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bearfamilyreads's review
inspiring
relaxing
4.0
This started out very strong for me, encouraging us to ponder the wonders of the fungi kingdom through lenses of culture, history, spirituality, and science. However, the later pages about individual mushrooms lost me, as it repeatedly said things like "edible, but don't eat them", etc. It just really took me out of the book, as I thought it was pretty clear that the author's intent was to talk about symbolism and our connection with fungi... clearly stating that this wasn't a field guide - so why even have that entire section with vague identification (and "edible, but don't eat!")? It got repetitive and just lost my enthusiasm. I wish I could get a copy that just left that entire section out and focused on the human connection with fungi throughout time and in folklore.
mharrison13's review
informative
medium-paced
3.5
This book was very informative but feels like a textbook. I appreciated the guidance on meditation but am not quite open minded enough to try manifesting.
The illustrations are beautiful and make me want to go out for a mushroom hunt.
The illustrations are beautiful and make me want to go out for a mushroom hunt.
destiniev's review
adventurous
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
5.0
This was such a fun book! Kane explored mushrooms’ history looking at the scientific, the folklore, fantasy and magic surrounding mushrooms. I didn’t know how many mushrooms exist and all the interesting facts and stories that go along with the different types of mushrooms. A mix of science and magick, the best kind!
Kane breaks their book down in three parts
First looking at the folklore and different discoveries made about mushrooms. Second a list of 43 different mushrooms (not a field guide) and finally how to use mushrooms in your magickal practices.
Kane definitely did her research and this book definitely sparked an interest in learning more about mushrooms.
I do want to highlight that Kane is known for writing books about magick and witch craft so this book is not meant for the scientific study of mushroom, though she does include the science behind mushrooms, this is meant to help people incorporate mushrooms in their magickal healing practices. So if that’s not your thing then maybe skip this one. But if you enjoy learning about herbal magick or even looking at mushrooms from an archetypal sense then I definitely recommend.
I also think that this book is a good introduction to the subject of mushrooms and had similar vibes as the documentary Fantastic Fungi
Anyway mushrooms are awesome and my love for them grew after reading Mystical Mushrooms
strawberrypinch's review
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Drug use and Death
xxivo's review
informative
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5
This book was full of soo many lovely mushroom facts!
I picked this book up as from time to time I love doing something spiritual, and I am a great fan of mushrooms, so it seemed this perfecty would intesect my two interests. And it really did bring those two together really well.
The book starts with a few chapters on the history of mushrooms and their magic. It talks on how they have been used for magic or have been linked to witches, but also talks about the many great uses for mushrooms like medicinal use or for food. There were many fun facts in there that I did not know and made notes of to remember for later. Like Ötzy the mummy having had mushrooms with him and how the salem trials might have some connections to mushrooms too. It made me feel more connected to mushrooms with this information and knowledge giving me a good framework for the chapter that takes up most of the book.
This is when the book starts taking two or more pages for various mushrooms. It goes over more common ones you could find yourself but also some very interesting rare ones that are absolutely awesome.
For every mushroom information was given for what kind of menifestations you could use them and I really enjoyed that. It then gave some text too with some background information and stories about the mushroom.
There were some shrooms I was happy about to learn more magical knowledge about them, but with other pages I was amazed to learn new mushrooms that blew my mind.
Lastly there are a few pages with some spells you can try out yourself. I like it that these sometimes give suggestions for what shrooms to use but not all are set in stone. Especially as finding specific mushrooms can be hard at any time of the year it is nice it gave you multiple options to choose from. One that was specific though was a truffle one and that one I did try. It was a manifestation for self worth in your love life that I really enjoyed. For my tools I turned on a candle for this, had my labadorite stone with me for extra self love and ate truffle crisps. Then I said the words the book had written down and sent my hopes into the air. I struggle a bit with self worth in relationships sometimes so I am hopeful this might help.
All together this was a lovely book that I really enjoyed and am considering buying a pretty hardback from to put it on my shelf.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
I picked this book up as from time to time I love doing something spiritual, and I am a great fan of mushrooms, so it seemed this perfecty would intesect my two interests. And it really did bring those two together really well.
