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Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
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Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
Author: Scott Cunningham
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Average Customer Rating:
Our Price: $10.85
You Save: $ 5.10 ( 32% )
Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
Author: Scott Cunningham
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Average Customer Rating:
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Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series) Description
Binding: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 133.43
EAN: 9780875421223
ISBN: 0875421229
Label: Llewellyn Publications
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2000-04-01
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Studio: Llewellyn Publications
Dewey Decimal Number: 133.43
EAN: 9780875421223
ISBN: 0875421229
Label: Llewellyn Publications
Manufacturer: Llewellyn Publications
Number Of Items: 1
Book Pages: 336
Publication Date: 2000-04-01
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Studio: Llewellyn Publications
Editorial Review of Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
Do you work magic with herbs? Do you use them in spells, for talismans or simply use their innate powers? If you don't have Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs, you need to get it right away. This book has become a classic in its field. Paul Beyerl, a respected author on herbs calls it "…an essential reference book by students of herbalism and magick alike … Scott's personable charm touches every page… I highly recommend this book." And Jeanne Rose, famous author of books on herbs and developer of an herbal course says "I love books like this … It is accessible, easy to read, and with its encompassing index (all too often neglected), simple to use as well." Over 200,000 people already have this book and use it frequently.
In this edition of the book (it's expanded and revised on the 15th anniversary of original publication) you will find the magical properties and folklore of over 400 herbs! You'll also find lists of herbs based on their magical powers, their genders, their planetary rulers, and more. Perhaps the most important list is the folk name cross-reference. With that information, when a recipe calls for "bramble, " you'll know it needs blackberry. Or if the magic calls for "enebro," you'll know you that is juniper.
The main part of this book is the listings of the herbs. Each one includes names, associations, and magical attributions. Violets can be used for protection, luck, love, and more. Primrose is for protection and love. Garlic is for protection, healing, exorcism, lust, and prevention of theft.
This book is considered a classic. It is probably consulted more than any other book on this subject. If you want to learn the secrets of magical herbs, this book is a must!
In this edition of the book (it's expanded and revised on the 15th anniversary of original publication) you will find the magical properties and folklore of over 400 herbs! You'll also find lists of herbs based on their magical powers, their genders, their planetary rulers, and more. Perhaps the most important list is the folk name cross-reference. With that information, when a recipe calls for "bramble, " you'll know it needs blackberry. Or if the magic calls for "enebro," you'll know you that is juniper.
The main part of this book is the listings of the herbs. Each one includes names, associations, and magical attributions. Violets can be used for protection, luck, love, and more. Primrose is for protection and love. Garlic is for protection, healing, exorcism, lust, and prevention of theft.
This book is considered a classic. It is probably consulted more than any other book on this subject. If you want to learn the secrets of magical herbs, this book is a must!
Customer Reviews of Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series)
Customer Rating: 
Review Summary: Excellent herb book for Pagan and Wiccan ... BUT
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Excellent resource!
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not perfect... but pretty damn close.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Can't say enough good things!
Review: A must have. This and my Rondale book are my two most used and go to books for anything herbal whether magical or mundane.
Review Summary: Excellent herb book for Pagan and Wiccan ... BUT
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Excellent resource!
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Encyclopaedia of Magical Herbs
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Not perfect... but pretty damn close.
Review: 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.
Customer Rating:
Review Summary: Can't say enough good things!
Review: A must have. This and my Rondale book are my two most used and go to books for anything herbal whether magical or mundane.