Botanical witchcraft incantations are a form of spellcasting that incorporates the use of plant materials and natural elements for magical and spiritual purposes. By harnessing the energy and properties of plants, witches can create powerful incantations and rituals to manifest their intentions and desires. In botanical witchcraft, each plant holds its unique energy and correspondences. Witches study these correspondences and choose plants based on their magical properties to align with their desired outcome. For example, lavender is often used for calming and protection, while rosemary is associated with purification and clarity. By selecting the right combination of plants, witches can create a potent incantation.
Apples, plums and pears beg to be baked into crumbles with a healthy smothering of custard, while light summery greens and ripe tomatoes are swapped for pumpkin, squash, kale and celeriac.
Non-ritual ways to celebrate plant flowers or garden; take a walk in the Sun and talk to the trees; spring clean your home and donate old clothing to charity. While there are many, many ways to lean into the autumn mindset with cozy sweaters, snuggly slippers, warm beverages, great books, and moments in nature some autumn activities date back hundreds of years.
By selecting the right combination of plants, witches can create a potent incantation. Incantations are words or phrases that are spoken with intention and focus to bring about a desired outcome. In botanical witchcraft, these incantations may include the names of plants or their magical associations.
Autumnal Equinox: Witches Share How They Celebrate
September 23 marks the 2019 Autumnal Equinox — a day when the sky is equal parts dark and light. It’s also the date that witches celebrate Mabon, one of the pagan festivals in the Wheel of the Year. The Wheel of the Year is the cyclical calendar of festivals that modern pagans celebrate. The Wheel symbolizes the continuous turning of time and mirrors nature’s cycles of death and rebirth. Named for the God of Welsh mythology, the festival celebrates the harvest and the life and that summer created as we prepare for the long, cold nights of winter.
Most modern witches likely don’t have a literal harvest to feast on and honor like the original celebrants of Mabon did, so the day instead marks a time to reflect on and honor the things we’ve been working on this year and the work that we’ve brought to fruition. “Mabon is the day that corresponds to the last harvest: It is a day to call in, a day to appreciate our many, many blessings and spread those around. It is a day to give thanks and let whatever bad habits or troubles that have been accumulating in our psyche in an unhelpful way go,” Sarah Faith Gottesdiener told Teen Vogue.
Gottesdiener is an artist, designer, tarot reader and witch — you may know her from her popular and often sold-out Many Moons workbooks or from her shop, Modern Women. For Gottesdiener, the season’s magic is especially potent because it combines with her celebration of the Jewish High Holy Days. While she says that the Celtic mythology attached to the Wheel of the year doesn’t resonate with her, its connection to nature and the season’s effects on us personally and collectively makes following it important to her. This includes embracing the return of the darkness that accompanies the Equinox. “The darkness is a beautiful thing, because it is where seeds germinate. The darkness is deeply potent: it is our subconscious and a source of our own power,” Gottesdiener said.
For writer and intuitive tarot reader Swati Khurana, the Autumnal Equinox is a profoundly personal holiday. After Khurana began shifting away from the label of “Hindu” 20 years ago to separate herself from what she called a "tradition that was connected to caste violence," she said she started questioning and opting out of holidays and traditions that felt like they no longer fit into her “post-colonial intersectional feminist perspective.”
“I loved the rituals of being among women in temple, applying mendhi on my hands, creating trays of offerings, and walking into the moonlight,” Khurana told Teen Vogue about her appreciation of certain aspects of some Hindu holidays. “As I started observing the Equinox, I used elements that I still find so beautiful, but recast them in a ritual that centered self-actualization and personal freedom. Observing the Equinox became a way for me to reclaim the season [that] includes my birthday and my two favorite holidays — Diwali and Halloween — from a feminist perspective.”
If it’s your first time celebrating Mabon, Gottesdiener recommends choosing rituals that feel sacred to you and that have intuitive resonance. “Like celebrating the phases of the moon, or the different seasons, make it personal, and make it about celebrating and honoring life in the present moment— that is ultimately, what all great magick does,” she said.
Swati Khurana by Abeer HoqueGottesdiener will be celebrating by hosting a customary potluck feast for loved ones where they’ll eat, read poems, pull tarot cards, reflect, and burn that which they wish to release. She also plans to do some solo celebrating. “For the most part, I am a solitary practitioner, so I'll also be reflecting and working with the energies for myself personally as well. Because of the placement of the [waxing] moon, this year, I'll be focused on what I wish to harvest more of in my life,” told Teen Vogue.