The book starts with a few chapters on the history of mushrooms and their magic. It talks on how they have been used for magic or have been linked to witches, but also talks about the many great uses for mushrooms like medicinal use or for food. There were many fun facts in there that I did not know and made notes of to remember for later. Like Ötzy the mummy having had mushrooms with him and how the salem trials might have some connections to mushrooms too. It made me feel more connected to mushrooms with this information and knowledge giving me a good framework for the chapter that takes up most of the book.
This is when the book starts taking two or more pages for various mushrooms. It goes over more common ones you could find yourself but also some very interesting rare ones that are absolutely awesome.
For every mushroom information was given for what kind of menifestations you could use them and I really enjoyed that. It then gave some text too with some background information and stories about the mushroom.
There were some shrooms I was happy about to learn more magical knowledge about them, but with other pages I was amazed to learn new mushrooms that blew my mind.
Lastly there are a few pages with some spells you can try out yourself. I like it that these sometimes give suggestions for what shrooms to use but not all are set in stone. Especially as finding specific mushrooms can be hard at any time of the year it is nice it gave you multiple options to choose from. One that was specific though was a truffle one and that one I did try. It was a manifestation for self worth in your love life that I really enjoyed. For my tools I turned on a candle for this, had my labadorite stone with me for extra self love and ate truffle crisps. Then I said the words the book had written down and sent my hopes into the air. I struggle a bit with self worth in relationships sometimes so I am hopeful this might help.
All together this was a lovely book that I really enjoyed and am considering buying a pretty hardback from to put it on my shelf.
I received an eARC and this was my honest review.
shirecrow's review
5.0
Growing up in a pagan family, I was excited seeing this book on the Netgalley website and immediately requested it. I was delighted to receive a digital copy and it didn't disappoint.
Of course, I knew quite a few things already but that definitely didn't reduce the quality of this book.
Firstly, the overall look is amazing. The illustrations are so beautiful, the text as in font and size is comfortable and accessible which is important to mention since quite a few "witchy" books tend to go overboard and make their research rather unaccessible for people that struggle with their vision for example.
Throughout the book you will find the big pictures of mushrooms but also cute little illustrations that keep each page interesting and unique.
The writing in this was fun. It was informing but had a lightness to it which helped in making it feel less like a textbook and more like a nice read on the side that will teach you something.
I loved how the book made you love all these fascinating little details about mushrooms.
I appreciate all the different historical and continental (?) views. It gives you lore and information to mushrooms all over the world. From Europe to the USA to Mexico, Asia and so on. I really enjoyed those bits because they really open up the world to you.
Lastly, the witch aspect. I agree and even recognized a few things from our own practice. Throughout the book this spiritual aspect and the hard facts were interwoven and related to each other. I also enjoyed the whole magickal chapters towards the end. Really lovely explanations and warnings, which I think are really important.
In conclusion, I adored this book for what it was. The lore, the facts, the magick were all amazing, the illustrations breathtaking and the authors voice very lovely and easy to follow along on this mushroom adventure. Having read the full thing, I'd still love to have a physical copy of it and go running in the woods, seeing what I'll find.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Quarto Publishing Group for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.
Of course, I knew quite a few things already but that definitely didn't reduce the quality of this book.
Firstly, the overall look is amazing. The illustrations are so beautiful, the text as in font and size is comfortable and accessible which is important to mention since quite a few "witchy" books tend to go overboard and make their research rather unaccessible for people that struggle with their vision for example.
Throughout the book you will find the big pictures of mushrooms but also cute little illustrations that keep each page interesting and unique.
The writing in this was fun. It was informing but had a lightness to it which helped in making it feel less like a textbook and more like a nice read on the side that will teach you something.
I loved how the book made you love all these fascinating little details about mushrooms.
I appreciate all the different historical and continental (?) views. It gives you lore and information to mushrooms all over the world. From Europe to the USA to Mexico, Asia and so on. I really enjoyed those bits because they really open up the world to you.
Lastly, the witch aspect. I agree and even recognized a few things from our own practice. Throughout the book this spiritual aspect and the hard facts were interwoven and related to each other. I also enjoyed the whole magickal chapters towards the end. Really lovely explanations and warnings, which I think are really important.
In conclusion, I adored this book for what it was. The lore, the facts, the magick were all amazing, the illustrations breathtaking and the authors voice very lovely and easy to follow along on this mushroom adventure. Having read the full thing, I'd still love to have a physical copy of it and go running in the woods, seeing what I'll find.
Thank you to Netgalley, the author and Quarto Publishing Group for a free digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.