My Favorite Tarot Decks for Herbalists & Plant Folk

As an herbalist who reads the tarot (and a tarot reader who talks with plants), I'd thought I'd share with you some of my favorite tarot decks with herbal themes. I’d also thought it also be of interest to folks who are following along with my project of the year - tarot and tea practices for each of the twelve signs of the zodiac.

We are living in abundant times when it comes to tarot decks and many feature botanical imagery, but the connection between tarot and the plant world is nothing new as the cards have long been connected to plant lore, healing, and magick. As an herbalist, I use tarot in my healing practice and as a tool to help folks connect with plant allies. While, the deck that I most often use for myself is the very first deck I ever purchased - my beloved Smith-Waite Tarot that came in the blue box set - is full of botanical imagery and meaning, it's not the only deck I turn to when looking for plant-rich imagery.(1) When I'm in the mood for something a bit different or reading for or with others, the following decks are what I've been turning to in recent years. 

These are certainly not the only plant-themed tarot decks out there and I'm planning on a second part to this post where I also include a few of my favorite oracle decks (in which there are many, many more of them when compared to tarot decks). I've also tried to include a mix of mass market and indie decks, being mindful of the varying budgets of my readers who might be interested in picking up a plant-centered deck of their own.

So let's meet the cards!

The Herbcrafter’s Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert & Latisha Guthrie

The Herbcrafter's Tarot

Here's the thing. For years and years I wanted a tarot deck that was made for and by herbalists that I could connect to. When I was gifted a copy of The Herbcrafter's Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert and Latisha Guthrie out of the blue (not by the creators themselves, but a friend of a friend), I felt such expansive joy. Friends, this is a lovely deck and it arrived at a particularly potent turning point in my own practice. My first reading with the deck was at twilight, sitting amongst Roses (Rosa spp.) on the Land I live with and it reads like a dream. In fact, I highly recommend reading with this deck outside if you can, especially the first few times you work with it. 

The art of The Herbcrafter's Tarot is rich and evocative, relying on a relatively uncommon medium for tarot decks (colored pencils), that Colbert is recognizable for (she is the creator of The Gaian Tarot, a diverse and inclusive deck published little over a decade ago). The deck celebrates the mixed heritage of the designers (Celtic and Mexican-American), including renaming the court cards with Spanish names and with the landscapes that appear throughout the deck. The guidebook is lovely, with a number of ways to connect with the cards both through key ideas, longer description, and activities inspired by the plants featured on each.

The Herbcrafter’s Tarot by Joanna Powell Colbert & Latisha Guthrie

The court cards are some of my favorites in the deck. Instead of having human figures throughout the deck, the cards focus on plants and their habitats, including wild places and home spaces like altars and kitchens. It's only on the court cards that we see just the arms or hands of folks - no faces or any other parts of the body - and they are young hands, old crone hands, working and resting hands. They are some of my favorite interpretations of the court cards of any deck I've worked with. While the absence of human figures doing things in most of the cards might feel intimidating to read to some, the cards are so beautifully thought out in their composition that the plants are alive and singing with story. The deck evokes a feeling of being present to the work of herbcrafting in a way that I've not experienced with another deck.

Of the three decks I'll be in this post, The Herbcrafter's Tarot is the most obviously plant-based one and is explicitly made for and by herbalists. This is the deck I've started to bring with me to in-person classes and the one that I find myself just shuffling through because I enjoy the art so much. It's also obviously designed by an herbalist who understands both the practical as well as magickal uses of plant medicine which I really appreciate and is not always a given with cards that feature a lot of botanical imagery. I really can't recommend this deck enough and I hope you get to hold a copy in your hands one day.

The Future Ancestor’s Tarot by Alexa Villanueva

The Future Ancestor Tarot

There's something really special about The Future Ancestor Tarot by Alexa Villanueva of Lexa Luna Studio. The deck was created during 2020 and carries an energy of making space for and exploring grief, as well as what it means to connect with our beloved living ones when they have traveled to the land of the ancestors, and what our own ancestral becoming looks like while we're still living. 

Of the three decks featured in this post, The Future Ancestor Tarot has the simplest aesthetic and yet no meaning or depth of interpretation is lost. There are calm gestures, furrowed brows, sweet embraces, and the difficult to name feeling that comes from experiencing profound peace amidst a storm of grief. These cards convey, through their images and energy, the feeling I often experience when sitting in a herbal session or class with someone. I know that this is in part because I purposefully make space for grief to be expressed and explored during these times and so often grief arrives as an honored guest in these moments, and The Future Ancestor Tarot seems to treat grieving with the same reverence. And that's also why it's such a sweet and joyful deck for me - it makes space for the difficult moments, so that we can experience all of our feelings with as little fear as is possible in any given time.

The Future Ancestor’s Tarot by Alexa Villanueva

Then there are the plants on each card which makes these bits of paper and the characters and spirits which inhabit them that much more alive. The renamed court cards feel particularly suited to my own herbal practice and I'm sure will resonate with many of you. The Pages have become the Students, the Knights are Explorers, the Queens are Listeners, and the Kings are Makers. The renamed Queens feel particularly powerful and they are some of my favorite cards, which is not traditionally the case for me with Queen cards in other decks. And speaking of favorites - The Star card is one of the images from the tarot that I love the most and The Star in The Future Ancestor Tarot is so beautiful that it makes my heart break open just a little wider every time I see it.

I think that this deck would sing well to those folks who appreciate a more intuitive than strictly traditional approach to tarot. The images reference the RWS system enough to guide you, but are also so unique and inviting for those who like a more open-ended approach to tarot. Just in life, the plants featured on each card are constant companions that we share space with and every card in this deck feels like there's a secret recipe hidden within them.(2) One of the other reasons I like this deck so much is that it is visually similar to my favorite black and white tarot deck, Thea's Tarot by Ruth West. The Future Ancestor Tarot feels like the soft little sibling or nibling of Thea's Tarot and I hope that comes across as the compliment that it is. The energy of the deck is so inviting and would be wonderful to use with clients in one-on-one sessions or with a whole class of plant-hearted folk. Currently, the deck comes with a little one page guide, but you can also join me in supporting Villanueva as she writes the full guidebook to the deck which I'm looking forward to reading!

