Limiting Herbs in Rituals

[CelticMoon11]

Do you limit what herbs and plants you use in ritual based on your geographical area and environmental sustainability? E.g use very widely available natives rather than the mass produced store products?

Was just a random thought :)

[Jolantru]

Well, I try to use herbs and plants available in my own geographical area. The plants/herbs I use are mostly grown in my own garden, per se. Or bought at local shops selling local produce. Although I still use store-bought sage, I am also experimenting with self-grown herbs as purifiers.

Cheers,
Jolantru

[Philosophia]

Bit of both. I incorporate both indigenous and exotic plants into my rituals (mostly native). However, I will use the most available source of herbs and plants, and which ones will grow the best in my garden. Its nearly impossible for me to buy herbs that I'm satisfied with anywhere in my region unless I buy them via internet.
I also live near large scrub land so I can easily get native produce, herbs and seeds.
The main exotic plants/herbs I use are Lavendar, Mint, Rose, and Sage (I grow them).

[CelticMoon11]

I try to if I can but if it doesn't grow around here I'll buy esp Rue I love my Rue and I've ordered the plant from nurseries to have it never in and I use Bamboo because my parents place is infested with it although its not a native wood, I'm pretty sure my wand is a native wood, but if I want something exotic I'll use it :)

[Sage Rainsong]

I try to use herbs native to me but Occationally I'll buy Dragons Blood, Copal and other exotic herbs. However I have used a lot of different kinds of tree leaves that I just go out and pick like oak willow maple and linden trees. A lot of these trees are very multi functional.

[CelticMoon11]

Do you store plants, use fresh or dried? Do you find the natives work better/worse than the exotics?

[Sage Rainsong]

well I don't usually store the herbs unless its my exotic ones. To tell you the truth its more of a seasonal thing for me. Usually I use more dried plant in the winter. I find that local plants work slightly better for me because I am into working with the spirits of a place.

[CelticMoon11]

Are the native plants in your area relevant to your spiritual path and ancestory? Do you feel that is important? :) (I'm seriously asking because I'm very interested in people's views on this :D)

[Dio]

I don't limit myself at all. Mainly because I am a horrible gardner. I see nothing wrong with using pre-dryed pre-packaged herbs. There are certain herbs that do not grow where I live, but they are extremely effective for certain incense blends that I've created. These blends would only be possible from herbs I've ordered from out of state. However, I have found that there is enough sage in this state to smudge the entire earth a few times over. Same goes with juniper tears. I like to collect these herbs from the wild when I can, and I do so about once a year to stock up on my supply. If one chooses to work only with indigenous herbs that they can grow themselves, then by all means they should. I just don't think it's always necessary.

[Sage Rainsong]

Are the native plants in your area relevant to your spiritual path and ancestory? Do you feel that is important? (I'm seriously asking because I'm very interested in people's views on this )

Not really i am far too mixed in my ancestry. I use fresh herbs that I live around more often because I feel that it is important to at least make some connection to the land (and it's spirits) that I live on. It's part of my practice. However if the plants are not available and I need to do something, I'll go buy them.

[Aquila ka Hecate]

Are the native plants in your area relevant to your spiritual path and ancestory? Do you feel that is important? :) (I'm seriously asking because I'm very interested in people's views on this :D)

It's an interesting question to me, too,CelticMoon.

I was born here in Africa, but my heritage is 75% Celt and 25%Hun:lol:

So no, the native plants rarely have anything to do with my ancestral heritage.

I use many exotics , bought from the local importing herbalist usually, as well as resins which, even if they originate on this continent, have come the long way 'round to get to me.

Something like Rue, which is not indigenous here either, adapts readily to the conditions on the Highveld (Summer rainfall region, pretty dry).So I grow my own, mostly in areas where it will serve to keep rodents away as well.

I have never found a good source of Solomon's Seal however, and the alternatives to it just don't seem to exist.Anywhere.

There is a mine of useful herbs to found from a Traditional Herbalist (Sangoma or Inyanga) over here,and it's worth while trying to glean the local lore.
With a bit of work, you can identify a local plant's affinities and ruling elements and dieties, too.

Hecate loves the root of local Dandelion, for example-although that's not a fair example,as she's partial to European Dandelion also!

Is anyone else having twinges wrt the use of Sandlewood in incense?
I believe the wood is actually threatened, or do I have my facts all wrong?


Best from Joburg,

Terri

[arianrhods_daughter]

Do you limit what herbs and plants you use in ritual based on your geographical area and environmental sustainability? E.g use very widely available natives rather than the mass produced store products?

I try to if I can but I will use what I feel I need to for my workings. It does make it a lot easier when you can just reach outside and grab a handful rather than a trip to the store and emptying the purse though.

Do you store plants, use fresh or dried? Do you find the natives work better/worse than the exotics?

I use a combination although I have found fresh plants seem to work better in my experience as I feel they are still 'alive' and have more energy to give

Are the native plants in your area relevant to your spiritual path and ancestory? Do you feel that is important?

They aren't relevant to my ancestory, but they are relevant to my present and future :)

[Amythyst]

I revel in herbs and grow many of my own. I have never even considered "limiting" what herbs I use. I also have ordered herbs from a local shop.

The spells and rituals I have used are from all over the world-- so the ingredients are varied and numerous.

With witchcraft, there are no limits, at least for me.

[Jolantru]

Are the native plants in your area relevant to your spiritual path and ancestory? Do you feel that is important? :) (I'm seriously asking because I'm very interested in people's views on this :D)

Good question.

I am Chinese, so in a way, I do try to incorporate my own understanding of Chinese herbs and plants when it comes to - mostly - healing work. I am still in the process of trying to work them into actual ritualwork though. That is on top of my use of sage and the plants I grow in my own garden.

Likewise, I make a point to understand the indigenous plants growing in my vicinity, including the so-called weeds. To me, that is important. Understanding the flora around us reinforces the love for this planet we call Earth.

Cheers,
Jolantru

[Malcolm]

About the only herb I ever use is sage, and it grows around here.

[Ninjakitten]

When I learn about what is local (which I've been too busy/lazy to do since I moved to Humboldt County, CA) then I try to get what is local. Most of the time, I end up having to order via favorite and reputable stores on the internet or go to our local herb stores (Moonrise Herbs, if that tells you something, and Humboldt Herbals... and no jokes on that telling you something!). I do limit myself in other ways, though, like I tend to not buy sandalwood because the herbalists at Moonrise mentioned that most of the sandalwood in the stores tends to be of an endangered species, and being someone who is going to school to help endangered species (even though it's for animals not plants), I think it would be bad juju if I knowingly used an endangered species, especially when I can substitute the ingredient (I usually use cedar in place of sandalwood).

[Astara Seague]

I use whatever is needed to succeed at what I am trying to do so I try not to limit myself at all

[Semjaza]

I voted yes, though I may have misinterpreted your question. I only use plants that grow naturally in my area (native or alien/escape) or that I've managed to grow myself in my garden, or indoors (for mandrakes). The sole exception is marijuana; I don't have my own property, and won't grow something illegal on my parent's property... So that's usually a slight excursion to find... But yeah, I don't buy herbs from the local occult store when I can grow them myself...