Green witch starter library
Follow: Instagram | TikTok | Facebook | Shop | Etsy | PatreonNote: This article was originally published by @gritchenwitch on Instagram. To learn about me and my practice, including more info on folk witchcraft, mountain magic, knot work, and hearthcraft, please visit gritchenwitch.com or join my Patreon at patreon.com/gritchenwitch.
Here's my green witch starter library.🌿 These are the books I reference most frequently for herbs, trees, and flowers. (All are listed in my full library, linked in my bio.)
- Rosemary Gladstar's Medicinal Herbs: A Beginner's Guide by Rosemary Gladstar - An introduction to the growing, harvesting, and preparation of 33 of the most common herbs.
- Rosemary Gladstar’s Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health by Rosemary Gladstar - An incredibly comprehensive guide for when you’re ready to start creating natural remedies. The recipes are simple and so easy to follow (I love the ones for rose water).
- The Complete Herb Book by Jekka McVicar - A listing of over 150 herbs with full descriptions, varieties and cultivation, medicinal qualities, harvest schedules, container growing, recipes, etc.
The above books are beautiful and in full color (which is helpful for me in identification). They also have a bit of magic and history, but I wouldn’t consider them witchy.
- Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series) by Scott Cunningham - Once I’m ready to dig into magical correspondences, this is the first book I turn to. While not as in-depth as the mundane books, it has the folklore and magical properties of over 400 herbs, including the folk names, deities, powers, and magical uses.
- The Complete Language of Flowers: A Definitive and Illustrated History by S. Theresa Dietz - I bought this book for its cover (the whole thing is gorgeous) and ended up being surprised by how frequently I used it for reference. It includes the symbolic meanings, legends, folklore, powers, and color illustrations for over 1,000 flowers.
I also recommend grabbing a couple of books on local herbs and flowers (I just bought an amazing guide called Medicinal Plants of Appalachia by Steve W Chadde). Sometimes you can even find free guides at rest stops.🌱