If you have never used plant matter in magic before, I explain in detail in the column Plants, Herbs and Roots for Prosperity the different ways these substances can be practically used in rituals and everyday practice. In brief, the main methods of using plant material to summon protection are: carrying the substance on your person in a locket or a sachet, boiling the herb and sprinkling the residual water around your residence, putting a sprig of it under your bed or pillow, bathing in a distillation of it or burning it as incense. Also with love attracting, just keeping the living plant in your house can help increase your vibrations. Below I have detailed where an herb can be used for a specific protective purpose.
Ague Weed: A bath in this herb is alleged to banish evil spirits. This herb is also known as Boneset.
Agrimony: Is burned or sprinkled around the house to send bad spirits back to the sender.
Angelica: Worn on the person to protect from evil spirits, however a drawback of this herb is that it also may protect you from opportunities. Used formally in rites of exorcism to get rid of bad spirits. Brew into a tea it and sprinkle in the corners of a house to protect from evil spirits. It is also warn on the person in a locket or sachet for personal protection.
Anise: Stuffed under a pillow it protects from nightmares.
Ash: The branches can be shaken and rattled like a wand to cleanse a place of bad energy.
Asafoetida: Kept in a potpourri or burned for protection.
Bergamot: Usually used for money, but some sources say it can be used for personal protection and to attract good spirits as well.
Borage: Place in an area that is suspicious it is said to make the truth come out or have dishonesty, plots or secrets revealed.
Broom Tops: Boiled in salt water to keep evil spirits and ghosts away.
Caraway: Carry the seeds on your person to protect from disease and ill health. A few seeds in the clothing of a loved one are said to protect your marriage from infidelity.
Carnations: A bouquet of fresh or dried blossoms is said to protect the home and family from rivals and attackers of all sorts.
Camphor: Worn as a balm it is used to ward off physical attack or unwanted advances from others.
Cedar: The boughs or incense are burnt to protect the home from spirits. It also protects those in deep meditation or doing rituals from picking up unwanted energies and astral attack. It is toxic to reptiles and birds, however, so you should be careful using it if you have either as pets.
Coriander: Burn as an incense or wear the seeds on your person to protect against attack. Helps keep friends and lovers from accidents.
Deersbane: Burned to reveal bad energy or tell one the source of bad energy.
Dill: Sprinkle in a corner of a children’s room to protect them from harm.
Elder: A highly protective tree whose branches are burnt or kept in the home to save residents from accidents and attacks of all kinds.
Eucalyptus: Burnt in the home to protect the health from viruses, disease and plagues.
Geranium: Live bouquets, oil and incense are kept in the home to protect the family against attacks of all kinds and also disease. Worn as an oil to protect the health.
Heather: The sprigs are worn on the person or kept in the house to protect from evil spirits and unwanted attentions.
Lavender: Use a fresh bouquet, dried flowers, oil, perfume or incense to protect and shield your person and home from bad vibrations and negative people.
Marjoram: Sprinkled in the house for protection against accidents, burglars and unwanted visitors.
Myrtle: A sprig is kept above the front door for protection.
Motherwort: Burned or kept in sachets or lockets on the person for personal protection.
Pennyroyal: Burned to protect against domestic abuse and violence in the home.
Pine: A wreath of pine protects from bad spirits and attracts good spirits. The incense clears spaces of bad vibrations.
Snakeroot: Used to banish a person or thing from a home.
Rue: Rue Candles are burned for protection and the herb is burned to rid a space of bad thought forms and malevolent energies.
Slippery Elm: Place the herb in the place where you wish to get rid of slander or gossip. It may also be burned while sending bad thoughts back to the sender.
Vetivert: Wear the oil to protect yourself when you go out in dangerous or iffy situations.
About the Author
Sam Steven's metaphysical articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. You can meet Sam Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com where she is the staff writer. Currently she is studying technology's impact on the metaphysics.