One of the most effective and practical ways to of using and storing herbs is with magickally-charged infusions. These infusions are called condensers. Condensers and herbs fall into four categories, Earth, Air, Fire and Water..

This process works for any elemental condenser. For best results, make them during a waxing Moon. Remember to always use an odd number of herbs, like 1 or 3. Place 2 handfuls of the desired herb into a pot. Add just enough cold, pure or spring water to cover the ingredients. Cover and cook over a flame or high heat for about 20 minutes. Remove from heat, don't remove the lid, and cool for 13 minutes. Strain the liquid and return it to the pot. Cover and boil again until the liquid has halved in quantity. Repeat the cooling procedure, then add the same amount of spirits (vodka or gin) or fuel alcohol. Shake the mixture well, then strain through four layers of fine linen, one piece for each of the elements, into small dark glass bottles. Label the mixture, including the date and store in a cool, dark place. If you are going to be keeping them for an extended period of time, store them in the refrigerator..

Listed below is an example of how you can use each condenser. They can be used in a variety of different ways, such as anointing the body (soles of feet, hands, back of neck, forehead), candles, stones and mojo bags, sachets and baths. Read what the various condensers are used for and be creative!

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Earth:

Pour a few teaspoons of this fluid into a glazed earthenware bowl. Holding the bowl in your hands, charge the fluid with your intent until it is completely saturated with your thoughts. Then pour it out onto the Earth. As it soaks up the fluid, call out your desire and visualize it. When the condenser has been completely absorbed by the earth, the spell is complete. Although the most preferable place to do this is in the forest, if you live in the city and circumstances prevent you going there, a pot of soil will do just fine.

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Aspect of Life: Fertility, jobs, promotions, money, business, investments, material objects, agriculture, health foods, ecology, conservation, stock market, old age, buildings, construction, progress.

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Herbs: Balm of Gilead, bisort, cedar, cinquefoil, cypress, fern, honeysuckle, horehound, jasmine, mandrake, patchouli, pine, sage, slippery elm.

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Air:

Pour some spring water into a small metal bowl or saucer. Then add three drops of the condenser. Cupping the bowl with both hands, close your eyes and charge it with your desire. Visualize it as though it has already taken place. Place the bowl onto a flame, or hot oven element. As the liquid evaporates and rises out of the bowl, slowly wave your athame or wand through the steam, calling the powers of Air to aid you in making your desire a reality. When all of the liquid has been evaporated the spell is finished.

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Aspect of Life: Schooling, memory, intellectualism, teaching, tests, divination, breaking bad habits, communications, travel, writing, organizing and organizations, groups of all kinds, theorizing, drug addiction.

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Herbs: Acacia, anise, bensoin, broom, comfrey, elder, eucalyptus, eyebright, hazel, lavender, lemon verbena, marjoram, mastic, mistletoe, mugwort, nutmeg, peppermint, sandalwood, spearmint, thyme, wormwood.

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Fire:

This condenser should never be used on the skin. Using your athame or by folding and tearing, make a square, four by four inch piece of clean, white paper. Using a red ink pen, write your intent on the paper. Moisten the paper with a few drops of the condenser and allow to dry. Charge the paper with your intent. Burn the paper completely, while still focused on it's intent. The spell is over. Although a bonfire or furnace is ideal for this, a candle (red) can be used as a substitute.

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Aspect of Life: Success, sex, banishing, illness, the military, conflicts, protection, courts, law, police and sheriff's agencies, contests, competitions, dowsing, athletics, strength, good health.

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Herbs: Alder, angelica, basil, bay laurel, betony, carnation, celandine, cinnamon, clove, coriander, garlic, heliotrope, holly, hyssop, juniper, marigold, mullein, nettle, oak, pennyroyal, peony, pepper, primrose, rosemary, rowan, rue, saffron, St. John's wort, thistle, vanilla, vervain.

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Water:

Take a clean glass jar to a place with running water, like rivers or streams. Fill the container with water and find a private place nearby. Pour a few drops of the condenser into the water and mix it up. Charge the fluid with you intent. Then pour the water into the stream, calling the forces of water to aid you in the spell, visualizing the intent as having happened. The spell is over. To add more power to this spell, gather the water from three different sources.

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Aspect of Life: Love, friendships, partnerships, unions of every kind, affection, contract negotiations, beauty, rest, recuperation, meditation, spirituality, healing wounds, restoring cell growth, childbirth and children, the home, receptivity, family, clairvoyance, compassion, medicine, doctor and nursing professions.

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Herbs: Apple, ash, burdock, chamomile, camphor, catnip, cucumber, cyclamen, elecampane, gardenia, geranium, hawthorn, heather, henbane, hops, hyacinth, ivy, lettuce, lovage, meadowsweet, myrrh, myrtle, sweet orange, orris, pansy, periwinkle, poppy, rose, star anise, violet, willow, yarrow.

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Resources- The Master Book of Herbalism by Paul Beyerl

Magickal Herbalism by Scott Cunningham