The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot by Phyllis Currott & Danielle Barlow

The Witches' Wisdom Tarot

Look, there was little doubt that I wasn't going to love a deck produced in collaboration by Phyllis Currott (I re-read her autobiography over and over again as a young witch) and Danielle Barlow (a Dartmoor based artist who I've been a fan of for years and years). First, I like the deck because it experiments with the RWS system in interesting but meaningful ways, which helps readers to approach familiar systems in new ways. I like fresh takes on old practices and The Witches' Wisdom Tarot does this while still feeling traditional. The deck really shines with Barlow's depictions of plant and animal life which show up on every card and Currot's interpretation of the cards feel full of the wisdom carried by an elder of the Craft without becoming stuffy or rote.  

As an herbalist, I appreciate how much the botanical images correspond with the meanings of each card. Sometimes herbal decks can feel more like flashcards than living oracles, but The Witches' Wisdom Tarot avoids this with Barlow's paintings which reflect her own love and connection with plant and animal life. The Ace of Water (Cups) card, for example, is so beautifully depicted as a lush and watery space, capturing the movement, complexity, and sensitivity of the emotional worlds that the Cups represent in tarot. I just love the life and lushness of The Witches' Wisdom Tarot and the way that it reflects the spirit of interconnectedness between all living beings. 

The Witches’ Wisdom Tarot by Phyllis Currott & Danielle Barlow

If you're a Witch (and especially some variation of Pagan Witch), this might be a deck that speaks the most to you out of the three I've featured today. The Witches' Wisdom Tarot is a world unto its own that draws you in and it's a space that I love to visit. It's a deck that is meant to be journeyed with, displayed on your altar, and included in acts of magick. 

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Do you have a favorite plant-inspired or botanically focused deck to work with? Are you feeling inspired to work with one that I've described above? 

If you're looking for more posts about tarot, including a whole collection of spreads, come this way. I've also written a whole post on incorporating tarot into your healing practice and if you're wanting to learn about the intersections of herbal medicine and the tarot, I explore that in-depth in The Tarot Apothecary.

Wherever your tarot journeys take you, may you experience revelation and the sort of reconciliation that occurs when we're able to sit with ourselves and realize that we're sitting in a vast web of life - all of us just singing our spirits home.

This post was made possible through patron support.
❤︎ Thanks, friends. ❤︎

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Notes

(1) The set is called The Original Rider Waite Tarot Pack and is still available today. There are so many versions of the RWS deck out there these days, but this remains my favorite version because it's the one I grew up with. The Smith-Waite Tarot Centennial Deck is a close second and I actually carry the tin version of this deck with me wherever I go.

(2) And yes, I'm thinking I might try and summon them from the liminal space that they live in and create a book of 78 tea recipes for my own enjoyment…

The Foundation Bones : The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Pentacles

I am doing a guest post series on the amazing Little Red Tarot blog all about Tarot + Herbalism. Little Red Tarot is the home of Beth Maiden who has created an intelligent and inspiring alternative community for us Tarot folk who are queer, rebellious, multi-cultural, and rad. I hope you enjoy the latest installation in the series all about the herbal wisdom of the suit of pentacles!

All cards shown in this post are from The World Spirit Tarot by Jessica Godino + Lauren O'Leary.

Check out the other posts in the Herbal Tarot Wisdom Series:

• The Windswept Garden: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Swords

• The Well of Memory : The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Cups

• The Flame of Desire: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Wands

• The Foundation Bones: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Pentacles

We end our journey through the herbal wisdom of the tarot together in the realm of Earth and the suit of Pentacles.

In the northern hemisphere the element of Earth is placed in the North, while it finds its home in the South in the southern hemisphere.

The Pentacles are the suit of foundations, abundance, and security.

They represent the moments we feel most sovereign in our lives. The suit of Pentacles can also represent burden (especially financial and physical burden), stagnation, and the hardening of the spirit through the traumatic experiences.

When many Pentacles are cast in a spread, I pay attention to foundations – are they sturdy or are they falling apart? I ask questions about whether or not the querent feels empowered in their life or if they feel they lack sovereignty.

The suit of Pentacles asks us to seek out the green, abundant spaces in our life. If we lack such places, we must learn to grow them. If they have become overgrown, we must learn to find the sunlight again to nourish our roots. We are asked to look at our own personal garden habitats especially at the edges where we connect with the gardens of others.

The suit of Pentacles is often seen as the most practical of the four suits, investigating our physical and mundane life, especially the areas of survival including food, shelter, and resources. Money is a keyword that comes up regularly with the suit of Pentacles but that can be limiting when trying to understand the full diverse nature of the Pentacles. Abundance and security of resources add further nuance and depth since we can live abundant lives without an abundance of money because we recognize the security of resources we have access to. I do believe that recognizing abundance in your life (no matter how small it may seem or insignificant to others) is a way to cultivate more abundance in your life and the lives of others. It is about recognizing the resources we do have, especially when faced against overcultures and oppressive systems that seem to have all the money. They might have the money, but damn, do we have the heart and we know how to grow it.

There is also a lot tied up in the concept of worth in the suit of Pentacles.

Am doing work that feels it has worth? How do I feel unworthy in my life or seen as lacking worth in the society at large? Do I feel like I am living in a way that I feel makes my life worthy and valuable to me? When I sit with clients for our first intake, one of the questions I ask them is about the quality of the life and what they do feel they have in abundance. If the question is difficult for them, their homework, along with their herbal remedies, is to explore these questions more in-depth. If you’re pulling lots of Pentacles, you might consider such an exercise, too.

So what are the herbs of earth and abundance?

