This simple guide looks at the Herbs, Resins & Salts commonly used as tools support ritual, energy work, and personal transformation. For centuries, herbs and resins have been burned to release their natural properties through smoke, clearing stagnant air, calming the mind, or energising a space; while salts, shaped over millennia in oceans and mountains, serve as natural purifiers and protective boundary-setters. In this guide, each entry highlights the key energetic qualities, traditional uses, and practical “Use When” tips so you can quickly connect with the right material to support your intention.
Herbs
Bay Leaves
Keywords: Clarity, vision, success, prophecy.
Qualities: Clears mental fog, sharpens focus, awakens inspiration and confidence.
When to Use: For decision-making, creative block, or in rituals for success and manifestation.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal, add to spell fires, or write wishes on a leaf and burn to release into smoke.
Notes: Traditionally linked with Apollo and oracles; a symbol of victory and divine vision.
Cedarwood
Keywords: Grounding, protection, ancestral connection, purification.
Qualities: Strengthens boundaries, anchors energy, clears away unwanted influences.
When to Use: For space cleansing, ancestral work, or when stability and resilience are needed.
How to Use: Burn chips or powdered wood on charcoal, or use cedar bundles as smudge sticks for house blessings.
Notes: Sacred to many First Nations peoples and ancient cultures; often planted near homes and temples as a guardian tree.
Cinnamon
Keywords: Passion, vitality, love, prosperity.
Qualities: Stimulates energy, ignites desire, accelerates manifestation.
When to Use: For spells of attraction, courage, or to boost energy in ritual.
How to Use: Burn powdered bark on charcoal, add to incense blends, or use as an offering in prosperity rites.
Notes: A fiery spice long valued in trade; linked with the Sun and fire element for its warming, activating nature.
Desert Sage
Keywords: Cleansing, clarity, release, renewal.
Qualities: Purifies stagnant energy, restores balance, resets a space or aura.
When to Use: For house cleansing, after conflict, or before spiritual work.
How to Use: Burn as a smudge stick or loose leaf on charcoal; waft smoke through rooms or around the body.
Notes: Distinct from White Sage, Desert Sage has a sharper, more grounding aroma; traditionally used in North American cleansing rituals.
Eucalyptus
Keywords: Healing, renewal, release, vitality.
Qualities: Clears heaviness, opens breath, refreshes mind and spirit.
When to Use: After illness, during grief, or to release stuck emotional energy.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal, add to purification blends, or hang fresh branches in the shower for cleansing steam.
Notes: Associated with healing and renewal; native to Australia and sacred in Aboriginal traditions for its cleansing and medicinal uses.
Flower de Jericho
Keywords: Renewal, rebirth, prosperity, transformation.
Qualities: Revives hope, attracts blessings, brings cycles of renewal.
When to Use: For prosperity spells, new beginnings, or when seeking spiritual rebirth.
How to Use: Place in a bowl of water to “resurrect” the plant; use the water for blessings, cleansing, or sprinkling in ritual.
Notes: Known as the “resurrection plant”; curls into a dry ball when dormant and unfurls with water—symbol of eternal return and renewal.
Juniper Berry
Keywords: Protection, purification, banishing, clarity.
Qualities: Dispels negativity, strengthens energetic boundaries, clears confusion.
When to Use: For protection rituals, before divination, or when unwanted energies linger.
How to Use: Burn berries or dried sprigs on charcoal; use smoke to cleanse tools, altars, or doorways.
Notes: Considered a powerful protective plant across Europe; traditionally burned to ward off illness and malevolent spirits.
Lavender
Keywords: Peace, calm, rest, harmony.
Qualities: Soothes stress, balances emotions, encourages restful sleep.
When to Use: For anxiety, before sleep, or during self-love and healing rituals.
How to Use: Burn dried buds on charcoal, add to incense, or keep near the bed for calming influence.
Notes: Associated with love and peace; long used in folk magick for soothing the mind and drawing in gentle energies.
Lemongrass
Keywords: Cleansing, clarity, banishing, fresh energy.
Qualities: Cuts through negativity, refreshes the aura, uplifts the spirit.
When to Use: For clearing after illness, breaking hexes, or refreshing a stagnant atmosphere.
How to Use: Burn dried stalks on charcoal, add to purification incense, or steep in ritual wash waters.
Notes: Often used in hoodoo and folk magick for clearing crossed conditions; linked with Mercury for quick-moving energy.
Mugwort
Keywords: Vision, dreams, intuition, psychic opening.
Qualities: Stimulates dreamwork, awakens the third eye, aids divination.
When to Use: Before meditation, journeying, or dreamwork rituals.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal or as a smudge stick; inhale lightly before dream practice.
Notes: Known as the “witch’s herb” for its association with lunar rites and divination; linked to Artemis and moon magick.
Mullein
Keywords: Courage, protection, illumination, spiritual guidance.
