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Plant Magic
An informative and entertaining look at why plants have been used in magic and what that tells us about people and plants in a post-magic world.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
November 9, 2020
This was such an unexpected treat of a book!
As someone who knows almost nothing about plants, this book sparked my interest through its use of folklore and myth to tell the stories of a plant's origin, the meaning behind it's name and how that plant has been used throughout history in areas such as medicine.
The author, Dr Greg Kenicer, is a botanist and lecturer at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh (the most beautiful gardens I have visited I must add), and does a brilliant job of celebrating the relationship between plants and people throughout history.
The cover and artwork in this book are beautiful. There are some fascinating passages about magic, spirits and witchcraft followed by an alphabatised list of different types of plants and the stories and history connected to each which makes for an easy reference guide too.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to find out more about plants from a historical and mythological perspective. I personally found this much more engaging and interesting than the more scientific books of this nature.
Thank you to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and Love Books Tours for the ARC.
As someone who knows almost nothing about plants, this book sparked my interest through its use of folklore and myth to tell the stories of a plant's origin, the meaning behind it's name and how that plant has been used throughout history in areas such as medicine.
The author, Dr Greg Kenicer, is a botanist and lecturer at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh (the most beautiful gardens I have visited I must add), and does a brilliant job of celebrating the relationship between plants and people throughout history.
The cover and artwork in this book are beautiful. There are some fascinating passages about magic, spirits and witchcraft followed by an alphabatised list of different types of plants and the stories and history connected to each which makes for an easy reference guide too.
I would highly recommend this to anyone who wants to find out more about plants from a historical and mythological perspective. I personally found this much more engaging and interesting than the more scientific books of this nature.
Thank you to the Royal Botanical Gardens in Edinburgh and Love Books Tours for the ARC.
November 10, 2020
I absolutely loved Plant Magic, I have always been fascinated with the uses of plants, their history and even their meanings in various legends and myths, so I was intrigued by this book as soon as laying eyes on it, the cover alone grabs the attention (more of that later) and I am so pleased that this book delves into all of the above. There is a history of the ways plants were used, their meanings, their value in legends and mythology and even what people in certain times and countries thought of them.
Plant Magic is a remarkable and highly insightful book and I can guarantee if you’re like me and are interested in Botanical world then this is the book you need on the shelf. This isn’t the kind of book you sit down and read in one go, it’s a reference book, one you dip in and out of, but be warned that as soon as you start reading you will keep flicking through the pages for hours, it’s actually very addictive especially if you’re like me and have a garden full of plants, herbs and trees in the garden, I spent many happy hours learning all about the plants and trees I have growing.
I was particularly fascinated with the section on tree’s, I have a real love of trees (odd, I know) most people want to cut them down to have nice clean looking gardens and so they can bask in the sunshine on their immaculate lawns, not me, I have huge sycamores and silver birch in the back garden and I love walking through a heavy bowed wood, and even though I couldn’t find anything the book about my Sycamore trees, I was fascinated with eh part on Birches. And the Holly, Gorse, Bramble, Honeysuckle and Blackberries sections were others which caught my attention, again because I have all of these in my garden.
The book is very easy to read, it’s set out in sections so you can easily find a specific plant or tree your looking for, and each one has been extensively detailed and researched, a whole host of fact, history, stories, their value in the art of magic, folklore and at times healing (which is another aspect that I found highly fascinating) and in many cases their meanings in mythology and legend, and peoples views of the plants as evil, bad/good luck.
Plant Magic is a beautiful book and I don’t only mean by the words within it, but’s is so visual and easy on the eye, I love the overall look of it the cover is striking, it has a real magical feel to it with it’s beautifully depicted cover art on that dusky blue background and it fringed in gold, it’s stunning to look at and when you open it there are the most beautiful drawings interwoven throughout.
Plant Magic is a remarkable and highly insightful book and I can guarantee if you’re like me and are interested in Botanical world then this is the book you need on the shelf. This isn’t the kind of book you sit down and read in one go, it’s a reference book, one you dip in and out of, but be warned that as soon as you start reading you will keep flicking through the pages for hours, it’s actually very addictive especially if you’re like me and have a garden full of plants, herbs and trees in the garden, I spent many happy hours learning all about the plants and trees I have growing.
