Walking the Hedge

I came across this old reading list on Mysticwicks the other day. I like the MW Magazine (I have a couple of articles in early editions) but have neglected the forum for a while now. Anyways it seems 4 years later people are still using this reading list and I realized its not on the Hedge!

It used to be, back in the early days when the Hedge was lavender, pink and pastel green … written by hand in novice HTML code. Remember those days? hehehehe

So for old times sake, here is an old reading list. Not sure if all these books would be on this list today, and I wouldn’t be so bold and arrogant as to separate things into categories such as Beginner or Advanced. But I will let it stand as it was some 4 years ago (or however long its been, has it been that long???)

You can find a somewhat updated list here.

Some Book Suggestions for a Nature Witch

* Books with an asterisk are on Juniper’s favorite list.*

I would recommend reading at least one book in each subject group before moving on to the next level (beginner to intermediate, intermediate to advanced) as an absolute minimum.
Beginner

Identification, Science & Research

* Identifying and Harvesting Edible and Medicinal Plants in Wild (and Not So Wild) Places – Steve Brill *
* National Geographic Field Guide to Trees of North America – Keith Rushforth, Charles Hollis
* North american wildlife: trees and nonflowering plants field guide – Reader’s Digest Editors
* The Basic Essentials of Edible Wild Plants and Useful Herbs – Jim Meuninck
* Trees of North America: A Guide to Field Identification, Revised and Updated – C. Frank Brockman, Rebecca Marrilees
* American Horticultural Society A to Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants – H. Marc Cathey
* Flora: A Gardener’s Encyclopedia – Sean Hogan *
* Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide – Thomas Elias
* Peterson First Guides: Trees – George Petrides, Olivia Petrides , Janet Wehr *
* Earth Science – Edward J. Tarbuck
* National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Wildflowers (Eastern Region) – William A. Niering, Nancy C. Olmstead, Susan Rayfield, and Carol Nehring

Propagation & Cultivation (Gardening & Growing)

* Growing Herbs from Seed, Cutting & Root: An Adventure in Small Miracles – Thomas Debaggio
* Jerry Baker’s Giant Book of Garden Solutions: 1,954 Natural Remedies to Handle Your Toughest Garden Problems – Jerry Baker
* Let It Rot! the Gardener’s Guide to Composting (Down-to-Earth Book) – Stu Campbell
* Rodale’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening – Anna Kruger

Herbal & Natural Health

* The Essential Guide to Herbal Safety – Simon Mills *
* The Dictionary of Modern Herbalism: A Comprehensive Guide to Practical Herbal Therapy – Simon Mills *
* The Herbal Medicine Maker’s Handbook: A Home Manual – James Green
* Jeanne Rose: Herbal Body Book: The Herbal Way to Natural Beauty & Health for Men & Women – Jeanne Rose
* The Way of Herbs – Michael Tierra

Magickal & Spiritual

* The Wicca Garden: A Modern Witch’s Book of Magickal & Enchanted Herbs & Plants – Gerina Dunwich
* The Magical Garden: Spells, Charms, and Lore for magical Gardens and the Curious Gardeners Who Tell -Sophia and Denny Sargent
* The Green Witch Herbal: Restoring Nature’s Magic in Home, Health, and Beauty Care – Barbara Griggs
* Magical Herbalism – Scott Cunningham *
* Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs – Scott Cunningham
* Garden Witchery: Magick from the Ground Up – Ellen Dugan
* Real Witches Garden – Kate West
* Earth Power – Scott Cunningham
* Natural Witchery: Intuitive, Personal & Practical Magick – Ellen Dugan
* Herb Magic For Beginners – Ellen Dugan
* The Elements of Natural Magic (Elements of) – Marian Green
* Craft Of The Wild Witch: Green Spirituality & Natural Enchantment – Poppy Palin
* Green Witchcraft: Folk Magic, Fairy Lore & Herb Craft – Aoumiel, Ann Moura
* Grimoire For The Green Witch: A Complete Book of Shadows – Ann Moura
* Green Magic: The Sacred Connection to Nature – Ann Moura

