Harnessing Autumn’s Magic: Herbal Allies for Health and Witchcraft

If I haven't already made it abundantly clear, working with plants is one of the key tenets of my magical practice, just like the hedge witches who came before me. The relationships I have built with the plants in my garden and around my home are precious, allowing me to cast spells, develop rituals, and create healing medicines. As the seasons change, so do the plants I work with. Part of practicing local, animistic witchcraft means shifting with the seasons and relying on what is available. That isn't to say I don't bring in some plants that aren't necessarily prevalent this time of year, but I am definitely more cognizant of my choices each season.

Seasonal plant allies are an excellent source of magic and healing, bringing a potent natural element to your work. But what is a plant ally exactly? 

A plant ally is a plant that you have a close relationship with, much like that of a close friend. Just like real friendships, your plant allies shift and change as you grow. Some will be fair-weather friends, while others will stick with you through the thick of it. They come into our lives to guide us, challenge us, and encourage us to face life's challenges and adventures.

How you connect with your plant allies is entirely personal and a topic for another post, but developing these relationships is critical for those interested in working with plants in their magical or healing practice. We are but one spirit in the cosmos, no greater or smaller than others. Respecting others is paramount to an ethical practice, and I take it quite seriously.

Like many witches, autumn is my favorite time of year. I was born during the autumn months; my legal middle name is Autumn; I love the cooler weather, the misty weather, the changing leaves, and the all-around coziness and sense of community that comes with autumn. Autumn is such a liminal time, allowing us to tap into deep wells of magic otherwise inaccessible to most. The plants I tend to work with during autumn help me do just that, while also ensuring that despite moving indoors and into crowded spaces, I remain relatively happy and healthy.

In today's post, we will journey together to get to know the plants I rely on most during the autumn months for witchcraft and healing. I have grouped the plants based on need and offered alternatives where possible. You'll notice there is overlap with the plants and ailments mentioned in Transitioning for Summer to Autumn: Herbal Remedies for the Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness. After all, why wouldn't there be?

For Tending to the Future

I always associate autumn with wisdom and planning ahead as students return to the classroom and store rooms are checked to ensure a family's survival through the winter. There was nothing worse for a family than failure to thoroughly plan for the months ahead. While many of us are now privileged enough to not have to worry about stocking our pantries prior to winter, we still require the wisdom and forethought that went into such a process.

The herbs on this list are magically and medicinally associated with brain health, memory, strengthening resolve, and replenishing energy.

Milky Oats (Avena sativa): Generally gathered in August after the rye harvest, milky oats are an incredible nerve tonic, supporting the nervous system and adrenals by aiding in stress management. These actions make it especially helpful for those struggling with chronic stress and fatigue as it acts as a stimulant and relaxant. Magically, milky oats are associated with clarity, tempering reactivity, prosperity, and abundance due to their generous nature. Add to spells, rituals, and remedies to clear your mind, give you strength, and ensure a prosperous remainder of the year.

Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus): Like milky oats, rosemary is a powerful nervine stimulant that clears brain fog, improves memory, and soothes depression. While generally harvested in the summer, rosemary dries and keeps incredibly well, making it perfect for use out of 'season.' Magically, rosemary is associated with wisdom, clarity, cleansing, and purification. It can rid you of blockages and aid you in developing a working plan (not just a concept of one). Add rosemary to spells, rituals, and remedies to increase focus, remove brain fog, and bring clarity and wisdom to a situation.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita): Oh peppermint...while most people associate peppermint with winter (and rightfully so), it's also a potent ally for autumn. Peppermint is incredibly aromatic, acting as a nervine tonic for anxiety, tension, and 'hysteria.' It is known to help clear brain fog, stimulate memory, and awaken the mind so you can see a clear path forward. It's incredibly energizing, giving you that push you need to plan ahead. Magically, peppermint is associated with abundance, increasing psychic powers, and overall health, making it perfect for planning ahead. Add peppermint to spells, rituals, and remedies to combat fatigue, reduce tension, and energize.

Other potential plant allies for planning ahead, wisdom, and overall brain health include sage (Salvia spp.), skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora), and ginkgo (Gingko biloba).

For Battling the Growing Shadow

As summer wanes, the shadow begins to grow over the Earth, leaving us with less and less daylight as the seasons turn to autumn and then winter. Feelings of melancholy are common during this shift and while herbs alone will not cure your depression or anxiety, they can certainly help. However, there is so much more to this darkness this time of year. As the veil begins to thin, unwanted negative entities find their way into our realm, and sometimes into our homes. Dispelling, fortifying, and protecting the home becomes critical this time of year, as darkness begets darkness.

Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis): I adore lemon balm for its protective and uplifting nature. Harvested from June through September, lemon balm is a potent natural antidepressant, its sedative oils helping to relieve depression, anxiety, and tension. It also causes mild vasodilation, allowing blood pressure to lower and therefore reducing stress. Magically, lemon balm is associated with happiness, renewal, and cleansing. Use lemon balm in spells, rituals, and remedies to bring happiness, dispel negativity, and renew the positive energy in you or your home.

Skullcap (Scutellaria laterifolia): What a suiting name for an autumnal herb that fights off depression and negativity! Skullcap is a sedative, nervine tonic that helps reduce nervous tension while renewing and revivifying the central nervous system. It is often used to treat depression, especially depression that includes exhaustion and fatigue. It is commonly harvested from August through September, making it perfect for this time of year. Magically, skullcap is associated with peace, calm, devotion, protection, and exorcisms. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove negative energy and bring peace and calm to any situation.

