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As modern witches, we often look to the ancient goddesses for inspiration and guidance in our practice. One goddess who has long been associated with wisdom, strength, and the natural world is Athena, the Greek goddess of wisdom, warfare, and crafts. In honor of Athena, many modern witches incorporate herbs into their practice, using them to create magical potions and spells.
Herbs have long been associated with magic and the occult, and for good reason. Not only do they possess a range of physical and medicinal properties, but they also carry symbolic and energetic significance. When used in spellwork and rituals, herbs can help to amplify the intention behind the magic and bring about the desired outcome.
When it comes to honoring Athena, there are a few herbs that are particularly powerful and fitting. For example, the herb known as Rue has long been associated with Athena, and is often used in spells for protection, purification, and banishing negative energies. It is said to help ward off evil spirits and protect the home and those within it.
Other herbs that are commonly used to honor Athena include Olive and Lavender. Olive, of course, is a symbol of peace and is often used in spells for harmony and reconciliation. Lavender, on the other hand, is known for its soothing and calming properties, and is often used in spells for relaxation, sleep, and stress relief.
In addition to these herbs, there are many other plants and flowers that are associated with Athena and can be used in magic. For example, the beautiful lily is a symbol of purity and innocence, and is often used in spells for love and new beginnings. Similarly, the bright and cheerful sunflower is associated with joy, happiness, and positivity, and can be used in spells for good luck and abundance.
Overall, incorporating herbs into your practice is a wonderful way to honor the goddess Athena and connect with the natural world. Whether you use them in spells, potions, or simply as offerings, these magical plants can bring a sense of magic and wonder to your practice. So why not give it a try and see what magic you can create with the help of Athena and her herbal allies?
Herbs For Athena
| Herb | Metaphysical Properties | How to Use in Athena Worship | How to Use in Magic Spells | Medicinal Uses | Additional Info |
| Rue | Protection, Purification, Banishing | Burn as an offering, sprinkle around altar | Protection spells, purification rituals | Digestive aid, insect repellent | Poisonous if ingested in large quantities |
| Olive | Peace, Harmony, Reconciliation | Offer olive oil as a libation, use in anointing oils | Love spells, spells for peace and harmony | Skin moisturizer, hair conditioner | None |
| Lavender | Relaxation, Sleep, Stress Relief | Add to incense blends, use in sachets or dream pillows | Sleep spells, stress relief spells | Natural sleep aid, anxiety relief | None |
| Lily | Purity, Innocence, Love | Offer as a bouquet on the altar, use in floral arrangements | Love spells, spells for new beginnings | None | Can be toxic to cats if ingested |
| Sunflower | Joy, Happiness, Positivity | Offer as an offering, use in sunflower seed offerings | Good luck spells, abundance spells | Remedy for pulmonary affections | None |
| Sage | Wisdom, Purification, Healing | Burn as an offering, use in smudging rituals | Wisdom spells, purification rituals | Antiseptic, anti-inflammatory | Avoid use during pregnancy |
| Mint | Refreshment, Vitality, Mental Clarity | Add to tea blends, use in baths and foot soaks | Energy spells, spells for mental clarity | Digestive aid, headache relief | Can be invasive and spread quickly in gardens |
| Rosemary | Memory, Protection, Love | Add to incense blends, use in sachets and charm bags | Memory spells, protection spells | Natural hair conditioner, anti-inflammatory | None |
| Rose | Love, Passion, Beauty | Offer as a bouquet on the altar, use in floral arrangements | Love spells, spells for beauty and attractiveness | None | Can cause allergic reactions in some individuals |
| Chamomile | Soothing, Calming, Sleep | Add to tea blends, use in baths and foot soaks | Sleep spells, spells for anxiety and stress relief | Natural sleep aid, digestive aid | None |
| Fennel | Strength, courage, purification | Offer as an offering to Athena | Use in spells for protection and purification | Digestive aid, pain relief | Can be toxic in large amounts |
| Thyme | Courage, strength, purification | Offer as an offering to Athena | Use in spells for protection and purification | Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory | Can be toxic in large amounts |
| Marjoram | Love, peace, protection | Offer as an offering to Athena | Use in spells for love and peace | Antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory | Can be toxic in large amounts |
| Anise | Purification, psychic abilities, protection | Offer as an offering to Athena | Use in spells for psychic abilities and protection | Digestive aid, pain relief | Can be toxic in large amounts |
| Dandelion | Positivity, good fortune, prosperity | Plant in an indoor planter, drink as tea | Use in spells for good fortune and prosperity | Digestive aid, diuretic | Can cause allergic reactions in some people |
Ways To Use These Herbs
When worshipping Athena, incorporating herbs into your practice can add a powerful and meaningful element to your rituals and spells. Rue, Olive, Lavender, Lily, Sunflower, Sage, Mint, Rosemary, Rose, Chamomile, Fennel, Thyme, Marjoram, Anise, and Dandelion are all herbs that are associated with Athena and her qualities of wisdom, strength, and the natural world.
Rue, for example, is a powerful herb that has long been associated with Athena. It is often used in spells for protection, purification, and banishing negative energies. To use Rue in your worship of Athena, you could burn it as an incense or create a protective sachet filled with the herb to keep near you during your rituals.
Olive is another herb that is closely associated with Athena. As a symbol of peace, Olive is often used in spells for harmony and reconciliation. To incorporate Olive into your worship of Athena, you could create an oil infused with the herb to anoint candles or other ritual objects, or simply place Olive branches on your altar as an offering to the goddess.
