The plain and simple truth is that everything contains raw, pure, untapped 
energy. It is easy to utilize that energy to aid you in your rituals or direct it into 
a purpose. The difficulty in to this practice lies in it's application. It's easy to 
understand the concept of tapping into the energies, but for many it is an 
almost impossible task for them to understand to do so. 

A hint: First - It is all a matter of perception. Second: It is in the application. 
You HAVE to believe! Unfortunately that's the stumbling block for most who 
try. Don't THINK that you are doing it, but KNOW that you ARE doing it! It's 
your perception that needs to be altered, and not your knowledge.

Now that, that is said let's begin... 
Plants and Herbs act as symbols for certain types of energies. Each Herb 
has one or more Magickal purposes attributed to it. It can be anything from 
dispelling evil to bringing love. One plant can have several conflicting abilities 
at the same time. But when the time comes each Magickal attribute will
work without fail when used properly and with the correct perception.

If you take Angelica from your garden and place it over your door it will 
protect you home from evil entering uninvited. That is a common use for 
this plant, Yet when asked some would say yes and others would say no. 
It will work for those who say yes but won't for those that say no. It is all in the 
perception that is used.

Magick is all in Perception. When you believe in something, you channel 
your energy into thatbelief. At the same time you channel the energy 
associated with an object into that object and into that belief as well. Will 
Angelica ward against evil? Yes, but there are no rules as to how it will work. 
It is all up to the plants charging force. Or in other words, when Angelica is 
charged by you it will perform it's associated abilities in the manner in which 
you believe or the manner that you decide that it will work for you. 

One has got to change their thinking. So many people look for a recipe for 
successful Magick, but none really exists. It is all in the mind of the person
 seeking the recipe. No two people can practice Magick in the same exact 
way. It is based on each person's beliefs and experiences which can not be 
duplicated, no matter how similar their lives may have been. Each person
learns differently. Furthermore as Pagans it is encouraged that you find 
your own style in which you do things. We all perceive things differently 
yet our influence over Magick is still the same underneath it all. 

First focus your energy into the plant. See it enter the plant and mix and react 
with the energy that is already in it. Let the two energies become one. When
that is successful the herb is ready to be used. For some people this may 
take minutes for others this may take hours. It will happen as fast as you believe 
that it should happen. Always use the herb in the desired manner. If it is 
consumed, burned, or in any other way used up in a ritual manner the energy 
is released to go about it's purpose. If the herb is used in a way that allows
repeated contact, such as being used in a sachet or wreath you will notice that 
whenever you come in contact with it, it's energy and yours will both flow freely.
It will recharge you as your energy will reinforces the plants purpose.

Enjoy the process. Remember it will work ONLY if you believe. Just be cautious 
of it's purpose and your timing. If you have had a really bad day are are feeling 
extremely miserable it would not be wise to create a Love sachet. You must 
clear out all negative energies first so that they do not alter the energy that is 
flowing into the sachet. If you do not do this the sachet will not work the way that 
you want it to. Some would say that you can channel your negative energies 
into an object to rid yourself of it however this may be a bad idea for two 
reasons. First you are cheating yourself a learning experience with yourself. 
When you have negative energy you have it for a reason. You must learn why 
you have it and how to naturally restore the balance with in yourself. Second 
when you put your negative energies into an item it acts like a sponge, it will 
keep drawing more and more negativity into it. 

In the end it is all up to you. We must all walk our own path and learn our
ways for ourselves. We can not rely on others to give us the answers that 
we are all looking for.