I was particularly fascinated with the section on tree’s, I have a real love of trees (odd, I know) most people want to cut them down to have nice clean looking gardens and so they can bask in the sunshine on their immaculate lawns, not me, I have huge sycamores and silver birch in the back garden and I love walking through a heavy bowed wood, and even though I couldn’t find anything the book about my Sycamore trees, I was fascinated with eh part on Birches. And the Holly, Gorse, Bramble, Honeysuckle and Blackberries sections were others which caught my attention, again because I have all of these in my garden.
The book is very easy to read, it’s set out in sections so you can easily find a specific plant or tree your looking for, and each one has been extensively detailed and researched, a whole host of fact, history, stories, their value in the art of magic, folklore and at times healing (which is another aspect that I found highly fascinating) and in many cases their meanings in mythology and legend, and peoples views of the plants as evil, bad/good luck.
Plant Magic is a beautiful book and I don’t only mean by the words within it, but’s is so visual and easy on the eye, I love the overall look of it the cover is striking, it has a real magical feel to it with it’s beautifully depicted cover art on that dusky blue background and it fringed in gold, it’s stunning to look at and when you open it there are the most beautiful drawings interwoven throughout.
November 15, 2020
Title: Plant Magic
Author: Dr Gregory J Kenicer
Rating: 5/5
A huge thank you to Dr Gregory Kenicer and Love Books Tours for letting me read and review this gorgeous book!
Synopsis:
Plant Magic is an informative and fun read that tells us how plants have been used through the ages for things such as medicine, witchcraft and magic. Information is shared through diverse chapters with headings such as curses and blessings, divination and plants in the Christian and Pagan traditions to name a few. Whether you are a newbie or a plant enthusiast, Dr Greg J Kenicer uses his fantastic botanical knowledge to bring the history of plants to life.
Review:
I must start off this review by saying how stunning this front cover is, it really is beautiful. It was this cover that instantly intrigued me and grabbed my attention, it is so lovely. It honestly felt like it had a magical, fairy tale feel to it.
Plant Magic is a different kind of read for me, but one I was really excited about. I was really looking forward to learning something new and being a nature lover myself and new to the Forest School world I wanted to expand my knowledge and Plant Magic is definitely a fantastic way to do this.
After seeing the beautiful little drawings of the plants at the beginning, I found that I had totally fallen in love with this book. The information shared was presented in a clear way, it was methodical and very easy to follow which I really appreciated.
I found the God’s, Spirits and Other World plant use was very appealing to me, my interest was definitely piqued. I really enjoyed reading about myths, legends and witchcraft. Norse and Greek mythology was another interest too, so if like me, you have certain interests, the keywords on each plant help you to easily locate what is of interest to you, without having to go through every piece of information.
It genuinely was interesting to see the bigger picture when it comes to plants, to see how their names originated and hear about their history, especially with the plant names and trees I did recognise.
Plant Magic isn’t a book you would read in one go, it is a book to dip in and out of whenever you want to top up your botanical knowledge. There is quite a lot of information but don’t let this put you off because read in steps it would become less daunting.
This insightful book is definitely perfect for beginners, it is a little gem of a book, fascinating, fun but informative. Every time I had a little read, I found I was itching to get out into the woodlands and explore!
Author: Dr Gregory J Kenicer
Rating: 5/5
A huge thank you to Dr Gregory Kenicer and Love Books Tours for letting me read and review this gorgeous book!
Synopsis:
Plant Magic is an informative and fun read that tells us how plants have been used through the ages for things such as medicine, witchcraft and magic. Information is shared through diverse chapters with headings such as curses and blessings, divination and plants in the Christian and Pagan traditions to name a few. Whether you are a newbie or a plant enthusiast, Dr Greg J Kenicer uses his fantastic botanical knowledge to bring the history of plants to life.
Review:
I must start off this review by saying how stunning this front cover is, it really is beautiful. It was this cover that instantly intrigued me and grabbed my attention, it is so lovely. It honestly felt like it had a magical, fairy tale feel to it.
Plant Magic is a different kind of read for me, but one I was really excited about. I was really looking forward to learning something new and being a nature lover myself and new to the Forest School world I wanted to expand my knowledge and Plant Magic is definitely a fantastic way to do this.