Valerian (Valeriana officinalis): Unearthed in late fall, valerian is a well-known sedative that has not only been used to treat insomnia, but also reduce tension, anxiety, and depression. It combines well with skullcap and lemon balm to create a potent antidepressant. While its most often magically associated with sleep, it's also associated with peace, relaxation, and even protection against lightning and evil. Use valerian in spells, rituals, and remedies to dispel depression, anxiety, and tension and bring peace and relaxation to your life.

Other potential plant allies for combating depression, anxiety, fatigue, and negativity include motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca), vervain (Verbena spp.), and St. Joan's Wort (Hypericum perforatum).

For An Ounce of Protection

Cooler weather means more time spent indoors and therefore more opportunities for pathogens to spread. While the cooler weather doesn't weaken our immune system, changes in our environment that increase stress and fatigue certainly do. "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound in cure" which is exactly what this recipe is. Preventing illness before it starts is far easier than trying to cure an illness once it starts.

Elderberry (Sambucus nigra): Elderberry is a favorite among herbalists for its wide array of uses, particularly its ability to fight off and prevent colds, fevers, and the flue. The bark and berries are collected from August through September and can be easily dried or made into a syrup that stores easily through the winter months. Magically, elderberry is associated with health (duh!), exorcism, purification, and protection. Include elderberries in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, general health and wellness, and to remove unwanted illnesses, negativity, or other unwanted entities from you and your home.

Garlic (Allium sativum): Commonly used in fire cider, garlic is a powerful healer and protector. Garlic is a natural antiseptic, helping prevent and treat infections caused by bacteria, viruses, parasites, and even fungi. It is used to treat and prevent colds, flu, coughs, and upper respiratory infections, reduce blood pressure, and lower cholesterol levels. It being a basic component in many recipes makes it even easier to consume and there are no known downsides to daily consumption. Magically, garlic is associated with protection, exorcism, dispelling negativity, and cleansing. Use it in spells, rituals, and remedies for protection, health, wellness, and the removal of anything unwanted and unwelcome.

Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus): Collected between July and October, nasturtium is a powerful antimicrobial, both topically and internally. It helps fight off and prevent the common cold and the flu as well as fight upper respiratory infections. Magically, it is associated with vitality, longevity, and balance. Use in spells, rituals, and remedies to prevent illness, strengthen your immune system or resolve, and bring balance internally and externally.

Other potential plant allies for an ounce of protection include milky oats (Avena sativa), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), and goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis).

For A Breath of Fresh Air

With cooler weather comes drier, harsher air and respiratory infections. On top of the weather, we also see an increase in allergy symptoms as an entirely different set of plants is blooming this time of year. Supporting respiratory health becomes paramount this time of year, as does speaking our truth. Just because the sun is waning and there is a chill in the air, does not mean that our voices should be silenced. As such, these plants will not only help you breathe easy, but also find that voice of yours.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra): Harvested in late fall, licorice root is an expectorant, demulcent, and antispasmodic, meaning it's perfect for treating bronchial problems such as bronchitis, coughs, and other respiratory infections. Magically, licorice is associated with love and lust, but also control, domination, and increasing magical power. As such, it can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies to remove obstacles, bind negativity, and control one's breath and voice and potentially that of another.

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris): Thyme is an extremely common and easy plant to grow. The flowering branches are best collected between June and August, and dry very well, allowing it to be used for months after harvest. Thyme is an antimicrobial expectorant, making it perfect to treat laryngitis, tonsillitis, sore throats, bronchitis, whooping cough, and asthma. Magically, thyme is used to invoke courage, banish negativity, heal, and attract happiness. Use thyme in spells, rituals, and remedies for finding and strengthening your voice, breathing easy, and removing negativity from your life.

Elecampane (Inula helenium): The rhizome of elecampane, also known as horse-heal or elfdock, is unearthed and harvested from September through October and used as an expectorant to treat coughs and bronchitis, especially among children, allowing for the removal of phlegm and catarrh. Elecampane contains chemicals that reduce inflammation, soothe irritation, and kill bacteria commonly associated with whooping cough and bronchitis. It has even been used to treat tuberculosis! It's incredibly fast-acting, reducing symptoms quickly and allowing the ill person to rest peacefully. Magically, it's associated with sustaining the spirit, protection, neutralizing negative energy, enhancing psychic abilities, and even aiding in trancework and shapeshifting. As such, elecampane can be used in spells, rituals, and remedies not only for lung support, but also to remove, protect against, and otherwise hide from illness, negativity, and other untoward creatures.

Other potential plant allies for supporting lung health, breathing easily, and finding one's voice include goldenrod (Solidago virgauria), mullein (Verbascum thapsus), plantain (Plantago spp.), and hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis).

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As the wheel turns toward autumn, these plant allies can help ensure you are happy and healthy for the coming months. Magically, they can empower and enrich your spells and rituals, timing them with seasonal changes and encouraging a bright and prosperous future. How you work with these plant allies is entirely up to you, but remember to always ask them for their assistance and thank them for whatever they provide for you in return. Maintaining these relationships is important and worthwhile.

Is there a plant you like to work with during the autumn months that I failed to include on this list? Let me know in the comments below!

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