The Green Witch: Your Complete Guide to the Natural Magic of Herbs, Flowers, Essential Oils, and More

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All of this emphasis on "being an individual" and "forging your own path", and yet there sure are a lot of "Greencraft is [this]" statements going on here still... And honestly, after practicing for 20 years, I'm desperately curious where the author got all of this "Greencraft is" stuff. Because it's not the Greencraft I was taught; it legitimately sounds to me like they took your run of the mill Greencraft- a practice largely traditionally rooted in plants and herbalism (both medical and magical), and maybe a bit of local ecology if you wanted to get frisky... Made it about global ecology... Threw in some more generic Neopagan shit.... Dialed up the "earth worshiping Pagan" stereotype... And then just went ham with it without actually consulting anyone who practiced Greencraft. But for now, the theme is of voluntary giving, of sacrifice, even as the grail comes closer to their grasp. As the inscription on the gold strip Will makes and gives to Jane, to do as she will with, reads: And then, of course, there's the eponymous Greenwitch. I'm not sure what I was expecting it to be--given the cover art on my copy, I think I was expecting something like Treebeard. Certainly I couldn't have imagined this wild, changeful, childish hurricane of a being--and not to spoil the effect for new readers, that's all I'll say--but I absolutely adored it, and the Tolkien-esque infusion of sadness Cooper managed to give it.

I haven’t used any other herbal book more than this one. Scott Cunningham is a well-known Wiccan author and this book will demonstrate why. An indelible reference for the green witch to always have on-hand. 2. 20,000 Secrets of Tea but really, where *does* the author get all this stuff about the green witch path? I get that the real history is much less important to witches than the mythical history (p. 21), but I care! I hate the false, insulating sense of timelessness and culturelessness it creates. If it's her own creation or that of a community located in spacetime she should say so. Phyllis Curott: A Wiccan priestess and author who often emphasizes the importance of connecting with the Earth and its cycles. Another of my must-have herbal reference books, 20,000 Secrets of Tea makes it easy to concoct magical teas for medicine and everyday use. I can’t tell you how many times I referred to this book by Victoria Zak. 3. Illustrated Herbiary Let's start with something simple regarding the actual content, then... Not in 20 years of practice have I ever once heard that we "use the phrase 'living the path' instead of simply saying 'practicing green witchcraft'". If they made it up for their own practice, and the author themself wants to say that? Fine with me. Good on them... But literally no one says that. They just don't. That's not a "Green Witch" thing.Envision sitting silently beside a towering oak or a blooming rose, seeking to communicate or draw wisdom from its spirit. Beyond their physical properties, Green Witches often connect with the very souls of plants. Through meditation, dream work, or other spiritual practices, you can forge relationships with plant spirits, learning directly from these ancient, wise beings. this silent image held within it more power than she had ever sensed before in any creature or thing. Thunder and storms and earthquakes were there, and all the force of the earth and sea. It was outside Time, boundless, ageless, beyond any line drawn between good and evil. Herbalism: Many Green Witches study and practice herbalism, using plants for medicinal, magical, and spiritual purposes. They might create herbal remedies, teas, tinctures, oils, and other concoctions. I really liked watching eerie series protagonist Will Stanton through their eyes. All of the little moments when they catch him acting like he's much older than his actual age or hiding his powers were fun and also, well, eerie. Especially that surprising moment when he just up and runs off of a cliff. Odd kid, that Will. Another of Ann Moura’s green books, Grimoire for the Green Witch provides a full Book of Shadows for readers to use and adapt for their own green traditions. 4. A Green Witch’s Cupboard

More spellbinding, but of a darker nature, comes from the abstract expressionist daubings of the mysterious artist whose several malevolent interactions with the Drews unsettle them and cast a blight on their Easter holiday. I wonder if the abstract expressionism which came to the fore in North America during the Cold War years influenced Susan Cooper to introduce this element here, as the conflict with the Dark that dominates the novel sequence parallels that between East and West during the second half of the twentieth century. When it comes to spectacle and sheer blessed creativity, this one far overpasses anything Cooper had done before. Sure, there may not be as much action-adventure as the previous books--but ohmygollygracious, that scrying scene! painting spells! Tethys! the haunting! Reading this, there was hardly a moment when my toes weren't curling and my eyes bugging with delight. Want to learn more about wildflowers and their energies? Read Wildflower Folklore by Laura C. Martin. Green Witch Blogs 1. Sarah Anne Lawless Ritual and Celebration: Green Witches often celebrate the Wheel of the Year, which includes the eight Sabbats that mark the changing seasons. Their rituals might involve giving thanks to the Earth, celebrating the harvest, or honoring the spirits of nature. Green Witch” is a term used within the modern witchcraft and pagan communities to describe someone who practices a nature-based form of witchcraft. Their craft is deeply rooted in working with the Earth, the elements, plants, herbs, stones, and animals. Here are some key features of a Green Witch:Eco-Friendly & Sustainable Practices: Green Witches often emphasize sustainability and environmental consciousness. They might focus on using natural, biodegradable, or repurposed materials in their craft, and they often advocate for environmental protection. Imagine setting the stage for a ritual by encircling your space with rose petals for love or pine needles for protection. Plants can be used to demarcate and purify your ritual space, ensuring it’s charged with the right energies before you begin your work.

I'm noticing this time around how clever Cooper is to show these events through the Drews' eyes, rather than Will's. The second book was of Will discovering and growing into his power; now we see him fully grown, as it were, relaxed and confident in his role as Old One, and the Drew children's outside perspective on him is invaluable. When he coolly deflects Simon's boyish attempts to quarrel, the way he treats Merriman as a peer--in the previous book, from Will's own point of view, these would seem perfectly natural. But when we see them through a normal human child's eyes, we are reminded of how alien, and how remarkable, he is. lists of plants and gems with uses/correspondences, but *zero* interest in botany or geology. This is overwhelmingly common, and so self-centered! Not finding things beautiful or fascinating for what they are and how they came to be that way, only concerned about what they can do for you. Think of a rainy day in the city, the patter of drops on rooftops, or the gust of wind through narrow alleys. The elements—earth, air, fire, water—are everywhere, even in urban environments. Seek them out. Light candles, collect rainwater, or simply open a window to let in fresh air. The city’s rhythms can be woven into your rituals, integrating urban energies into your practice.

Games

Cooper's focus on a Wild Green Magic that exists outside of the Light and the Dark was thoughtful and compelling. She gives the pre-Christian pagan forces of nature their proper due and I loved how she made those forces indomitable, beyond the control of either the legions of good or ill. Neither good nor bad intentions matter to Nature. Nature will do Nature, and that's that, thanks for playing. Women are also centralized in a way that I don't recall seeing much of in the other books (besides the final moments of the last book): in the pagan ritual that creates the Greenwitch of course, but also in how Jane Drew proves herself to be the true hero of the story - simply by being her brave, kind self. Her normal self is her best self; a wonderful way to be.