One of the best ways to connect with your intuitive power is to plant a bewitching garden. Spending time in nature this way helps you feel the connection to all living things which in turn gives you a sense of peace, balance, and enchantment of course.
Witch’s Gardens are Traditional
For eons people have been planting gardens with the intention of growing medicinal and magical herbs. In fact, observing, planning, planting, and tending a garden is a witchy thing to do. The more you spend time with your garden, learning about the plants you chose, and connecting with them brings you closer to embracing your magic!
Keep in mind you do not need to have a large outside area to plant your garden. You can use planters and other fun containers. You can even plant magical plants inside. The important thing to remember is you are planting your garden with the intention of health and good vibs.
I had the opportunity to interview two herbal witches—Margaret and Hua. These fine ladies are key characters in my series; The Spellwood Witches. In the paranormal town of Witchland, NH Margaret and Hua share their wisdom of plants and secret potions. Here are some of their witchy tips.
1. Spend Time Outside
One of the best practices to do even before you choose your garden space is to get outside with nature. Walk around and clear your mind before you make any decisions.
Breath and listen to the birds and the insects. Take a look at the sun and feel her warmth permeate your skin, muscles, and bones. Quiet yourself and join your heart with mother nature.
2. Designing Your Witchy Garden
Margaret and Hua are master gardeners and this is one of their favorite parts of creating new herbal beds. They shape their designs partly suing their intuition and partly with their vast knowledge. They suggest if you are a new gardener is to start small. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself and you want to be able to spend time nurturing your plants. When you start small you give the plants the chance to teach you their wisdom as well.
One thing to also consider when designing your magical garden is to look at Pinterest or gardening magazines. Also, if you see a beautiful garden in your travels—by all means stop what you are doing and ask the gardener about her plants. You may find that experienced gardeners love to help those who are starting out.
Margaret and Hua also suggest that while practicing some deep breathing and visualize your layout as you move through the design process.
3. Choosing Magical Plants
This is Margaret and Hua’s favorite part. They pick plants that are key ingredients in their potions and healing formulas and local plants that they know will grow well in their outside gardens. Yet, they experiment with magical plants that are difficult to grow in their greenhouses.
As a newbie they suggest having fun with this part. Talk to your local garden center to learn what plants are hardy enough for your area. Pick up plant tips from those who are already growing some of the herbs you are considering and ask them about their success.
Also pick a few plants to start with. You don’t want to overwhelm yourself because the purpose of planting a witch’s garden is to enjoy nature and embrace your magical intuitive side.
Let’s begin with five of Margaret and Hua’s favorites . . .
Keep in mind where you live will dictate what plants you can grow.
1. Mugwort - Artemisia vulgaris
Magical uses: clairvoyance, protection, purification
Beneficial properties: calms nerves, digestive aid, repels insects
2. Rosemary — Rosmarinus officinalis
Magical uses: nightmare protection, past life recall, ward off evil spirits
Beneficial properties: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, digestive aid, enhances concentration
3. Hawthorn Berries — Crataegus monogyna
Magical uses: harmony, happiness, faeries, protection
Beneficial properties: antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, may lower blood pressure, reduces anxiety
4. Angelic Root — Angelica archangelica
Magical uses: protect from illness, healing and protection spells, blessings, good luck
Beneficial properties: intestinal gas, loss of appetite, insomnia
5. Black Cohosh — Actaea racemose
Magical uses: love, courage, add to purified water and sprinkle around the room to drive off negative influences.
Beneficial properties: reduces nervousness and irritability, hot flashes and night sweets, sleep disorders
Magical Planting
Margaret and Hua suggest planting using the cycle of the moon. In fact, that’s what witches have done for centuries. The power of the moon is strong and her medicine adds to the potency of the medicinal or magical herbs you choose to plants.
• New Moon to First Quarter ~ When the moon is in this phase consider planting only those plants you are going to harvest the leaves or annuals.
• First Quarter to Full Moon ~ During this time period planting those plants you want to harvest seeds from is perfect.
• Full Moon to Third Quarter ~ A perfect time to plants magical plants that you will harvest their roots.
• Third Quarter to New Moon ~ This is not a time for planting. However, this is the perfect time to connect with your plants with care. You will be weeding, harvest, drying, etc.
4. Talk to Your Plants
As you are tending your garden whether you are plants, weeding, or harvesting it is important to talk to your plants.
We have people who walk by our gardens and hear us talking to our plants and kind of look at us funny, shared Margaret. Hua and I find this to be the perfect opportunity to educate people. Especially if they stop to ask us what we are doing—we tell them studies show that plants grow better when spoken to with encouragement.
5. Time to Gather
If you really want to follow the witch’s tradition of gardening harvest your plants during the moonlight. This is healthier for them because they are not out in the scorching sunlight possibly withered and dry. When you pick during the moonlight you can add your own witchy rituals and pick beautiful and luscious plants.
6. Potions and Lotions
After you have fully harvested your magical plants it’s time to make your potions and lotions. You can do so much with the herbs you grew. In fact, you may even want to plan your garden with plants that are specific for a certain lotion or herbal tea blend.
As you spend time in nature in your witchy garden be open to the glorious feeling when your stress melts away and you feel in balance with your soul—that is magic and yes wit
Melanie Snow is the pen name for Wendy Van de Poll, a bestselling author, pet loss grief coach, and animal medium. She is the author of The Spellwood Witches, a paranormal cozy mystery series.