After seeing the beautiful little drawings of the plants at the beginning, I found that I had totally fallen in love with this book. The information shared was presented in a clear way, it was methodical and very easy to follow which I really appreciated.
I found the God’s, Spirits and Other World plant use was very appealing to me, my interest was definitely piqued. I really enjoyed reading about myths, legends and witchcraft. Norse and Greek mythology was another interest too, so if like me, you have certain interests, the keywords on each plant help you to easily locate what is of interest to you, without having to go through every piece of information.
It genuinely was interesting to see the bigger picture when it comes to plants, to see how their names originated and hear about their history, especially with the plant names and trees I did recognise.
Plant Magic isn’t a book you would read in one go, it is a book to dip in and out of whenever you want to top up your botanical knowledge. There is quite a lot of information but don’t let this put you off because read in steps it would become less daunting.
This insightful book is definitely perfect for beginners, it is a little gem of a book, fascinating, fun but informative. Every time I had a little read, I found I was itching to get out into the woodlands and explore!
October 23, 2020
Plant Magic is a gorgeous book with the cover having so many details picked out in shiny foil. It's also a real treasure trove of the history of the use of plants in magic and the beliefs people held (and sometimes still do) about the magical properties of plants.
Gregory Kenicer is a botanist and lecturer at the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh so he certainly knows what he's talking about. He puts his extensive knowledge to great use in this comprehensive and fascinating look at plants and their association with magic. From an introduction about the importance of plants to humankind and explaining different kinds of magical beliefs, Dr Kenicer then moves on to look more closely at various categories of trees and plants and how they are regarded throughout the world with themes such as alchemy, blessed plants, cursed plants and magical medicine.
This probably isn't a book that you will want to read through in one go but rather one to dip in and out of, looking up particular plants you are interested in. Be warned though, that you may find yourself being caught up for some time as there are just so many fascinating facts and stories included! I must also mention that there are beautiful line drawing illustrations throughout the book by talented artists Sharon Tingey and Jacqui Pestell.
Plant Magic is an absolutely fascinating book with a wealth of information and stories which I highly recommend to anyone interested in folklore. I want to end by quoting some wise words from the introduction to the book. This is something we all need to remember whatever our beliefs about the magical or healing properties of plants:
"We are linked by our common bonds of humanity and reliance on plants - and perhaps that is part of their true magic."
Gregory Kenicer is a botanist and lecturer at the Royal Botanic Garden of Edinburgh so he certainly knows what he's talking about. He puts his extensive knowledge to great use in this comprehensive and fascinating look at plants and their association with magic. From an introduction about the importance of plants to humankind and explaining different kinds of magical beliefs, Dr Kenicer then moves on to look more closely at various categories of trees and plants and how they are regarded throughout the world with themes such as alchemy, blessed plants, cursed plants and magical medicine.
This probably isn't a book that you will want to read through in one go but rather one to dip in and out of, looking up particular plants you are interested in. Be warned though, that you may find yourself being caught up for some time as there are just so many fascinating facts and stories included! I must also mention that there are beautiful line drawing illustrations throughout the book by talented artists Sharon Tingey and Jacqui Pestell.
Plant Magic is an absolutely fascinating book with a wealth of information and stories which I highly recommend to anyone interested in folklore. I want to end by quoting some wise words from the introduction to the book. This is something we all need to remember whatever our beliefs about the magical or healing properties of plants:
"We are linked by our common bonds of humanity and reliance on plants - and perhaps that is part of their true magic."
November 12, 2020
This book was definitely out of my comfort zone, as I don’t usually read reference books. I haven’t read one in years! When I was younger, my grandad got me this tree reference book. It is funny that a reference book would transport me back to that time, but the illustrations and descriptions reminded me of when my grandad and I used to try and figure out what different trees were.
This is not a book you would finish in one sitting. This book catalogues different plants alphabetically, from woody plants, to herbs, to fungi, explaining what the plant is and what it looks like. As well as this, there is a section that discusses the past uses and myths surrounding these plants, including mythology, witchcraft and religion. The discussion about the uses of these plants was definitely the most interesting section of this reference book, as there were pieces of information about plants, such as apples and roses that I didn’t even know! The illustrations that complemented the information were the perfect accompaniment to the reference text and added to the overall reading experience.
