When most people think of magic, they imagine spells, fireballs, or something even more… dramatic. But historically, magic often began with something much simpler.
Plants.
Long before elaborate rituals or written grimoires, people turned to the natural world for healing, protection, and guidance. Herbs weren’t just medicine—they were part of everyday life, woven into traditions, beliefs, and quiet acts of intention.
So much so, that magic made its way seamlessly into literature and culture – and it lives there still. Throw a pinch of spilled salt over your shoulder? Protection magic. Garlic braids? Also protective magic. And don’t even get me started on Shakespeare’s witches in Mac… the play that must not be named.
Magic in the Everyday
Across cultures, certain plants became associated with specific purposes.
Rosemary was used for remembrance and protection.
Mugwort found its place in dreams and divination.
Lavender offered calm, clarity, and a sense of peace.
Some of these uses were practical. Others were symbolic. Most were a blend of both.
A sprig of rosemary hung by the door might make people feel safer. But it also keeps pests away. A cup of peppermint tea might soothe the body, but it also carries comfort and ritual. Garlic tastes wonderful in foods, but it is also a powerful antibacterial agent that cleanses and wards off illness. It isn’t surprising that it became the go-to herb for warding off evil.
That’s where the “magic” often lived.
Not in something flashy or mysterious, but in the quiet connection between people and the natural world around them.
Why Plants?
Part of what makes plant magic so enduring is its accessibility. You don’t need a complicated setup or rare ingredients. You need sunlight, soil, water… and a little patience.
Plants grow slowly. They require attention. They respond to care.
Working with them encourages a kind of mindfulness that’s easy to overlook in everyday life. You notice things. You slow down. You begin to understand the rhythm of growth, decay, and renewal. There is something deeply satisfying and connecting about nurturing plants. The process itself is healing.
It’s not surprising that so many traditions tied plants to magic. They reflect the same cycles we experience ourselves.
From History to Story
When I started writing the Green Witch and Thorn Mysteries, this connection to plants became a natural foundation for Lena’s magic.
Unlike her sister, who is an energy witch, she doesn’t habitually throw fireballs drawn from ley lines. Her strength comes from understanding—how plants grow, how they heal, and how they can be used with intention.
Her work happens in greenhouses and gardens rather than battlefields.
And more often than not, the solutions she finds are quieter, subtler… and just as effective.
A Different Kind of Magic
There’s something grounding about plant-based magic. It doesn’t rely on spectacle. It doesn’t demand attention. It grows, slowly and steadily, until one day you realize something has changed.
That’s the kind of magic that has lasted.
And, I think, the kind that still resonates most.
📖 Want to see this kind of magic in action?
Hemlock and Lace, a prequel to the Green Witch and Thorn Mysteries, introduces Lena—and the very opinionated familiar who becomes her partner.
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What about you?
Do you have a favorite plant or herb you’re drawn to—whether for its history, its symbolism, or just because you love it?