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The Green Witch Illustrated: An Enchanting Immersion Into the Magic of Natural Witchcraft
256 pages, Hardcover
Published November 26, 2024
35 people are currently reading
190 people want to read
About the author
Arin Murphy-Hiscock
51 books865 followersCurrently a resident of Montreal, Canada, Arin works as a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of Power Spellcraft for Life: The Art of Crafting and Casting for Positive Change (2005), Solitary Wicca for Life: A Complete Guide to Mastering the Craft on Your Own (2005), The Way of the Green Witch (2006), The Way of the Hedge Witch (2009), and Pagan Pregnancy: The Journey From Maiden to Mother (TBA). She is also the editor of the anthology Out of the Broom Closet (2009).
Arin is a third-degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest Clan, a tradition linked both by lineage and practice to several other branches of Wiccan thought and philosophy including the Caledonii Tradition, Druidism, Gardnerian practice, Seax-Wicca, general Celtic Wicca, and German witchcraft. She works as a priestess in her community performing rites of passage and giving occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.
Her hobbies include playing the cello, handspinning, and weaving.
Arin is a third-degree Wiccan High Priestess in the Black Forest Clan, a tradition linked both by lineage and practice to several other branches of Wiccan thought and philosophy including the Caledonii Tradition, Druidism, Gardnerian practice, Seax-Wicca, general Celtic Wicca, and German witchcraft. She works as a priestess in her community performing rites of passage and giving occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.
Her hobbies include playing the cello, handspinning, and weaving.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 5, 2025
A great introduction with lots of wonderful recipes and instructions. Also the illustrations are stunning.
December 1, 2024
nulla di speciale o particolarmente nuovo. i disegni sono carini però
October 25, 2025
This book really resonates with me. The illustrations are beautiful and detailed, and the descriptions of all herbs/plants/stones are great. It’s a nice introductory book into green witchcraft.
January 30, 2025
Book Review: 'The Green Witch Illustrated – An Enchanting Immersion into the Magic of Natural Witchcraft'* by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Illustrator: Sara Richard
Publisher: Adams Media
Release Date: 19th December, 2024
About the Author
Arin Murphy-Hiscock lives in Montreal, Canada. She is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on incorporating nature-based spirituality into everyday life. Identifying as a pagan and witch, Arin is a third-degree High Priestess in the Black Forest clan. Working as a Priestess in her community she performs rites of passage, gives occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.
Arin’s other books include: 'The Green Witch', 'Spellcrafting', 'Wicca – A Modern Practitioner’s Guide', 'The Witch’s Book of Self-Care', 'The Pregnant Goddess', 'The House Witch', 'The Green Witch’s Grimoire', and 'The Green Witch’s Garden'.
About the Illustrator
Sara Richard is a from New Hampshire. Her art is inspired by Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian funerary and mourning customs, and the natural world. As an Eisner and Ringo Award nominated artist Sara’s works have been printed in 'Vanity Fair' and 'British Vogue'.
Her illustrations can also be found in 'Women of Myth', 'The Ghost, The Myth', 'Midnight Magic – A Tarot Deck of Mushrooms', and 'The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck'.
About the Book
“Behold the spellbinding beauty of the green witch with this lavishly illustrated edition of the bestselling The Green Witch perfectly complementing and honoring the magical guidance practitioners have come to cherish.
A gorgeous way to celebrate and honor green witchcraft, The Green Witch Illustrated breathes beautiful new life into the powerful guidance, spells, and rituals of bestselling author Arin Murphy-Hiscock.
Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Sara Richard, this new tome will become a showpiece in every practitioner’s home, whether it’s close to the hearth, upon their altar, or displayed for all to enjoy its enchanting beauty. Flip through its detailed pages and land upon magical advice on how to attune yourself with nature, raise your own green witch’s garden, or manifest the powers of the season. With spells and rituals exclusive to this expanded edition, everyone can fall in love and discover something new and bewitching.
The Green Witch Illustrated paints a stunning new path for the green witch to follow.”
My Thoughts
I originally saw this book as a re-read. It’s an illustrated version of 'The Green Witch'; one of my favourite witchcraft books. However, I forgot how long it had been since I read the original. It was like starting fresh, and was a wonderful reminder of the green witch path, and why I loved the original book so much in the first place.
The addition of the illustrations enhanced the beauty of the book visually, whilst also capturing the beauty of the prose, the green witch path and the beauty of nature.
Opening with a ‘rededication’ to the path of the green witch was fitting as I felt like I was coming back to it after time away. I was reminded of the basics and I made a conscious effort to re-introduce them into my practice. Arin perfectly captures what it means to be a green witch by exploring beliefs and values that any green witch (and most witches) would agree are fundamental to a nature based path.