This book covers a range of plants and how they have been used in magical traditions. But this book is more interesting than most reference books on plants, as the author questions whether these plants are truly as magical as they once were believed, or whether their uses and their effects were the result of their chemical build up. I will definitely keep returning to this book, reading and learning more about these plants. It was lovely reading about nature, especially at a time of lockdown.
If you are interested in nature, witchcraft, or history of any sort, this is definitely a reference book worth checking out!
This is not a book you would finish in one sitting. This book catalogues different plants alphabetically, from woody plants, to herbs, to fungi, explaining what the plant is and what it looks like. As well as this, there is a section that discusses the past uses and myths surrounding these plants, including mythology, witchcraft and religion. The discussion about the uses of these plants was definitely the most interesting section of this reference book, as there were pieces of information about plants, such as apples and roses that I didn’t even know! The illustrations that complemented the information were the perfect accompaniment to the reference text and added to the overall reading experience.
This book covers a range of plants and how they have been used in magical traditions. But this book is more interesting than most reference books on plants, as the author questions whether these plants are truly as magical as they once were believed, or whether their uses and their effects were the result of their chemical build up. I will definitely keep returning to this book, reading and learning more about these plants. It was lovely reading about nature, especially at a time of lockdown.
If you are interested in nature, witchcraft, or history of any sort, this is definitely a reference book worth checking out!
November 9, 2020
Thank you to the author, the Royal Botanic Gardens of Edinburgh and Love Book Tours for a gifted copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Every day is a school day with this fascinating book. I learnt so much. Beneath the silver sparkly covers are stories split into different categories of woody plants: trees, shrubs, herbs, cryptograms: algae and fungi and mystery plants. And beautiful illustrations from Jacqui Pestell.
We get the history of each plant and there use, whether that was in folklore, witchcraft or very dubious medicinal purposes. Some of the plants were even believed to be cursed and deadly. Did you know that the beautiful Mediterranean cypress tree was actually "a tree of the underworld in ancient Greece. It's reputation was so grim that even it's shadow is said to bring ill luck" Or how about this for the humble cabbage "A German folk tale has the man in the moon as another victim of a cabbage themed punishment. Having stolen some cabbages on Christmas Eve, he was sent to the moon for eternity"
Or did you know that the thorn apple is also known by the brilliant names devil's apple or my absolute favourite, zombie cucumber? This would make a lovely gift for anyone who likes botany or wants to know more about the history and magic of plants that are all around us.
⭐⭐⭐.5
Every day is a school day with this fascinating book. I learnt so much. Beneath the silver sparkly covers are stories split into different categories of woody plants: trees, shrubs, herbs, cryptograms: algae and fungi and mystery plants. And beautiful illustrations from Jacqui Pestell.
We get the history of each plant and there use, whether that was in folklore, witchcraft or very dubious medicinal purposes. Some of the plants were even believed to be cursed and deadly. Did you know that the beautiful Mediterranean cypress tree was actually "a tree of the underworld in ancient Greece. It's reputation was so grim that even it's shadow is said to bring ill luck" Or how about this for the humble cabbage "A German folk tale has the man in the moon as another victim of a cabbage themed punishment. Having stolen some cabbages on Christmas Eve, he was sent to the moon for eternity"
Or did you know that the thorn apple is also known by the brilliant names devil's apple or my absolute favourite, zombie cucumber? This would make a lovely gift for anyone who likes botany or wants to know more about the history and magic of plants that are all around us.
⭐⭐⭐.5
November 12, 2020
What a magical book! Now I know that it’s in the name, but seriously!I remember always being fascinated by magic, and the natural world, and how the magical and natural worlds coexist. I mean, the myths, legends, and stories have to come from somewhere and be there for a reason right?
I absolutely love how open and accessible this book is for when you want to find out the historical origins of a particular plant or herb, and it was super cool to find out the myths and legends behind them! I love that some of them came from Scandinavia!
The cover is amazing, and it drew me in as soon as I found out about this book tour, I just had to find out what was inside! Inside the book you will find lovely drawings of the plants, which just creates the fantastical atmosphere that surrounds this book. This is the perfect book to dive into now that the days are getting shorter, and soon you will find yourself being taken on a tour through the woods from the Author (that’s what it felt like to me anyway!).
