Magickal Substitutions

If you have a spell and you don’t have all the ingredients, you may be able to swap out one thing for another. Check this list to see if you can substitute your hard-to-find item with something easier to obtain. Make sure you research your substitutions to make sure they really are what you’re looking for and listen to your own intuition. Herbs can be used for different purposes and it’s a good idea to thoroughly research the herb you’re trying to substitute to determine its purpose in the spell and then thoroughly research potential substitutes for true compatibility. You can’t just swap out one thing for another without really considering its purpose.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for here, find out the planetary correspondence of the item you’re looking to substitute and visit that planet’s page as a starting point. Ingredients that correspond to the same planet carry similar energies and can sometimes be used for the same purpose in a spell. As already mentioned, it is important that you understand the reason for the ingredient in the spell before you make a substitution.

Keep in mind that these substitutions are for magic and spellwork only and should not be relied upon for healing or culinary use.

Sources and More Information:

• The Complete Guide to Oils, Incense and Brews, by Scott Cunningham
• Magickal Ingredient Substitutions from Zindoki.com