Herbs for Divination - Witchcraft Basics
Last Updated: November 11, 2022
When it comes to divination, herbs are a key component. Different herbs can be used for different purposes, and they each have their own unique meanings and properties. Let’s explore 14 herbs that are commonly used in divination practices. We’ll discuss what each herb represents, as well as how to use them in your own divination practice.
Why use Herbs for Divination
Like using Crystals in our magick, Herbs are another tangible earth element that can be used to represent different things in our spell work. They can be used for protection, banishing, love, and so much more. When it comes to divination, herbs can be used to represent different aspects of our lives.Â
For example, Rosemary can be used to represent remembrance and mental clarity as well as protection during ancestral divination work. It all flows nicely, and with the variety of herbs available we can make the most of this in our practice as accessibly as possible.
How to use herbs for Divination
There are many ways to use herbs for divination. Some herbs can be burned as incense, while others can be used to make tea. You can also carry herbs with you, or place them under your pillow. However you choose to use them, herbs can help you connect with your intuition and inner wisdom.
When burning herbs, ensure you are in a ventilated area. If you are making tea, be sure to steep for the recommended time (usually around 5 minutes). And if you are carrying herbs with you, make sure they are stored in a safe container. For those unable to use smoke, you can use as in an oil diffuser or create your own divination oils. If you are planning to ingest/eat/drink these herbs, make sure that they are actually safe to consume for that purpose and I always recommend working with professional support such as your doctor or your accredited herbalist (not just some random on tumblr).
Divination Herbs and their meanings
This is a list of herbs, plants, spices that all have great correspondences for divination. You will find that most of these are like your everyday kitchen herb, and store-bought is fine if you can’t grow them yourselves. I love checking out my supermarket for reduced herbs that I can freeze or dry for later use, as it’s a great way to reduce waste going to the landfill. Ask your neighbours with a good garden if they can spare you some “for crafting or creating incense with” if you are in the broom closet, or be open and share your intention.
If foraging for your herbs directly, never take the first or the only one you find, so that more can grow, and if you can leave something (even a small moment of thanks) it may make all the difference to your practice. When it comes to herbs, divination and witchery, if we can leave the planet better than we found it – that’s always nice.
This list isn’t exhaustive, and always trust your intuition in spellwork:
Bay
- Latin name: Laurel Nobilis
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mars, Sun
- Deities associated with it: Apollo, Ceres, Aesculapius
- Parts you can use: Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Dauphnomancy, Cooking
Bay leaves represent clarity and understanding. Burn bay leaves as incense or add them to a sachet to promote clear thinking and intuitive insights.
Blue Lotus
- Latin name: Nymphaea Caerulea
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Venus, Pluto
- Deities associated with it: Isis, Sekhmet, Nefertem and Ra
- Parts you can use: Flowers
- Recommended Divination method use: Floromancy, Capnomancy, Incense
Blue lotus represents psychic ability and spiritual enlightenment. Burn blue lotus as incense or add it to a sachet to promote psychic and spiritual development.
Buckeye/Chestnut
- Latin name: Aesculus Glabra ***POISONOUS***
- Ruled by the element: Earth
- Ruled by the planet: Saturn
- Deities associated with it: Saturn, Jupiter, Zeus
- Parts you can use: Chestnut (do not ingest and wash hands after handling)
- Recommended Divination method use: Witches Ladder, Poppet
Buckeye represents good luck. Carry a buckeye with you or add it to a sachet to attract good fortune.
Camphor
- Latin name: Cinnamomum camphora
- Ruled by the element: Fire, Water
- Ruled by the planet: Mars, Moon
- Deities associated with it:
- Parts you can use: Wood
- Recommended Divination method use: Oleomancy, Incense
Camphor represents cleansing and purification. Burn camphor as incense or add it to a sachet to cleanse your space and yourself of negative lingering energy.
Chamomile
- Latin name: Chamaemelum nobile
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Sun
- Deities associated with it: Ra, Cernunnos, Helios
- Parts you can use: Flowers
- Recommended Divination method use: Floromancy, Visualisations, Charging Tools
Chamomile is known as the “herb of meditation.” It helps promote relaxation and peace of mind. Drink chamomile tea before divination practices or add it to a sachet to still yourself.
Cinnamon
- Latin name: Cinnamomum Verum
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mars, Saturn
- Deities associated with it: Aesclepius, Aphrodite, Venus, Hestia, Vesta
- Parts you can use: Bark Sticks
- Recommended Divination method use: Dowsing, Tasseomancy
One of my top 5 favourite spices to work with in my witchery (I am an Aries, after all). This multifaceted goodie can be used for almost everything. For divination, cinnamon represents knowledge and understanding. Burn cinnamon as incense or add it to a sachet to promote clarity and insights.