I am rating this book a solid five stars as it was absolutely brilliant. And some of the plant names had me laughing out loud - if ear-fungus and gory dew doesn’t draw you in, I don’t know what will!
Huge thank you to the team at @lovebookstours for sending me a digital copy of this book! Am seriously going to hunt down the physical copy soon!
I absolutely love how open and accessible this book is for when you want to find out the historical origins of a particular plant or herb, and it was super cool to find out the myths and legends behind them! I love that some of them came from Scandinavia!
The cover is amazing, and it drew me in as soon as I found out about this book tour, I just had to find out what was inside! Inside the book you will find lovely drawings of the plants, which just creates the fantastical atmosphere that surrounds this book. This is the perfect book to dive into now that the days are getting shorter, and soon you will find yourself being taken on a tour through the woods from the Author (that’s what it felt like to me anyway!).
I am rating this book a solid five stars as it was absolutely brilliant. And some of the plant names had me laughing out loud - if ear-fungus and gory dew doesn’t draw you in, I don’t know what will!
Huge thank you to the team at @lovebookstours for sending me a digital copy of this book! Am seriously going to hunt down the physical copy soon!
October 27, 2020
This is a real gem of a book, not only does it look gorgeous on my shelf with its shimmery silver, gold leaf cover but it is full of amazing facts.
This isn't a book to sit and read in one go but I have been dipping in and out over the last few days and I have found it really interesting. Infact, when you start reading about how plants have been used in alchemy, magical medicine and witchcraft, I have sometimes found an hour has passed.
I just want to share this amazing fact! I work within the Cemeteries Department so I was fascinated to learn that Yew Trees are a symbol of death, it is noted as a 'cursed plant' with a history of being used in 'witchcraft'. Not only that, some people believe that the trees draw putrefaction from bodies interred in the ground, so they 'fatten themselves on the essence of the dead'. So of course, I had to ask if we had Yew Trees planted in our cemeteries and it would appear there are loads!! I am amazed!
I honestly love reading this book and finding out little facts! A great book, highly recommend it!
Thank you to @lovebooktours and @rbgedinburgh for my gifted copy.
This isn't a book to sit and read in one go but I have been dipping in and out over the last few days and I have found it really interesting. Infact, when you start reading about how plants have been used in alchemy, magical medicine and witchcraft, I have sometimes found an hour has passed.
I just want to share this amazing fact! I work within the Cemeteries Department so I was fascinated to learn that Yew Trees are a symbol of death, it is noted as a 'cursed plant' with a history of being used in 'witchcraft'. Not only that, some people believe that the trees draw putrefaction from bodies interred in the ground, so they 'fatten themselves on the essence of the dead'. So of course, I had to ask if we had Yew Trees planted in our cemeteries and it would appear there are loads!! I am amazed!
I honestly love reading this book and finding out little facts! A great book, highly recommend it!
Thank you to @lovebooktours and @rbgedinburgh for my gifted copy.
October 31, 2020
The cover of this book is absolutely beautiful and there are also some lovely illustrations of plants within its pages. Although the electronic copy of the book is obviously still factual, I think you miss out on the atmosphere the hardback would provide you with. A book to be dipped in and out of when you have a moment rather to sit and read through. There are so many interesting facts and things I had never heard of.
One of the sections that interested me most was the Doctrine of Signatures which dates back to the Ancient Egyptians. This is using a plant that looked like an organ or the condition that needed treating. Nature's way of guiding you to using the correct plant!
There is also referencing to literature and myths and legends in which plants feature. If you are interested in mythology you will find many links to the Gods through the plants featured providing a good cross over of knowledge. The book sets out an explanation of how it is organised and the parameters (and disclaimer) of it's contents. It's meant as an historical look at magic, not to be used as a book of modern day charms!
One of the sections that interested me most was the Doctrine of Signatures which dates back to the Ancient Egyptians. This is using a plant that looked like an organ or the condition that needed treating. Nature's way of guiding you to using the correct plant!
There is also referencing to literature and myths and legends in which plants feature. If you are interested in mythology you will find many links to the Gods through the plants featured providing a good cross over of knowledge. The book sets out an explanation of how it is organised and the parameters (and disclaimer) of it's contents. It's meant as an historical look at magic, not to be used as a book of modern day charms!