In general, herbs that are nutritive, alterative, immunomodulating, cooling, and sedating are considered qualities of Earth. Additionally, I consider many herbs that have been classically categorized as panaceas or “heal-alls” as Earth herbs because they often deal with multiple body systems and are restorative to the body, mind, and spirit.

I think about gentle herbs that are deeply nourishing and will act as the foundation for me to build my recipe on such as Milky Oat (Avena sativa) andLemon Balm (Melissa officinalis). 

Elder (Sambucus nigra) is my herb of choice when inviting in the grounding, restorative, and immunomodulating energies of Earth. Elder is known as the Elder Mother and Tree of Medicine in many European folklores and is considered intimately tied with the world of the Good Folk. I can attest to her magick. She is also a badass and is not interested in nonsense – whether the nonsense of a lingering cold or the nonsense of poor boundaries or lack of self-care. Elder is an immunomodulating herb, which means it helps bring our immune system back into balance, and is an incredibly effective protective herb against the ‘flu and other viruses. The herb is chock-full of flavonoids which “bind and disarm hemagglutinins, tiny viral spikes covered with the enzyme neuraminidase, which allows the virus to penetrate cellular membranes” (Brigitte Mars, Desktop Guide to Herbal Medicine). This is in part why Elder remains effective against multiple flu strains year after year.

The berries are more grounding, while the flowers are more elevating and are especially good for ear complaints. Elder clears out toxins from the gut and cools and warms body systems as needed to return the body to health. The Elder Mother can be worked with in multiple ways: you can approach her simply for assistance with rebalancing your immune system and as a cold and ‘flu preventative or you can engage her on a more magickal level. (Keep scrolling to learn more under the Mentor of Pentacles…)

Basil (Ocimum spp.) is a great herb for diffusing an over-abundance of slow, stagnant earth energy in your life. An herb of dragons named after the mighty basilisks that haunt mountains and caves, Basil has a special skill of moving heat and energy through the body. As part of its healing qualities, Basil also stokes our inner digestive fires, helping us burn off toxins and remove them from our bodies. The herb is uplifting and cheering to the spirit. It wakes us up with gentle stimulation and then relaxes the brain and nervous system (you can experience this by tensing your body and then relaxing at once – the relaxation is deeper after the tension). The herb works on both sympathetic and parasympathetic sides of the autonomic nervous system helping the two aspects find balance instead of swinging to one extreme. Basil is one of my favorite herbs for brain fog and to promote cerebral stimulation. I use all kinds of Basil in my practice from the Sacred Basils (Ocimum sanctum, Ocimum tenuiflorum) and your common sweet or garden variety Basil (Ocimum basilicum). I actually think Basil and Elder work well together when more heat is needed in the system in addition to immunomodulating qualities (and especially when you need some badassery in your life).

The Pentacles Court Cards

Seeker of Pentacles: Rosemary

Whether brief or lasting years, many of us have had an experience of feeling sovereign and secure in our bodies. The Seeker of Pentacles is a card of tranquil manifestation where all the parts (the spirit and body comfortably intertwined) come together and what we have desired is coming into being. Yet, many of us know how easy it is for the spirit to be frightened from the body and for reactivity and symptoms trauma to take its place.

The essence of Rosemary helps call the spirit back to the body by helping us to re-member (to put back together) our sense of sovereignty and security in the world. The essence is helpful when disassociation has turned from a useful tool for dealing with the complexity of life to a chronic condition where the consciousness exists less and less in the body. Rosemary helps us to be fully present in our body and life, so that we can nurture the garden of our existence.

Apprentice of Pentacles: Dandelion

The suit of Pentacles deals a lot with work and the work that we find worthwhile. Through the suit of Pentacles we learn to grow the routine and follow-through of work and step out of or avoid the stagnation that we can fall into. The Apprentice of Pentacles embodies the gifts of routine and rhythm and why both are important for longevity of practice and worthwhile work. When the Apprentice of Pentacles is out of balance they can become apathetic and stagnant, but so rigid that they resist change, which is why an essence like Dandelion can be so useful.

Dandelion flower essence can serve two purposes for the Apprentice of Pentacles: it infuses the spirit with sturdiness but also helps us embrace change. The energy is grounding, but freeing which helps our very earthy Apprentice or Knight remember that they are the movers and messengers of the court cards. The essence is also important if you do any sort of social justice work as it helps us tap into the deep reserves of renewing energy that the earth provides.

Artist of Pentacles: Oak

If you ever struggle to connect with the idea of your body and life as a garden that needs care, spend time connecting with the Artist of Pentacles. The Artist of Pentacles is the most magickal of gardeners, tending to the soil, the thorn and flower, and the fruit and berry, with tender care. Their endurance is legendary, their commitment unwavering. They carefully cultivates their resources and has an abundance of nourishing compassion. Yet, they can fall into patterns of overwork and over-giving, stretching themselves thin in an attempt to take care of it all. When offered time to rest and slow down, they say they don’t have the time or luxury to do so, which is why Oak flower essence is such a great ally for them.

Oak helps us to take time off and enjoy the fruits of our labors instead of always feeling a need to give them away. The essence is also very useful for assisting recovery after a long period of illness. Oak helps to lighten the load that the Artist of Pentacles carries.

Mentor of Pentacles: Elder

I’ve talked a lot of about sovereignty so far in relation to developing and reconnecting with your self-sovereignty. The suit of Pentacles, though, also embodies the other side other side of the coin which is authoritative dominance. The Mentor of Pentacles is a wonderful teacher and guide when they demonstrating stability, dependability, self-control, and discipline. They become a tyrant when they seek to dominate others and seek power-over as opposed to power-with. When these patterns arise, Elder calls us out and then invites us in. Elder smashes the idea that to be powerful we must overpower others. She smashes it and devours it and lets it decay.