Qualities: Strengthens resolve, clears fear, invites guidance from spirit.
When to Use: In protective workings, during times of fear, or when seeking spiritual clarity.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal, or carry as a charm; often used in place of White Sage.
Notes: Folklore names it “hag’s taper,” as its tall stalks were once dipped in wax and burned as torches for ritual light.
Palo Santo
Keywords: Blessing, purification, uplifting energy, connection.
Qualities: Clears heavy energy, invites light, elevates spiritual practice.
When to Use: Before meditation, prayer, or any sacred ritual.
How to Use: Light the wood stick until it smoulders, then waft smoke around space, tools, or self.
Notes: Known as “holy wood” from South America; sustainably sourced Palo Santo is essential due to over-harvesting.
Patchouli
Keywords: Attraction, sensuality, grounding, prosperity.
Qualities: Deepens connection to the body, draws love and abundance, stabilises emotions.
When to Use: For love spells, money workings, or when grounding after intense spiritual work.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal, add to incense blends, or sprinkle around altars and money charms.
Notes: A rich, earthy scent long associated with fertility, passion, and wealth; often used in root-work and spell jars
Pine
Keywords: Cleansing, renewal, strength, resilience.
Qualities: Clears away heaviness, refreshes stagnant energy, strengthens spirit.
When to Use: For home purification, releasing old energy, or when courage is needed.
How to Use: Burn needles, resin-rich wood, or cones on charcoal; use smoke to cleanse tools and spaces.
Notes: A symbol of endurance and eternal life in many cultures; often planted near homes for protection.
Rosemary
Keywords: Protection, clarity, memory, healing.
Qualities: Strengthens focus, wards off negativity, supports clear thought.
When to Use: For protection rituals, studying, or before divination and healing work.
How to Use: Burn dried sprigs on charcoal, as a smudge bundle, or add to incense blends for clarity.
Notes: “Where rosemary grows, the mistress rules” – long associated with women’s power, remembrance, and sacred memory.
Rue
Keywords: Banishing, protection, breaking hexes, courage.
Qualities: Removes harmful influences, strengthens will, shields against envy.
When to Use: For uncrossing, protection spells, or when feeling spiritually attacked.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal (sparingly—pungent scent); carry as an amulet for protection.
Notes: Sacred in Mediterranean magick; sometimes called “herb of grace,” used to break curses and ward off the evil eye.
Sandalwood
Keywords: Devotion, meditation, love, spiritual awareness.
Qualities: Calms the mind, deepens meditation, opens the heart to divine love.
When to Use: For prayer, spiritual connection, or workings of love and harmony.
How to Use: Burn chips or powdered wood on charcoal, or blend with resins for incense.
Notes: Revered in Eastern traditions for temple incense; often linked with Venus and the Moon for its soothing, heart-centred vibration.
Sweetgrass
Keywords: Blessing, harmony, calling in positive energy.
Qualities: Attracts good spirits, invites peace and sweetness, balances after cleansing.
When to Use: After smudging or banishing, to welcome in love and harmony.
How to Use: Braid and burn as a smudge, or fan the smoke through a room after sage or cedar.
Notes: Known as the “hair of Mother Earth” in Native traditions; often used in tandem with sage to restore balance after purification.
Tobacco
Keywords: Offering, prayer, spirit communication, respect.
Qualities: Serves as a bridge to the spirit world, carries prayers, honours ancestors and spirits.
When to Use: In offerings, during ancestor veneration, or when asking guidance from spirit allies.
How to Use: Burn small amounts as incense, sprinkle as an offering, or carry in sachets (never for casual use, always respectfully).
Notes: Considered sacred in many Indigenous traditions; used as a primary plant spirit for prayer and offerings.
White Sage
Keywords: Purification, release, spiritual reset.
Qualities: Clears negativity, lifts heaviness, restores clarity and sacredness.
When to Use: Before ritual, after conflict, or when energy feels stagnant or heavy.
How to Use: Burn as a smudge stick or loose leaf on charcoal; waft smoke through space or over self.
Notes: Sacred to many Indigenous peoples; often over-harvested, ethically sourced or cultivated alternatives are encouraged.
Yerba Santa
Keywords: Love, protection, empowerment, healing.
Qualities: Strengthens boundaries, supports self-love, heals emotional wounds.
When to Use: For heart-healing, courage, or when reclaiming personal power.
How to Use: Burn dried leaves on charcoal or in smudge bundles for protective and heart-centred rituals.
Notes: Spanish for “holy herb”; long used in folk healing and spiritual medicine for protection and courage.
Resins
Benzoin Resin
Keywords: Purification, uplifting energy, healing, focus.
Qualities: Clears heavy energy, lifts mood, supports mental clarity.
When to Use: For clearing negative emotions, creating sacred space, or enhancing meditation.
How to Use: Burn small grains on charcoal, often blended with other resins or herbs for purification.
