How To Get Started In Herbalism For Green Witches: A Step-by-Step Guide

Even as a young child, I felt drawn to plants and their capabilities. For as long as I can remember, I couldn’t resist trailing my fingers through glossy herb leaves, plucking wild medicinals on forest walks, or getting lost for hours in old botany texts. Like many drawn to the "green" craft, I feel most alive in my garden with dirt under my nails. 

Yet for those just planting the first seeds in verdant witchcraft, herbalism can feel overwhelming with all its Latin names, distillation techniques, and associations to memorize. It’s always best to start simply, so I’ve broken down the herbal craft into baby steps so you can build a good base before you advance to mixing complex plant extractions or meditating with ancient tree spirits! 

In this beginner's guide to magical herbalism, I’ll cover everything from essential herbal apothecary tools to easy plant preparations like infused oils to specific witchcraft spells intertwining the intrinsic magic of Earth's healing flora. 

Step 1: Getting Grounded in Herbal Basics

Before diving into medicine-making or wild foraging, it’s wise to get grounded in foundational herbalism understandings - this establishes safe, ethical, and mutually beneficial plant connections.  

Start by observing local flora when you walk, without harvesting. Notice how plants grow over the seasons, where they thrive, and what pollinators they attract. Sketch, photograph, or journal to deepen sensory intimacy with your green neighbors. Go to your local library, borrow books about herbs, and read a bit when you have downtime. Let the information flow naturally.

As you learn plant names and signatures, research traditional uses. Keep a journal of everything you learn. Make flower essences, simply watching petals infuse spring water under sunlight. When I first started getting serious about herbalism, I purchased an indoor hydroponics garden I could keep on my kitchen counter. I selected simple first-time plants, such as lemon balm and sage, and watched in wonder as they grew from seeds to beautiful bunches. Living in the PNW means I don’t get year-round sun. If you do, I recommend starting a little indoor herb garden on your windowsill to start. 

Herbalism includes more than just leaves: Key herbal components for remedies also include flowers, stems, barks, resins, fruits, and roots. Overharvesting threatens entire species, so sustainably gather what you need and always express gratitude. If harvesting outside, I take just a bit of a plant and thank it. 

By patiently exploring botanicals as wise earth (vs just commodities), you pave a sacred path where herbalism and witchcraft beautifully intersect. These beings nourish soil, nourish us—it’s only fair we politely introduce ourselves before requesting their gifts!

Step 2: Stock Your Magical Herbal Apothecary

A budding green witch’s apothecary is his or her forest sanctuary—this space houses vessels, tools, and of course, dried herbs for preparing plant magic potions and remedies. As you stock an herbalist workspace, make sure to consciously curate ingredients aligned with your craft.

You don’t need to drop a ton of money when starting your green practice. In fact, I recommend repurposing items around your home or utilizing your local thrift store for extra supplies such as jars. The plants don’t care what they grow in, trust me. If you want a cohesive, aesthetic look, then I recommend checking out small sellers on Etsy. 

Find suitable containers

Using glass jars and dropper bottles in earth tones feels grounding. It also protects the herbs and tinctures from sun rays, keeping them fresher, for longer. You can carve symbols like crescents into wooden spoons and bowls for more intention. Copper distillers or iron cauldrons offer metallic magic. I like to gather stones like amethyst or sea shells to adorn my herb shelves. 

Making the most of your herbal treasures

When selecting medicinal herbs, research properties connected to your intentions – perhaps stress-relieving chamomile and passionflower for anxiety tinctures (You can read more about how to make tinctures here). Seek organically grown herbs when possible for potency. Ethically forage seasonal finds like meditative pine or vitamin-rich chickweed. 

Amplify herbs by gathering on astrologically auspicious days. For example, under Sagittarius full moons it’s best to target liver-supporting burdock root. Dry most herbs from your gardens or nature walks before storage unless freshness is required. I use a freeze-dryer for my herbs because I live in a humid area. Lastly, stock carrier oils, beeswax, vinegar, glycerin, and preservatives to prepare teas, salves, ferments, and spirits. 

Step 3:Concoct Your First Remedies

Once you’ve acquainted yourself with various herbs and gathered apothecary ingredients, it’s time for the alchemy - preparing introductory remedies! I suggest water preparations first as they're less complex than, say, distilling essential oils. 

Infusions offer light immersion steeping leaves, twigs, or berries in hot water for consumption as teas, foot soaks, and compresses. For relief from tension headaches, steep migraine-soothing feverfew and lavender. You can also add crystals like amethyst for an extra boost. It’s not necessary, but you can chant an incantation as the brew cools.

For skin-repairing oils, loosely fill a mason jar with plant matter like calendula petals or gotu kola leaves. Cover with a carrier oil - try olive, jojoba, or coconut. Place by a windowsill (sunlight extracts essence). After 2-6 weeks strain oils from soggy herbs through cheesecloth.  

Salves soothe skin by thickening herbal oils with beeswax. Gently heat strained oil, whisk in shaved beeswax until melted, add vitamin E oil as a preservative, then pour into tins as it cools. You can also etch sigils into the salve as it hardens for a protective balm.  

Begin with simple combinations honoring plants’ inherent gifts. Over time you’ll gain an intuitive rhythm and repertoire for preparing remedies from Earth’s apothecary.

Step 4: Begin practicing herbalism as earth magic

Once you've gathered herbs, prepared infusions, and experienced herbalism's nourishing aspects, your practice inevitably takes on elements of ritual and reverence. By communing with the verdant beings keeping us healthy, we tap into a profound well of earth magic.

Consider performing an initiation rite pledging to uphold the path of green witchcraft for healing both human and ecological communities. Give thanks among fragrant rose petals or contemplative pine trees and request teachings from the spirits tending soil, forests, and wild spaces eroded by greed.

Incorporate chants, wand work, or symbolic balms into transition ceremonies for women or teens seeking empowered passages. Empathically converse with an ancient oak to receive wisdom from hobbling root to outstretched limb. Scatter milky oat tops before public speaking to invoke steadfast strength and clarity.  

Study astrology and moon cycles to inform herbal harvests or preparations aligned with celestial sway - capricious Mercury retrograde suits mutable potions! As above, so below. 

By braiding together the souls of plants, people, and our sacred Earth through herbal craft, magic is awakened from slumber and spells reveal themselves along woodland trails. The plants are ready - let nature guide your way.