For those that like to add to their grimoire there are lots of correspondences for green witch spell ingredients including:
- Magical associations of trees
- Magical properties of common flowers – including how to grow, and colour associations
- Magical uses of herbs and how to grow.
- Magical energies of fruits and vegetables
- Physical descriptions and associations of key stones and crystals.
When I first read 'The Green Witch' one chapter that stood out to me was about creating your own garden; a green witch garden. It was something I went on to do. My partner and I grew flowers, herbs and vegetables. We would tend to them, harvest them, and then use them, whether this be for cooking or using dried and fresh plants and herbs in my practical magic. However, over time our garden has become a little neglected, and revisiting this chapter has inspired me to tidy-up and restart. We’re currently still in winter, but it’s something I’m looking forward to starting in spring. The chapter really helps with planning what you want to create with your garden whatever your space, budget, style and purpose. There’s also information about maintaining your garden, composting, managing pests and, if that doesn’t sound like your thing, there are some ideas for houseplants.
Following the section about creating a green witch garden the book stays with a more practical look at green witchcraft. First exploring the way to prepare herbs and plants, whether that be drying or freezing them, to extracting their energies through various processes, (infusion, decoction, maceration, enfleurage) and then using them in magical workings.
At the end of the book there is a lovely selection of practical magic recipes, rituals and spells. They include: herbal incense, spell bags, dream pillows, ritual brooms, perfumed balms, healing teas, essential oils and bath salts. In honour of the illustrated version Arin Murphy-Hiscock has created some new spells, recipes and rituals that were not in the original book.
Overall, 'The Green Witch Illustrated' is great for beginners. The original was always one of my recommendations for new witches, and this is even more accessible due to the new format. I would further recommend it to those interested in a nature based path, who don’t want to go down a more formalised neo-pagan route, as it allows for more freedom.
*Book was gifted by the publisher.
Illustrator: Sara Richard
Publisher: Adams Media
Release Date: 19th December, 2024
About the Author
Arin Murphy-Hiscock lives in Montreal, Canada. She is a freelance writer and editor with a focus on incorporating nature-based spirituality into everyday life. Identifying as a pagan and witch, Arin is a third-degree High Priestess in the Black Forest clan. Working as a Priestess in her community she performs rites of passage, gives occasional workshops, and leads a private coven.
Arin’s other books include: 'The Green Witch', 'Spellcrafting', 'Wicca – A Modern Practitioner’s Guide', 'The Witch’s Book of Self-Care', 'The Pregnant Goddess', 'The House Witch', 'The Green Witch’s Grimoire', and 'The Green Witch’s Garden'.
About the Illustrator
Sara Richard is a from New Hampshire. Her art is inspired by Art Nouveau, Art Deco, Victorian funerary and mourning customs, and the natural world. As an Eisner and Ringo Award nominated artist Sara’s works have been printed in 'Vanity Fair' and 'British Vogue'.
Her illustrations can also be found in 'Women of Myth', 'The Ghost, The Myth', 'Midnight Magic – A Tarot Deck of Mushrooms', and 'The Green Witch’s Oracle Deck'.
About the Book
“Behold the spellbinding beauty of the green witch with this lavishly illustrated edition of the bestselling The Green Witch perfectly complementing and honoring the magical guidance practitioners have come to cherish.
A gorgeous way to celebrate and honor green witchcraft, The Green Witch Illustrated breathes beautiful new life into the powerful guidance, spells, and rituals of bestselling author Arin Murphy-Hiscock.
Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Sara Richard, this new tome will become a showpiece in every practitioner’s home, whether it’s close to the hearth, upon their altar, or displayed for all to enjoy its enchanting beauty. Flip through its detailed pages and land upon magical advice on how to attune yourself with nature, raise your own green witch’s garden, or manifest the powers of the season. With spells and rituals exclusive to this expanded edition, everyone can fall in love and discover something new and bewitching.
The Green Witch Illustrated paints a stunning new path for the green witch to follow.”
My Thoughts
I originally saw this book as a re-read. It’s an illustrated version of 'The Green Witch'; one of my favourite witchcraft books. However, I forgot how long it had been since I read the original. It was like starting fresh, and was a wonderful reminder of the green witch path, and why I loved the original book so much in the first place.
The addition of the illustrations enhanced the beauty of the book visually, whilst also capturing the beauty of the prose, the green witch path and the beauty of nature.
Opening with a ‘rededication’ to the path of the green witch was fitting as I felt like I was coming back to it after time away. I was reminded of the basics and I made a conscious effort to re-introduce them into my practice. Arin perfectly captures what it means to be a green witch by exploring beliefs and values that any green witch (and most witches) would agree are fundamental to a nature based path.