A wounded Mentor of Pentacles is one with low self-esteem and someone who has lost their sense of worth – in turn they have set about to try and take the esteem and worth of others. Elder flower essence can stop us in our tracks, resetting our destructive powers, and calling us to accountability. Alternatively, if you are someone who has yet to step into your power, embodying the strength of the Mentor of Pentacles, Elder can also be an ally. She won’t mess around or coddle you, but she’ll help you learn how to stand up for yourself, speak boldly in the world, and to know the abundance and worthiness of all your parts.

Herbal Powders

Herbal Powders are a great way to enjoy whole plant medicine and I have used them as a great alcohol-free alternative to tinctures since the early days of my practice. Not only can Herbal Powders be used internally, but many can be used externally as well. In addition to some simple instructions on how to make your own herbal powders, I’ll also suggest the many ways you can use them, whether homemade or purchased from a reputable source.

Making herbal powders can be time intensive, but very simple. You’ll need some sort of grinding device, whether a mortar and pestle, blender, or electric grinder. Grind down the herbs as much as possible, removing any large chunks of un-grindable bits. Then, using a mess strainer, sift the fine powder from the unground herb. It takes time but it’s quite easy, even meditative, to make herbal powders.

Suggested uses for herbal powders:

• Add them to smoothies, juices, or water. Adding herbal powders to smoothies is my most favorite way of ingesting them.

• Mix with honey to make an electuary. You can enjoy spoonfuls of your herbal honey or add it to hot water for an instant tea. I like to • take a small jar of herbal honey with me when I travel as it is a great way to enjoy my daily herbs as well as a sweet treat while on the road.

• Create your own tooth powder.Tooth powders are amazing!

• Use herbal powders topically as poultices and drawing powders. Depending on the herb you’re using you can make a soothing • poultice for muscles aches or a drawing powder for wounds and infections.

• Use them magickally! You can sprinkle and cast them, create sigils with them, carry in charms, or burn herbal powders as incense.

How will you connect with the earth energy of the suit of Pentacles? Post your experiences below as well as any questions you might have about the information already shared. I have very much enjoyed my sojourn these past few months in the Little Red Tarot community and I hope to continue to connect with you in spaces like the Alternative Tarot Network (I’m wortsandcunning on there). Until then, grow wild, clever ones!

The Flame of Desire : The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Wands

I am doing a guest post series on the amazing Little Red Tarot blog all about Tarot + Herbalism. Little Red Tarot is the home of Beth Maiden who has created an intelligent and inspiring alternative community to us Tarot folk who are queer, rebellious, multi-cultural, and rad. I hope you enjoy the latest installation in the series all about the herbal wisdom of the suit of wands!

All cards shown in this post are from the Greenwood Tarot by Chesca Potter.

Check out the other posts in the Herbal Tarot Wisdom Series:

• The Windswept Garden: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Swords
• The Well of Memory : The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Cups
• The Flame of Desire: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Wands
• The Foundation Bones: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Pentacles

We enter now into the realm of fire, a place of heat, movement, and inspiration. In the northern hemisphere, the place of fire is said to be in the south, where the sun is strongest, while in the southern hemisphere, fire is strongest in the north. We have come to know our power through the thought-centered realm of air and the swords and the emotion-rich waterscape of cups. Now, in fire, with the wand as our tool, we learn how to direct our power through the focus of our will. The Wands are a suit of creativity, will, life-callings, and they represent what fires us up. They are also the cards that reveal where we are burnt-out, lacking will, or lacking the ability to direct our power with wise discernment. When there is an appearance of multiple wands in a spread, I pay attention to not only what is burning, but what is illuminated by that light. For we burn bright to not only know our own brightness, but to reveal the place where we have come from, where we’re at, where we might be going, and who we’re with on our journey.

One of the keywords for the suit of wands is creativity, connecting our creative output with our fiery impulses. Or what it is that gets us fired up and excited. I think creativity can be a useful word to associate with the suit of wands, but I also think that creativity shows up regularly in all of the suits. What I do think is more unique to the suit of wands and the element of fire is the idea of will. Where there is a will there is a way, goes the old English saying, and I think that this is a great guiding keystone phrase for the suit of wands. Our will is the way that we direct our power in the world. So, looking at the Two of Wands we might ask, where do you want to direct your power? In other words, what is the way of your will? Whereas with the Ten of Wands we might ask, are you walking the way of will or are you too burdened and burnt out to know what direction you’re headed? I often use the word desire in my practice which describes that which we desire most in the world and how we are going about seeking it. It is desire of a most sacred kind and the suit of Wands can be very useful in helping us understand how connected we are to our true desire, how much we are living a life which nourishes our desire or where we may have lost connection with our desire along the way. Burnout, a condition that the suit of wands can be very helpful in pointing out, is when we lack desire and we need to take time to be gentle with ourselves so that we might reconnect with our desire in a more sustainable way.

Thinking about desire, burnout, the life-giving heat, and the intensity that the suit of swords and the element of fire can bring, I connect to two different kinds of herbs: warming stimulants and cooling nervines. The first type of herb is warming, invigorating, and sometimes stimulating, such as Ginger (Zingiber officinalis). The second type of herb is cooling, moistening, and has nervine qualities, because while heat is necessary for life, too much leads to its decline. Sometimes, fiery herbs such as Ginger can help us to direct our own inner heat, but other times we need the cooling touch of herbs like Lemon Balm, to regulate an overheated system.

Ginger (Zingiber officinalis) is one of my favorite fiery herbs. It is warming and enlivening without being too stimulating, helping energy move with ease to all parts of our body. Ginger is a circulatory tonic, aids in the production of digestive fire, and is awakening to our immune system. Though it is a warming herb, it is also anti-inflammatory, helping to relieve the pain and discomfort of arthritis and sore muscles when taken internally and used topically. Ginger is also a classic remedy for motion sickness and can be used for general motion sickness as well as nausea brought on by the hormonal changes of pregnancy. I use Ginger when when there are signs of coldness (such as a cold digestion, cold and stagnant menstruation or cold hands and feet signifying poor circulation), stagnation, and general lack of vital fire. A cold digestion can be detected by lack of proper absorption of nutrients from food, slow movement of waste through the intestines, dull cramping, and gas. In other words, the digestive fires have been compromised and Ginger warms the stomach and digestive tract and gently cultivates inner fire. Ginger administered in foot and hand baths is a very enjoyable way of using the herb to relieve cold and ‘flu symptoms (especially when chills are present and there is respiratory congestion), as well as alleviating migraines and headaches (for those whose headaches are made worse in cold conditions or brought on by cold). The herb is also useful for maintaining energy levels whether for athletic competitions, study or during labor. For re-igniting fire where there is lack, Ginger is a fantastic ally!

