The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs

Very happy with preowned book. Great Condition.

Great little book but the title does not capture what this book is really focused on. This is a book on entheogenic uses of plants. Entheogenic refers to (in a nut shell) ritual drug use. This is a great book but buyers should know that this is not an exhaustive magical-use encyclopedia.

While I liked the format, and the book's conciseness (was able to read whole thing in one sitting), I found some of the information inside to be incorrect, or dated.On pg. 104, he states that Aconitum or Monkshood is in the Solanaceae family. It is not. It is in the Ranunculaceae family.On pg. 103, when discussing Datura/Jimsonweed, he states how witches applied flying ointments, made from the FAT OF CHILDREN with broomsticks inserted into their vaginas. The fat of children is completely untrue, and is exactly the kind of misinformation that incited hysteria during the inquisition and burning times. No educated person should be sharing this as something that actually happened or was in any way, a common practice.As far as inserting a salve-covered broom into the vagina, this has been shown to be a highly unlikely, through extensive historical research by other authors whose life works are dedicated to the research of the herbs used in flying ointments. Thomas Hatsis wrote a whole book on this very thing called "The Witch's Ointment". A very well-researched and scholarly read, published recently (2015).Also, worth noting that during the time period of reference, broomsticks were not the smooth, sanded down handles we envision today, but were often just branches from a tree with the leaves attached. Not exactly comfortable.According to other, more well-researched and contemporary authors, the unguents were applied to the body directly, with one's hands.Lastly, I will point out the assertion on pg. 72 that "the pagan draws energy from the male/female duality". This is an example of how dated the book is, in that it is incorporating a Wiccan belief as standing in for all pagans. Not all pagans believe in a male/female duality, and therefore, this cannot be stated as a universal "pagan belief".So I had issues with these parts of the book, and honestly it doesn't make me trust the rest of the information. If he couldn't even get the botanical family right of one of the most poisonous plants in the world, I'm really not comfortable following some of the other instructions, or trusting the veracity of his research. I hope my review is helpful.

Excellent and concise book. Very useful for those who wants to learn about the poison path.

Very informative. Good for beginners

This book takes you to distance lands and explores the use of herbs used in rituals and health.

Great book well worth the price.

I feel this is duplication. I have already done a review of this book, why I like it, how prompt its delivery took place, etc., etc.

I probably should have thought about this prior to purchase but very few of these herbs mentioned can be found in the UK. If they can it's by a different name and I really have not got time to investigate.

This is a real eye opener, who would have thought you can do so much with ordinary plants and herbs

One of the best investments I ever made - this book is GOLD. A little on the thin side, perhaps, but oh so good. 19 different plants described with names, locations, history, preparation and effects, the chemical principles and ritual uses too. I actually could not be happier with this, well worth every penny!

Thank you

Das Buch beschreibt kurz und bündig 19 Pflanzen mit psychoaktiven Wirkungen unterteilt in 4 Kapitel (Stimulantien, Antidepressiva, Narkotika und Halluzinogene) auf etwas über 100 Seiten. Dabei geht der Autor überwiegend auf die Botanik, Chemie, Geschichte und Handhabung der Kräuter ein. Der rituelle Gebrauch nimmt höchstens ca. 20 - 25% der Beschreibung ein und ist auch eher informativ und als praktische Anleitung zu kurz und ungenau. Seit 1983 sind bedeutend ausführlichere Bücher zu Beschreibung und Gebrauch psychoaktiver Pflanzen erschienen. Als Kurznachschlagewerk nicht übel.