Essential Tools for Green Witches

Green witches focus their magick on nature and call upon natural energies and cycles when practicing. Herbal magick is a primary tool for green witches, but even the most eclectic witch sometimes enjoys dabbling in green magick. It’s common to start your journey into herbal magick with enthusiasm and then get stuck with a lot of questions. If you find yourself with a pile of herbs and ingredients, but you have no idea what to do next, read on! We’ve put together a basic list of tools you’ll need for your spellwork.

A note about safety: When gathering tools, consider the types of herbs you plan to use. If you are using poisonous herbs, we suggest you purchase two versions of the tool and designate one for toxic ingredients. For example, two mortar and pestle sets in different colors will help you keep your magickal process organized and safe. Just as when you’re cooking food, you don’t want to cross-contaminate your work area.

Mortar and Pestle

The mortar and pestle are iconic green witch tools. Use a mortar and pestle made from heavier stone for tougher ingredients and save wooden versions for soft herbs that require only gentle crushing. Use the pestle to grind your ingredients by pressing it down on the herbs and moving it back and forth in the mortar. While your mortar and pestle can be used for both dried or fresh herbs, when grinding fresh herbs, you get the added benefit of releasing their essential oils into the mixture.

Jars 

Having a variety of jars on hand will help you keep your herbs organized and fresh – even the dried ones, which can lose their potency when exposed to air. You can buy pretty sets of jars online or simply save and wash jam jars to cut down on waste. While you may want to dispose of some jars used for spells, others can be washed and then cleansed for future use. If you do dispose of your jar or its contents in nature, be sure to consider how it might affect local wildlife, pets, or children.

Bottles 

Just like jars, bottles can be extremely useful for spellwork. Use sealed bottles for protection, love, or other manifestations. Small bottles can be stored in places like the glove box of your car, hidden behind some books, or easily buried if the spell calls for it. A vial or tiny bottle on a chain can be worn as a necklace to carry your magick with you. Bottles are also useful for storing tinctures and potions.

Saucepans & Utensils 

For obvious reasons, you’ll want to keep your magickal tools separate from your culinary ones. Set aside a saucepan for simmering herbs. Invest in two sharp knives for cutting ingredients – label one for toxic herbs. Some other utensils you might find useful include:

• A grater for more fibrous roots, nuts, and barks. Use the grater to reduce your ingredients to shavings before transferring them to your mortar and pestle.
• Bowls for mixing ingredients or herbs that need to soak before working with them.
• A cutting board for cutting and chopping ingredients. You can even paint or etch symbols on it to infuse more magick into your work.
• A strainer or sieve can be useful when making tinctures or sprays to catch loose herbs you may not want in the final product.
• Measuring equipment may be useful, too, depending on how precise you prefer your measurements.

Book of Shadows

While some witches add their herbal magick spells to their main Book of Shadows, some prefer to keep them separate. Use your Book to record recipes, spells, and even notes about outcomes for further study. 

Ready to dive into herbal magick? Be sure to read our articles on common herbs, resins, and essential oils; gathering herbs with the moon; and making a blessed home herbal jar.