November 22, 2020
First of all this book cover is lovely I got this as digital but when I saw the videos of the cover it’s lovely with the gold.
This book goes through trees, plants,shrubs whether they were considered blessed or cursed and also old tales about what they thought this did for medically also which is interesting for me being In the field of nurse it’s also mind boggling to read about how suspicious people were about these natural plants and how maybe we see them today.
I enjoyed reading exerts from this and most recently learnt that holly was seen to be lucky which is nice considering it’s linked and considered a “Christmas decoration”
The book is beautifully illustrated, there is not an overload of information and his writing is very simple yet informative.
And it is brilliant to learn about things in the yester years :)
This book goes through trees, plants,shrubs whether they were considered blessed or cursed and also old tales about what they thought this did for medically also which is interesting for me being In the field of nurse it’s also mind boggling to read about how suspicious people were about these natural plants and how maybe we see them today.
I enjoyed reading exerts from this and most recently learnt that holly was seen to be lucky which is nice considering it’s linked and considered a “Christmas decoration”
The book is beautifully illustrated, there is not an overload of information and his writing is very simple yet informative.
And it is brilliant to learn about things in the yester years :)
November 2, 2020
This is a lovely little book, full of trees, shrubs and plants. It gives the origin of each and the words associated with them. So plants can be blessed yet cursed, as the passage of time has changed their uses and meanings.
When no actual evidence or history is available the author has told us, as he did for some plants once thought safe for ingestion, that are known to be poisonous. His style is informative, fun and very easy to read and use, should you so wish. I love the historical information of the plants and trees. So much that isn’t common knowledge is in these pages.
The illustrations are also absolutely beautiful. A treasure of a book to hold onto, for its beauty and richness. Love it.
When no actual evidence or history is available the author has told us, as he did for some plants once thought safe for ingestion, that are known to be poisonous. His style is informative, fun and very easy to read and use, should you so wish. I love the historical information of the plants and trees. So much that isn’t common knowledge is in these pages.
The illustrations are also absolutely beautiful. A treasure of a book to hold onto, for its beauty and richness. Love it.
November 16, 2020
First of all I would like to mention the cover of this book, beautiful illustrations with gold inlay.
Plant Magic is not necessarily the type of book I would pick up, however, I found it fascinating. It's not a book you would sit and read through but probably dip in and out of.
The author has split the book into different sections ie trees, shrubs, plants and each section starts with an overview and is then broken down into the individual plant in alphabetical order. I found it really interesting learning about plants used in magic, alchemy, science and medicine as well as blessed and cursed plants.
I would highly recommend this book. It would make a beautiful and interesting addition to your bookshelf.
I was kindly gifted a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
Plant Magic is not necessarily the type of book I would pick up, however, I found it fascinating. It's not a book you would sit and read through but probably dip in and out of.
The author has split the book into different sections ie trees, shrubs, plants and each section starts with an overview and is then broken down into the individual plant in alphabetical order. I found it really interesting learning about plants used in magic, alchemy, science and medicine as well as blessed and cursed plants.
I would highly recommend this book. It would make a beautiful and interesting addition to your bookshelf.
I was kindly gifted a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
September 6, 2021
what I will say is if you love science, nature, horticulture, history and learning more - this is certainly the book for you! I adored this book, it wasn’t a book I read in one go rather I spent months dipping in and out of it and learning so much about plants. Now if you love your garden and nature this is the book for you. It’s an information book in alphabetical order so it’s so easy to dip in and out of. (I have tagged a few people I thought this book might appeal to - sorry if not!). Gardening is one of my passions and I adored learning more about the plants - and what they could be used for. This is a book that will be firmly staying on my reference shelf! This book would make a great gift for the plant, science or history lover that you know.
February 10, 2021
Absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to review this wonderful book. When my book arrived I couldn’t wait to post about it on social media. The photos didn’t even do it justice - a really beautiful cover, with gold embossing. It looked traditional and informative yet also magical and a little bit witchy. For a small book there’s an absolute wealth of knowledge crammed into every page. More than just a reference book, this is a countryside handbook really, and an absolute must for plant lovers and anyone with an interest in the supernatural. Think potions and spells! A really charming book, one that I know I will return to again and again.