For those that like to add to their grimoire there are lots of correspondences for green witch spell ingredients including:
- Magical associations of trees
- Magical properties of common flowers – including how to grow, and colour associations
- Magical uses of herbs and how to grow.
- Magical energies of fruits and vegetables
- Physical descriptions and associations of key stones and crystals.
When I first read 'The Green Witch' one chapter that stood out to me was about creating your own garden; a green witch garden. It was something I went on to do. My partner and I grew flowers, herbs and vegetables. We would tend to them, harvest them, and then use them, whether this be for cooking or using dried and fresh plants and herbs in my practical magic. However, over time our garden has become a little neglected, and revisiting this chapter has inspired me to tidy-up and restart. We’re currently still in winter, but it’s something I’m looking forward to starting in spring. The chapter really helps with planning what you want to create with your garden whatever your space, budget, style and purpose. There’s also information about maintaining your garden, composting, managing pests and, if that doesn’t sound like your thing, there are some ideas for houseplants.
Following the section about creating a green witch garden the book stays with a more practical look at green witchcraft. First exploring the way to prepare herbs and plants, whether that be drying or freezing them, to extracting their energies through various processes, (infusion, decoction, maceration, enfleurage) and then using them in magical workings.
At the end of the book there is a lovely selection of practical magic recipes, rituals and spells. They include: herbal incense, spell bags, dream pillows, ritual brooms, perfumed balms, healing teas, essential oils and bath salts. In honour of the illustrated version Arin Murphy-Hiscock has created some new spells, recipes and rituals that were not in the original book.
Overall, 'The Green Witch Illustrated' is great for beginners. The original was always one of my recommendations for new witches, and this is even more accessible due to the new format. I would further recommend it to those interested in a nature based path, who don’t want to go down a more formalised neo-pagan route, as it allows for more freedom.
*Book was gifted by the publisher.
February 4, 2025
3.5 stars.
When I was a young teenager first interested in learning more about witchcraft, I pestered my poor dad into getting me books on the subject whenever he traveled overseas -- heaven knows, you weren't about to find anything accessible on the topic in Malaysia back in the 20th century. My dad did his best but, in fairness to Malaysian bookshops, books about learning witchcraft weren't that easy to find in your average Waterstones or Waldenbooks back then either.
So it's a delight that books like The Green Witch Illustrated are nowadays readily available for anyone with an interest in learning more about the practice. Keep in mind tho that this book and many like it are very much centered on temperate climates: there's some mention of different seasonal variations but the tradition is clearly sourced from the ancient European. And that's fine! This is a book marketed to North Americans, referencing both natural and commercial items most readily sourced from the USA and Canada. Arin Murphy-Hiscock is based in Canada herself, and is part of a druidic tradition informed by both Celtic and German witchcraft, according to her website. It makes sense that her advice comes from that, as that's what she knows. Younger me would have been disappointed and frustrated at how inaccessible some of these components are -- even the turning of the seasons is completely different down by the equator -- but present day me recognizes how practices like these aren't universal and also aren't the center of all knowledge.
That said, this book is a pretty good way to get started on what's essentially a fairly personalized practice. In keeping with that philosophy, TGWI It isn't at all prescriptive about what beliefs you need to have in order to be a Green Witch. In fact, the only requirement to being a (North American) Green Witch is a firm grounding in place and nature, understanding that those who practice this craft are doing so in order to be in harmony with the entire natural world, including the humanity, around them. Thus, the spells and rituals listed inside are meant primarily to bring people back in equilibrium with the earth, regardless of whether they live in a rural, suburban or urban area. At its most magical, the book seeks to concentrate positive energy, good health and abundance around the witch and the recipients of her creations. While it is decidedly neutral on ethical concerns, it's very clear that there is a difference between positive and negative energies, and that positivity is to be encouraged, without losing sight of the natural cycle of things.
The spells and rituals inside are reflective of this, covering the many but primarily most common uses of plants and stones most readily available to North American Green Witches. There are some very useful instructions for preparing salves, tinctures and other mixes, as well as how to make and use herbal incense and other Green Witch tools. As with much other witchcraft tho, the power lies just as much in the intent as it does in the crafting.
Sara Richard's wonderful illustrations make this volume more than just a handbook, turning it into a gorgeous reference that draws the eye and heart as much as the words do. With a luxe cover and lovely interior paper, this is a phenomenal introduction to the practice of Green Witch magic that serves as a beautiful gift for anyone, including yourself, wanting to learn more.