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is my herb of choice for diffusing fiery energies that have run amok, whether or not someone is in the process of burning too hot or have already burnt out. Where there is excess heat, Lemon Balm cools. The herb calms the heart, settles the mind, and reduces anxiety, especially after a period of overheated overdoing it. Where Ginger is stimulating, Lemon Balm is sedating, but not in a zonked-out sort of way, but in a meditative focused kind of calm. The herb is sour in taste, too, which balances out the heat and spice of fire. If you have overworked your adrenals and your nervous system feels as frayed as an old rug, Lemon Balm might be the soothing ally for you. Indications for Lemon Balm include palpitations, muscle spasms, anxiety and panic attacks, and nervous indigestion. The herb is useful for regaining focus, improving memory, and elevating the mood. For anxiety, Lemon Balm can be enjoyed as a daily tea to rebuild our nervous system, nourish our adrenals, and restore our sense of calm and self-worth. In many ways, Lemon Balm is the herb which wipes clean a clouded compass, guiding us back to our fire. The Latin binomial of the name indicates its sacred heritage, as Melissa refers to the bee priestesses of ancient Greece. Bees were (and are, by some, including myself) to be the messengers of the God/dess/es. I think that Lemon Balm opens the way for our heart to hear the sacred message within us that is always guiding us back home to ourselves.

The Wand Court Cards

Seeker of Wands: Chamomile

The Seeker of Wands is quick-spirited and contemplative, two energies which can be difficult for anyone to balance. The gift of the Seeker of Wands is that they embody the potential of fire. Chamomile Flower Essence helps the Seeker of Wands to move towards their dreams but first take a look at where there dreams are asking them to go. The Seeker of Wands has so much passion for all the things that they are inspired easily and inspire others easily, as well, but they don’t always know how to manifest their inspiration into action. Chamomile is useful for balancing out the inspired spontaneity and the drive to get stuff done that the Seeker of Wands can oscillate between. The essence supports the Seeker of Wand’s bright disposition and strengthens their ability to dance through the material world that doesn’t always recognize the needed insight of inspiration. For the Seeker of Wands who may feel like they’ve lost their spark, pay attention to the belly area. Is there tension or indigestion? Chamomile essence, as well as herb, can help pull out the settled stagnant energies from the belly and root of the body, back to the heart, and mind, helping inspiration to flow freely again.

Apprentice of Wands: Sweet Orange Blossom

“Let’s go!” Shouts the Apprentice of Wands with great exuberance as they take off for the horizon. The Apprentice of Wands is passionate and impulsive, adventurous and action-oriented. Their keyword is not think or feel but do which can sometimes lead them being energetically scattered, inappropriately impulsive, and possessing a low tolerance for feeling frustrated. The Apprentice of Wands is on a journey whether or not anyone else understands what their underlying impulse for the adventure might be. So I chose Sweet Orange Blossom, which is an essence that helps us journey from one part of our life to the next with clarity and wisdom. Sweet Orange Blossom is an essence of transitions, whether that is a transition between being a student to becoming the teacher or the transition from one fundamental identity form to another. The essence sweetens the way, opening up paths of opportunity, but more importantly it helps us to understand what we are bringing with us, what we need to leave behind, and to have certainty in the steps we are taking. We need fiery Apprentices of Wands to just go for it and hopefully, with the aid of their allies and community, both people and plant, they will be able to be bright lights of “heck yeah, let’s do this!” for a long time yet.

Artist of Wands: Hawthorn

The Artist of Wands is determined to see their desire made manifest. It might be a desire to bring about revolution or to become the next big thing in geophysics, but whatever it is they have the determination to get it done. The Artist of Wands is committed and vibrant, embodying the life-giving forces of fire. For without the heat of life we are cold and dead. When the Artist of Wands is out-of-balance they can swing in one of two directions: either they become overbearing in their ambitions to the detriment of others or they completely forget their fire and retreat from the creativity of life. While the Seeker of Wands embodies potential and the Apprentice of Wands acts before thinking, the Artist of Wands speaks from the fires of their heart and says what everyone fears will burn down the systems or social contracts that be. Sometimes this fiery truth is welcome and other times it is denied and denigrated. I chose Hawthorn Flower Essence for the Artist of Wands because the herb has a complicated heritage and personality. Medicinally and magickally, the herb relates to the heart and its strength and protection. It is also an herb of the Good Folk, who speak in riddled truths, and the hedge of Hawthorn is the boundaries between our world and theirs. The plant has a smell that some find to be heady and erotic, but others think stink of death. So it is with the powers of the Artist of Wands, who can be a divisive figure, but also a magickal one. The essence of Hawthorn will help our Artist of Wands protect their heart and/or reopen it as they speak their truth in the world. Additionally, the essence helps the Artist of Wands see the interconnectedness of the many worlds that we exist in and how we must understand the intersections of our access through all of these worlds to be able to effectively bring about change in all aspects of our lives. Hawthorn says to trust your fire over the fear of the burn.

