.

Non-Magickal Uses

Wormwood has traditionally been used in the West to repel bugs from stored clothing,
as a strewing herb, and the seeds taken internally in small amounts to get rid of worms
(thus the name). Steeped in ink, wormwood would then protect the paper written on
from being eaten by mice (because of its bitterness). It is antiseptic. But it is also a
constituent of absinthe (visit the Absinthe FAQ). This plant grows wild all over
Europe and the US. The bitter component of wormwood is an alkaloid, absinthin,
which is separate from the essential oil, thujone. Absinthin is removed by tincturing
(soaking the plant in water or alcohol). Absinthe cannot be made by tincturing, only
by distillation.

Witch Hazel
Hamamelis virginia
This slow-growing shrub or small tree is of Saturn and has a special place for me,
because it was the first medicinal plant I ever learned about. Its name does not come
from wit [knowledge], the root of witch,* but from wyche, as in weak, because its
branches are yielding and pliable; they made good bows for archers. It is a good
astringent, great for cleaning skin, soothing for bug bites, and has sedative properties.
Because it chases water, it finds water; divining rods are usually made from witch
hazel. It also considered protective.

*Although the dictionary disagrees, a respected linguist told me about the relationship
between wit and witch. He pointed out that there were parallels in other Indo-
European languages, such as Russian, where ved' means knowledge and a ved'ma is a
witch (and a medved'--a honey-knower--is a bear). Ved' and Wit are linguistic twins.
So don't let anyone tell you that witch has to do with yielding; a witch is one who has
wit. Back

Vervain Organic European

Verbena officinalis vervain
This Old World native was a favorite of the Druids, who 1 oz. $4.50
gathered vervain when the Dog Star, Sirius, was on the rise,
Add to Cart
in the dark of the Moon. The Druids utilized vervain in 1
 
divination, consecration, and ritual cleansing of sacred  
spaces. They made a magical drink called the Cauldron of
Cerridwen (a shapeshifter) that some say included rowan
berries, sea water, lesser celandine, flixweed, and vervain,  
which brought the drinker creative energy for bardic song
and prophecy; a drink made from vervain is still said to help
This is real
poets in their work. Vervain is also still used to make a drink
European vervain,
for intiating into Druidic paths. It is fragrant and can be drunk
not blue vervain,
as a tea or burned as an incense. In its connection with the
which is a North
Underworld, it can be added to a cup of wine drunk on
American plant.
Samhain to aid contact with the Beloved Dead.
Grow your own
In Purification

Vervain has a long history of use in Uses in Witchcraft

purification. King Solomon cleansed the & Magic:
Temple with vervain, and the Romans
Druid's Herb
placed it on altars in honor of Venus and
Divination
Diana. A lustral water can be made from
Consecration
vervain for purifying ritual tools, and a
Purification
bath with vervain can help the bather
Shapeshifting
prepare for ritual work. In the British
Initiation
Isles, people held vervain over the
Incense Ingredient
Beltane fire to protect their livestock and
Contacting the
strewed it over their fields at Summer Solstice to make sure
Dead
they would be fertile. Nowadays, Pagans strew it over their
Venus Herb
gardens for the same reason.
© 2004, 2016
As Protective
Harold A. Roth; No
However, vervain is also protective--Roman reproduction
soldiers carried vervain with them into battle, without permission
and homes have been sprinkled with an
infusion of vervain to keep out evil. It can
also be burned as an incense for this purpose.
In the old Langauge of Flowers, vervain
stood for enchantment and still is very
important in various aspects of magick.
Drinking the tea is said to help in astral work and divination,
and for that reason is tied by some to Mercury. A mug of
vervain tea is made from 1-3 teaspoons of herb left to steep in
a mug for 10-15 minutes. Also, you can make an oil to anoint
the Third Eye by macerating this herb in olive oil.

Other Names

Vervain is also known as Vervan, Van Van, Ferfaen,

Verbein, Verbena, Verbinaca, Dragon's Claw, Enchanter's
Plant, Tears of Isis, Juno's Tears, Herba Veneris (herb of
Venus), Persephonion, Demetria, Mercury's Moist Blood,
Peristerium, Sagmina, Pigeon Grass, Pigeonwood, Frog-foot,
Simpler's Joy, Altar Plant, Herba Sacra or Herbe Sacrée,
Holy Plant, Herb of Cross, Holy Herb, and Herb of Grace.
 

