Green Witchcraft: A Practical Guide to Discovering the Magic of Plants, Herbs, Crystals, and Beyond

by Paige Vanderbeck

Unearth the power of natural magic with this guide to green witchcraft.

Through green magic, any witch can incorporate the wisdom and energy of the earth into their practice. This fun and informative spell book introduces readers to the magic of plants and herbs and then breaks down the foundational practices of green witchcraft into easy-to-follow sections.

What sets this green witch book

PRACTICAL This beginner-friendly book offers inclusive guidance for successfully bringing nature inside your home and into your practice.ACCESSIBLE Learn authentic spells, rituals, potions, and practices with a focus on using tools and materials normally found on hand.GUIDED Get expert instruction from a respected witch on how to safely and responsibly add the magic of flowers, plants, herbs, wood, stones, and crystals to any practice.

Build a practice around the energy and intention of the natural world with this indispensable green magic book.

Genres: Witchcraft, Nonfiction, Spirituality, Magic, Wicca, Magick, Paganism

169 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2020

Reviews

[Miranda Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just finished my 2020 Book-Year in Review BookTube Video - Click the link to see my recs!

The Written Review

3.75 stars

One of the first things I learned about real witchcraft was that it was a path for those who wanted to live in harmony with the earth...

Green witchcraft definitely doesn't live up to the broomsticks and cauldrons stereotypes.

In fact, it's surprisingly wholesome and well-meaning.

Thinking that you know everything is probably one of the worst curses you can cast on yourself.

This little handbook is designed to introduce the curious and the questioning to the lifestyle of several different green witches.

It goes through what a green witch is, followed how to connect to the natural world.

From there it goes into various spells and whatnot that green witches use - with emphasis on flowers, plants, herbs, wood and stone and crystal.

Most of the magic described in this book is rather sweet and wholesome.

The kitchen witch might choose to grow fruits, vegetables, and culinary herbs to infuse all the meals they make with magical intent.

I rather liked learning about creating a green space and how it is correlated with feeling better and more at-ease.

It was also fun to know a bit about the past of green witchcraft.

Acorns are carried as talismans for protection and fertility and to encourage the growth and prosperity,

There was a bit at the beginning of the crystal/stone section which gave me pause.

The author warns that some crystals/stones are toxic and can cause harm - and to always do your research before using them (citing which ones are problematic in the intro paragraph).

Considering this is an intro book, I think she should have been more explicit about what could cause harm when working with the crystals (rather than telling you to look it up yourself). (After all, you don't tell someone to do something with poison ivy and not warn them to wear gloves). So a little more direction would've been nice.

Overall, this was a rather fun little book. It has lovely illustrations scattered throughout - though I would have loved to see more of the images when she was describing the various plants - but all in all this was a fun perspective that I was able to learn about!

While I didn't agree with everything in the book, it still provided a rather interesting viewpoint on something that is often quite controversial.

There were some aspects I will be taking to my home - like growing herbs in the sun room and using greenery around the house to make things a bit more nature-esque.

A huge thank you to the author and Rockridge Press for sending me a free copy in exchange for an honest review

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[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ *]

good beginner book

[Weslyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has a plethora of useful information in it that would be beneficial for any beginner. I’ve been practicing witchcraft since I was very young, but I still found a few useful things in it.

I did, however, have a few issues with this book. First and foremost, the lack of sources for some of the information - the resources section in the back of the book lists some useful books, but I noticed all of them have been published more recently (within the last 16 years.) I find that problematic because some of the information she’s presenting predates those books and I feel that there are other, more direct sources that could have been used. Another minor annoyance is that the plant references don’t seem to go in any specific order aside from being grouped by flowers, herbs, woods, and also stones. I personally think it would be easier to quick reference if they were alphabetized within those sections.

I also would have preferred to have some sort of illustration for the plants and stones mentioned, but given the price of the book, I’m not going to complain too much about that.

Overall, good beginners book that I would recommend. I do intend to keep this for cross-referencing with other books as well as for some of the spells and recipes.

