| Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs (Llewellyn's Sourcebook Series) | 
 enlarge | Author: Scott Cunningham
Publisher: Llewellyn Publications
Category: Book
List Price: $15.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  138 reviews
Sales Rank: 9341
Media: Paperback
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 336
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9
ISBN: 0875421229
Dewey Decimal Number: 133.43
EAN: 9780875421223
ASIN: 0875421229
Publication Date: April 1, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
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!
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| Customer Reviews: Read 133 more reviews...
 Comprehensive & Essential January 22, 2000
107 out of 118 found this review helpful
It does seem that one don't normally need to review the priceless works of the late sage, Scott Cunningham. His knowledge and gift to the Wiccan community is legendary. This book, like one of our learned reviewer mentioned, "is a BILBLE reference". It contains almost all imaginable herbs and their corresponding influences to assist in a successful magickal working. I have read many herbal books that claim to be complete and must have..blah blah...but nothing really comes close to this one. It's not that one has to pay alot of money in order to obtain knowledge but these days on the book front, you start to wonder if the writers and publishers of some expensive books on herbal lore should read up more before flooding the market with dubious contributions. You can tell when you have picked up a great book. With Scott Cunningham, he's never short on sharing everything useful he knows and my my, this man really really knows alot. Go get it!
A Reference for us modern witches February 14, 2002
85 out of 86 found this review helpful
Scott Cunningham, in his time, turned out quite a few books and references for the modern, 'practical' witch. Though many of the herbs listed seem arcane- when I bought this book it was the first time I had heard of herbs like eryngo and life-everlasting- this reference is well done.
The herbs are organized alphabetically, and black and white drawings of the plant or flower are to the side of each entry, which typically includes the scientific (Latin) name, health codes (such as G for safe, and a guide is included in the book for all of the codes), any folk names, its attributed gender, planet, element, and deities, followed by brief (or sometimes long) descriptions of ritual and magical uses.
After the listings of herbs, there are lists of categories, under which are listed what herbs fit that area- such as masculine plants, herbs that correspond to certain ritual intentions, and elementary rulers. Also included are an index, a glossary, and a mail order list for those who do not have an herb store nearby (and it's hard to find something like mandrake in your local grocery store!).
Granted, this book is not the be-all and end-all of herbal studies. I recommend finding yourself at least three good sources and using them together when using herbs.
 Real issues April 15, 2005
48 out of 62 found this review helpful
There are some real problems with this book. I gave it two stars because, for what it's worth, kids who want to rub some leaves together and think they made a difference can find something of use here.
Beyond all the myriad problems with any Llewellyn magickal "sourcebook" (and most of them have little to do with either word), there is the fact that Cunningham applies so many qualities to most of the herbs listed that they can all do pretty much anything. When there is an herb with which there is not much lore associated, he simply makes something up, usually based on colour. For instance, purple loosestrife is a lovely plant in a brilliant light purple, so Cunningham associates it with peace and harmony. The problem is that loosestrife spreads like wildfire wherever it germinates, choking out all the local flora, thus killing off indigenous wildlife. Sound peaceful and harmonious? A little research into the true nature of the BEHAVIOUR of the plant could have remedied this. In Michigan (I don't know about elsewhere), it has long been a folk custom to use loosestrife to bind and banish. Maybe that's a little risky for a Llewellyn book, I don't know.
Another serious issue in the book is Cunningham's habit of, when unable to find the proper herbs, just "charging" whatever herbs he has around the house to do his bidding. Whilst plant slavery may be a practice that worked for him, it sounds a little dodgey to me. I come from a magickal background in which we "charge" nothing. Gems, for instance... what the heck am *I* going to do to a stone that millions of years of roasting in the womb of GOD herself hasn't already done? Sorry but a little salt water ain't gonna do a whole lot to change the nature of a creation with that kinda time under it's belt.
In our training we learn to ask the blessing of a plant or other creature of God herself and ask its aid, acknowledging its power and grace. While that might not work for some, and I'm sure putting ingredients together and charging them may be extremely effective for others, perhaps a little humility might add a new dimension(?). At the very least, only "charging" plants whose natural energies contribute to the work would probably be a good rule of thumb.
Grump grump grump ... Now I'm all grumpy.
 Tons of useful information September 5, 2001
36 out of 37 found this review helpful
This book contains at least two or three hundred magical herb listings shown with illustrations of the herb, deity correspondences, elemental correspondences, folk names of herbs, ritual use, and other historical information designed to give clues as to how these herbs are best used towards magical purposes (Devil's Shoestring, for example, is best carried in the pocket to bring luck in employment matters, so from reading this book you would know not to make an incense with the herb but to carry it). The detailed appendices full of correspondence tables are great time-savers. However, this is not a recipe book, in fact it doesn't contain a single recipe. Also, Cunningham doesn't really comment on which herbs are known to be MOST powerful in workings towards certain ends, so some additional self-research is required. This book pre-assumes a basic knowledge of herbs and doesn't offer anything in the way of general instruction, so this should be considered a reference book and not an instrument of instruction. In any case, I have found it a valuable reference, and recommend it.If you want a REALLY thorough herb reference and this doesn't sound like enough, I would try Paul Beyerl's Master Book of Herbalism
never stays on my shelf April 26, 2000
27 out of 29 found this review helpful
this the book that i always use for making incense and doing spells. when ever i find some herbs,flowers,trees,or plants outside i look them up in this book. this book has alot of plants in them even the most basic one like grass which i had no idea it could be used in magick. he loves me,he loves me not is an actual form of divination used by taking the petals off a daisy. want prophetic dreams put bayleaf under your pillow. cactus are very protective plant. to bring money to you leave a jar of sesame seeds open in the house. this is an excellent book and should be on every witch's shelf
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