What Is a Green Witch? Rituals, Remedies, and a Return to Natural Healing

Quick Answer: What Is a Green Witch?

A green witch is someone who lives in harmony with nature, practices earth-based rituals and uses herbal remedies and spiritual practices to heal. Unlike traditional witches rooted in ceremonial magic or religious doctrine, green witches focus on intuitive, natural and sustainable living, blending the wisdom of the earth with holistic wellness.

The Green Witch Awakens

In a world of screens, synthetic pills and artificial food, a quiet movement is growing – rooted in soil, moonlight and the scent of dried lavender. This is the realm of the green witch, where nature isn’t just scenery but a sacred partner in healing.

According to Pew Research (2023) 72% of U.S. adults now prefer natural or holistic health approaches. From herbal tinctures to barefoot grounding, the resurgence of earth-based practices is a longing for something slower, simpler and more soulful. And green witchcraft delivers.

Green Witchcraft Defined: Origins & Evolution

The term green witch may sound mystical but its roots are grounded in ancient practical traditions. Historically green witches were herbalists, midwives and folk healers who lived close to nature. They knew which plants soothed fevers, which flowers drew love and how to read the seasons for planting.

Unlike Wicca or ceremonial magic, green witchcraft is largely non-dogmatic. It doesn’t require initiation, complex rituals or a coven. Instead it honours the rhythms of the earth, the cycles of the moon and the healing power of plants.

Today green witchcraft has evolved into a lifestyle, blending ancestral knowledge with modern sustainability. On TikTok hashtags like #GreenWitch have over 150 million views – a generation is returning to the roots of wellness.

Core Beliefs of a Green Witch

At its heart, green witchcraft is about reverence:

• Nature is Sacred: Every tree, stone, and breeze holds meaning.
• Cycles Matter: Seasons, moon phases, and circadian rhythms guide actions.
• Healing is Holistic: Mind, body, and spirit are intertwined.
• Magic is Everyday: Making tea, planting seeds, or meditating at sunrise are acts of quiet magic.

Scientific Insight: The Biophilia Hypothesis, proposed by biologist Edward O. Wilson, suggests that humans have an innate affinity for nature. This connection is shown to reduce stress, improve mood, and enhance immune response.

The Healing Arts: Remedies in Practice

Green witches are kitchen scientists and backyard apothecaries. Here are a few common practices:

• Herbalism: Using plants for healing. Common herbs:
  • Lavender: calming; proven to reduce anxiety (NIH, 2022)
  • Calendula: anti-inflammatory for skin
  • Chamomile: supports sleep and digestion
  • Mugwort: used in dreamwork and intuition rituals
• Foraging & Wildcrafting: Ethically harvesting plants from the wild, guided by sustainability and safety.
• Making Remedies:
  • Infusions (like tea)
  • Tinctures (alcohol extracts)
  • Salves and oils

Case Study: A comparative study found chamomile tea to be as effective as low-dose benzodiazepines in reducing mild insomnia (PubMed, 2021).

Daily Rituals of a Green Witch

Daily life is infused with intention:

• Morning grounding: Walking barefoot (“earthing”) to connect with natural electrical fields.
• Moon rituals:
  • New moon: Set intentions
  • Full moon: Release old patterns
• Smudging & Energy Clearing:
  • Alternatives to white sage: rosemary, cedar, or palo santo (ethically sourced)
• Lunar gardening: Planting and harvesting aligned with moon phases for optimal growth

Cultural Insight: Indigenous cultures have used moon cycles to guide planting and harvesting for centuries. Modern apps like Moonly help green witches sync their practices with celestial timing.

The Science Behind Natural Healing

Nature isn’t just symbolic—it’s chemically active.

• Phytochemicals in herbs like echinacea or turmeric stimulate immune function.
• Essential Oils like lavender and peppermint show real neurological benefits in clinical trials.
• Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku), a Japanese practice, lowers cortisol and boosts NK cell activity.

10 Signs You’re Already a Green Witch Without Knowing

Not sure if you align with the green witch path? These subtle signs may suggest you’ve been living the lifestyle all along:

1. You feel most at peace in nature — Whether it’s a walk in the woods or tending your garden, nature is your sanctuary.
2. You turn to herbs before pills — Ginger tea for nausea, lavender oil for stress—your first aid kit is plant-based.
3. You notice the moon’s phases — Full moons bring heightened energy; new moons spark introspection.
4. You’re drawn to the elements — Fire calms you, water soothes you, and you collect stones just because they “feel right.”
5. You treat plants like friends — You name your houseplants and feel guilty pruning them.
6. You’re naturally intuitive — Dreams, gut feelings, and vibes guide many of your choices.
7. You crave handmade living — You prefer hand-blended teas or DIY body scrubs over store-bought.
8. You keep vintage herb books — You trust your grandma’s remedy book more than online advice.
9. You thrive in solitude — You need alone time to recharge—especially outdoors.
10. You feel responsible for the Earth — Recycling, composting, and ethical consumption are non-negotiable.