Social justice educator Steph Guthrie offered a ritual facilitated for her birthday by friend Kritty Uranowski that felt particularly meaningful during a difficult year of her life. “We each wrote down on small pieces of paper one thing we were grateful for from the summer that we’d carry with us into the winter, one thing we were ready to leave behind, and one thing we hoped to manifest in the months ahead,” she told Teen Vogue. After a consensual and optional sharing of their reflections, participants burned the things they wanted to leave behind, planted in the ground the things they hoped to manifest, and held onto the things we were grateful for.
Even if you don’t identify as a witch or aren’t up for a planning big ritual, pausing to acknowledge the season’s changing is a valuable practice for reflection and gaining perspective.“Dedication to observing and respecting the natural world is something that anyone can do, whether they are witches or not,” said scientist and college instructor T. Kempton. “Seasonal holidays like Mabon encourage us to be active participants in the turning wheel of time, living intentionally and intensely, instead of just coasting through life. Mabon is a beautiful time, and we are beautiful within it.”
6. Next, take a seat and place your plant in front of you. Imagine the energy of this plant sitting at your heart, her roots extending down through your legs into the Earth. Her vines and leaves are growing out through your arms and through the top of your head, connecting back to the Earth.
For example, a witch may recite an incantation using the Latin name for a specific plant, believing that this will enhance its magical properties. The incantation may also include words of power, invocations to deities, or affirmations that reinforce the intention. During the incantation, witches often use various techniques to amplify their magic. This may include burning dried herbs or essential oils associated with the desired outcome, creating a sacred space by grounding and visualizing energy, or incorporating gestures and movements that correspond to the intention. The goal is to create a strong connection between the witch and the plants, allowing their energies to merge and manifest the desired result. Botanical witchcraft incantations can be used for a wide range of purposes, including love spells, protection rituals, healing ceremonies, and manifestation spells. They can be performed alone or in a group setting, depending on the preference and tradition of the witch. Some witches may choose to write their incantations in a spell book or grimoire, while others prefer to recite them from memory or improvise in the moment. It is important to note that botanical witchcraft, like any form of spirituality or magic, should be practiced with respect and responsibility. Witches should be mindful of the plants they use and ensure they are ethically sourced and harvested. Connecting with nature and the energy of plants can be a deeply transformative and empowering practice, and when done with intention and reverence, botanical witchcraft can bring about positive change in one's life..
Reviews for "Reconnect with Nature through Botanical Witchcraft Incantations"
1. John - 2 stars
I was really excited to read "Botanical Witchcraft Incantation" as I'm always interested in learning about different forms of witchcraft. However, I found this book to be quite disappointing. The author seemed to focus more on the history and background of witchcraft rather than providing actual practical information. The few spells and incantations that were included were too vague and lacked detailed instructions. Overall, it felt more like a history lesson than a guide to practicing botanical witchcraft.
2. Sarah - 1 star
I cannot express how much I disliked "Botanical Witchcraft Incantation." The information provided in this book was repetitive and lacked depth. The author seemed to assume that the reader already had knowledge of witchcraft, making it difficult to follow along as a beginner. Additionally, the spells and incantations were generic and not specific to botanical witchcraft. The lack of practical application left me feeling disappointed. I would not recommend this book to anyone interested in truly learning about botanical witchcraft.
3. David - 2 stars
"Botanical Witchcraft Incantation" failed to meet my expectations. I was hoping for a comprehensive guide to practicing witchcraft using botanical elements, but instead, I found a book that was more focused on providing a surface-level overview. The explanations provided were quite basic and lacked the in-depth knowledge I was seeking. I also found the writing style to be somewhat dry and uninspiring. Overall, I was left wanting more substance and practical guidance, and unfortunately, this book did not deliver.
4. Emma - 3 stars
I have mixed feelings about "Botanical Witchcraft Incantation." While the book does provide some interesting historical information about witchcraft and the role of botanicals, I felt that it lacked practicality. The spells and incantations included were not well-explained and left me feeling unsure about their effectiveness. I also hoped to see more detailed instructions on incorporating botanical elements into rituals and practices, but the book fell short in that aspect. It could still be a decent starting point for someone interested in this topic, but for those seeking a more in-depth guide, it may be worth looking elsewhere.