A Green Witch can also be a Kitchen Witch, and in many ways they are similar. Green Witches consider plants, herbs, flowers and weeds to be sacred, full of Magical potential. The Kitchen Witch definitely adheres to the keep-it-simple outlook. If something is available and contains the right symbolism, it’s fair game for Kitchen Magic. Are Green Witches Hedge Witches? Gardening: A lot of Green Witches grow their own herbs, plants, and vegetables, seeing gardening as a spiritual practice. They might incorporate moon phases, planetary alignments, and other magical correspondences into their gardening routines. Further on, when talking about practices related to Greencraft I can ignore the exclusion of Cottagecraft and Hearthcraft (the final two members of the family of Domestic practices to which Greencraft arguably belongs). And I will heartily admit that they managed a definition of Kitchencraft that's close enough within an acceptable ballpark that I have no real complaints. But her definition of Hedgewitch is just as shoddy as her historicism (we'll get to that), and leaves far too much to be desired; at this point I have zero hope that any other area of this book will be better. 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. It's also interesting to see the Drews drawn further into the deeper parts of the plot. It's always strange to me to realise how little they know. The characterisation of them is brilliant -- they're such ordinary kids, so resentful of another kid "interfering".

It's far more complicated than let on- and certainly eons away from being "Pagan" by any means. These are all facts the author'd know if they actually did even the smallest cursory research into legitimate Braucherei practices before throwing them out as an example like so many Neopagan authors seem to like doing... In fact, if we're being completely honestly, it's high passed time for Neopagan authors to stop using Christian Folk Practices as their examples altogether. Especially when the vast majority of traditional Folk Magic practices are Christian, and so many authors do so in a way that attempts to unrightfully claim them as "Pagan". It’s also, once again, great on human interaction: the pettiness of Barney and Simon toward the intruder, Will, and Jane’s attempts to bridge the two worlds. More out of a sense that that’s the girl’s job, perhaps, than because she has any genuine interest in Will for himself. Jane is the most reluctant of the Six — right now I’m wondering a little if that’s because she’s the only female character. I hope not, but there are so many scenes where she’s timid, more afraid than the boys… But at the same time, she also has a different understanding of the world, and a deeper view on things. She’s the one who can see the Greenwitch for the lonely creature it is, the one who can see Will for the strange being he has become. Which might, again, be rooted in gender, but I don’t think it’s any kind of simple binary. Which is a relief. Imagine a small balcony or windowsill teeming with pots of herbs, flowers, and even vegetables. Even if you don’t have a yard, you can cultivate a connection with plants. Grow basil, rosemary, or lavender; nurture a flower or two. Not only do these provide you with fresh ingredients for spells and rituals, but they also create a living link to Earth’s energies. The Magic of Trees by Tess Whitehurst will teach you about the magical properties of trees and how to utilize tree magic in your practice. Often green witches attach to herbs but forget the power of the trees! 2. Whispers from the Woods

Christmas Gifts

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. Think of the reciprocal relationship between you and the Earth. After a successful spell or simply as a gesture of gratitude, you might leave offerings for the spirits or deities you work with. This could be in the form of herbs, flowers, or even a small dish of food. It’s a way of saying thank you and ensuring the cycle of giving and receiving remains unbroken. Far shorter than I thought it was yet no worse for it, the third in the Dark is Rising sequence sees Cooper balance a fine line between the narrative of Over Sea Under Stone and The Dark is Rising which, I had claimed, felt like they had been written by two different people. I think she does a good job here and actually enjoyed the fact that it was mainly still down to the children, especially Jane, to guide us through the story.

Looking to expand your knowledge as a green witch? Research, read, and study using our mega GIANT list of green witch books and resources. Find books, blogs, and YT channels on green witchcraft, herbalism, foraging and wildcrafting, trees, fairies, folklore, and more! Green Witch Books & Resources 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. Flexibility and Individualism Lastly, imagine you’ve been given a blank canvas and a palette of colors. Other forms of witchcraft might provide an outline or set of practices to follow, but as a Green Witch, your canvas is shaped by personal experiences in nature. While there are traditions and practices passed down, much of Green Witchcraft is adaptable, allowing you to integrate personal experiences, local ecosystems, and individual revelations. How can someone get started with Green Witchcraft? Because Simon and Jane (and to a lesser degree Barney), they're the tourists in this book. As holidaymakers in Cornwall, but also as mortals in Will and Merriman's quest, in the work of the Old Ones. They're only ever given a tiny slice of truth, just enough for a good pantomime. They're carefully coached to turn away from anything too magical, and when they're hit in the face with magic -- well. There's an awful lot of foreshadowing here. It's not just the Light, either -- there's that absurd incident of dognapping. Dognapping! because the forces of evil, that's totally their go-to strategy right there. And it becomes clear later that the Dark was merely putting on a show, calibrating their whole global evil thing down to fit Barney's young sensibilities because it's not like he'd understand the true scope of the Dark anyway, doncha know. The Drews aren’t that much better off, mind you. Though they have a little more in the way of an "adventure", there is less time dedicated towards showcasing their prodigious problem-solving skills. In general, Greenwitch seems rushed. It’s a short book, so if Cooper had paced it more slowly and given the plot more bulk, I don’t think it would have suffered for length.

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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 A compendium of stories about Irish fairies, Meeting the Other Crowd by Eddie Lenehan is intriguing and hard to put down! 4. The Fairy Faith in Celtic Countries