April 19, 2024
Great little book, full of information to dive into later. Enjoyed reading it as an overview of plants associated with magic. I would have appreciated more depth but that's not what this was meant to achieve.. it's more of a teaser, a starter book, and it's great for that. A couple of typos but nothing major. Would have appreciated illustrations of the plants too - perhaps in a later edition?
March 11, 2025
From the perspective of a botany student and a practicing folk witch:
Pros:
- I love his definition of magic AND he’s really well informed on occult practices - he even mentions the Golden Bough and the now-accepted crossover of magic / science / religion.
- An amazing introduction to sympathetic magic, spirits and plants, the Doctrine of Signatures, etc.
- He did his research into the witch trials - he notes that most of those accused were NOT herbalists, as that’s barely mentioned at all in any of the documentation.
- The keywords section of each plant makes it super easy to determine whether it’s something you’re interested in.
- Great bite-sized info which you can base further research off of.
- He ends each entry with a description of the plant using accessible botanical terms.
- It is chock full of references: Pliny, the Key of Solomon, the Bible, the Discoverie of Witches, Culpeper, you name it.
- He goes over plants in myth of which we don’t know the name now for (or it has gone extinct since the myth was started), for example lotus to moly from the Odyssey. I haven’t seen this in any other witchcraft books in depth and it’s really interesting (if not useful). He does speculate on some on what the plant may be.
- Great and useful appendices in the back.
Cons:
- It mainly focuses on Europe.
- There are no illustrations. I want pictures! I want illustrations! The cover is so beautiful but there’s barely any pictures in it.
Pros:
- I love his definition of magic AND he’s really well informed on occult practices - he even mentions the Golden Bough and the now-accepted crossover of magic / science / religion.
- An amazing introduction to sympathetic magic, spirits and plants, the Doctrine of Signatures, etc.
- He did his research into the witch trials - he notes that most of those accused were NOT herbalists, as that’s barely mentioned at all in any of the documentation.
- The keywords section of each plant makes it super easy to determine whether it’s something you’re interested in.
- Great bite-sized info which you can base further research off of.
- He ends each entry with a description of the plant using accessible botanical terms.
- It is chock full of references: Pliny, the Key of Solomon, the Bible, the Discoverie of Witches, Culpeper, you name it.
- He goes over plants in myth of which we don’t know the name now for (or it has gone extinct since the myth was started), for example lotus to moly from the Odyssey. I haven’t seen this in any other witchcraft books in depth and it’s really interesting (if not useful). He does speculate on some on what the plant may be.
- Great and useful appendices in the back.
Cons:
- It mainly focuses on Europe.
- There are no illustrations. I want pictures! I want illustrations! The cover is so beautiful but there’s barely any pictures in it.
January 17, 2021
As a child we often discover the fictional magic of plants in books such as the Magic Faraway Tree and the folklore stories about Robin Hood etc. Plants have been used for centuries to make medicine and food, but also to make enemies ill or to kill them.
This book is a reference book to explain how the wide number of plants have been used for food, medicine and pain, from trees, to fungi, from herbs to ferns.
I live in Oakhurst, named after the Oak trees growing in the area. I was fascinated by the amount of information about how Oak trees were the symbol of Zeus, and linked to Merlin the wizard. I wasn’t aware that acorns were used to make love potions.
There is a section at the back of the book about Mystery Plants, such Laughter Leaf and Was Wak trees. These are plants that have featured in stories such as the Arabian Nights and this book explains how the stories may have evolved.
A fascinating book, looking at folklore, legend, botany and science. I’ve enjoyed dipping in and out of the pages, learning more about the plants in our garden and those seen on our daily dog walks.
This book is a reference book to explain how the wide number of plants have been used for food, medicine and pain, from trees, to fungi, from herbs to ferns.
I live in Oakhurst, named after the Oak trees growing in the area. I was fascinated by the amount of information about how Oak trees were the symbol of Zeus, and linked to Merlin the wizard. I wasn’t aware that acorns were used to make love potions.
There is a section at the back of the book about Mystery Plants, such Laughter Leaf and Was Wak trees. These are plants that have featured in stories such as the Arabian Nights and this book explains how the stories may have evolved.
A fascinating book, looking at folklore, legend, botany and science. I’ve enjoyed dipping in and out of the pages, learning more about the plants in our garden and those seen on our daily dog walks.
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