In the spirit of Kitchen Wytchery, let’s find the magick in a cup of tea, and I’m not talking about a special cup of tea that we’re brewing just for some magickal mysterious purpose, but a ready-made tea purchased at the local grocery store.  *These teas are chockfull of herbs which all contain magickal occult properties, something the average person is totally unaware of.  We’re going through the ingredients to find out just what kind of energies we’re working with:

The tea:  “Dream Easy”

The brand:  “Hyvee” (a local grocery store chain here in the mid-west, this is their store brand)

The ingredients:  chamomile, spearmint, lemon grass, tilia flowers, blackberry leaves, orange blossoms, hawthorn berries, rosebuds

The Magick:

1.  Chamomile:  energy/projective (masculine); planet/Sun; element/Water.  First, I beg to differ with the source I’m using for this info, but I find the fact that this herb’s energy is masculine (projective) and it’s planetary association (the Sun) is  also masculine, yet it’s linked to the feminine element of Water– I get it “sleepy time, relaxing, etc.”; and, Water, as in dreams. But this still doesn’t feel right to me– the sun, the energy, all points to the element of Fire.  Just saying.

Magickal energies:  for sleep, to promote calmness, but also for luck in money matters; used in issues dealing with god energy– men’s mysteries, men’s health, etc., healing energies in general.

2.  Spearmint:  energy/receptive (feminine); planet/Venus; element/Water. 

Magickal energies:  used to promote healing, especially of the lungs (respiratory issues); used to promote love– actually to generate a little lust it’s said, though this herb would not be my first choice in this matter, way too tame to ignite this kind of raw passion, if you ask me, spearmint would lend itself better to something quieter and more deliberate, like sultry seduction; used to sharpen your mental faculties, though the element used for this endeavor would best be left to Air.  It’s also said that this is the herb you want to tuck into your pillow, or keep near your bed, as it will protect you at your most vulnerable– when you’re asleep.

3.  Lemon grass:  energy/projective (masculine); planet/Mercury; element/Air.

Magickal energies:  This herb is used to repel snakes– though, unless they were poisonous or dangerous, I don’t know why anyone would deliberately want to repel snakes, unless they had some deep seated phobia.  Snakes are beneficial to your garden, and reflective of wisdom and goddess energy.  Lemon grass is also used to heighten your psychic awareness, and again, this is another herb used to enhance lust.

4.  Tilia flowers:  (also known as “linden flowers” or “lime flowers”) energy/receptive (feminine); planet/Venus; element/Water.

Magickal energies:  the energies are geared to love, luck, sleep, rest, dreams, weddings, and beauty.  What’s not to love about tilia flowers.  The energy of the Linden trees are said to be protective, this is also a ‘tree of immortality’, which would lend it’s energy perfectly for magickal spells of eternal youth and beauty; this is a favorite herb for all kinds of love magicks.  Make a dream pillow of equal parts lavender and tilia which promotes both restful sleep and prophetic dreams.

5.  Blackberry leaves:  energy/receptive (feminine); planet/Venus; element/Water.  This herb is sacred to the old Celtic goddess Brighid, renowned for healing, poetry, and smithcraft.  She’s most notably celebrated on February 2nd, a holiday called Imbolc.

Magickal energies:  healing, money, and protection.

6.  Orange Blossoms:  energy/projective (masculine); planet/Sun; element/Fire.

Magickal energies:  love (known as “Love Fruit”), divination, luck, and money.  The dried peel and seeds are used in a wide array of love magick, whether it be candle magick, mojo bags, or dollies, and this magick is serious– whompom serious– this is magick geared to culminate with a walk down the aisle. (I think it’s a hoot that orange blossoms are tremendously popular in wedding bouquets, but the general public doesn’t have a clue as to why.) Enhance your beauty by adding orange seeds to your bath water, or by drinking orange juice with this intention.  This adds a new dimension to the old saying “beautiful inside and out”, no kidding, there are many forms of beauty, and what you are inside is going to show on the outside. (There’s a few specific people I’d like to point this out to but, ahem, we’ll move on.)  Orange blossoms are added to love and lust potions, and since the element here is Fire, use with discretion, I imagine these potions carry quite a punch.  The divination aspect, specifically for yes/no questions– ask a question, eat an orange, count the seeds– even/yes; odd/no.

7.  Hawthorn berries:  energy/projective (masculine); planet/ Mars; element/Fire.

Magickal energies:  fertility, chastity, fishing luck, happiness.  Because of it’s ability to increase fertility, this herb was long used in wedding ceremonies; on the other side of this coin, and it’s quite a flip– the leaves of the Hawthorn tree are said to promote chastity.  I would imagine that these leaves, along with nutmeg, could be used in some high-falutin fidelity magick, but this would best be done with extreme caution, or there might be a whole lot of people who are going to find themselves suddenly celibate when this is not the desired outcome.  Carry these berries with you on fishing ventures to fill your nets (and your skillet); use these berries to help alleviate depression (magically speaking, mind you); and turn to the Hawthorn for protection from lightening and evil spirits.

The Hawthorn tree does have some weight in the world of the witch– they use to be used to decorate Maypoles for Beltaine, and as far as lore goes, it was believed that Hawthorn trees were actually witches who transformed themselves into the tree (to avoid being burned at the stake, no doubt).  Hawthorn trees are sacred to the witch.

8.  Rosebuds:  energy/receptive (feminine); planet/Venus; element/Water.

Magickal energies:  love (and divination for love), psychic powers, healing, protection.

Are you kidding, this is The Ultimate Herb used for all kinds of love magicks, bar none.  It is the epitome of love magick, encompassing human coupling on every level imaginable, and many levels you haven’t imagined yet.  It’s worn for this purpose, given as a gift for this purpose, used in candle magick, mojo bags, hoodoo dollies, and in any significant way that a practitioner can come up with; it’s been burned, buried, and frozen, all in the name of love.  A tea made of rosebuds is drank at bedtime to promote healthy sleep and prophetic dreams– and what do you think the main topic of these dreams will be– you got it.  Rosebuds and rosehips are used in spells to attract fairies to your garden, to heal minor aches and pains, as well as to relieve stress.

Now, drink your tea…

*Note:  This statement is not meant to alarm anyone who doesn’t practice witchcraft.  By using these teas, you are not inadvertently casting magick spells hither and thither.  Remember– everything used and done to cast a spell must be used and done with intention.  It’s all in the mind; it’s all in your purpose.

The sources for this article:  “Encyclopedia of Magickal Herbs” by Scott Cunningham, and my own Book of Shadows

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*Note: the photo is courtesy of Pinterest