Under the Bramble Arch

by Corinne Boyer

Following Under the Witching Tree , this second book in a trilogy by folk herbalist Corinne Boyer explores the magical and medicinal applications of the plants of the wayside―those liminal places where the wild meets the unkempt and forgotten landscapes of humankind. This book presents a wealth of hands-on practices exploring charms, spells, recipes, and rites.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Occult, Magick, Plants, Magic, Folklore

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 8, 2020

Reviews

[Ditte · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars
•I like that the book is divided in seasons and that there is only 5 plants per season.
•The information about each plant is divided in 3 parts:
The first: general + myths/legends + magical beliefs
The second part: folk medicine
The third part: the author's personal practices with the plant + 1-2 recipes/spells.
•The illustrations are beautiful and perfected the aesthetic of the book.
•The poems for each plant.

What I didn't like hence the 3.5 stars were a couple of things.
•It would have been an even more beautiful book if every illustration had a full-page - some had and others didn't.
•What really annoyed me is that a new chapter starts in the old one (bad design!).
There is not a clear distinction (besides the poems for each season), so I had to flip to the front of the book to see if I read about a spring or summer plant. When I realized that the poems were the beginning of a chapter it made it easier, but as I wrote earlier the design is bad(!).
•The information was at times very jumbled and repetitive! Some of the chapters are particularly bad, ex the first one where the exact same information is told 3-4 times spread over 2-3 pages.
•It could also have used some editing. Sentences are cut off and the information from ex nordic countries are not together, but spread over pages (it would've made the reading experience a lot easier and connected)

[Nightshade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading Boyer's work is always a magical experience that evokes hedge hags and the berry-stained hands of witches. This book is a wonderful source of information on wayside folk magic and folk medicine and is a great book to keep in the witch's collection.

[Bailey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really love this book for herbal magic. With a focus on plants found in the Liminal waysides between humanity and the wild places, Boyer walks you through the folklore and history of each plant before giving you examples and recipes of how she has used the plant in her own practice. Everything from blackberry to dandelion to roses. A wonderful addition to any traditional witch’s herbal knowledge, or non-traditional practitioner as well.

[Oskar]

While some of the information it provides is interesting, it is rather disappointing and mediocre with the information on the historical medicinal uses of plants outweighing their magical applications by a mile, and therefore, making it rather difficult to get through. And the editing is horrendous.

[Junie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a treasure but I have to detract a star for the lack of editing/proofreading.

[Mitchell Stern · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very informative but I do think there’s some knowledge gaps and I did kind of take issue with her prologue arguing against the concept of invasive species via spiritual justification.

[Nicole Bergen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Corinne Boyer’s books so much—they’re the perfect combination of plant folklore, folk herbalism, and traditional spiritual relationships for me.