Table of Contents
Introduction ix
Part 1 The Legacy: A History of Witchcraft 1
Ancient Medicine: A Brief History of Western Herbalism 2
The Birth of the "Witch" 4
Time Line of the History of Witchcraft 6
A Short History of Folk Healers in America 9
Herbalism Today: Why Form Relationships with Herbs? 12
Part 2 The Relationship Gardening' Your Own Magical and Healing' Herbs 21
Maintaining a Magical Garden: Organic Growing 101 22
Easy Medicinal and Magical Herbs to Grow 37
The Poison Garden 60
Your Harvest: Basic Processing and Storage 74
Part 3 Foraging Your Own Magical and Healing Herbs Foraging Basics for the Wild Witch 77
Wild Tending: Stewarding Wild Populations of Plants 85
Common Forageable Herbs 88
Part 4 Remedies, Spells, Rituals, and the Wheel of the Year 121
Basic Folk Medicine Making 122
The Wheel of the Year: A Witch's Journey through the Seasons 127
Winter Solstice (Yule) 127
Imbolc (Candlemas), February 1-2 134
Spring Equinox (Ostara) 141
Beltane, May 1 152
Summer Solstice (Midsummer) 157
Lammas/Lughnasadh/Michaelmas, August 1 162
Autumn Equinox (Mabon) 169
Samhain 175
Conclusion 183
Acknowledgments 185
Notes 187
Index 201
Image Credits 226