If you nodded to more than a few, chances are you’re already walking the green witch path—consciously or not.

Starting Your Green Witch Journey

You don’t need a spellbook. You need presence.

• Start with a windowsill herb garden (basil, thyme, mint)
• Track moon cycles with a journal
• Swap one synthetic product for a botanical one (e.g., lotion to calendula balm)
• Begin a daily ritual: morning tea with intention or evening candle meditation

Note: Respect cultural boundaries. Avoid appropriating closed practices (e.g., certain smudging traditions or sacred rituals).

Green Witch vs. Influencer: The Depth Gap

The wellness world is saturated with trends—but green witchcraft isn’t one.

Eco-Impact of Living Like a Green Witch

Green witchcraft isn’t just about self-care. It’s about earth care.

• Making your own remedies reduces packaging waste
• Organic gardening cuts chemical runoff
• Composting and seasonal eating lower your carbon footprint

EPA (2022): Households adopting low-impact green practices can reduce their waste output by up to 40%.

Resources to Deepen Your Path

• Books:
  • The Green Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
  • Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
  • Herbal Medicine by Dr. Michael Tierra
• Apps:
  • Moonly
  • PlantNet (for wild plant ID)
  • Insight Timer (for rituals and meditations)
• Communities:
  • Reddit: r/greenwitch
  • Instagram & TikTok (search: #greenwitchlife)

Modern Science That Validates Ancient Green Witch Practices

While green witchcraft is often considered mystical or spiritual, many of its practices have modern scientific validation:

• Moon and Sleep Rhythms: Studies show that sleep patterns, hormone release (like melatonin), and mood are affected by lunar cycles.
• Meditation and Ritual: EEG studies prove ritualistic repetition calms the prefrontal cortex, reducing anxiety.
• Touching the Earth (Earthing): Direct skin contact with soil or sand has been shown to reduce inflammation and balance cortisol levels.
• Plant Compounds: The antioxidants and alkaloids in herbs long used by green witches are now being studied for cancer, stress, and gut health applications.

These findings help bridge the gap between folk wisdom and formal research—making this lifestyle both intuitive and evidence-based.

Wheel of the Year: Seasonal Living in Green Witchcraft

Green witches often align with the “Wheel of the Year”—a seasonal calendar based on eight key earth festivals:

Following the seasons helps practitioners remain grounded, mindful, and energetically in tune with the natural world.

Ethical Sourcing: Sustainability in Practice

A green witch not only uses natural remedies but ensures they’re ethically sourced:

• Grow Your Own: Basil, mint, rosemary, and calendula thrive in small containers.
• Avoid Endangered Plants: White sage and palo santo are overharvested. Use rosemary or cedar as alternatives.
• Buy Certified Herbs: Look for USDA Organic, FairWild, and Rainforest Alliance seals.
• Support Local Herbalists: This minimizes carbon footprint and promotes sustainable small-scale agriculture.

Pro Tip: When foraging, follow the “rule of thirds”—harvest no more than one-third of a wild patch to ensure regrowth.

Green Witch Glossary: Terms You’ll Encounter

• Tincture: An alcohol-based herbal extract.
• Smudging: The burning of herbs for cleansing, traditionally in Indigenous practice.
• Phytotherapy: Plant-based healing methods.
• Hedgewitch: A solitary witch practicing folk magic and herbalism.
• Sabbat: Seasonal celebration in pagan traditions.
• Lunar Gardening: Timing planting based on moon phases.
• Grounding: The act of connecting physically and energetically with the earth.

Understanding these terms helps navigate green witch communities and resources.

FAQs About Green Witchcraft

Q: Is it a religion?
A: Not necessarily. Many green witches are spiritual but not religious. It’s a lifestyle.

Q: Do I need to be a woman to be a green witch?
A: No. Green witchcraft is inclusive and non-gendered.

Q: Are spells involved?
A: Not in the way pop culture suggests. “Spells” may be rituals, affirmations, or plant-based actions.

Q: Is it safe to use herbs without training?
A: Always research dosage, interactions, and source quality. Consult a licensed herbalist if unsure.

Conclusion: Healing Through Connection

To live as a green witch is to live with intention, reverence, and rootedness. It is a call to slow down, to touch the soil, to listen to the wind, and to honor the earth as healer, teacher, and companion.

In embracing this path, we don’t just heal ourselves—we begin to heal our planet.

Start today. Brew a cup of nettle tea. Light a candle. Step outside barefoot. Your healing journey is already underway.