blueworld52's Full Review: Ann Moura and Aoumiel - Green Witchcraft: Folk Mag...
I enjoyed this book very much. If you like using/growing herbs for your work, then you will probably appreciate this book as well. Herbs appear to be the author's specialty.
So let's go over it chapter by chapter, and I'll let you know what I think. Chapter one has information about the history and practices of Green witchcraft. The author writes of her own personal history, she was raised in a family tradition.
The second chapter covers the Wheel of the Year, the roles of deity, and her family practices. A briefing on Esbats and Craft names are included in this chapter.
Chapter three is the herbs chapter. Here you'll find lists, recipes, and qualities/magical properties of herbs. There is also a bit about trees and their properties in magic. I really like what the author had to say about dream pillows. You'll also find: herbal baths, using herbs in rituals, and medicinal herbs/treatments. Before the closing of this chapter you will also find out about moon rituals, timing in rituals, a witch's grimoire, and how a Green witch relates to nature.
One of the things I love about this series of books is that the author is a history major, and there is emphasis on the history. In most books I feel that the author has viewed the historical parts as a chore, and that is the way it comes across - but being one who likes history myself, I can see that this is important to her. Most of the books I've been pulling off the shelves today are full of spells and all sorts of crap - not my cup of tea, although being sixteen I bet I could've fooled you. I feel that so much has been lost to us of practices dating thousands of years ago - and that we should learn to preserve what we have now, so that future generations may benefit from what we've discovered.
Ceremonial magic is discussed in chapter four. Two subtopics that are worth reading are titled "The Aryan Influence" and "The Green Influence." This covers the Green Codes, as the author puts it. The Wiccan Rede, Charge of the Goddess, Witchs' Rune, and the Fivefold and Sevenfold Blessing is covered. I happen to not be Wiccan however, so I read but discarded much of this chapter. You will find a section titled Family Lore at the end of this chapter, if you're a parent and raising children within your way of life - this may be of interest to you.
Chapter five and six are about magic. Pretty self-explanatory, you'll find rituals, spells, circle castings. There was also some information about divination here. Chapter six is my favorite, and one I use as a reference quite often. Some things you will find here are: how to do tea leaf readings, recipes for brewing tea and how to do it, divining with crystal balls, and the general information about tarot cards. I am impressed however, usually the Major Arcana meanings are only covered, her the Minor Arcana cards are talked of as well. You will find wonderful instructions for two tarot spread here: the Tree of Life and Celtic Cross.
The Seventh chapter covers the Green tradition's rituals. I personally don't find a need in my practices to perform rituals or ceremonies. However, for those who work in groups or like these, you will find Intiation, Dedication and Rededication, Consecration of tools, a Naming Ceremony, Handfasting, and Passing into the Summerland rituals. A New Moon Esbat Rite is here and ready for you to use as well.
After this, you will find eight chapters - one for each of the Sabbats. You will read details, history, activities, recipes, and other craft things on the subject of each of these holiday's.
Enjoy! I know that I look forward to the time when I will have the time to re-read and incorporate more of these writing/teachings into my life.
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