Since the beginning of human history, healers and shamans have understood the nutritional, medicinal, and magical properties of herbs.

Whether you're well versed in magic but are just discovering herbs, or are new to Wicca altogether, this handy guide by popular author Lisa Chamberlain covers all the basics, from creating your own magical garden to gathering, harvesting, drying, and storing the herbs.

She centres the spells around 13 herbs, most easy to find and inexpensive: basil, bay laurel, chamomile, cinnamon, dandelion, elecampane, hibiscus, lavender, mugwort, nutmeg, rosemary, sage, and thyme. Because they're primarily culinary and/or medicinal herbs too, you'll have plenty of options for using the leftovers from your spell-work. The spells include magical teas, baths, and oils to smudging, blessing, and healing rituals.