Cinquefoil
- Latin name: Genus Potentilla
- Ruled by the element: Air
- Ruled by the planet: Mercury
- Deities associated with it: Mercury, Hermes, Loki
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Spell Jars, Divination Salts
Also known as “five-finger grass,” cinquefoil is traditionally used for protection, healing, and good luck.
Dandelion
- Latin name: Taraxacum officinale
- Ruled by the element: Air
- Ruled by the planet: Jupiter
- Deities associated with it: Hekate, Helios, Ra, Sekhmet
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Leaves, Root
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, Incense, Cleansing tools
The easiest to come by here in the UK for divination plants, all elements of it can be used for divination but ground dandelion root can be used as an incense or sachet filler (or tea) to represent divinatory insights.
Eyebright
- Latin name: Euphrasia officinalis
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Venus, Moon
- Deities associated with it: Aphrodite, Artemis,
- Parts you can use: Flowers, as a Tincture
- Recommended Divination method use: Water Scrying, Diffuse before Oneiromancy
Eyebright is known for promoting clarity of vision, both physically and spiritually. Don’t actually put it in your eye however!
Flaxseed
- Latin name: Linum Usitatissimum
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mercury
- Deities associated with it: Freyja, Frigg,
- Parts you can use: Seeds
- Recommended Divination method use: Favomancy, Cooking, Sachets
A superfood contender, flaxseed is known for promoting psychic ability and prophetic dreams. Add flaxseed to cakes and bakes to encourage insight.
Goldenrod
- Latin name: Solidago Odora
- Ruled by the element: Air
- Ruled by the planet: Venus
- Deities associated with it: Brigid, Hermes, Lakhsmi
- Parts you can use: anything that’s above ground
- Recommended Divination method use: Poppets, Divination Salts, Sachets
Goldenrod is known as the “herb of love divination.” It is used to promote prophetic dreams and visions.
Ivy
- Latin name: Nepeta Glechoma
- Ruled by the element: Earth
- Ruled by the planet: Saturn, Jupiter
- Deities associated with it: Dionysus, Bacchus, Osiris, Artemis, Pan, Hebe
- Parts you can use: anything that’s above ground
- Recommended Divination method use: Cleansing, Oenomancy Prep
Ivy represents fidelity, loyalty, and everlasting love. Ivy is often used in love divination spells and rituals.
Hazel
- Latin name: Corylus Avellana
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Mercury
- Deities associated with it: Hermes, Artemis, Odin, Brigid, Silvanus Callirius
- Parts you can use: Leaves, Bark
- Recommended Divination method use: Dowsing, Xylomancy, Zygomancy
Hazel is known for divination, inspiration, and wisdom.
Hibiscus
- Latin name: Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Sun, Venus
- Deities associated with it: Kali, Aphrodite, Persephone, Ganesha
- Parts you can use: Flower
- Recommended Divination method use: Ancestral Work, Tasseomancy, Encromancy
Hibiscus is known for divination, prophetic dreams, and intuitive insights. Drink in a tea and watch the flower blossom. It’s great to use in a situation where a choice needs to be made where you need clarity.
Jasmine
- Latin name: Jasmine Officinale
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Moon
- Deities associated with it: Venus, Aphrodite, Artemis, Selene, Diana, Rhiannon
- Parts you can use: Flowers
- Recommended Divination method use: Incense, Poppets, Cleansing tools
Lifting their blooms in the night and under the moon, Jasmine is a go-to for divination and prophetic dreams. Drink within a tea mixture or create your own tincture ensuring you only use Jasmine Officinale as that’s the edible Jasmine.
Lavender
- Latin name: Lavender Angustifolia
- Ruled by the element: Water, Air
- Ruled by the planet: Moon, Mercury
- Deities associated with it: Hecate, Saturn, Medea, Cernunnos
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Stalks
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, Pillows for Oneiromancy, Burn stalks in incense
Lavender is known for promoting peace, relaxation, and sleep, which is perfect to get you in the mood before a divination reading. I love a London Fog tea latte with some Earl Grey & Lavender biscuits when I am reading for long periods in the Spring.
Meadowsweet
- Latin name: Spiraea Ulmaria
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Jupiter
- Deities associated with it: Aine, Venus, Aphrodite,
- Parts you can use: Flowers
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, Bath Rituals, Spell Jars
Meadowsweet is known for promoting divinatory insights and prophetic dreams relating to love. It was used to flavour mead, the fermented honey drink, in the times of early Druids and so this is where it gets its modern name, and it shouldn’t be used in conjunction with consuming aspirin.
Mugwort
- Latin name: Artemisia Vulgaris
- Ruled by the element: Earth
- Ruled by the planet: Venus, Moon
- Deities associated with it: Hekate, Diana, Artemis
- Parts you can use: Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Infusions, Tasseomancy, Cleansing tools
Associated with many of our favourite deity archetypes, Mugwort is known for divination, prophetic dreams, and intuitive insights.
