I just realized something super easy about herbs and their magical uses

What I do is simply connection with Gods and spirits. Since I believe in those, of course I would involve them in the spells directly.

I simply believe in magical triad of:

1. Caster
2. Desired effect
3. Action by caster which achieves desired effect.

Now, what action is, is up for interpretation. I think it is true that herbs have energy, and collecting them and using them is action which achieves some effect. Drawing symbols, especially symmetrical symbols, is likewise action which achieves effect. Science says effect is psychological, I of course disagree because in the world of complete interconnection, smallest change can cause butterfly effect to a whole world.

Likewise, offering to Gods is an action which achieves desired effect. I just find atheism limited because it cannot do offerings to Gods, and if atheist doesnt believe in spirits, he cannot give them offerings either.

I um don't understand why you keep saying gods and spirits need offerings to do your spell. But then you say you don't need to use them. I'm not sure I understand but I'm not here to argue about it.

I draw my methods from the religion of the Sun. Sun starts from center and extends in all directions. Likewise, when it comes to spells, I like to extend in all directions and include everything decent which can be included in the work with spells. Just like in chess, there is a limited nuumber of combinations and trying all combinations usually leads to best ones, same principle applies to everything, even spells. Just as you need to see every direction to compare and learn the best direction among them, extending in all directions is logically necessary. So to be like the Sun which extends everywhere.

Its just to include everything what can be reasonably included. One doesnt need to include Gods, but what would one gain by not including them?

Offerings to Gods and spirits are usually food. Tho one can offer many things to try to make a trade deal with Gods. For example, giving to charity, or feeding hungry animals, is one of ways. It is just to improve chances that Gods and spirits will help you.

I simply believe in magical triad of:

Caster

Desired effect

Action by caster which achieves desired effect.

But this doesn't involve any deities

Its just to include everything what can be reasonably included. One doesnt need to include Gods, but what would one gain by not including them?

If I don't believe in any gods, and can't make myself believe in them (trust me I've tried), invoking them becomes an empty and faithless gesture. It feels almost deceitful.

But I do sometimes like ritual and spiritualism (in the modern sense, not the 1800's crystal-ball-dead-relative sense) because, I don't know, I find it soothing and emotionally regulating, and in a weird way it makes me feel like I'm making friends with the universe, instead of just observing the indifferent machinations of it.

If you cant include Gods, then yes, you can do other rituals. I didnt say Gods were the only way. I just personally really prefer to have them included, as they are most powerful. Tho I am guessing even without Gods, you can still use herbs, symbols, magic squares (these exist in math too), sator square, writings, invocations, magic circles, protective amulets, making altars, drawings, numbers, sounds, crystals...ect. So yes, there is plenty to work with.

You get to carried away performing your rituals that you forget the real purpose and message revealed by God.