Customer Reviews: Read 135 more reviews...
 A must-have. November 25, 2008
I use this book very frequently for it's herbal information and for help with "recipes" as well as his lengthy reference list of other sources for information. I believe no practitioner's library is complete without it.
 Excellent herb book for Pagan and Wiccan ... BUT November 7, 2008
I have owned and used this book for years. Of all of Cunningham's books this one is by far his best, most accurate, most researched, etc. I understand that he was/is a botonist, and that care is clearly communicated in this edition. Furthermore, the back index pages are invaluable, breaking herbs down by their planetary and astrological associations is really well done. If you are looking to learn more about Pagan, Wiccan, Neo-Pagan herbs from a primarily European Stand point, this book is excellent.
However, once I purchased a copy of Hoodoo Herbs and Root Magic by cat yronwode, my expectations of a magical herb book went up by more then a few notches. Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic contains more information for American herbal practitioners, and many many many more useful examples and spells.
Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic: A Materia Magica of African-American Conjure
If you can buy two books and your an American, and don't want them to cross each others information, then buy this one SECOND. First your choice should be Hoodoo Herb and Root Magic, you will get more value for your money, and knowledge based in your own country.
Excellent resource! August 22, 2008
This book is quite an excellent resource to gather your basic herb information and effects that it can have. While it is not as detailed as other books such as Cathrine Yronwode's Herb and Root magic book, it does provide a few things here and there that are quite useful to any magical practitioner.
Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs August 15, 2008
Scott Cunningham has given us a comprehensive list of the magical properties of herbs, how to use and prepare them. I recommend any of his books.
Not perfect... but pretty damn close. July 4, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is, first and foremost, a reference book. I think some people have taken it to be more of a complete "everything you'd ever need to know about herbs" book, but this isn't exactly the case.
It's an absolutely WONDERFUL reference. Never have I personally encountered a book that had dealt with so many different herbs and done such a thorough job explaining them. I admit, here and there a bit of information might be dated, and as someone else mentioned, there are certain plants he has forgotten to label as poisonous, etc. However, if you garden at all, most of these he's forgotten are complete "duh"s anyways. (Not that it's an excuse.)
I'll again say that it's not the end-all-be-all to magickal herbalism. I have a couple others (not as complete) that I like to cross reference, if it's something I'm not completely familiar with. The great bulk of his information is very accurate, though. His folklore is usually very detailed, and sometimes highly entertaining.
If you're looking for something to tell you how to do potions, tinctures, elixirs, teas, salves, soaps, oils, and everything else under the sun, this won't help. It's not meant to help. As an unsolicited plug, I'll say that Oils, Incenses, and Brews is a GREAT compliment to this book, covering what I just mentioned. They make a very usable team.
Also, he doesn't give much as to how to cultivate what he writes about. This, again, is something you wouldn't usually find in a reference book anyways. There are many many MANY gardening books out there that deals with this, though, and it's easier to find books particularly suited to your area. I know that English lavender prospers in New England, but that doesn't mean I can grow it in the sticky South. He doesn't cover things like this, and wouldn't have the space anyways.
His cross-referencing is absolutely amazing, too. He has thoroughly gone through folk names, Latin names, solar/lunar energies, planetary energies, astrology, and, well, everything else. And he gives in very readable, easy to use tables. I really appreciate this, as I might know a folk name for something that grows in my area, but have no clue as to what it's Latin name might be. This alone is worth the price, to me.
As I said at the top of my post, it's not perfect. There are some areas definitely lacking, but overall, it's a VERY good buy, and you won't be sad you got it.
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