I received a copy of this book for free from the publishers in exchange for an honest review.

[♠ TABI⁷ ♠ · Rating 4 out of 5]

'As you go forward, creating your own path as you go, remember to remain curious and humble in the wilderness.'

This was certainly a good, easy-to-understand starting point for anyone interested in witchy things. I kinda wish it was a little longer, but that's where the fact that this is more of a beginner's introduction than a full guide or information station.

[Latasha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I borrowed this book from Libby and loved it! The information is great for beginners and for those who are already practicing. The plants, herbs, trees, crystals, and such are ones I'm familiar with and are easily obtainable. The spells are great! I will have to buy this book for myself. There was so much I wanted to highlight!

[Dorian Jandreau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Knyga yra apie žaliąją magija. Tai darbas su augalais ir kristalais. Autorė aprašo nemažai augalų ir jų magiškų savybių. Kai kurių augalų savybių nežinojau tad pagilinau savo žinias. Taip pat knygoje yra ir burtų.

Kas mane pažįsta žino, jog auginu daug įvairiausių augalų, tarp jų ir magiškų. Kažko naujo nesužinojau iš šios knygos, bet šen bei ten radau įdomių dalykų, kurie pravers dirbant. Šita knyga skirta pradedantiesiems, o ne pažengusiems kaip man. Bet skaityti buvo įdomu ir lengvai bei greitai susiskaitė. Kadangi nuosavo sodo neturiu, tai auginu augalus balkone.

Knygoje taip pat yra aprašyti keletas kristalų, bet aš būčiau pradžiai parinkęs kiek kitokių. Daugiausia knygoje rašoma apie santarvę su gamta ir kur gauti ir/ar auginti. Augalus autorė skirsto į gėles, žoleles ir medžius.

Bendrai paėmus knyga visai puiki ir pradžiai kaip tik susipažinti su žaliąja magija. Tačiau norint tobulėti reikės skaityti kitas knygas. Ir taip pat eksperimentuoti auginant savo augalus. Tad rekomenduoju knygą visoms pradedančiosioms žaliosioms raganoms ir raganiams.

[Anna (Bananas) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to the basics of certain plants, flowers, herbs, crystals, smoke, and wood for various natural purposes. It’s also just beautiful to look at, every page. I loved it.

“One of the first things I learned about real witchcraft was that it was a path for those who wanted to live in harmony with the earth - those who want to grow and harvest plants for magic and medicine, and to honor the spirits of the trees, the animals, and even the rocks around them.”

“Spirituality, like witchcraft, is a big part of many religions but is not a religion in and of itself. It’s more of a mindset. Spiritual people tend to understand that we, as humans, do not know everything and that one of the reasons we are all here is to seek out answers to questions, even those that may seem impossible to answer.”

💚💚💚💚💚💚

[anastasia ♥ hiraeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

It‘s good for basic information and picking out what you need to know in specific. But it‘s not detailed enough in my opinion. Just an easy „Introduction 101 with zero knowledge“.

[Myah · Rating 1 out of 5]

It's fine if you're a TikTok obsessed witch looking for an aesthetic book to tell you to look in a mirror and spray salt water on your face, but it's a very beginner book that seems more like a website someone wanted to make more money off of. Also, she doesn't really explain the cultural meanings behind Voodoo and smudging, and just mentions them as a sort of fun activity. If a book is trying to aim itself towards beginners it should really focus on making these fundamentals about culture and history important.

I personally would recommend doing your own research rather than picking up this book.

[Sandra Bertilsson · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 stars!

What a lovely introduction to herbs, crystals and other magical things.
Paige has a way of explaining that makes me want to go outside and search for plants growing native, and not feeling that I have to order X amount of herbs and crystals online to be a witch. That you don't need all these objects to start practicing.

The only thing I wished for when reading was simple illustrations for plants and herbs, then it would have been a clear 5 star from me.

[Cassandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy

Filled with great tips that anyone can easily learn to practice. It is interesting and can take a lot of time to learn but the good thing is that it is super easy to understand and flow with. Very organized.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was given a review copy of this book. A full review will be on my podcast, but I totally loved this for what it was: a solid and completely approachable intro to witchery.

[Bon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. Some parts, like when it breaks down spells and rituals, are best saved for me thumbing through my paperback edition with some post-it notes, but the more generic educational passages were really pleasant, read with a British accent!

[CG Evolving · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a decent introduction to green witchcraft. (At least I think so, this was my first read on green witchcraft). I feel like it should have been labeled as an introduction instead of a “practical guide”. There were only a few plants, trees, herbs, flowers, and crystals listed in each category, but few resources were given as to how the author got the information, or where I could go to look up more.

There was one plant that was listed as poisonous, and the reader is instructed to “do your research” before doing anything with that specific plant. But then no resource was given as to where to look for said research. Now, I’m a gal that has a masters degree. I know how to research and Google. But when I purchase a book like this I expect there to be more information than was given here.

I’m giving it 3 stars because the part on “Understanding Green Witchcraft” was decent and some of the potions/rituals/spells etc. were well written.

[Paige Ovanisian · Rating 2 out of 5]

A nice, but rather basic overview of Green Witchcraft. Was it horrible? No. Was I impressed? No. This would be great for beginners or for those who are just curious, although I found it to be a little too general and not very deeply connected with the abundance of magick nature can offer you.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary print copy of this book from the publisher. My review is voluntary and unbiased.

“Green Witchcraft is a guide to creating a relationship with all things natural and supernatural and for harnessing that energy in a way that can affect your everyday life.”

Once you understand more about green witchcraft you can learn how to connect with the natural world in a meaningful way. Don’t let the title steer you from reading this book if you have or want to enhance your relationship with nature. This is not a book about “witchcraft” in the typical image that the word congers up. But, like most books it might not be for everyone. It explores the spiritual path that some might choose for health and wellbeing. Mostly, these alternatives are similar to ancient Ayurvedic medicine with plants, herbs, creams essential oils incorporated into healthy living.

I liked this book because it provided another lens in which to explore one’s experience with the world.

[Luminea · Rating 4 out of 5]

A decent beginner book and quick read. I wasn't enjoying the audio book, so I switched to the e-book version (the narrator was a bit too melodramatic in reading style for my taste).

[Zeinab khatoon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I translated this book into Persian and I love it :)🥂

[Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought Green Witchcraft when I was seeking to learn more about herbalism and how to incorporate it into my practice. This book was just what I needed at just the right time! First of all, I need to talk about how beautiful it is. That gorgeous art you see on the cover? This continues all throughout the inside, with colored text, illustrations, and page details. Green Witchcraft provides an accessible introduction to incorporating plants and herbs into your practice, as well as a general introduction to things like weather and seasons and moon cycles, etc. The reference pages for various flowers, plants, and crystals have been a resource I have gone back to many times as I've built up my own grimoire and personal reference notebooks. Like most witchy guidebooks, Green Witchcraft also includes some lovely rituals, meditations, and suggestions for bringing more of nature into your everyday practice. I would definitely recommend this book for anyone seeking to connect with the elements of Earth all around them.

[Gilly · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I read the Kindle edition of this book, which I'd describe as Witchcraft Lite. This is a pretty basic introduction to the Craft, an overview that never delves too deep. The selection of herbs and crystals, etc., with their attributes and correspondences, isn't very comprehensive, and some obvious properties (and warnings) are omitted. A few basic rituals - but no spells - are described; there are several nice sounding recipes and crafts. The author includes a curated list of other resource books that I'm tempted to check out. The writing and editing are fine; I spotted only a couple of typos. A few passages were placed rather oddly within chapters, almost incongruously out of order; perhaps this is down to the e-copy. Those just starting out on their magickal path may find this book appealing; for me, it only skims the surface. There are other more comprehensive and compelling sources to be found elsewhere, such as the works of Arin Murphy-Hiscock and Ellen Dugan.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Disappointment.
I am struggling to remember why I placed this on library reserve and assume it is the reference in the frontispiece talking about connecting to nature and the environment- absolute passions of mine.
I did read the entire book (in audio form) as I feel you should never review unless you have seen it through to the end.
Words that come to mind are
Cultural appropriation
Non acknowledgement of source
Lack of respect for cultures of healing that have rigorous learning pathways in order to be able to practice the healing modality, normally connected to long apprenticeships linked with elders boiled down in this text into a mishmash of beliefs including some rather dangerous information about use of herbs that require a lot of learning prior to ever having the audacity to use them for “magic”

