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A review by marcusrigsby
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs: Your Complete Guide to the Hidden Powers of Herbs by Judy Ann Nock
4.0
A guide book that feels like a cozy autumn read. I thoroughly enjoyed the ways in which Nock paints the mundane world of the kitchen and the garden with feelings of magic and wonder.
If you've always wanted to explore your witchy side but never knew where to start, then you might find The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs extremely helpful. I picked it up more out of curiosity than any desire to pursue witchcraft as a religion, but after reading it, I felt I had everything I needed to begin a solitary practice or start my very own coven.
The book includes a catalogue of commonly used herbs (along with tidbits on their history, and their magical and medical uses). You will also find in its pages some easy spells for everyday problems, rituals to mark the Pagan calendar, and ideas for creating altars, charms, wards, and initiation rites for coven members.
I read this book as a follow-up to Andrew Chevalier's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, which includes far more herbs and more detailed information on their medicinal value, but which makes a number of scientifically questionable claims about what herbs can actually do for your health. By contrast, I did not get the impression that Nock is encouraging her readers to DIY their own medicine (something I do NOT recommend trying unless you are a licensed medical professional). This is a book about magic, not medicine, and Nock is careful not to make any scientific claims that exceed her expertise.
For readers looking to expand their knowledge of magical herbs, Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a logical next destination.
If you've always wanted to explore your witchy side but never knew where to start, then you might find The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs extremely helpful. I picked it up more out of curiosity than any desire to pursue witchcraft as a religion, but after reading it, I felt I had everything I needed to begin a solitary practice or start my very own coven.
The book includes a catalogue of commonly used herbs (along with tidbits on their history, and their magical and medical uses). You will also find in its pages some easy spells for everyday problems, rituals to mark the Pagan calendar, and ideas for creating altars, charms, wards, and initiation rites for coven members.
I read this book as a follow-up to Andrew Chevalier's Encyclopedia of Herbal Medicine, which includes far more herbs and more detailed information on their medicinal value, but which makes a number of scientifically questionable claims about what herbs can actually do for your health. By contrast, I did not get the impression that Nock is encouraging her readers to DIY their own medicine (something I do NOT recommend trying unless you are a licensed medical professional). This is a book about magic, not medicine, and Nock is careful not to make any scientific claims that exceed her expertise.
For readers looking to expand their knowledge of magical herbs, Scott Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs is a logical next destination.