Valerian Root (Vandal Root)

A large, bold plant that announces itself not only through its size but its scent,
valerian's root contains Jupiter's planetary metal (tin). This magick herb is also kingly
in its name, which was taken from one of the caesars. It's considered to be Water of
Water in the Golden Dawn system, but to me it is very Earthy. Also associated with
Samhain and Yule, this European herb was favored in Eclectic medicine for treatment
of short-term depression; this coincides with its ritual use for relieving self-
condemnation and developing self-acceptance. This is a great herb for invoking
paternal protection, for purification, and for consecrating thuribles. You can make a
nice valerian incense by combining it 2:1 with white sandalwood. This herb is
especially good in forest blends or for evoking animal spirits without using animal
ingredients. Cats love it. I now have a high quality US-grown organic valerian root
with a pleasantly musky smell.

Mundane Uses of Valerian

A relaxant that is not addicting, traditionally it is considered a good remedy for

nervousness, insomnia, and body tension. It should not be used during pregnancy,
though. Because valerian is warming rather than cooling, excessive doses cause
headaches, giddiness, and agitation, proving the maxim that what soothes in small
doses stimulates in large ones. Valerian is also known as vandal root, all-heal, St.
George's herb, setwall, setewale, fu, phu, capon's tail, vandal root, van, cat's valerian,
amantilla, theriacaria, marinella, genicularis, and terdina.
Organic Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
This is a great all-purpose incense for purification, clearning, and sanctification, and
it's got a history that goes back to ancient times for those purposes. It can be
sprinkled under the mattress to repel nightmares, a practice going back to the
Middle Ages. Combined with lavender and myrtle, it was an ingredient in Queen of
Hungary water (originally created as a medicinal rub but which went on to become a
cologne).  It's especially nice as a purifying incense when mixed with juniper berries.
Sniffing rosemary is good for increasing concentration and memory when studying.
Rosemary is said to have been brought to America by the real witch, Grace Sherwood
of Virginia. Rosemary is a good incense for celebrating Winter Solstice. Combine it
with lavender, roses, and mugwort to stuff a dream pillow. And it's great for cooking
too, where a little goes a long way.

Organic Rue
Ruta graveolens  
During the Middle Ages, rue was hung in doorways and windows to keep evil spirits
out.  It was thought to protect against plague, and since people also rubbed their floors
with fresh rue to keep out fleas, it probably did.  Many spiritual paths have recognized
the potency of rue: It apparently got the name Herb of Grace because early Christians
used it as a tool for asperging during exorcisms and before performing Mass, and this
herb is the only one that the Prophet Mohammed blessed. This herb was grown
around Roman temples to Mars and is considered sacred to him as well as to Diana
and Aradia.  Sensibly enough, it is good for purifying objects made of iron, Mars'
metal, before consecrating them. Rue was sometimes called witchbane because people
carried bunches to keep off witches (who must have been thick as mosquitoes in those
days), and the expression "rue the day" is said to come from the practice of throwing
rue at an enemy while cursing him. In the 18th and 19th centuries, Italians made
amulets called cimaruta from tin or silver made to resemble the tops of rue. The tip of
each branch was decorated with a symbol, usually concerned with fertility: phalli,
horns, solar disks, crescent moons, fish, keys, even the Sacred Heart of Jesus (how'd
that get in there?). A cimaruta was meant to protect the wearer from the evil eye.
Nowadays, rue is thought to be ritually helpful in developing second sight, probably
because it has a long history as a medicinal herb for strained eyes (Italian Renaissance
painters regularly ate rue and cress sandwiches to sharpen their eyesight), and for
bringing blessings and protection to one's home.  An excess of rue causes vomiting
and can interefere with the liver's work; don't use during pregnancy. Rue is also
known as Herb of Grace, Garden Rue, German Rue, Herbygrass, Hreow, Mother of
the Herbs, Bashoush, Rude, and Rewe.

Black Poppy Seeds

This poppy seed is for incense, not planting (although it might be viable, there is no
guarantee with seeds sold as herbs). The smoke of poppy seeds has been used in
divination. This is a wonderful New Moon (black) or Full Moon (white) incense that
pops and snaps when burned. The Moon aspect in combination with the seeds'
appearance also makes them a good representation of night or the fertile
subconscious. Because of poppy's association with the Underworld, they are a nice
ingredient in Cakes for the Living/Dead or items prepared for Hekate's
Supper. The copious seeds of this Moon plant are an excellent symbol for
female fertility, to represent children, or to stand for overwhelming forces
(which children can sometimes be!). For the spring festival of Purim,  Jews
make delicious uterus-shaped cookies stuffed with these seeds to represent "eggs"
(Haman's ears indeed!).