[Kelly Sardella · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extending Google results

Basic information with limited context, almost like every " witchy" term that could fit under the term green, was tossed in for good measure . It is " green " in the sense of extremely new to the basic terms used it would be suitable for the young adult audience. Absolutely no comparison to the original Grimoire for the Greenwitch Ann Moura or any of the other detailed books on this subject .

[CarterTS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good Read

I liked how informative the book was. There were many things that I have heard but didn’t know the correct term for it or what its use was for. I would definitely read this again.

[Jassmine · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suspect this won't really be a review, so... if you are really interested in that part skip to the ending. Partly that's because I feel like I have to explain why I read this book (yes, I got over my embarrassment of reading erotica, so I now picked a new genre of books I'm not really sure how to talk about), but mostly I just want to write this down for myself. (Yes, I'm shamelessly using GR as a diary... that's kind of weird now that I'm thinking about it...)
As it often does, this interest started at an unexpected place - I read Women, Men, and Society earlier this year and in chapter on religion there was a short section about feminist using witchcraft to reclaim religious narratives. There really wasn't much about it, but it got my attention nevertheless since it joined "positive"(meaning pro something not against something) feminism with religion (which interests me...). I also suddenly remembered that... I don't know when or where, it had to be really long time ago, I watched a documentary about contemporary witchcraft (We probably had to watch it in school? Does that even makes sense?) Well, the result was, I decided to pursue this further. And as a good child of my generation, I turned to YouTube as the infinite well of wisdom.
I watched several videos, mainly from The Green Witch and The Witch of Wonderlust. And something I didn't really expected happened, I realized I was already doing a lot of the things they were talking about? Like doing things mindfully and with intention. I'm doing a lot of preserving during the year and it always had almost a meditating quality to me. I lived at my grandmother's during covid and that helped me realized how much important caring for the plants and garden is to me. And that it has a spiritual quality to it that I didn't really recognize before. (This kind of feels like coming out all over again, because... I regularly talk to trees, how could I... just not notice, I guess...)
All of this is still a little bit confusing to me, so you know "when in doubt, go to the library." Which finally leads me to this book, first book I read on witchcraft by a person that identifies as a witch. (I previously read Witchcraft in the Western Tradition which was very disappointing and am currently reading Magická kuchařka which is a fascinating book, but more on the historical side.) I picked it mostly because I was able to get hold on the audiobook version, but it was a good pick nevertheless. I still have problems with some aspects, but that is more on me. I think that the whole book is organised in a very practical manner - starting with the basic vocabulary and myth-busting and slowly proceeding to encyclopedic parts that alternate with specific examples of practices and spells. It's probably better to read this book physically, but since i was mainly trying to get the general feeling of it, it worked for me. Overall, it seems to me that this is a great book for beginners, it certainly answered some of my questions and gave me a broader view on the practice.

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars

Great for anyone looking to get into the basics of Green witchcraft. I enjoyed that in the very beginning the author breaks the common misbeliefs of being a witch such as Green witches needing to live in the countryside as opposed to a major city.

The first half is your basics on witchcraft. Dissecting the elements of each Astrological sign, setting up a magical space, list of Wiccan holidays and purposes of certain crystals are a few discussed. I was more interested in the second half of the book. There is a large list of plants, flowers, and trees along with their magical purposes, elements, chakras, and astrological sign. Then follows green witch spells with said earth elements.

