I enjoy surprises so when I opened up a package from London, I couldn’t have been more excited. The fabulous package contained The Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic by Christina Oakley Harrington. There were also a variety of very useful herbs, candles, and other ritual goodies from my favorite shop in London.
I’ve seen a lot of herb books over the years, one of my minors in college was Plant Science, and most days I like plants more than people. Don’t tell anyone. Because of this I’ve read a lot of plant books. My shelves are full of everything from Culpeper’s Complete Herbal to A Modern Herbal written by Maud Grieve in 1931.
This is honestly the best herb book I have seen in a long time. It has everything I expected and need from a book like this: Latin names, common names, attributions, and even a segment on spells and potions. The Treadwell’s Book of Plant Magic starts with a short section titled “problems and solutions.” Here Harrington tells us to use marigold and vervain for money, and clover to detect liars. In fact almost every possibility is addressed. However, the bulk of the book is dedicated to addressing each of the magickal plants in detail. The reader can learn how to use garlic to stop jealousy and envy by rubbing it on your possessions on a Tuesday, the day of Mars. A whole host of plants are detailed here from Agnus Castus to Yew and everything in between. Harrington is the founder of the famous Treadwell’s bookshop in London. Starting as an academic historian, she now focuses on managing lectures at the shop and special projects. She has a lifelong interest in folk magic, which is beautifully present in the text.
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