Magical Folkhealing: Herbs, Oils, and Recipes for Health, Healing, and Magic

by D.J. Conway

Discover Authentic Folk Magic Passed Down through Generations

Packed with natural remedies and recipes from bestselling author D. J. Conway and her grandmother, this book is a magical formulary that everyone--from beginners to established practitioners--can use to make life better. You'll learn how to use a wide variety of herbs and oils for spiritual, emotional, and mental health and healing.

Magical Folkhealing provides more than one hundred commonly known herbs and their associated planets, elements, deities, and zodiac signs, as well as their basic powers and specific uses. This user-friendly guide also teaches you how to simplify your rituals, use special tools and tables for improved prep work, apply oils and aromatherapy for specific needs, and much more. Featuring everything from herbal teas and tinctures to massage oils and stones, this book is an indispensable resource for healing.

Genres: Nonfiction, Witchcraft, Occult, Paganism, Research

336 pages, Paperback

Published December 8, 2018

About the author

A native of the Pacific Northwest, author D.J. Conway has studied the occult fields for over 35 years. Her quest for knowledge has covered every aspect of Paganism and Wicca to New Age and Eastern philosophies; plus history, the magical arts, philosophy, customs, mythologies and folklore. In 1998, she was voted Best Wiccan and New Age author by Silver Chalice, a Pagan magazine.

She lives a rather quiet life, with most of her time spent researching and writing.

Reviews

[Erth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very informative!

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 3 out of 5]

To start with, how eye-catching is that cover? I love it! So onto the book itself...

This book is broken down into the following chapters...
One: Introduction to Magical Folkhealing 
Two: Tools Needed For Working with This Herbal
Three: Ancient Herbalists’ and Apothecary Symbols
Four: Ancient Table of Weights and Measures
Five: Folklore Names of Herbs, Flowers, and Trees
Six: Week Days, Planets, and Zodiac Signs
Seven: Herbs and Trees for Magick and Well-Being
Eight: Herbal Combinations for Spells
Nine: Tools Needed for Scented Oils  
Ten: What Exactly is Aromatherapy?
Eleven: Oils for Mind, Emotional and Spiritual Matters
Twelve: Creating Special Atmospheres
Thirteen: Some Final Words
Fourteen: Some Book of Interest

Each chapter starts with a pretty chapter title graphic and what follows is quite a bit of information about measurements. Plant names, and their uses. Plants and signs of the zodiac. Celtic trees and months. Spells. Etc. It is certainly a very thorough book on the subject, but unfortunately it was also a little dry. I would have loved to have seen some whimsical graphics and tidbits mixed in between everything. 

 

[Matal “The Mischling Princess” Baker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprised of fourteen chapters, D.J. Conway’s “Magical Folkhealing: Herbs, Oils, and Recipes for Health, Healing, and Magic” contains a hodgepodge of information, including data on stones, recipes for both home treatments and magical use, and images of her own private handwritten herbal.

This book is useful because in many instances, several items in Chapter 7: Herbs and Trees for Magick and Well-Being are not found in “Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs,” such as Dammar Gum, Elemi Gum, and others.

Although the author states that much of her herbal lore came from her grandmother and great aunts, it is obvious that some of her information was gleaned from other books over time, but she didn’t include a bibliography. Instead, she dedicated Chapter 14: Some Books of Interest to a listing of several different books on the subject. In Conway’s defense, it is easy—over a thirty-year time period—to forget from what books you’ve gleaned information from. However, the author should have acknowledged this in an introduction.

Overall, Conway’s book includes some valuable information. Of particular import are the photographs (or scans) of herbal pages because this information isn’t included in the typed text.

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was amazing! I loved it and poured over the entire book since receiving it as a ARC. As a green witch i found it exemplary in its content, education and extraordinarily useful to my practice in my home. Thank you with gratitude for the ARC. My opinion is my own.

