Mugworts in May: A folklore of herbs [Paperback]

Linda Ours Rago (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1995

In Mugworts , Rago traces the "roots" of herbal history - from the pyramids, through the dark forest of western Europe, and into the New World. She speaks of the learned monks and Wise Women who dispensed the herbs, along with the lore surrounding them. You will read about Shakespeare's favorite herbs, and the deadly herbs from the "dark side of the hedgerow." This book is a must for the historian, folklorist, and herbalist alike. In addition to a glowing herbal history and wonderful charms, the book concludes with an alphabetical "Compendium of Herbs." In the compendium you'll find the uses and stories of over 150 herbs.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Linda Rago has tended, cooked, and cured with herbs for over 30 years, collecting their stories, charms, and tales along the way. In this book, she passes along those charms. She explores herbal folklore, a history with an oral tradition that has been passed down from grandmothers, scholars, friends, and "Wise Women." Mugworts In May contains charming rhymes and ditties to help your love life, your garden, and your health.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

From the Introduction:

To my mind, herbs are the most intimate of our green friends. Usually these little gray or green plants do not fuel our body like grains and vegetables. However, they have been closely linked with the energy of our healing, our spirits, and our emotions for eons. Indeed, many of the Greek herbal practices employed in the temples of Aesculapius (the Greek god of medicine) are still recognizable in our herbal folk traditions. Herbs remain firmly entwined on every coil of the spiral of our lives: from conception, through celebration, to death. At the present time, humankind's very exitence depends upon our respect for the sovereignty of the earth. Our ancestors served as guardians of practical information and mystical herb lore. We should give them our gratitude for the secrets they have held (often at great personal risk) and passed to us. Those ancestors were quite often the oldest and wisest among us - the Wise Women. It is for us now to cherish and tend our plants and pass the mysteries on to another generation of garden keepers - wise women and wise men.

Product Details

• Paperback: 121 pages
• Publisher: Quarrier Press (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0964619709
• ISBN-13: 978-0964619708
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,599,019 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Artemisia Vulgaris, a.k.a. Mugwort, April 12, 2001

By 

Judith Miller (Bluemont, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Mugworts in May: A folklore of herbs (Paperback)

If you're interested in the ancient us of herbs, than you've found the right book.

Linda Ours Rago starts by giving us the history of herbal use during the early part of civilization and brings us into modern times. She tells us of the ancient Wise Women and how they used herbs in the art of healing and also in the use of charms. This is from the chapter on Herbal Charms for Aid and Protection: O, AND I WAS A DAMSEL SO FAIR BUT FAIRER I WISHED TO APPEAR. SO I WASHED ME IN MILK AND I DRESSED ME IN SILK AND PUT SWEET THYME IN MY HAIR....Devonshire song

The gardens that these Wise Women grew are discussed along with the safe herbs and the ones that are considered dangerous.

The final chapter of the book is A Compendium Of Magical Herbs. The following little gem is from that chapter. THYME (Thymus) THIS PLANT IS AN ANCIENT SYMBOL OF ENERGY AND MAGIC. ALMOST EVERY OLD CHARM TO SEE FAIRIES INCLUDES THYME. ITS FRAGRANCE HAS BEEN CALLED DAWN IN PARADISE.

Every page of this book is filled with herbal folklore that has been cherished and passed down throughout the ages.

5.0 out of 5 stars Mugworts Forever!, July 29, 2011

By 

Doctor Drogo Empedocles (Harpers Ferry, WV) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Mugworts in May: A folklore of herbs (Paperback)

Linda Rago is a great author! It is because of this book in particular that I recognized the good luck of having Mugwort in my own garden. Without this book, i would have attached no significance at all to having Mugwort, and would have just considered it a pesky weed adding to my frustration and depression regarding war on such things. However this book made me open to the wonders and magic of Mugwort. Not only can i use it in herbal smoking blends ("Sailor's Tobacco"), but it actually competes in the garden with worse weeds like crab-grass, poison ivy, etc. and is far easier to weed when the time comes.