Notes: Sweet, vanilla-like scent; commonly used in temple incense and for boosting concentration in ritual work.
Copal Resin
Keywords: Ancestral connection, purification, offering, clarity.
Qualities: Opens pathways to the divine, clears stagnant energy, uplifts spirit.
When to Use: For ancestral rites, spiritual offerings, or deep cleansing rituals.
How to Use: Burn raw resin chunks on charcoal; waft smoke through space or offer directly to spirits/guides.
Notes: Used in Mesoamerican traditions for honouring the gods and ancestors; often considered a “food for the gods”.
Dragon’s Blood Resin
Keywords: Power, banishing, protection, courage.
Qualities: Amplifies spellwork, strengthens boundaries, adds fiery energy to rituals.
When to Use: For banishing, protection spells, or when extra potency is needed.
How to Use: Burn on charcoal, mix with other herbs or resins to boost their power, or add to inks and oils.
Notes: A deep red resin long linked with Mars and fire magick; prized for its potency and spell-enhancing qualities
Frankincense Resin
Keywords: Spirituality, enlightenment, purification, devotion.
Qualities: Elevates consciousness, clears negativity, deepens meditation.
When to Use: For prayer, meditation, consecration of tools, or spiritual protection.
How to Use: Burn on charcoal to fill ritual space; often combined with myrrh for balance.
Notes: Ancient temple incense; used in offerings across cultures to bridge the earthly and divine.
Myrrh Resin
Keywords: Healing, protection, release, renewal.
Qualities: Grounds energy, supports grieving, aids deep spiritual healing.
When to Use: In rituals of mourning, protection, or for release and transformation.
How to Use: Burn on charcoal alone or mixed with frankincense; add to healing or protective incense blends.
Notes: A resin of sorrow and rebirth; sacred in Egyptian, Greek, and Christian traditions as a healer and purifier.
Pine Resin
Keywords: Cleansing, renewal, strength, resilience.
Qualities: Purifies stagnant energy, invigorates spirit, strengthens courage.
When to Use: For space cleansing, new beginnings, or when resilience is needed.
How to Use: Burn resinous chunks on charcoal, often combined with pine needles or cones for strength.
Notes: Associated with endurance and eternal life; its resin is a natural purifier and long used in folk rites for renewal.
Salts
Black Salt
Keywords: Protection, banishing, boundaries, warding.
Qualities: Absorbs negativity, blocks harmful energy, creates protective barriers.
When to Use: For banishing rituals, uncrossing, or guarding thresholds.
How to Use: Sprinkle across doorways, windowsills, or around beds; add to protection jars or circles.
Notes: A traditional witch’s blend, often made from salt mixed with ash, charcoal, or protective herbs—distinct from culinary black salt (Kala Namak).
Celtic Sea Salt
Keywords: Purity, grounding, cleansing, flow.
Qualities: Restores balance, grounds scattered energy, purifies body and space.
When to Use: For ritual baths, cleansing spaces, or grounding after intense work.
How to Use: Dissolve in ritual baths, sprinkle in sacred circles, or use in cleansing floor washes.
Notes: Harvested from coastal salt flats; carries strong connection to oceanic energy and the cycles of tides.
Dead Sea Salt
Keywords: Healing, release, renewal, restoration.
Qualities: Draws out heaviness, promotes relaxation, supports physical and emotional healing.
When to Use: For rituals of release, grief, or when seeking deep cleansing and renewal.
How to Use: Use in ritual baths, scrubs, or healing sachets; scatter in spaces for purification.
Notes: Rich in minerals; long used for therapeutic baths and healing rites in the Middle East.
Himalayan Pink Salt
Keywords: Love, harmony, protection, balance.
Qualities: Restores energetic harmony, supports self-love, protects gently but firmly.
When to Use: In love rituals, for home harmony, or as a soft protective shield.
How to Use: Place crystals of salt in bowls around the home, use in baths, or mix into protective charms.
Notes: Formed from ancient seabeds; prized for its high mineral content and soft, nurturing energy.
Red Salt
Keywords: Vitality, strength, protection, life force.
Qualities: Boosts energy, invigorates spirit, wards against harm.
When to Use: For energy boosting, protective rituals, or when vitality feels drained.
How to Use: Use in ritual baths, sprinkle in protective circles, or add to charm bags for energy and strength.
Notes: Sometimes naturally coloured (from volcanic clay or iron oxide); carries fiery energy and links to blood, earth, and life force.
Rock Salt
Keywords: Stability, endurance, grounding, purification.
Qualities: Anchors energy, strengthens resolve, clears unwanted vibrations.
When to Use: For grounding rituals, protective wards, or when endurance is needed.
How to Use: Sprinkle around homes or ritual circles, use in grounding baths, or carry a chunk as a protective talisman.
Notes: A raw, earthy salt linked with mountain and earth energy; often used as a base for protective blends.