This book is for anyone interested in working with herbs and oils. The author includes precious formulas handed down to her by her family. The addition of the zodiac, the planets, and the days of the week and how they relate to plants is very useful. the information on oils and herbs so extensive you will need your own notebook to make notes as you proceed to put into practice all the receipes. I expanded my knowledge on oils and herbs through the author's teachings.

I gained so much knowledge from this book that I enjoyed it in its entirety . I will be buying a hardback copy for myself to use as a guide in my practice. A excellent read highly recommend. Well done to the author and thank you.

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Magical Folkhealing looks at the healing properties of herbs and their association with horoscopes, planets, and other out of the box examinations. D.J. Conway's extension of the properties of these old remedies through her
Thank you to netgalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. different lens was a welcome addition to the magical healing field.

I like that these recipes have been handed down to Conway from her grandmother. So much information is lost from generation to generation so this book is that much more precious.

I recommend this book to wiccans and herbologists alike. It is aimed at beginners to the craft but it has value for practioners of all levels.

[Katie (DoomKittieKhan) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This might be my new favorite reference herbal. D.J. Conway is a known and reliable name in herbalist circles and in MAGICAL FOLK HEALING she draws from familial knowledge to share traditional methods for herb harvesting, preparation, and naming conventions. Rooted in practical advice and enhanced with recipes for now popular herbal remedies like fire cider, elderberry syrups, soothing skin balms, and lozenges, this is a great volume for any savvy kitchen healer or those interested in exploring herbalism for everyday use.

[Zanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is absolutely full of so much useful information. I learned so much from reading this. It’s a fantastic reference for anyone interested in working with herbs and oils. It even dives into the zodiac, the planets, and the days of the week and how they relate to plants. I few right through this book and will definitely be buying it when it hits shelves in December. A fantastic reference book!

[L1ll14n · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good intro into herbal healing and how to use herbs and oils in daily life. Plenty of useful recipes and remedies, and great detailed information on each herb and how it can be used. Great for those who are interested in their spiritual uses as well as medicinal.
Advanced reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

[Amber]

I love all the details that are packed into this book. Each chapter as a lot of info packed in. The detailed lists on the aspects of each plant. The recipes are also a huge value. I think this is a book you could take the time to read or you could flip though time and time again. I'm looking forward to this book being a book I refer to time and time again.

[Jaime · Rating 2 out of 5]

Interesting information, Easy to follow. Just a generally cool read of some things you may have already thought about.

[Lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

More interesting than I expected it to be. However, I think I am coming to the conclusion that I’m not that interested in this kind of thing.

[Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It has so much in it to help with all kinds of healing, use of oils and tinctures to name only a few. I appreciated that the recipes were from another generation as well as the present. I think this book should be on else's shelf for use as a tool in magic and as a reference book as well. I highly recommend it. I received this book from Net Galley and Llewellyn for a honest review and no compensation otherwise.

[Patrica Liebe · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book via NetGalley and Llewellyn Publications for an honest review.
I have viewed and used for many books on the subject of herbs and the uses of herbs for healing and Magical Folkhealing is a very well written book on this subject. Not only has it the usual herbal explanations and recipes it has a very insightful look at not just the physical but the mental part of the natural healing practice. I would highly recommend that all readers who are into the natural healing and use of herbs and meditation to view and purchase this very wonderful book.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book about herbs and natural remedies. It's full of ideas, interesting background stories and hints.
It's perfect for both beginners and advanced users.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd. and Netgalley for this ARC

[KatsCauldron R · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical Folkhealing
Herbs, Oils, and Recipes for Health, Healing, and Magic
by D.J. Conway
Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.
Llewellyn Publications
Nonfiction (Adult) , Religion & Spirituality

First off, wish & send prayers that DJ rests in peace as she left a long legacy of books to get people started on their paths and crossed the veil a few days before this review was put forth. She has always reminded me of a starter like Cunningham to give the newcomers some positive basic foundations and knowledge to start them on their paths as well as have a few books that are great look up references. I liked this is t=was simple and informative with a few antidotes and an array of herbs and oils that would be great to have on the shelf.