Mentor of Wands: Rose

Whether in commitment to personal changes in our lives or the greater need for social change, we need longevity in our change and the Mentor of Wands helps us to learn just that. The Mentor of Wands possesses the gifts of long-term vision, the appreciation of a good challenge, and the fiery-hearted commitment to achieving their goals and the goals of whatever community they are part of. An out-of-balance Mentor of Wands can turn into a cult of personality, with an out-of-check ego, and an aggressiveness that cares little for the needs of others. Enter the Rose and its sacred essence of wise longevity. The Rose and similar many-petaled flowers such as the Lotus, is one of our most ancient symbols of sacred mystery. The essences teaches us that wisdom is a multi-layered path that requires both attentiveness and patience in order to follow. As 13th Century poet and mystic, Jalāl ad-Dīn Muhammad Rūmī wrote of the Rose:

Patience is not sitting and waiting, it is foreseeing. It is looking at the thorn and seeing the rose, looking at the night and seeing the day. Lovers are patient and know that the moon needs time to become full.

What a beautiful Mentor of Wands sentiment, reminding us that we must have vision and patience in order to meet the future we so desire. Rose Flower Essence restores hope, cultivates self-worth, and helps our Mentor of Wands experience the power of communal wisdom. Rose essence feeds the heart-fire of purpose and desire and is especially useful for folks who have been on the front lines of organizing and change, but now need to return home to themselves so that they can digest what they have learned and grow in their wisdom by sharing it with others.

Herbal Candles

Herbal candles are an easy way to incorporate the suit of wands and the element of fire into your magickal practice. The herbal candles can be as simple or complicated as you like and I give a number of possibilities for how to create one for your magickal work.

• Super Easy Seven Day Herbal Candles. Simply add a few pinches of your herbs of choice to the top of a seven day candle that is encased in glass while focusing on your attention. Voilà! So very easy!
• Oily Herb Candles. You will need a piece of parchment paper or similar easy to clean surface, a taper or pillar candle, a magickal oil of choice (which can be as simple as some olive oil), and your herbs. I recommend at least partially powdering your herbs for ease of application. Start by oiling or dressing your candle from the middle of the pillar downwards and then from the middle of the pillar upwards. This is an opportunity to begin to charge your candle with your intention. Sprinkle some of your herbs on the parchment paper and the roll the oiled or dressed candle through the herbs. At this point you are further infusing your candle with your intention as you draw the powers of the herbs onto the candle. Your candle is now ready to be burned in a fire safe container or holder.
• Waxed Herbal Candles. You will need a paper to catch the wax droppings, a taper candle to dress with herbs and wax, and another candle to use for wax drippings, as well as your herbs of choice. I like to use un-powdered herbs for these candles. Place your taper candle that you are going to dress on the paper and place a few pieces of your herbs on top of it. Light your other candle and begin to drip wax over the herbs. You don’t need to cover the herbs completely with wax, but enough so that they will stay on your candle. Continue to turn and add herbs to your candle while dripping wax. Again, this whole time is an opportunity to focus on your intention for your magickal work. Once your candle is ready burn it in a fire safe container or holder.
• Loaded Tea Light + Short Pillar Candles. Another way of creating an herbal candle is by “loading” it with herbs. You can dig out a small bit of wax from the top of a tealight or the bottom of a short pillar candle. Tip! If you’re using a metal implement to carve out the wax, warm it first with hot water so that the wax is easier to cut. Once you’ve made a small hole, pack it with your powdered herbs of choice. You can cover the hole again with wax and then it is ready to be used in your magickal workings.

How will you connect with the fire of the suit of wands? Post your experiences below as well as any questions you might have about the information already shared. Next time we’ll be exploring the suit of pentacles and the element of earth. Until then, burn bright, clever ones!

The Windswept Garden: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Swords

I am doing a guest post series on the amazing Little Red Tarot blog all about Tarot + Herbalism. Little Red Tarot is the home of Beth Maiden who has created an intelligent and inspiring alternative community to us Tarot folk who are queer, rebellious, multi-cultural, and rad. I hope you enjoy the latest installation in the series all about the herbal wisdom of the suit of swords!

All cards shown in this post are from Thea's Tarot.

Check out the other posts in the Herbal Tarot Wisdom Series:

• The Windswept Garden: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Swords

• The Well of Memory : The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Cups

• The Flame of Desire: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Wands

• The Foundation Bones: The Herbal Wisdom of the Suit of Pentacles

Our journey through the world of tarot and herbalism begins with the suit of swords and element of air. In many western esoteric traditions, the direction of east and air is honored as a place of beginnings. The east is where the sun rises each day and it is in the suit of swords that we learn to speak and express ourselves when we engage the illuminating path of tarot. In my experience, the suit of swords is also the area that most often illuminates conflict, challenges, miscommunication, and injustice in a reading. Swords are sharp and swing both ways - they represent our thoughts and words which can lift us up in one moment and tear us down in the next. They are the doublespeak of advertising and politics as well as the sacred charm and song of revolution. Swords are also the suit of illumination, inspiration, and knowledge before it alchemizes into wisdom, and risk-taking. The swords hold incredible power, so when lots of swords show up in a spread I know to pay attention to what is in motion.

Swords can represent mental tension, stress, and a busy brain. We live in a hyper-connected suit of swords time with a constant barrage of social media shouting and an ever increasing consumption of media. It becomes harder to take moments just for ourselves - quiet moments of tea time become an opportunity to connect with a multitude of followers via instagram. Suddenly a quiet pleasure-centered moment where we might settle into our bodies becomes a moment to get in our heads, our of the moment, and rack up likes. Such is a very out-of-balance swords world we live in.

Connecting the swords to herbalism, I think about plants that quiet hurried thoughts, release tension, and bring about a sense of ease. I welcome in plants that ease heartache (especially when the three of swords shows up) and take the edge off. I call to plants that enliven the mind where new ideas are needed and to clear out sluggishness which may have settled into the mind.