Incense, Oils & more

* Wylundt’s Book of Incense: A Magical Primer – Wylundt
* Incense: Crafting and Use of Magickal Scents – Carl Neal *
* Complete Book Of Incense, Oils & Brews – Scott Cunningham *

Lifestyles & the Environment

* It’s Easy Being Green: A Handbook for Earth-Friendly Living – Crissy Trask
* Living Green: A Practical Guide to Simple Sustainability – Greg Horn

Home & Hearth

* Cunningham’s Encyclopedia of Wicca in the Kitchen – Scott Cunningham
* Cottage Witchery: Natural Magick for Hearth and Home – Ellen Dugan
* The Magical Household – Scott Cunningham *
* Clean House Clean Planet – Karen Logan
* The Naturally Clean Home: 100 Safe and Easy Herbal Formulas for Non-Toxic Cleansers – Karyn Siegel-Maier

Folklore & Mythology

* The Meaning of Herbs: Myth, Language & Lore – Ann Field
* Folklore and Symbolism of Flowers, Plants and Trees (Dover Pictorial Archive Series) – Ernst Lehner (Author), Johanna Lehner

Well Rounded (or a little bit of everything)

* The Complete Book of Herbs: A Practical Guide to Growing and Using Herbs – Lesley Bremness *
* Herbs & Things – Jeanne Rose *
* Your Backyard Herb Garden: A Gardener’s Guide to Growing Over 50 Herbs Plus How to Use Them in Cooking, Crafts, Companion Planting and More – Miranda Smith
Intermediate

Identification, Science and Research

* Green Pharmacy: The History and Evolution of Western Herbal Medicine (Paperback) – Barbara Griggs
* The Healing Power of Celtic Plants: Their History, Their Use, and the Scientific Evidence That They Work (Paperback) – Angela Paine
* Botany for Gardeners – Brian Capon *

Propagation & Cultivation (Gardening & Growing)

* The Secret Garden: Talking Beetles and Signaling Trees: The Hidden Ways Gardens Communicate – David Bodanis
* Making an Herb Garden: Beautiful Designs, Plantings and Ornamentation -Catherine Mason
* Growing 101 Herbs that Heal: Gardening Techniques, Recipes, and Remedies – Tammi Hartung
* Burpee : The Complete Vegetable & Herb Gardener : A Guide to Growing Your Garden Organically – Karan Davis Cutler, Cavagnarok David, Barbara W. Ellis, David Cavagnaro
* Bud, Blossom, & Leaf: The Magical Herb Gardener’s Handbook – Dorothy Morrison
* Herb Garden Design – Ethne Clarke
* Gaia’s Garden: A Guide to Home-Scale Permaculture – Toby Hemenway *
* Introduction to Permaculture – Bill Mollison *

Herbal & Natural Health

* Wicca Herbal: Guide to Healing Body and Spirit with Magickal Herbs -Jamie Wood
* Mastering Herbalism: A Practical Guide – Paul Huson
* Healing Wise (Wise Woman Herbal Series) – Susun S. Weed *
* Wise Woman Herbal for the Childbearing Year (Wise Woman Herbal Series) – Susun S. Weed
* New Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way: Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90 (Wise Woman Herbal Series) – Susun S. Weed
* Breast Cancer? Breast Health! The Wise Woman Way (Wise Woman Herbal Series) – Susun S. Weed, Alan McKnight, Christine Northrup

Magickal & Spiritual

* The Nature Path – Starhawk *
* The Magical and Ritual Use of Herbs – Richard Alan Miller
* Wild Witchcraft: A Guide to Natural, Herbal and Earth Magic – Marian Green
* Natural Witchcraft: The Timeless Arts and Crafts of the Country Witch (Natural Way) – Marian Green
* Natural Magic – Doreen Valiente *
* Green Witchcraft II Ann Moura

Incense, Oils & more

* 375 Essential Oils – Jeanne Rose *
* Aromatherapy Book: Inhalations and Applications – Jeanne Rose
* Jeanne Rose’s Kitchen Cosmetics: Using Herbs, Fruit and Flowers for Natural Bodycare – Jeanne Rose
* Magick Potions: How to Prepare and Use Homemade Incense, Oils, Aphordisacs, and Much More – Gerina Dunwich
* A Dyer’s Garden: From Plant to Pot Growing Dyes for Natural Fibers – Rita Buchanan