Lavender is known for its soothing and calming properties, making it a fitting herb to use in your worship of Athena. To incorporate Lavender into your rituals, you could create a sachet filled with the herb to place under your pillow for a restful night’s sleep, or add a few drops of lavender oil to your bathwater for a relaxing and rejuvenating soak.
Lily is a beautiful flower that is associated with purity and innocence. In your worship of Athena, you could use Lily in spells for love and new beginnings. You could also place Lily flowers on your altar as an offering to the goddess, or create a potion or oil infused with the flower’s essence.
Sunflower is another cheerful and uplifting herb that is associated with joy and positivity. In your worship of Athena, you could use Sunflower in spells for good luck and abundance. You could also place a Sunflower on your altar as an offering to the goddess, or create an infusion of the herb to drink as a magical tea.
Sage, with its strong and pungent aroma, is often used in spells for purification and cleansing. To use Sage in your worship of Athena, you could burn it as an incense or create a smudge stick to cleanse your space before rituals.
Mint, with its fresh and invigorating scent, is often used in spells for prosperity and abundance. To incorporate Mint into your worship of Athena, you could add a few sprigs of the herb to a jar of honey to create a prosperity charm, or place some Mint on your altar as an offering to the goddess.
Rosemary, with its woodsy and earthy aroma, is often used in spells for memory and clarity of thought. To use Rosemary in your worship of Athena, you could create a potion or tea infused with the herb to drink before studying or important meetings, or place a sprig of Rosemary on your altar as a symbol of the goddess’ wisdom.
Rose, with its delicate and sweet fragrance, is often used in spells for love and romance. To incorporate Rose into your worship of Athena, you could create a love potion or oil infused with the petals of the flower, or simply place a bouquet of roses on your altar as an offering to the goddess.
Chamomile, with its delicate and soothing scent, is often used in spells for relaxation and tranquility. To use Chamomile in your worship of Athena, you could create a calming tea infused with the herb to drink before bed or during meditation, or simply place a few sprigs of Chamomile on your altar as an offering to the goddess.
Fennel, with its licorice-like aroma, is often used in spells for courage and strength. To incorporate Fennel into your worship of Athena, you could create a potion or oil infused with the herb to anoint yourself before a challenging situation, or place a few sprigs of Fennel on your altar as a symbol of the goddess’ strength.
Thyme, with its strong and pungent aroma, is often used in spells for courage and protection. To use Thyme in your worship of Athena, you could create a protective sachet filled with the herb to keep near you during your rituals, or burn it as an incense to cleanse and purify your space.
Marjoram, with its sweet and spicy aroma, is often used in spells for love and happiness. To use Marjoram in your worship of Athena, you could create a love potion or oil infused with the herb, or simply place a few sprigs of Marjoram on your altar as an offering to the goddess.
Anise, with its licorice-like aroma, is often used in spells for protection and clarity of thought. To incorporate Anise into your worship of Athena, you could create a protective sachet filled with the herb to keep near you during your rituals, or burn it as an incense to cleanse and purify your space.
Dandelion, with its bright and cheerful yellow flowers, is often used in spells for wishes and manifestation. To use Dandelion in your worship of Athena, you could create a wish jar filled with the seeds of the flower, or simply blow the seeds into the wind as a symbolic offering to the goddess.
How I Honor Athena With Herbs
As a mom and a witch, I often look to the ancient goddess Athena for inspiration and guidance in my practice. In honor of the goddess, I often incorporate herbs into my magic, using them to create powerful potions and spells.
One herb that I particularly love to use when working with Athena is Rue. Known for its protective and purifying properties, Rue is a fitting herb to honor the goddess with. I often burn Rue as an incense during my rituals, or create a protective sachet filled with the herb to keep near me for added protection.
Another herb that I love to use when working with Athena is Lavender. With its soothing and calming properties, Lavender is perfect for spells related to relaxation and stress relief. I often create a sachet filled with Lavender to place under my pillow for a restful night’s sleep, or add a few drops of lavender oil to my bathwater for a relaxing soak.
In addition to Rue and Lavender, I also love to use Olive in my magic when working with Athena. As a symbol of peace, Olive is perfect for spells related to harmony and reconciliation. I often create an oil infused with Olive to anoint candles or other ritual objects, or simply place Olive branches on my altar as an offering to the goddess.
Overall, incorporating herbs into my practice has been a wonderful way to connect with the goddess Athena and the natural world. The herbs carry powerful energetic properties and help to amplify the intention behind my magic, bringing about the desired outcome with the help of the goddess.
Timing For Leaving Offerings To Athena
When worshipping the goddess Athena, the most auspicious day of the week is said to be Thursday. This day is associated with the planet Jupiter, which is associated with wisdom, expansion, and abundance. As the goddess of wisdom and crafts, Athena is said to be particularly powerful on this day.
In terms of the time of day, the most auspicious time to worship Athena is said to be at dawn. This is the time when the sun is rising and the world is waking up, symbolizing new beginnings and the potential for growth and transformation. This is a fitting time to honor the goddess, who is associated with wisdom, strength, and the natural world.
Overall, the most auspicious day and time to worship Athena is on Thursday at dawn. However, it is important to remember that the timing of your rituals is not as important as your intention and connection to the goddess. As long as you are sincere and focused in your worship, the goddess will hear and respond to your call.