I knew this was an introduction book but I was expected a bit more. There are portions where other references are said to be looked at instead. Always research more before using any of the items listed. There are some things I disagree with such as using white sage for smoking as it is going extinct. If you are looking for a substitute, rosemary is what I personally use and is easy to grow. There are plenty of sites online that list far more alternatives.

Great book for curious beginners and list of earth sources for witchcraft. May end up using this as a reference book from time to time.

[Briar 🏳️‍🌈 · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off, this book is lovely. I adore the crisp white pages with a peekaboo of green in the corners, the illustrations at the beginning of chapters and the little bursts of more in depth info pages made in different hues to have them stand out. The book was also a breeze to read through with the larger clear print and easygoing writing style as well. I read it start to finish it in about two hours (I’m a quick reader however). I know from the authors podcast that she’s very friendly to a wide variety of practitioners and any “level” they believe themselves to be at. She makes recommendations on books and the like to learn further if one so wishes on her show as well. This book was very similar to the work we know and love from Paige. It was very beginner friendly for anyone dipping their toes in and it made an effort to be inclusive as well as understanding of varying life circumstances. If I met someone knew to green witchery this is one book I would suggest now. I’ve been practicing for so long and I still found useful tidbits and nice reminders. It was a pleasure to read through. As a note, after seeing some reviews of others not finding the work in depth enough; there is a nice recommendations section IN her book if you were looking for more. This isn’t a deep dive kind of book but rather a nice easy sampler of techniques, correspondences, suggestions, uplifting and encouraging messages and a quick introduction into the world of green witchery. 🌿

[Monica Reents · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for gifting a copy of Green Witchcraft to me. I write this review by choice and honestly.

I have never read a book about witchcraft, so I have nothing to compare this book to. However, I was instantly intrigued. First, the layout and design of this book is perfect for the subject and looks beautiful in the green color pallet. The book is divided into two parts; Part one is understanding green witchcraft, and part two is practicing green witchcraft.

I enjoyed the way it explains each topic, including answers to the how's and why's the reader may have in chapters such as, "The Power of Plants", "Healing with Herbs and Greens","The Strength of Stone and Crystals", and more. This book is an easy to read, easy-to-understand introduction into green witchcraft. For me, being new to learning about this, I found it interesting to see how to connect a plant/herb, to an element (ie: fire, water, earth, air), to a planet, a chakra, its energy, and then what that plant/herb is useful for magically. The chapter that does this same thing with crystals is also fascinating.

A quote from the introduction may be all you need to choose this book, "If you've found your way to this book, I imagine you've felt the same call from the earth; to slow down and listen to what it has to teach you."
Highly recommend!

[eleanor · Rating 2 out of 5]

this was interesting to say the least. i’m always up for learning something new and finding out about different ways of life. but this just wasn’t for me. it felt very far fetched and was monotonous- this wasn’t helped by the voice of the reader, but there was no excitement. it was just list after list of different spells and different uses for things. i felt that i didn’t find out much about the lifestyle, it was more an instruction booklet for someone already practising. i enjoyed the parts about the wicker religion. but that was basically it

[Chloe Kingzett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provided an insightful history of green witchcraft as well as clarification on basic definitions of terms. I found it to be helpful and a piece that resonated with me deeply. I thought the break down of specific herbs, flowers, crystals, and trees, and their uses or characteristics was very practical and informational. This book had a strong basis in the idea of connecting with the natural world/natural elements which I believe and adhere to myself.

[cinnamilk · Rating 2 out of 5]

this book served its purpose for me as a resource for herbs/plants/crystals and examples of how they can be used. but i wouldn’t recommend this book as a starter pagan/witchcraft book bc i feel like the author makes some sweeping generalizations and oversimplifies some big topics. she also dives into some closed practices without disclosing that or discussing the ethics behind that (e.g. hoodoo, smudging)

also why does she talk about the vampire diaries in this 🫠 it feels so unserious

2/5