Lifestyles & the Environment

* The Self-sufficient Life and How to Live It – John Seymour
* Gaia: A New Look at Life on Earth James Lovelock *
* The Ages of Gaia: A Biography of Our Living Earth – James E. Lovelock *

Home & Hearth

* The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Solar Power for your Home, 2nd Edition – Dan Ramsey

Folklore & Mythology

* Celtic Tree Magic – Elizabeth Pepper

Well Rounded (or a little bit of everything)

* Herbs: Gardens, Decorations, and Recipes – Emelie Tolley
* The Herb Society of America’s Essential Guide to Growing and Cooking With Herbs – Katherine K. Schlosser
* The Wild Plant Companion: A Fresh Understanding of Herbal Food and Medicine – Kathryn G. March *
* The Meaning of Trees: Botany, History, Healing, Lore – Fred Hageneder
Advanced

Identification, Science and Research

* The Secret Life of Plants – Peter Tompkins, Christopher Bird *
* Seed to Seed: The Secret Life of Plants – Nicholas Harberd
* Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine – Daniel Mowrey *

Propagation & Cultivation (Gardening & Growing)

* The Medicine Wheel Garden: Creating Sacred Space for Healing, Celebration, and Tranquillity – E. Barrie Kavasch
* Herbal Tea Gardens: 22 Plans for Your Enjoyment & Well-Being – Marietta Marshall Marcin
* Growing At-Risk Medicinal Herbs, Cultivation, Conservation and Ecology – Richo Cech
* The Self-Sustaining Garden: A Gardener’s Guide to Matrix Planting – Peter Thompson *
* The Organic Gardener’s Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide to Keeping Your Garden and Yard Healthy Without Chemicals – Barbara W. Ellis, Fern Marshall Bradley
* Permaculture: A Designers’ Manual – Bill Mollison *

Herbal & Natural Health

* Leechcraft: Early English Charms, Plantlore and Healing – Stephen Pollington
* Veterinary Herbal Medicine – Susan G. Wynn
* Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy: Modern Herbal Medicine – Simon Mills *

Magickal & Spiritual

* Herbs of the Northern Shaman – Steve Andrews
* Psychedelic Shamanism: The Cultivation, Preparation & Shamanic Use of Psychoactive Plants – Jim Dekorne
* Psychedelics Encyclopedia – Peter Stafford
* The Encyclopedia of Psychoactive Plants: Ethnopharmacology and Its Applications – Christian Ratsch
* Ecoshamanism: Sacred Practices of Unity, Power and Earth Healing – James Endredy *
* Planetary Herbology – Michael Tierra
* Green Witchcraft III: The Manual – Ann Moura
* Gaia Eros: Reconnecting to the Magic and Spirit of Nature – Jesse Wolf Hardin

Incense, Oils & More

* The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Essential Oils: The Complete Guide to the Use of Oils in Aromatherapy and Herbalism (Illustrated Encyclopedia) – Julia Lawless
* The Book of Incense: Enjoying the Traditional Art of Japanese Scents – Kiyoko Morita
* The Practical Handbook of Plant Alchemy: An Herbalist’s Guide to Preparing Medicinal Essences, Tinctures, and Elixirs – Manfred M. Junius

Lifestyles & the Environment

* The Renewable Energy Handbook: A Guide to Rural Energy Independence, Off-grid And Sustainable Living – William H. Kemp
* Sacred Gaia: Holistic Theology and Earth System Science – Anne Primavesi *

Home & Hearth

* Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House: Bringing Your Home into Harmony with Nature – Carol Venolia, Kelly Lerner
* The Homeowner’s Guide to Renewable Energy: Achieving Energy Independence Through Solar, Wind, Biomass And Hydropower – Daniel D. Chiras

Folklore & Mythology

* Ancient Herbs – Marina Heilmeyer

Related posts:

1. A Hedgewitch’s Booklist
2. Some Interesting Reads
3. Juni’s Wish List