Tips & Tricks to Survive the Broom Closet: Those who hide their true magickal identities from friends & family are known as dwellers in "the broom closet". Many who work with magick and witchcraft feel the need to constantly hide their practices, of...
DISCLAIMER: You are responsible for your own health. Research what you ingest. Know the potential rewards and know the limitations any natural substance has. Above all, research possible side effects and reactions. If you are currently taking medications, consult your health care professional before starting on any herbal regiment.
Plant magick is very potent. Plants contain vast amounts of the earth's energy, all four elements are involved in their growth, and many plants have centuries of associated folklore & superstition. Not to mention, some plants have scientifically proven medicinal uses too.
Herbs can be useful for broom dwellers as there are ways to use them that don't cause much suspicion. You can easily add certain herbs with healing associations to a dish with the intention of healing the consumer; while the consumer doesn't know you're using magick, you do!
Where to get plants, herbs & spices
🍽️ Check your kitchen: Before you go out and buy anything, check your spice rack and see what you've already got. A lot of the most common seasoning ingredients have magickal properties that can be used in witchcraft. For example, black pepper is associated with courage & banishing negativity, rosemary is connected with good health, purification, & memory, and thyme attracts loyalty & affection.
💰 Buying herbs: You can buy herbs online or from New Age stores, however I recommend to buy your herbs from grocery stores. This is because you want to buy food-grade herbs so they are safe for consumption; this is not always the case when buying online or from New Age stores. It makes no difference to the magick if your herbs are fresh or dried; you can buy live plants or spice jars. The only difference is that fresh and dried herbs are better suited to some practical purposes over others, e.g. dried herbs are good for making powders, whereas fresh herbs are good garnishing dishes. Here's an extra tip: Consider buying teabags. You can get lots of different types that contain different herbs. Nothing feels more witchy than sipping a herbal, magick-infused tea on a cold winter's morning. Teabags are also a great way for closet witches to obtain herbs; if you don't want to brew tea then you can cut open the bags and use the herbs inside.
🌱 Cultivating your own: A lot of common plants and herbs are very easy to grow yourself. If you have a garden, you can dedicate a space to grow herbs, or grow them in pots. If you don't have a garden, many herbs can be grown by the windowsill, or you can buy a home hydroponics kit (example pictured below). Cultivating your own ingredients is rewarding because you can grow your plants organically, imbue your plants with magick as they're growing, and harvest them with a magickal ritual.
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🌿 Foraging: This method is more risky if you are new to foraging, but if you know what you are doing then foraging can be very beneficial, and also free! Some very powerful plants can be found growing against the side of the road - even common weeds like dandelions, nettles, and blackberries contain potent magick. Before foraging, make sure you check your country's laws, ask for landowner permission if necessary, and make sure you research plant identification thoroughly (identifying plants incorrectly can be deadly!).