Mullein
- Latin name: Verbascum Thapsus
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mercury, Saturn
- Deities associated with it: Jupiter, Circe, Hekate, Artemis, Diana
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Hydatoscopy (steam), Oleomancy
Mullein can be used in poppets for protection and especially for healing. It is also known for promoting divinatory insights, prophetic dreams, and intuitive abilities. If you are looking for assistance with health and healing, Mullein is a fantastic choice of herb to use.
Nutmeg
- Latin name: Myristica Fragrans
- Ruled by the element: Air
- Ruled by the planet: Mercury, Jupiter
- Deities associated with it: Cerridwen, Lugh, Danu
- Parts you can use: Oil and Seed
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, Infusion, Spell jars
Nutmeg is known for divination, prophetic dreams, and intuitive insights. Combine with Allspice for any divination exploring money or legal queries.
Orris
- Latin name: Iris Florentina
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Venus
- Deities associated with it: Hera, Aphrodite, Isis, Osiris, Hekate
- Parts you can use: Root
- Recommended Divination method use: Pendulum Dowsing, Poppets, Bath Rituals
Orris root is associated with the Spirit of Death and can be used in divination to contact the departed. It can also be used for protection; in some parts of the world it is used in bath rituals for personal protection, and sprinkled around the home for household protection.
Pennyroyal
- Latin name: Mentha Pulegium
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mars
- Deities associated with it: Hekate, Demeter, Ceres, Persephone
- Parts you can use: Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Oleomancy, Tasseomancy, Incense
Pennyroyal is known for protection and wards off negativity. If you are looking to explore if someone has been placing bad energy, curses jinxes or hexes on you, I would recommend working with Pennyroyal. It is believed to be in the ceremonial brew known as Kykeon, which was poured at ancient Greek celebrations of the Elysian mysteries.
Star Anise
- Latin name: Illicum Verum
- Ruled by the element: Air
- Ruled by the planet: Jupiter
- Deities associated with it: Apollo, Astarte, Ishtar
- Parts you can use: Seeds
- Recommended Divination method use: Witches Ladder, Cooking, Xygomancy, Incense
Star anise is known to promote prophetic dreams and visions. With it’s star shape, it can aid in protection too. Make wreaths to decorate your home or sacred space for different witch’s holiday using star anise to boost psychic protection.
Vervain
- Latin name: Verbena Officinalis
- Ruled by the element: Water
- Ruled by the planet: Venus
- Deities associated with it: Cerridwen, Isis, Thor, Odin, Jupiter, Isis, Osiris
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, Bath Rituals, Oenomancy, Necromancy
Vervain is used to promote visions. Springing from the tears of a mourning Isis, and staunching the wound of the hung Jesus, if you add Vervain to wine around Samhain it may aid with connecting with ancestors and spirits.
Wormwood
- Latin name: Artemisa Absinthium
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Mars
- Deities associated with it: Artemis, Pan, Diana, Aesculapius, Isis, Horus
- Parts you can use: Stalks, Flowers, Leaves
- Recommended Divination method use: Incense, Oleomancy, Spell Jars
From its infamous use in absinthe, to its more benevolent side in herbalism, Wormwood is known for divination, lucid vivid dreams, and intuitive insights. It works by blocking gamma aminobutyric acid, which calms the nervous system, so that you can unlock certain brain areas, but excess of wormwood can lead to seizures and even death due to the thujone content. Do not directly apply to skin in large quantities, as it may result in physical burns.
Yarrow
- Latin name: Achillea Millefolium
- Ruled by the element: Fire
- Ruled by the planet: Venus, Mars
- Deities associated with it: Chiron, Hecate, Aphrodite, Venus
- Parts you can use: Flowers, Stalks
- Recommended Divination method use: Tasseomancy, I Ching,
Yarrow is known for universal connection, divination, and prophetic dreams. Achilles was said to have staunched the wounds of those at Troy with yarrow, after learning about medicine and herbalism from Chiron the Centaur. Specifically used in healing throughout the ages, this may be a good herb to use for healing and health divination queries.
When working with herbs, always be sure to research them first as some can be poisonous if ingested. If you are pregnant, please consult a physician before using any herbs medicinally.
Remember that if you can’t find a particular herb, or don’t have it on hand, don’t worry! Go with what you do have and trust your intuition. The herbs will still work just fine. Until next time xox
I love curating divination experiences for those invested in spiritual growth with secular honest vibes. I am that witch you come to for these honest, interesting and beneficial divination experiences!
More ways to use herbs in your practice 🌿
This page is part of our collection of witchcraft basics. If you enjoyed the read, then you’ll love the following articles.
Let’s explore 20 herbs that are commonly used in spellwork for money magick practices. We’ll discuss what each herb represents, as well as how to use them in your own magickal practice. If you’re looking for herbs for wealth magick, prosperity magick and good fortune – I’ve got you covered!