The Green Witch Illustrated by Arin Murphy-Hiscock & Sara Richard was published November 26 2024 by Adams Media and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
When I was a young teenager first interested in learning more about witchcraft, I pestered my poor dad into getting me books on the subject whenever he traveled overseas -- heaven knows, you weren't about to find anything accessible on the topic in Malaysia back in the 20th century. My dad did his best but, in fairness to Malaysian bookshops, books about learning witchcraft weren't that easy to find in your average Waterstones or Waldenbooks back then either.
So it's a delight that books like The Green Witch Illustrated are nowadays readily available for anyone with an interest in learning more about the practice. Keep in mind tho that this book and many like it are very much centered on temperate climates: there's some mention of different seasonal variations but the tradition is clearly sourced from the ancient European. And that's fine! This is a book marketed to North Americans, referencing both natural and commercial items most readily sourced from the USA and Canada. Arin Murphy-Hiscock is based in Canada herself, and is part of a druidic tradition informed by both Celtic and German witchcraft, according to her website. It makes sense that her advice comes from that, as that's what she knows. Younger me would have been disappointed and frustrated at how inaccessible some of these components are -- even the turning of the seasons is completely different down by the equator -- but present day me recognizes how practices like these aren't universal and also aren't the center of all knowledge.
That said, this book is a pretty good way to get started on what's essentially a fairly personalized practice. In keeping with that philosophy, TGWI It isn't at all prescriptive about what beliefs you need to have in order to be a Green Witch. In fact, the only requirement to being a (North American) Green Witch is a firm grounding in place and nature, understanding that those who practice this craft are doing so in order to be in harmony with the entire natural world, including the humanity, around them. Thus, the spells and rituals listed inside are meant primarily to bring people back in equilibrium with the earth, regardless of whether they live in a rural, suburban or urban area. At its most magical, the book seeks to concentrate positive energy, good health and abundance around the witch and the recipients of her creations. While it is decidedly neutral on ethical concerns, it's very clear that there is a difference between positive and negative energies, and that positivity is to be encouraged, without losing sight of the natural cycle of things.
The spells and rituals inside are reflective of this, covering the many but primarily most common uses of plants and stones most readily available to North American Green Witches. There are some very useful instructions for preparing salves, tinctures and other mixes, as well as how to make and use herbal incense and other Green Witch tools. As with much other witchcraft tho, the power lies just as much in the intent as it does in the crafting.
Sara Richard's wonderful illustrations make this volume more than just a handbook, turning it into a gorgeous reference that draws the eye and heart as much as the words do. With a luxe cover and lovely interior paper, this is a phenomenal introduction to the practice of Green Witch magic that serves as a beautiful gift for anyone, including yourself, wanting to learn more.
The Green Witch Illustrated by Arin Murphy-Hiscock & Sara Richard was published November 26 2024 by Adams Media and is available from all good booksellers, including Bookshop!
This review first appeared at TheFrumiousConsortium.net.
December 24, 2025
Illustrations beyond gorgeous and a path of witchcraft that resonates with me.
What I enjoyed: The take on what it means to be a green witch. It’s more than just growing plants, and it’s less structured and more reliant on intuition than other paths. I really appreciated the permission to let folk wisdom and learned experience to guide the practice. It’s definitely a book I’m going to keep on my shelf for reference.
What I didn’t love: It’s more on the superficial side of information, just barely scratching the surface. But I like that it can be a quick reference without being a dense tome. It isn’t an all-inclusive exploration, but a great introduction that makes me want to read denser material.
Bottom line: I would absolutely recommend!!
What I enjoyed: The take on what it means to be a green witch. It’s more than just growing plants, and it’s less structured and more reliant on intuition than other paths. I really appreciated the permission to let folk wisdom and learned experience to guide the practice. It’s definitely a book I’m going to keep on my shelf for reference.
What I didn’t love: It’s more on the superficial side of information, just barely scratching the surface. But I like that it can be a quick reference without being a dense tome. It isn’t an all-inclusive exploration, but a great introduction that makes me want to read denser material.
Bottom line: I would absolutely recommend!!
January 20, 2025
4.5☆ I read this slowly over the course of three weeks. I found that some parts of it resonated strongly, other parts inspired, and only a very few things fell flat for me. Overall, it is a beautiful and informative book, and I tabbed several pages for future reference!
May 13, 2025
This was a really great book, lots of info and beautifully illustrated.
July 14, 2025
The illustrations are beautiful. A simple quick intro for beginners.
November 15, 2025
Worth getting for the beautiful illustrations alone. I’ll be making some of the balms and salves soon for sure.
September 28, 2025
This is a book I’ve read many times and the illustrations add such a wonderful element to it. The vibes are immaculate ✨
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews