The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs

I believe that there is magic in affirmations. Just as there is magic in the names of herbs.

That's right this is another witchy book about herbs so get ready to dive in.

I've been lightly dabbling in witchcraft for a few years and I'm settling on being a green witch/herb witch. I love growing things and I like herbs. Healing people and taking care of them is such a joy for me. The healthcare field gives me such a rush and I genuinely enjoy interacting with people and caring for them on a day to day basis.

Guys, I was so excited when I was finally approved for this book.

We learn about the many ways that herbs can be used through tinctures, oils, teas, concoctions.

I think one of the best things I learned was how there are strong connections between herbs and the planets and the starts which contributes to the magickal associations of the herbs..

For example Venus:

Mint
Violet
Catnip
Rose

Love ittt. I also love how it goes in depth with each and every herb. This is a great guide and I'm so thankful for it.

I really and honestly truly love this book and I just added it to my wishlist for Christmas because I need a physical copy because I grow my own herbs and I need this for my indoor herb garden.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my ARC.. All opinions are my own.

3.5/5 stars

This is a delightful book on herbs’ use in modern witchcraft! Easy to read, thorough, and clear, this book left me with a deeper understanding of the history of herbs in witchcraft as well as how they’re continued to be used today by modern witches. Also, the cover is absolutely beautiful, and that certainly helps to heighten the overall visual appeal of the book for those who are drawn to covers! I would recommend this to anyone who’s interested in the history of witchcraft or the modern practices of witchcraft.

This is a well written and informative book that I found engrossing and entertaining.
I learned a lot and was more than happy to learn something new about herbs and witchcraft.
I liked the clear explanations and how the book is organised.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I was thrilled to include "The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs", by Judy Ann Nock into my ever growing collection of this series.
In the 240 wonderfully crafted pages you will find not only about the herbs themselves and their many uses, but also the history behind them.
The author includes everything you'll need to know about setting up a magickal herb garden, from the soil to seeding to planting.
The common magickal herb section was very useful in sorting out what herbs should be used for what intention for spellcasting.
In the back of the book you will find illustrations of herbs and their magickal properties as well different ways to incorporate herbs into the Sabbats, herbs for ailments and my favorite, tea use in the art of Tasseomancy.

The information you will find in "The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs", by Judy Ann Nock is just amazing. I was given a digital copy for my honest review, but I will be buying a copy to add to the rest of the wonderful books in this series. #NetGalley

Blessings,
Katrina

Even for those who don't practice or believe in witchcraft, one can't argue that medicinal herbs are highly impactful and helpful. Judy Ann Nock's book gives readers a chance to go through the different herbs, their influence, and to what they may be best applied. I found the guide fascinating and delightful.

The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs is a great addition to one’s reference library. A large part of the book includes information on 100 herbs including a short history, their growing preferences, what remedies they are good for, and their magickal properties. It is a great introduction to the herbs allowing you to see which ones you would like to explore more via other books or courses.

There are also a lot of spells and charms included. Some of the chapters include; Botanicals and Beauty, Aphrodisiacs and Attraction, Fate and Fortune, Omens and Oracles, Belladonna and Bane, Dragon’s Blood and Dreams, and Rites and Rituals.
Nock also includes information on altars, magickal tools, smudging, and more.

It would be a perfect book for someone just beginning to get into witchcraft and herbs. And for those who have been practicing with magickal herbs for awhile, they might find some new information to add to their Book of Shadows or grimoire.

This is definitely one of the best and most useful craft-related books I’ve picked up thus far, and I really recommend it to anyone interested in green and/or kitchen witchcraft! It details pretty heavily on both, as herbal magic is incredibly important in both walks of life (and to be fair, many green witches are also hearth/kitchen witches, and vice-versa). The other most notable thing I appreciate is that this isn’t a book for beginners or seasoned witches; it fits both quite easily and I think anyone could find something worth learning or considering here.

The book kicks off with a bit of history into the art of herbal magic and some basic definitions of different types of herbs, the difference between herbs and spices, and so forth. There’s a whole section on gardening and giving back to the earth, including a super informative how-to guide on building your own indoor or outdoor compost! There’s also a healthy amount of information on the history of how different cultures have approached herbal magic, whether it’s the Ayurvedic route, Traditional Chinese Medicine, or even Culpeper (considered by many to be the first general practitioner) and the ways he merged herbs with science.

For the aspects on kitchen craft, there are some great general tips as well as ideas for ways you can make teas, tonics, etc. Part II features an index of 100 herbs with illustrations, correspondences, and uses, before moving on to Part III, which features a long line of spells split into chapters related to their purposes such as divination, luck, etc. (including a chapter on dangerous herbs to avoid).

The only complaint I have about this entire book is that the beginning focuses a fair bit on “the law of three”, which if you’re unfamiliar with it, states that everything we do returns to us threefold, so we must only put positivity and light out into the universe. While that’s a major facet of the Wiccan belief system, this isn’t marketed as a Wiccan book (to my knowledge), and many non-Wiccan witches such as myself don’t necessarily abide by the law of three. I’m not particularly bothered by its inclusion, but I thought it was worth mentioning in this review! Honestly, though, like I said: this is one of my favorite books on witchcraft I’ve ever read, and I’ll definitely be grabbing myself a physical copy to flip through for referencing and spells in the future!

Thank you so much to the publisher for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Blog: Flying the Hedge
Posted on: December 5, 2019
Link: https://www.flyingthehedge.com/2019/12/book-review-modern-witchcraft-magickal-herbs.html
Review: "Time for another book review witches and I am so excited to share this one with you! I just finished The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock and I am in love! This is one of the best witchcraft herbal books I have ever read in all of my life. Yes, it's better than Cunningham. Blasphemy, I know.

Nock begins the book by breaking down common uses of herbs, from medicine to gardening to cooking, with magical correspondences sprinkled throughout. I absolutely loved all the little historical asides, myths, and folklore on the different herbs or uses she was discussing. These asides offer a glimpse into the past and offer a deeper understanding of how magical traditions regarding plants developed over time and why we have many of the magical correspondences we do today. To add to my love, Nock also takes a scientific approach to herbs, advising readers to be aware of reactions and always consult a physician or herbalist when using herbs.

In the section on gardening, which is one of my favorites, Nock introduces "sacred sustainability," or the idea that we should live and harvest sustainably and that this act is sacred in and of itself. This resonated with me as an environmental science teacher and as a witch. She discusses creating your own magical garden as well as how to create your own compost with a magical spin. Her discussion of compost and how creating it is a magical act tied to the Wheel of the Year, the Elements, and the Triple Goddess was deeply profound. I honestly had never thought about compost as being magical, but after reading her explanation, I'm converted. If anything, she taught me at that moment to recognize the magic in even the most mundane of acts. She evens offers an amazing composting ritual to do when you begin your gardening journey. I've never been so excited to create compost in my entire life. Haha!

She follows up with a great section on kitchen witchery, which, while short, introduces the idea that cooking is a magical act. This section could have been longer, but there are lots of great books on the topic out there and I believe Nock was just trying to briefly introduce the subject to peak interest. The following chapter covers herbs in wellness. Here, she breaks down the different schools of thought on treating disease. I was thankful she pointed out some of the flaws of homeopathy but would have liked to have seen more in this section explaining the controversy behind it. Homeopathy is based on the idea that like cures like and through dilution we make a cure more powerful. There is ZERO, and I mean ZERO, scientific evidence to support homeopathy, which is very different from naturopathy and other holistic forms of medicine. But I digress. This is definitely an argument for another time.

Following this introduction to the uses of herbs comes a beautifully illustrated section covering 100 herbs and their history, associations, and magical uses. I would have liked to have seen this section fleshed out a little more, especially regarding the history, but fully understand that to cover each herb in such detail would take many a book. Despite this, the section is great and offers some new information, even for me! I look forward to seeing the illustrations in the physical copy. They are beautiful in the electronic copy I read, so I can only imagine they are even better in person.

Part 2 is all about using herbs in magical workings. Her uses and suggestions are new and inventive and have given me so many ideas for future spells. This is the first time in at least 2 years that I have read through spells and been like, "Oh! How thoughtful and inspiring! I am going to use this!" Her spells cover everything from self-care, luck, love, divination, shadow work, and healing. Nock also offers suggestions on how herbs can be used as magical tools and on your altar. There is mention in this book of the Rule of Three, but it was so brief that it didn't turn me off from the rest of the book. There is so much more to this book than Wicca.

I can't even begin to stress how much I loved this book. In fact, I went ahead and preordered a copy because I just had to have the physical copy to make notes in. If you only purchase one book this year, make sure its this one. It is an absolute must-read for all witches, new or not. The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs by Judy Ann Nock will be available on December 10, 2019, so preorder your copy today!"

This book is utterly fantastic. What a wonderful guide to using herbs with magick. This will be a staple on my shelf with my other similar books. Would highly recommend it.

I really loved this, I'm trying to use more natural ingredients and to even grow some of my own herbs. I love the more modern take on it as well

From GoodReads )

Incorporate herbs into spells, rituals, and divination with this all-inclusive guide to the benefits of using herbal magic in witchcraft.

From creating potions to using dried herbs in rituals, herbal magic is a natural way to practice witchcraft. Herbs can be used in many different ways to help set the intention through every part of a witch’s process.

In The Modern Witchcraft Guide to Magickal Herbs, learn everything you need to use the most powerful herbs and use them as an essential part of your practice. Including information on which herbs are best for what kinds of spells, how to use herbs in divination and rituals, and step-by-step guides to making herbal bundles, potions, and sprays, this guidebook has all the important facts to make your herbal witchcraft a success.

Jam-packed with herbal ideas, this guide is perfect for both beginners and experienced witches looking to incorporate more herbs into their practice. Beautiful and functional, it is easy to navigate and offers a detailed guide to herbal magic!


What I thought) A witch always needs a good guide on herbs and this is a really good one. :)

This book is fantastic. This book is a lovely resource on herbs. There are witchy uses for herbs, the history, medicinal and culinary uses of herbs, as I well as growing and harvesting the herbs. This book is too good not to have as a resource on your shelf. As a practicing green witch even I learned some new things.

This book is the type of book you keep around to look things up for reference. It's good to have books like this around when working with new things. Very helpful.

Being a huge fan of herbalism, I knew this book would be right up my street. The illustrations are beautiful and the descriptions are brilliant.

Who does not like a book dedicated to modern witchcraft and magickal herbs that discusses the secret, inner wisdom of these subjects and add in what they can teach us and how to use them in our practice. This book was perfect for me, as a very spiritual person and as someone who values the use and properties of herbs in everyday and magickal life, and I really enjoyed what this book had to offer. This book would make an excellent gift too!