Hey I have never grown herbs before and I live in a small apartment I was wondering a few things.
1) whats the most commonly used herb in magic?
2) whats easy to grow inside or in a small planter box outside( North Louisiana weather)?
3) are they safe for a cat?
4) where would I find these?

Thanks

I'd bet you'd find a lot of good info throughout this particular forum. White Sage is probably one of the more commonly used and versitile herbs in magick, but that's going to depend of course on your will and intent. Don't know about growing it indoors, just know it grows wildly and abundantly around western states like CO. Herbs like catnip are kitty faves, nip and spearmint grow fast and are very invasive so don't plant them around things you're trying to keep isolated.

I got started into herbs with dried herbs and teas, my library has about 30 dried herbs and this year I finally started cultivating my own fresh ones. Studying dried herbs helped me choose which ones I wanted to and could grow on my own. Other common herbs are chamomile, lavendar, hops, st. johns wort, valerian, peppermint, then you can get into herbs for more specific use like yarrow, eyebright, mugwort, crampbark, etc.

My advice would be to dig around this forum and get a general idea of what you do with the things, then the rest will start to fall into place. Maybe take a trip to your local co-op and see which herbs they have on hand, it's cheap to pick them up and get acquainted with our plant helpers.

You can order seeds or cuttings online.

Be well,
Realeyez

Selecting Magickal Herbs to Grow

Selection: Deciding which herbs to grow is dependent upon four factors: (1) ease of growing the herb (2) potential yield per area that is obtained (3) amount of herb consumed during the year, by food or magick and (4)cost of the herb if purchased rather than home grown.

The following is a list of nine herbs that are recommended for beginner herb gardeners. On average, these herbs are easy to grow, yield well per area, offer great variety in culinary characteristics, and can easily be stored.

(1) Basil - Love, exorsism, wealth, flying, protection. This tender annual is not tolerant of chilling or freezing temperatures. Basil prefers a sheltered, warm environment. Transplants are started 4 to 6 weeks early, and put into the garden when temperatures have warmed. Over fifty different cultivars of basil are available, but start with Sweet Basil or one of the purple cultivars like purple Ruffles or Dark Opal. As you gain familiarity with this herb, experiment with the many other cultivars available. Freeze basil rather than dry it. as the flavour is far superior when frozen. Basil is one of the basic ingredients in pesto, and is always combined with tomatoes as the flavours compliment each other. Egg. pasta and mushroom dishes, and soups benefit from the addition of basil.

(2) Summer savory - Protection, health, money, healing, potency, fertility, luck. This weak stemmed, spindly annual is easy to grow, and can be direct seeded into the garden. For a higher yield, transplants can be started 4 to 6 weeks early. Pinch the growing points of this plant to encourage more prolific growth. Savory is used extensively either fresh or dried on soups, sauces and marinades. It is also used in bean, lentil, egg, meat and cheese dishes. It is a staple for Italian cooking.

(3) Sweet marjoram - For protecting the household or specific objects. This tender perennial is treated like an annual in our climate. Marjoram is a tender, aromatic herb growing only to 6 inches tall. Germination is slow and somewhat difficult. Seeds should be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. Marjoram is a strong aromatic and culinary herb, therefore a little goes a long way, Being a close relative to oregano, marjoram can be used any where oregano can be used. Marjoram is used fresh, but dries well. Pot-pourri containing marjoram will add a pleasant aroma to the home year round.

(4) Dill - Protection Spells Grimoiric Incense
Magical Skills. This is a common garden plant, but new and improved cultivars warrant attention. Bouquet and Dukat are cultivars selected for a large yield of leaves (dill weed). They are slower to flower, thus produce more leaves and less seeds, also meaning they are not as weedy as traditional dill. Freeze dill in sauces (especially with fish), added to new vegetables from the garden, in salads, with cottage cheese, in soups and with many meat and vegetable dishes. Dill in pot-pourri is a welcome addition.

(5) Parsley - Lust, good luck, communicating with other planes,  protection, purification, fertility, reincarnation, health, strength, vitality, divination, passion, meditation, rituals for the dead, and happiness. Another common herb, but deserving of more attention. Parsley is a true biennial, but occasionally it acts as a short lived perennial, lasting three years instead of two. During the year of establishment, leaves can be harvested occasionally. During the second year of growth, the plant produces a flower spike, flowers, then usually dies overwinter. Harvest extensively during the entire second year. New and improved cultivars offer larger yields of better tasting leaves. Freeze parsley, as the quality is far superior to the fried form. Use parsley for more than a garnish. Try the chopped leaves in soups, sauces, salads, and with vegetable dishes.

(6) Lovage - Used for beauty and love herb, but is also associated with psychic sleep, energy, and purification. This is a relatively unknown perennial herb, that appears fully hardy for this climate, Plants grow to a height of about 8-10 inches, resembling celery in appearance and taste. Lovage is traditionally used in soups, salads, meat dishes, omelettes, and potato dishes. Frozen or dried leaves can be used year round. The flavour of lavage is strong, so only a few plants are required for the herb garden.

(7) Fennel - Courage Fertility Spells Protection Spells Magickal Mastery. Although sometimes listed as a vegetable (finocchio) with a swollen bulbous stem, fennel is most commonly known as a licorice tasting herb. Fine dainty leaves, resembling asparagus are produced on annual plants. Ground seed is traditionally used in cookies and cakes, but dried leaves are a very acceptable substitute. Fennel is commonly used in fish sauces, to counteract the oiliness of the fish. It is also used in salads, cooked with vegetables, and in many baked products.

( Chives/Garlic chives - Speed, strength, and endurance, and for protection and to ward off evil. Many gardeners are very familiar with this herb , but few take advantage of the culinary qualities that chives offer. Being a hardy perennial, chives survive well in our climate. Seeds can be started indoors 4 to 6 weeks early and transplanted out to the garden when the growing environment is suitable. Alternatively, chives can be direct seeded in the garden. No harvest is recommended during the first year, as this allows the young plants time to establish. A small patch is sufficient for a family. Chives are best used fresh, bur can be frozen successfully. Do not dry chives as the quality is very inferior to other forms. Try using chives in salads, soups, sauces, marinades, with meat and egg dishes, or with numerous casseroles. Chives are a very versatile herb.

(9) Sage - Immortality, longevity, wisdom, protection, wishes, to Clean area and people. This is not the same sage found growing wild. The culinary sage is closely related to salvia, a common flowering annual. Although perennial in habit, sage is usually treated as an annual This silvery leaves herb is easy to grow, producing a large yield per area. Leaves can be harvested fresh during the year, or the leaves can be frozen or dried for storage, Seeds are best started indoors 4 to 6 weeks early. The flavour of sage is strong, so a small amount is sufficient for most dishes. Try using sage with meat, poultry, fish and cheese dishes. Sage can also be included in baked goods.

The above is a list of 9 reliable herbs that are fairly easy to grow. There a literally hundreds of other herbs that can be grown. For the beginning herb gardener, staying with those recommended is a good idea.