This Witch’s Enchanted Garden
by Stephanie Grimassi

The earliest word for witchcraft in Western Culture is pharmakis (from the ancient Greek).  As you can see it shares roots with the word pharmacy which is defined as the “dispensing of medicine.”  Ancient witches practicing the Craft were known as the pharmaceute, the knower of plants. 

Witches have always been associated with herbs and plants. Learning the helpful properties and the baneful properties (for you must know one along with the other), this knowledge made witches of value to the village folks who sought out their knowing of this magic.

Witches have been linked to a “familiar spirit” usually thought of as an animal, but another type of familiar was cultivated by the witch - the “plant familiar.”  These plant familiars were started by seed, and from the very first touch of the witch, she imbued them with the magical intent and purpose of her magic.  As the plant grew the witch would speak to the plant and care for it in a way that filled the plant’s physical and aura properties with the magical intentions of the witch.

She would care for it throughout the growing season.  Speaking words of enchantment, cultivating the plant spirit to grow and thrive.

When harvest time arrived, intimately linked with the phase of the moon, the Witch approached the plant with reverence and care.  Informing the plant that the time had come to harvest the fruits of the season, she used a copper or bronze blade because metal containing iron can neutralize or disrupt magic.

If the leaf or fruits were to be taken, the living essence of the plant would remain, never taking all of its life force.  The witch would thank the plant for its bounty and gifts.

If the root was to be the harvested, she would always leave some of the root intact and put this back into the dirt. Again thanking the plant for its sacrifice.

With the end of the growing season and the Fall winds gusting, sending the gloriously vibrant multihued leaves whirling in a dervish dance, I am so grateful to be living in New England!  Our second year of growing an enchanted herb garden was very successful.

The herbs that are listed as grown by us on Raven’s Loft are raised, nurtured and loved by us using the time-honored methods of creating the “plant familiar” in accord with the lunar tides.  Look for the mandrake logo for these specially grown herbs.

We are pleased to be able to offer these “witch grown” herbs to you for your ritual and magical use.