Peppermint (Mentha piperita) is a enlivening herb which cuts through mental fog and I love it for invoking the clarifying powers of the swords. When the winds are tossing about emotionally and mentally, we can find ourselves in a state of tension and stress. Gently antispasmodic and a classic digestive, Peppermint relieves tension and the complaints of indigestion including gas, nausea, and intestinal cramping. Since we’re concerned with speaking and communication in the suit of swords, Peppermint has the very practical benefit of being an herb for bad breath. The herb is a classic cold care ally in Traditional Western Herbalism, especially when combined with Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) and Elder (Sambucus nigra). In a garden, Peppermint is as tenacious as the thoughts that go round and round in our head, which makes this plant particularly suited to bring in the power of swords into your life. Spray or diffuse the essential oil to awaken a space and clear out old energy - especially useful before a reading if you are seeking clarity on an issue that feels muddled and unclear.

The diffusive herb I chose for the suit of swords is Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) which is one of my favorite relaxing nervines. You know that mental chatter that goes round and round and round in your head keeping you from falling asleep at night? Skullcap might help quiet the noise. A powerful nervine, Skullcap restores strength to an overwhelmed nervous system (by working on the cerebro spinal centers), relieving spasms, nerve pain, and cultivating calm. The common name Mad Dog Weed speaks to Skullcap historical uses for St. Vitus dance, hysteria, epilepsy, convulsion, and major disturbances of the nervous and mental systems. It is a classic herb for those overworked and feeling like they are stretched to their limits, but there is a nasty voice in their head saying they just have to buck up and keep going.  It is particularly useful when those drama llama cards arrive (10 of Swords, anyone?). Skullcap kicks out the nasties and welcomes in bliss. I like combining it with Lavender (Lavandula officinalis) and Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum) for a deliciously soothing blend. Skullcap can alleviate the sharpness of too many swords in our lives helping us to connect back to the clarity that the airy suit can provide.

The Sword Court Cards

Seeker of Swords: Borage

The Seeker of Swords is adventurous, hurried, and ready for action. They jump in first and think later - they’re confident they’ll be able to talk themselves out of any trouble they might find themselves in. They’re also the most intuitive of the Sword Court, in that they listen to the song of the wind for guidance. I recommend Borage Flower Essence for the Seeker of Swords because the beautiful flower teaches true bravery through contemplation of what lies ahead. The Borage flower bends over and looks down at the earth - gazing at the path that it will soon fall on. Borage helps Seeker of Swords folks to find their bravery when it is lacking, to check their ego when it is drawing them into undesirable situations, and reconnect them to the wisdom of knowing before just rushing in.

Apprentice of Swords: Impatiens

The Apprentice of Swords may get the prize for one of the most if not the most impatient card in the deck. Let’s go already! So, it is no surprise that Impatiens is a recommended essence for Apprentice of Swords folks. Impatiens honors the quick-thinking energy of the Apprentice of Swords while tempering the irritation and impatience that can accompany such speed of thought. In addition to teaching patience, Impatiens also teaches empathy and the importance of collaboration to Apprentice of Swords folks who can come off as bossy lone wolf types. Connecting with their empathy and patience, the Apprentice of Swords is able to move beyond being a know-it-all into becoming wise.

Artist of Swords: Vervain

The Artist of Swords disdains injustice in all its form. When in balance, the Artist of Swords is a revolutionary leader inspiring through words. An out-of-balance Artist of Swords uses the same strength of words to bulldoze other’s ideas and input until everyone agrees with their vision. The essence of Vervain is a good teacher for Artist of Swords folks because it helps to take an edge of the urgency of need for everyone to see why their vision is the best. Instead, Vervain helps Artist of Sword folks to hear and appreciate the ideas of others while talking about their own vision with a spirit of collaboration. Vervain also helps to protect against burnout which many Artist of Swords folks are prone to as they can push themselves past their limits for the cause they are fighting for. Remember, wordsmiths and fighters, we need you for the long-run, not just the next protest. Vervain helps us create sturdy foundations to fall back on so our fire can burn brightly for many years to come.

Mentor of Swords: Sage

The Mentor of Swords embodies the ideals of the suit of swords - a person who communicates with confidence and clarity, inspiring others with their self-expression. The essence of Sage helps to distill knowledge gained through experience into wisdom that can be shared with others. Sage also helps Mentor of Swords folks develop confidence in teaching others. On the flip side, the essence assists Mentor of Swords folks in understanding the importance of intergenerational collaboration. If you’re struggling to find your wisdom flow in your tarot practice or you’ve been reading for years and feel like you’re in a rut, Sage flower essence might be a good ally for you.

Loose Incense

In addition to enjoying herbs in tea and tincture form, the suit of swords and the realm of air invites us to enjoy herbal medicine as aromatic remedies such as aromatherapy and loose incense. Loose incense is incredibly easy to make - simply choose your herbs and mix them together. You can burn them on self lighting charcoal (this is my favorite stuff) or cast into a fire. Loose incense can be blended into powder and cast into the winds or used to dress candles. There are a lot of possibilities and the following are a few tips for creating your own loose incenses:

• Purchase or harvest good quality herbs. Old herbs smell like old herbs, whereas freshly dried and well-harvested herbs have a quality of life to them that creates wonderful incense. If wildcrafting, please do so mindfully.

• Less is more. You can burn a single herb or a few combined together, but start with simpler recipes where each herb is working in harmony.

• Let your incense incubate. Once you have blended together your herbs, cap them in an air tight jar and let them “brew” for a week or so (I like to wait for a full cycle of the moon). The blend ripens and the herbs have time to mix and mingle. You can sing charms to the jar each day or bury it in the earth for the entirety of incubation - whatever your heart is called to do.

• Charm your incense. Take time to charge or charm your incense. Speak the names of each herb you are using and their powers. Name your incense and its purpose. Hold it at your heart, your belly, your head. Do what you do to raise energy and fill the incense with your charm. Remember your magick, clever one.

How will you be connecting with the herbs and energies of the suit of swords? Post your experiences below as well as any questions you might have about the information already shared. Next time we’ll be exploring the suit of cups and the element of water. Until then, journey well, clever ones!

A Crown of Roses: An Introduction to Tarot + Herbalism

I am doing a guest post series on the amazing Little Red Tarot blog all about Tarot + Herbalism. Little Red Tarot is the home of Beth Maiden who has created an intelligent and inspiring alternative community to us Tarot folk who are queer, rebellious, multi-cultural, and rad. I hope you enjoy the new series!

