Flower Essences from the Witch’s Garden: Plant Spirits in Magickal Herbalism

Reiki practitioner Pearson (Crystal Basics) presents a thorough guide to “safe and effective ways to work with plants” when practicing magick. The author offers detailed descriptions of a variety of botanicals alongside instructions for creating and using homemade flower essences (solutions usually made through soaking flowers in water) to “bring balance to the psyche by flooding the mind and emotions with the positive virtues of flowers.” For example, one love spell requires making rose essence by soaking roses in a glass bowl of water, adding the essence to a bath with rose petals scattered about, then visualizing “unloving thoughts” washing off oneself. Other recipes show how to make essences out of such plants as dill, dandelion, mistletoe, and thistle to attract money, commune with the dead, find new opportunities, or break curses. Pearson concludes with a directory detailing the metaphysical applications of 100 flower essences. With this comprehensive manual, Pearson succeeds in presenting an accessible methodology for working with botanicals and cultivating a connection with nature. This will appeal to magick practitioners of all levels. (Mar.)