Grinding herbs and plants requires a depth of knowledge and a tried experience. It's not something one just picks up and can do as any seasoned witch or wizard. Timing, duration, pressure, rotations, mortar material, and so on all matter a great deal and so take a great time to learn. 

Does one want a fine powder or a thick paste? Does one begin by selecting fresh herbs or dried herbs? These questions and so on take time to get right for each concoction.

However some of the essential steps and forms are universal:

1) Place a small amount of the chosen material into the mortar, ensuring not to overcrowd it to allow for efficient grinding.

2) Then hold the mortar steady with one hand while using the pestle with the other.

3) Apply gentle pressure to crush the herbs initially, then use a circular, grinding motion to break them down further.

4) Continue this process until the herbs are ground into the desired consistency, whether that be a fine powder or a cohesive paste.

The grinding process releases the oils and essences within the herbs, enhancing their potency. If creating a paste, you may add a few drops of water or oil to the mortar during grinding, ensuring a smooth, consistent texture. This technique is ideal for preparing herbs for culinary uses, medicinal applications, or further processing into other forms such as tinctures.