Tarot and the art of herbalism have always gone together for me. The year that I started creating my first herbal remedies was the same year that I also purchased my first tarot deck. The Smith-Waite deck that I began to learn to read with was lush with plant life and symbolism. In addition to becoming a tool for me to translate what I was feeling in words and concepts to other people, the cards were a way to connect with my plant kindred in new and meaningful ways. Finding roses growing in my neighborhood suddenly was an opportunity to step into the world of the Magician or Strength or perhaps even Death - all three cards are but some of the landscapes that roses appear in the deck of cards I had.

As I developed my practice as an herbalist and witch, I began to understand and value that our emotions and experiences are not independent of our bodies. Our feelings flow through the neural pathways of our entire body and they can pool, stagnate, or run amok like any other fluid or energy in the body. One way tarot and herbalism are such useful complementary tools is that they are both addressing the underlying emotional story of our lived experiences. If tarot is a map of our internal landscape, herbs are the nourishment for our journey as well as keys to new lands, while our will and desire is the compass which guide us.  

While knowledge of tarot does not make up for lack of knowledge about herbs, there are many ways that each of, experienced in the practice of herbalism or not, can connect with our plant allies through tarot. Over the next few months, I’ll be looking at the tarot cards starting with each suite of the Minor Arcana and then the Major Arcana, exploring how the energy of the cards connect with specific plants and herbal actions. At the end of the this post, I’ll look at three simple ways you can start connecting with plants through your tarot practice.  

As Traditional Western Herbalist, my perspective on herbs and their energetics are based in the six tissue state framework and the elements of earth, air, fire, and water. The six tissue states of Traditional Western Herbalism (TWH) can be seen as comparative to the three doshas of Ayurveda or the five elements of Traditional Chinese Medicine. My own personal practice also includes the concept of stella and terra energies or “as above, so below” which is a concept that many tarot folks are familiar with. What this means, is that based on the elemental association of each of the suits of tarot we can make herbal energetic connections. So, the swords are a suit of air and might work with herbs that focus on the lungs, while the pentacles are a suit of earth and we might work with the roots of herbs the skin. The use of herbal energetics within a tarot framework will become clearer as the series progresses, but I have found it to be a very useful way of connecting the elemental system of tarot with the energetic properties of herbs.

For our journey through the Minor Arcana I’ll be using the following format for each of the suits of tarot in my posts.

Receptive Herb: Our receptive herbs bring in the energy of the element of the suit. A receptive herb for the suit of cups or water might be moistening and oily in nature, bringing moisture to a dried out situation.

Diffusive Herb: Our diffusive herbs diffuse or bring balance to the element of a suit. A diffusive herb for the suit of pentacles or earth, which tends to be slow and stagnant when out of balance, might be stimulating and energizing.

Herbal Actions: Each element has a tendency towards certain herbal actions. Herbs of the suit of wands which is related to fire, for example, are generally stimulating and warming.

Herbal Remedy: A simple herbal remedy technique that relates to the energy of the suit being discussed.

While I’ll look at the pips of each suit as a whole, I will explore the court cards individually recommending flower essences for each one. Flower essences are a very accessible, inexpensive, and safe form of herbal medicine that are easy to make on your own or purchase at your local health shop or favorite online seller. The amazing thing about flower essences is that by their very nature they can do no harm - an essence that isn’t right for you will do nothing whereas the correct essence may affect profound change that you are ready for. I’m recommending flower essences for each of the court cards because I want folks who have little to no herbal experience or training to have a very accessible medium of plant medicine to access and use. Also, heck, they’re amazing magick and lots of fun!

For the court cards, I will be using the language from the Collective Tarot which I think describe the energies of the cards in a fantastic and understandable way. The court cards will be named as followed:

Page = Seeker
night = Apprentice
King = Artist
Queen = Mentor

Now, let’s look at some ways that you can begin to connect with plant allies through the tarot whether or not you’re an experienced herbalists or have never had a cup of herbal tea in your life!

3 Ways to Connect with Plant Allies through Tarot

1. Tarot + Tea. Whether a black tea or herbal tisane, if you are so inclined to brew a cup before beginning a reading, you can also begin to connect with the energies of the plant releasing its medicinal and magickal energy into your cup. One way to do this, is to sit quietly while holding the cup between your hands and speak your intention for the reading ahead. Focusing on your intention, blow it across the surface of your brew, letting the water ripple and shift, connecting with the power of the plant to charge your intention with energy. Take a sip and then begin your reading.
2. Choose an herb featured in tarot and learn about it. The Smith-Waite-Rider deck is full of herbs that play a prominent role in the western esoteric tradition including Roses, Lilies, and Sunflowers. Begin researching the medicinal and magickal uses for any of these herbs. Botanical.com is a free searchable materia medica of Maude Grieves and includes both folkloric and traditional uses for plants.
3. Pull a card for a plant. Get into the garden, the local park or visit the plant growing on your windowsill, and say “hello!” Pull a card asking what healing gifts the plant possesses, what message it might have for you specifically (especially if it has been sitting in your house and watching you for a while, it might have some useful insight), or any other question you might have. Always connect with the plant first and ask permission to do a reading with it and be sure to say thanks afterwards, perhaps even offering a bit of water or a song. If you’re looking to pull more than just a card, you can check out my Wild Tongue: Plant Ally Spread for a more in-depth reading.

Herbalism and tarot are two fascinating arts which offer us incredible tools of change and connection in a world that desperately needs both. I hope that some of you will find the practice of tarot and herbalism to be useful in your own lives and in the lives of the communities you serve.

The decks featured in this post are the Smith-Waite deck, more commonly known as the Rider-Waite-Smith or RWS tarot, Thea’s Tarot by Ruth West, The Greenwood Tarot by Chesca Potter, and The World Spirit Tarot by Jessica Godino and Lauren O’Leary.